Fresh produce, and in particular minimally processed leafy green vegetables, have been recognized as
a source of transmission for foodborne pathogens of animal origin. In South-East Asian and other cultures
the leaves of the banana plant (Musa sp.) are widely used as food wrappings or as serving plates because
of their waxy surfaces and represent a largely uninvestigated leafy green product. This study was undertaken
to quantify the attachment of two strains of each of the three bacterial foodborne pathogens
Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli to the top side and underside of banana
leaf surfaces. All bacteria tested attached to banana leaves at levels in the range of 3.5e4.5 cfu/cm2.
Differences in attachment to leaves between strains were apparent. Most notably both Salmonella
strains attached to the top side of leaf surfaces in significantly (p < 0.05) lower numbers than two (one
E. coli and one S. aureus) of the other four strains. Furthermore, the two S. aureus strains attached to the
undersides of leaves in significantly (p < 0.05) lower numbers than to the top side of leaves. Despite the
waxy nature of the banana leaf surfaces the bacteria tested were capable of attaching to them in numbers
equivalent to the attachment of bacterial pathogens to other leafy green produce