Abstract:
Irrigation water is perhaps the leading pre-harvest source of contamination of fresh produce in the
world. In this review, the impact of contaminated surface irrigation water on bacterial contamination of
fresh produce was examined. Some practical solutions to prevent or reduce this challenge were also
considered. In South Africa, fruit and vegetables are produced on a large scale by commercial farmers
who depend on surface water for their cultivation. However, the surface water, that is, rivers- has been
reported to be heavily contaminated with Escherichia coli and feacal coliforms. There is a concern that
contaminated surface water used for irrigation may contaminate fresh vegetables which may also have
a negative effect on the export of vegetables to the EU and USA. Consumption of vegetables
contaminated with foodborne pathogens presents a public health risk especially in countries like South
Africa that has more than 5 million people with immune-system compromised diseases such as HIV and
tuberculosis. Other groups of people that may be negatively affected because of the contaminated
surface water are those who are directly and indirectly associated with the production of fresh
vegetables such as pickers, handlers, packers and farmers that participate in the production of
vegetables during pre-harvest and post-harvest. Prevention of contamination of fresh produce from
both pre-harvest and post-harvest sources especially irrigation water still remains the only effective
way to protect the public. However, for this to occur, every stakeholder in the production industry must
have a culture of food safety.
