Table 2.
Some etiological agents isolated from various fruits and vegetables.
| Pathogen | Product | Resultant complication or disease caused |
|---|---|---|
| Aeromonas | Alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, pepper, and spinach | Opportunistic systemic disease in immunocompromised patients |
| Bacillus cereus | Alfalfa sprouts, cress sprouts, cucumbers, mustard sprouts, and soybean sprouts | Food poisoning |
| Campylobacter jejuni | Green onions, lettuce, mushroom, potato, parsley, pepper, and spinach | Food poisoning |
| Clostridium botulinum | Cabbage, mushrooms, and pepper | Botulism |
| E. coli O157: H7 | Alfalfa sprouts, apple juice, cabbage, celery, cilantro, coriander, cress sprouts, and lettuce | Bloody diarrhoea and abdominal cramps |
| Listeria monocytogenes | Bean sprouts, cabbage, chicory, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes, radish, salad vegetables, and tomato | Listeriosis |
| Salmonella spp. | Alfalfa sprouts, artichokes, beet leaves, celery, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, chili, cilantro, eggplant, endive, fennel, green onions, lettuce, mung bean sprouts, mustard cress, orange juice, parsley, pepper, salad greens, spinach, strawberries, tomato, and watermelon | Typhoid, salmonellosis, etc. |
| Shigella | Celery, cantaloupe, lettuce, parsley, and scallions | Shigellosis |
| Staphylococcus | Alfalfa sprouts, carrot, lettuce, onions sprouts, parsley, and radish | Food poisoning |
| Vibrio cholerae | Cabbage, coconut milk, and lettuce | Cholera |
| STEC | Salads | Diarrheal |
| Hepatitis A virus (HAV) | Blueberries | Hepatitis A |
| Cyclospora cayetanensis | Mango | Cyclosporiasis |
| Fasciola hepatica | Raw watercress | Worm infection |
| Helicobacter pylori | Basil, spinach, salad, parsley, leek, and radish | Gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and certain types of stomach cancer |