E. coli survives longer in poultry-amended Georgia onion soils, two

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Published: 2026-09-30T12:00:42.504Z • Permanent link

New research published by the University of Georgia has revealed that bacteria such as E. coli can survive longer in agricultural soils used to grow sweet onions, particularly when these soils are amended with poultry litter. Led by Dr. David Lo, a professor of food safety at the university, the study aimed to investigate the impact of weather conditions, particularly extreme weather events, on bacterial survival in such soils. The research was conducted in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture and involved analyzing soil samples from Georgia farms that produce sweet onions for major food companies. The study found that the bacteria were more likely to survive in soils that had been amended with poultry litter and had experienced extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall or drought. The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Food Protection and have sparked concerns about the potential impact on food safety.

The research was conducted at the University of Georgia's Research and Education Center in Griffin, Georgia, where the researchers analyzed soil samples from 20 farms that produce sweet onions. The farms were chosen because they use a variety of soil amendments, including poultry litter, to improve soil fertility and crop yields. The researchers collected soil samples from each farm and analyzed them for the presence of E. coli and other bacteria. They also monitored weather conditions, including rainfall and temperature, over a period of two years to see how these factors affected bacterial survival.

The study's findings have significant implications for the food industry, particularly companies that produce sweet onions and other crops grown in soils amended with poultry litter. Companies such as Cargill, Tyson Foods, and Perdue Farms, which are major producers of poultry feed, may need to reassess their soil amendment practices to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination. Regulatory agencies, such as the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, may also need to consider revising their guidelines for soil amendment practices to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.

The study's findings have significant implications for the global food industry, which is heavily reliant on agricultural soils to produce a wide range of crops. Companies such as Cargill, Syngenta, and Monsanto, which are major producers of crop inputs, including fertilizers and pesticides, may need to reassess their products and practices to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination. The study's findings also have implications for regulatory agencies, which must balance the need to protect public health with the need to support agricultural productivity. For example, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service must consider revising its guidelines for soil amendment practices to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.

The study's findings also have significant implications for research communities, which must develop new methods for detecting and tracking bacterial contamination in agricultural soils. Researchers at institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Illinois, which are leading experts in the field of soil microbiology, may need to develop new techniques for analyzing soil samples to detect the presence of bacteria such as E. coli. The study's findings also have implications for markets, particularly the fresh produce market, where consumers are increasingly concerned about food safety.

The study's findings are part of a larger pattern of research into the impact of soil amendments on bacterial contamination in agricultural soils. For example, a 2019 study published in the Journal of Environmental Quality found that the use of manure-based soil amendments can increase the risk of bacterial contamination in agricultural soils. Another study published in 2020 in the Journal of Food Protection found that the use of synthetic fertilizers can increase the risk of bacterial contamination in agricultural soils. These studies highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between soil amendments, weather conditions, and bacterial contamination in agricultural soils.