Journal of food protection最新文献

{"title":"Impact of Recyclable Packaging on Microwave-Treated Chicken Quality: A Comparison of PET vs PP with Modified Atmosphere","authors":"Sherry Stephanie Chan ,&nbsp;Dagbjørn Skipnes ,&nbsp;Magnhild Seim Grøvlen ,&nbsp;Nusrat Sharmin ,&nbsp;Mats Carlehög ,&nbsp;Birgitte Moen ,&nbsp;Marit Kvalvåg Pettersen ,&nbsp;Bjørn Tore Rotabakk","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100616","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100616","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effectiveness of combining recyclable packaging materials in preserving the quality of microwave-treated chicken meat. Specifically, it assessed the combination of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) with modified atmosphere packaging (100% N₂ and 60% CO₂:40% N₂). Quality parameters, such as cook loss, color, microbiological stability, and sensory analysis, were monitored over 36 days. Gas composition, oxygen transmission rate (OTR), and thermal properties were also examined. Results indicated that after heat treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed among the packaging materials in terms of cook loss, color, and microbiological shelf-life. However, the PP trays exhibited a higher OTR than PET trays after heat treatment and contact with the chicken. While heat treatment did not affect the thermal properties of either tray, the PP trays showed a shift in crystallization and melting temperature after 28 days of food contact, indicating changes in material properties over time. Sensory analysis revealed lower acceptance scores and more negative sensory attributes for samples in PET trays, possibly due to the suitability and sealing properties of the films for heat treatment. These findings suggest that while microwave treatment effectively extends the microbial shelf life for chicken, the choice of packaging material and gas composition may influence other aspects through storage, such as sensory perception and material integrity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100616"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145023475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Validation of Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 as a Surrogate for Listeria on Apples During Cold Storage and Gaseous Ozone Treatments","authors":"Mei-Jun Zhu ,&nbsp;Xiaoye Shen ,&nbsp;Yuan Su ,&nbsp;Qian Luo ,&nbsp;Zi Hua ,&nbsp;To Chiu ,&nbsp;Yuanhao Wang ,&nbsp;Manoella Mendoza ,&nbsp;Ines Hanrahan","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100615","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100615","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> poses a serious food safety risk due to its ability to survive and grow on produce during cold storage. This study evaluates <em>Enterococcus faecium</em> NRRL B-2354 as a nonpathogenic surrogate for <em>L. monocytogenes</em> during up to 24 weeks of simulated lab storage and 36 weeks of commercial storage, including refrigerated air (RA), controlled atmosphere (CA), CA with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), with or without gaseous ozone treatment. Results indicate that <em>E. faecium</em> exhibited die-off patterns comparable to <em>L. monocytogenes</em>, with 2.7–2.8 log CFU/apple reduction during 18 weeks of ambient storage, 2.7–2.8 log reduction over 24 weeks at 4 °C, and 3.2–3.5 log reduction after 36 weeks of RA and CA storage. <em>E. faecium</em> exhibited greater stability under CA storage with ozone treatment. These findings suggest that <em>E. faecium</em> NRRL B-2354 is a suitable surrogate for <em>L. monocytogenes</em> in cold storage environments. A 24-week low-dose continuous gaseous ozone application followed by 12 weeks of CA storage resulted in ∼5 log CFU/apple reduction of <em>Listeria</em>, reflecting both the treatment effects and natural die-off under CA storage. These results demonstrate gaseous ozone as a viable intervention strategy for <em>Listeria</em> control during commercial storage and support the use of <em>E. faecium</em> NRRL B-2354 in validating cold storage practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100615"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145015520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification, and Characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Animal-Derived Foods in Hawassa and Yirgalem, Sidama Region, Ethiopia","authors":"Gemechu Chala ,&nbsp;Workagegnew Israel ,&nbsp;Alemayehu Gebeyehu ,&nbsp;Wubishet Mulugeta ,&nbsp;Getachew Ngusie ,&nbsp;Senait Belay","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100614","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Escherichia coli</em> O157:H7 is a significant foodborne pathogen with global public health implications. This study, conducted from December 2022 to July 2023 in Hawassa and Yirgalem, Sidama Region, Ethiopia, assessed the prevalence, molecular identification, and antimicrobial resistance of <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 in animal-derived foods. A total of 298 samples including beef, raw milk, and fish were analyzed using culture methods, biochemical identification, and PCR. The overall prevalence of <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 was 3.7%, with isolation rates of 6.25% in fish and 5.6% in beef; no isolates were found in milk samples (<em>p</em> = 0.036). Notably, meat from butcher shops exhibited a higher contamination rate (7.6%) compared to abattoir samples (3.4%), though this difference was not statistically significant (<em>p</em> = 0.445). Among fish samples, Nile Tilapia had a higher isolation rate (8.1%) than African Catfish (3.7%), with fish skin showing greater contamination (8.6%) than muscle tissue (3.4%). All <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 isolates were susceptible to most tested antibiotics; however, resistance was observed against amoxicillin (81.8%), streptomycin (45.5%), and clindamycin (100%). Additionally, 45.5% of isolates exhibited multidrug resistance with an multidrug resistance (MDR) index of 0.27, though none produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). These findings underscore the necessity for stringent hygiene practices and effective monitoring of animal-derived foods to mitigate public health risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 10","pages":"Article 100614"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145008347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of Visible and Invisible Fecal Contamination on Chicken Carcasses Using Multispectral Fluorescence Imaging and Machine Learning to Mitigate Salmonella Risks","authors":"Micah T. Black ,&nbsp;Luis Guzman ,&nbsp;Aftab Siddique ,&nbsp;Katherine Sierra ,&nbsp;Vianca Tashiguano ,&nbsp;Laura Garner ,&nbsp;Nicholas MacKinnon ,&nbsp;Stanislov Sokolov ,&nbsp;Fartash Vasefi ,&nbsp;Jianwei Qin ,&nbsp;Diane Chan ,&nbsp;Insuck Baek ,&nbsp;Kevin Chao ,&nbsp;Moon Kim ,&nbsp;Amit Morey","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Salmonella</em>, mainly associated with raw poultry, remains a major food safety concern as the number of illnesses has not reduced over the past decade warranting a need for convergent, disruptive approaches. In poultry processing plants, the USDA-FSIS implements a “zero visible fecal tolerance” policy on eviscerated broiler carcasses entering the chiller as a step to reduce the pathogen from cross−contamination. The efficacy of multispectral fluorescence imaging technology to detect visible and invisible fecal matter from different sections of the gastrointestinal tract was assessed on 404 carcasses to enhance automation in processing plants. Results indicated that multispectral imaging combined with data analytics can detect fecal contamination on carcasses but cannot distinguish between fecal sources above 55.40% with a threshold of 50 on large contaminant placed sites. The most significant finding was the ability to detect fecal contamination invisible to the naked eye, and those spots were positive for <em>Salmonella</em> warranting changes in existing practices of detecting fecal matter and rinsing-off carcasses to reduce the pathogen load. To our knowledge, this is the first report to detect invisible fecal contamination on broiler carcasses. An unexpected finding of <em>Salmonella</em> on 100 postchilled carcasses, due to the abrasive action of swabs, indicates a need to improve <em>Salmonella</em> sampling methods in the poultry industry. Improvement over the existing poultry <em>Salmonella</em> sample collection method may provide a better understanding of the levels of <em>Salmonella</em> on raw poultry and aid in developing measures to reduce the pathogen. Validation of laboratory results at a processing facility on 114 swab samples provides a cue for wider investigation. The research provides next steps to the USDA-FSIS and the poultry industry to investigate modern technologies as well as enhance practices to reduce <em>Salmonella</em> in poultry and protect public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 10","pages":"Article 100613"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145006274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of Silver Dihydrogen Citrate (SDC) and Chlorine Dioxide Gas (ClO2) as Sanitation Strategies for Picking Bags and Storage Bins at Tree Fruit Production Facilities","authors":"Savannah C. Stewart ,&nbsp;Blanca Ruiz-Llacsahuanga ,&nbsp;Faith Critzer ,&nbsp;Manreet Bhullar ,&nbsp;Londa Nwadike ,&nbsp;Umut Yucel ,&nbsp;Valentina Trinetta","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne outbreaks and recalls within the tree fruit industry are making producers reevaluate appropriate cleaning and sanitation practices during harvesting. Without effective sanitation, bacteria can create niches and form biofilms. This study evaluated the efficacy of silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) and chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) gas to control <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Listeria innocua</em> on experimentally inoculated harvesting equipment at commercial apple packinghouses within the Midwest and Pacific Northwest regions. Rifampicin-resistant <em>E. coli</em> and <em>Listeria</em> were grown for either 24 h (sessile form) or 96 h (biofilm form) in 80 µg/ml rifampicin Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) at 25 ± 2 °C on high−density polyethylene plastic (HDPE), wood, or nylon coupons. Surfaces were allowed to dry and then exposed to ClO₂ (100 ppm) for 24 h or SDC (4%) for 2 min. Coupons were swabbed, and the remaining populations were enumerated. Experiments were conducted in triplicate. ClO₂ was the most effective treatment (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) in controlling sessile <em>E. coli</em> and <em>Listeria</em> on HDPE and nylon in the Midwest, where the population was below detectable limit (&lt;1.95 log CFU/coupon). A lower level of inactivation was observed for biofilms grown on wood after ClO₂ treatment (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). The recovered population was 8.70 and 7.84 log CFU/coupon for <em>E. coli</em> and <em>Listeria,</em> respectively. SDC did not reduce the population of sessile <em>E. coli</em> on HDPE, nylon, or wood in the PNW region. Counts were 9.04, 9.39, and 9.49 log CFU/coupon. Conversely, biofilm population was reduced on HDPE after SDC exposure in both regions and bacteria tested (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), where bacteria counts were 5.80 and 5.70 log CFU/ coupon for <em>E. coli</em> and <em>Listeria</em> in the Midwest, and 6.37 and 5.12 log CFU/ coupon in the Pacific Northwest. Validating sanitation procedures in different field conditions can help producers understand the most effective and convenient strategies to mitigate microbial risks for harvesting bins and picking bag sanitation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100611"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145006236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors Influencing Foodborne Illness Self-Identification From User-Generated Data – Minnesota, 2024","authors":"Lynette L. Krampf ,&nbsp;Craig W. Hedberg ,&nbsp;Brett Hauber ,&nbsp;Angela Walmsley ,&nbsp;Melanie J. Firestone","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne illness outbreaks are a serious public health concern; faster identification enables the implementation of control measures to prevent others from becoming ill. User-generated data and artificial intelligence can be used to develop outbreak signals that could be disclosed to the public before they are associated with an actual outbreak of foodborne illness. We employed a vignette-based discrete choice experiment survey to examine when and why individuals would self-identify as ill during a publicized foodborne illness outbreak. Scenarios presented to participants included four attributes describing the event which were publicized in the headlines: the number of people (i.e., 20, 200, 8,500) stated as ill; symptoms (i.e., nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) included or excluded; a statement that FDA is investigating included or excluded; and a call to action asking readers to report their symptoms included or excluded. The research found that people will self-identify from a publicized foodborne illness event, with a positive association for all attributes. The odds of self-identifying as ill from a publicized foodborne illness event more than doubled when the number of people publicized as ill is 8,500 (<em>OR</em> = 2.42, <em>CI</em> [2.16, 2.71], <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) or symptoms (<em>OR</em> = 2.21, <em>CI</em> [2.02, 2.42], <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) are included. This study highlights factors that influence a person to self-identify as ill from a publicized foodborne illness event, regardless of whether an actual outbreak exists, demonstrating a limitation of novel data streams in detecting foodborne illness outbreaks in the absence of public health authority confirmation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100612"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145000689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantification of Histamine in Canned Tuna Used as an Ingredient in the Catering Trade by a Commercial ELISA Fast-Track Method","authors":"Luigi Crobu ,&nbsp;Valeria Pasciu ,&nbsp;Eleonora Serra ,&nbsp;Gonzalo Crosi Martinez ,&nbsp;Lucia Trujillo ,&nbsp;Rita Melillo ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Esposito ,&nbsp;Domenico Meloni","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100602","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100602","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The presence of Histamine is generally used as an indicator of the good manufacturing practice and of the preservation state of canned tuna. This product is widely used as an ingredient in the catering trade with frequent incorrect storage conditions and likely postprocessing contamination causing Histamine production. In this study, we have applied a rapid ELISA screening method for the quantitative determination of Histamine in canned tuna used as an ingredient in the catering trade. An experiment was carried out on tuna cans opened and held at refrigeration temperatures for up to one week as a simulation of ‘‘worst-case’’ storage conditions. Altogether, the results were markedly under the food safety criteria indicated by EC Regulation 2073/2005 (&lt;100 mg/kg of histamine); however, the ELISA screening test revealed a statistically significant (<em>p &lt; 0.00001</em>) increase of the Histamine levels in samples stored in ‘‘worst-case’’ conditions. The HistaSure™ ELISA Fast Track method offered great advantages and can be easily used as a possible control strategy in HACCP applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 10","pages":"Article 100602"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144988116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbiological Quality and Bacterial Diversity of Protaetia brevitarsis (White-Spotted Flower Chafer) Larvae Reared on Oak Sawdust and Spent Mushroom Substrate","authors":"K.M. Park ,&nbsp;S.Y. Kim ,&nbsp;Y.S. Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100608","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, we investigated the microbial quality and bacterial diversity in <em>P. brevitarsis</em> larvae reared on different substrates (spent mushrooms and oak sawdust). The microbiological quality of the rearing substrates differed significantly. Total viable counts (TVC) did not differ between oak sawdust and mushroom-based substrates, whereas coliforms (4.3 vs. 3.0 log CFU/g) and <em>Bacillus cereus</em> group (3.9 vs. 3.0 log CFU/g) were lower in the mushroom-based substrate. The drying process markedly improved microbial quality, reducing total viable counts from 9.4 to 9.1 to 7.3–4.0 log CFU/g and lowering <em>B. cereus</em> group, coliform, and fungi to near or below detection levels (&lt;1 log CFU/g). Major pathogens were not detected in dried larvae. Comparative analyses at the phylum, genus, and species levels revealed distinct microbial profiles between substrates and larval guts. Substrate microbiota were dominated by environmental taxa, whereas larval guts were enriched in host-associated genera such as <em>Citrobacter, Dysgonomonas</em>, <em>Bacteroides</em>, and <em>Lactococcus</em>, and species including <em>Proteiniphilum acetatigenes</em> and <em>Massilibacteroides vaginae</em>. These patterns indicate a host-driven selection of gut microbiota during larval development, consistent across both oak sawdust and mushroom-based substrates. Both mushroom-based and oak sawdust substrates proved microbiologically safe for rearing <em>P. brevitarsis</em> larvae, with slightly lower microbial loads observed in the mushroom-based group. In addition, mushroom-based substrates promoted beneficial gut bacteria and offered sustainable reuse of agricultural byproducts. These findings highlight the potential of substrate selection to improve edible insect safety and support circular economy practices, reinforcing the role of <em>P. brevitarsis</em> as a sustainable protein source.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 10","pages":"Article 100608"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144956703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Enterobacterales Resistant to Extended-Spectrum Cephalosporins Isolated from Meat in Tunisia","authors":"Imen Hmidi ,&nbsp;Meriem Souguir ,&nbsp;Véronique Métayer ,&nbsp;Antoine Drapeau ,&nbsp;Pauline François ,&nbsp;Jean-Yves Madec ,&nbsp;Marisa Haenni ,&nbsp;Wejdene Mansour","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100610","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100610","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food-producing animals are potential reservoirs of resistance to antibiotics classified as critically important for human health, such as extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) and carbapenems (CP). Even though human-to-human contacts are the primary vector of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dissemination in the community, food consumption and preparation play a nonnegligible role in the global burden. In order to document the levels of meat contamination in Tunisia, 71 samples of meat products (chicken, <em>n</em> = 25; sheep, <em>n</em> = 30; bovine, <em>n</em> = 7; goat, <em>n</em> = 6; camel, <em>n</em> = 3) collected in 2024 in the Sousse region were studied using selective media, antibiograms, as well as short- and long-read sequencing. No CP-resistant isolate was identified, but 46 (64.8%) of the samples carried ESC-R Enterobacterales, with chicken meat being the most contaminated meat (80%). The collected isolates were identified as <em>Escherichia coli</em> (68.0%), <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> (26.0%), and <em>Enterobacter hormaechei</em> (6.0%), most of which carried <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-type genes. Despite a high genetic diversity, clonal spread was suspected in several cases, notably due to clones (ST540, ST155, ST117) presenting a zoonotic and/or One Health importance. Plasmids also played a role in the spread of resistance. We observed the decline of the IncI1/ST3 but the presence of the IncF/F-:A-:B53 and IncY, which are both emerging as important carriers of the <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-15 gene worldwide. This study revealed the need for surveillance and the effective implementation of the national action plan in the veterinary sector to decrease the AMR burden in the food-producing sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100610"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144957018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Commercial Bacteriophage Cocktail Treatment Reduces Salmonella Infantis Levels in Pre-harvest Agricultural Water","authors":"Alan Gutierrez ,&nbsp;Zirui Ray Xiong ,&nbsp;Shayla B. Johnson ,&nbsp;Ajani A. Brooks ,&nbsp;Ellen Gabriel ,&nbsp;Adib Adnan ,&nbsp;Amit Vikram ,&nbsp;Mary Theresa Callahan ,&nbsp;Manan Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Contaminated irrigation water in the preharvest environment can lead to outbreaks associated with fruits and vegetables. The potential of microbial contamination in preharvest waters by bacterial pathogens has created an ongoing demand for effective water treatment methods to mitigate this risk. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial bacteriophage cocktail against <em>Salmonella</em> Infantis in agricultural water. A test agricultural water (TAW) medium prepared at different pH (6.5 and 8.4) and turbidity levels (4, 20, 50, and 100 NTU) was inoculated with a nalidixic acid resistant strain of <em>S</em>. Infantis (∼6 log CFU/mL), in triplicate trials, and treated with a bacteriophage cocktail (SalmoFresh™) at a phage titer of 8 log PFU/mL. Water samples were taken after a 5-minute contact time, with shaking (250 rpm), at 25 °C. Additionally, collected pond water, natural (nonsterile) and autoclaved, was inoculated with <em>S</em>. Infantis (∼4 log CFU/mL) and treated with bacteriophage cocktail (7 log PFU/mL or 8 log PFU/mL) at either 12 °C or 32 °C for 5, 10, or 30 min in triplicate trials. Samples were enumerated by plating onto XLD or TSA supplemented with 50 μg/mL Nalidixic acid. In TAW, <em>S</em>. Infantis levels were reduced by an average of 1.0 log CFU/mL after the 5-minute phage treatment, with no significant differences in reductions across all pH and turbidity levels tested (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). In pond water (natural and autoclaved), <em>S</em>. Infantis reductions only occurred when the phage titer was 8 log PFU/mL, with average reductions of 1.04, 1.50, and 1.67 log CFU/mL after 5, 10, and 30 min, respectively, at 32 °C. At 12 °C, average reductions were 0.90, 1.15, and 1.36 log CFU/mL after 5, 10, and 30 min, respectively. These results demonstrate that commercial lytic phage cocktail specific for <em>Salmonella</em> are effective in water across various conditions (pH, turbidity, temperature) and may be considered with other technologies to reduce <em>Salmonella</em> levels in agricultural water.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 11","pages":"Article 100605"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144956992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}