Search Results (579)

The Enterobacteriaceae family is a significant source of foodborne pathogens and represents a severe threat to human and animal health. These bacteria can penetrate the dairy supply chain through direct contact with cattle and the livestock environment and can survive production processes. Escherichia coli (E. coli), one of the most diffuse bacteria in raw and processed milk, exposes consumers to the risk of contaminated milk. As a result of this exposition, several milk-borne illness outbreaks have been reported worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for effective detection and prevention measures. Conventional analysis methods are effective but have significant limitations, including the requirement of pre-treatment and pre-enrichment steps. Thus, the need for advanced detection techniques that can accurately identify these pathogens without pre-treatment steps is critical. In this work, a proof-of-concept biosensor based on a spoon-shaped optical biochip was developed to detect E. coli via surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena and was combined with a polyclonal antibody layer against E. coli as a molecular recognition element (MRE). The proposed label-free biosensing strategy, achieved by exploiting simple SPR spoon-shaped biochips, exhibits a remarkable detection limit (6.8 colony-forming units, CFU/mL) and high specificity towards other interfering bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. In addition, tests on commercial milk samples were carried out, achieving recovery values of 95% and 102% for whole milk and infant milk, respectively. The proposed spoon-shaped biosensor enables label-free biosensing without the need for microfluidic systems. It provides a rapid response (10 min), paving the way for its use as a point-of-care test (POCT) in real-world settings. Full article

This study investigated the efficacy of sodium fumarate combined with the commercial organic acid disinfectant NatureSeal FS (FS) against the prominent foodborne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium. Sodium fumarate at 10 mM enhanced the antimicrobial activity of FS against overnight cultures of all three pathogens in growth media within 1–5 min. Subsequently, FS supplemented with 25 mM sodium fumarate (pH 2.4) showed enhanced antimicrobial activity by 1–2 log cycles, reaching a total of 2.14–3.22 log cycles within 5 min against the three pathogens inoculated each one individually, on the surface of strawberries, pears and apples compared to a <1.1 log reduction for all control treatments (no treatment, water, 100 ppm chlorine and FS) at pH 2.4. Then, six different organic acid mixes containing key components of FS, two of which were supplemented with 50 and 25 mM sodium fumarate, were tested against the three pathogens, which also performed significantly better than the rest. Sodium fumarate enhanced the efficacy of a commercial acidic disinfectant on fresh produce significantly. The results of this study are highly important for the food industry and consumer protection, as the use of sodium fumarate could significantly enhance the food safety of fresh produce, which is the main contributor to foodborne illness nowadays. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus is a major bacterial pathogen that can cause clinical infections and foodborne illnesses through the production of 25 exotoxin types. The most frequently implicated toxins in food poisoning outbreaks are Staphylococcal enterotoxins type A–E (SEA-SEE), which are the first enterotoxins discovered. While in vitro detection methods are available to identify the presence of enterotoxins, they cannot distinguish between biologically active and inactive forms of the toxins. Detection of biologically active enterotoxins currently relies on in vivo testing, using the emetic response in kittens or monkeys. Here, we show the development of an in vitro assay to detect the active forms of SEB, a potential biological warfare agent and leading cause of food poisoning, and SEC1, a frequent cause of staphylococcal food poisoning. The novel assay involves the implementation of a genetically engineered Jurkat T-cell line expressing TCR Vβ3, resulting in a dose response of IL-2 production when exposed to active toxin. We also show that at a concentration of 100 ng/mL, the biological activity of SEB is significantly decreased at temperatures over 70 °C, while pasteurization at 63 °C only slightly reduces the biological activity of the toxin. Our studies provide an alternative method to animal testing to determine the presence of active toxins and provide possible inactivation methods of the toxins. Full article

Salmonella remains one of the most critical zoonotic pathogens in the poultry sector, linked to animal disease, foodborne illness, and the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Poultry acts as a major reservoir, enabling Salmonella transmission from hatchery to retail products through horizontal, vertical, and environmental routes. Despite the use of biosecurity, vaccination, antibiotics, and chemical decontamination, effective and sustainable control across the poultry value chain remains difficult, particularly in the face of rising multidrug-resistant strains and growing consumer concerns over chemical residues. Bacteriophages (phages), viruses that selectively infect and lyse bacteria, have emerged as a promising biological alternative for Salmonella control. Although many studies have reported the effectiveness of phages against bacterial species, including Salmonella, in the poultry industry, reports on their full potential to combat antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella across the entire poultry value chain remain limited. Therefore, this review synthesizes current evidence on the application of phages throughout the poultry value chain, including on-farm interventions, processing plant decontamination, and food packaging and storage. Findings from the reviewed articles indicate over a 90% reduction in Salmonella spp. in poultry farms and post-harvest meat, along with lower mortality in phage-treated groups compared to untreated groups; however, these outcomes depend on several factors (e.g., phage strains, concentrations, application methods, and environmental conditions). Laboratory, pilot, and field studies consistently demonstrate that phage preparations, especially when formulated as cocktails or combined with complementary interventions, can achieve substantial reductions in Salmonella, including antibiotic-resistant serovars, in live birds, eggs, poultry environments, and meat products. Unlike antibiotics and chemical sanitizers, phages act with high specificity, preserving beneficial microbiota and maintaining the sensory and nutritional quality of poultry products. Their safety has been supported by toxicological and genomic assessments, and several phage-based products have obtained regulatory approval, including Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for food applications in the United States. By integrating efficacy, safety, regulatory, and practical deployment data, this review highlights bacteriophages as a scientifically validated and One Health–aligned tool capable of reducing Salmonella transmission from farm to fork across the poultry value chain, thereby laying the foundation for their future adoption in the poultry industry. Phage-based interventions offer a sustainable pathway to enhance food safety, limit antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dissemination, and strengthen consumer confidence in poultry products. However, the major limitation is the emergence of phage-resistant bacterial strains, as well as the potential involvement of some phages in the transfer of resistance and virulence genes, which could raise public concern. Nevertheless, the use of phage cocktails and whole-genome sequencing, involving tools such as ResFinder and virulence finder, can facilitate the selection of safe phages for application. Full article

Street food is a fundamental part of the diet for millions of people, especially in Mexico, standing out for its accessibility, cost, and connection to culinary culture. Street food represents a practical alternative for the population and economic benefits for those who sell it. However, its preparation and sale can involve microbiological health hazards if proper hygiene conditions and practices are not applied during the handling, storage, and sale of products. Studies in Mexico have shown the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in street food, including coliform bacteria, Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes, among others, capable of causing foodborne illnesses. Therefore, this narrative review provides information available in various databases on street food, foodborne illnesses, causative agents, contaminants, and prevention measures. This study focuses on the Mexican context, including the socioeconomic relevance of these foods, microbiological contaminant hazards, prevention, and the regulatory framework. Although regulations and actions are in place for these foods, challenges remain related to food hygiene education for food handlers, microbiological surveillance of food, and the wide variety of products and sales outlets. Strengthening collaboration among authorities, academia, vendors, and consumers is essential to promote the availability of safe food and protect public health. Full article

Food trucks (FTs) are becoming increasingly popular in Saudi Arabia. However, inadequate food safety practices and limited consumer awareness of foodborne pathogens may increase the risk of foodborne illnesses associated with consumption from FTs. Therefore, we assessed consumer knowledge, attitudes, associations with sociodemographic characteristics, and dietary patterns among FT customers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia, between March to October 2025. An online questionnaire was completed by 500 adults covering sociodemographic characteristics, food safety knowledge, attitudes, pathogen awareness, and dietary intake. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and linear regression. The mean scores for awareness, knowledge, and attitudes were 16.7 ± 3.8, 14.7 ± 3.3, and 30.8 ± 5.3, respectively. Women had considerably higher knowledge and awareness scores than men (p < 0.0001). Significant correlations were found between food safety knowledge and attitude scores (r  =  0.531, p  <  0.001), food safety knowledge and awareness scores (r  =  0.633, p  <  0.001), and attitude and awareness scores (r  =  0.429, p  <  0.001). A trend toward high fruit consumption was observed among participants with high knowledge and awareness scores. These findings highlight the need for targeted consumer education to improve pathogen awareness among FT customers. Full article

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a major zoonotic foodborne pathogen associated with severe human illnesses, including hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. While ruminants are traditionally recognized as the primary reservoirs, increasing evidence suggests that poultry production systems may also contribute to the dissemination of pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant E. coli through the food chain. However, the extent of this contribution and its relevance to human infection remain incompletely understood. This review provides a critical synthesis of the virulence mechanisms, epidemiology, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of E. coli, with particular emphasis on STEC in poultry production systems. Key virulence determinants, including Shiga toxins (Stx1 and Stx2), the locus of enterocyte effacement, and plasmid-encoded factors, are discussed in relation to their roles in host colonization and disease progression. Transmission pathways within poultry production and processing environments are examined, highlighting critical points of contamination from farm to consumer. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli in poultry underscores significant public health concerns. However, variability in epidemiological data and limitations in current surveillance systems complicate the interpretation of transmission dynamics. Current and emerging control strategies, including biosecurity measures, alternative antimicrobial interventions, and processing hygiene, are evaluated alongside their practical limitations under commercial conditions. Overall, this review identifies key knowledge gaps and emphasizes the need for integrated, evidence-based approaches within a One Health framework to better define zoonotic risks and develop sustainable control strategies. Full article

Bongkrekic acid (BKA) is a potent respiratory toxin produced by Pseudomonas cocovenenans. This toxin is commonly found in spoiled fermented rice- and wheat-based products, snow fungus, and black fungus and can cause severe foodborne illness. The development of a rapid onsite detection method can effectively prevent food poisoning incidents and ensure food safety. In this study, a highly specific anti-BKA monoclonal antibody was prepared, the reaction conditions were optimized, and an indirect competitive chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunoassay (ic-CLEIA) system was developed for high-throughput screening of BKA in food. The results showed that the ic-CLEIA had good linearity in the range of 7.3–106.6 pg/mL, a limit of detection of 4.7 pg/mL, a limit of quantification of 7.3 pg/mL, a half-maximal inhibition concentration of 28.2 pg/mL, a spike recovery of 86.6–94.1%, a coefficient of variation of less than 10%, and no cross-reactivity with structural analogs. There was no significant difference between the detection results obtained with ic-CLEIA and ultraperformance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for the samples. This method provides reliable technical support for food safety monitoring, especially for grassroots laboratories and large-scale sample screening. Full article

Home food safety (HFS) is a major contributor to foodborne illness, often originating in domestic settings. Although population-based studies using surveys, questionnaires, and interviews are commonly used to assess consumers’ HFS-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), methodological heterogeneity limits comparability across studies. This scoping review aimed to map studies assessing consumers’ HFS-related KAP in high-income countries, describe recurrent methodological and reporting features, and identify areas of variability. Following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and JBI guidance, the literature published between 2000 and 2023 was systematically searched across five scientific databases, as well as governmental and institutional sources for the grey literature. Data extraction and synthesis were guided by an expanded 15-feature framework refined from a previous rapid review. A total of 274 documents were included (247 scientific articles and 27 governmental and institutional reports). Across the included studies, several methodological features showed high consistency, including primary data collection (93%), predominantly cross-sectional designs (91%), the use of closed-ended instruments (71%), quantitative analytical approaches (78%), and voluntary, non-incentivised participation (68%), suggesting the presence of a common descriptive methodological core. At the same time, substantial variability was observed in sample size (62%), study aims (52%), analytical strategies (52%), modes of administration (51%), geographic coverage (47%), thematic scope (44%), and study period (54%). The coexistence of methodological convergence and context-dependent variability poses challenges in terms of evidence synthesis and comparability in HFS-related KAP research. The 15-feature framework developed in this review provides a structured, non-prescriptive tool to support transparent description and comparison of methodological and reporting practices. By pinpointing common approaches and areas of divergence, this review offers a foundation for guiding future HFS-related KAP research and supporting the development of more comparable and policy-relevant evidence. Full article

Foodborne diseases present a serious public health challenge, causing roughly 600 million illnesses and 420,000 deaths annually. A significant portion of this impact is felt in Asia, where traditional fermented and dry-salted seafood, such as katsuobushi, budu, and peda, are dietary staples. These products rely on diverse microbial communities that determine their final safety, flavor, texture, and shelf life. Historically, research has centered on lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yet the functional contributions of non-LAB halotolerant species, including genera like Tetragenococcus, Staphylococcus, and Bacillus, are functionally important in these high-salinity niches. This review evaluates the transition from basic taxonomic surveys to mechanistic multi-omics approaches, integrating genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to decode microbial functionality under selective environmental pressures. We discuss how genomic mining using platforms such as BAGEL4 and antiSMASH can uncover biosynthetic gene clusters and antimicrobial peptides, while CARD supports antimicrobial resistance monitoring. Transcriptomic analysis reveals microbial responses to osmotic stress, low water activity, and pH fluctuations, whereas proteomic profiling links gene expression to active enzymes, stress proteins, and functional biomarkers. Metabolomics captures the chemical outcomes of fermentation, including amino acids, volatile organic compounds, spoilage markers, and biogenic amines. By merging these high-dimensional datasets with artificial intelligence, researchers can move toward predictive modeling that distinguishes biological causation from simple correlation. This shift offers a strategy to improve the safety, consistency, and resilience of traditional high-salinity fermented seafood systems. Full article

Meat serves as a prime medium for the growth of foodborne pathogens due to its rich protein content and high water activity, contributing significantly to the global burden of foodborne illnesses. This review synthesizes current advances in meat-borne bacterial pathogen detection with particular emphasis on emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled applications. Major pathogens of concern, including Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Clostridium, and Staphylococcus aureus, are examined in relation to their relevance across the meat supply chain. Recent progress in biosensors (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), CRISPR-based assays, isothermal amplification, and metagenomics is evaluated alongside the growing role of AI in automating signal interpretation, enhancing image-based diagnostics, and supporting early contamination prediction. AI-based systems have proved 96.4–104% recovery and 100% bacterial capture ability. Embedding AI methods in a wet lab demands technical and logical modeling, as well as learning and calibration decorum. Nonetheless, AI readiness and full-scale application for meat-borne pathogens surveillance are on the way. Furthermore, additional focus is aligned on meat-borne bacterial pathogen genomic databases, i.e., (NCBI Pathogen Detection, EnteroBase, VFDB, ComBase, and GenBank), which serve as critical training resources for AI models for outbreak tracking, virulence profiling, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prediction. By integrating molecular methods, genomic surveillance, and AI-driven analytics, this review presents a framework for strengthening meat safety systems. This will improve early detection capabilities and support data-driven public health interventions in the future. Full article

Foodborne bacterial contamination creates significant public health and economic challenges. In the United States, the CDC estimates that foodborne illness causes approximately 48 million illnesses and 3000 deaths annually. Rapid screening is important because conventional confirmation methods are time- and labor-intensive. Microscopy-based analysis of early bacterial microcolonies can enable detection within hours rather than days, yet manual inspection is slow, subjective, and impractical at scale. Although deep learning object detectors such as YOLO offer a promising solution, the impact of architectural design choices on microscopy-based bacterial detection has not been systematically characterized under controlled conditions. In this work, we conducted a controlled architectural evaluation of YOLOv8 for detecting bacterial microcolonies in high-resolution microscopy images. We replaced the CSP-Darknet backbone with EfficientNetV2 variants and evaluated three feature fusion designs: no neck, the original PAN-FPN neck, and a NAS-FPN-inspired neck. All experiments were performed under identical conditions on a two-class dataset of Salmonella and E. coli. Our results show that EfficientNetV2 architectures consistently outperform the YOLOv8x baseline, which achieved 0.891 precision, 0.867 recall, and 0.898 mAP@50. The best overall performance was obtained with EfficientNetV2-S and the original YOLOv8 neck, reaching 0.976 precision, 0.968 recall, and 0.987 mAP@50, with comparable performance of 0.986 mAP@50 achieved by EfficientNetV2-S + NAS-FPN. The highest precision was obtained with EfficientNetV2-L + NAS-FPN, reaching 0.978. These findings demonstrate that effective bacterial detection depends on the interaction between backbone capacity and feature fusion design rather than backbone scaling alone. Full article

Foodborne pathogens of Enterobacteriaceae are becoming an increasing global concern, with multidrug-resistant strains posing significant risks to food safety and public health, especially in high-risk products like dairy. This research focused on isolating, biologically characterizing, and genomically profiling new bacteriophages that target key Enterobacteriaceae members as potential biocontrol agents. Eight phages were isolated from wastewater using four bacterial hosts and analyzed through transmission electron microscopy, one-step growth analysis, adsorption kinetics, host range evaluation, whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics, phylogenetic analysis, proteomic profiling, and virion assembly pathway characterization. All eight isolates exhibited icosahedral heads with contractile tails typical of Myoviridae morphology, demonstrated broad-spectrum lytic activity against 21 bacterial strains (infectivity: 47.6–95.2%), showed high adsorption efficiencies (84.75–99.98%), and had burst sizes ranging from 11 to 166 particles per cell. Genome sizes varied from 103 to 170 kb with coding densities between 92–96%. Importantly, none contained antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factors, or lysogeny-associated elements, confirming their strictly lytic lifestyles and favorable biosafety profiles. Phylogenetic and comparative analyses indicated mosaic genomic structures influenced by horizontal gene transfer rather than host phylogeny. These findings provide a robust biological and genomic basis for evaluating these phages as potentially safe and effective alternatives to antibiotics in controlling foodborne Enterobacteriaceae, pending further in situ validation. Full article

Salmonella is a major cause of foodborne illness worldwide, posing significant risks to public health and food safety. This study investigated the prevalence, serovar distribution, genotypic characteristics, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of Salmonella. A total of 2515 food samples were collected from retail markets, supermarkets, and food processing facilities, and 13,670 stool samples were obtained from sentinel hospitals across 14 cities in Liaoning. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare genetic features among serovars, followed by Dunn’s post hoc test for pairwise comparisons. A total of 314 Salmonella strains were identified, with raw poultry showing the highest detection rate (28.88%) among food sources and children aged 0–6 years (3.47%) the highest among the clinical age groups. Among food samples, S. Enteritidis was the most prevalent serovar (42.6%), and it was also the most common in clinical samples (35.8%); in contrast, S. 4,[5],12:i:- was dominant in pediatric clinical cases. According to AMR analysis, 90.13% of strains were resistant to at least one antibiotic and 67.83% were multidrug-resistant (MDR), with the highest resistance to ampicillin (68.47%). Analysis revealed that S. 4,[5],12:i:- harbored the ASSuT resistance module (blaTEM-1B, aph(3″)-Ib/aph(6)-Id, sul2, tet(B)). Extensive MDR phenotypes were observed in S. Indiana and S. Kentucky, associated with abundant insertion sequences (IS) and resistance genes (ARGs), including clinically critical determinants (blaNDM-9, mcr-1.1, rmtB). The highest mean virulence factor (VF) count (111.17) was observed in S. Enteritidis, contributing to its epidemiological success. Conversely, S. Indiana and S. Kentucky, predominantly food-associated serovars, exhibited reduced virulence but served as critical AMR reservoirs. These findings highlight the epidemiological characteristics and AMR risks of Salmonella in food and clinical settings, providing critical data for food safety and clinical antimicrobial stewardship. Full article

Background: The emergence of alternative methods of obtaining groceries since the COVID-19 pandemic has raised new concerns regarding food safety. In this study, we sought to evaluate these concerns by evaluating how the procurement method of ground beef impacts the microbial load in the beef, as this has not been thoroughly studied. Methods: Specifically, we compared beef samples obtained from in-store shopping, grocery delivery, and meal kit delivery services to determine if these new, more convenient methods of grocery shopping impact the total microbial load or Escherichia coli present in the beef. We homogenized a total of 65 beef samples and plated dilutions on trypticase soy agar, MacConkey agar, and CHROMagar. Results: We found that in-store samples had the highest microbial load with an average of 5.06 log CFU/g, while grocery delivery samples resulted in an average of 4.76 log CFU/g and meal kit samples had an average of 4.23 log CFU/g when plated on TSA. This represents a 6.7-fold change between in-store samples and meal kit samples. These differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.1, ANOVA). When plated on MacConkey agar, in-store samples had a bacterial count at 3.0 log CFU/g, while grocery delivery samples had 2.99 log CFU/g and meal kit delivered samples had 3.05 log CFU/g. Suspected E. coli O157 colonies were detected using CHROMagar plates, as these plates function to change the coloration of positive E. coli O157 colonies to pink. Suspected E. coli O157 colonies were observed in three in-store samples, two grocery delivery samples, and one meal kit sample. After confirmatory agglutination testing, one meal kit sample was confirmed as E. coli O157. Conclusions: While trends suggest possible lower microbial contamination in delivery methods versus in-store shopping procurement, no statistical significance between methods was found. These findings indicate no significant changes in microbial loads in delivered ground beef, and the high variance suggests that all procurement methods still pose some level of risk. Full article