{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,6]],"date-time":"2026-04-06T11:05:58Z","timestamp":1775473558089,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":128,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,18]],"date-time":"2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750204800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)","award":["NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000066"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000066"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Foods"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The popularity of small-scale and local fruit and vegetable production has increased in recent years due to perceived economic, environmental, and social benefits. However, these operations face contamination risks that both consumers and small-scale producers may underestimate. The present study aimed to assess the microbiological and chemical hazards on fruit, vegetables, soil, and water samples from small-scale farms in north-western Portugal during pre-harvest activities. Additionally, the study investigated farmers\u2019 non-compliance with food safety regulations and good agricultural practices (GAPs), exploring how their behaviour might contribute to the identified hazards. A before-and-after analysis of non-compliant behaviours was conducted to determine the impact of training on improving food safety practices. The analysis identified the presence of pathogenic bacteria, pesticides, flame retardant residues, nitrates, and heavy metals. Lead (Pb) concentrations exceeded EU limits in organic carrots from one producer (0.156 \u00b1 0.043 mg\/kg) and in chard from another (0.450 \u00b1 0.126 mg\/kg). Cadmium (Cd) levels were also above regulatory thresholds in bell peppers (0.023 \u00b1 0.009 mg\/kg) and organic tomatoes (0.026 \u00b1 0.015 mg\/kg) from two different producers. Elevated levels of heavy metals were detected in irrigation water from two sites, with zinc (Zn) at 0.2503 \u00b1 0.0075 mg\/L and Pb at 0.0218 \u00b1 0.0073 mg\/L. Among food samples, the most prevalent microorganisms were Pseudomonas spp. (88.2%), Bacillus cereus (76.5%), and aerobic mesophilic bacteria (100%). Phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs), particularly tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP), were detected in all food and soil samples. Some EU-banned pesticides were detected in food and soil samples, but at levels below the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Chlorpyrifos (35.3%) and p,p\u2019-DDD (23.5%) were the most detected pesticides in food samples. After the training, GAP behaviour improved, particularly that related to hygiene. However, issues related to record-keeping and soil and water analyses persisted, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving full compliance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/foods14122129","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,18]],"date-time":"2025-06-18T05:30:42Z","timestamp":1750224642000},"page":"2129","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Environmental and Food Safety Assessment of Pre-Harvest Activities in Local Small-Scale Fruit and Vegetable Farms in Northwest Portugal: Hazard Identification and Compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5267-5198","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ariana","family":"Macieira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CBQF\u2014Centro de Biotecnologia e Qu\u00edmica Fina\u2014Laborat\u00f3rio Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Cat\u00f3lica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3979-7523","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Virg\u00ednia Cruz","family":"Fernandes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"REQUIMTE\/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico do Porto, Rua Dr. Ant\u00f3nio Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Ci\u00eancias Qu\u00edmicas e das Biomol\u00e9culas, Escola Superior de Sa\u00fade, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico do Porto, Rua Dr. Ant\u00f3nio Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8857-6471","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Teresa R. S.","family":"Brand\u00e3o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CBQF\u2014Centro de Biotecnologia e Qu\u00edmica Fina\u2014Laborat\u00f3rio Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Cat\u00f3lica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3924-776X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristina","family":"Delerue-Matos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"REQUIMTE\/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico do Porto, Rua Dr. Ant\u00f3nio Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6296-5137","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paula","family":"Teixeira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CBQF\u2014Centro de Biotecnologia e Qu\u00edmica Fina\u2014Laborat\u00f3rio Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Cat\u00f3lica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104264","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodqual.2021.104264","article-title":"A behavioural reasoning perspective on the consumption of local food. 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