Sampling and testing of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in waterways

The Food Standards Agency has awarded a contract for sampling and testing of shiga toxin-producing e-coli (STEC) in waterways. The purpose of the work described here is to characterise the diversity of STEC strains present in the environment nearby areas used for farming different livestock species, by sampling and testing nearby waterways. By establishing a better “fingerprint” of STEC strains typically associated with livestock farm types, we can attribute the proportion of human STEC cases to different livestock species which will help to understand sources and pathways of contamination of secondary food types such as salad crops. Understanding what proportion of human cases of STEC are attributable to different livestock farm types may also help growers take a proportionate risk management approach to protecting consumers.