Research Publications (Food Safety)

The present study was conducted to reveal the concentrations and patterns of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in seven species of freshwater aquatic products ( procambarus clarkii, ctenopharyngodon idellus, parabramis pekinensis, hypophthalmichthys molitrix, cyprinus carpioio, aristichthys nobilis, carassius auratus ) collected from freshwater aquaculture farms around Changsha, China.

The increasing demand for slipper oyster ( Crassostrea iredalei ) has propelled farmers to expand oyster cultivation areas in the Philippines, chiefly for local consumption and feasibly for export overseas. Being filter feeders, oysters can accumulate pathogens from their surrounding waters, which can cause foodborne diseases once consumed. Monitoring oyster farming areas for microbiological quality and levels of heavy metals is therefore crucial.

Salmonella is one of the major pathogenic bacteria causing food-borne diseases. The rapid detection of Salmonella in food is of great significance to food safety. In this study, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method was developed and the primers were designed targeting the invA gene of Salmonella.

Vibrio cholerae  can cause pandemic cholera in humans. The bacterium resides in aquatic environments worldwide. Continuous testing of V.

The complexity of the food system makes analyzing microbiological data from food studies challenging since many of the assumptions (e.g., linear relationship between independent and dependent variable, independence of observations) made by common analytical approaches (e.g., ANOVA) are violated. Further, repeated sampling within establishments introduces longitudinal correlation that must be accounted for during analyses.

Salmonella is a foodborne pathogen associated with poultry meat. This study aimed to determine the efficiency and quality attributes of two antimicrobial agents to reduce Salmonella on raw chicken meat when applied individually and in combination using an electrostatic spray cabinet.

Fresh produce continues to be the main source of foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States implicating bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC). The efficacy of nanoemulsified carvacrol (NCR) as a washing treatment in reducing EHEC on fresh produce was investigated. Fresh baby spinach, Romaine lettuce, and Iceberg lettuce leaves (2.5 cm diameter cores) were spot-inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of nalidixic acid resistant EHEC at ~ 6 log CFU/cm 2 .

Federally funded school meals can help alleviate food insecurity and meals are required to be modified when medically necessary (i.e., food allergies, special diets). The COVID-19 pandemic caused many schools across the USA to close, but schools quickly modified meal serving models. The purpose of this study was to understand how school nutrition professionals were ensuring food safety and providing special diets through these modified serving models.

Salmonella causes foodborne disease outbreaks worldwide and raises considerable concerns about public health and economic losses. To determine prevalence, serovar, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes, the present cross-sectional study collected a total of 418 fecal, carcass (three slaughterhouses), pork and cutting board (four markets) samples from a province in central Thailand in 2017 and 2018.

Previous empirical evidence has demonstrated that low socioeconomic status (SES) communities have higher rates of gastroenteritis; however, there is a paucity of literature on the safety and quality of food (fresh produce) accessible to these communities. The overarching goal of this study was to investigate the microbial safety and quality of fresh leafy greens from low and high SES neighborhoods in the Houston, Texas area.

Desiccation is a routine farming practice utilized in off-bottom oyster aquaculture to reduce biofouling organisms and improve shell quality. This practice can increase Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus levels, leading to increased risk of illness for raw oyster consumers.

In the present study, a risk assessment of pesticides, phthalates and heavy metals in strawberries (n = 335) in recent years was conducted by determining the out estimate dietary intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) . 128 Pesticides, 18 phthalates and 3 heavy metals were determined in this determination.

In light of extended stay-at-home periods during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent societal trends have revealed an increased use of online media to remain connected. Simultaneously, interests in at-home cooking and baking, particularly of ‘comfort foods’ have increased. Since flour is a crucial component in many of these products, we analyze how the U.S. public, in social and online media space, references “flour” and its use.

Wheat flour has been connected to outbreaks of foodborne illnesses with increased frequency in recent years, specifically, outbreaks involving Salmonella enterica and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). However, there is little information regarding the survival of these pathogens on wheat grain during long-term storage in a low-moisture environment. This study aims to evaluate the long-term survival of these enteric pathogens on wheat grain over the course of a year.

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a process contaminant that can be formed as a byproduct during fermentation and processing of foods and beverages. Elevated EC levels are primarily associated with distilled spirits, but this compound has also been found at lower levels in foods and beverages, including breads, soy sauce, and wine. Evidence from animal studies suggests that EC is a probable human carcinogen.

“Chicha Morada” also known as purple corn drink (PCD), is a traditional non-carbonated beverage commonly prepared at homes and restaurants in Peru. However, in recent years, it is being produced at an industrial scale aiming to extend its shelf-life, expand its marketing and make it known worldwide.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is the leading causative agent of foodborne outbreaks and is associated with the second most prevalent cause of waterborne infections in the United States.

The presence of AFM 1 in milk is a public health concern, since milk is a significant part of human diets across nations.   In economies where monitoring is low or non-existent, the possibility of contamination with AFM 1 might be increased. Our study aimed to detect and quantify the concentration of AFM 1 in fluid milk and milk drink of different brands, fat contents, packages and, heat treatments sold in the Metropolitan Area of Asunción.

This study aimed to characterize the Salmonella spp. distribution in a poultry processing facility, and to identify their antibiotic resistance profiles. S. enterica was detected in 146 samples (66.7%), and 125 isolates were identified as S. Heidelberg (n = 123), S. Abony (n = 1) and S. O:4,5 (n = 1). S.

ABSTRACT Leafy green vegetables have increasingly been reported as a reservoir of multidrug-resistant pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae; with Shiga toxin- producing Escherichia coli frequently implicated in disease outbreaks worldwide.  This study aimed to determine the presence and characteristics of antibiotic resistance, diarrheagenic virulence genes and phylogenetic groupings of E.

Campylobacter spp. is considered the most common bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis, one of the four main causes of diarrheal disease worldwide, and one of the main foodborne pathogens causing hospitalizations and deaths. A total of 148 strains of Campylobacter spp.   isolated from poultry at farms, processing plants and retail stores in Costa Rica were examined for resistance to six antibiotics.

Imported berries have contributed to U.S. hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections. Minimal processing by freeze-drying is preferred by industry for preserving food quality, but virus inactivation by this process may be limited. This study investigated HAV survival on strawberries during 24-h freeze-drying followed by 22 ° C-storage.

The objectives of this investigation were a) to isolate bacteria from different foods (dairy products, fruits, and vegetables) and evaluate their probiotic potential and b) to select, identify, and characterize the strain with the highest probiotic potential.

Feeding raw meat to domestic pets is a popular practice. Because of the potential food safety implications associated with handling raw meat, concerns about pet owner health have increased. For this study, a netnographic content analysis approach was used to analyze posts from ‘PetForums Community’ online archives, relating to ‘raw meat-based feeding’ and ‘food safety’ ( n =308).

In food processing environments, various microorganisms can adhere and aggregate on the surface of equipment, resulting in the formation of multi-species biofilms. Complex interactions among microorganisms may affect the formation of multi-species biofilms and their resistance to disinfectants, which are food safety and quality concerns. This paper reviews the various interactions among microorganisms in multi-species biofilms, including competitive, cooperative and neutral interactions.