Safety of Meat Products: Detection and Control of Microorganisms

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2022) | Viewed by 16460

Special Issue Editors

Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Interests: food microbiology, molecular epidemiology, tracing foodborne pathogens, alternative methods
Department for Farm Animal and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
Interests: food microbiology, foodborne pathogens, technogical approaches

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The production of meat products is a highly sensitive area due to the possibility of the introduction of spoilage and pathogenic organisms from primary production to the final product at retail level. In order to achieve a risk-based assessment of pathogen contamination in primary as well as secondary production, longitudinal sampling approaches are needed that encompass all levels of sampling (raw material, intermediate product, food environment, and vectors). The latest findings based on culture-based as well as culture-independent microbiological and molecular biological methods are necessary and should be used to detect contamination events in order to improve food safety at the consumer, trade, and producer levels. These methods should be applied in a networked manner in order to provide the best possible insight into bacterial transmission pathways.

Dr. Beatrix Stessl
Dr. Martina Ludewig
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Foodborne pathogens
  • Spoilage microorganism
  • Longitudinal sampling approaches
  • Culture-dependent and culture-independent microorganism
  • Pathogen transmission
  • Alternative sampling methods and materials
  • Epidemiology
  • Transmission routes
  • Persistent microorganisms
  • Selection of resistance in microorganisms to environmental stress
  • Molecular typing and resistance profiling

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 281 KiB  
Article
In-House Validation of Multiplex PCR for Simultaneous Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in Raw Meats
by Chanokchon Jaroenporn, Wannakarn Supawasit, Damkerng Bundidamorn, Pathima Udompijitkul, Anunchai Assawamakin and Sudsai Trevanich
Foods 2022, 11(11), 1557; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11111557 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1748
Abstract
The aim of the study was to perform in-house validation of the developed multiplex PCR (mPCR)-based alternative method to detect Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) and Salmonella spp. in raw meats following the ISO 16140-2: 2016. A [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to perform in-house validation of the developed multiplex PCR (mPCR)-based alternative method to detect Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) and Salmonella spp. in raw meats following the ISO 16140-2: 2016. A comparative study of the developed mPCR against the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) method was evaluated for inclusivity and exclusivity, sensitivity and the relative level of detection (RLOD). Inclusivity levels for each target bacterium were all 100%, while exclusivity for non-target bacteria was 100%. The sensitivity of the developed mPCR was calculated based on the analysis of 72 samples of raw meat. The sensitivity of the developed mPCR was 100%. The RLOD values of the developed mPCR for STEC, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. were 0.756, 1.170 and 1.000, respectively. The developed mPCR showed potential as a tool for the fast, specific and sensitive detection of the three bacteria in the raw meat industry Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety of Meat Products: Detection and Control of Microorganisms)
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12 pages, 1402 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Effect of Static Magnetic Field and Modified Atmosphere Packaging in Controlling Blown Pack Spoilage in Meatballs
by Yongfang Chen, Anthony Pius Bassey, Yun Bai, Shuang Teng, Guanghong Zhou and Keping Ye
Foods 2022, 11(10), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11101374 - 10 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1743
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the microbial diversity in meatballs with or without blown pack spoilage (BPS) to determine the cause of BPS and to assess the synergistic effect of static magnetic field (SMF) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to reduce the phenomenon [...] Read more.
This study aimed to compare the microbial diversity in meatballs with or without blown pack spoilage (BPS) to determine the cause of BPS and to assess the synergistic effect of static magnetic field (SMF) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to reduce the phenomenon of BPS. Results showed that the BPS group with a 2.26-fold larger volume and packaging containing 71.85% CO2 had Klebsiella spp. (46.05%) and Escherichia spp. (39.96%) as the dominant bacteria, which was different from the spoilage group. The results of isolation and identification of strains from the BPS group and their inoculation test confirmed that Klebsiella pneumoniae was the major strain-inducing BPS in meatballs due to its pack-swelling ability. SMF (5 mT) treatment combined with MAP (40%CO2 + 60%N2), which did not influence the sensory quality of meatballs, had a significant synergistic effect on preventing the increase in pack volume. Compared with the control group, this synergistic treatment effectively delayed bacterial growth, drop in pH, and the increase of TBARS. The findings of this study will provide further guidance for meatball manufacturers to adopt effective strategies to reduce the BPS of meatballs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety of Meat Products: Detection and Control of Microorganisms)
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9 pages, 493 KiB  
Article
High Prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Greek Meat Products: Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes by Molecular Techniques
by Nikoletta Argyro Theocharidi, Iliana Balta, Dimitra Houhoula, Andreas G. Tsantes, George P. Lalliotis, Angeliki C. Polydera, Haralambos Stamatis and Panagiotis Halvatsiotis
Foods 2022, 11(5), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11050708 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3473
Abstract
Background: The presence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae strains in the food supply is dangerous. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Klebsiella pneumonia strains in Greek meat products and evaluate their phenotypes and genotypes. Methods: One [...] Read more.
Background: The presence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae strains in the food supply is dangerous. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Klebsiella pneumonia strains in Greek meat products and evaluate their phenotypes and genotypes. Methods: One hundred and ten meat specimens were cultured for the isolation of K. pneumoniae. In positive specimens, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis was performed to confirm the presence of K. pneumoniae. Genotypic and phenotypic evaluation of the isolated strains included multiplex immunoassay for the detection of carbapenemases, and PCR screening for the detection of resistance and virulence genes. Results:K. pneumoniae strains were recovered in 90 (81.8%) meat samples. The ecpA gene was identified in 30 (33.3%) isolates, while the fimH-1 and mrkA genes were present in 15 (16.7%) and 65 (72.2%) isolates, respectively. Sixty-five K. pneumoniae isolates (72.2%) were found to carry at least one resistance gene; of these, the blaNDM-like was the most commonly identified gene in 40 (61.5%) isolates, followed by the blaOXA-48 like gene in 20 isolates (30.8%). Conclusions: A high frequency of foodborne K. pneumoniae in Greece was found. Our results indicate that most strains carried resistance and virulence genes, indicating a high pathogenic potential and a significant risk to human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety of Meat Products: Detection and Control of Microorganisms)
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7 pages, 706 KiB  
Communication
Citrobacter braakii Yield False-Positive Identification as Salmonella, a Note of Caution
by Joanna Pławińska-Czarnak, Karolina Wódz, Magdalena Kizerwetter-Świda, Tomasz Nowak, Janusz Bogdan, Piotr Kwieciński, Adam Kwieciński and Krzysztof Anusz
Foods 2021, 10(9), 2177; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10092177 - 14 Sep 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5753
Abstract
Background: Globally, Salmonella enterica is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness in humans. Food of animal origin is obligatorily tested for the presence of this pathogen. Unfortunately, in meat and meat products, this is often hampered by the presence of background [...] Read more.
Background: Globally, Salmonella enterica is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness in humans. Food of animal origin is obligatorily tested for the presence of this pathogen. Unfortunately, in meat and meat products, this is often hampered by the presence of background microbiota, which may present as false-positive Salmonella. Methods: For the identification of Salmonella spp. from meat samples of beef, pork, and poultry, the authorized detection method is PN-EN ISO 6579-1:2017-04 with the White–Kauffmann–Le Minor scheme, two biochemical tests: API 20E and VITEK II, and a real-time PCR-based technique. Results: Out of 42 presumptive strains of Salmonella, 83.3% Salmonella enterica spp. enterica, 14.3% Citrobacter braakii, and 12.4% Proteus mirabilis were detected from 180 meat samples. Conclusions: Presumptive strains of Salmonella should be identified based on genotypic properties such as DNA-based methods. The aim of this study was the isolation and identification of Salmonella spp. from miscellaneous meat sorts: beef, pork, and poultry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety of Meat Products: Detection and Control of Microorganisms)
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17 pages, 1883 KiB  
Article
Genotypic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistant Salmonella spp. Strains from Three Poultry Processing Plants in Colombia
by Alejandra Ramirez-Hernandez, Ana K. Carrascal-Camacho, Andrea Varón-García, Mindy M. Brashears and Marcos X. Sanchez-Plata
Foods 2021, 10(3), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10030491 - 25 Feb 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2625
Abstract
The poultry industry in Colombia has implemented several changes and measures in chicken processing to improve sanitary operations and control pathogens’ prevalence. However, there is no official in-plant microbial profile reference data currently available throughout the processing value chains. Hence, this research aimed [...] Read more.
The poultry industry in Colombia has implemented several changes and measures in chicken processing to improve sanitary operations and control pathogens’ prevalence. However, there is no official in-plant microbial profile reference data currently available throughout the processing value chains. Hence, this research aimed to study the microbial profiles and the antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates in three plants. In total, 300 samples were collected in seven processing sites. Prevalence of Salmonella spp. and levels of Enterobacteriaceae were assessed. Additionally, whole-genome sequencing was conducted to characterize the isolated strains genotypically. Overall, the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in each establishment was 77%, 58% and 80% for plant A, B, and C. The mean levels of Enterobacteriaceae in the chicken rinsates were 5.03, 5.74, and 6.41 log CFU/mL for plant A, B, and C. Significant reductions were identified in the counts of post-chilling rinsate samples; however, increased levels were found in chicken parts. There were six distinct Salmonella spp. clusters with the predominant sequence types ST32 and ST28. The serotypes Infantis (54%) and Paratyphi B (25%) were the most commonly identified within the processing plants with a high abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety of Meat Products: Detection and Control of Microorganisms)
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