Italian Journal of Food Safety最新文献

{"title":"Food safety and public health implications by determining the antibiotic residues in animal-derived food commercially available in southern Punjab, Pakistan.","authors":"Fakhra Naznane, Uzma Maqbool, Muhammad Ismail Chughtai, Imran Khaliq, Aatika Aatika, Sana Mustafa, Zikria Saleem, Zainab Tufail, Tawaf Ali Shah, Mirjalol Ismoilov Ruziboy Ugli, Bekzod Madaminov, Muhammad Usman Qamar","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.12766","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2025.12766","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This comprehensive study aimed to estimate the prevalence of antimicrobial residues in beef, mutton, chicken, fish, and milk. Twenty fresh samples of chicken, mutton, beef, fish, and bovine milk were collected aseptically from retail shops in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to screen the samples for various antimicrobial residues. The ELISA screening of fish samples revealed residue contamination with tetracycline, as well as the metabolites 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ) and 5-methyl-morpholino-3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AMOZ), with concentration ranges of 2.00-108 parts per billion (ppb), 0.09-0.47 ppb, and 0.01-1.08 ppb, respectively. Chicken samples showed residues of tetracycline, quinolone, AOZ, and AMOZ, with detected residual concentrations ranging from 5.60 to 126 ppb for tetracycline, 18 to 230 ppb for quinolone, 0.20 to 1.96 ppb for AOZ, and 0.01 to 1.02 ppb for AMOZ. In livestock, milk samples exhibited 100% contamination for penicillin and 10% for chloramphenicol residues, with concentrations of 0.2-4.1 ppb and 0.01-0.19 ppb, respectively. Beef samples tested positive for residues of penicillin (20%), tetracycline (40%), and chloramphenicol (45%), with residual ranges of 1.36-88 ppb for penicillin, 3.7-148 ppb for tetracycline, and 0.04-0.37 ppb for chloramphenicol. Mutton samples were contaminated with 10% tetracycline and 25% quinolones, showing residual ranges of 1.28-108 ppb for tetracycline and 34-520 ppb for quinolones. Out of 100 samples, 23 showed residues exceeding the maximum residue limit. Specifically, 30.4% of chicken samples, 17.3% of mutton samples, 30.4% of beef samples, 17.3% of milk samples, and 4.3% of fish samples were affected. This study conclusively demonstrated the presence of various antibiotic residues in food-producing animal samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A retail market survey on fish fraud from Southern Italy using DNA barcoding.","authors":"Laura Del Sambro, Ashraf Ali, Giovanni Normanno, Loredana Capozzi, Stefano Castellana, Pietro Di Taranto, Fiorenza Petruzzi, Donatella Belluscio, Antonio Parisi, Angelica Bianco","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13376","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2025.13376","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Consumption of seafood, which includes both wild and aquaculture products, has increased several-fold during the last 50 years. Species substitution, in which low-value fish are replaced with high-value fish, is one of the prominent phenomena happening in the international seafood trade and the leading cause of fraud in the fishery sector, leading to both economic and health concerns. In this study, DNA barcoding was employed to identify 78 fishery product samples collected from markets and supermarkets located in the Apulia region (Southern Italy) at the genus or species level. Non-compliance between the species detected and the species declared in the label was detected in 5 (6.41%) samples. This study highlights the need for further investigations regarding the traceability and assessment of food product authentication. Indeed, accurate taxonomic assignment and a robust traceability system are essential tools for tackling food adulteration problems, providing transparency, and protecting food safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145033376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Colchicum autumnale</i> poisoning in a dairy farm in Switzerland: a glimpse at the milk safety aspect.","authors":"Karen Barmettler, Adrian Fäh, Hanspeter Naegeli, Sandra N Poetzsch, Simone Weisser, Roger Stephan","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13828","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2025.13828","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Colchicine poisoning in livestock presents a significant challenge for dairy farming, particularly in regions where Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus) is prevalent in pastures. This case report describes an incident on an organic dairy farm in Eastern Switzerland where Brown Swiss cattle showed clinical signs after consuming freshly mown meadow forage containing autumn crocus leaves. The ingestion of this highly toxic plant led to severe effects such as apathy, hypothermia, and reduced milk production, which required immediate veterinary intervention. As colchicine was expected to be secreted in the milk, the milk supplier imposed a delivery stop based on European Commission Regulation (EU) No 37/2010 (European Commission, 2010), excluding the use of colchicine as a pharmacologically active substance in food-producing animals. Using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, it was shown that a bulk milk sample taken two weeks after the poisoning event tested positive, while a further bulk tank milk sample collected five weeks after the incident tested negative. Milk deliveries were then resumed. This paper further reviews the current understanding of colchicine as a chemical hazard in milk and presents a toxicological assessment, which is crucial for setting a detection limit for methods aimed at detecting colchicine in milk, given the absence of maximum limits and withdrawal periods following exposure. This study contributes to raising awareness of colchicine as a milk safety concern and to improving the monitoring of toxic plant exposure in livestock management (from feed to food concept).</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144992383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Food businesses and export requirements: a first glance at current perception and future expectations.","authors":"Andrea Gori, Andrea Armani, Lara Tinacci, Pietro Noè, Nicola Santini, Daniele Tognetti, Roberta Nuvoloni","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13699","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2025.13699","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The export of agri-food products represents a pillar of the Italian economy. However, food businesses (FBs) must comply with a series of requirements, including those imposed by importing countries. This study conducted in-depth interviews with three Italian FBs producing food of animal origin to explore their perception about procedures, documentation, and the role of the central competent authority (CA) related to export. Interviews with food quality managers (FQMs) (February-April 2024) revealed similar challenges across different sectors, particularly regarding the availability and clarity of information. FQMs suggested the implementation of a centralized online platform to enhance access to necessary information. Additionally, the study revealed a lack of full awareness among FQMs about central CA's role in the export process. A coordinated approach involving central, regional, and local CAs, trade associations, and the productive sector could be crucial to ensure the success of FBs in the international market.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Set-up and validation of end-point polymerase chain reaction for the detection of edible insect DNA - <i>Acheta domesticus</i> and <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> - in food products.","authors":"Giulia Magagna, Serena Pederzani, Michela Tilola, Marina Nadia Losio, Virginia Filipello","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13551","DOIUrl":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insects offer an alternative protein supply for both animal and human consumption. Recently, companies in Europe have begun insect production for use in food and animal feed. Following Regulation (EU) No. 2015/2283, edible insects are classified under the novel food category and can be marketed and consumed within the European Union. As a result, methods of authentication are necessary to verify the compliance of these insect-based products. In this study, two end-point polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of the 16S rRNA gene of Acheta domesticus and Tenebrio molitor were fine-tuned and validated. The primer specificity was tested on insect samples, other animals, and plants, and the gene was amplified only in target samples. The limit of detection was evaluated using different food matrices contaminated with decreasing concentrations of insect powder and was below 0.05% (w/w).</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12406209/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144010060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotic residues and heavy metals in blue crabs (<i>Callinectes sapidus</i>) fished in the Mediterranean Sea: a preliminary study.","authors":"Alessio Manfredi, Patrizio Lorusso, Annamaria Pandiscia, Elisabetta Bonerba, Edmondo Ceci, Giancarlo Bozzo, Domenico Cristofaro, Valentina Terio","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13287","DOIUrl":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent decades, the Mediterranean Sea has experienced the invasion of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), which threatens the marine ecosystem and economic activities related to fishing and aquaculture because of its aggressive behavior. Control strategies are being developed to reduce its population. In Italy, a partial solution to the problem is its promotion as a food product. However, to ensure consumer safety, promoting consumption must be accompanied by a careful risk analysis. This study aims to assess heavy metals and antibiotic residues in the appendage muscle of 18 blue crab samples from various Mediterranean sites, selected by sex and size. Heavy metals were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and antibiotics were analyzed with the liquid chromatography/triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry multiresidue/multiclass method. In all samples, lead was never detected, while cadmium and mercury concentrations never exceeded the limit of 0.5 mg/kg set by Regulation (EU) 2023/915. Only one sample tested positive for the occurrence of 12 antibiotic residues. The results showed that the blue crab is a species commonly characterized by the accumulation of heavy metals, according to other studies. Therefore, monitoring the concentration of metals in these species is important for food safety and ecosystem management. Data on 12 antibiotic residues detected in a single crab sample require further investigation through extensive sampling in terms of both number and sites, involving a wider area along the Mediterranean Sea coast, to allow for proper risk characterization.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12406208/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144003068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accelerated shelf-life assessment of moringa-fortified instant complementary food for infants aged 6-11 months based on microbial parameters.","authors":"Zakaria Zakaria, Nursalim Nursalim, Andi Toewo Titi Za","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13608","DOIUrl":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13608","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Instant powdered complementary food is a commercial product designed to meet the nutritional needs of infants aged 6-11 months. This study aimed to determine the shelf life of instant powdered complementary food products fortified with moringa flour using semi-aluminum foil packaging based on microbial and mold growth parameters. The product was prepared from a mixture of ingredients such as wheat flour, mocaf flour, soybean flour, chicken eggs, ultra-high temperature milk, and vegetable oil, according to the SNI 01-7111.1-2005 standards. The study used the accelerated shelf-life testing method with the Arrhenius equation model, storing the products at 30°C, 40°C, and 50°C for 28 days. Results showed that total microbial and mold counts increased significantly at 30°C and 40°C over 28 days, while storage at 50°C led to a decline in microbial counts and slower mold growth. Using the Arrhenius-based first-order model, the predicted shelf life increased with temperature, reaching up to 92.7 days based on microbial growth and 40.8 days based on mold growth at 50°C. This trend is attributed to the lower reaction rate constants (k values) at higher temperatures, indicating slower deterioration. However, since mold growth was the limiting factor, the shortest shelf-life estimate, 33.5 days at 30°C, should be considered for practical labeling. It is therefore recommended to store moringa-fortified instant complementary food packaged in semi-aluminum foil at or below 30°C to suppress microbial activity and maintain product safety and quality throughout its shelf life. These results highlight the importance of temperature control in extending the product's microbial stability and suggest further real-time studies to validate shelf life under typical storage conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12451518/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of ozonated water's efficacy in sanitizing surfaces in a processed fishery products industry.","authors":"Chiara Di Vittori, Massimo Monti, Gianluigi Ferri, Annarita Festino, Alberto Vergara","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13569","DOIUrl":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13569","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In response to the modern consumer demands for safe and high-quality food, industries are adopting innovative decontamination methods. Ozone emerges as a promising one, being economical, safe, and chemical-free. It effectively inactivates bacteria, molds, yeasts, parasites, and viruses with short contact times and at low concentrations. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of ozonated water as an eco-friendly, chemical-free, and safe alternative to conventional sanitizers in the processed fishery products industry. More specifically, it compares ozonated water efficacy with the company's standard method of sanitizing boxes used for soaking cod (spraying the boxes with hydrogen peroxide before placing them in the dishwasher) and its efficacy on boxes stored for 21 days after the standard sanitation. A total of 175 boxes were tested for microbial contamination. The standard sanitization method significantly reduced the microbial load on the boxes after their use compared to the ozone one, resulting in a reduction of 98.29% compared to 48.29% for total mesophilic count (TMC) and 97.96% compared to 37.32% for total psychrophilic count (TPC), respectively. On day 21, the ozonated water achieved a TMC reduction of 80.46% and 98.87% for the TPC on stored boxes. The percentage reduction given by ozonated water on stored boxes was higher than on dirty ones; the presence of organic matter reduces the sanitizing efficacy of ozone. Based on the obtained evidence, ozonated water would appear to be a good sanitation method for surfaces in the processed fishery products industry after adequate cleaning, contributing to the industry's push toward sustainable practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12451519/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144258059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of process conditions and kinetic microbial growth for milk fermentation using domestic kefir grains from Costa Rica.","authors":"Isabela De Sainz, Mauricio Redondo-Solano, Godofredo Solano, Lautaro Ramírez","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.12477","DOIUrl":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.12477","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kefir, a fermented milk product, differs from yogurt due to its unique microbial composition, offering a broad spectrum of health benefits. Given its global popularity and high cost, there is a significant trend towards domestic kefir production. This study explores the optimization of kefir fermentation using Costa Rican domestic kefir grains, assessing the effects of temperature, agitation, and initial starter culture concentration. A central composite rotatable design and response surface statistical approach were employed to evaluate these parameters. Microbial growth data were fitted into a quadratic model, revealing significant interactions, particularly with temperature affecting both lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast populations. Optimized fermentation conditions were established at 25°C, 0 rpm, and 5 g/L initial biomass, under which final microbial populations reached 9.45±0.13 log(cfu)/mL for yeast and 9.23±0.06 log(cfu)/mL for LAB. The specific growth velocity for kefir biomass was 0.029 1/h, and the total acid production rate was 0.060 g/(L h). Notably, the acetic acid production was significantly less than lactic acid, indicating a dominance of LAB over acetic acid bacteria, which is crucial for the desired flavor and health benefits of kefir. Additionally, microbial enumeration on glucose-yeast extract, calcium carbonate agar, and Rogosa agar showed distinct colony formations, highlighting the complex microbial interactions within kefir. This comprehensive dataset suggests that the performance of non-commercial starter cultures can be significantly improved under controlled conditions, providing a basis for developing guidelines for domestic kefir production. This study not only optimizes kefir production but also ensures that home-prepared kefir can meet quality standards, potentially enhancing its nutritional and therapeutic benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482982/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144018518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative analysis of official controls and voluntary certifications in ensuring food safety compliance: a review.","authors":"Mauro Conter, Martina Rega, Luca Lamperti, Laura Andriani, Cristina Bacci, Silvia Bonardi","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13452","DOIUrl":"10.4081/ijfs.2025.13452","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Regulation (EU) 625/2017 emphasizes prevention over inspection, assigning primary responsibility for food safety to the food business operator. At the same time, official control systems ensure compliance with the European Union regulations. In recent years, voluntary third-party assurance programs have emerged as a complement to public regulations. This review explores their role, advantages, and challenges within this evolving regulatory landscape. Private standards have expanded rapidly in response to consumer demand for safer and more ethically produced food. While these certifications offer benefits, they also pose challenges, requiring continuous oversight and potential harmonization to ensure reliability. Some European countries now integrate private standards into official controls, recognizing their potential to strengthen regulatory frameworks. Certified food safety management systems, such as the British Retail Consortium or ISO 22000, can complement official control by improving compliance and efficiency. However, discrepancies between official inspections and third-party audits persist, necessitating careful coordination. To ensure effective integration, competent authorities must monitor the performance of private systems through audits and random checks. Despite some challenges, integrating private systems into official controls could be mutually beneficial. Future advancements will depend on effective collaboration among policymakers, industry, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, fostering a more robust food safety system.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482983/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}