Research Publications (Food Safety)

The study involved 75 autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) obtained from Valtellina Casera Protected Designation of Origin cheese and provides data on their antibiotic resistance (AR), antimicrobial activity and safety aspects. High biodiversity was revealed, assigning the isolates to 16 species. In the curd Streptococcus thermophilus was predominant, while Enterococcus and the Lactobacillus casei group prevailed in ripened cheese.

In this study, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and genetic algorithm–artificial neural network (GA-ANN) models were used to predict inactivation of Salmonella enteritidis by ultrasound. The effect of amplitude levels, duty cycles and irradiation time of ultrasound on inactivation of S. enteritidis was investigated.

Publication date: Available online 23 January 2015

Author(s): A. Bousquet , S. Henquet , F. Compain , N. Genel , G. Arlet , D. Decré

The feasibility of using a visible/near-infrared hyperspectral imaging system with a wavelength range between 400 and 1000 nm to detect and differentiate different levels of aflatoxin B1AFB1) artificially titrated on maize kernel surface was examined. To reduce the color effects of maize kernels, image analysis was limited to a subset of original spectra (600 to 1000 nm). Residual staining from the AFB1 on the kernels surface was selected as regions of interest for analysis.

The alteration of the profile of volatiles of canned coconut milk was monitored during storage at ambient temperatureCanned coconut milk was thermally processed (121 °C for 5 min), and then stored at ambient temperature (32 to 35 °C) for 6 mo. Volatile compounds were assessed monthly using direct solvent extraction (diethyl ether), followed by high-vacuum distillation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.

Publication date: May 2015
, Volume 103
Author(s): M. Mataragas , A. Bellio , F. Rovetto , S. Astegiano , L. Decastelli , L. Cocolin

Vibrio vulnificus is a Gram-negative pathogen found in coastal and estuarine waters worldwide that can cause life threatening diseases. Characterization of the vcg (virulence correlated gene) or 16S rRNA alleles is used to distinguish virulent (clinical (C)-type) from presumably avirulent (environmental (E)-type) strains. However, some studies reported significant numbers of clinical strains belonging to the E-type.

Publication date: March 2015
, Volume 110
Author(s): Dorien Van den Bossche , Lieselotte Cnops , Jacob Verschueren , Marjan Van Esbroeck

Polymeric nanocomposites embedded with nontoxic antimicrobial agents have recently gained potential industrial significancemainly for their applicability to preserve food quality and ensure safety. In this study, a poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/organoclay (CMMT) based nanocomposite film doped with sodium benzoate (SB) as antimicrobial agent was prepared by a solution mixing process.

Background

Norovirus (NoV) is the predominant cause of foodborne disease outbreaks. Virus contamination may occur during all steps of food processing, from production to preparation and serving. The relative importance of these different routes of contamination is unknown.

Methods

There is an increasing interest in recent years in using novel nanomaterials as cost-effectivesensitive, and reproducible substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) applications. In this study, a novel SERS substrate was developed by assembling gold nanorods into standing arrays on a gold-coated silicon slide. The standing nanorod arrays were closely packed on the gold film, generating strong electromagnetic field and uniformly distributed SERS “hot-spots” on the array surface.

January Online CoverMaize kernels, with inset of hyperspectral image showing regions of interest, from “Feasibility of Detecting Aflatoxin B1 on Inoculated Maize Kernels Surface using Vis/NIR Hyperspectral Imaging” by Wei Wang, Gerald W. Heitschmidt, William R. Windham, Peggy Feldner, Xinzhi Ni, and Xuan Chu; p. M117.

Vibrio vulnificus contains two coproporphyrinogen III oxidases (CPOs): O2-dependent HemF and O2-independent HemN. The growth of the hemF mutant HF1 was similar to wild-type cells at pH 7.5 under 2% O2 conditions where HemN was active and had a half-life of 64 min. However, HF1 did not grow when the medium pH decreased to pH 5.0, where oxidative stress affects endogenous S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels.

Publication date: Available online 21 January 2015
Food and Chemical Toxicology
Author(s): Fouzia Amamou , Saïd Nemmiche , Radjaa kaouthar Meziane , Amal Didi , Sidi Mouhamed Yazit , Daoudi Chabane-Sari

Preservative agents determining the shelf life of cosmetic products must have effective antimicrobial activity while meeting safety requirements for topical use. In this study, we determined the antimicrobial activity of 1,2-hexanediol against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests have shown that 1,2-hexanediol exhibits broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with MICs of 0.5 – 2% (v v−1).

Publication date: July 2015
, Volume 53
Author(s): Tomoaki Hagiwara , Saki Hagihara , Akihiro Handa , Nobuyuki Sasagawa , Risa Kawashima , Takaharu Sakiyama

Natalia M. Grindler, Jenifer E. Allsworth, George A. Macones, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Kimberly A. Roehl, Amber R. Cooper

Objective

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) adversely affect human health. Our objective was to determine the association of EDC exposure with earlier age of menopause.

Methods

Mohammad Mokhtari, Mazlan Abd Ghaffar, Gires Usup, Zaidi Che Cob

Massimo Maddaloni, Irina Kochetkova, SangMu Jun, Gayle Callis, Theresa Thornburg, David W. Pascual

Matthew Darby, Corinna Schnoeller, Alykhan Vira, Fiona Culley, Saeeda Bobat, Erin Logan, Frank Kirstein, Jürgen Wess, Adam F. Cunningham, Frank Brombacher, Murray E. Selkirk, William G. C. Horsnell

The majority of foodborne illness outbreaks can be linked to cross-contamination events through contact with contaminated surfaces. Consequently, there is a sustained interest in developing antimicrobial coatings such as silver zeolite to reduce contamination levels. In this study, we examined the efficacy of silver zeolite for preventing biofilm formation by common foodborne pathogens such as Listeria innocua Seeliger and Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Publication date: July 2015
, Volume 53
Author(s): Vicente M. Gómez-López , María I. Gil , Ana Allende , Bert Vanhee , María V. Selma

Publication date: July 2015
, Volume 53
Author(s): Joice Sifuentes Dos Santos , Thiago Guilherme Schwanz , Andreia Niederauer Coelho , Marla Cristina Heck-Marques , Marisa Marroni Mexia , Tatiana Emanuelli , Ijoni Costabeber

The antimicrobial effect of spice-based marinades against Campylobacter jejuni on inoculated fresh broiler wings was investigatedExperiments were carried out with 1 strain of C. jejuni and 6 marinades. Four experimental marinades were composed for the study and contained spices (thyme, rosemary, basil, marjoram, and so on) and different combination of bioactive compounds.

Morcela de ArrozMA) is a ready-to-eat blood and rice cooked sausage produced with pork, blood, rice, and seasonings, stuffed in natural casing and cooked above 90 °C/30 min. It is commercialized whole, not packed, with a restricted shelf life (1 wk/0 to 5 °C). The objective of this work was to establish sliced MA shelf life considering both the behavior of L.