Given the positive correlation between the rise in farmers′ markets and foodborne illness cases, it is crucial to assess the impact of personal protective equipment (PPE) use during the COVID‐19 pandemic on food microbial quality. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of potential foodborne pathogens in a diverse range of food products obtained from farmers′ markets in Central Virginia during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A total of 740 food samples, comprising eight fresh produce types and four animal‐derived products, were randomly collected in duplicate from 15 registered farmers′ markets in Central Virginia (within a 50‐km radius of Virginia State University) between August 2020 and December 2021. The samples represented products from 76 farm operations. Campylobacter , E. coli , Listeria , and Salmonella were detected in the samples at 1.5%, 19.2%, 7.3%, and 0.8%. Compared with the previous findings between March–November 2017 (prepandemic), Campylobacter and Listeria prevalence decreased by about 3.6% and 5.5%, whereas E. coli and Salmonella increased by 1.7% and 0.3%. Resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, nalidixic acid, and amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid was most common in 90.9% Campylobacter , 50.4% E. coli , 90.9% Listeria , and 66.7% Salmonella isolates, respectively. Overall, resistance to streptomycin was the most prevalent, seen in 48.8% of isolates, and about 7% exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). None of the tested antimicrobials was universally effective against all bacterial species. Despite compliance with PPE protocols by vendors and consumers during the pandemic, foodborne pathogens with AMR continue to be detected in food commodities, highlighting the importance of ongoing research and education to address these issues and promote the safe development of farmers′ markets.
Kim et al. (Thu,) studied this question.