Florida

Although bacterial foodborne illnesses have captured most of the press, viruses also can cause foodborne diseases.

Researchers at Texas A&M University in College Station wanted to determine whether electron-beam irradiation could reduce the health risk of rotavirus and poliovirus on spinach and lettuce, according to a news release.

And if it did, how would different doses affect different contamination levels?

The team, led by Suresh Pillai, director of the National Center for Electron Beam Research, purchased spinach and iceberg lettuce at local grocery stores, then inoculated them with rotavirus and poliovirus.

The samples were then exposed to specific electron-beam doses.

The results showed that electron-beam irradiation inactivated both viruses on lettuce and spinach.

Despite the positive results, the researchers emphasized that the technology is not intended as a stand-alone or clean-up procedure.

Instead, it is part of an integrated approach to food safety that includes good agricultural practices in the field and good handling practices in packinghouses and processing facilities.

Collaborating in the study was the Instituto de Ecologia at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and the School of Public Health at the University of Texas' El Paso Regional Campus.

Read the complete study on the American Society of Microbiology website.