Research Publications (Food Safety)

BACKGROUND A new growing interest solvent named deep eutectic solvent has been prepared and used as an extraction solvent in the dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method. In order to prepare the solvent, dichloroacetic acid, L–menthol, and n–butanol at a molar ratio of 4: 1: 1 are mixed and after heating the deep eutectic solvent is formed.

Aspergillus nomius is a potent producer of aflatoxins B and G and is one of the most common species of fungi found in Brazil nuts. Temperature is considered a major abiotic factor that influences fungal colonization and aflatoxin production in nuts during pre- and post-harvest.

Periclase/calcite nanocomposites (PCN) were synthesized via calcination and carbonation treatment of dolomite. The surface and structural properties of PCN were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, thermogravimetry (TG), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The potential of PCN to remove Pb(II) from aqueous solutions was examined by batch experiments.

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) on activated carbon derived from coconut shell (CSAC) for the preconcentration of four varying polarity pesticides (imidacloprid, acetamiprid, simazine, and linuron) prior to their determination using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was investigated.

The global food chain may significantly promote the dissemination of bacteria resistant to antibiotics around the world. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Enterobacteriaceae with mcr-mediated colistin (CT) resistance in retail meat of different origins.

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic intracellular pathogen commonly associated with serious infections and multiple food-borne outbreaks. In this study, we investigated the influence of atmospheric cold plasma (80 kV, 50 Hz) on L. monocytogenes (EGD-e) and its knockout mutants of sigB, rsbR, prfA, gadD, and lmo0799 genes at different treatment time intervals. Further, to ascertain if sub-lethal environmental stress conditions could influence L.

This study investigated the antimicrobial susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from cases of subclinical bovine mastitis in China, as well as resistance mechanisms and virulence genes encoding adhesins and toxins. We determined antimicrobial susceptibility using the disk diffusion method, and analyzed resistance, adhesin, and toxin genes using PCR. We confirmed MRSA in 73 of 498 (14.7%) Staph.

Mastitis in ruminants is an important disease with major effects on both the economy and animal welfare. It is caused by major pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and minor pathogens such as coagulase-negative staphylococci. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize staphylococci as a cause of sheep mastitis in Algeria. In this study, 123 milk samples were collected directly from the udder of sheep suffering from clinical mastitis in 2 provinces in Algeria.

Unpasteurized milk can contain harmful bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes. In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA) that L. monocytogenes isolated from unpasteurized chocolate milk from a Pennsylvania dairy was closely related, by whole-genome sequencing, to L. monocytogenes isolates collected from blood specimens of 2 patients (in California and Florida) in 2014.

Raw milk contains wide microbial diversity, composed mainly of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are used as probiotics in both human and animal husbandry.

Aflatoxin is a potent carcinogen commonly found in animal feeds that can impair rumen fermentation at high concentrations; however, its effects at physiologically relevant concentrations are unknown. This study examined the effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), with or without bentonite clay (CL) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP)–based sequestering agents on in vitro rumen fermentation and digestibility of a dairy cow TMR.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of clay (CL) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) on the ruminal bacterial community of Holstein dairy cows challenged with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). A second objective was to examine correlations between bacterial abundance and performance measures.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a diverse group of plant secondary metabolites with known varied toxicity. Consumption of 1,2-unsaturated PAs has been linked to acute and chronic liver damage, carcinogenicity and death, in livestock and humans, making their presence in food of concern to food regulators in Australia and internationally.

Vapor phase hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can be utilized to inactivate murine norovirus (MNV), a surrogate of human norovirus, on surface areas. However, vapor phase H2O2 inactivation of virus on fruits and vegetables has not been characterized. In this study, MNV was used to determine whether vaporized H2O2 inactivates virus on surfaces of various fruits and vegetables (apples, blueberries, cucumbers, and strawberries).

by Akram Vasighizaker, Alok Sharma, Abdollah Dehzangi

by Fatmah M. Alqahtani, Brock A. Arivett, Zachary E. Taylor, Scott T. Handy, Anthony L. Farone, Mary B. Farone

Author(s): Daren W. Brown, Alessandra Villani, Antonia Susca, Antonio Moretti, Guixia Hao, Hye-Seon Kim, Robert H. Proctor, Susan P. McCormick

Author(s): Xiao-xia Guo, Hong-tao Liu, Jun Zhang

Author(s): Afsaneh Mohajer, Abbas Norouzian Baghani, Parisa Sadighara, Kiandokht Ghanati, Shahrokh Nazmara

Author(s): Zhe Feng, Chengqiao Ding, Weihao Li, Dachen Wang, Di Cui

Author(s): Frances M. Nilsen, Thomas R. Rainwater, Phil M. Wilkinson, Arnold M. Brunell, Russell H. Lowers, John A. Bowden, Louis J. Guillette, Stephen E. Long, Tracey B. Schock

In Europe, African swine fever virus (ASFV) is one of the most threatening infectious transboundary diseases of domestic pigs and wild boar. In September 2018, ASF was detected in wild boar in the South of Belgium. France, as a bordering country, is extremely concerned about the ASF situation in Belgium and an active preparedness is ongoing in the country.

Food security is one of major concerns for the growing global population. Modern agricultural biotechnologies, such as genetic modification, are a possible solution through enabling an increase of production, more efficient use of natural resources, and reduced environmental impacts. However, new crop varieties with altered genetic materials may be subjected to safety assessments to fulfil the regulatory requirements, prior to marketing.

Food safety and quality management play a pivotal role in the dairy industry. Milk is a highly nutritious food that also provides an excellent medium for growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, dairy industry focuses most of their processes and costs on keeping contamination levels as low as possible. Thermal processes for microbial decontamination may be effective; however, they cannot provide excellent organoleptic, nutritional, and decontamination properties simultaneously.

Milk is a nutritious food suitable for infants and adults, and it plays an important role in the human diet. However, it may also be a vehicle for food contaminants. In this report, we developed a method using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) for simultaneous identification of target pharmacologically active substances and mycotoxins in milk.