Pub Date : 2025-12-10Epub Date: 2025-10-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100633
Muriel Lepesteur, Carina Dexter, Yujing Zhang, Aleksandra Kusljic
Well−managed composting is generally a safe method for processing organic wastes and generating a product that has beneficial uses. However, there is uncertainty regarding the safety of composts produced from high-risk organic wastes. High-risk organic wastes are wastes that may contain contaminants (biological, physical, or chemical) that render the waste difficult to process and are likely to pose unacceptable residual risks after suboptimal processing. In this article, we examine the environmental stressors present during the composting process and how they impact the fate of spore-forming bacteria. For example, promoting the sporulation of spore-forming bacteria early in the composting process by maintaining a steady but slow rise in temperature may increase their removal.
As a result, the composting process could be optimized to maximize the removal of pathogenic spore-forming bacteria otherwise likely to survive the composting process. A hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) is proposed that utilizes the timing of pathogen inactivation, as well as a multibarrier approach to ensure that inactivation during composting does not rely on a single operational parameter. This is a systematic and flexible approach which could offer composters a practicable and efficient system to reduce spore-forming bacteria as more high-risk organic wastes are diverted from landfills to be composted.
{"title":"Sporulation and implications for composting food waste","authors":"Muriel Lepesteur, Carina Dexter, Yujing Zhang, Aleksandra Kusljic","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Well−managed composting is generally a safe method for processing organic wastes and generating a product that has beneficial uses. However, there is uncertainty regarding the safety of composts produced from high-risk organic wastes. High-risk organic wastes are wastes that may contain contaminants (biological, physical, or chemical) that render the waste difficult to process and are likely to pose unacceptable residual risks after suboptimal processing. In this article, we examine the environmental stressors present during the composting process and how they impact the fate of spore-forming bacteria. For example, promoting the sporulation of spore-forming bacteria early in the composting process by maintaining a steady but slow rise in temperature may increase their removal.</div><div>As a result, the composting process could be optimized to maximize the removal of pathogenic spore-forming bacteria otherwise likely to survive the composting process. A hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) is proposed that utilizes the timing of pathogen inactivation, as well as a multibarrier approach to ensure that inactivation during composting does not rely on a single operational parameter. This is a systematic and flexible approach which could offer composters a practicable and efficient system to reduce spore-forming bacteria as more high-risk organic wastes are diverted from landfills to be composted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100633"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145258467","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 : 2025-12-10Epub Date: 2025-10-24DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100655
Hussein F. Hassan , Ranim Assi , Raceel Alkhatib , Nada El Darra , Sami Khatib , George El Khoury , Mireille Serhan , Mohamad G. Abiad , Nisreen Alwan , Maya Bassil
Our study aims to determine gluten levels in gluten-free products marketed in Lebanon and to assess the consumption frequency of noncompliant products among gluten-free shoppers. Following a thorough market screening, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted on identified gluten-free (n = 115) stock-keeping units (SKUs) marketed in the country, including 54 local and 61 imported products. Gluten was quantified with the RIDASCREEN® R5 ELISA; levels >20 ppm were deemed noncompliant. A qualitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was administered to a sample of 66 gluten-free shoppers for the intake frequency of each noncompliant SKU. Eleven SKUs (9.6%) exceeded 20 ppm, while another 15 (13%) fell between the 1 ppm quantification limit of the kit and 20 ppm. Noncompliance was markedly higher in local products (18.5%) than in imports (1.6%). Forty percent of the contaminated local SKUs and the sole contaminated import bore an FSMS logo, indicating implementation gaps. Bread (6/43) and snack/bars (4/30) accounted for most infractions; a single oat-based “other grain” also tested positive. Although 87% of products were analytically compliant, the FFQ revealed 8 daily and 11 weekly consumption events involving contaminated SKUs. Notably, 65% of respondents were celiac, and 27% purchased for celiac relatives, increasing clinical risk. Lebanon’s retail gluten-free sector is largely compliant, yet a substantial risk persists in domestically produced breads and snack items. Strengthened regulatory surveillance, dedicated production lines for high-risk categories, and targeted consumer education must be enforced to safeguard medically vulnerable populations and uphold ethical standards.
{"title":"Unmasking Hidden Gluten: Evaluating the Compliance of Gluten-Free Products and Consumer Exposure in Lebanon","authors":"Hussein F. Hassan , Ranim Assi , Raceel Alkhatib , Nada El Darra , Sami Khatib , George El Khoury , Mireille Serhan , Mohamad G. Abiad , Nisreen Alwan , Maya Bassil","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our study aims to determine gluten levels in gluten-free products marketed in Lebanon and to assess the consumption frequency of noncompliant products among gluten-free shoppers. Following a thorough market screening, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted on identified gluten-free (<em>n</em> = 115) stock-keeping units (SKUs) marketed in the country, including 54 local and 61 imported products. Gluten was quantified with the RIDASCREEN® R5 ELISA; levels >20 ppm were deemed noncompliant. A qualitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was administered to a sample of 66 gluten-free shoppers for the intake frequency of each noncompliant SKU. Eleven SKUs (9.6%) exceeded 20 ppm, while another 15 (13%) fell between the 1 ppm quantification limit of the kit and 20 ppm. Noncompliance was markedly higher in local products (18.5%) than in imports (1.6%). Forty percent of the contaminated local SKUs and the sole contaminated import bore an FSMS logo, indicating implementation gaps. Bread (6/43) and snack/bars (4/30) accounted for most infractions; a single oat-based “other grain” also tested positive. Although 87% of products were analytically compliant, the FFQ revealed 8 daily and 11 weekly consumption events involving contaminated SKUs. Notably, 65% of respondents were celiac, and 27% purchased for celiac relatives, increasing clinical risk. Lebanon’s retail gluten-free sector is largely compliant, yet a substantial risk persists in domestically produced breads and snack items. Strengthened regulatory surveillance, dedicated production lines for high-risk categories, and targeted consumer education must be enforced to safeguard medically vulnerable populations and uphold ethical standards.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100655"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145475484","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 : 2025-12-10Epub Date: 2025-10-27DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100656
Maggie Siow , Valerie Sin , Joanna Khoo , S. Kalppana , Joanne Sheot Harn Chan , Kyaw Thu Aung
This cross-sectional telephone survey study examined dietary preferences, consumption habits, and awareness of dietary chemical hazards among Singapore residents aged 18 years and above (n = 1,040), with focused analysis on a young adult subgroup aged 18–25 years (n = 399). The study revealed potential differences in process contaminant dietary exposure patterns between young adults and older demographics, attributable to age-specific dietary preferences and consumption behaviors. Young adults demonstrated significantly higher consumption frequencies of processed meats, deep-fried foods, and packaged snacks compared to older age groups, potentially increasing their exposure to process contaminants such as acrylamide and nitrosamines. Young adults exhibited lower concern levels about dietary chemical hazards and less confidence in making informed food choices, with cost being their primary consideration rather than exposure risk to dietary chemical hazards. While approximately three in four young adults indicated willingness to modify consumption patterns after exposure to information about dietary chemical hazards, one in two young adults acknowledged that other factors would likely take precedence over exposure risk to dietary chemical hazards. Logistic regression analysis revealed that there is a baseline willingness to change consumption patterns after exposure to information on dietary chemical hazards while older age groups and individuals of Indian ethnicity showed significantly higher likelihood of willingness to change consumption patterns. Young adults primarily relied on social media and websites for information about dietary chemical hazards, whereas older adults favored traditional media channels such as newspapers, television, and radio. These findings highlight the need for age-tailored interventions that consider both socioeconomic constraints and preferred information channels when addressing dietary chemical exposure risks among the adult population.
{"title":"Dietary Behaviors and Risk Awareness Influencing Dietary Chemical Hazard Exposure: A Comparative Study of Singapore Residents Aged 18–25 and 26 and Above","authors":"Maggie Siow , Valerie Sin , Joanna Khoo , S. Kalppana , Joanne Sheot Harn Chan , Kyaw Thu Aung","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100656","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100656","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This cross-sectional telephone survey study examined dietary preferences, consumption habits, and awareness of dietary chemical hazards among Singapore residents aged 18 years and above (<em>n</em> = 1,040), with focused analysis on a young adult subgroup aged 18–25 years (<em>n</em> = 399). The study revealed potential differences in process contaminant dietary exposure patterns between young adults and older demographics, attributable to age-specific dietary preferences and consumption behaviors. Young adults demonstrated significantly higher consumption frequencies of processed meats, deep-fried foods, and packaged snacks compared to older age groups, potentially increasing their exposure to process contaminants such as acrylamide and nitrosamines. Young adults exhibited lower concern levels about dietary chemical hazards and less confidence in making informed food choices, with cost being their primary consideration rather than exposure risk to dietary chemical hazards. While approximately three in four young adults indicated willingness to modify consumption patterns after exposure to information about dietary chemical hazards, one in two young adults acknowledged that other factors would likely take precedence over exposure risk to dietary chemical hazards. Logistic regression analysis revealed that there is a baseline willingness to change consumption patterns after exposure to information on dietary chemical hazards while older age groups and individuals of Indian ethnicity showed significantly higher likelihood of willingness to change consumption patterns. Young adults primarily relied on social media and websites for information about dietary chemical hazards, whereas older adults favored traditional media channels such as newspapers, television, and radio. These findings highlight the need for age-tailored interventions that consider both socioeconomic constraints and preferred information channels when addressing dietary chemical exposure risks among the adult population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100656"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145401034","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 : 2025-12-10Epub Date: 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100664
Joelle Mosso , Gustavo A. Reyes , Barbara Kowalcyk , De Ann Davis
{"title":"Response to: Letter to the editor regarding “Testing Program Critical Control Points (TP-CCPs): Characterizing and Optimizing Decision-making Power in Food Safety Testing (Mosso et al., 2025)”","authors":"Joelle Mosso , Gustavo A. Reyes , Barbara Kowalcyk , De Ann Davis","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100664","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100664"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145471035","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 : 2025-12-10Epub Date: 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100665
J.A. Brown, S.C. Ricke
Animals can be reservoirs for pathogens such as Salmonella, creating the potential for cross−contamination during harvest. Antimicrobials are used to limit this risk, but validation of interventions in commercial settings can be challenging. The objective of this study was to develop a bio-map to evaluate the presence and concentration of Salmonella during harvest in commercial market hog facilities. Carcass swabs were collected from three commercial market hog facilities, five times a day for five days, at nine locations throughout harvest from exsanguination to chilling (N = 675). At each sampling interval, a single carcass was tracked through harvest by swabbing the ham, shoulder, and jowl. Samples were analyzed for quantitative and qualitative Salmonella using Gene-Up Quant (log10 CFU/swab; limit of quantification (LOQ) = 1 log10 CFU/swab) and Gene-Up SLM2 (present/absent; limit of detection (LOD) = 1 CFU/swab), respectively. Prevalence data were analyzed in R Studio using linear mixed effect models, with carcass as a repeated measure, and ANOVA with means separated by Tukey’s HSD (p ≤ 0.05). Due to the limited number of quantitative results above the LOQ (n = 7; 1.15–1.56 log10 CFU/swab), statistical analyses were not performed. Salmonella prevalence was impacted by facility (p = 0.006), location (p < 0.001), and the interaction between facility and location (p = 0.004). Across all facilities, Salmonella prevalence was highest on incoming pigs and decreased most significantly after external decontamination. These results indicate that while concentrations may be low, Salmonella contamination is prevalent throughout the pork harvest process, highlighting the need for effective detection systems to develop and evaluate process control strategies.
{"title":"Investigating the Dynamics of Salmonella Contamination During Commercial Pork Harvest Using Qualitative and Quantitative Detection Methods","authors":"J.A. Brown, S.C. Ricke","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Animals can be reservoirs for pathogens such as <em>Salmonella</em>, creating the potential for cross−contamination during harvest. Antimicrobials are used to limit this risk, but validation of interventions in commercial settings can be challenging. The objective of this study was to develop a bio-map to evaluate the presence and concentration of <em>Salmonella</em> during harvest in commercial market hog facilities. Carcass swabs were collected from three commercial market hog facilities, five times a day for five days, at nine locations throughout harvest from exsanguination to chilling (<em>N</em> = 675). At each sampling interval, a single carcass was tracked through harvest by swabbing the ham, shoulder, and jowl. Samples were analyzed for quantitative and qualitative <em>Salmonella</em> using Gene-Up Quant (log<sub>10</sub> CFU/swab; limit of quantification (LOQ) = 1 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/swab) and Gene-Up SLM2 (present/absent; limit of detection (LOD) = 1 CFU/swab), respectively. Prevalence data were analyzed in R Studio using linear mixed effect models, with carcass as a repeated measure, and ANOVA with means separated by Tukey’s HSD (<em>p</em> ≤ 0.05). Due to the limited number of quantitative results above the LOQ (<em>n</em> = 7; 1.15–1.56 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/swab), statistical analyses were not performed. <em>Salmonella</em> prevalence was impacted by facility (<em>p</em> = 0.006), location (<em>p</em> < 0.001), and the interaction between facility and location (<em>p</em> = 0.004). Across all facilities, <em>Salmonella</em> prevalence was highest on incoming pigs and decreased most significantly after external decontamination. These results indicate that while concentrations may be low, <em>Salmonella</em> contamination is prevalent throughout the pork harvest process, highlighting the need for effective detection systems to develop and evaluate process control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100665"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145476989","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 : 2025-12-10Epub Date: 2025-10-22DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100646
Yasir Mehmood , Muhammad Arshad , Stefan Sieber
Pesticides are extensively used in agriculture to improve crop yields and protect against pests. However, the excessive and indiscriminate application of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) poses serious threats to farmers, the environment, and consumer health—risks that are particularly acute in developing countries where awareness of pesticide hazards is limited. Using farm household-level survey data, this study investigates the factors that drive the use of HHP and farmers’ beliefs about crop contamination in Punjab, Pakistan. Ordered logistic regression models were applied for analysis. Results show that media exposure, participation in Farmer Field Schools (FFS), perceived effectiveness, and yield-maximization intent significantly increase the likelihood of HHP use. Retailer recommendations also have a positive influence (β = 0.495, p < 0.05), while farmers’ awareness of pesticide risks reduces usage (β = −0.432, p < 0.05). Beliefs about crop contamination are positively influenced by education level, media exposure, FFS participation, and label reading, whereas retailer advice exerted a strong negative influence (β = −0.850, p < 0.01). Overall, farmers demonstrated limited knowledge of pesticide hazards, with 76% and 71% of farmers citing yield gains and economic necessity, respectively, as their primary motivations for HHP use. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions and institutional support to raise awareness of pesticide-related health risks and to promote safer, more sustainable agricultural practices.
农药在农业中广泛使用，以提高作物产量和防止害虫。然而，过度和不明智地使用高度危险农药对农民、环境和消费者健康构成严重风险，这种风险在对农药危害认识有限的发展中国家尤为严重。本研究利用农户调查数据，调查了巴基斯坦旁遮普省驱动HHP使用的因素和农民对作物污染的看法。采用有序逻辑回归模型进行分析。结果表明，媒体曝光、农民田间学校（FFS）的参与、感知有效性和产量最大化意图显著增加了使用HHP的可能性。值得注意的是，零售商的推荐也有积极的影响（β = 0.495, p < 0.05），而农民对农药风险的信念减少了使用（β = -0.432, p < 0.05）。教育、媒体、农民田间学校参与和标签阅读对作物污染的信念产生积极影响，而零售商建议产生强烈的负面影响（β = -0.850, p < 0.01）。总体而言，农民对农药危害的了解有限，分别有76%和71%的农民报告说，他们使用HHP的主要动机是提高产量和经济必要性。这些发现突出表明，需要有针对性的政策干预和机构支持，以提高对农药相关风险的认识，并促进更安全、更可持续的农业做法。
{"title":"What Drives the Use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides and Farmers’ Beliefs About Crop Contamination in Punjab, Pakistan? Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Public Health","authors":"Yasir Mehmood , Muhammad Arshad , Stefan Sieber","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100646","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100646","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pesticides are extensively used in agriculture to improve crop yields and protect against pests. However, the excessive and indiscriminate application of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) poses serious threats to farmers, the environment, and consumer health—risks that are particularly acute in developing countries where awareness of pesticide hazards is limited. Using farm household-level survey data, this study investigates the factors that drive the use of HHP and farmers’ beliefs about crop contamination in Punjab, Pakistan. Ordered logistic regression models were applied for analysis. Results show that media exposure, participation in Farmer Field Schools (FFS), perceived effectiveness, and yield-maximization intent significantly increase the likelihood of HHP use. Retailer recommendations also have a positive influence (<em>β</em> = 0.495, <em>p</em> < 0.05), while farmers’ awareness of pesticide risks reduces usage (<em>β</em> = −0.432, <em>p</em> < 0.05). Beliefs about crop contamination are positively influenced by education level, media exposure, FFS participation, and label reading, whereas retailer advice exerted a strong negative influence (<em>β</em> = −0.850, <em>p</em> < 0.01). Overall, farmers demonstrated limited knowledge of pesticide hazards, with 76% and 71% of farmers citing yield gains and economic necessity, respectively, as their primary motivations for HHP use. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions and institutional support to raise awareness of pesticide-related health risks and to promote safer, more sustainable agricultural practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100646"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145368106","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 : 2025-12-10Epub Date: 2025-10-24DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100652
Lucy Sutton, Megan Humphreys, Callum Highmore, Sandra Wilks, Charles William Keevil
Salads and herbs are important for a healthy diet but during their processing and packaging, they may be exposed to environmental contamination from foodborne pathogens. Of particular concern is Listeria monocytogenes, a Gram-positive, facultative anaerobe, found ubiquitously in the environment. L. monocytogenes can survive and grow under harsh conditions such as refrigeration temperatures, low oxygen or nutrient concentrations, which is why it is a problem in the fresh food supply chain. Infection with L. monocytogenes can result in listeriosis, potentially fatal in immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, newborn babies, and the elderly. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of common sanitizing methods used in the fresh food supply chain, where biofilm formation has raised concerns, using appropriately developed laboratory models of Listeria biofilms. L. monocytogenes Scott A, L. monocytogenes CECT 936, and L. innocua NCTC 12210 biofilms were grown at 20 °C or 4 °C, on stainless steel coupons for 7 days, and treated with high concentrations of chlorine (up to 300 ppm) or peracetic acid (up to 500 ppm) on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Coupons were then processed for culturable cell counts on treatment days, and imaged using episcopic differential interference microscopy, coupled with epi-fluorescence microscopy (EDIC/EF) on day 7 of growth. This determined that temperature affects biofilm growth on stainless steel, as biofilm growth reached ∼8 log10 CFU/cm2 at 20 °C, but was significantly lower at 4 °C (∼4 log10 CFU/cm2) – highlighting the importance of maintaining a cold chain. Chlorine and peracetic acid were shown to be effective at treating Listeria in the planktonic form but were not effective at treating aged biofilms at both temperatures and the high concentrations of sanitizers used. This work provides important information on sanitizing efforts in the fresh food supply chain, concerning factory temperature, processing surfaces, and the age of biofilm.
{"title":"Mature Listeria monocytogenes Biofilms Exhibit Reduced Susceptibility to Sanitizers – Relevance to the (Leafy Green) Fresh Food Supply Chain","authors":"Lucy Sutton, Megan Humphreys, Callum Highmore, Sandra Wilks, Charles William Keevil","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100652","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100652","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salads and herbs are important for a healthy diet but during their processing and packaging, they may be exposed to environmental contamination from foodborne pathogens. Of particular concern <em>is Listeria monocytogenes</em>, a Gram-positive, facultative anaerobe, found ubiquitously in the environment. <em>L. monocytogenes</em> can survive and grow under harsh conditions such as refrigeration temperatures, low oxygen or nutrient concentrations, which is why it is a problem in the fresh food supply chain. Infection with <em>L. monocytogenes</em> can result in listeriosis, potentially fatal in immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, newborn babies, and the elderly. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of common sanitizing methods used in the fresh food supply chain, where biofilm formation has raised concerns, using appropriately developed laboratory models of <em>Listeria</em> biofilms. <em>L. monocytogenes</em> Scott A, <em>L. monocytogenes</em> CECT 936, and <em>L. innocua</em> NCTC 12210 biofilms were grown at 20 °C or 4 °C, on stainless steel coupons for 7 days, and treated with high concentrations of chlorine (up to 300 ppm) or peracetic acid (up to 500 ppm) on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Coupons were then processed for culturable cell counts on treatment days, and imaged using episcopic differential interference microscopy, coupled with epi-fluorescence microscopy (EDIC/EF) on day 7 of growth. This determined that temperature affects biofilm growth on stainless steel, as biofilm growth reached ∼8 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/cm<sup>2</sup> at 20 °C, but was significantly lower at 4 °C (∼4 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/cm<sup>2</sup>) – highlighting the importance of maintaining a cold chain. Chlorine and peracetic acid were shown to be effective at treating <em>Listeria</em> in the planktonic form but were not effective at treating aged biofilms at both temperatures and the high concentrations of sanitizers used. This work provides important information on sanitizing efforts in the fresh food supply chain, concerning factory temperature, processing surfaces, and the age of biofilm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100652"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145370326","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}
The genus Salmonella consists of a group of globally significant foodborne pathogens that pose substantial public health risks. Traditional detection methods are inadequate for rapid diagnosis and effective epidemic surveillance due to limitations such as time-consuming procedures and insufficient sensitivity. In recent years, the development of molecular techniques has driven innovations in Salmonella detection. Nucleic acid-based detection methods including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR), whole genome sequencing (WGS) and more emerge as crucial approaches for Salmonella detection due to their high sensitivity, specificity, and rapidity. Our review systematically summarized technological advancements in molecular detection of Salmonella, including specific genetic targets and drug resistance genes used for molecular detection, typing technologies, and emerging techniques such as CRISPR-Cas systems and microfluidic chips. This review comprehensively covers a wide array of molecular detection and characterization technologies, including conventional PCR, qPCR, multiplex PCR, digital PCR (dPCR), isothermal amplification techniques (such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification, recombinase polymerase amplification), genotyping methods (including pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing, etc.), WGS, melting curve analysis (MCA), and other emerging technologies. The review also discusses the balance between sensitivity and specificity in complex samples, challenges regarding the cost and accessibility of advanced technologies, as well as prospects for future development directions including portable point-of-care testing devices, automated detection equipment. Ongoing optimization of molecular detection technologies will provide critical support for the prevention and control of Salmonella infections.
{"title":"Molecular Detection of Salmonella","authors":"Hongjian Fu , Wenjuan Xu , Mintao Huang , Yanguang Cong","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genus <em>Salmonella</em> consists of a group of globally significant foodborne pathogens that pose substantial public health risks. Traditional detection methods are inadequate for rapid diagnosis and effective epidemic surveillance due to limitations such as time-consuming procedures and insufficient sensitivity. In recent years, the development of molecular techniques has driven innovations in <em>Salmonella</em> detection. Nucleic acid-based detection methods including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR), whole genome sequencing (WGS) and more emerge as crucial approaches for <em>Salmonella</em> detection due to their high sensitivity, specificity, and rapidity. Our review systematically summarized technological advancements in molecular detection of <em>Salmonella</em>, including specific genetic targets and drug resistance genes used for molecular detection, typing technologies, and emerging techniques such as CRISPR-Cas systems and microfluidic chips. This review comprehensively covers a wide array of molecular detection and characterization technologies, including conventional PCR, qPCR, multiplex PCR, digital PCR (dPCR), isothermal amplification techniques (such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification, recombinase polymerase amplification), genotyping methods (including pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing, etc.), WGS, melting curve analysis (MCA), and other emerging technologies. The review also discusses the balance between sensitivity and specificity in complex samples, challenges regarding the cost and accessibility of advanced technologies, as well as prospects for future development directions including portable point-of-care testing devices, automated detection equipment. Ongoing optimization of molecular detection technologies will provide critical support for the prevention and control of <em>Salmonella</em> infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100659"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145401102","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 : 2025-12-10Epub Date: 2025-10-16DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100639
Harsimran Kaur Kapoor , Charles Bency Appolon , Cameron A. Bardsley , Karuna Kharel , Keith R. Schneider , Manan Sharma , Aditya Kumar Mishra , Govindaraj Dev Kumar , Alda F.A. Pires , Laurel L. Dunn , Abhinav Mishra
Previous studies have shown that field environmental conditions influence pathogen survival in the soils amended with biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs). To address this, a two-year completely randomized design field study in Florida was conducted with plots amended with heat-treated poultry pellets (HTPPs), composted poultry litter (PL), and unamended (UN), all inoculated with E. coli. Onion bulbs were transplanted into selected HTPP plots (O-HTPP) and field cured after harvesting. Soil samples were enumerated for E. coli on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 147 (harvest day), and 161 (after curing). The E. coli data were used to fit a linear mixed effect model (LME) with five weather variables: cumulative rainfall (cmrain4), average air temperature (at601234), relative humidity (RH1234), wind speed (W1), soil temperature (ast1). Overall, E. coli levels were 1.8 and 1.6 log10CFU or MPN/g higher in HTPP than UN plots in Year 1 and Year 2. The LME for soil amendment plots identified weather parameters that significantly influenced E. coli survival; cmrain4 and W1 increased and decreased survival by 0.698 and 0.712 log10CFU or MPN/g (p < 0.01), in Year 1. In the LME that compared plots with and without onions, W1 significantly increased survival in soils by 0.504 log10CFU or MPN/g (p < 0.05) in Year 1 (p < 0.05). These robust LME models (R2: 0.88–0.92) can predict the E. coli population in soils amended with poultry-litter−based amendments with or without onions. However, future studies will benefit from frequent samplings at later time points.
{"title":"Temporal and Environmental Drivers for Survival of Escherichia coli in Florida Soils Amended with Heat-Treated Poultry Pellets and Composted Poultry Litter","authors":"Harsimran Kaur Kapoor , Charles Bency Appolon , Cameron A. Bardsley , Karuna Kharel , Keith R. Schneider , Manan Sharma , Aditya Kumar Mishra , Govindaraj Dev Kumar , Alda F.A. Pires , Laurel L. Dunn , Abhinav Mishra","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have shown that field environmental conditions influence pathogen survival in the soils amended with biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs). To address this, a two-year completely randomized design field study in Florida was conducted with plots amended with heat-treated poultry pellets (HTPPs), composted poultry litter (PL), and unamended (UN), all inoculated with <em>E. coli</em>. Onion bulbs were transplanted into selected HTPP plots (O-HTPP) and field cured after harvesting. Soil samples were enumerated for <em>E. coli</em> on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 147 (harvest day), and 161 (after curing). The <em>E. coli</em> data were used to fit a linear mixed effect model (LME) with five weather variables: cumulative rainfall (cmrain<sub>4</sub>), average air temperature (at60<sub>1234</sub>), relative humidity (RH<sub>1234</sub>), wind speed (W<sub>1</sub>), soil temperature (ast<sub>1</sub>). Overall, <em>E. coli</em> levels were 1.8 and 1.6 log<sub>10</sub>CFU or MPN/g higher in HTPP than UN plots in Year 1 and Year 2. The LME for soil amendment plots identified weather parameters that significantly influenced <em>E. coli</em> survival; cmrain<sub>4</sub> and W<sub>1</sub> increased and decreased survival by 0.698 and 0.712 log<sub>10</sub>CFU or MPN/g (<em>p</em> < 0.01), in Year 1. In the LME that compared plots with and without onions, W<sub>1</sub> significantly increased survival in soils by 0.504 log<sub>10</sub>CFU or MPN/g (<em>p</em> < 0.05) in Year 1 (<em>p</em> < 0.05)<em>.</em> These robust LME models (R<sup>2</sup>: 0.88–0.92) can predict the <em>E. coli</em> population in soils amended with poultry-litter−based amendments with or without onions. However, future studies will benefit from frequent samplings at later time points.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100639"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318377","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 : 2025-12-10Epub Date: 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100666
Natoavina T. Faliarizao , Yawei Lin , E. Shaney Rump , Nolan B. Schinderle , Hui Zeng , Teresa M. Bergholz , Kirk D. Dolan
Limited studies have been conducted on treating Salmonella in low-moisture foods (LMFs) at elevated temperature (>90 °C) without direct contact with the heating medium. However, nearly all LMFs are heated under nonisothermal conditions (above 90 °C) during commercial processes such as baking, toasting, roasting, etc. In this study, flaxseeds were equilibrated to a water activity of 0.55 ± 0.03 after being inoculated with Salmonella enterica Enteritidis PT 30. Heat treatment was performed using a heated circulator with silicon oil at 95, 105, or 120 °C for 11 evenly spaced time points with intervals of 15–30 s. Two aluminum test cells with 0.8 g of inoculated flaxseed and one thermocouple-equipped cell with 0.8 g of uninoculated flaxseed per time point were used for each biological replicate. Two secondary inactivation models (log-linear/Bigelow and Weibull/Bigelow) and three primary inactivation models (log-linear, Weibull, and Geeraerd) were compared for dynamic elevated temperature conditions. Salmonella inactivation parameters in flaxseed were estimated using ordinary least squares (OLSs). Statistical analysis indicated that the log-linear/Bigelow model was the model that best described the thermal inactivation kinetics at higher temperatures, based on the lowest Akaike information criterion (AICc) values. A tenfold increase in the lethality rate for Salmonella at elevated temperatures in flaxseeds (D105°C-value = 24.17–30.02 s) required a 35.9 °C increase from the reference temperature of 105 °C. Because the scaled sensitivity coefficients are larger, experiments at higher oil bath temperatures are better for estimating the D-value, z-value, and n. Overall, this new approach allows estimation of Salmonella’s inactivation parameters at elevated temperatures under dynamic conditions. Food processors can use these findings to develop or refine Salmonella prediction models for real-world processing of low-moisture foods under high-temperature conditions.
{"title":"A New Approach to Estimate Salmonella Inactivation Parameters During Dynamic Elevated Heat Treatment: A Case Study With Flaxseed","authors":"Natoavina T. Faliarizao , Yawei Lin , E. Shaney Rump , Nolan B. Schinderle , Hui Zeng , Teresa M. Bergholz , Kirk D. Dolan","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Limited studies have been conducted on treating <em>Salmonella</em> in low-moisture foods (LMFs) at elevated temperature (>90 °C) without direct contact with the heating medium. However, nearly all LMFs are heated under nonisothermal conditions (above 90 °C) during commercial processes such as baking, toasting, roasting, etc. In this study, flaxseeds were equilibrated to a water activity of 0.55 ± 0.03 after being inoculated with <em>Salmonella enterica</em> Enteritidis PT 30. Heat treatment was performed using a heated circulator with silicon oil at 95, 105, or 120 °C for 11 evenly spaced time points with intervals of 15–30 s. Two aluminum test cells with 0.8 g of inoculated flaxseed and one thermocouple-equipped cell with 0.8 g of uninoculated flaxseed per time point were used for each biological replicate. Two secondary inactivation models (log-linear/Bigelow and Weibull/Bigelow) and three primary inactivation models (log-linear, Weibull, and Geeraerd) were compared for dynamic elevated temperature conditions. <em>Salmonella</em> inactivation parameters in flaxseed were estimated using ordinary least squares (OLSs). Statistical analysis indicated that the log-linear/Bigelow model was the model that best described the thermal inactivation kinetics at higher temperatures, based on the lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC<sub>c</sub>) values. A tenfold increase in the lethality rate for <em>Salmonella</em> at elevated temperatures in flaxseeds (<em>D</em><sub>105°C</sub>-value = 24.17–30.02 s) required a 35.9 °C increase from the reference temperature of 105 °C. Because the scaled sensitivity coefficients are larger, experiments at higher oil bath temperatures are better for estimating the <em>D</em>-value, <em>z</em>-value, and <em>n</em>. Overall, this new approach allows estimation of <em>Salmonella</em>’s inactivation parameters at elevated temperatures under dynamic conditions. Food processors can use these findings to develop or refine <em>Salmonella</em> prediction models for real-world processing of low-moisture foods under high-temperature conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100666"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145530360","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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