Deer, Pigs and Sea Gulls Carry Human Pathogens.

Human Pathogens (germs) have been found in deer, pigs, flies, nematodes,frogs, geese, seagulls, song birds, fruit flies and moose. If one of these leaves excrement in a farmers field it can spread pathogens to the farmers crops. When manure has been  used for fertilizer it can contaminate the crop. To make it worse some pathogens can live in manure for several years.The farmer may not even know that manure was used in the past.

When Farmers have a field that is as much as 5 miles from pig farm, dust from the manure can can travel in the wind and spread pathogens to the farmers field.

Another way pathogens can get to a farmers field is through the water supply. If a farmer uses a pond or surface waters for irrigation they can infect their field.

Many studies indicate that many pathogens, whether they are bacteria, viruses, or protozoa can survive in fresh produce for a long time. Cut produce provides a good growth environment for pathogens and provides a place where the pathogen can get inside the food.  

From the field till the produce reaches a store the temperature is not always low enough to stop pathogen growth.

So far several treatments have been tried to get rid of pathogens. They have tried using chlorine, organic acids, gas vapor, electrolyzed water, and radiation. Many treatments are minimally effective.No treatment is highly effective for all combinations of food and

pathogen. Water based treatments work better at stopping the pathogen from spreading between pieces of produce but  don’t work at removing the pathogen.

These problems with infestation make it imperative that farmers have their products tested before they are sent to market. It is important that produce is cooled quickly after harvest and is kept cold till it reaches the market. This applies to both farmers that use chemicals and organic farmers.  We definitely need more research.