POTENTIAL HAZARD OF RADISH SPROUTS AS A VEHICLE OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI O157-H7

We studied the contamination of radish sprouts after exposure to Esche richia coli O157:H7-inoculated water in the laboratory. The edible par ts, the cotyledons and hypocotyl, became heavily contaminated with E. coil O157:H7 when they were grown from seeds soaked in E. coli O157:H7 -inoculated water. These same parts became contaminated with E. coli O 157:1-17 when their roots were dipped into E. coil O157:H7-inoculated water. These findings suggest that E. coli O157:H7 contamination in th e edible parts of radish sprouts could pose a serious hazard if the se eds or hydroponic water are contaminated with the bacterium.