Research Publications (Food Safety)

Aims
This study aimed to assess the sanitary situation in agricultural biogas plants regarding pathogenic Clostridium spp..

Nucleotide signalling molecules are important intracellular messengers that regulate a wide range of biological functions. The human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus produces the signalling nucleotide cyclic di-adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP). This molecule is common among Gram-positive bacteria and in many organisms essential for survival under standard laboratory growth conditions. In this study, we investigated the interaction of c-di-AMP with the S. aureus KdpD protein.

We collected 599 Canadian retail pork chops and 283 pork livers routinely (usually weekly) from April 2011 to March 2012 using the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) retail sampling platform. Samples were assayed using validated real-time (q) reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested classical RT-PCR for the detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV), porcine enteric calicivirus (PEC) and rotavirus (RV).

Publication date: September 2015
, Volume 82
Author(s): Mónica Lamas-Maceiras, Esther Rodríguez-Belmonte, Manuel Becerra, M Isabel González-Siso, M Esperanza Cerdán

Kosa, Katherine M. et al. Numerous cases and outbreaks of Salmonella infection are attributable to shell eggs each year in the United States. Safe handling and consumption of shell eggs at home can help reduce foodborne illness attributable to shell eggs. A nationally representative Web survey of 1,504 U.S. adult grocery shoppers was conducted to describe consumer handling practices and consumption of shell eggs at home.

Magajna, Brenda et al. Despite being considered fragile and fastidious, Campylobacter jejuni remains the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the developed world. C. jejuni survives stresses by forming biofilms or entering a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state.

Yang, Xianqin et al. The possible origin of Escherichia coli found on cuts and trimmings in the breaking facility of a beef packing plant was examined using multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis. Coliforms and E.

Ukuku, Dike O. et al. For health reasons, people are consuming fresh-cut fruits with or without minimal processing and, thereby, exposing themselves to the risk of foodborne illness if such fruits are contaminated with bacterial pathogens. This study investigated survival and growth parameters of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and aerobic mesophilic bacteria transferred from cantaloupe rind surfaces to fresh-cut pieces during fresh-cut preparation.

Gereffi, Scott et al. Tomato Best Management Practices require Florida packers to treat tomatoes in a flume system containing at least 150 ppm of free chlorine or other approved sanitizer. However, research is needed to determine the ability of these sanitizers to prevent the transfer of pathogens from contaminated to uncontaminated tomatoes, particularly under realistic packinghouse conditions.

Torso, Lauren M. et al. Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a common cause of foodborne illness in the United States. Beef ground at establishments regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service is routinely tested for E. coli O157:H7. Prior to December 2013, boxed beef product (wholesale cuts of beef, such as beef loin, packaged into bags and boxed for shipping) was not always tested for this pathogen.

Evans, Nicholas P. et al. Salmonella is an important economic and public health concern for the poultry industry. Fresh ground product has been linked with multiple salmonellosis outbreaks in humans. Exposure can be controlled by proper handling and preparation by consumers; however, the industry desires to minimize carriage levels in the final product. A substantial obstacle in reducing product contamination stems from limitations in diagnostic methodologies.

Bowman, Lauren S. et al. Salmonellosis has been increasingly associated with contaminated spices. Identifying inoculation and stabilization methods for Salmonella on whole spices is important for development of validated inactivation processes. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of inoculation preparation on the recoverability of Salmonella enterica from dried whole peppercorns and cumin seeds. Whole black peppercorns and cumin seeds were inoculated with S.

Brooks, Brian W. et al. Non-O157 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in priority serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145 are increasingly recognized as important human pathogens. In the present study, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the lipopolysaccharide O antigens of E. coli in serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145 was produced. The specificity was evaluated by examining the reactivity of the MAbs with 50 E. coli strains and 42 non–E.

Publication date: December 2015
, Volume 52
Author(s): Avelina Franco-Vega, Nelly Ramírez-Corona, Aurelio López-Malo, Enrique Palou

Publication date: December 2015
, Volume 52
Author(s): Marie-Josée Gagné, Julie Barrette, Tony Savard, Julie Brassard

Publication date: November 2015
, Volume 109
Author(s): Antonio Velarde, Emma Fàbrega, Isabel Blanco-Penedo, Antoni Dalmau

Publication date: November 2015
, Volume 109
Author(s): Adisorn Swetwiwathana, Wonnop Visessanguan

Publication date: Available online 17 July 2015

Author(s): D. Lacasta, L.M. Ferrer, J.J. Ramos, J.M. González, A. Ortín, G.C. Fthenakis

Publication date: Available online 17 July 2015

Author(s): Rui Li, Mohammed Y.E. Chowdhury, Jae-Hoon Kim, Tae-Hwan Kim, Prabuddha Pathinayake, Wan-Seo Koo, Min-Eun Park, Ji-Eun Yoon, Jong-Bok Roh, Seung-Pyo Hong, Moon-Hee Sung, Jong-Soo Lee, Chul-Joong Kim

Wang, Sheng et al. The presence of fish bones is now regarded as an important hazard in fishery products, and there is increasing demand for new analytical techniques to control it more effectively.

Bolarinwa, Islamiyat Folashade et al. Consumption of cyanogenic plants can cause serious health problems for humans. The ability to detect and quantify cyanogenic glycosides, capable of generating cyanide, could contribute to prevention of cyanide poisoning from the consumption of improperly processed cyanogenic plants. Hapten-protein conjugates were synthesized with amygdalin and linamarin by using a novel approach.

Cao, Xu-Liang et al. A sensitive and selective gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of bisphenol A (BPA) and three other bisphenols, bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol E (BPE), and bisphenol F (BPF).

Assunção, Ednei et al. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of gamma radiation (GR) and electron beam (EB) on Brazil nut samples contaminated with Aspergillus flavus. Fifty samples were spread with an A. flavus suspension and incubated at 30°C and a relative humidity of 93%. After 15 days of incubation, mycobiota and aflatoxin analysis were performed.

Nakano, Miyo et al. A quantitative real-time PCR assay was developed to specifically detect and quantify Moorella thermoacetica and/or Moorella thermoautotrophica from canned coffee beverages. Six different combinations of newly designed primers were examined, and primer pair v1-1F/v4R was found to specifically amplify M. thermoacetica and M. thermoautotrophica. The minimum detection sensitivity was 15 fg of pure culture DNA from M. thermoacetica.

Symes, Sally et al. Seed sprouts have been implicated as vehicles for numerous foodborne outbreaks worldwide. Seed sprouts pose a unique food safety concern because of the ease of microbiological seed contamination, the inherent ability of the sprouting process to support microbial growth, and their consumption either raw or lightly cooked.