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<p>A large portion of foodborne outbreaks are associated with leafy greens, including by the pathogen <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>. Small and medium-sized leafy green growers commonly retrofit washing machines to dry triple-washed leaves, utilizing their spin cycle. The potential for this practice to cause microbial contamination has not been explored. This work investigated the risk of cross-contamination of <i>Listeria</i> associated with this practice. <i>Listeria innocua</i> was inoculated and dried onto spinach prior to washing, after which leaves were dried in a retrofitted washing machine. After drying, three contact surface layers of the machine were sampled. Nearly complete recovery of 98% and 99% from some contact points were observed, with the highest level of recovery observed in the bottom water-collecting contact points of the machine. Further, <i>L. innocua</i> from contaminated loading baskets were transferred to uninoculated spinach during the spin-drying process with a microbial recovery of 10<sup>1</sup>–10<sup>2</sup> CFU/g, suggesting a risk of cross-contamination.</p>

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Evaluating the potential for contamination of leafy greens with Listeria when using retrofitted washing machines

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月5日

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  • Pragathi Kamarasu,
  • Lynne McLandsborough,
  • Matthew D. Moore,
  • Amanda J. Kinchla

摘要

A large portion of foodborne outbreaks are associated with leafy greens, including by the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Small and medium-sized leafy green growers commonly retrofit washing machines to dry triple-washed leaves, utilizing their spin cycle. The potential for this practice to cause microbial contamination has not been explored. This work investigated the risk of cross-contamination of Listeria associated with this practice. Listeria innocua was inoculated and dried onto spinach prior to washing, after which leaves were dried in a retrofitted washing machine. After drying, three contact surface layers of the machine were sampled. Nearly complete recovery of 98% and 99% from some contact points were observed, with the highest level of recovery observed in the bottom water-collecting contact points of the machine. Further, L. innocua from contaminated loading baskets were transferred to uninoculated spinach during the spin-drying process with a microbial recovery of 101–102 CFU/g, suggesting a risk of cross-contamination.