Research Publications (Food Safety)

Author(s): Yan Man, Meijing Ban, An Li, Xinxin Jin, Yuanfang Du, Ligang Pan

Aflatoxins (AFs) are among the most harmful fungal secondary metabolites imposing serious health risks on both household animals and humans. The more frequent occurrence of aflatoxins in the feed and food chain is clearly foreseeable as a consequence of the extreme weather conditions recorded most recently worldwide. Furthermore, production parameters, such as unadjusted variety use and improper cultural practices, can also increase the incidence of contamination.

The arctic tundra is undergoing climate-driven changes and there are serious concerns related to the future of arctic biodiversity and altered ecological processes under possible climate change scenarios. Arctic land surface temperatures and precipitation are predicted to increase further, likely causing major transformation in terrestrial ecosystems. As a response to increasing temperatures, shifts in vegetation and soil fungal communities have already been observed.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) that can be excreted in milk of cows after consuming contaminated feed. The aim of this study consisted of a field monitoring to assess the contamination levels of AFB1 in 60 feed samples from two feeding systems for high-yielding dairy cows and of AFM1 in the corresponding raw milk samples.

At present, SARS-CoV-2 has not been shown to be transmitted through food, even so the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how consumers view food and food safety. This study assessed consumer food safety practices during the COVID-19 pandemic using (1) surveys and (2) online focus group discussions. From April to August 2020, five waves of surveys were distributed to an online U.S. consumer panel and screened to include only primary food preparers and grocery shoppers.

The input of heavy metals in agricultural systems depresses the soil quality and compromises the food safety owing to crop contamination. Metals also affect the structure, morphology, function, and activity of microorganisms in soils and substrates. Heavy metals can inhibit basic processes of microbial metabolism such as respiration.

The multi-elemental composition of 4 edible wild-growing mushroom species that commonly occur in Polish forests was compared to 13 cultivated mushroom species available in trade. A considerable variation in the macroelements content was revealed with cultivated species containing higher amounts of macroelements. The mean content of B, Co, Cr, Fe, Pb, Pr, Pt, Sb, Sm, Sr, Te, and Tm was higher in cultivated mushroom species, while the opposite was noted for Ba, Cd, Cu, Hg, La, Mo, Sc, and Zn.

In the present study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of passion fruit peel extract (PPE) against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. The application of PPE using an electrostatic spraying system for the disinfection of fresh-cut Lollo Rossa and beetroot leaves was also examined and compared with conventional PPE washing.

Norovirus contamination of oysters is the lead cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis and a significant food safety concern for the oyster industry. Here, norovirus reduction from Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas), contaminated in the marine environment, was studied in laboratory depuration trials and in two commercial settings.

Salicylic acid plays an important role in the plant immune response, and its degradation is therefore important for plant-pathogenic fungi. However, many nonpathogenic microorganisms can also degrade salicylic acid. In the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger, two salicylic acid metabolic pathways have been suggested. The first pathway converts salicylic acid to catechol by a salicylate hydroxylase (ShyA).

Freshwater can support the survival of the enteric pathogen Salmonella, though temporal Salmonella diversity in a large watershed has not been assessed. At 28 locations within the Susquehanna River basin, 10-liter samples were assessed in spring and summer over 2 years. Salmonella prevalence was 49%, and increased river discharge was the main driver of Salmonella presence.

High-quality habitats for wildlife (e.g., forest) provide essential ecosystem services while increasing species diversity and habitat connectivity. Unfortunately, the presence of such habitats adjacent to produce fields may increase risk for contamination of fruits and vegetables by enteric bacteria, including Escherichia coli. E. coli survives in extrahost environments (e.g., soil) and could be dispersed across landscapes by wildlife.

Inoculation studies are important when assessing microbial survival and growth in food products. These studies typically involve the pregrowth of multiple strains of a target pathogen under a single condition; this emphasizes strain diversity.

Consumption of cereals contaminated by mycotoxins poses health risks. For instance, Fumonisins B, mainly produced by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusariumproliferatum, and the type B trichothecene deoxynivalenol, typically produced by Fusarium graminearum, are highly prevalent on cereal grains that are staples of many cultural diets and known to represent a toxic risk hazard.

Data on the gut microbiota of animals can provide new insights into dietary ecology of hosts, consequently assisting in understanding their adaptation strategy and evolutionary potential. We studied the gut microbiota composition and function of the wild rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) using 16S rRNA sequencing method. Our results revealed that the gut microbiota of the wild rhesus macaques was dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Spirochaetes.

The purpose of this study was to provide contextual information on indigenous food’s technologies and safety from Gabon. The strategic focus being to promote local food with enhanced nutritional value and improved safety. An investigation and monitoring were carried out to elucidate their process flow diagrams and to identify safety failures. Samples were taken for microbiological analysis using conventional culture-based techniques.

This study selected and used indicator and surrogate microorganisms for Salmonella to validate the processes for physically heat-treated poultry litter compost in litter processing plants.

Antibiotic resistance profiles of Escherichia coli were investigated in an intensive pig production system in the uMgungundlovu District, South Africa, using the ‘farm-to-fork’ approach. Four hundred seventeen (417) samples were collected from pig and pig products at different points (farm, transport, and abattoir). E. coli was isolated and enumerated using the Colilert® 18/Quanti-Tray® 2000 system.

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Intercropping promoted land productivity and be performed worldwide. This study aimed to assess the effect of intercropping on soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and its nitrogen (N) regulation.

Fresh produce-borne enteric bacterial pathogens with resistance to antibiotics have posed serious challenges to food safety and public health worldwide.  This study examined the antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella enterica (n=33), previously isolated from exotic and indigenous leafy green vegetable samples (n=328) collected from 50 vegetable farms in 12 farming areas and 37 vegetable sellers in 4 market centers in Accra, Ghana during the period of March 2016 to March 2017, and de

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a persistent public health concern in the United States and is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness. Cross-contamination of L. monocytogenes is common in delis (between contaminated and uncontaminated equipment, food and hands) and likely plays a role in the associated with retail deli meats. In 2012, EHS-Net conducted a study to describe deli characteristics related to cross-contamination with L. monocytogenes.

This study examined the biological and food safety relevance of leaf lesions for potential invasion of food pathogens into the plant tissue (internalization). This was done by determining the role of artificial leaf damage in terms of damaged leaf area on proliferation of E. coli O157:H7 gfp+.

The Indian Ocean is characterized by its complex physical systems and strong seasonal monsoons. To better understand effects of seasonal monsoon-driven circulation on the bacterioplanktonic community structure in surface waters and the bacterial distribution response to vertical stratification, patterns of seasonal, and vertical distribution of bacterial communities in the Eastern Tropical Indian Ocean were investigated using 16S rRNA gene profiling.