E-coli contamination of produce from irrigation? ?

Question

is it only on the surface from having the contaminated water sprayed across the field, or do the plants absorb it internally with the water?

Answer 1

It is only on the surface, the plants do not absorb it internally. It can be tricky washing all of the vegetables and you can easily transfer it by hand if picking and working with the vegetables. Always water with potable water and compost all manure used as fertilizer.  

Answer 2

go to,

1.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/0...

2.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecoli

3.http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2006/...

4.http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/art...

5.http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/foodnu...

Answer 3

Water is contaminated with E. coli primarily through the introduction of fecal materials containing the organisms. As cattle and hogs are natural hosts for E. coli, their wastes will contain these organisms. In addition, humans who have been infected with E. coli will also produce fecal materials containing the organism. Irrigating with this water will contaminate the exterior of the produce.

(It is impossible for a plant to absorb E. coli and have it inside the produce. It can only get in through nicks in the surface.)

Answer 4

Water is contaminated with E. coli primarily through the introduction of fecal materials containing the organisms. As cattle and hogs are natural hosts for E. coli, their wastes will contain these organisms. In addition, humans who have been infected with E. coli will also produce fecal materials containing the organism.  Irrigating with this water will contaminate the exterior of the produce.  

(It is impossible for a plant to absorb E. coli and have it inside the produce.  It can only get in through nicks in the surface.)

Answer 5

Even the plant produces can spread E-coli. Thorough precaution is essential if E-coli contamination is suspected.

Answer 6

E-coli is only on the surface of the plant.  Plants to not absorb it.  

By the way, E-coli is not alway from irrigation.  Dust carring the dry E-coli can blow onto crops.  The E-coli waits for just the right things to happen (warmth, and moisture) and then comes back to life and starts to multiply.  

E-coli is going to become more and more of a problem in the future, now that there are drug resistant stains of E-coli.  

A pharmacist I know washes all of his fruits and vegtables in a hydrogen peroxide bath, before he cuts, peels, or eats them.  He stated it kills the E-coli.  I have not done any actual research on this, so I don't know if this is so.  He's a pharmacist though, so he's "probably" correct.  We don't worry about it much, since we grow most of our own food.

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

P.S.  I just read John's reply, after posting my own.  Freaky...I didn't copy him, honest!  We just thought the same on this question!