Food-Borne Outbreaks: Keeping Lettuce and Other Fresh Produce Clean

The convenience of fresh-cut produce has greatly increased sales despite multiple food-borne outbreaks. To reduce these risks, strict hygiene programs and sanitizers are used for decontamination once the food is harvested. Preventing microbial contamination in the fields is equally important. Researchers experimented with the use of harpin, a substance known to boost plants’ resistance to disease, prior to harvest.