Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety最新文献

The global rise in seafood consumption has increased the incidence of aquatic food-associated bacterial infections, with Salmonella spp. being of great concern. While numerous Salmonella serotypes exist, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis have garnered significant attention as foodborne pathogens. The pathogenicity of Salmonella is attributed to its ability to express a wide array of virulence factors. These factors aid Salmonella's colonization, invasion, and survival in aquatic environments and the human gastrointestinal tracts. In addition, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella strains isolated from aquatic food is a significant challenge for the seafood industry. Given the increasing evidence of Salmonella's prevalence, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance isolated from various types of aquatic food, it is crucial to address this issue to safeguard public health. Comprehensive surveillance programs, implementation of good aquaculture and hygiene practices, and adherence to strict food safety regulations are essential in preventing and controlling Salmonella contamination in aquatic food. This review emphasized the occurrence, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance observed in Salmonella strains obtained from different varieties of aquatic food products.

Mathematical models based on infrared spectroscopy and machine learning have been successfully used to trace the origin of soybeans. However, as previous research reported, it is necessary to employ spectra data that undergo multiple pre-processing operations in order to achieve optimal accuracy during model training. And these established models are only capable of predicting samples with identical spectra pre-processing. Specifically, baseline correction, which necessitates individual processing of each spectrum, requiring substantial investments of time and human resources with a large dataset. In this study, the spectra augmentation technique was proposed based on the theory of data augmentation, in order to simplify or even eliminate the pre-processing steps for the prediction dataset. The technique utilized a combination of the standard spectra pre-processed data and the “boost data” to train models, specifically, a total of 180 spectra, including 90 pre-processed standard spectra and 90 “boost” spectra. The “boost” data refers to data without the standard spectra pre-processing. On the prediction dataset without the standard spectra pre-processing, the model with the spectra augmentation technique had an accuracy of 0.91 for the recognition of Northeast China soybeans, while the accuracy of the model with the training method frequently reported in previous studies only reached 0.71, demonstrating that the model trained with the proposed technique possessed higher robustness and generalization capabilities. The spectra augmentation technique can maintain high accuracy while simplifying spectra pre-processing steps on prediction data, therefore, providing a more efficient and expedited method for practical food traceability and authentication.

Graphical abstract

This paper reviews the factors affecting consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for genetically modified (GM) and functional foods, as the newly introduced food products in developing countries, and organic foods. Related articles were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Science Direct by using the key words “WTP”, “GM food”, “functional food”, and “organic food” until 2023. Based on the results of the existing studies, the main factors that affect consumers’ WTP for GM foods are “product information and labels”. For functional foods, “displaying a health claim, consumers’ awareness and information, variety, and consumers’ trust” are factors that affect WTP. “Consumers’ satisfaction, product logos and price, rural–urban differences, and socio-demographic variables” are factors affect WTP for organic foods. One factor that strengthens consumers in making good choices is better knowledge and information about GM food. Food producers and stakeholders should take the importance of these factors seriously, as they could affect consumers’ WTP.

A practical and representative sampling method for microbiological examination of the slaughter process is useful for identifying abattoir-specific risk factors within the pig slaughter line. The aim of this study was to examine the suitability of an agar contact method (ACM), where the agar was homogenized before the microbiological processing, in comparison with the wet-dry double swabbing method (WDSM) for quantitative determination of total viable counts (TVC) on pig skin surfaces. In our experimental trial, pig skin pieces were artificially contaminated at 2 levels (3 log and 7 log cfu/ml) with a suspension of bacteria species commonly found on pig skin and cultivated in vitro. Within our field trial, pig carcasses were investigated at pre-chilling in an abattoir under standard processing conditions. For both sampling methods, TVC was determined, and statistical equivalence tests were calculated. Linear regression models showed the similarity of the sampling methods, with coefficient of determination (R²) > 90% and slope parameters of nearly 1 for both trials separately. Statistically significant equivalence between the 2 sampling methods was proven in both trials (with p < 0.0001 within an equivalence range of ± 0.5 log cfu/ml, respectively). The field trial revealed TVC on carcass surfaces sometimes at or below the lower detection limit for the ACM, while TVC from all carcasses were able to be determined by WDSM. Overall, low contamination levels were less reliably detectable by ACM than by WDSM. The ACM can be seen as an additional and suitable sampling procedure for pig skin and can contribute to the identification of abattoir specific risk factors for investigations of the hygienic status at process stages along the pig slaughter line.

Exposure to pesticide spray drift during the application of plant protection products (PPP) in orchards poses potential health risks to bystanders and residents. To address this concern, this study aimed to gather novel field data on exposure to spray drift in orchards. The research was conducted by the Julius Kuehn-Institute (JKI), the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). From 2018 to 2021, the method for conducting the field trials and analysis was implemented. The data from multiple series of performed field trials conducted between 2021 and 2022 allowed for collecting data on potential dermal exposure (PDE), inhalation exposure, and ground sediment. The trials considered various distances from the treatment area and drift-reducing techniques. Adult and child mannequins were used to simulate bystanders’ exposure, and petri dishes were used to measure ground sediment. The results showed that drift reduction settings (75% drift reduction) considerably reduced exposure levels on the mannequins. Furthermore, a strong correlation between PDE values for adults and children located next to each other at the same distance was observed. This finding suggests a possibility to convert exposure results from adult to child mannequins. The study produced realistic exposure data for bystanders and residents next to a treated area. It contributes to a better understanding of exposure risks from PPP application and includes data for different distances and spray drift reducing technique. If taken into account for further development of the current risk assessment models, new risk management options for the safe application of PPP, including buffer strips or application of drift reducing systems, might be available in near future.

In the highly automated processing in broiler abattoirs, some process steps reduce the bacterial counts and inactivate or remove pathogens, while others can lead to an increase. The present study compared the reduction of Enterobacteriaceae counts (EBCs) on breast skin samples in 3 broiler abattoirs using different scalding techniques: (A) conventional immersion scalding (360 s), (B) conventional immersion scalding with thermal treatment of the water (204 s), and (C) the AeroScalder® using hot, humid, saturated air as the scalding medium (360 s in air). In 3 commercial broiler abattoirs in Germany and The Netherlands, a total of 320 breast skin samples per abattoir (before and after scalding, after plucking, before and after chilling) and water samples from the scalders were taken and examined for EBC. After scalding, a significant EBC reduction by 0.7 log was determined only for the conventional immersion scalder (Abbatoir A); the reductions of the other 2 scalders were 0.1 log (Abattoir B) and 0.2 log (Abattoir C) and not statistically significant. The EBCs after scalding differed by up to 0.5 log cfu/g when the 3 scalders were compared, and these counts can be seen as similar. For all 3 abattoirs, the largest EBC reductions (p < 0.001) of 2.8 to 3.6 logs were found after plucking. Compared to the immersion scalders, EBCs in water samples were lowest in those taken from the AeroScalder®. Hence, we conclude that the conventional immersion scalders and the AeroScalder® reduced EBCs in a comparable manner. However, the greatest reductions in EBCs were seen after the plucking steps in the studied abattoirs, not after the scalding as such.

In this study, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectroscopy was applied to detect Tetrodotoxin and analogues (TTXs) on pufferfish (Sphoeroides marmoratus) tissues, accidentally found in the stomach of a cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). The cuttlefish tissues were also analysed. Pufferfish (digestive tract, skin, gonads, liver/spleen, muscle) and cuttlefish (mantle, head/visceral mass) tissues were tested positive for TTXs. In pufferfish, the highest concentration of TTX was found in the digestive tract (4.94 mg/ kg), while in cuttlefish in the mantle (0.21 mg/kg). The presence of TTXs in S. marmoratus was linked to its geographical area of origin while a TTXs cross-contamination of the cuttlefish was hypothesized. Despite the European ban on pufferfish commercialization, campaigns addressed to their morphological identification by consumers and operators might improve its risk management. The risk related to TTXs cross-contamination of edible seafood such as cuttlefish might require specific control measures. Moreover, the collaboration between competent authorities and medical personnel are essential for the monitoring of human poisoning.

Corn is one of the major cereal crops produced worldwide. It has recently been used for the production of healthy, gluten-free, and high-fiber bread. However, corn is highly susceptible to aflatoxin (AF) contamination, representing a serious health concern, as aflatoxins (AFs) are carcinogenic to humans. In this study, the cornbread-making process using the unit operations nixtamalization with different calcium sources, fermentation, and baking was evaluated as a method for AF detoxification at 2 different contamination levels. The nixtamalized cornbread-making process with tequesquite (an alkaline mineral complex) showed an average reduction of 77.12% in AF content from 550.33 µg/kg to 114.50 µg/kg. For the second contamination level (2208.33 µg/kg), the cornbread-making process with the nixtamalization using calcium hydroxide was the most effective, resulting in an average reduction in AF content of 83.58% (362.50 µg/kg). At both levels, the control cornbread samples were significantly different (p < 0.05) from others, reaching an average reduction of 55.43% for level 1 and 58.23% for level 2 (125.73 and 522.33 µg/kg respectively). Additionally, when the AF extracts of cornbread samples were subjected to acidic pH values (pH = 3), an additional reduction in AF content was achieved. The chemical structure of AFs did transform to irreversible forms, with only non-fluorescent derivatives remaining. Our results demonstrate that despite the high contamination of corn used as a raw material, the cornbread-making process including nixtamalization as a unit operation was effective in reducing AF content by more than 80%.