Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111924
Yuzhong Chen , Xiaochun Zheng , Tengfei Li , Weiting Wang , Yanli Ma , Peng Hu , Jianfang Cao , Pengfei Du , A.M. Abd El-Aty
This study proposes a multi-indicator adaptive synchronous prediction model for mutton that is based on hyperspectral imaging. By integrating spectral features, texture features, wavelet features, and visible light region color features (L∗, a∗, b∗ specific), a multidimensional information space is constructed. An adaptive optimization strategy is integrated and adopted, including adaptive feature selection, adaptive model selection, and adaptive model hyperparameter optimization. Among these, the prediction results for pH and TVC were the best, with Rc2 values of 0.953 and 0.973, respectively, and Rp2 values of 0.937 and 0.951, respectively; the Rc2 value for TVB-N was 0.896, and the Rp2 value was 0.856; and the Rc2 values for L∗, a∗, and b∗ were 0.872, 0.837, and 0.938, respectively, with Rp2 values of 0.498, 0.771, and 0.888, respectively. This study provides valuable references and technical support for the application of spectral multi-indicator simultaneous prediction, benefiting related research and practical fields.
{"title":"Multi-indicator adaptive prediction model for mutton based on hyperspectral imaging technology","authors":"Yuzhong Chen , Xiaochun Zheng , Tengfei Li , Weiting Wang , Yanli Ma , Peng Hu , Jianfang Cao , Pengfei Du , A.M. Abd El-Aty","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111924","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111924","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposes a multi-indicator adaptive synchronous prediction model for mutton that is based on hyperspectral imaging. By integrating spectral features, texture features, wavelet features, and visible light region color features (L∗, a∗, b∗ specific), a multidimensional information space is constructed. An adaptive optimization strategy is integrated and adopted, including adaptive feature selection, adaptive model selection, and adaptive model hyperparameter optimization. Among these, the prediction results for pH and TVC were the best, with Rc<sup>2</sup> values of 0.953 and 0.973, respectively, and Rp<sup>2</sup> values of 0.937 and 0.951, respectively; the Rc<sup>2</sup> value for TVB-N was 0.896, and the Rp<sup>2</sup> value was 0.856; and the Rc<sup>2</sup> values for L∗, a∗, and b∗ were 0.872, 0.837, and 0.938, respectively, with Rp<sup>2</sup> values of 0.498, 0.771, and 0.888, respectively. This study provides valuable references and technical support for the application of spectral multi-indicator simultaneous prediction, benefiting related research and practical fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111924"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798094","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111921
Nayeem Mia , Md. Abul Hashem , Han-Sul Yang , Jin-Kyu Seo
Rapidly accurate identification of meat species and storage conditions is critical for consumer protection, quality assurance, and fraud prevention in the meat supply chain. This study demonstrates that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can serve as a rapid, non-destructive tool for multi-class meat authentication, capturing species-specific and storage-dependent variations that are traditionally assessed through time-consuming, costly, and expertise-intensive physicochemical, oxidative, chemical, and bioactive analyses. A total of 1200 meat samples from beef, chevon, and chicken were scanned across 700–1100 nm, generating 12,000 NIR spectra. Physicochemical and oxidative parameters, along with chemical composition and major bioactive compounds, including fatty acids, volatile compounds, and heterocyclic aromatic amines, were measured to validate the discriminatory power of NIR. Frozen meat exhibited higher pH, lipid oxidation, shear force, and cooking loss, accompanied by decreased redness.
Furthermore, species-specific chemical and bioactive profiles provided additional confirmation of classification potential. Dimensionality reduction using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and nonlinear embedding revealed clear separability of fresh and frozen samples across species. Machine learning models achieved high accuracy, with Logistic Regression and Neural Networks reaching the best classification. Chevon (Fresh) remained the most challenging class due to spectral and biochemical overlaps. Learning curve analyses indicated robust generalization for most models, with ensemble and neural network approaches benefiting from larger datasets. Decision boundary visualization highlighted contrasts between linear and nonlinear classifiers, as well as the smoothing effects of ensemble averaging. Overall, the integration of NIR spectroscopy with multi-type reference markers provides an efficient, accurate, and non-destructive approach for simultaneous meat authentication.
{"title":"AI-driven rapid non-destructive authentication of fresh and frozen meat from multiple species using NIR spectroscopy with reference to physicochemical and bioactive markers","authors":"Nayeem Mia , Md. Abul Hashem , Han-Sul Yang , Jin-Kyu Seo","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111921","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111921","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rapidly accurate identification of meat species and storage conditions is critical for consumer protection, quality assurance, and fraud prevention in the meat supply chain. This study demonstrates that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can serve as a rapid, non-destructive tool for multi-class meat authentication, capturing species-specific and storage-dependent variations that are traditionally assessed through time-consuming, costly, and expertise-intensive physicochemical, oxidative, chemical, and bioactive analyses. A total of 1200 meat samples from beef, chevon, and chicken were scanned across 700–1100 nm, generating 12,000 NIR spectra. Physicochemical and oxidative parameters, along with chemical composition and major bioactive compounds, including fatty acids, volatile compounds, and heterocyclic aromatic amines, were measured to validate the discriminatory power of NIR. Frozen meat exhibited higher pH, lipid oxidation, shear force, and cooking loss, accompanied by decreased redness.</div><div>Furthermore, species-specific chemical and bioactive profiles provided additional confirmation of classification potential. Dimensionality reduction using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and nonlinear embedding revealed clear separability of fresh and frozen samples across species. Machine learning models achieved high accuracy, with Logistic Regression and Neural Networks reaching the best classification. Chevon (Fresh) remained the most challenging class due to spectral and biochemical overlaps. Learning curve analyses indicated robust generalization for most models, with ensemble and neural network approaches benefiting from larger datasets. Decision boundary visualization highlighted contrasts between linear and nonlinear classifiers, as well as the smoothing effects of ensemble averaging. Overall, the integration of NIR spectroscopy with multi-type reference markers provides an efficient, accurate, and non-destructive approach for simultaneous meat authentication.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111921"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798120","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111912
Xuechun Wang , Zhishuo Zhang , Cuihua Chang , Yujie Su , Luping Gu , Yanjun Yang , Hong Sun , Junhua Li
Bakery products are highly susceptible to mold contamination, leading to food waste and economic loss. This study aimed to screen and characterize a strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lpb. plantarum LW11) with potent antifungal activity from traditional Chinese pickle and explore its potential as a bio-preservative in bakery products. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Lpb. plantarum LW11 exhibited strong inhibitory effects against Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and Penicillium chrysogenum (P. chrysogenum), with inhibition zones exceeding 40 mm on PDA medium. Furthermore, the CFS of Lpb. plantarum LW11 significantly compromised the cell wall and membrane integrity of these fungi, resulting in nucleic acid leakage. Analysis via UPLC-Q-TOF-MS identified 19 organic acid metabolites in the CFS. Among them, citrate, stearate, heptadecanoate, and 4-coumarate exhibited high peak areas. Molecular docking studies predicted that 4-coumarate has the strongest affinity for lanosterol 14-α-demethylase (CYP51), a crucial enzyme for the integrity of fungal membranes. The incorporation of 1 % Lpb. plantarum LW11 fermented CFS powder into sponge cake effectively inhibited the growth of A. flavus and P. chrysogenum. Overall, this study underscores the potential of Lpb. plantarum LW11 CFS as a natural bio-preservative in bakery products, presenting a promising and sustainable alternative to chemical preservatives.
{"title":"Harnessing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LW11: A promising bio-preservative for extending cake shelf life through antifungal metabolites","authors":"Xuechun Wang , Zhishuo Zhang , Cuihua Chang , Yujie Su , Luping Gu , Yanjun Yang , Hong Sun , Junhua Li","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111912","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111912","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bakery products are highly susceptible to mold contamination, leading to food waste and economic loss. This study aimed to screen and characterize a strain of <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em> (<em>Lpb. plantarum</em> LW11) with potent antifungal activity from traditional Chinese pickle and explore its potential as a bio-preservative in bakery products. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of <em>Lpb. plantarum</em> LW11 exhibited strong inhibitory effects against <em>Aspergillus flavus</em> (<em>A. flavus</em>) and <em>Penicillium chrysogenum</em> (<em>P. chrysogenum</em>), with inhibition zones exceeding 40 mm on PDA medium. Furthermore, the CFS of <em>Lpb. plantarum</em> LW11 significantly compromised the cell wall and membrane integrity of these fungi, resulting in nucleic acid leakage. Analysis via UPLC-Q-TOF-MS identified 19 organic acid metabolites in the CFS. Among them, citrate, stearate, heptadecanoate, and 4-coumarate exhibited high peak areas. Molecular docking studies predicted that 4-coumarate has the strongest affinity for lanosterol 14-α-demethylase (CYP51), a crucial enzyme for the integrity of fungal membranes. The incorporation of 1 % <em>Lpb. plantarum</em> LW11 fermented CFS powder into sponge cake effectively inhibited the growth of <em>A. flavus</em> and <em>P. chrysogenum</em>. Overall, this study underscores the potential of <em>Lpb. plantarum</em> LW11 CFS as a natural bio-preservative in bakery products, presenting a promising and sustainable alternative to chemical preservatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111912"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749545","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111914
Xue-Ting Cheng , Yan-Hong Li , Yun Ge , Zhuo Han , Yi-Ang Feng , Ying-Zhi Zhang , Kang-Di Hu , Gai-Fang Yao , Pedro García-Caparros , Hua Zhang
Ethylene promotes fruit ripening, while hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exerts the opposite effects. However, whether H2S antagonizes ethylene-mediated regulatory mechanisms of post-harvest banana pulp ripening and senescence remains unclear. In this study, H2S alone or in combination with ethylene fumigation delayed the yellowing of banana peels by downregulating the expression of chlorophyll degradation genes (MaNYC1, MaSGR1, MaPPH and MaPAO) and prolonged the pulp softening process and reduced the release of endogenous ethylene by comparing to the control treatment. The effect on banana pulp is manifested with the preservation of nutrients, such as starch and soluble protein content, as well as the reduction of the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anion (•O2−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), inhibiting lipid peroxidation to decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) production, while simultaneously enhancing ABTS radical scavenging rates and antioxidant enzyme activity. Bioinformatics analysis results demonstrated that H2S antagonizes ethylene by affecting the changes in fruit quality in banana pulp. Molecular analysis further revealed that the exogenous application of H2S downregulated the expression of MaACS1, MaPL, MaGWD1 and MaAMY3 genes. Collectively, these results evidence that exogenous H2S application effectively antagonized the effect of ethylene, thereby maintaining nutrient content and antioxidant enzyme activities in postharvest banana fruit.
{"title":"Hydrogen sulfide maintains banana postharvest quality by antagonizing ethylene and enhancing antioxidant properties in Musa nana Lour","authors":"Xue-Ting Cheng , Yan-Hong Li , Yun Ge , Zhuo Han , Yi-Ang Feng , Ying-Zhi Zhang , Kang-Di Hu , Gai-Fang Yao , Pedro García-Caparros , Hua Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111914","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111914","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ethylene promotes fruit ripening, while hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) exerts the opposite effects. However, whether H<sub>2</sub>S antagonizes ethylene-mediated regulatory mechanisms of post-harvest banana pulp ripening and senescence remains unclear. In this study, H<sub>2</sub>S alone or in combination with ethylene fumigation delayed the yellowing of banana peels by downregulating the expression of chlorophyll degradation genes (<em>MaNYC1, MaSGR1, MaPPH and MaPAO</em>) and prolonged the pulp softening process and reduced the release of endogenous ethylene by comparing to the control treatment. The effect on banana pulp is manifested with the preservation of nutrients, such as starch and soluble protein content, as well as the reduction of the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anion (•O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>) and hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>), inhibiting lipid peroxidation to decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) production, while simultaneously enhancing ABTS radical scavenging rates and antioxidant enzyme activity. Bioinformatics analysis results demonstrated that H<sub>2</sub>S antagonizes ethylene by affecting the changes in fruit quality in banana pulp. Molecular analysis further revealed that the exogenous application of H<sub>2</sub>S downregulated the expression of <em>MaACS1, MaPL, MaGWD1</em> and <em>MaAMY3</em> genes. Collectively, these results evidence that exogenous H<sub>2</sub>S application effectively antagonized the effect of ethylene, thereby maintaining nutrient content and antioxidant enzyme activities in postharvest banana fruit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111914"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749532","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}
Pesticide residues in processed fruit products such as raisins are of growing concern due to potential dietary exposure risks. In this study, 100 Turkish raisin samples were analyzed for 290 multi-class pesticides using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for volatile compounds and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry for non-volatile compounds. A total of 45 different residues were detected, including fourteen pesticides not approved in the EU. Acetamiprid was the predominant residue (29 % of the samples), reaching levels up to 23.4 times higher than its derived maximum residue level, followed by metalaxyl (27 %), pyrimethanil (25 %), and pyriproxyfen (24 %). Chronic dietary exposure was evaluated using both deterministic and probabilistic (Monte Carlo simulation) approaches. The deterministic chronic hazard index (HIc) values were 0.0011 and 0.0014 for adults and children, respectively, whereas probabilistic simulations yielded mean HIc values of 0.0054 and 0.0070, confirming that chronic dietary exposure poses negligible health risks (HIc < 1). However, acute exposure analysis revealed potential short-term risks for both adults and children, primarily driven by acetamiprid and α-cypermethrin. These results highlight the persistence of certain systemic insecticides and the continued use of non-approved compounds despite regulatory restrictions, emphasizing the need for enhanced monitoring programs and stricter regulatory enforcement to ensure food safety.
{"title":"Occurrence, regulatory compliance, and health risk evaluation of pesticide residues in Turkish raisins","authors":"Esra Ogmen , Tuba Buyuksirit-Bedir , Ozgur Golge , Bulent Kabak","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111920","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111920","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pesticide residues in processed fruit products such as raisins are of growing concern due to potential dietary exposure risks. In this study, 100 Turkish raisin samples were analyzed for 290 multi-class pesticides using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for volatile compounds and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry for non-volatile compounds. A total of 45 different residues were detected, including fourteen pesticides not approved in the EU. Acetamiprid was the predominant residue (29 % of the samples), reaching levels up to 23.4 times higher than its derived maximum residue level, followed by metalaxyl (27 %), pyrimethanil (25 %), and pyriproxyfen (24 %). Chronic dietary exposure was evaluated using both deterministic and probabilistic (Monte Carlo simulation) approaches. The deterministic chronic hazard index (<em>HIc)</em> values were 0.0011 and 0.0014 for adults and children, respectively, whereas probabilistic simulations yielded mean <em>HIc</em> values of 0.0054 and 0.0070, confirming that chronic dietary exposure poses negligible health risks (<em>HIc</em> < 1). However, acute exposure analysis revealed potential short-term risks for both adults and children, primarily driven by acetamiprid and α-cypermethrin. These results highlight the persistence of certain systemic insecticides and the continued use of non-approved compounds despite regulatory restrictions, emphasizing the need for enhanced monitoring programs and stricter regulatory enforcement to ensure food safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111920"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749549","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111916
Ya-Nan Liu , Dan-Dan Bao , Yun-Feng Lu , Zhi-Feng Zhang , Ying-Jun Zhang
This study examined the effect of ribavirin treatment on the nutritional quality and volatile compounds of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes 9608). Compared to the control (CK) group, the ribavirin-treated (TL) group had higher protein levels, calcium, magnesium, and manganese, but lower sodium-to-potassium ratio. Amino acid content was lower in the TL group. A total of 54 volatile compounds were identified, with alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes being the most common. Key flavor compounds, like 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanol, were significantly higher in TL mushrooms. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between certain nutrients and specific volatile compounds. Gene expression studies further revealed significant changes in genes related to mycelial growth, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and volatile compound production, offering valuable insights into the mechanisms of flavor formation and quality enhancement in shiitake mushrooms.
{"title":"Effect of ribavirin treatment on the nutritional quality and volatile compounds of shiitake mushrooms","authors":"Ya-Nan Liu , Dan-Dan Bao , Yun-Feng Lu , Zhi-Feng Zhang , Ying-Jun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111916","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111916","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined the effect of ribavirin treatment on the nutritional quality and volatile compounds of shiitake mushrooms (<em>Lentinula edodes</em> 9608). Compared to the control (CK) group, the ribavirin-treated (TL) group had higher protein levels, calcium, magnesium, and manganese, but lower sodium-to-potassium ratio. Amino acid content was lower in the TL group. A total of 54 volatile compounds were identified, with alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes being the most common. Key flavor compounds, like 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanol, were significantly higher in TL mushrooms. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between certain nutrients and specific volatile compounds. Gene expression studies further revealed significant changes in genes related to mycelial growth, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and volatile compound production, offering valuable insights into the mechanisms of flavor formation and quality enhancement in shiitake mushrooms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111916"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798155","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111918
KyeHwan Byun, Ji-Hyoung Ha
Yersinia enterocolitica and Escherichia coli are significant microbial contaminants of non-fermented fresh kimchi, named Geotjeori, the control of which remains largely understudied. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial effects of essential oils (EOs) extracted from seasoning ingredients of kimchi against these pathogens. Initially, the viability and biofilm-forming ability were assessed under typical storage conditions (temperature and pH) of Geotjeori. At 5 °C, viability of both bacteria gradually decreased and biofilm formation was not observed. However, at 10 °C, bacterial population increased and biofilms were developed. Subsequently, the antibacterial activity of the EOs extracted from the kimchi seasoning ingredients were evaluated. Among the five tested EOs, only those from leaf mustard (Mu) and ginger (Gi) exhibited significant antibacterial activity, with measurable minimum inhibitory/biofilm inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations. When Geotjeori juice mixed with MU and Gi EOs at their minimum bactericidal concentrations was stored at 5 °C, planktonic cell counts decreased significantly, whereas biofilm formation still occurred, which indicated that biofilm formation is a major survival strategy for these pathogens. Additionally, Mu and Gi EOs significantly reduced the populations of Y. enterocolitica, E. coli, and total aerobic bacteria without adversely affecting lactic acid bacteria. In conclusion, Mu and Gi EOs are promising natural preservatives for enhancing the microbial safety of fresh kimchi; however, the existence of pathogens in the form of biofilms, even in the presence of EOs, highlights the need for further investigation.
{"title":"Control of Yersinia enterocolitica and Escherichia coli in Geotjeori using essential oils extracted from kimchi seasoning ingredients","authors":"KyeHwan Byun, Ji-Hyoung Ha","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Yersinia enterocolitica</em> and <em>Escherichia coli</em> are significant microbial contaminants of non-fermented fresh kimchi, named <em>Geotjeori</em>, the control of which remains largely understudied. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial effects of essential oils (EOs) extracted from seasoning ingredients of kimchi against these pathogens. Initially, the viability and biofilm-forming ability were assessed under typical storage conditions (temperature and pH) of <em>Geotjeori</em>. At 5 °C, viability of both bacteria gradually decreased and biofilm formation was not observed. However, at 10 °C, bacterial population increased and biofilms were developed. Subsequently, the antibacterial activity of the EOs extracted from the kimchi seasoning ingredients were evaluated. Among the five tested EOs, only those from leaf mustard (Mu) and ginger (Gi) exhibited significant antibacterial activity, with measurable minimum inhibitory/biofilm inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations. When <em>Geotjeori</em> juice mixed with MU and Gi EOs at their minimum bactericidal concentrations was stored at 5 °C, planktonic cell counts decreased significantly, whereas biofilm formation still occurred, which indicated that biofilm formation is a major survival strategy for these pathogens. Additionally, Mu and Gi EOs significantly reduced the populations of <em>Y. enterocolitica</em>, <em>E. coli</em>, and total aerobic bacteria without adversely affecting lactic acid bacteria. In conclusion, Mu and Gi EOs are promising natural preservatives for enhancing the microbial safety of fresh kimchi; however, the existence of pathogens in the form of biofilms, even in the presence of EOs, highlights the need for further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111918"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798123","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111915
Xiaoxue Han , Shuaibo Zhang , Junping Yin , Shasha Zhang , Muhammad Waqas , Yuye Zhong , Xianwen Ke , Xinghai Liu
The growing demand for sustainable food safety solutions has spurred the development of non-destructive, real-time monitoring technologies to mitigate waste resulting from food spoilage. In this study, citric acid (CA)-co-pigmented black wolfberry anthocyanins (BW) were incorporated into a biodegradable matrix composed of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), forming a highly stable hydrogel-based colorimetric indicator. Compared to BW alone, the dual stabilization strategy—combining CA co-pigmentation and β-CD encapsulation—synergistically enhanced the structural stability of anthocyanins. Hydrogen bonding between CA and BW led to a 1.88-fold and 1.67-fold increase in absorbance at pH 2 and pH 3, respectively. The formation of anthocyanin–β-CD inclusion complexes was confirmed by FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The resulting hydrogel exhibited excellent mechanical properties (compression strength: 130 kPa), pronounced pH/ammonia-responsive color transitions (ΔE > 40), and a rapid response to volatile amines within 7 min, enabling real-time monitoring of pork freshness through distinct color changes (rosy red–yellow–green). Leveraging these features, the VGG-16 deep learning model was employed, achieving 95.4 % accuracy in spoilage classification and effectively reducing variability in human visual interpretation. This work integrates advanced material design with artificial intelligence to provide a portable, simple and easily fabricated tool for precise, real-time food quality monitoring across the supply chain.
{"title":"Highly stable colorimetric hydrogel indicators based on β-cyclodextrin-Assisted Co-pigmentation and machine learning for real-time pork freshness monitoring","authors":"Xiaoxue Han , Shuaibo Zhang , Junping Yin , Shasha Zhang , Muhammad Waqas , Yuye Zhong , Xianwen Ke , Xinghai Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111915","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111915","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing demand for sustainable food safety solutions has spurred the development of non-destructive, real-time monitoring technologies to mitigate waste resulting from food spoilage. In this study, citric acid (CA)-co-pigmented black wolfberry anthocyanins (BW) were incorporated into a biodegradable matrix composed of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), forming a highly stable hydrogel-based colorimetric indicator. Compared to BW alone, the dual stabilization strategy—combining CA co-pigmentation and β-CD encapsulation—synergistically enhanced the structural stability of anthocyanins. Hydrogen bonding between CA and BW led to a 1.88-fold and 1.67-fold increase in absorbance at pH 2 and pH 3, respectively. The formation of anthocyanin–β-CD inclusion complexes was confirmed by FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The resulting hydrogel exhibited excellent mechanical properties (compression strength: 130 kPa), pronounced pH/ammonia-responsive color transitions (<em>ΔE</em> > 40), and a rapid response to volatile amines within 7 min, enabling real-time monitoring of pork freshness through distinct color changes (rosy red–yellow–green). Leveraging these features, the VGG-16 deep learning model was employed, achieving 95.4 % accuracy in spoilage classification and effectively reducing variability in human visual interpretation. This work integrates advanced material design with artificial intelligence to provide a portable, simple and easily fabricated tool for precise, real-time food quality monitoring across the supply chain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111915"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749055","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}
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, offering a highly selective and biologically compatible approach for combating foodborne pathogens. Due to their narrow host range and non-toxic nature, phages can eliminate harmful bacteria in food systems without disrupting beneficial microorganisms, making them excellent candidates for use in the food industry. Furthermore, their inherent specificity, abundance of capsid proteins for signal reporter attachment, and high biocompatibility make phages promising tools for biosensing applications in food hazard detection. However, as phages are composed of nucleic acids and proteins, they are vulnerable to degradation and performance loss within complex food matrices. To overcome these limitations, phages require effective protection and functionalization to enhance their stability and efficacy in diverse food environments. This review focuses on recent advances in the development and application of phage-functionalized materials for both pathogen control and hazard detection in the food sector. We first examine key strategies for phage functionalization, including physical adsorption, chemical conjugation, and genetic engineering. We then highlight representative phage-functionalized materials-such as packaging films, hydrogels, encapsulation systems, reporter proteins, nanomaterials, and other functional composites. Finally, we discuss current challenges and future opportunities for expanding the role of phage-based technologies in food safety management.
{"title":"Phage-functionalized materials for food Safety: Advances in detection and control","authors":"Liping Yu, Weixiao Kong, Saqlain Ali Bukhari, Xiaoyong Ma, Peihao Yuan, Ying Xiong, Xinfang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111911","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111911","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, offering a highly selective and biologically compatible approach for combating foodborne pathogens. Due to their narrow host range and non-toxic nature, phages can eliminate harmful bacteria in food systems without disrupting beneficial microorganisms, making them excellent candidates for use in the food industry. Furthermore, their inherent specificity, abundance of capsid proteins for signal reporter attachment, and high biocompatibility make phages promising tools for biosensing applications in food hazard detection. However, as phages are composed of nucleic acids and proteins, they are vulnerable to degradation and performance loss within complex food matrices. To overcome these limitations, phages require effective protection and functionalization to enhance their stability and efficacy in diverse food environments. This review focuses on recent advances in the development and application of phage-functionalized materials for both pathogen control and hazard detection in the food sector. We first examine key strategies for phage functionalization, including physical adsorption, chemical conjugation, and genetic engineering. We then highlight representative phage-functionalized materials-such as packaging films, hydrogels, encapsulation systems, reporter proteins, nanomaterials, and other functional composites. Finally, we discuss current challenges and future opportunities for expanding the role of phage-based technologies in food safety management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111911"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749061","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111919
Yanfang Lv , Ziqi Yu , Ying Li , Beibei Ye , Jianrong Li , Xuepeng Li
The development of reliable freshness pH indicator films is essential for monitoring the quality and safety of perishable seafood products. In this study, a pH-sensitive smart film was prepared by incorporating blueberry anthocyanins (BA) with glucose and gallic acid (GA) into the nylon (NY) material film. The elongation at break (EB) and tensile strength (TS) of the film were 27.21 % and 17.94 MPa, respectively. The color change of the film was obvious in ammonia and pH response tests. In addition, the film exhibited a sensitive color response in monitoring the freshness of large yellow croaker at different temperatures (−2 °C, 4 °C, 10 °C, and 18 °C) due to its close adsorption to anthocyanins. Therefore, with the high sensitivity of the indicator films, a fitting curve was established between the hue value extracted from film colors and the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content of the large yellow croaker. The coefficient of determination for the curve equation was 0.856. These results demonstrate the potential of using the hue value as a novel indicator for assessing fish freshness, providing a promising approach for real-time freshness monitoring.
{"title":"Innovative application of a pH-sensitive indicator film: Monitoring the freshness of Larimichthys crocea based on the correlation model between hue value and TVB-N content","authors":"Yanfang Lv , Ziqi Yu , Ying Li , Beibei Ye , Jianrong Li , Xuepeng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111919","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111919","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of reliable freshness pH indicator films is essential for monitoring the quality and safety of perishable seafood products. In this study, a pH-sensitive smart film was prepared by incorporating blueberry anthocyanins (BA) with glucose and gallic acid (GA) into the nylon (NY) material film. The elongation at break (EB) and tensile strength (TS) of the film were 27.21 % and 17.94 MPa, respectively. The color change of the film was obvious in ammonia and pH response tests. In addition, the film exhibited a sensitive color response in monitoring the freshness of large yellow croaker at different temperatures (−2 °C, 4 °C, 10 °C, and 18 °C) due to its close adsorption to anthocyanins. Therefore, with the high sensitivity of the indicator films, a fitting curve was established between the hue value extracted from film colors and the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content of the large yellow croaker. The coefficient of determination for the curve equation was 0.856. These results demonstrate the potential of using the hue value as a novel indicator for assessing fish freshness, providing a promising approach for real-time freshness monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":319,"journal":{"name":"Food Control","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 111919"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798118","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}