Variable agronomic practices, cultivar, strain source and initial contamination dose differentially affect survival of Escherichia coli on spinach

Abstract

Persistence of surrogate, indicator E. coli and E. coli O157:H7, irrespective of variable growing conditions in spinach is predominantly limited by water availability, strain source and localization within the plant. These findings are anticipated to ultimately be adopted into routine and investigative pathogen testing protocols and mechanical harvest practices of spinach.