Italian Journal of Food Safety最新文献

{"title":"A case study of hygiene interventions on small-scale dairy farms to reduce bacterial and somatic cell counts in Sheqeras, Albania.","authors":"Renis Maçi, Artan Xhafa, Christoph Arndt","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.14287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.14287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bovine raw milk with high bacterial and somatic cell counts (SCC) may affect food safety and market competitiveness in the dairy sector. This study investigated how a structured hygiene intervention protocol affects milk quality and safety on Albanian dairy farms. From August 2024 to March 2025, five dairy farms of an average herd size of 22.6±2.25 (standard error) were visited bimonthly. Before and after a thorough hygiene intervention, bulk tank milk was tested for total plate count (TPC), SCC, antibiotic residues, Clostridium spp. spore count, and California Mastitis Test (CMT) screening test. The intervention resulted in substantial decreases in microbial load on the majority of farms (p<0.05). The average log10 reduction in TPC varied from -0.89 to 2.40, with 80% of farms exhibiting improved hygienic conditions. As a result of monthly CMT monitoring, SCC levels consistently adhered to European Union regulatory limits (<5.6 log10 cfu/mL) across all farms during the study period. A robust positive correlation was identified between log10 SCC and log10 TPC (r=0.66, p<0.05). Analysis of variance established that CMT sum scores were a highly significant predictor of both log10SCC (F=31.45, p<0.05) and log10 TPC (F=9.82, p<0.05). β-lactams were identified in only one farm (1 out of 35 milk samples in total, 2.9%). Implementing targeted on-farm ten-step hygiene protocols can significantly diminish microbial contamination in raw milk. A significant correlation was observed between SCC and TPC, highlighting the importance of good hygiene practices. This study provides a scalable model for improving milk quality in small-scale dairy production systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147673481","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":"Animal welfare in the European agri-food market: law, policy and veterinary roles.","authors":"Francesco Emanuele Celentano, Michela Maria Dimuccio, Virginia Conforti, Pasquale De Marzo, Maria Losito, Angela Dambrosio, Giancarlo Bozzo","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.14676","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.14676","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Animal welfare has evolved from an ethical principle into a binding operational standard within the European Union (EU) agri-food system. Based on a documentary analysis combining legal and veterinary sources, this short communication examines how EU law integrates welfare requirements into food safety, trade, and official controls. The findings highlight three outcomes: the institutionalization of welfare as a trade condition; its judicial recognition as a legitimate public interest; and the expansion of the veterinarian's mandate as a translator of legal norms into measurable procedures. The analysis also explores the ethical and human-rights dimensions of welfare governance, where freedom of religion and animal protection coexist under EU and World Trade Organization law. These developments demonstrate how veterinarians, as both technical and institutional actors, contribute to the effective implementation of EU welfare principles within a sustainability-oriented global market.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147592264","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":"Analytical protocol assessment for microplastic and microfiber isolation in milk: a preliminary study of contamination in raw milk samples.","authors":"Serena Santonicola, Michela Volgare, Mariacristina Cocca, Franca Rossi, Gennaro Raimo, Giampaolo Colavita","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.14780","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.14780","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microplastics (MPs) and microfibers (MFs) are emerging contaminants in food, with milk representing a critical concern due to its importance in human nutrition, particularly for vulnerable populations. This study aimed to optimize an analytical protocol for isolating MPs and MFs in milk samples and to assess contamination levels in raw milk collected at farms. The digestion method employed hydrogen peroxide (30% v/v) at optimized temperatures (40°C for commercial milk and 50°C for raw milk), followed by vacuum filtration. Method accuracy was evaluated through recovery experiments using spiked reference materials, and then the extraction protocol was applied to raw milk samples from mechanical milking. Results revealed average concentrations ranging from 1.3±0.5 to 5.5±5.0 MPs and synthetic MFs per 100 mL, with natural MFs accounting for 47% of total particles detected. Chemical characterization through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy identified polypropylene (41%), polyester (6%), and polyvinyl chloride (6%) as the predominant polymer types, suggesting contamination from milking equipment and textile materials. No significant differences in contamination levels were observed across sampling days or among individual cows, indicating systematic contamination along the production chain. This study provides a validated analytical approach for monitoring MP contamination in milk and establishes baseline data for raw milk contamination at farm level, supporting the development of mitigation strategies along the dairy supply chain.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147581405","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":"The poultry chain in Sardinia (Italy): monitoring of <i>Salmonella</i> contamination and antibiotic resistance profiles.","authors":"Giuliana Siddi, Francesca Piras, Mattia Migoni, Laura Bortolami, Alessia Tiengo, Ilenia Grussu, Myriam Casula, Fabiana Manca, Alessio Sau, Mario Cuccu, Enrico Pietro Luigi De Santis, Christian Scarano","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.14584","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.14584","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study assessed the occurrence of Salmonella along the poultry production chain in Sardinia and characterized the isolates by serotyping and antimicrobial resistance testing, providing preliminary insights into contamination routes and consumer risk. Sampling was carried out in four sessions during 2024 at one farm, one slaughterhouse, and at retail, covering different stages of the production chain: 32 farm environmental samples, 48 slaughterhouse samples, and 92 retail chicken meat samples (skin-on cuts, skinless cuts, and meat preparations) were collected overall. A total of 172 samples were tested, and Salmonella isolates were serotyped and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples collected at either the farm or the slaughterhouse. The pathogen was detected in retail meat, with 21 positives out of 92 (22.8% prevalence). The highest prevalence was detected in samples of meat cuts with skin (11/40, 27.5%), followed by poultry meat preparations (3/12, 25%) and meat cuts without skin (7/40, 17.5%). Of the 21 isolates, 20 (95%) were identified as Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis, while one isolate belonged to the serovar Thompson. S. Thompson isolate was susceptible to all tested antibiotics, whereas all S. Infantis isolates (100%) showed resistance to agents from at least three classes (quinolones, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines), indicating a high level of multidrug resistance. Moreover, resistance to cefoxitin, colistin, azithromycin, and tigecycline was observed. Our findings highlight the role of the poultry production chain as an important reservoir of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Infantis and underline the need for strict control measures. Particular attention should be given to the retail stage and consumer handling, which remain critical points for the prevention of foodborne pathogen transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147581390","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":"Current research trends towards the control of protozoans in foods.","authors":"Mariem Ayed, Vasco Cadavez, Ursula Gonzales-Barron","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.15114","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.15114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Protozoan parasites such as Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Toxoplasma gondii and Cyclospora cayetanensis remain difficult-to-control hazards in food due to environmental persistence, low infectious doses, and the interpretability gap between nucleic acid detection and infectivity. This review synthesizes 4-year research trends shaping protozoan control in food systems, focusing on three critical pillars: matrix-adapted front-end processing (concentration, lysis, inhibitor management); inhibitor-resilient quantification; and sequencing-based attribution for outbreak investigation and source tracking. Recent benchmarking across wastewater, the water-soil-produce nexus, and food-relevant matrices repeatedly indicates - depending on matrix and study design - that upstream workflow steps often dominate analytical sensitivity and reproducibility. Accordingly, tiered analytical strategies are emerging in which the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique supports scalable screening, droplet digital PCR is used for decision-grade confirmation/quantification under inhibition and low-template conditions, and targeted sequencing or metagenomics is deployed selectively for traceback and contextual investigation. We integrate these developments into an actionable control framework that links prevention at the water-soil-plant interface with tiered analytics and viability-aware interpretation of post-intervention results. Research priorities ahead include harmonized performance reporting (recovery, inhibition controls, limit of detection/quantification), transparent endpoint hierarchy for intervention claims (detectability versus viability/infectivity), and interoperable sequence databases to enable cross-laboratory attribution and program-level learning. The field is moving from \"can we detect?\" towards \"can we decide? - requiring reproducible front-end processing, inhibitor-resilient quantification, interoperable attribution resources, and endpoint discipline for intervention efficacy claims.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147512072","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":"Non-relevant <i>Salmonella</i> serotypes in fresh poultry meat: critical issues for official control officers at market level.","authors":"Erica Costa, Valentina Garretto, Francesca Pedonese, Andrea Gori, Claudio Biglia, Maura Mattalia, Andrea Armani","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.14843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.14843","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>European Union (EU) and Italian legislation provide extensive control measures for non-typhoidal (NTS) Salmonella along the poultry production chain; however, a regulatory gap persists for fresh poultry meat. Current EU microbiological criteria apply only to NTS serotypes of major public health significance (\"relevant\"), whereas the management of other NTS serotypes (\"non-relevant\") is not harmonized. This study assessed the risk management strategies adopted by official veterinarians following the detection of non-relevant serotypes in fresh poultry meat at the distribution stage. Relevant EU and Italian legislation were analyzed, and operational practices in Italy were investigated through a structured questionnaire administered to local health units. In addition, EU-level approaches were examined through the analysis of Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications. The results revealed substantial heterogeneity in the management of comparable findings at both the national and EU levels, reflecting regulatory ambiguities and broad discretionary powers of competent authorities, thereby complicating the implementation of consistent and proportionate official controls. This variability is further challenged by the increasing epidemiological relevance of certain non-relevant serotypes, particularly S. Infantis. The study highlights the need for a revision and harmonization of the regulatory framework to support consistent and proportionate official control practices while ensuring a high level of consumer protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147485973","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":"Monitoring of health and hygiene parameters in the Carabinieri's collective catering facilities.","authors":"Gianluigi Ferri, Samuele Pulze, Anna Rita Festino, Chiara Di Vittori, Aurora Astolfi, Alberto Vergara","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.14749","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.14749","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hygiene and health parameters were monitored at several Carabinieri canteens in central and southern Italy to assess the management aspects related to collective catering services. Between February 2024 and March 2025, 89 food matrices normally served in 23 canteens located in six Italian regions were subjected to microbiological assessment. Food sample aliquots (100-150 g) were sterilely collected and tested for total mesophilic count (TMC) and, using qualitative and quantitative detection methods, pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157, and Salmonella spp. Suspicious colonies were identified using the Vitek 2 system (bioMérieux, Paris, France) and confirmed by performing end-point polymerase chain reaction assays. Statistical analysis calculated the following parameters: mean, standard deviations (SD), Shapiro-Wilk test, and the two-tailed t-test (p<0.05). The mean TMC value was 2.65 log CFU/g (SD=1.21); more specifically, the highest [3.22 log CFU/g (SD=1.36)] was observed in Puglia, while the lowest [1.74 log CFU/g (SD= 0.63)] was observed in Molise. The t-test showed statistically significant differences in TMC values among the following regions: Abruzzo-Puglia (p=0.038), Campania-Marche (p<0.001), and Lazio-Campania (p=0.04). The three tested pathogens (L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157, and Salmonella spp.) were never observed. This work and the data obtained provide a picture of the good hygiene and health status of the Carabinieri canteens in central and southern Italy; however, the anthropogenic bacterial detection highlights the importance of the correct application of good hygiene practices to ensure the protection of the health of the military community.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147485996","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":"Contents of cholesterol and some physicochemical parameters in edible oils commercially available in East and West Gojjam, Ethiopia.","authors":"Destaw Engidaw, Ejigu Bayu","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.13513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.13513","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Evaluating cholesterol and quality parameters indicates edible oil quality and compliance with health standards. This study analyzed cholesterol in branded and non-branded oils from East and West Gojjam and Debre Markos markets using the Liebermann-Burchard method with UV-visible spectrophotometry at 640 nm. All vegetable oils, except those from Finoteselam town, contained detectable cholesterol, ranging from 37.19±0.03 to 87.36±0.40 mg/L. Cholesterol detected in vegetable oils suggests poor processing or adulteration. Simple analytical methods limited precision, but measured levels were below permissible limits, indicating low potential risk of heart disease. The physicochemical parameters measured include moisture (0.06-1.35%), density (0.868-0.892 mg/mL), acid value (0.28-4.16 mg KOH/g of oil), peroxide value (1.47-7.88 meq O2/kg), and saponification value (52.42-210.97 mg KOH/g). Oil from Mota town exhibited the highest moisture content, and all samples had elevated acid values, likely due to poor handling and storage. Branded oils generally had lower saponification values than unbranded oils, with Bichena, Debre Markos (Biabil), Dembecha, and Finote Selam towns exceeding the maximum permissible limit. The findings highlight the importance of proper oil production, storage, and quality control to ensure consumer health and safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147485938","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":"Cumulative exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from eggs and egg products in Europe: application of relative potency factors.","authors":"Giulia Rampazzo, Giacomo Depau, Giampiero Pagliuca, Elisa Zironi, Maria Federica Marchesi, Francesco Arioli, Teresa Gazzotti","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.14673","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.14673","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent contaminants frequently detected in foods of animal origin, raising concern for human health. Eggs and egg products are recognized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as one of the major dietary sources of PFAS exposure in Europe. This study applied the relative potency factors (RPFs), based on hepatic toxicity, to estimate cumulative dietary exposure to PFAS from eggs across different population groups. The 95th percentile occurrence data were combined with food consumption patterns to express exposure in perfluorooctanoic acid equivalents, providing a biologically relevant metric. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid emerged as the dominant contributor to cumulative exposure. Toddlers exhibited the highest estimated weekly intake, reaching 1.63 ng/kg bw per week, while adolescents, adults, and elderly populations showed progressively lower values. These findings highlight children as a particularly vulnerable group due to higher intake per body weight. Consistent with previous studies, commercial eggs generally contained PFAS only at trace levels, whereas home-produced eggs often showed elevated contamination, in some cases exceeding the European Union maximum levels and EFSA's tolerable weekly intake. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential of the RPF approach for mixture-based risk assessment, underscores the need for refined exposure evaluation, and reinforces the importance of continuous monitoring of PFAS in eggs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147443712","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":"Process hygiene criteria for <i>Salmonella</i> in pig carcasses: comparing food business operator self-monitoring and official sampling in an Italian high-throughput slaughterhouse.","authors":"Mauro Conter, Martina Rega, Cristina Bacci, Silvia Bonardi","doi":"10.4081/ijfs.2026.14646","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2026.14646","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study compares Salmonella monitoring data obtained from food business operator (FBO) self-monitoring and competent authority (CA) official sampling on pig carcasses in a high-throughput Italian slaughterhouse over ten years (2012-2021 for FBO; 2014-2021 for CA). A total of 1560 FBO and 377 CA samples were analyzed. Salmonella prevalence was 3.46% [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.6-4.5] for FBO and 10.34% (95% CI: 7.3-13.5) for CA, with statistically significant yearly differences in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2020 (p<0.05). Derby was the predominant serovar (22.6%); however, 20.4% of the FBO isolates were classified only as 'No Typhimurium and Enteritidis', highlighting gaps in serotyping protocols. Discrepancies likely reflect differences in sampling frequencies, carcass origins, and the use of different accredited laboratories by FBO and CA (private and official ones, respectively). The study identifies regulatory ambiguities, including a mistranslation in the Italian Ministerial Note, and recommends enhanced farm-level controls and harmonized surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":14508,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Food Safety","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147443532","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}