Research Publications (Food Safety)

This study aimed to present a new approach for detecting pathogenic Vibrio spp., including V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, and V. cholerae in contaminated seafood. This method combined polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a concise preculturing step and a simplified DNA extraction procedure. The effectiveness of the method was confirmed using contaminated mussel samples.

This study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of selected essential oils (AITC, carvacrol, eugenol, and thymol) in combination with Salmonella phage-encoding endolysin (LysPB32) against Salmonella Typhimurium KCCM 40253 in vitro and in cooked ground beef. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AITC, carvacrol, eugenol, and thymol against S.

Phage-encoded peptidoglycanases (phage endolysins) are hydrolyzing enzymes that break peptidoglycan bonds within infected bacterial cell walls at the end of the lytic cycle. They are promising antibacterial agents capable of controlling major foodborne pathogens. Here, we cloned, overexpressed, and purified the phage-encoded protein LysCPQ7, a putative endolysin from the Clostridium perfringens phage CPQ7.

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by several species of Aspergillus fungi which can be found in food and feed. When lactating animals are exposed to feedstuff contaminated by aflatoxin B1, they can excrete its hydroxylated form, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), into milk.

This study was designed to isolate and characterize novel lytic phages specific to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) from wastewater samples, determine their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities, and investigate the biocontrol efficiency of phages on raw beef contaminated with S. aureus. For this purpose, a total of 50 wastewaters from slaughterhouses were used as material, and phages were isolated with the double-layer agar method.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a hazardous bacterium that causes serious disease in shrimps, leading to enormous economic losses and high rates of mortality. The control of V. parahaemolyticus is a difficult task due to its ability to produce biofilms. In this work, the ability of inexpensive quinoline to inhibit V. parahaemolyticus growth and biofilm formation was explored for the first time.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen capable of causing foodborne diseases (FBDs) in fresh meat products and ready-to-eat (RTE) sandwiches. Therefore, investigating antimicrobial therapies that are safe and efficacious will benefit food safety.

The majority of fruits and vegetables are perishable, thus finding sustainable postharvest treatments to regulate the quality of fresh produce is imperative. Recent research has demonstrated that the exogenous application of hydrogen (H2)-associated treatments such as H2 gas or hydrogen-rich water (HRW), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at optimal concentrations can significantly maintain the quality of postharvest fruits and vegetables.

The presence of pesticide residues in vegetables is a worldwide issue regarding food safety. This study explores the efficacy of a novel advanced oxidation process (AOP), namely the coupled ultrasonic-ozonation (US/O3) process, for removing six commonly found pesticides from vegetables.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, the transmission of which has usually been attributed to ingestion of undercooked or raw meat. Epidemiological studies also mention cured meat products as a potential risk factor for acquiring toxoplasmosis.

Salmonella is a zoonotic pathogen that is commonly transmitted through food. External disinfection of shell eggs is of crucial importance to health in reducing egg-borne salmonellosis, because Salmonella on shells can be easily transmitted to other food products or infect food handlers. A new thermal treatment was developed for the inactivation of Salmonella Enterica on shell eggs.

Better control of Salmonella in chicken has been a public health priority at the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) in the U.S. and public health agencies worldwide. Testing for Salmonella in chicken carcasses and enforcement of a standard has been a central feature of the FSIS Salmonella-control program.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, is widely found in wheat and other cereals all around the world.

Listeria monocytogenes causes foodborne listeriosis, which is an important food safety and public health problem. Monitoring them in the food chain using simple and affordable methods is of paramount importance to avoid untoward consequences.

Campylobacter is an important foodborne pathogen as it is associated with significant disease burden across Europe. Among various sources, Campylobacter infections in humans are often related to the consumption of undercooked poultry meat or improper handling of poultry meat. Many European countries have implemented measures to reduce human exposure to Campylobacter from broiler meat.

Salmonella Thompson is a foodborne pathogen that has attracted attention in Korea since it was identified as the cause of a large-scale domestic food poisoning outbreak in 2018.

Increasing the stringency of microbiological criteria is a risk management measure that can improve food safety and hygiene, but its adoption by governments around the globe is limited.

As one of the main mycotoxins in food, ochratoxin A (OTA) poses a serious threat to food safety and human health.

Population growth, international market expansion, and climate change have caused changes in agricultural practices, including increased use of phytosanitary products to control pests and diseases in food production. The European Union aims to achieve sustainable and high-quality food, with the priority of reducing pesticide use.

In this study, three kinds of novel modified activated carbon adsorbent were prepared by different concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfonate solution, and carried out by FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and N2-adsorption-desorption analytical techniques. The adsorption mechanism of aflatoxins on three types of modified activated carbon had been systematically investigated by isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies.

Contamination by non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. in aquacultured shrimp poses a risk for human health. In Indonesia, the presence of the pathogen in shrimp raises a major concern for international trade because shrimp is one of the important exported fishery commodities. The aim of this study was to use food safety objective approach in combination with a quantitative microbiological risk assessment to determine the contamination of Salmonella spp.

Fresh strawberry is a popular, frequently fruit consumed, which is largely appreciated for its organoleptic characteristics and health benefits. However, different outbreaks caused by food-borne pathogens have been attributed to strawberry consumption. The persistence of bacteria on fruits like strawberries could be related to their ability to adhere and form biofilms on the surface.

Vacuum packaging is known to be an effective way to limit the growth of food spoilage and food-poisoning bacteria. However, Listeria monocytogenes (LM) can survive under low-oxygen conditions and as well as refrigeration temperatures. This study was conducted to model the fate of LM-inoculated meatballs and Sundae, a Korean black pudding, and assess the effect of packaging (aerobic packaging, AP; vacuum packaging, VP) on risk.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in peanut oil can lead to serious food safety problems. Thus, the development of AFB1 decontamination technology is an urgent and necessary matter. Herein, a renewable and effective biomass-derived adsorbent, namely magnetic rice husk-based biochar (MRHB), was prepared and successfully used for the removal of AFB1 from peanut oil. The adsorption conditions, adsorption mechanism, reusability and cytotoxicity of MRHB were systematically studied.

The present study strengthens the food preservative potential of Chamaerops humilis extracts viz. hexane extract, chloroform extract, ethanol extract, chloroform extract, and methanol extract based on their antifungal, antiaflatoxin, and antioxidant efficacy. The isolation of molds from peanuts were carried out by the suspension-dilution technique and inoculation on agar medium.