Research Publications (Food Safety)

Abstract Biochar is a promising candidate for the sustainable remediation of soils, especially those contaminated with cationic heavy metals, because of its liming effect and tunable surface functionality. Despite its potential, prior studies have highlighted biochar's limitations in immobilizing soil oxyanions, such as arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), particularly in the short term.

Romaine lettuce in the U.S. is primarily grown in California or Arizona and either processed near the growing regions (source processing) or transported long distance for processing in facilities serving distant markets (forward processing).

In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) directed to the yst chromosomal gene (yst-PCR) was used as a rapid, sensitive, and specific method to detect Yersinia enterocolitica strains belonging to different biotypes in foods; a competitive Internal Amplification Control (cIAC) is also developed. The cIAC had a molecular weight of 417 bp and was detected until a concentration of 0.85 ng/μL.

Post-weaned piglets suffer from F18+ Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections resulting in post-weaning diarrhoea or oedema disease. Frequently used management strategies, including colistin and zinc oxide, have con...

Campylobacter is the most reported zoonotic pathogen in humans in the European Union. Poultry is a major source of human infection with Campylobacter. Although many studies are done on the presence of Campylobacter in broilers and theoretically effective control measures are known, their relative importance at broiler farms remains poorly understood.

Fresh vegetables have been linked to multiple foodborne outbreaks in the U.S., with Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica identified as leading causes. Beyond raw vegetables, cooked vegetables can also pose food safety concerns due to improper cooking temperature and time combinations or post-cooking contamination.

Campylobacter is a major cause of bacterial foodborne diarrhea worldwide. Consumption of raw or undercooked chicken meat contaminated with Campylobacter is the most common causative agent of human infections. Given the high prevalence of contamination in poultry meat and the recent rise of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Campylobacter strains, an effective intervention method of reducing bird colonization is needed.

Foodborne diseases have a considerable negative impact on socioeconomic development globally and are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Among the foodborne bacterial pathogens, Campylobacter spp. is recognized as the leading cause of foodborne illness.

Vibrio vulnificus is a free-living marine bacterium associated with the contamination of fish and shellfish—the most consumed seafood in Asia. Owing to its potentially lethal clinical consequences, the consumption of seafood contaminated with V. vulnificus has become a growing public health concern. This systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression aimed to integrate data on the prevalence of seafood-borne V.

Introduction

Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen worldwide that causes severe morbidity and mortality. It is mainly caused by consuming contaminated food, with retail food considered the primary source.

Methods

Reducing the colonization of Salmonella in turkeys is critical to mitigating the risk of its contamination at later stages of production. Given the increased susceptibility of newly hatched poults to Salmonella colonization, it is crucial to implement interventions that target potential transmission routes, including drinking water.

This study aimed to assess two homogenization methods to recover norovirus from Minas artisanal cheese (MAC) made with raw bovine milk obtained from four microregions of the Minas Gerais state, Brazil, with different ripening times and geographical and abiotic characteristics. For this purpose, 33 fiscal samples were artificially contaminated with norovirus GI and GII, and Mengovirus (MgV), used as an internal process control (IPC).

In this research, a straightforward sample treatment for multiresidue pesticide evaluation of onion samples was developed using the solid-phase extraction/quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and secure (SPE/QuEChERS) method. The suggested technique is based on acetonitrile liquid-liquid partitioning, then follows dispersive solid-phase extraction with ZrO2 particles for extract purification. ZrO2 is synthesized via co precipitation and analyzed via XRD, FTIR, and SEM.

In this study, the antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs L21, AgNPs L22) produced using aqueous extracts of the Laser trilobum harvested in 2021 and 2022 was optimized. The experimental design and optimization of antimicrobial activity were performed using the response surface method (RSM).

Bacteria have the potential to adhere to abiotic surfaces, which has an undesirable effect in the food industry because they can survive for sustained periods through biofilm formation.

DepA, a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent enzyme isolated from Devosia mutans 17-2-E-8, exhibits versatility in oxidizing deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivatives. This study explored DepA’s substrate specificity and enzyme kinetics, focusing on DON and 15-acetyl-DON. Besides efficiently oxidizing DON, DepA also transforms 15-acetyl-DON into 15-acetyl-3-keto-DON, as identified via LC-MS/MS and NMR analysis.

Ensuring food safety measures are essential to minimize the risk of foodborne diseases linked to raw food products. Here, we investigated the efficacy of an innovative approach for the control of Salmonella Typhimurium found in fresh produces. Plasma activated water (PAW) and bacteriophages are emerging effective and valuable alternative methods for microbiological decontamination.

Preliminary investigation showed a notable disparity in the browning of Golden Nectarine (GN) and Chun Xue (CX) during postharvest storage and pulping. Elucidating these underlying mechanisms might bring novel avenues for browning inhibition. To achieve this objective, GN and CX were stored at 25°C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity for 6 days, and then the biochemical changes were investigated.

Salmonella is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens and is mostly transmitted through food of animal origin. Application of bacteriophages is a promising tool to biocontrol Salmonella on both food and food contact surfaces. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a six-phage cocktail for the reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis and a mixture of five major Salmonella serotypes (S.

Consumption of raw and undercooked meat is considered as an important source of Toxoplasma gondii infections. However, most non-heated meat products contain salt and additives, which affect T. gondii viability. It was our aim to develop an in vitro method to substitute the mouse bioassay for determining the effect of salting on T. gondii viability. Two sheep were experimentally infected by oral inoculation with 6.5 × 104 oocysts.

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP; NaturSafe, Dimond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) on performance, plasma metabolites, rumen parameters, and fecal pathogen shedding in feedlot steers. Crossbred steers (n = 61; 271 ± 48.1 kg) were sourced from 3 different research units at Oklahoma State University and assigned to 1 of 3 experimental treatments in a randomized complete block design.

Sustainability is a ‘buzzword’ often used within and outside of the agriculture industry. Southeastern beef cow-calf and stocker operations often utilize management practices which embody the core definition of sustainability to improve land resource, economic, and social viability. In forage-based production systems, year-round management practices are generally viewed by the scientific community in terms of production and economic responses.

Cotton serves as a vital economic driver within the agricultural sector of Mississippi. The seeds of cotton are rich in fat and protein content, making them a cost-effective alternative to soybean meal and other expensive protein sources. Additionally, cottonseed is the primary source of gossypol, a phenolic compound with significant potential for natural parasite control.

The study determined the occurrence and molecular characteristics of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes in Salmonella strains from chickens sampled at the informal market in Gauteng province, South Africa. Human consumers of chickens contaminated with virulent and AMR gene‐carrying Salmonella pose a risk of salmonellosis with therapeutic implications in South Africa.

Citrus fruits are typically waxed before packaging to prevent water loss and extend shelf-life. The survival of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella was evaluated in 15 different commercial finishing waxes used for fresh citrus in California. Survival of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella in citrus finishing waxes depended on wax type. Over 24 h at 4 and 22 °C, populations of L.