The 2013 Produce Safety Rules in Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) require regular testing for generic
Escherichia coli in agricultural water intended for pre-harvest contact with the edible portion of fresh produce.
However, the use of fecal contamination indicators frequently does not correctly reflect distribution of foodborne
pathogens such as Salmonella enterica, and ensuring food safety may require direct detection and enumeration of
pathogens in agricultural settings.