Evaluation on Microbial Contamination in Chinese CabbageCultivated Soil in Korea

The occurrence of various pathogenic microorganisms on farms is a concern if they are able to contaminate fresh produce, which provides entry into the food supply.This study was undertaken to assess the microbiological quality and prevalence of pathogens in Chinese cabbage cultivated soil in Korea.A total of 57 Chinese cabbage cultivated soils were collected in 4 locations in Korea from February to August 2017.The soils were analyzed for the presence of total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, coliforms, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus.The total aerobic plate counts in soils were in the range of 5.7 to 8.7 log CFU g -1 .The coliforms and E. coli were detected in 39 and 8 out of 57 soil samples, respectively, in the range of 1.1 to 6.3 log CFU g -1 and 0.7 to 4.0 log CFU g -1 .Salmonella spp., E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus were not detected from any samples.Results from these studies may help control the spread of bacterial species such as E. coli and Salmonella spp.through the farm environment.