Assessing the potential for production practices to impact dry bulb onion safety

The 2020 Salmonella Newport outbreak linked to onions demonstrated the potential for a significant contamination event of foodborne pathogens during dry bulb onion production activities. However, the intensive investigation did not reveal the cause or mitigating factors that led to the contamination event. Previous research by our group has demonstrated that drip irrigation with poor quality water does not constitute a significant contamination risk; however, we have demonstrated that foliar application may pose a significant contamination risk that might lead to growth of pathogens in a portion of the onions. The proposed research will focus on the risk of dry bulb onion contamination when poor quality water or contaminated input is used for crop protection sprays (pesticides or clay) or for overhead irrigation applied at the end of the growing season. We propose to conduct a total of four field trials (two in Oregon and two in Washington) to characterize the risks associated with these practices. A well-characterized surrogate cocktail of rifampicin-resistant Escherichia coli strains will serve as a surrogate for Salmonella behavior in the field setting. Onions will be sampled throughout a 30-day curing period and E. coli will be enumerated using a combination of standard plating, filtration, and enrichment techniques for improved range of quantification and detection. Results from these studies will provide the onion industry with clear evidence of the risk of contamination due to the foliar application of crop protection sprays and overhead irrigation late in the season. We will maximize the opportunities to communicate about our research and findings to stakeholders throughout the project using long standing interactions between PI, co-PIs, and stakeholders. Near the end of the grant, we will create and deliver educational materials (workshop and best practices guide) to actively engage growers and support changing practices that improve food safety. Effective communication of our research findings will guide production practices that will minimize the likelihood of future outbreaks associated with dry bulb onions.