Abstract

Previous studies in our lab over the past several years on fruits and vegetables have identified various species of microorganisms, primarily bacteria, that appear to be endemic to the inner flesh/pulp of many crops. While consumption of these fruits and vegetables usually do not cause disease to the public in general, there may be a greater risk to immunocompromised individuals, especially upon consumption of crops that are eaten raw/uncooked or only slightly cooked. In this study, we examined various fruits, herbs, and vegetables that we had not previously examined for the presence of such microorganisms, and many/most of the crops we examined did indeed contain endemic microorganisms in their inner flesh/pulp. Our findings are herewith reported.

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