In light of another outbreak of illnesses related to a serious strain of E. coli bacteria, the following UC Davis faculty members are available for comment on a variety of related topics.

POSTHARVEST FOOD SAFETY--Trevor Suslow is a Cooperate Extension plant pathologist in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences whose research focuses on the postharvest quality of perishable produce. He can discuss possible sources of E. coli contamination in fruits and vegetables, how the bacterial disease might be transmitted to consumers and what industry is doing to prevent microbial contamination of crops. Contact: Trevor Suslow, Plant Sciences, (530) 754-8313 or tvsuslow@ucdavis.edu.

TRACKING E. COLI--Rob Atwill is a specialist in waterborne infectious diseases in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He is part of a team of UC and government scientists who are beginning to track the sources of E. coli O157:H7 in the Salinas Valley as part of a $1.2 million study funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was designed before the recent E. coli outbreak associated with spinach. Contact: Rob Atwill, School of Veterinary Medicine, (530) 754-2154, ratwill@ucdavis.edu.

E. COLI AND FOOD SAFETY--Linda Harris is a Cooperative Extension food microbiologist in the Department of Food Science and Technology, and associate director of the UC Davis-based Western Institute for Food Safety and Security. Her laboratory conducts research on the food-borne pathogens Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Shigella, Campylobacter and Listeria monocytogenes. She can discuss food-safety issues, especially those relating to the fruit, vegetable and nut industries, as well as consumer food-safety practices such as the best ways to wash fruits and vegetables. Contact: Linda Harris, Food Science and Technology, (530) 754-9485 or 757-5767, ljharris@ucdavis.edu.

CONSUMER ATTITUDES--Christine Bruhn is a UC Davis food-science marketing specialist, director of the UC Davis Center for Consumer Research and a national expert on consumer attitudes about food. She can discuss public reaction to the recent E. coli outbreak and how consumers can best guard against food-borne illnesses. Contact: Christine Bruhn, Food Science and Technology, (530) 752-2774, cell (530) 219-2888, cmbruhn@ucdavis.edu.

E. COLI'S IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE--Daniel Sumner is the Frank H. Buck Jr. professor of agricultural and resource economics in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and director of the University of California Agricultural Issues Center, based at UC Davis. Sumner specializes in national and international agricultural policy. He can discuss the impact of the E. coli outbreak on agriculture in California and throughout the United States. Contact: Daniel Sumner, Agricultural Issues Center, (530) 752-1668 or dan@primal.ucdavais.edu.

CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE--Karen Klonsky is a Cooperative Extension economist who specializes in farm business management issues, including organic agriculture. She can discuss the implications of the E. coli outbreak for California's farmers. Contact: Karen Klonsky, Agricultural and Resource Economics, (530) 752-3563, klonsky@primal.ucdavis.edu.

E. COLI AND THE FRESH-PRODUCE INDUSTRY--Roberta Cook is a Cooperative Extension economist who focuses on fresh-produce marketing, food distribution and international trade in fruits and vegetables. She can discuss the long- and short-term impacts of the recent E. coli outbreak on the fresh-produce industry. Contact: Roberta Cook, Agricultural and Resource Economics, (530) 752-1531, cook@primal.ucdavis.edu.