Research Publications (Food Safety)

Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, EarlyView. Recently, multiple reports from regulatory agencies have linked leafy green outbreaks to nearby or adjacent cattle operations. While they have made logical explanations for this phenomenon, the reports and data should be summarized to determine if the association was based on empirical data, epidemiological association, or speculation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate, quantify and model the survival of Salmonella in fresh-cut lettuce during washings with chlorinated water at different free chlorine concentrations (FCC, 0–150 mg/L). Individual fresh-cut lettuce samples (4 cm2) were inoculated with a Salmonella culture (ca. 4 log CFU/cm2) and washed with 100-mL solutions with different FCC for different times (0–150 s).

Aflatoxin is the most common type of mycotoxins in contaminated corn, peanuts and rice, which affects the livestock and ultimately endangers human health.

Salmonella is a zoonotic pathogen that is commonly associated with foodborne disease outbreaks. This study found that a newly identified Gram-negative lysin LysP53 had good activity against a wide range of Salmonella, including Salmonella Newington, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Salmonella Dublin.

Sample homogeneity dictates whether analyzing a test portion of an entire sample can provide representative information about incurred mycotoxins. In this study, we evaluated particle-size-distribution-based homogeneity of laboratory mycotoxin samples using laser diffraction particle size analysis and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Guide 35: 2017.

Insufficient protein and fat hydrolysis capacity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) limit the flavor formation of fermented sausage. Bacillus is known for its substantial expression of proteases and lipases.

Contamination of infant formula with Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) can cause fatal infections in neonates. Phages have emerged as promising antibacterial agents for food safety, but their effectiveness may be limited by thermal processing. In this study, we isolated 27 C. sakazakii phages from environmental water samples and selected LPCS28 due to its broad lysis spectrum.

Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic environmental pollutant that harms male reproductive systems by lowering sperm quality, impairing spermatogenesis, and causing apoptosis. Although zinc (Zn) has been reported to alleviate Cd toxicity, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this work was to investigate the mitigating effects of Zn on Cd-induced male reproductive toxicity in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense.

Journal of Separation Science, EarlyView. In this study, for the first time, a deep eutectic solvent-based microwave-assisted extraction was combined with ionic liquid–based temperature controlled liquid phase microextraction for the extraction of several aflatoxins from cheese samples.

Cereal-based products, nuts and dried fruits are staple foods for the Algerian population. However, these foodstuffs may be sources of harmful mycotoxins, with negative impacts on human health.

We report a 5-single nucleotide polymorphism cluster of Salmonella Enteriditis in England, part of a global cluster of S. Enteritidis ST11. Forty-seven confirmed cases have been investigated of whom 25 were linked to a restaurant. In addition, there were 18 probable cases with restaurant exposure. Epidemiological investigations suggested eggs or chicken as the most likely cause of the outbreak but were unable to distinguish between those two food vehicles.

Shiga toxin-producing strains represent pathogenic group that is of concern in food production. The present study evaluated forty-eight E. coli isolates (11 with intact stx gene, while remaining isolates presented only stx-fragments) for Shiga toxin production. The four most expressive stx-producers (O26, O103, O145, and O157) were selected to evaluate effects of pH (3.5, 4.5, and 7) and temperature (35, 40, and 50°C).

In June 2021, a cluster of seven cases of Campylobacter fetus infections occurred in a rehabilitation center and caused significant morbidity in elderly patients including five with bacteremia and two with osteoarticular medical device infections. The genetic identity identified by whole genome sequencing of the different Campylobacter fetus strains confirms a common source.

This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of cinnamaldehyde (CIN) and biogenic silver nanoparticles (BioAgNP), alone and in combination, against Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. Their sanitation activities on fresh sweet grape tomatoes were also evaluated. CIN and BioAgNP inhibited the growth of the tested bacteria, and at low concentrations, their combinations presented a synergistic effect.

Population growth, international market expansion, and climate change have caused changes in agricultural practices, including increased use of phytosanitary products to control pests and diseases in food production. The European Union aims to achieve sustainable and high-quality food, with the priority of reducing pesticide use.

Campylobacter spp. are a leading cause of human foodborne illness associated with chicken meat products in the United States. Chicken livers, including exudate from packaging, commonly carry Campylobacter and could be a source of illness if mishandled. Survivability of naturally occurring Campylobacter, total aerobic bacteria, and coliforms was determined under drying conditions in two consumer simulated environments: moist sponge, and solid surface.

The objective was to investigate the influence of cattle origin and region of finishing on the prevalence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and select antimicrobial resistance in E. coli populations. Yearling heifers (n = 190) were utilized in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement.

mSphere, Ahead of Print. The microbiota mediate multiple aspects of skin barrier function, including colonization resistance to pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. The endogenous skin microbiota limits S. aureus colonization via competition and direct inhibition. Novel mechanisms of colonization resistance are promising therapeutic targets for drug-resistant infections, such as those caused by methicillin-resistant S.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent food-borne hepatocarcinogen, is the most toxic aflatoxin that induces liver injury in humans and animals. Species-specific sensitivities of aflatoxins cannot be fully explained by differences in the metabolism of AFB1 between animal species. The gut microbiota are critical in inflammatory liver injury, but it remains to reveal the role of gut microbiota in AFB1-induced liver injury. Here, mice were gavaged with AFB1 for 28 days.

The presence of mycotoxins in meat and meat products can result from contaminated feed carry-over, from contamination with toxigenic molds during processing and storage, and from contaminated spices and ingredients. The occurrence of mycotoxins in dry fermented sausage is described worldwide; however, scarce information is available for Brazilian products.

Trichothecenes are the most common Fusarium toxins detected in grains and related products. Type A trichothecenes are among the mycotoxins of greatest concern to food and feed safety due to their high toxicity. Recently, two different trichothecene genotypes within Fusarium species were reported. The available information showed that Tri1 and Tri16 genes are the key determinants of the trichothecene profiles of T-2 and DAS genotypes.

This study aimed to investigate the growth characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus in grilled oysters under different storage temperatures by establishing and comparing the relevant dynamic growth prediction models. The growth data of S.

Wheat represents one of the most widely consumed cereals worldwide. Cultivated in winter and spring, it is vulnerable to an array of different pathogens, including fungi, which are managed largely through the in-field application of fungicides. During this study, a 4-year field investigation (2018–2021) was performed in France, aiming to assess the efficacy of fungicide treatment to reduce mycotoxin contamination in common and durum wheat.

With emerging food safety concerns, our study aimed to assess the effect of different levels of soil As and Cd on the accumulation/translocation of toxic (As, Cd) and essential elements (Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn) by ‘‘red raw samba’’, a hybrid rice variety (short grain; red pericarp; 3.5 months).

The poultry industry has not been spared from the prevalent incidence of diseases caused by invasive pathogens, especially Salmonella.