A two-year study in Nebraska indicates that current guidelines on separation between cattle feedlots and fields growing fresh produce are likely to be inadequate, says Food Safety News. It quoted the scientists as saying, “Additional research is needed to determine safe set-back distances between cattle feedlots and crop production that will reduce fresh produce contamination.” At present, guidelines set a minimum distance of 120 meters, or nearly 400 feet, “but the researchers found E. coli contamination on leafy greens growing 180 meters (590 feet) away from a cattle feed lot,” said Food Safety News. The team of nine plant pathologists and produce specialists conducted their study at a USDA animal research center at Clay Center, Neb.
“In addition to checking for E. coli contamination on the spinach, mustard greens and turnip greens in the test plots, the scientists checked air samples collected in the growing fields for the pathogen. They checked for total E. coli bacteria and specifically for the potentially deadly E. coli O157:H7,” said Food Safety Network. The researchers said they found E coli “at all plot distances.”