Parma, Italy
October 2, 2014

Environmental factors (such as heavy rainfall), the use of contaminated water for irrigation or contaminated equipment are among the factors that cause contamination of melons with Salmonella and contamination of tomatoes with Norovirus and Salmonella.

These are some of the findings of a scientific opinion on risk factors that contribute to the contamination of melons and tomatoes at different stages of the food chain.

EFSA’s experts recommend that producers use good agricultural, hygiene and manufacturing practices to reduce contamination.

Because of a lack of relevant information, EFSA could not assess the suitability of microbiological criteria at primary production or during processing of tomatoes and melons.

• Scientific Opinion on the risk posed by pathogens in food of non-animal origin. Part 2 (Salmonella in melons)
• Scientific Opinion on the risk posed by pathogens in food of non-animal origin. Part 2 (Salmonella and Norovirus in tomatoes)

Website: http://www.efsa.europa.eu

Published: October 8, 2014