Preventing Foodborne Illness on the Farm

April 9, 2019
E coli

A total of 72 people, including five living in Ohio, have been infected with the same strain of E. coli bacteria in a recent outbreak: E. coli O103. The investigation is ongoing and no specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has been identified as the source of infections. Melanie Ivey, a fruit pathology and fresh produce safety specialist with The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), can answer questions about how transmission of bacteria and viruses can occur on the farm and can offer ways to prevent that. Also, Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of CFAES, hosts workshops on good agricultural practices, or GAPs, to teach farmers and their staff how to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses. Ivey can be reached at ivey.14@osu.eduor 330-263-3849. For more information, see producesafety.osu.edu.