Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

The safety of the food supply is a primary consideration of farmers, wholesale and retail establishments, and ultimately consumers. In 2006, a major outbreak of food-borne illness in the U.S. caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7contaminated bagged spinach resulted in 3 deaths and over 200 illnesses. Studies have shown that cattle and some commensal wildlife are known sources of E. coli O157:H7, but limited investigations on small mammals and deer have shown minimal prevalence of this bacteria. In 2007, with oversight from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, produce industry representatives developed the Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Lettuce and Leafy Greens Supply Chain, known as the Metrics. These have led to significant uses of rodent control techniques including baits, traps, buffer strips and vegetation clearing in areas around leafy green production. One of the major issues regarding these strategies is that the target rodent species is generally unknown. Growers are faced with complying with buyers’ interpretations of the Metrics or losing the sale of their crop. Until we provide better information on the occurrence and type of rodents in and around leafy green crops and food safety, we will have limited ability to help growers use cost-effective and environmentally acceptable methods to protect crops from potential rodent contamination. Rodent control experts need to provide specific strategies to help growers with the important issue of rodents and their association with crops and food safety.