IHBE’s Gwynne Mhuireach was awarded a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Seed Grant to study microbiomes of garden-fresh versus store-bought produce and the variation in their effects on the human gut microbiome. Despite the potential for food contamination by certain pathogens, current research suggests that microbial exposure is largely benign or beneficial to human health. Previous studies have demonstrated that time spent gardening increases the diversity of the microbiome on individuals’ hands, however little is known about whether this benefit is transferred to the gut.
Participants in Dr. Mhuireach’s study spent a week consuming only store-bought produce and a week eating produce directly from a local garden. Throughout this time, participants collected samples of the consumed fruits and vegetables, as well as stool samples. Analysis is ongoing and expected to conclude by the summer, of 2025. This study will expand the current understanding of microbes in relation to the source of produce.