2024-01-28 12:55:55
Published28. January 2024, 1:55 p.m
Agroscope study: Swiss vegetables contaminated with fecal bacteria
A new Swiss study shows that fresh vegetables and fruit often have antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One cause is likely to be fecal pollution.
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Vegetables in Switzerland are contaminated with bacteria.
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This is shown by a new study by the Agroscope research institute.
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Live enterobacteria with resistance to at least one antibiotic were found in around a third of the samples.
Vegetables are playing an increasingly important role in the diet of Swiss people. The Swiss Nutrition Society recommends eating at least 600 grams of fruit and vegetables every day. The vegetables and fruits are said to prevent illness and provide important nutrients.
As a study by the Agroscope research institute shows, the healthy vegetables are contaminated. To do this, the team examined 150 samples of carrots, strawberries, tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and coriander, as the “NZZ am Sonntag” writes. Half of them are vegetables from Switzerland, the other half are imported.
E. coli bacteria found
The results of the investigations are striking: the researchers led by study leader Elisabet Marti Serrano found problematic bacteria on practically every vegetable. “A lot of fresh fruit and vegetables are eaten raw,” says Marti. Therefore, contamination poses a potential health risk. Live enterobacteria with resistance to at least one antibiotic were found in around a third of the samples. Multi-resistant germs were found in 16 cases.
To find out where the microbial contamination of fruits and vegetables comes from, Agroscope initially focused on a harmless gene – a specific sequence from the genome of the intestinal bacterium E. coli. This DNA has been used as a marker for fecal contamination, which can be of both human and animal origin. In the samples, the sequence was often found in association with a specific antibiotic resistance gene. The common occurrence suggests that feces are an important source of antibiotic resistance, explains Elisabet Marti Serrano. The droppings can come from various sources, such as sewage sludge, manure or manure, as well as from wild animals.
Wash vegetables thoroughly
It is currently unclear whether free resistance genes pose a direct threat to human health. However, their frequency in fruits and vegetables could promote the transmission of resistance and generally increase the risks, explains Marti Serrano.
Although the concentrations found are not extremely high – animal foods such as meat usually have higher levels – they are generally not eaten raw. “Cooking and frying kill bacteria,” explains the researcher. However, thorough washing is recommended as this can remove many contaminants.
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