Research Publications (Food Safety)

Microbial safety of fresh produce continues to be a major concern. Novel antimicrobial methods are needed to minimize the risk of contamination. This study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of pulsed light (PL), a novel nisin-organic acid based antimicrobial wash (AW) and the synergy thereof in inactivating E.

Microgreens, the immature plants harvested after a few weeks of growth, are perceived as a heathy, nutritious food ingredient but may be susceptible to colonisation by human pathogens including Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC). Some microgreen cultivars accumulate anthocyanins or secrete essential oils which, when extracted or purified, have been reported to inhibit bacterial growth.

The emergence of mobile colistin resistant gene (mcr-1) in Enterobacteriaceae has become a global public health concern. Dissemination of the mcr-1 gene through conjugation of bacteria associated with food may occur. This research investigated the transfer frequency of the mcr-1 gene among Escherichia coli in liquid media and during growth of mung bean sprouts. The donor strain E.

This study investigated the effect of non-isothermal treatments with different heating rates (HRs) on inactivating Escherichia coli O157:H7 in various heating media. E.

Some water disinfection treatments, such as chlorine and chlorine dioxide, used in the fresh-cut industry to maintain the microbiological quality of process water (PW), inactivate bacterial cells in the water but they also lead to the induction of an intermediate state between viable and non-viable known as viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state.

Under stressful conditions, bacteria can enter viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state to survive. VBNC cells lost ability to grow on routine culture medium but are still alive and may revive in suitable conditions. The revived cells can consume nutrients or produce toxins, leading to food spoilage or human illness, posing great risk to food safety and public health.

Foodborne pathogenic bacteria in multi-species biofilms in food manufacturing facilities have been suspected to be the cause of cross-contamination leading to foodborne illness. We studied if cafeteria kitchen-associated bacterial isolates can have any protective effect on E. coli O157:H7 in biofilm against extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)-degrading enzymes and sodium hypochlorite.

Photocatalysts, including titanium dioxide (TiO2), have attracted much attention in food safety for controlling foodborne pathogens. However, the study of the photocatalytic activity on various food-surrounding media and the factors that affect the efficacy of photocatalytic inactivation is incomplete. In this study, to inactivate foodborne pathogens in food-surrounding environments, TiO2-based photocatalysts with ultraviolet A (UVA, 365 nm) and visible light (VIS, 405 nm) were employed.

This study investigated the bactericidal activity of plasma-activated water (PAW) generated with a remote discharge reactor against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Pseudomonas were considered as common colonizers of fresh and spoilage meat, where they tended to live in the proximity. In this study, we tested the interplay between different isolates of E. coli O157:H7 and Pseudomonas in random two-by-two combinations grown as dual-species consortia. Results showed that the growth fitness of E.

Effects of thyme essential oil (TEO) emulsion (TEE) with cationic charge formulated using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) on attachment strength and inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on romaine lettuce surface were examined in this study.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is one of the most important foodborne pathogens that can persist in leafy green vegetables and subsequently produce biofilms. Biofilm formation is an ongoing concern in the food industry as biofilms are relatively resistant to a variety of antimicrobial treatments. In the present study, we evaluated the combined effects of phage FP43 and mild-heated slightly acidic hypochlorous water (SAHW) in reducing established biofilms on lettuce.

Dry-aging of beef comprises the storage of carcasses and (sub)primal cuts at a low temperature and relative humidity for a prolonged period, aiming to increase the sensory quality of meat. Limited data are available on the survival and potential growth of pathogens on the surface of beef during dry-aging.

Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are common etiological agents of food borne illnesses and outbreaks, most often caused by consuming contaminated beef products, followed by raw vegetables and dairy products. Patients infected with E. coli O157 are more likely hospitalized than patients infected with non-O157 STEC, making E. coli O157 an important target for microbiological interventions.

Author(s): Alexander Gill, Tanis McMahon, Forest Dussault, Karen Jinneman, Rebecca Lindsey, Haley Martin, Devon Stoneburg, Nancy Strockbine, June Wetherington, Peter Feng

Author(s): Changbao Wang, Hua Hang, Shoubiao Zhou, Yan D. Niu, Hechao Du, Kim Stanford, Tim A. McAllister

Author(s): Lin Chen, Xue Zhao, Ji'en Wu, Qin Liu, Xinyi Pang, Hongshun Yang

Author(s): Alexander Gill, Tanis McMahon, Forest Dussault, Nicholas Petronella

Author(s): Anna Szczerba-Turek, Jan Siemionek, Piotr Socha, Agata Bancerz-Kisiel, Aleksandra Platt-Samoraj, Karolina Lipczynska-Ilczuk, Wojciech Szweda

Available online 16 July 2019

Author(s): Magdalena Costa, Adriana Sucari, Sergio Epszteyn, Juan Oteiza, Jimena Gentiluomo, Celia Melamed, Yamila Figueroa, Santiago Mingorance, Agustina Grisaro, Silvia Spioussas, Mariana Buffoni Almeida, Mailen Caruso, Andrés Pontoni, Marcelo Signorini, Gerardo Leotta

Available online 14 July 2019

Author(s): Carlota Cedillo Martin, Cecilie Smith Svanevik, Bjørn Tore Lunestad, Camilla Sekse, Gro S. Johannessen

Available online 22 March 2019

Author(s): Alexander Gill, Catherine Carrillo, Micaela Hadley, Robyn Kenwell, Linda Chui

Publication date: May 2017
, Volume 63

Author(s): Kaushi S.T. Kanankege, Kelly S. Anklam, Catherine M. Fick, Megan J. Kulow, Charles W. Kaspar, Barbara H. Ingham, Andrew Milkowski, Dörte Döpfer