Microbial bioaerosols consist of airborne particles that carry microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In poultry slaughterhouses, multiple stages of processing, including scalding, defeathering, and carcass washing, create manifold opportunities for bioaerosol formation and microbial dissemination. Ensuring poultry meat hygiene and preventing the spread of foodborne pathogens remain ongoing global challenges.
In this study, we assessed air quality within the slaughterhouse by collecting air samples at various points, including the evisceration and processing areas. These samples were analyzed for total aerobic colony counts and the presence of specific bacterial taxa. Additionally, we evaluated the efficacy of a preinstalled air decontamination system that utilized ozonation, ultraviolet C irradiation, and ionization to reduce microbial loads in the air.
Our results revealed that the bacterial concentration in both slaughterhouse areas was relatively low, with a mean concentration of 2.78 log10 CFU/m3 in the evisceration area and 2.28 log10 CFU/m3 in the processing area. However, the air decontamination system in the processing area did not produce a statistically significant reduction in airborne bacterial levels. Notably, there was a statistically significant increase in bacterial concentration in the processing section as the day progressed.
Our study offers new insights into air quality in poultry slaughterhouses and the limitations of air decontamination systems. These findings indicate that further investigation is required to understand the reasons for the system’s ineffectiveness and to explore enhanced strategies for improving its performance.
{"title":"Assessing Airborne Bacteria and the Impact of Air Decontamination Systems in a Chicken Slaughterhouse","authors":"Gesa Carstens , Uwe Roesler , Alina Kirse , Lothar Kreienbrock , Anika Friese","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100631","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100631","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microbial bioaerosols consist of airborne particles that carry microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In poultry slaughterhouses, multiple stages of processing, including scalding, defeathering, and carcass washing, create manifold opportunities for bioaerosol formation and microbial dissemination. Ensuring poultry meat hygiene and preventing the spread of foodborne pathogens remain ongoing global challenges.</div><div>In this study, we assessed air quality within the slaughterhouse by collecting air samples at various points, including the evisceration and processing areas. These samples were analyzed for total aerobic colony counts and the presence of specific bacterial taxa. Additionally, we evaluated the efficacy of a preinstalled air decontamination system that utilized ozonation, ultraviolet C irradiation, and ionization to reduce microbial loads in the air.</div><div>Our results revealed that the bacterial concentration in both slaughterhouse areas was relatively low, with a mean concentration of 2.78 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/m<sup>3</sup> in the evisceration area and 2.28 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/m<sup>3</sup> in the processing area. However, the air decontamination system in the processing area did not produce a statistically significant reduction in airborne bacterial levels. Notably, there was a statistically significant increase in bacterial concentration in the processing section as the day progressed.</div><div>Our study offers new insights into air quality in poultry slaughterhouses and the limitations of air decontamination systems. These findings indicate that further investigation is required to understand the reasons for the system’s ineffectiveness and to explore enhanced strategies for improving its performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100631"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100638
Nadja Pracser , Eva M. Voglauer , Sarah Thalguter , Elisabeth Leiss-Holzinger , Andreas Zaiser , Martin Wagner , Kathrin Rychli
Biofilms in drinking water distribution systems are harborage sites for diverse bacteria and fungi. The presence of opportunistic pathogens in these biofilms poses a potential health threat, in food processing environments, where there is still limited knowledge on biofilms. In the current study, we investigated the presence and composition of biofilms in eight months old water hoses from a meat processing environment.
First, we used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to directly visualize the biofilms on the inner wall of the water hoses. Next, we determined the bacterial and fungal load and the amount of biofilm matrix components (carbohydrates, proteins, eDNA). We further investigated the biofilm microbiota with 16S rRNA (bacteria) and ITS (fungi) sequencing.
Using OCT, we detected visible biofilms in two water hoses. In contrast, by targeting the microbial load and biofilm matrix components, biofilms were observed in 14 out of 15 tested water hoses. Mycobacterium and the fungal genus Trichoderma were highly abundant in the biofilms. Bacterial genera associated with meat spoilage such as Pseudomonas, unclassified Microbacteriaceae, and Stenotrophomonas were detected at low abundances. Furthermore, fungal and bacterial genera including opportunistic pathogens (e.g. Legionella, Trichoderma) were sparsely detected. Significant differences in the beta diversities of bacterial communities between water hoses from the different sampling points were detected. In this study, the biofilms indicate that the water is a potential source for cross-contamination in the food processing environment. Future research is necessary to understand the factors and mechanisms shaping the biofilm and microbial community in water hoses in food processing environments.
{"title":"Biofilms in Water Hoses from the Food Processing Environment Harbor Diverse Microbial Communities","authors":"Nadja Pracser , Eva M. Voglauer , Sarah Thalguter , Elisabeth Leiss-Holzinger , Andreas Zaiser , Martin Wagner , Kathrin Rychli","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100638","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100638","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biofilms in drinking water distribution systems are harborage sites for diverse bacteria and fungi. The presence of opportunistic pathogens in these biofilms poses a potential health threat, in food processing environments, where there is still limited knowledge on biofilms. In the current study, we investigated the presence and composition of biofilms in eight months old water hoses from a meat processing environment.</div><div>First, we used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to directly visualize the biofilms on the inner wall of the water hoses. Next, we determined the bacterial and fungal load and the amount of biofilm matrix components (carbohydrates, proteins, eDNA). We further investigated the biofilm microbiota with 16S rRNA (bacteria) and ITS (fungi) sequencing.</div><div>Using OCT, we detected visible biofilms in two water hoses. In contrast, by targeting the microbial load and biofilm matrix components, biofilms were observed in 14 out of 15 tested water hoses. <em>Mycobacterium</em> and the fungal genus <em>Trichoderma</em> were highly abundant in the biofilms. Bacterial genera associated with meat spoilage such as <em>Pseudomonas</em>, unclassified <em>Microbacteriaceae,</em> and <em>Stenotrophomonas</em> were detected at low abundances. Furthermore, fungal and bacterial genera including opportunistic pathogens (e.g. <em>Legionella</em>, <em>Trichoderma</em>) were sparsely detected. Significant differences in the beta diversities of bacterial communities between water hoses from the different sampling points were detected. In this study, the biofilms indicate that the water is a potential source for cross-contamination in the food processing environment. Future research is necessary to understand the factors and mechanisms shaping the biofilm and microbial community in water hoses in food processing environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100638"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145301410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100626
Sarah I. Murphy , Ece Bulut , Laura K. Strawn , Michelle D. Danyluk , Martin Wiedmann , Renata Ivanek
Cantaloupe contamination with the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes (LM) may occur along the supply chain. We developed a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model for LM on cantaloupe along the fresh-cut supply chain and evaluated potential risk reduction strategies. The developed model starts at harvest and includes conditions during transportation from field to intermediate facility (packinghouse or cooling facility), handling at the intermediate facility, transportation to the fresh-cut facility, storage preprocessing at the fresh-cut facility, processing and handling at the fresh-cut facility, as well as conditions during distribution, retail, transportation to home, and home storage. The model was simulated to (i) provide an estimate of LM concentration in a single serving (134 g) and (ii) estimate annual illnesses and deaths in the United States attributed to LM-contaminated fresh-cut cantaloupe. The baseline model predicted the median risk of listeriosis per serving in general and susceptible populations was 1.4 × 10−12 and 6.4 × 10−11, respectively. The median (5th, 95th percentiles) predicted number of illnesses and deaths annually attributed to fresh-cut cantaloupe was 0 (0, 1070) and 0 (0, 264), respectively. Time and temperature conditions postpackaging, and the initial number of LM at harvest had the greatest impacts on LM per contaminated serving and the number of annual illnesses; the initial LM levels at harvest and cross-contamination parameters at the fresh-cut facility had the greatest impacts on prevalence of contaminated servings. Assessment of interventions demonstrated that reducing temperature and/or time conditions postpackaging can be an effective risk reduction strategy. Overall, the developed tool estimates the risk associated with the consumption of LM-contaminated fresh-cut cantaloupe and facilitates the identification and assessment of potential risk reduction strategies across the supply chain.
哈密瓜污染与食源性病原体单核细胞增生李斯特菌（LM）可能发生沿供应链。我们建立了哈密瓜鲜切供应链微生物风险定量评估（QMRA）模型，并评估了潜在的风险降低策略。开发的模型从收获开始，包括从田间到中间设施（包装室或冷却设施）的运输过程中的条件，中间设施的处理，运输到鲜切设施，鲜切设施的储存预处理，鲜切设施的加工和处理，以及分销，零售，运输到家和家庭储存期间的条件。模拟该模型的目的是：(i)提供单份（134 g）中LM浓度的估计，（ii）估计美国每年因LM污染的鲜切哈密瓜而导致的疾病和死亡。基线模型预测，在一般人群和易感人群中，每次服用李斯特菌病的中位风险分别为1.4 x 10-12和6.4 x 10-11。中位数（第5和第95百分位数）预测每年因鲜切哈密瓜导致的疾病和死亡人数分别为0（0,1070）和0（0,264）。包装后的时间和温度条件以及收获时的初始数量对每次污染的LM和年患病数的影响最大；收获时的初始LM水平和鲜切设施的交叉污染参数对受污染食物的流行率影响最大。干预措施的评估表明，降低包装后的温度和/或时间条件可以是一种有效的降低风险的策略。总的来说，开发的工具估计了与食用LM污染的鲜切哈密瓜相关的风险，并促进了整个供应链中潜在风险降低策略的识别和评估。
{"title":"Farm-to-consumer quantitative microbial risk assessment model for Listeria monocytogenes on fresh-cut cantaloupe","authors":"Sarah I. Murphy , Ece Bulut , Laura K. Strawn , Michelle D. Danyluk , Martin Wiedmann , Renata Ivanek","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100626","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100626","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cantaloupe contamination with the foodborne pathogen <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> (LM) may occur along the supply chain. We developed a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model for LM on cantaloupe along the fresh-cut supply chain and evaluated potential risk reduction strategies. The developed model starts at harvest and includes conditions during transportation from field to intermediate facility (packinghouse or cooling facility), handling at the intermediate facility, transportation to the fresh-cut facility, storage preprocessing at the fresh-cut facility, processing and handling at the fresh-cut facility, as well as conditions during distribution, retail, transportation to home, and home storage. The model was simulated to (i) provide an estimate of LM concentration in a single serving (134 g) and (ii) estimate annual illnesses and deaths in the United States attributed to LM-contaminated fresh-cut cantaloupe. The baseline model predicted the median risk of listeriosis per serving in general and susceptible populations was 1.4 × 10<sup>−12</sup> and 6.4 × 10<sup>−11</sup>, respectively. The median (5th, 95th percentiles) predicted number of illnesses and deaths annually attributed to fresh-cut cantaloupe was 0 (0, 1070) and 0 (0, 264), respectively. Time and temperature conditions postpackaging, and the initial number of LM at harvest had the greatest impacts on LM per contaminated serving and the number of annual illnesses; the initial LM levels at harvest and cross-contamination parameters at the fresh-cut facility had the greatest impacts on prevalence of contaminated servings. Assessment of interventions demonstrated that reducing temperature and/or time conditions postpackaging can be an effective risk reduction strategy. Overall, the developed tool estimates the risk associated with the consumption of LM-contaminated fresh-cut cantaloupe and facilitates the identification and assessment of potential risk reduction strategies across the supply chain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100626"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145186085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100619
Aysu Deniz , Blanca Ruiz-Llacsahuanga , Faith Critzer , Dan L. Boyle , Josefina Lacasa , Umut Yucel , Valentina Trinetta
The ability of L. monocytogenes, a common foodborne pathogen, to form biofilms significantly contributes to its persistence and contamination risks. Understanding L. monocytogenes aggregation is crucial to develop effective control strategies. This study assessed the growth and accumulation of L. monocytogenes on common food processing surfaces in the produce industry and evaluated the efficacy of commercially available sanitizers alone or simultaneously with UV-C light for 30 s, 1 min, or 5 min. L. monocytogenes was allowed to aggregate on stainless steel, nylon, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and Teflon for 24 h (initial biofilm aggregate) and 96 h (mature biofilms). Treatments included 120 ppm peracetic acid (PAA), silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC), 4% lactic acid, and UV-C light (254 nm). After sanitizer application, cells were dislodged and enumerated by serial dilution and plating. Confocal images were obtained before and after treatments to evaluate biofilm architecture. All liquid sanitizers significantly reduced L. monocytogenes independently of the surface type (P < 0.05). UV-C treatment application time had no significant effect on biofilm reduction (P > 0.05), though its efficacy on 24 h aggregates varied significantly depending on the surface material. Peracetic acid and lactic acid were the most effective treatments across surfaces, while UV-C alone was the least effective. Combined sanitizer and UV-C light application for up to 5 min did not necessarily improve treatment efficacy compared to sanitizers alone. Confocal images displayed surface cleanability and alterations in microbial architecture before and after treatments. Mature biofilms exhibited extensive surface coverage on all surfaces, which was visibly reduced following sanitizer application. This study provides insightful information to the produce industry for using sanitizing approaches on various surfaces based on cleanability, topographical, and architectural characteristics.
{"title":"Formation and Control of Listeria monocytogenes Growth and Accumulation on Food Processing Surfaces in the Fresh Produce Industry","authors":"Aysu Deniz , Blanca Ruiz-Llacsahuanga , Faith Critzer , Dan L. Boyle , Josefina Lacasa , Umut Yucel , Valentina Trinetta","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100619","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100619","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ability of <em>L. monocytogenes,</em> a common foodborne pathogen, to form biofilms significantly contributes to its persistence and contamination risks. Understanding <em>L. monocytogenes</em> aggregation is crucial to develop effective control strategies. This study assessed the growth and accumulation of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> on common food processing surfaces in the produce industry and evaluated the efficacy of commercially available sanitizers alone or simultaneously with UV-C light for 30 s, 1 min, or 5 min. <em>L. monocytogenes</em> was allowed to aggregate on stainless steel, nylon, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and Teflon for 24 h (initial biofilm aggregate) and 96 h (mature biofilms). Treatments included 120 ppm peracetic acid (PAA), silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC), 4% lactic acid, and UV-C light (254 nm). After sanitizer application, cells were dislodged and enumerated by serial dilution and plating. Confocal images were obtained before and after treatments to evaluate biofilm architecture. All liquid sanitizers significantly reduced <em>L. monocytogenes</em> independently of the surface type (<em>P</em> < 0.05). UV-C treatment application time had no significant effect on biofilm reduction (<em>P</em> > 0.05), though its efficacy on 24 h aggregates varied significantly depending on the surface material. Peracetic acid and lactic acid were the most effective treatments across surfaces, while UV-C alone was the least effective. Combined sanitizer and UV-C light application for up to 5 min did not necessarily improve treatment efficacy compared to sanitizers alone. Confocal images displayed surface cleanability and alterations in microbial architecture before and after treatments. Mature biofilms exhibited extensive surface coverage on all surfaces, which was visibly reduced following sanitizer application. This study provides insightful information to the produce industry for using sanitizing approaches on various surfaces based on cleanability, topographical, and architectural characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100619"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100627
Amy T. Siceloff , Nikki W. Shariat
The current culture-based methods for detecting Salmonella are time and resource-intensive, as it can take between three to five days with preenrichment and selective enrichment steps. Previous work by our group has shortened this process by combining novobiocin and selective ingredients from Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) (malachite green; 0.1 g/L) and tetrathionate (TT) (bile salts; 1 g/L) to BPW in parallel, creating an all-encompassing selective preenrichment step. In this study, we sought to validate the use of selective preenrichment on commercial poultry live production samples, as the increased presence of background bacteria may limit Salmonella recovery. Two pairs of boot sock samples were collected from 35 houses, representing 17 different commercial broiler or breeder farms (n = 70 samples). The samples were cultured under selective preenrichment conditions in parallel with standard nonselective preenrichment (BPW), followed by selective enrichment (RV, TT). Additionally, molecular enumeration was performed to quantify the amount of Salmonella present in each sample. Overall, Salmonella was found in 74% (52/70) of samples collected, and selective preenrichment and selective enrichment conditions each recovered Salmonella in 14/17 farms. The average quantity per sample was greater in those recovered with selective preenrichment (5.2 log10 CFU/sample) than those that were not (3.0 log10 CFU/sample; p = 0.01, Welch two-sample t-test). CRISPR-SeroSeq was used to determine the relative frequency of Salmonella serovars in each sample and culture condition. The proportion of multiserovar populations observed in the selective preenrichment conditions (53%, 29/55) was not significantly different from those in selective enrichment conditions (56%, 39/70; p = 0.1, McNemar’s chi-squared test). These findings suggest that increasing the selectivity of the Salmonella preenrichment step could eliminate the need for a subsequent selective enrichment, thus reducing the time to Salmonella isolation by 24 h.
{"title":"Optimizing Salmonella Recovery From Commercial Poultry Environmental Samples With Selective Preenrichment","authors":"Amy T. Siceloff , Nikki W. Shariat","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100627","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100627","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The current culture-based methods for detecting <em>Salmonella</em> are time and resource-intensive, as it can take between three to five days with preenrichment and selective enrichment steps. Previous work by our group has shortened this process by combining novobiocin and selective ingredients from Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) (malachite green; 0.1 g/L) and tetrathionate (TT) (bile salts; 1 g/L) to BPW in parallel, creating an all-encompassing selective preenrichment step. In this study, we sought to validate the use of selective preenrichment on commercial poultry live production samples, as the increased presence of background bacteria may limit <em>Salmonella</em> recovery. Two pairs of boot sock samples were collected from 35 houses, representing 17 different commercial broiler or breeder farms (<em>n</em> = 70 samples). The samples were cultured under selective preenrichment conditions in parallel with standard nonselective preenrichment (BPW), followed by selective enrichment (RV, TT). Additionally, molecular enumeration was performed to quantify the amount of <em>Salmonella</em> present in each sample. Overall, <em>Salmonella</em> was found in 74% (52/70) of samples collected, and selective preenrichment and selective enrichment conditions each recovered <em>Salmonella</em> in 14/17 farms. The average quantity per sample was greater in those recovered with selective preenrichment (5.2 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/sample) than those that were not (3.0 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/sample; <em>p</em> = 0.01, Welch two-sample <em>t</em>-test). CRISPR-SeroSeq was used to determine the relative frequency of <em>Salmonella</em> serovars in each sample and culture condition. The proportion of multiserovar populations observed in the selective preenrichment conditions (53%, 29/55) was not significantly different from those in selective enrichment conditions (56%, 39/70; <em>p</em> = 0.1, McNemar’s chi-squared test). These findings suggest that increasing the selectivity of the <em>Salmonella</em> preenrichment step could eliminate the need for a subsequent selective enrichment, thus reducing the time to <em>Salmonella</em> isolation by 24 h.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100627"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145186060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100628
Janak Dhakal , Sushant Bhat , Joe James , Richard Y. Otwey , Sandesh Chapagain , Parminder Singh
The increasing popularity of raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) and raw milk feeding in companion animals presents a growing concern for zoonotic disease transmission. Recent evidence has demonstrated that these products can serve as vehicles for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, an emergent viral threat with a host range from birds, dairy cattle, and pets to humans. Since the emergence of clade 2.3.4.4b in 2020, HPAI H5N1 has caused widespread outbreaks in poultry, wild birds, and mammals, including dairy cattle and cats. Transmission to pets has been linked to ingestion of contaminated raw pet food and unpasteurized milk. Notably, multiple outbreaks in cats across Europe, Asia, and North America have been associated with raw pet food products, while recent U.S. cases confirm direct viral transmission from infected pet food, raw milk, and colostrum. Experimental studies have also supported the plausibility of gastrointestinal and respiratory routes of infection in cats and dogs, with felines appearing particularly susceptible, often exhibiting severe clinical disease and high mortality. A number of documented recalls of H5N1-contaminated raw pet food and raw milk in the US underscore the persistence of infectious viruses in cold-stored food products and highlight the risks of feeding raw diets. Although pet-to-human transmission of the HPAI H5N1 virus has not been reported yet, cat-to-human transmission of the H7N2 influenza virus has been reported in the USA. This review presents current evidence on H5N1 in RMBDs and raw milk, its epidemiology in companion animals, outbreaks, and the health implications among pets and humans. By raising awareness among pet owners, industry stakeholders, and veterinarians, this paper highlights the immediate need for stringent surveillance and improved biosecurity in raw food supply chains to minimize viral transmission risks, thereby safeguarding pet health and curb the potential spillover to humans.
{"title":"Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Raw Pet Foods and Milk: A Growing Threat to both Companion Animals and Human Health, and Potential Raw Pet Food Industry Liability","authors":"Janak Dhakal , Sushant Bhat , Joe James , Richard Y. Otwey , Sandesh Chapagain , Parminder Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100628","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100628","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing popularity of raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) and raw milk feeding in companion animals presents a growing concern for zoonotic disease transmission. Recent evidence has demonstrated that these products can serve as vehicles for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, an emergent viral threat with a host range from birds, dairy cattle, and pets to humans. Since the emergence of clade 2.3.4.4b in 2020, HPAI H5N1 has caused widespread outbreaks in poultry, wild birds, and mammals, including dairy cattle and cats. Transmission to pets has been linked to ingestion of contaminated raw pet food and unpasteurized milk. Notably, multiple outbreaks in cats across Europe, Asia, and North America have been associated with raw pet food products, while recent U.S. cases confirm direct viral transmission from infected pet food, raw milk, and colostrum. Experimental studies have also supported the plausibility of gastrointestinal and respiratory routes of infection in cats and dogs, with felines appearing particularly susceptible, often exhibiting severe clinical disease and high mortality. A number of documented recalls of H5N1-contaminated raw pet food and raw milk in the US underscore the persistence of infectious viruses in cold-stored food products and highlight the risks of feeding raw diets. Although pet-to-human transmission of the HPAI H5N1 virus has not been reported yet, cat-to-human transmission of the H7N2 influenza virus has been reported in the USA. This review presents current evidence on H5N1 in RMBDs and raw milk, its epidemiology in companion animals, outbreaks, and the health implications among pets and humans. By raising awareness among pet owners, industry stakeholders, and veterinarians, this paper highlights the immediate need for stringent surveillance and improved biosecurity in raw food supply chains to minimize viral transmission risks, thereby safeguarding pet health and curb the potential spillover to humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100628"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145186056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hydroponic nutrient solutions may create favorable conditions for the growth of environmental pathogens such as L. monocytogenes. This study evaluated the growth and survival of L. monocytogenes in distilled water and tomato, lettuce, and strawberry nutrient solutions at pH 5, 6, and 7 over 72 h, and assessed the effectiveness of UV-C treatment (1.32 mW/cm2) for microbial reduction. Distilled water at pH 5 supported limited survival, with counts decreasing from 2.96 to 2.20 log CFU/mL (p ≤ 0.05). In tomato solutions, L. monocytogenes levels showed minimal change, while lettuce and strawberry solutions supported significant growth, particularly at pH 6, indicating that both pH and nutrient composition influence pathogen behavior. UV-C treatment significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced L. monocytogenes across all nutrient solutions with greater reduction observed at longer exposure times. In lettuce solutions, 5, 10, and 15 s exposures decreased populations from 5.70 log CFU/mL to 4.61, 2.26, and 1.38 log CFU/mL, respectively, with similar reductions in tomato (to 4.49, 2.14, and 1.04 log CFU/mL) and strawberry solutions (to 4.50, 2.19, and 1.75 log CFU/mL). These results demonstrate that hydroponic solutions can facilitate L. monocytogenes survival depending on pH and nutrient content. While UV-C offers a promising intervention strategy, further work is needed to optimize decontamination approaches for hydroponic food production systems.
{"title":"Effect of pH, Nutrient Composition, and UV-C Light Treatment on Listeria monocytogenes in Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions","authors":"Janny Mendoza , Ivannova Lituma , Kathryn Fontenot , Achyut Adhikari","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100632","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100632","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydroponic nutrient solutions may create favorable conditions for the growth of environmental pathogens such as <em>L. monocytogenes</em>. This study evaluated the growth and survival of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> in distilled water and tomato, lettuce, and strawberry nutrient solutions at pH 5, 6, and 7 over 72 h, and assessed the effectiveness of UV-C treatment (1.32 mW/cm<sup>2</sup>) for microbial reduction. Distilled water at pH 5 supported limited survival, with counts decreasing from 2.96 to 2.20 log CFU/mL (<em>p</em> ≤ 0.05). In tomato solutions, <em>L. monocytogenes</em> levels showed minimal change, while lettuce and strawberry solutions supported significant growth, particularly at pH 6, indicating that both pH and nutrient composition influence pathogen behavior. UV-C treatment significantly (<em>p</em> ≤ 0.05) reduced <em>L. monocytogenes</em> across all nutrient solutions with greater reduction observed at longer exposure times. In lettuce solutions, 5, 10, and 15 s exposures decreased populations from 5.70 log CFU/mL to 4.61, 2.26, and 1.38 log CFU/mL, respectively, with similar reductions in tomato (to 4.49, 2.14, and 1.04 log CFU/mL) and strawberry solutions (to 4.50, 2.19, and 1.75 log CFU/mL). These results demonstrate that hydroponic solutions can facilitate <em>L. monocytogenes</em> survival depending on pH and nutrient content. While UV-C offers a promising intervention strategy, further work is needed to optimize decontamination approaches for hydroponic food production systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100632"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145239003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100625
Sarah M. Nemser , Olgica Ceric , Jake Guag , Sarah Pauley , Angelica Jones , Kathleen Proia , Megan R Miller , Andriy Tkachenko , David Rotstein , April Hodges , Renate Reimschuessel , Gregory H. Tyson
The Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), a collaborative network established in 2010, is a partnership between the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA CVM) and 48 veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs) across North America. Vet-LIRN actively supports the CVM mission of protecting human and animal health by leveraging its network of VDLs. Initially focused on issues in animal foods, including by testing animal diagnostic samples, Vet-LIRN now addresses a broad range of CVM’s priorities. These include responding to animal foodborne illness outbreaks, developing new methods to detect potential microbial and chemical contaminants in animal foods, tracking antimicrobial resistance (AMR), promoting antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine, and preparing for emerging One Health threats such as COVID-19 and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Over the past 15 years, Vet-LIRN has played a pivotal role in many high-profile and important public health success stories, such as responding to multidrug-resistant Campylobacter outbreaks in puppies, aflatoxin contamination in pet food, Salmonella in pig ear treats, and botulinum toxin in alfalfa cubes. Additionally, Vet-LIRN’s AMR monitoring program collects data to understand AMR trends and assist in the response to foodborne and zoonotic outbreaks. Through collaboration with other key stakeholders such as CVM regulatory colleagues and external partners at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Vet-LIRN ensures rapid responses to critical issues. Looking ahead, Vet-LIRN remains dedicated to continuous improvements, reinforcing its commitment to the sustained protection of human and animal health.
{"title":"The Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network: 15 Years of Promoting Human and Animal Health by Collaborating with the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Community","authors":"Sarah M. Nemser , Olgica Ceric , Jake Guag , Sarah Pauley , Angelica Jones , Kathleen Proia , Megan R Miller , Andriy Tkachenko , David Rotstein , April Hodges , Renate Reimschuessel , Gregory H. Tyson","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), a collaborative network established in 2010, is a partnership between the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA CVM) and 48 veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs) across North America. Vet-LIRN actively supports the CVM mission of protecting human and animal health by leveraging its network of VDLs. Initially focused on issues in animal foods, including by testing animal diagnostic samples, Vet-LIRN now addresses a broad range of CVM’s priorities. These include responding to animal foodborne illness outbreaks, developing new methods to detect potential microbial and chemical contaminants in animal foods, tracking antimicrobial resistance (AMR), promoting antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine, and preparing for emerging One Health threats such as COVID-19 and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Over the past 15 years, Vet-LIRN has played a pivotal role in many high-profile and important public health success stories, such as responding to multidrug-resistant <em>Campylobacter</em> outbreaks in puppies, aflatoxin contamination in pet food, <em>Salmonella</em> in pig ear treats, and botulinum toxin in alfalfa cubes. Additionally, Vet-LIRN’s AMR monitoring program collects data to understand AMR trends and assist in the response to foodborne and zoonotic outbreaks. Through collaboration with other key stakeholders such as CVM regulatory colleagues and external partners at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Vet-LIRN ensures rapid responses to critical issues. Looking ahead, Vet-LIRN remains dedicated to continuous improvements, reinforcing its commitment to the sustained protection of human and animal health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100625"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145181951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-19DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100624
Gustavo Guimarães Fernandes Viana , Ana Julia Pereira Mello , Beatriz da Apresentação , Danilo dos Santos Gonçalves , Eduarda Yamauti Gerolamo , Giulya Monteiro de Castro , Guilherme Cardoso da Silva , Henrique de Rezende Corá , Izabella Regina da Silva Marcelino , Kaedra Piva Busch , Luana Kleinubing Aguiar , Luiza Mattos Mendonça , Max Sândalo Ferreira da Silva , Mayara de Sousa Canute , Miguel Sionti de Medeiros Paulino , Pedro Barasnevicius da Silva , Pedro Caldeira de Araújo , Talita Duran Semedo , Victoria Ribeiro Silvestre , Vinicius Guilherme de Araújo , Juliano Gonçalves Pereira
Shared kitchens are potential hotspots for microbial contamination due to frequent use and poor hygiene. In student residences, these risks are heightened by diverse hygiene behaviors and limited oversight. This study aimed to evaluate microbial contamination and hygiene-related behaviors in university student residences. Thirty student households in Botucatu, Brazil, were investigated through microbiological sampling of kitchen surfaces (refrigerator, sink, dish towels, and sponge). Samples were analyzed to assess the counts of mesophilic aerobic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, and the detection of Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes. In addition, a structured questionnaire was applied to gather data on hygiene routines and food handling practices. Feedback sessions were held to communicate the results to each household. No samples tested positive for Salmonella spp. or L. monocytogenes. Sponges exhibited the highest levels of microbial contamination, with median counts of 8.63 log CFU/cm2 for mesophiles and 5.72 log CFU/cm2 for Enterobacteriaceae, followed by dish towels (4.11 and 3.60 log CFU/cm2), sinks (1.27 and 0.24 log CFU/cm2), and refrigerators (−0.25 and −0.18 log CFU/cm2). Some associations between hygiene behaviors and microbial load were observed, including differences linked to dishwashing habits and the number of residents using the refrigerator. The descriptive trends suggest that certain behaviors, such as the frequency of dish towel sanitization and refrigerator cleaning, may influence microbial risks. These findings emphasize the importance of consistent hygiene practices in shared kitchen environments and support the development of educational and preventive strategies aimed at improving food safety among young adults living in communal housing, such as promoting proper dish towel and sponge replacement, clear cleaning responsibilities, and separation of utensils for raw and cooked foods.
{"title":"Microbial Contamination on Kitchen Surfaces in University Student Housing: Insights from Swab Analysis and Behavioral Surveys","authors":"Gustavo Guimarães Fernandes Viana , Ana Julia Pereira Mello , Beatriz da Apresentação , Danilo dos Santos Gonçalves , Eduarda Yamauti Gerolamo , Giulya Monteiro de Castro , Guilherme Cardoso da Silva , Henrique de Rezende Corá , Izabella Regina da Silva Marcelino , Kaedra Piva Busch , Luana Kleinubing Aguiar , Luiza Mattos Mendonça , Max Sândalo Ferreira da Silva , Mayara de Sousa Canute , Miguel Sionti de Medeiros Paulino , Pedro Barasnevicius da Silva , Pedro Caldeira de Araújo , Talita Duran Semedo , Victoria Ribeiro Silvestre , Vinicius Guilherme de Araújo , Juliano Gonçalves Pereira","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100624","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shared kitchens are potential hotspots for microbial contamination due to frequent use and poor hygiene. In student residences, these risks are heightened by diverse hygiene behaviors and limited oversight. This study aimed to evaluate microbial contamination and hygiene-related behaviors in university student residences. Thirty student households in Botucatu, Brazil, were investigated through microbiological sampling of kitchen surfaces (refrigerator, sink, dish towels, and sponge). Samples were analyzed to assess the counts of mesophilic aerobic bacteria and <em>Enterobacteriaceae</em>, and the detection of <em>Salmonella</em> spp. and <em>L. monocytogenes</em>. In addition, a structured questionnaire was applied to gather data on hygiene routines and food handling practices. Feedback sessions were held to communicate the results to each household. No samples tested positive for <em>Salmonella</em> spp. or <em>L. monocytogenes</em>. Sponges exhibited the highest levels of microbial contamination, with median counts of 8.63 log CFU/cm<sup>2</sup> for mesophiles and 5.72 log CFU/cm<sup>2</sup> for <em>Enterobacteriaceae</em>, followed by dish towels (4.11 and 3.60 log CFU/cm<sup>2</sup>), sinks (1.27 and 0.24 log CFU/cm<sup>2</sup>), and refrigerators (−0.25 and −0.18 log CFU/cm<sup>2</sup>). Some associations between hygiene behaviors and microbial load were observed, including differences linked to dishwashing habits and the number of residents using the refrigerator. The descriptive trends suggest that certain behaviors, such as the frequency of dish towel sanitization and refrigerator cleaning, may influence microbial risks. These findings emphasize the importance of consistent hygiene practices in shared kitchen environments and support the development of educational and preventive strategies aimed at improving food safety among young adults living in communal housing, such as promoting proper dish towel and sponge replacement, clear cleaning responsibilities, and separation of utensils for raw and cooked foods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100624"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145113421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100620
Jelili Adegboyega Adebiyi , Leslie D. Bourquin
The US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) developed suites of voluntary fee-for-service Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) audit verification programs, which, for reasons not well understood, are underwhelmingly accepted by produce buyers. To explore this low acceptance, this study conceptualized that buyers set food quality and safety requirements that their suppliers must meet to access their markets. These requirements likely influence which audit programs buyers deem acceptable. To date, no study has examined how buyers set these requirements or how such decisions shape their acceptance of GAP audit schemes. Therefore, this study surveyed and interviewed buyers to understand their food safety requirements for various types of produce, suppliers, and operations, as well as how these factors influence their selection of audit programs. The resulting information was used to understand the implications of buyers’ food safety requirements for the low acceptance of USDA GAP audit schemes. The findings revealed that buyers’ decisions regarding food safety requirements and audit acceptance are complex, shaped by numerous contextual factors, including regulatory demands, supplier and their operation types, operation scale and location, brand types, retailer reputation, produce risk profiles, and the type, scope, and stringency of audit schemes. The primary factors were the buyers’ customers’ requirements. Beyond fostering food safety, the requirements were set to strengthen buyers’ reputation and competitiveness, enhance quality assurance, and help them capture a share of the produce market. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for expanding acceptance of USDA GAP audit schemes.
{"title":"Food Safety Standards Requirement Setting and GAP Audit Program Acceptance Decision-making by U.S. Buyers","authors":"Jelili Adegboyega Adebiyi , Leslie D. Bourquin","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100620","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100620","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) developed suites of voluntary fee-for-service Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) audit verification programs, which, for reasons not well understood, are underwhelmingly accepted by produce buyers. To explore this low acceptance, this study conceptualized that buyers set food quality and safety requirements that their suppliers must meet to access their markets. These requirements likely influence which audit programs buyers deem acceptable. To date, no study has examined how buyers set these requirements or how such decisions shape their acceptance of GAP audit schemes. Therefore, this study surveyed and interviewed buyers to understand their food safety requirements for various types of produce, suppliers, and operations, as well as how these factors influence their selection of audit programs. The resulting information was used to understand the implications of buyers’ food safety requirements for the low acceptance of USDA GAP audit schemes. The findings revealed that buyers’ decisions regarding food safety requirements and audit acceptance are complex, shaped by numerous contextual factors, including regulatory demands, supplier and their operation types, operation scale and location, brand types, retailer reputation, produce risk profiles, and the type, scope, and stringency of audit schemes. The primary factors were the buyers’ customers’ requirements. Beyond fostering food safety, the requirements were set to strengthen buyers’ reputation and competitiveness, enhance quality assurance, and help them capture a share of the produce market. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for expanding acceptance of USDA GAP audit schemes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100620"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145058546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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