Antimicrobial Strategies in Food Processing, Production and Storage

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 1231

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Food Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
Interests: food sterilization; antimicrobial strategies; processing; production; storage

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ensuring the safety and quality of food products is a critical priority in the global food supply chain. The rise in antimicrobial resistance, along with consumers increasingly preferring minimally processed and sustainable foods, underscores the need for innovative and effective antimicrobial strategies. This Special Issue, entitled “Antimicrobial Strategies in Food Processing, Production and Storage”, explores advancements in combating microbial contamination across various stages of food production. In addition, this Special Issue will compile cutting-edge research on natural and synthetic antimicrobial agents, novel packaging technologies, and process interventions, with its scope including the application of nanotechnology, bio-based antimicrobials, hurdle technology, and predictive microbiology models to control pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. The integration of antimicrobial strategies into modern food systems while addressing regulatory, environmental, and economic challenges is a key focus. By presenting multidisciplinary perspectives, this collection aims to inspire innovative solutions and foster collaboration among scientists, industry professionals, and policymakers. Together, these advancements will contribute to safer, higher-quality, and more sustainable food systems. We invite readers to explore these contributions regarding the future of antimicrobial strategies in food science.

Dr. Sang-Soon Kim
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • antimicrobial strategy
  • food processing
  • transportation
  • storage
  • thermal treatment
  • nonthermal treatment
  • hurdle technology
  • foodborne pathogen

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 856 KiB  
Article
Inactivation of Aerosolized Hepatitis A Viral Droplets on Food Contact Surfaces by Ultraviolet-Light-Emitting Diodes at 255 nm and 279 nm
by Breanna Polen, Ankit Patras, Brahmaiah Pendyala and Doris H. D’Souza
Foods 2025, 14(11), 1899; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14111899 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 146
Abstract
Hepatitis A viral outbreaks continue to occur. It can be transmitted through aerosolized droplets and thus can contaminate surfaces and the environment. Ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-C LED) systems are used for inactivation of microbes, though research is needed to determine optimal doses [...] Read more.
Hepatitis A viral outbreaks continue to occur. It can be transmitted through aerosolized droplets and thus can contaminate surfaces and the environment. Ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-C LED) systems are used for inactivation of microbes, though research is needed to determine optimal doses for aerosolized HAV inactivation. This study evaluates the UV-C LED doses for the inactivation of aerosolized hepatitis A virus (HAV) deposited on stainless-steel and glass discs. HAV was aseptically deposited onto stainless-steel or glass discs (1.27 cm diameter) using a nebulizer within a chamber followed by treatments for up to 1.5 min with 255 nm (surface dose = 0–76.5 mJ/cm2) or 279 nm (surface dose = 0–8.1 mJ/cm2) UV-C LED. Plaque assays were used to enumerate infectious titers of recovered viruses and data from three replicates were statistically analyzed. The calculated linear D10-value (UV-C dose for a 1-log reduction in aerosolized deposits) for HAV by 255 nm UV-C LED was 47.39 ± 7.40 and 40.0 ± 2.94 mJ/cm2 (R2 = 0.94 and 0.91) and using 279 nm UV-C LED were 6.60 ± 0.27 and 5.57 ± 0.74 mJ/cm2 (R2 = 0.98 and 0.94) on stainless-steel and glass discs, respectively. The non-linear Weibull model showed δ (dose needed for a 1-log reduction in aerosolized HAV deposits) values for HAV of 29.69 ± 5.49 and 35.25 ± 15.01 mJ/cm2 by 255 nm UV-C LED (R2 = 0.99 and 0.92) and 6.67 ± 0.63 and 5.21 ± 1.25 mJ/cm2 by 279 nm UV-C LED (R2 = 0.98 and 0.95) on stainless-steel and glass discs, respectively. These data indicate that 279 nm UV-C LED showed higher efficiency for HAV inactivation than 255 nm UV-C LED, and that Weibull models were a better fit when tailing was observed. This study provides the inactivation data needed to aid in designing UV-C LED systems for delivering doses required to inactivate bio-aerosolized HAV deposits on stainless-steel and glass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Strategies in Food Processing, Production and Storage)
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17 pages, 5133 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Synergistic Bactericidal Effects of Cold Plasma and Ultraviolet Radiation on Pseudomonas fragi
by Haidu Yuan, Fei Chen, Jiajia Zhang, Xinglei Guo, Jianhao Zhang and Wenjing Yan
Foods 2025, 14(4), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14040550 - 7 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 805
Abstract
Cold plasma is a novel non-thermal processing technology with broad application prospects in food preservation. When combined with other physical sterilization technologies, it enhances sterilization efficiency and broadens its application scope, providing a safe and effective alternative to traditional sterilization methods. In this [...] Read more.
Cold plasma is a novel non-thermal processing technology with broad application prospects in food preservation. When combined with other physical sterilization technologies, it enhances sterilization efficiency and broadens its application scope, providing a safe and effective alternative to traditional sterilization methods. In this paper, the sterilization effect of surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) plasma combined with 222 nm ultraviolet (UV) irradiation against Pseudomonas fragi (P. fragi) was explored for the first time. The sterilization process parameters of SDBD + UV were optimized using the response surface methodology. And the sterilization mechanism of SDBD + UV was preliminary elucidated. The results indicated that the SDBD + UV treatment was highly effective against P. fragi. It could eliminate 6.35 Log CFU/g of P. fragi within 150 s, establishing optimal sterilization parameters: a radiation distance of 16.4 cm and a saving time (a period of preservation in which the samples were retained in the device after the treatment) of 120 s. Furthermore, the treatment caused significant damage to the cell membrane of P. fragi, leading to membrane perforation and content leakage. It also induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by membrane lipid peroxidation, alterations in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, and a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of cold plasma combined with 222 nm UV treatment in the meat industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Strategies in Food Processing, Production and Storage)
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