Abstract
Few microbial studies in aquaponics, a growing trend in food production, have been conducted to determine food safety status. The aim of this study was to determine the food safety status and the effectiveness of ultraviolet treatment (15 W, luminous flux of 900 lm) as a food safety intervention in reducing the microbial loads of the water system in a model aquaponic unit growing lettuce, basil, and barramundi (Australian Sea Bass). Sweet basil, bibb lettuce, water samples, and fish swabs were collected throughout the 118-day production period, and microbial analysis was conducted in triplicate for the presence of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and the prevalence of aerobic plate counts (APC), coliforms, and fecal coliforms in these systems. Absence of foodborne pathogens was confirmed using ELISA technology and enumeration through petrifilms (coliform/E. coli). A significant increase was observed in aerobic plate counts over the trial period (1 to 3 log10 CFU·mL−1) in the presence and absence of UV (p > 0.05). Ultraviolet treatment did not significantly reduce the APC or coliform counts when compared to the control system samples. Future work should focus on improving the unit design, the evaluation of bio-solid filtration, and other food safety interventions.
Highlights
In 2015, 163,675 growers and farmers were reported to be marketing foods locally [1]
There is a general trend of increasing aerobic plate counts (1 to 3 log10 CFU·mL−1 ) from Day 0 to Day 63 and a decrease in aerobic plate counts (1 to 3 log10 CFU·mL−1 ) from Day 63 to Day 118 of the trial for the basil, lettuce, and water samples
There have been multiple foodborne outbreaks with E. coli and Salmonella associated with fruits and vegetables that have been attributed to water sources [19]
Summary
In 2015, 163,675 growers and farmers were reported to be marketing foods locally [1]. The local foods movement has encouraged growers and farmers to diversify their farming practices and find additional market opportunities to expand their business. An increasingly popular method for farm diversification is aquaponics, which is an agricultural practice that involves the cultivation of crops in soilless (hydroponic) systems by fertilizing plants with nutrient-rich water from intensively cultured aquatic organisms such as fish [2]. Between 1998 and 2008, 46% of all foodborne illnesses reported were associated with fruits, vegetables, and nuts [6]. A main food safety concern with aquaponics is the cultivation of fruit and vegetable crops in water containing fish excreta and other organic matter including fish and plant particulate residuals. Fish from non-reliable sources can introduce foodborne viruses and disease (e.g., Vibrio spp.) that are not commonly associated with fruits and vegetables [9]
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