Despite the extensive scientific progress and technological developments achieved in recent years, food
safety problems continuetoexist andmay actually increase inthe future. Itis estimatedthat foodborne pathogenscause
approximately 76millionillnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year, most due to
unknown causative agents. Amongthe know pathogens associatedwith foodborne illnesses, there is an increasinginvolvement ofenvironmentally resistant and host-adapted species orstrains, which maybe difficult
toinactivate or control with traditional foodpreservation methods Althoughthe incidence of foodborneillnesses linkedto
fresh produce islow, there is increasedawarenessthat fruits and vegetablescan be contaminated with microbiological
pathogens.