Food Control最新文献

Foodborne illnesses resulting from the proliferation of excessive harmful microorganisms in foodstuffs pose a significant threat to human society. Sampling inspection for the quantity of pathogenic microorganisms within food products is a productive approach to mitigate the incidence of foodborne diseases. A recently developed generalised variable quick-switch sampling system (GVQSS) is an efficient sampling technology to verify harmful microorganisms in food. However, the rule-switching mechanism in the GVQSS is too simple, making it inflexible and may limit its applicability. To break through this limitation, we apply the Markov chain and mean first-passage time theory to develop two types of variable flexible sampling systems (VFSSs). Through a series of investigations, the various types of VFSSs exhibit different strengths with a higher sensitivity to detect quality degradation and cost efficiency. These findings can expand the applicability of the existing GVQSS and improve efficiency and flexibility when food practitioners conduct sampling inspections for food quality and safety in practice. Two real-world cases are illustrated to demonstrate the practicality of the proposed method.

Dried and ground fruits of Capsicum spp. are used to produce a powder with a high culinary and economic value. Non-targeted methods in analytical chemistry are an excellent tool to screen the chemical composition of this Capsicum powder. A previous non-targeted screening of commercial Capsicum powders using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy discovered a sample with an atypical chemical composition. Here we expand our description of the chemical composition of Capsicum powder (paprika powder) retailed in the European Union. By interpreting NMR and mass spectrometry data of the Capsicum powder with an atypical ¹H NMR spectrum, we present evidence for the presence of exogenous dextrin(s). The identification of non-declared dextrins attests the capability of non-targeted methods in the detection of commercial Capsicum powder with compromised authenticity.

Given the prevalence of MP contamination in marine environments and the potential for ingestion, this study focused on detecting MPs in widely consumed omega-3 supplements. We developed and validated a testing method for analyzing microplastics (MPs) in omega-3 dietary supplements using micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FT-IR). For sample preparation, 30% H₂O₂ pretreatment and 20 μm stainless-steel filtration were adopted to digest omega-3 samples. A total of 88 omega-3 products were collected and examined, including animal- and plant-origin omega-3 with different packaging materials. Recovery test using reference MP materials was conducted to enhance the reliability of the method. As a result, the recovery was more than 70.4%, and relative standard deviation was below 36.9% in three laboratories. MPs (>20 μm) were detected in all the samples. The number of MPs were 9.5 ± 5.3 particles/g and 16.3 ± 8.1 particles/serving size. The developed method can be applied to MP analysis of omega-3 supplements.

Adulteration of meat products remains a significant issue worldwide. In this study, we developed a high-throughput, rapid, sensitive, and selective method for qualitative and quantitative detection of horse meat adulteration in meat products. This method, which is not only innovative but also highly practical, involves coupling a 96-well high-throughput DNA isolation process with recombinant enzyme polymerase amplification (RPA), magnetic separation (MS), and high-throughput fluorescence detection (FD). We designed a set of primers targeting the mitochondrial ATP6-8 gene of horses. The upper and lower primers were labeled with 6-FAM fluorescent moiety and biotin, respectively. Following RPA amplification, the amplicons were separated and purified using streptavidin-modified magnetic beads (MB@SA). Subsequently, the amplicons were qualified and quantified using a high-throughput fluorescence detection system. We optimized the conditions for primer addition, incubation time, and the ratio of amplicon to MB@SA. Our results showed that a fluorescence threshold of 834 indicated positive detection. The method exhibited high specificity, with no positive amplification observed in DNA from the other 11 types of meat. It demonstrated high sensitivity and was capable of detecting as little as 0.1% (wt%) of horse meat in adulterated samples. Combined with our developed 96-well high-throughput DNA extraction system, the RPA-MS-FD assay process could analyze 96 samples in 31.5 min, including 11.5 min for rapid DNA extraction, 15 min for RPA amplification, and 5 min for fluorescence detection. Finally, we successfully applied this assay to analyze 21 commercial meat products, proving its practicality and effectiveness.

Ethyl maltol, known for its caramel-like flavor and antimicrobial properties, blends compatibly with baked goods. In this study, ethyl maltol-incorporated starch films were developed as potential active food packaging materials. Films containing 0–10% ethyl maltol were prepared and characterized for their physicochemical, antimicrobial, and barrier properties. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed interactions between ethyl maltol and starch, leading to modified thermal properties and enhanced film smoothness. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed a shift in the relaxation temperature with increasing ethyl maltol content, indicating changes in polymer chain mobility. Water vapor permeability decreased with ethyl maltol incorporation, likely due to reduced hydrophilicity, while oxygen permeability increased, suggesting increased hydrophobicity. Ethyl maltol exhibited antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, with a maximum inhibition zone of 1.53 mm at 10% loading. When incorporated into starch films, ethyl maltol effectively inhibited fungal growth in butter cake, extending its shelf life by up to three-fold. The controlled release kinetics of ethyl maltol from the films was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealing a linear release profile. These results demonstrate the potential of ethyl maltol-incorporated starch films as active, biodegradable food packaging materials with antimicrobial properties and significant shelf-life extension benefits.

Antioxidant and antibacterial coatings incorporated with biological agents are an emerging alternative for preserving meat products. In this study, Farsi gum-based coatings (FG) incorporated with Latilactobacillus sakei were used for the shelf-life extension of refrigerated turkey breast. The quality and safety properties of coated turkey breast were investigated during storage at refrigeration temperature. Results revealed that L. sakei loading into the FG coating could significantly (p < 0.05) improve the quality of turkey breast in a 16-day refrigerated storage. The increase in the values of pH (6.15–6.94), total volatile basic-nitrogen (TVB-N) (34.33–43.13 mg N/100 g), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) (2.27–3.67 mg MDA/kg), and protein carbonyl (PC) (1.62–2.14 nmol/mg protein) of samples during cold storage periods was as follows: FG 2% + L. Sakei < FG 1% + L. Sakei < FG 2% < FG 1% < uncoated (control). The microbial quality of turkey breast showed a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the presence of the L. sakei coatings, ranging from 7.15 to 7.75 log₁₀ CFU/g in different treatments. The texture, odor, color, and overall acceptability of the coated turkey breast samples were significantly (p < 0.05) more desirable than the uncoated turkey breast samples. The findings revealed that FG coating incorporated with L.sakei can improve turkey breast's shelf-life by reducing microbial growth and adverse chemical reactions.

Seafood is a major group associated with foodborne illnesses, with Salmonella spp. and E. coli being pathogens of great importance. The use of natural preservatives, such as essential oils, is gaining traction in the food industry to combat pathogenic microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of oregano essential oil (OEO) against pathogenic strains of E. coli and Salmonella Enteritidis, experimentally inoculated in mussels (Perna perna). The antagonism test for OEO against Salmonella Enteritidis and E. coli was conducted using the agar well diffusion method, and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined by microdilution. Mussels were experimentally contaminated and treated with OEO, then stored at 5 °C and analysed over ten days. Results showed OEO effectively reduced bacterial counts, with higher efficacy against Salmonella Enteritidis, with an average count difference of 2.252 log CFU/g over the 10-day storage period. The study concludes OEO as a natural preservative, with its effectiveness dependent on oil concentration and microbial load.

Safe production in small-medium enterprises (SMEs)-based food processing industries is a challenge in developing countries due to limited resources and inefficient process control activities. For the development of the situations, we first need to identify the context characteristics and control activities that have an impact on the safety of the finished products. In the present study, a comprehensive target-oriented tool was designed to evaluate the efficiency of control practices with respect to contextual factors to understand the likelihood of common hazards in cereal-based small and medium factories. The identified 18 control activities, based on previous studies, were assigned to three food safety performance indicators, such as allergen contamination, pesticide residue or heavy metal contamination, and fungal contamination. The performance level of activities is a marker of whether the control practices are able to control the food safety performance indicators in cereal-based SME manufacturers. A Venn diagram is used to visually present the efficiency of control activities. Moreover, among the 18 control practices, 7 for mitigating pesticide residues or heavy metal contamination, 9 for allergen control, and 13 control practices for fungal contamination were identified. As comparatively lower control practices (water source, raw material control, testing, etc.) are involved in mitigating pesticide residues or heavy metal contamination, which proves context factors (Good Agricultural Practices, contamination-free soil, etc.) are more important to minimize the risk. We inspected the implementation of the developed tool in 44 cereal-based small-medium manufacturers in Bangladesh and calculated 59.06% efficiency in controlling fungal contamination. Most of the cereal-based SMEs in Bangladesh operate from a poor to a basic level, which is an indication of the high likelihood of occurring hazards.

Background

Antimicrobials are substances that either eradicate or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The days of traditional antibiotics are over since their overuse has led to worldwide health and environmental issues. Thus, there is a need for novel antimicrobial proteins/peptides with improved properties over existing ones. The goal of microbiology research over the past ten years has been to identify, create, and market antimicrobials from benign microorganisms that are just as effective. The bioactive peptides or proteins, synthesized by probiotics and other beneficial microorganisms, are also referred to as postbiotics. The application of the recently created postbiotics is unrestricted in the food sector. Nisin and pediocin are two postbiotics that are widely used in the worldwide food sector. If successful, they could also be the best candidates to be therapeutic proteins that take the place of traditional antibiotics.

Scope and approach

To gain a comprehensive understanding of today's postbiotic landscape, it's crucial to grasp the importance of bacteriocin and its diverse applications across various sectors such as food, heterologous expression, bioprocessing, and as a substitute for antibiotics.

Key findings and conclusions

Peptides with antibacterial properties that are authorized for use in the food industry are known as bacteriocins. They are utilized in agriculture, the food industry, and other fields. Due to new restrictions, stronger antiviral treatments are among the novel antimicrobial drugs being researched. The potential application of bacteriocins in COVID-19 therapy is under investigation. Additionally, other alternatives such as plant-based chemicals, animal venoms, and bacteriophage therapy have also contributed to the development of antibiotic substitutes.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus can enhance bacterial resistance to disinfectants and antimicrobials by forming biofilms. The development of new natural antimicrobials is essential for the control of biofilm-related contamination and infection. In this paper, we preliminarily explored the inhibitory activity of Sargassum muticum extracts (HA-PTs) against the biofilm of V. parahaemolyticus. HA-PTs exerted anti-biofilm activity by destroying the integrity of the cell membrane, curbing the motility of single and colonial bacteria, hindering the synthesis of polysaccharide intercellular adhesion, inhibiting the secretion of extracellular DNA, and reducing the metabolic activity of biofilms. Furthermore, experiments on four free radicals (DPPH•, •OH, ABTS⁺•, and O₂⁻•) scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity (FRAP method and phenanthroline method) demonstrated that HA-PTs have strong reducing properties and can capture a variety of free radicals, which in turn prevents them from participating in oxidative reactions. When HA-PTs were applied to Chinese shrimp infected with V. parahaemolyticus, it could prolong their shelf life by controlling the pH rise caused by protein degradation, inhibiting the bacterial proliferation, reducing the content of total volatile basic nitrogen produced by protein degradation, and reducing the accumulation of thiobarbiturates caused by oxidative deterioration of fats.