Behavior of foodborne pathogens in soils incorporating lactic acid bacteria

Foodborne pathogens can be introduced into the soil through various sources of contamination : the use of animal faecal matter as fertilizer, irrigation water, poor agricultural practices or naturally occurring. The ability of these microorganisms to survive in manure used as fertilizer and potentially in the soil is a threat to the safety of agricultural products. [1] Subsequently, vegetables and fruits grown on these soils can be come a source of contamination. This can lead to serious health problems for consumers, especially as they are ready-to-eat products.[2] In an attempt to minimize these problems, some studies in corporating lactic acid bacteria (LAB)-producing bacteriocins against pathogens have been reported.