Abstract Outbreaks of enteric pathogens associated with fresh produce, in the form of raw or minimally processed fruit and vegetables, have increased over recent times. The pathogens may be bacterial, viral or protoctist parasites and many are considered to be zoonotic. Contamination of fresh produce occurs by a number of routes, in particular from irrigation water or manure. While some pathogens are vectored into the food chain by plants, others are able to colonize plants and use them as alternative hosts. Enteric bacteria normally associated with animal hosts can colonize and proliferate on or within plants, in particular in the rhizosphere. Some have the ability to internalize into plant tissue, from where they can be detected in edible foliage. Specific interactions have been demonstrated that are dependent on both the microbe and plant host. Colonization of non-animal hosts by enteric pathogens has, until recently, been largely neglected. However, alternative environmental reservoirs such as plants need to be considered in the context of transmission of enteric pathogens through the food chain.