Comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in-soil grown Romaine lettuce obtained at retail
The overarching goal of this study was to assess the microbiological profile of hydroponically grown Romaine lettuce and in-soil Romaine lettuce (organic and conventional). Thirty-six samples of hydroponic lettuce, seventy-two samples organic lettuce (thirty-six bagged lettuce and thirty-six non-bag...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022023386 |
| _version_ | 1811192420289740800 |
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| author | Zahra H. Mohammad Isabelle do Prado Sujata A. Sirsat |
| author_facet | Zahra H. Mohammad Isabelle do Prado Sujata A. Sirsat |
| author_sort | Zahra H. Mohammad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The overarching goal of this study was to assess the microbiological profile of hydroponically grown Romaine lettuce and in-soil Romaine lettuce (organic and conventional). Thirty-six samples of hydroponic lettuce, seventy-two samples organic lettuce (thirty-six bagged lettuce and thirty-six non-bagged lettuce), and thirty-six conventionally grown lettuce was purchased from retail stores. A portion of each sample was analyzed for aerobic bacteria (APC), coliforms and E. coli, and yeasts and molds (YM). Another portion of each sample was enriched for Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, and confirmed with RT-PCR. No statistical differences were found in the microbial profile (P > 0.05) between the different farming practices. The APC, coliforms, E. coli, and YM counts were similar across bagged samples. The results demonstrated that APC and E. coli were significantly higher (P<0.05) in organic non-bagged samples compared to other practices. Salmonella and L. monocytogenes were detected in some organically and conventionally grown lettuce samples but were only detected in 3 hydroponically grown lettuce samples. This study indicated that hydroponically grown lettuce obtained at retail may have food safety risks similar to organic and conventional systems. These findings highlight the need for food safety training and educational programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:53:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eada7aa0ab5f4e66b055b47c4302ef2b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:53:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-eada7aa0ab5f4e66b055b47c4302ef2b2022-12-22T03:56:26ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402022-10-01810e11050Comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in-soil grown Romaine lettuce obtained at retailZahra H. Mohammad0Isabelle do Prado1Sujata A. Sirsat2Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-3028, USAConrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-3028, USACorresponding author.; Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-3028, USAThe overarching goal of this study was to assess the microbiological profile of hydroponically grown Romaine lettuce and in-soil Romaine lettuce (organic and conventional). Thirty-six samples of hydroponic lettuce, seventy-two samples organic lettuce (thirty-six bagged lettuce and thirty-six non-bagged lettuce), and thirty-six conventionally grown lettuce was purchased from retail stores. A portion of each sample was analyzed for aerobic bacteria (APC), coliforms and E. coli, and yeasts and molds (YM). Another portion of each sample was enriched for Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, and confirmed with RT-PCR. No statistical differences were found in the microbial profile (P > 0.05) between the different farming practices. The APC, coliforms, E. coli, and YM counts were similar across bagged samples. The results demonstrated that APC and E. coli were significantly higher (P<0.05) in organic non-bagged samples compared to other practices. Salmonella and L. monocytogenes were detected in some organically and conventionally grown lettuce samples but were only detected in 3 hydroponically grown lettuce samples. This study indicated that hydroponically grown lettuce obtained at retail may have food safety risks similar to organic and conventional systems. These findings highlight the need for food safety training and educational programs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022023386HydroponicsMicrobiological profileProduce safetyIn-soil produceRomaine lettuceControlled environment agriculture |
| spellingShingle | Zahra H. Mohammad Isabelle do Prado Sujata A. Sirsat Comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in-soil grown Romaine lettuce obtained at retail Heliyon Hydroponics Microbiological profile Produce safety In-soil produce Romaine lettuce Controlled environment agriculture |
| title | Comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in-soil grown Romaine lettuce obtained at retail |
| title_full | Comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in-soil grown Romaine lettuce obtained at retail |
| title_fullStr | Comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in-soil grown Romaine lettuce obtained at retail |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in-soil grown Romaine lettuce obtained at retail |
| title_short | Comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in-soil grown Romaine lettuce obtained at retail |
| title_sort | comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in soil grown romaine lettuce obtained at retail |
| topic | Hydroponics Microbiological profile Produce safety In-soil produce Romaine lettuce Controlled environment agriculture |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022023386 |
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