Molecular Characterization and Public Health Implications of Fungal Contaminants in Farm‐Fresh Salad Vegetables From Ghana

Abstract

The global consumption of raw salad vegetables has increased due to growing health consciousness, but this trend also raises food safety concerns, especially the persistence of microbial contaminants in vegetables from areas in low‐ and middle‐income countries where sanitation and monitoring may be limited. This study investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of fungal contaminants in 120 farm‐fresh salad vegetable samples from six vegetable types in Ghana′s Eastern Region using internal transcribed spacer (ITS)–based PCR sequencing. The results revealed a diverse range of fungal species, with Candida tropicalis as the most prevalent, detected across all vegetable types. Other identified fungi included Candida albicans , Rhodotorula spp., and Saccharomycetales spp., all of which are known opportunistic pathogens. Co‐occurrence of multiple fungi in single samples such as C. albicans and Rhodotorula spp. suggests possible ecological interactions that could exacerbate spoilage or human exposure risk. Fragment size variations in base pairs (500–800) indicated differences in fungal colonization and genetic diversity. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed species identity and showed strong clustering of related isolates, indicating the power of ITS‐PCR in high‐resolution fungal profiling. Unlike traditional culture methods, this approach enabled the direct detection of both common and nonsporulating fungi from farm‐fresh salad vegetables, enhancing surveillance capacity. The findings emphasize the need for early‐stage monitoring, improved preharvest and postharvest hygiene specifically targeting fungal contamination, and the use of molecular surveillance tools to reduce foodborne fungal risks. This study contributes to food safety research by demonstrating the value of ITS‐PCR for identifying fungal hazards in salad vegetables, with relevance for policy and intervention efforts in Ghana and similar settings.