Search Results (890)

Microbial contamination of food is a crucial cause of food spoilage and foodborne diseases, posing a severe threat to global public health. Although chemical preservatives are effective, their potential hazards to human health and the environment, coupled with the growing demand for “clean label” products, have driven the search for natural alternatives. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), recognized as the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) microorganisms, have emerged as the promising bio-preservatives due to their safety, effectiveness, and multifunctionality. This review systematically summarized the core antimicrobial properties of LAB, including their inhibitory spectrum against foodborne pathogens, spoilage microorganisms, viruses, parasites, and their ability to degrade toxic substances such as mycotoxins, pesticides, and heavy metals. Key inhibitory mechanisms of LAB are highlighted, encompassing the production of antimicrobial metabolites, leading to metabolism disruption and cell membrane damage, nutrition and niche competition, quorum-sensing interference, and anti-biofilm formation. Furthermore, recent advances in LAB applications in preserving various food matrices (meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, cereals) are integrated, including their roles in enhancing food sensory quality, extending shelf life, and retaining nutritional value. The review also discusses critical factors influencing LAB’s inhibitory activity (medium composition, culture conditions, ionic components, pathway regulator, etc.) and the challenges associated with the application of LAB. Finally, future research directions are outlined, including the novel LAB and metabolites exploration, AI-driven cultural condition optimization, genetic engineering application, nano-encapsulation and active packaging development, and building up the LAB-based cellular factories. In conclusion, LAB and their antimicrobial metabolites hold great promise as green and safe food preservatives. This review is to provide comprehensive theoretical support for the rational improvement and efficient application of LAB-based natural food preservatives, contributing to the development of a safer and more sustainable food processing and preservation systems. Full article

Foodborne diseases remain a major global challenge because pathogenic microorganisms persist in food systems, often protected by biofilms and increasing resistance to conventional chemical preservatives and sanitizers. Control strategies that were effective in the past are becoming less reliable in complex processing environments, creating a need for more precise and adaptable food-safety approaches. This review examines emerging technologies that shift food safety from broad, reactive control toward targeted, data-driven intervention. Biological tools, including bacteriophages, phage-derived enzymes, bacteriocins, quorum-sensing inhibitors, and gene-guided antimicrobial systems, are discussed for their capacity to selectively control specific pathogens while limiting unintended effects on beneficial microbiota. The review also addresses nano-enabled strategies that improve antimicrobial stability, delivery, and performance, along with plant-derived and microbial bioactive compounds that support clean-label and sustainable preservation. In parallel, advances in anti-biofilm surface engineering, such as nano-textured, contact-active, and responsive materials, are examined as preventive measures to reduce microbial attachment and persistence on food-contact surfaces. Beyond individual interventions, this review emphasizes integration within coordinated multi-hurdle systems supported by real-time monitoring and predictive analytics. Emerging digital frameworks, including digital twins of food-processing lines, are highlighted as tools to link detection, risk prediction, and targeted control. Finally, remaining knowledge gaps, regulatory challenges, and research priorities are identified, highlighting the need for realistic testing, long-term safety evaluation, standardized validation, and collaborative efforts to translate precision food-safety technologies into dependable real-world applications. Full article

Background: Wildlife is increasingly recognized as an important component in the epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens. Salmonella spp., a leading cause of foodborne disease worldwide, can circulate across human, domestic animal, and environmental interfaces. European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), a synanthropic species frequently inhabiting urban and peri-urban areas, may act as reservoirs or sentinels for Salmonella. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Salmonella spp. isolated from European hedgehogs admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centers in Italy. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 100 European hedgehogs housed in five wildlife rehabilitation centers located in four Italian regions. Salmonella spp. were isolated using standard bacteriological methods, serotyped according to the Kaufmann–White–Le Minor scheme, and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by broth microdilution for ampicillin, enrofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were interpreted following CLSI guidelines. Results: Salmonella spp. was isolated from 30% of the animals sampled. Four serovars were identified, with S. Enteritidis (50%) and S. Typhimurium (36.7%) being the most prevalent, followed by S. Agona (10%) and S. Chester (3.3%). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed a high level of susceptibility, with 90% of isolates sensitive to all tested antibiotics. One S. enteritidis strain showed resistance to enrofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim, while two isolates exhibited intermediate susceptibility to enrofloxacin. Conclusions: The detection of Salmonella serovars commonly associated with human infections in European hedgehogs highlights the potential role of this species in the ecology of zoonotic Salmonella. Although antimicrobial resistance levels were low, the presence of resistant and intermediate strains underscores the importance of continued surveillance. Despite some limitations related to the study design and sample representativeness, these results support the need for further large-scale investigations, reinforcing the need for integrated One Health surveillance strategies. Full article

Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, which affects 6–7 million people worldwide. Although the possibility of oral transmission was first scientifically suggested in 1913, it was not until 1968 that the first confirmed cases of human infection via food consumption were reported. This long gap contributed to the widespread perception that oral transmission was a rare or incidental event. Over the past two decades, significant advances have been made in understanding the biological and clinical aspects of oral transmission, including the molecular mechanisms by which metacyclic trypomastigotes establish infection via the digestive route. Experimental studies in murine models have further deepened our knowledge of the biology and pathogenesis of oral infection. Concurrently, multiple outbreaks of T. cruzi infection through contaminated food and beverages have been reported across Latin America, providing valuable insights into the molecular epidemiology and clinical characteristics of this transmission route. Moreover, experimental evidence has shown that the consumption of meat from animals infected during the acute phase can also lead to T. cruzi infection, highlighting carnivory as a potential alternative transmission mechanism. This review aims to comprehensively analyze oral infection by T. cruzi, considering clinical and epidemiological data, parasite biology, and findings from murine experimental models. Strategies for controlling foodborne transmission of Chagas disease are also discussed. Full article

Foodborne diseases remain a public health issue worldwide. Inadequate attention to food safety and hygiene increases the risk of opportunistic pathogens and resistant bacteria spreading to people through the food chain, leading to foodborne diseases. To investigate food safety in our region, this study aims to measure the prevalence of microorganisms on raw food materials randomly purchased from wet markets in Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand. In this study, microbial cultures, identified by MALDITOF-MS techniques, were used to determine the microflora and antibiotic-resistance organisms on raw vegetables and fruit. Consequently, to confirm antibiotic resistance, the antimicrobial susceptibility techniques were performed. The results found no Salmonella enterica was detected on the overall food samples. For Proteus spp. detection, P. mirabilis were detected at 3.23% in cabbage, 3.57% in Chinese cabbage, and 6.67% in lettuce, while P. vulgaris were detected at 7.14% in Chinese cabbage and 3.57% in peppermint. No Proteus spp. was detected in basils, tomatoes and grapes. In addition, for antibiotic-resistance detection, only ESBL-producing Klebsiella oxytoca was detected in the raw tomato sample (3.57%). According to the study’s findings, people who participate in the food process should be aware of their food safety and hygiene. Full article

The pervasive presence of foodborne contaminants in foods poses a significant global threat, contributing to various foodborne diseases and food safety issues. Therefore, developing rapid, sensitive, and universal detection methods for them is essential to ensure public health and food safety. Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensors, particularly those incorporating innovative nanoaggregates, have been widely used to detect related contaminant residues in foodstuffs owing to their superior sensitivity and low background signals. This review summarizes recent advances in nanoaggregate-based novel ECL sensors for detecting a wide range of contaminants, with emphasis on their fundamentals and representative applications. This area has not yet been comprehensively covered in the existing literature. The current challenges and emerging trends for next-generation ECL sensors based on nanoaggregates in food safety monitoring are also discussed. Full article

A wide range of non-microbial contaminants—such as heavy metals, pesticide residues, antibiotics, as well emerging foodborne contaminants like micro- and nanoplastics and persistent organic pollutants—can enter the human body through daily diet and exert subtle yet chronic effects that are increasingly recognized to be gut microbiota-dependent. However, the relationships among multi-contaminant exposure profiles, dynamic microbial community structures, microbial metabolites, and diverse clinical or subclinical phenotypes are highly non-linear and multidimensional, posing major challenges to traditional analytical approaches. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful tool to untangle the complex interactions between foodborne non-microbial contaminants, the gut microbiota, and host health. This review synthesizes current knowledge on how key classes of non-microbial food contaminants modulate gut microbial composition and function, and how these alterations, in turn, influence intestinal barrier integrity, immune homeostasis, metabolic regulation, and systemic disease risk. We then highlight recent advances in the application of AI techniques, including machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and network-based methods, to integrate multi-omics and exposure data, identify microbiota and metabolite signatures of specific contaminants, and infer potential causal pathways within “contaminant–microbiota–host” axes. Finally, we discuss current limitations, such as data heterogeneity, small-sample bias, and interpretability gaps, and propose future directions for building standardized datasets, explainable AI frameworks, and human-relevant experimental validation pipelines. Overall, AI-enabled analysis offers a promising avenue to refine food safety risk assessment, support precision nutrition strategies, and develop microbiota-targeted interventions against non-microbial food contaminants. Full article

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a major foodborne pathogen, responsible for severe gastrointestinal disease and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Here, we report Click Detect, a novel diagnostic platform that leverages click display to efficiently produce sensing probes for sandwich-style antigen detection. Click display is an in vitro protein display technology that generates uniform and covalently linked protein–cDNA conjugates in a simple one-pot reaction format within 2 h. The captured sensing probe can be quantified by standard nucleic acid amplification assays. Using click displayed DARPin (D_#20) as the sensing probe and a high-affinity nanobody (N_G1) as the capture reagent, Click Detect reliably detected Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) at 600 fM by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and 6 pM by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The assay maintained comparable sensitivity in matrices containing up to 40% public swimming pool water or lettuce extract, highlighting robustness for real-world surveillance applications. Key advantages of Click Detect include simple, rapid, and cost-effective (~USD 0.04 per assay) sensing probe preparation, as well as a versatile plug-and-play probe format for detecting other targets. We believe that Click Detect has great potential as a novel sensing platform for food/environmental monitoring and point-of-care diagnostics, with potentially broad applicability to other toxins and protein targets. Full article

Salmonella is a Gram-negative enteric bacterium responsible for the foodborne and waterborne disease salmonellosis, which was the second most reported foodborne gastrointestinal infection in humans in the European Union in 2023. Animals represent the principal reservoir of this pathogen, with animal-derived food products serving as the main route of transmission to humans. In a household context, having numerous animals can be a crucial factor for contracting Salmonella spp. infection. In the present study, we report a case of a familiar outbreak of Salmonella Thompson that occurred in 2024 in central Italy, involving an infant and the companion animals (a dog, a cat and ten birds) of the family’s farm. To support the epidemiological investigations, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were conducted on strains from the human case and from animals. Eleven strains were isolated in total, from fecal samples collected from the child and the animals at different times. WGS confirmed the genetic relatedness between human and animal isolates, supporting the hypothesis of a shared source of infection, but genes or plasmid involved in antibiotic resistance were not found. Moreover, AST revealed that isolates were fully susceptible to major antimicrobial classes tested. Despite being an uncommon serotype, the involved Salmonella Thompson serovar 6,7: k:1,5 O:7 (C1) demonstrated a high pathogenic potential, emphasizing the need for vigilance even toward serotypes not typically associated with major public health concerns. Moreover, these findings underscore the critical need for an integrated One Health approach to effectively monitor, prevent, and control zoonotic infections. Full article

Foodborne diseases remain a persistent public health problem. Most foodborne outbreaks in Europe occur in consumers’ homes, highlighting that improvements in consumer food safety are needed and that consumers have an important role in maintaining food safety. A better understanding of consumer food safety knowledge, attitudes, and food handling practices is required to prepare effective interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate consumer food safety knowledge, attitudes, and food handling practices in Slovenia as well as the interrelationships between knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Adult consumers in Slovenia (n = 1621) participated in a validated online questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics and explored the aspects of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on the following topics: food related habits, food shopping and transportation, food refrigeration, food labeling, and food preparation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling (SEM). Overall, participants demonstrated good levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practice. However, some of the areas that require improvement include use of cooling bags, measuring and knowing the correct refrigerator temperature and not washing raw meat and poultry. SEM analysis revealed that knowledge affects attitudes and, in most cases, both knowledge and attitudes affect practices. Enhanced communication strategies targeting consumers are needed to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Educational campaigns need to focus on all three aspects: knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Building a culture of consumer food safety is essential because consumer food safety truly is everyone’s business. Full article

Background: In the Philippine basic education system, particularly in Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) Cookery classes, teachers are at the forefront of promoting proper food hygiene. However, systemic challenges such as the absence of standardized policies, outdated training, and lack of resources hinder their effectiveness. To address this gap, this study aimed to assess the food hygiene knowledge and practices of cookery teachers and provides localized evidence to address the lack of division-level hygiene policies. Methods: A descriptive research design supported by qualitative interviews was employed. In total, 69 junior and senior high school cookery teachers from three school divisions in Ilocos Norte participated. A researcher-made survey questionnaire and an interview guide were used to gather data, which were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Participant testimonies were integrated to enrich the quantitative findings. Results showed high levels of food hygiene knowledge ($\overline{x}=$ 3.48; Highly Competent) and practices ($\overline{x}=$ 3.80; Highly Competent). Despite these strengths, notable gaps were identified in technical areas such as temperature control, cold storage, and specific aspects of personal hygiene. Conclusions: Interviews highlighted the need for a formal institutional hygiene policy to support teachers’ implementation of safe food-handling practices. All computed p-values were below 0.01, indicating significant correlations between demographic variables and both knowledge and practices. The correlation values ranged from r = 0.039 to r = 0.342, suggesting weak to moderate positive relationships and indicating that hygiene behaviors are influenced by multiple factors rather than demographics alone. Based on the findings, the study recommends institutionalizing the proposed policy brief, providing adequate resources, and implementing continuous professional development for Cookery teachers. The study’s scope is limited to Northern Philippines. Full article

Foodborne botulism is a potentially fatal disease caused by Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs). These spore-forming bacteria are ubiquitous in the environment and can contaminate various food products, especially raw vegetables. During the preparation of home-made preserves, favorable conditions of anaerobiosis, temperature, salinity, and pH can lead to spore germination and toxin production. BoNTs can reach neuromuscular junctions where they block the release of acetylcholine. In this study, we present a case of foodborne botulism associated with the consumption of chili peppers preserve containing BoNT/B. The isolated strains were characterized through Whole Genome Sequencing, confirming the strains involved in the outbreak. This work increases the understanding of the epidemiology and the ecology of C. botulinum, highlighting the importance of raising medical awareness and making timely clinical diagnoses for the effective management of botulism outbreaks. Full article

Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella species and Listeria monocytogenes are leading causes of foodborne illness outbreaks worldwide, posing significant public health and economic challenges. For years, culture-based methods and culture-independent methods have been widely used for pathogen detection; however, their limitations have become increasingly apparent, i.e., longer turnaround times, and they have lower specificity and selectivity. Recent innovations in molecular, immunological, spectroscopic, and biosensing technologies offer promising alternatives for rapid, sensitive, and on-site detection of these pathogens. In this review paper, we provide an overview of the conventional and emerging detection technologies for Salmonella species and Listeria monocytogenes in food matrices, and their limitations. Emphasis is placed on electrochemical biosensors for L. mono and Salmonella detection and their integration in food testing and monitoring. Finally, we conclude and discuss the future perspectives of electrochemical biosensors. Full article

The poultry industry plays a major role in the emergence and spread of foodborne zoonotic diseases, particularly those associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These diseases pose substantial global public health challenges, and the increasing development of antimicrobial resistance further intensifies these concerns. In response, scientific efforts have expanded to develop and implement innovative technologies capable of mitigating the rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms. Therapeutic bacteriophage supplementation has regained significant attention because it can selectively lyse specific bacteria, is cost-effective to produce, offers environmentally favorable characteristics, and provides several advantages over conventional antibiotics. Experimental studies have demonstrated that phage therapy is both safe and effective for controlling poultry-associated enteric pathogens. Phages can be applied at various stages of the poultry production chain, from rearing to processing and distribution, using multiple delivery strategies. Despite certain limitations, the targeted and well-regulated application of phage cocktails offers considerable potential as an alternative to antibiotics for managing MDR infections. The success of bacteriophage therapy depends on several factors, including the timing of administration, dosage, delivery method, and its integration with other therapeutic approaches. Therefore, developing a comprehensive understanding of bacteriophage utilization in poultry production is both timely and necessary. This review examines the applications, constraints, and future opportunities of phage therapy within the commercial poultry industry, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms through which bacteriophages control bacterial infections. Full article

Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) serves as a multi-host–pathogen regarded as an alarming foodborne infectious disease, causing illnesses of variable severity in both livestock and human beings. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and associated antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of P. mirabilis isolates obtained from diseased broiler chickens and native Egyptian buffaloes in Kafr El-Sheikh and Dakahlia governorates, Egypt. In addition, this study investigated the antibacterial activity of chitosan (CS) and chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs), including the estimation of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of CS at concentrations of 1% and 2%, as well as CSNPs. Furthermore, the sub-MIC values were utilized to assess the inhibitory effects of CS and CSNPs on swarming motility. P. mirabilis was detected in 68% (34/50) of broiler chickens and 40.74% (11/27) of buffaloes. Interestingly, all P. mirabilis isolates were tested against 21 antimicrobial drugs and showed high resistance against either critical, highly important, or important antimicrobial drugs. For chicken-originated P. mirabilis, 50% (17/34) of isolates were revealed to be extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and 50% (17/34) of isolates were revealed to be pan-drug-resistant (PDR). Meanwhile, 9.09% (1/11) of buffalo-originated P. mirabilis isolates were revealed to be XDR and 90.91% (10/11) of the isolates were revealed to be PDR. Among P. mirabilis isolates from broiler chickens, the prevalence of resistance genes was as follows: int1 (97.06%), dfrA1 (100%), sul2 (97.06%), catA1 (44.12%), aadA1 (97.06%), tet(M) (81.82%), ermB (23.53%), msrA (0%), qnrA (47.06%), qnrS (0%), gyrA (0%), mcr-1 (11.76%), bla_TEM (97.06%), bla_CTX-M (26.47%), bla_OXA-10 (2.94%), bla_CMY-2 (41.18%), and bla_SHV (0%). The corresponding detection rates in buffalo-derived isolates were 100%, 100%, 90.91%, 63.64%, 100%, 70.59%, 18.18%, 0%, 9.09%, 0%, 0%, 18.18%, 81.82%, 18.18%, 18.18%, 63.64%, and 0%, respectively. Carbapenemase genes were found in none of the isolates from either species. CSNPs demonstrated superior antibacterial and anti-virulence activity against resistant P. mirabilis. CSNPs exhibited significantly lower MIC (0.067–0.081 mg/mL) and MBC (0.167–0.177 mg/mL) values compared with conventional CS formulations (MIC: 3.25–4.5 mg/mL; MBC: 6.67–9.08 mg/mL) in both broiler and buffalo isolates. In inhibition zone assays, the CSNPs + ciprofloxacin (CIP) combination showed the highest efficacy with a 50–58% increase in the inhibition area. Both CSNPs and CS 2% substantially reduced swarming motility by 45–52%, with CSNPs showing the strongest inhibitory effect. These outcomes highlight how P. mirabilis carries and disseminates antibiotic resistance, presenting serious threats to health policy and livestock. Also, CS or CSNPs, either alone or enhanced with CIP, are effective in vitro against resistant P. mirabilis, which promotes the treatment of Proteus infections to guarantee a bactericidal impact. Full article