Food Control最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of visible-light-activated ZnO nanoparticles for sustainable postharvest protection of strawberries","authors":"Kristina Aponiene ,&nbsp;Alisa Gricajeva ,&nbsp;Aleksej Zarkov ,&nbsp;Rokas Dobuzinskas ,&nbsp;Pranciskus Vitta","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111935","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111935","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strawberries are highly valued for their taste and nutritional benefits; however, their postharvest shelf life is limited due to microbial spoilage and contamination by foodborne pathogens. Traditional preservation methods, such as fungicides and chemical sanitizers, face increasing restrictions due to concerns about their impact on public health and environmental sustainability. This study investigates the antimicrobial potential of visible-light-activated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) against bacterial pathogens and natural microbiota on strawberries, assessing their impact on fruit shelf life and antioxidant capacity.</div><div><em>In vitro</em> antibacterial assays showed that ZnO NPs alone did not affect the survival of <em>Enterococcus faecalis</em> MSCL 302, <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> ATC_L3C 7644, or <em>Escherichia coli</em> O157:H7. However, exposure to visible light at 405 nm led to significant bacterial inactivation, with <em>L. monocytogenes</em> demonstrating the highest susceptibility. There was a clear relationship between the antibacterial properties of ZnO NPs and the illumination dose. SEM analysis revealed NPs attachment to bacterial cells, suggesting possible membrane disruption and leakage of intracellular contents. DNA integrity assays further indicated oxidative stress in light-treated samples, although the exact antibacterial mechanism remains to be clarified.</div><div>The application of photoactivated ZnO NPs on strawberries resulted in a 1.4-log reduction in yeasts and molds, significantly inhibiting their regrowth over a six-day period. Treated strawberries displayed a shelf-life increase of up to two days, with no adverse effects on their antioxidant activity. These findings advance current understanding by demonstrating the potential of visible-light-activated ZnO NPs as a safe, effective, and non-destructive approach to enhance microbial safety and extend the shelf life of strawberries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111935"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145837593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metal nanoparticles in food packaging: Benefits, functions and limitations","authors":"Mahmoud E. Abd El-Aziz,&nbsp;Samir M.M. Morsi","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111929","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111929","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) have been utilized in various applications, including biosensors, photocatalysts, bone regeneration, and energy storage. Their incorporation into food packaging materials, which is known as active packaging, offers solutions to challenges related to food preservation, safety, sustainability, and supply chain efficiency. The active packaging market is expected to grow at 12 % CAGR until 2030. Usually, MNPs were incorporated (0.5–8 wt%) into polymer matrices to form nanocomposites that combine the flexibility of polymers with the exceptional functional properties of MNPs, resulting in enhanced mechanical strength, barrier protection, and antimicrobial activity. Moreover, these nanocomposites exhibit various functional properties, including fire resistance, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, and enhanced thermal, optical, magnetic, and electrical performance. These materials improve shelf life up to 14 days, food quality, and waste reduction through greater resistance to gases, moisture, and UV radiation. Despite these advantages, the widespread use of MNPs in food contact materials applications faces several challenges. One of the most pressing concerns is the potential migration of NPs or metal ions into food, which may pose toxicological risks such as oxidative stress or DNA damage. Additional issues include NPs aggregation within polymer matrices that compromises optical properties, high production costs and the lack of standardized detection methods and regulatory frameworks, which hinder safety assurance and commercialization. This review explores the benefits, multifunctional roles, and limitations of MNP-based packaging. It emphasizes their impact on mechanical, antimicrobial, and barrier performance, while addressing critical aspects of safety, migration and regulation. Ultimately, it highlights the future directions needed to develop safe, sustainable, and commercially viable food packaging systems enabled by MNPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111929"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145837628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of endolysin LysPEF1-1 with cinnamon bark against planktonic and mixed-species biofilm cells of Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecalis on various food and food contact surfaces","authors":"Chen Wang ,&nbsp;Yunzhi Lin ,&nbsp;Haomin Ye ,&nbsp;Mahmoud Zayda ,&nbsp;Mohamed El-Telbany ,&nbsp;Aye Thida Maung ,&nbsp;Lianzhong Ai ,&nbsp;Yoshimitsu Masuda ,&nbsp;Ken-ichi Honjoh ,&nbsp;Takahisa Miyamoto","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111933","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111933","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a major foodborne pathogen, <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> poses a significant public health risk not only due to the presence of planktonic cell existing in food system, but also through its ability to integrate into biofilm matrices formed via co-cultivation with other bacterial species on various surfaces during food processing. In this study, commercially available cinnamon bark essential oil (C.b.EO) and endolysin LysPEF1-1 were used to investigate their synergistic effects on <em>Listeria monocytogenes in vitro</em> and their efficacy in disrupting mixed-species biofilms of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> and <em>Enterococcus faecalis</em>. The results showed that at 37 °C, treatment with 50 μg/mL LysPEF1-1 and 0.05 % C.b.EO led to a maximum bacterial reduction of over 5.3 log after incubation for 12 h, with viable counts decreasing below the lower detection limit and no regrowth observed after 48 h of incubation. Similar synergistic effects were observed on pasteurized milk and cheese surfaces, resulting in a reduction of 0.6 and 1.2 log on cheese surfaces at 25 and 37 °C, respectively. Compared to single-species biofilms, mixed-species biofilms containing <em>L. monocytogenes</em> and <em>E. faecalis</em> exhibited significantly enhanced biofilm formation both at 25 and 37 °C, particularly at a 1:1 cell ratio. The combined treatment with LysPEF1-1 and C.b.EO exhibited stronger biofilm removal action than either agent alone, reducing viable biofilm counts by 1.7, 2.5, and 3.4 log CFU/well at 4, 25, and 37 °C, respectively, on polystyrene surfaces. A significant reduction in biofilm cells was also observed on the 304 stainless steel and cabbage leaf surfaces, suggesting a great potential of this combination for eliminating mixed-species biofilms on food contact surfaces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111933"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145837625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A food-grade antimicrobial peptide from Lactococcus lactis: A potent and stable bio-preservative against Gram-negative pathogens in orange juice","authors":"Mingyang Hu,&nbsp;Sina Cha,&nbsp;Yuwen Li,&nbsp;Lu Zhao,&nbsp;Yutong Xue,&nbsp;Chenyu Xue,&nbsp;Na Dong,&nbsp;Anshan Shan","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111922","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111922","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The extensive use of chemical preservatives in the food industry has raised concerns about potential health risks and the emergence of bacterial resistance, thereby driving the demand for natural alternatives. Here, we report the food-grade biosynthesis of a novel antimicrobial peptide (SH) in <em>Lactococcus lactis</em>, induced by NaCl. Following optimized expression and purification, SH showed potent activity against Gram-negative pathogens like <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Salmonella</em>, with no toxicity to mammalian or probiotic cells. It also displayed exceptional stability under extreme temperatures, broad pH ranges, and high NaCl conditions. Mechanistic studies revealed that SH binds lipopolysaccharides, disrupts bacterial membranes, induces reactive oxygen species accumulation, inhibits dehydrogenase activity, and interacts with DNA. When applied to orange juice, SH significantly reduced microbial load and attenuated vitamin C degradation. These results identify SH as a safe, stable, and effective bio-preservative with strong potential to enhance food safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111922"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145837594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unravelling the genetic threads: Comparative genomic analysis of Salmonella from food and clinical cases in England, 2015–2019","authors":"Beata Orzechowska ,&nbsp;Jim McLauchlin ,&nbsp;Caroline Willis ,&nbsp;Frieda Jorgensen ,&nbsp;Anaïs Painset ,&nbsp;Sandra Lai ,&nbsp;Heather Aird ,&nbsp;Amina Ismail Ahmed ,&nbsp;Marie Anne Chattaway","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111928","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111928","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite advances in <em>Salmonella</em> testing, surveillance, and improved food safety practices, salmonellosis remains prevalent in the UK. The primary challenge of preventing infections is determining how to ensure that food safety management plans are effective and to prioritise food sampling activities before the outbreaks occur.</div><div>In this genomic study, we assessed the relative contribution of various foods over a five-year period to cases of human salmonellosis in England, aiming to rank the associated food risks based on genetic similarity. To achieve this, we conducted a comparative genomic analysis of <em>Salmonella</em> recovered from food (802) and environmental samples (131) against routinely tested <em>Salmonella</em> isolates from clinical cases (37,673) between 2015 and 2019.</div><div>The analysis revealed that of all <em>Salmonella</em>-positive food and environmental isolates, 19.7 % were genetically related to <em>Salmonella</em> from clinical cases. A significant portion of these isolates was collected due to reactive sampling, which occurs in response to recognised public health concerns. In terms of <em>Salmonella</em> from clinical cases, only 2.5 % were genetically similar to isolates from food and 2.6 % from the environment. This relatively low rate of similarity may be due to other infection pathways, such as travel-related exposure or contact with animals, as well as infection from food items that are not subject to regular microbiological testing by public health bodies in the UK.</div><div>We found that isolates from food products of animal origin, specifically eggs and poultry, were genetically linked to a higher number of isolates from clinical cases compared to non-animal origin products or composite foods, potentially indicating a greater public health risk. Meanwhile, non-animal origin foods were mostly associated with sporadic cases or clusters of fewer than five cases that had not previously been identified.</div><div>The findings from this study underscore the need to shift from primarily reactive to additional proactive, risk-based food testing to better mitigate foodborne hazards and reduce the potential for outbreaks. While our genomic approach offers a valuable method for ranking food-related risks through genetic linkages, it does not replace the need for integrated epidemiological analysis. Such data are essential for understanding exposure pathways and quantifying foodborne risks, but were beyond the scope of this study. Nevertheless, the proposed genomic framework has the potential to inform future microbiological risk assessments, guide prioritisation of food sampling activities, support outbreak investigations, and contribute to the development of genomics-based public health interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111928"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of heat-resistant protease from psychrotrophic bacteria in raw milk on shelf-life quality of UHT milk","authors":"Jinyu Xu ,&nbsp;Xue Hei ,&nbsp;Mumin Zheng ,&nbsp;Yunna Wang ,&nbsp;Ning Xie ,&nbsp;Xu Li ,&nbsp;Xiaodan Wang ,&nbsp;Jiaping Lv ,&nbsp;Gang Lu ,&nbsp;Xiaoyang Pang ,&nbsp;Dongwei Yu ,&nbsp;Shuwen Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111927","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111927","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The deterioration of ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk quality during shelf life such as protein hydrolysis, is closely related to the residual activity of heat-resistant protease from psychrotrophic bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of heat-resistant protease activity derived from psychrotrophic bacteria on the quality of whole milk. Different concentrations of heat-resistant protease from <em>Aeromonas sp</em>.were added to UHT milk, and the effect on milk quality was investigated during storage time at different temperatures. The results indicate that as the shelf life extended, the pH, stability, and fluorescence intensity of all samples gradually decreased, while the degree of hydrolysis, average particle size, precipitation, and zeta potential significantly increased. The results of SDS-PAGE indicated that <em>κ</em>-casein was preferentially hydrolyzed by proteases. Moreover, the degree of deterioration in UHT milk was correlated with the concentration of proteases. As the protease concentration in milk reached 0.08 U/mL, the samples reached the end of the shelf life when stored at 37 °C within 28 d, while no significant deterioration was observed after 98 d at 4 °C. The results of this study provide valuable evidence for controlling quality of UHT milk during the storage of UHT milk and extending its shelf life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111927"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative risk assessment of edible-coated orange processing: 4x4 qualitative risk matrix vs FMEA approaches","authors":"Kharla Andreina Segovia Bravo,&nbsp;Cristina Campanero Pintado,&nbsp;Alicia González Blanco,&nbsp;Efrén Pérez-Santín","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111925","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111925","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a comparative analysis of two risk assessment methodologies applied to the processing of whole oranges with edible coatings, a novel approach aimed at extending shelf life and enhancing food safety. The research addresses a critical gap in food safety management, where the selection of risk matrices for hazard evaluation often lacks standardized guidance, leading to variability and subjectivity in decision-making. Using a case study from a mid-sized agro-industrial company in Spain, hazards were systematically identified across processing stages, including physical, chemical, and microbiological risks. Two assessment tools were applied: a 4 × 4 qualitative risk matrix based on probability and severity, and the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method, which integrates severity, likelihood of occurrence, and likelihood of detection. Results from both approaches identified the same significant hazards and determined equivalent Critical Control Points (CCPs) and stricter Prerequisite Programs (PRPs), including key stages such as fungicide treatment, disinfection, rinsing, sorting, and coating preparation. However, the FMEA method provided additional insights into the detection capability of existing control measures, offering a more comprehensive framework for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) validation. These findings demonstrate that both tools are suitable for assessing risks in edible-coated orange processing, but the FMEA method is recommended for its enhanced ability to evaluate the effectiveness of detection systems. The study contributes to harmonizing risk assessment practices and supports the fruit industry in implementing robust, evidence-based food safety strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111925"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancement of a multifunctional composite coating encapsulating CGA-Zn2+ MPN nanoparticles for enhanced postharvest fruit preservation","authors":"Wei Liu,&nbsp;Lin Wang,&nbsp;Jingcheng Hao","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111917","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111917","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in vitamins and essential nutrients, play an essential role in supporting human health. However, the perishability during transit and storage causes rapid degradation; consuming spoiled items poses significant health risks. Extending the shelf life of fresh produce has therefore become a key challenge for the food industry. In this study, a multifunctional composite coating was developed by integrating chlorogenic acid–zinc ion (CGA-Zn²⁺) metal–phenolic network (MPN) particles into a polymer matrix composed of sesbania gum (SG) and biguanide-modified chitosan (Bi-Ch). Cherry tomatoes were used as the model fruit to investigate the coating's preservation effect. The CGA-Zn²⁺ MPN particles provided strong antioxidant properties, which worked in combination with the antibacterial activity of Bi-Ch, enabling the coating to offer both protective and bioactive functions. The addition of MPN particles significantly improved the antioxidant capacity of the coating, increasing it from 64.83 % to 97.31 %. Moreover, the coating showed enhanced antibacterial performance. Preservation results confirmed that this composite coating effectively extended the shelf life of cherry tomatoes to 9 days at least while maintaining their quality. Cytocompatibility assays validated its safety for food applications. As a biocompatible, readily removable intervention, this approach offers considerable promise for enhancing fresh fruit stability throughout supply chains—mitigating waste and bolstering food safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111917"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of processing factors on the estimation of consumer exposure to pesticide residues","authors":"Arno Kittelmann ,&nbsp;Carola Müller ,&nbsp;Sascha Rohn ,&nbsp;Britta Michalski","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dietary exposure of xenobiotics is typically estimated by combining occurrence data with food consumption data. While consumption data typically refer to whole or processed foods, occurrence data such as pesticide residues are often collected for raw primary commodities (RPC). To bridge this gap, consumption data are often converted to RPC equivalents using food recipe data. However, food processing can significantly alter pesticide residue levels making it important to consider these changes in the form of processing factors (PF) when estimating the exposure. These PF can vary substantially depending on the specific recipe, processing method, and food commodities. This study aimed to quantify the influence of single food commodities on consumer exposure and evaluate the impact of applying PF. Results showed that within distinct food groups, only few commodities have a high sensitivity on the overall chronic dietary exposure. The estimated exposure decreases significantly when PF for these commodities are incorporated. For instance, the <em>Acceptable Daily Intake</em> (ADI) utilization at the 95th percentile for the food group <em>citrus</em> decreases from 35.9 % to 12.5 %, when PF for oranges are included. These findings support a more targeted approach in dietary exposure modelling by identifying food – processing combinations that significantly influence risk estimation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111926"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deep transfer learning for codling moth damage detection in ‘Conference’ pear using X-ray radiography","authors":"Jiaqi He ,&nbsp;Tim Belien ,&nbsp;Ammar Alhmedi ,&nbsp;Ann Schenk ,&nbsp;Dany Bylemans ,&nbsp;Pieter Verboven ,&nbsp;Bart Nicolai","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111923","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111923","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Early detection of pest infestation is essential for ensuring postharvest fruit quality and compliance with export standards. This study investigates deep transfer learning for detecting codling moth (<em>Cydia pomonella</em>) larval damage in ‘Conference’ pears using non-destructive X-ray radiography. Data were collected from both controlled laboratory and field infestations across multiple growing seasons, and augmented via a radiographic simulation framework. We evaluated three convolutional neural networks (ResNet50, DenseNet121, and InceptionV3) under three transfer learning strategies (feature extractor, partial, and full fine-tunning) using pretrained weights from ImageNet, RadImageNet, or random initialization. A classical machine learning baseline combining adaptive thresholding segmentation and handcrafted features with Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN), and Logistic Regression (LR), was also implemented for comparison. Transfer learning strategy had the greatest influence on model performance, with full fine-tuning yielding the highest accuracy. Pretrained weights, especially from ImageNet, consistently improved performance over random initialization. The differences between model architectures were smaller under full fine-tunning and pretrained weights from ImageNet. The top-performing configuration of ResNet50 with ImageNet weights and full fine-tuning, reached 91–97 % accuracy across internal test sets and showed 20 % improvement in accuracy, precision and recall compared to the benchmark method. Performance remained robust on an independent test set, with an approximately 10 % improvement over the benchmark method. Guided Grad-CAM heatmaps confirmed that the infestation regions were correctly localized by deep learning models, supporting modal interpretability and reliability. These findings underline the potential of deep transfer learning for accurate and interpretable detection of internal pest damage in pear fruit and support the deployment of automated X-ray-based inspection systems in postharvest quality control workflows.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111923"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}