Food Protection Trends - December 2010 - (Page 803)

Copyright© 2010, International Association for Food Protection 6200 Aurora Ave., Suite 200W, Des Moines, IA 50322-2864 Food Protection Trends, Vol. 30, No. 12, Pages 803–815 Risk Factors Associated with Prevalence of Foodborne Pathogens in Rural Households of Colorado with and without Ruminant Animals MAWILL RODRíGUEZ-MARVAL,1 PATRICIA A. KENDALL,2 JEFFREY T. LEJEUNE,3 KEITH E. BELK,1 LYDIA C. MEDEIROS4 and JOHN N. SOFOS1* Center for Meat Safety & Quality, Food Safety Cluster, Dept. of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; 2Dept. Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; 3Food and Animal Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA; 4Dept. of Human Nutrition, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA 1 ABSTRACT Ruminants are one of the reservoirs for Listeria, Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7, and therefore a potential source of contamination for the household environment. Understanding consumer behavior may help in reducing infections caused by these microorganisms. This study evaluated consumer behaviors in households with/without ruminants, which may be related to increased prevalence of these pathogens. The study was completed over a three-year period, with samples collected during years 1 and 3. Rural Colorado households were recruited, and samples (food, environmental, and fecal) were collected and tested for Listeria, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 presence. Participants answered surveys regarding household cleaning habits and food/animal handling. None of the samples tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, while Salmonella was isolated only from households with ruminants. Listeria spp. was isolated from all types of samples with higher, but not significant (P ≥ 0.05), prevalence in households with ruminants. L. monocytogenes was isolated mainly from food samples. Seven indices were developed from survey information and were statistically analyzed for relationships, with the outcome of a sample positive for Listeria as the dependent variable. Behavior related to handling and cooking of perishable foods affected (P < 0.05) the probability of households testing positive for Listeria, regardless of ruminant presence. Personal cleanliness habits were associated with presence of Listeria on shoe soles, clothes washing machines, and gloves used for farming activities. Consumer education should include proper food and animal handling practices, as well as proper cleaning of shoes and clothes, in order to reduce the prevalence of Listeria in the household. A peer-reviewed article * Author for correspondence: +1 970.491.7703; Fax: +1 970.491.0278 E-mail: john.sofos@colostate.ed DECEMBER 2010 | FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS 803 http://www.foodprotection.org/files/food-protection-trends/Dec-10-Sofos.pdf

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - December 2010

Food Protection Trends - December 2010
Sustaining Members
Reflections of Your President
Commentary From the Executive Director
Role of Package Type on Shelf-Life of Fresh Crab Meat
Risk Factors Associated With Prevalence of Foodborne Pathogens in Rural Households of Colorado With and Without Ruminant Animals
Highlights of Iafp's Latin America Symposium on Food Safety
IAFP 2011 Award Nominations
IAFP Committee, Pdg, Task Force and Affiliate Council Mission Statements
New Members
What’s Happening in Food Safety
Industry Products
Coming Events
Index to Volume 30
Advertising Index
Journal of Food Protection Table of Contents
Audiovisual Library Order Form
Booklet Order Form
Membership Application

Food Protection Trends - December 2010