Journal of food protection最新文献

{"title":"Exploration of Antibacterial Compounds From Bacillus velezensis BP1 Against Foodborne Pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium Using Metabolomic and Genomic Approaches","authors":"Tsania Taskia Nabila ,&nbsp;Ema Damayanti ,&nbsp;Jaka Widada","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100546","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100546","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food contamination by pathogenic microorganisms has become a significant issue. This study investigated the antibacterial compounds of a <em>Bacillus</em> isolate from stingless bee bread, <em>Bacillus velezensis</em> BP1, against foodborne pathogens <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> ATCC 25923 and <em>Salmonella enterica</em> Typhimurium ATCC 14028 using the one strain many compounds (OSMAC), metabolomic, and genomic approaches. The culture media used were Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB), TSB with Chitosan (TSB-Chi), several synthetic broths composed of Mineral Salts with Glucose (MG) and Glucose-Fructose (MGF), Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC), and Starch Nitrate (SNB), to analyze diverse antibacterial compounds. Twelve extracts from the supernatant (S) and pellet (P) were screened using the microdilution method. P-TSB and S-TSB-Chi demonstrated the highest antibacterial effects, with inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 253.5 ppm and 740.28 ppm, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis identified an amide I group contributing to extract clustering. Untargeted liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) revealed six compounds significantly contributing to extract clustering. Enrichment analysis showed that chitosan was associated with the metabolic processes of pyrimidine and nucleotide metabolisms. Growth curve assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the extracts’ efficacy. The <em>Bacillus</em> isolate showed an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of 98.08% to <em>Bacillus velezensis</em> NRRL B-41580. Genome mining revealed twelve biosynthetic gene clusters, six 100% similar to known clusters. Molecular docking demonstrated that genome mining-derived bacillibactin and LC-HRMS-derived bis(4-ethylbenzylidene)sorbitol and cyclo(phenylalanyl-prolyl) exhibited the strongest binding affinities against four pathogen-associated proteins, outperforming ampicillin. This study highlights <em>Bacillus velezensis</em> BP1’s potential as a source of diverse antibacterial compounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 7","pages":"Article 100546"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127805","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":"An Overview of Farm Investigation Findings Associated with Outbreaks of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Infections Linked to Leafy Greens: 2009–2021","authors":"Stelios Viazis ,&nbsp;Michael C. Bazaco ,&nbsp;Tyann Blessington ,&nbsp;Sharon L. Seelman Federman ,&nbsp;Meredith Lindsay ,&nbsp;Travis Minor ,&nbsp;Brittany Nork ,&nbsp;Mia C. Mattioli ,&nbsp;Katherine E. Marshall ,&nbsp;Matthew E. Wise ,&nbsp;Brett Weed ,&nbsp;Julie Haendiges ,&nbsp;Laura Gieraltowski ,&nbsp;Kurt Nolte","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100542","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100542","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leafy greens are a reoccurring source of Shiga toxin-producing <em>Escherichia coli</em> (STEC) outbreaks. We summarize data from farm investigations following STEC outbreaks linked to leafy greens conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, during 2009–2021. Investigational and laboratory data on multistate STEC outbreaks linked to leafy greens were collected during 2009–2021 from CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System and FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response &amp; Evaluation Network. Farm investigation information was retrieved from the FDA Farm Investigation Questionnaires and Investigation Memos. During 2009–2021, there were 49 leafy greens STEC outbreaks; 37 were linked to a specific type of leafy green. Traceback investigations were conducted for 25, and farm investigations for 17. Seven outbreaks were traced back to a single farm, and 10 were traced back to multiple farms. Environmental samples collected per investigation increased over time, and farm investigations since 2018 included a more diverse collection of environmental sample types. This overview includes a summary of the results obtained from the samples collected, including leafy greens, air, water, sediment, animal feces, and soil. The outbreak strain was identified in 6 of 17 investigations by genomic analysis, though sample and testing methods changed over time, increasing the sensitivity for pathogen detection. Collaboration between investigative partners improved the collection of samples and data through contributions from a diverse set of experts and identified possible contamination sources. Improved traceability in the supply chain can help identify single farms for investigations and focused product actions; continued grower outreach and education and adoption of regulations and best practices can help improve leafy green safety; and research to address food safety gaps can help minimize the impact of future outbreaks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 7","pages":"Article 100542"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144119869","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":"Prevalence, Risk Factors and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Salmonella in Raw Chicken Eggs Sourced from Commercial Poultry Farms and Retail Shops and In-contact Humans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia","authors":"Paulos Adane ,&nbsp;Tekalign Tadesse ,&nbsp;Haile Alemayehu ,&nbsp;Tadesse Eguale","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100544","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100544","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite the wide availability of poultry farms in Addis Ababa, limited information is available on the status of <em>Salmonella</em> in poultry eggs from both farms and retail stores, as well as the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, associated risk factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility of <em>Salmonella</em> in raw chicken eggs and stool samples from humans in contact with poultry in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to July 2023. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect 392 pooled egg samples (two eggs per sample) and 48 stool samples from humans in contact with poultry, across 55 farms and 44 retail shops. Standard bacteriological methods were employed to isolate and identify <em>Salmonella</em>, and presumptive isolates were confirmed by PCR. The susceptibility of the isolates to 12 antimicrobials was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The overall prevalence of <em>Salmonella</em> in eggs was 7.1% (28/392), with the highest prevalence observed in egg shells 21.4% (21/196). Most <em>Salmonella</em> isolates were recovered from eggs sampled at farms 8.2% (16/196). No <em>Salmonella</em> was detected in stool samples from humans in contact with poultry. Farms that did not clean dirty eggs, those with poor handwashing practices before handling eggs, or that did not separate cracked eggs were significantly associated with <em>Salmonella</em> positivity (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Among the 28 <em>Salmonella</em> isolates, 53.6% (15/28) and 46.6% (13/28) were resistant to streptomycin and tetracycline, respectively, and multidrug resistance to 3 or more antimicrobials was recorded in 8 (28.6%) of <em>Salmonella</em> isolates. The presence of antimicrobial-resistant <em>Salmonella</em> in chicken eggs is indicative of a significant public health concern. Raising public awareness about antimicrobial-resistant <em>Salmonella</em> and implementing appropriate food safety measures are essential to reduce the risk of zoonotic salmonellosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 7","pages":"Article 100544"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093959","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":"Occurrence and Genotypic Characterization of Selected Multidrug-resistant ESKAPE-E Pathogens Isolated from Integrated Smallholder Fresh Produce Farms","authors":"Sheldon Viviers ,&nbsp;Loandi Richter-Mouton ,&nbsp;Jonathan Featherston ,&nbsp;Lise Korsten","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100543","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100543","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) ranks among the top ten global public health threats, with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> emerging as multidrug-resistant (MDR) priority pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the presence and characteristics (phenotypic and genotypic AMR profiles) of ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacterales and <em>P. aeruginosa</em> isolates obtained from the water-soil-plant nexus on smallholder fresh produce farms in South Africa. Samples of irrigation water (<em>n</em> = 44), soil (<em>n</em> = 85), and fresh produce (<em>n</em> = 95) were collected from six smallholder farms. Potential MDR bacteria were isolated using selective enrichment, chromogenic media, and identified with MALDI-TOF MS. Antimicrobial resistance was assessed via double-disk diffusion against 13 different antibiotic classes, while 20 selected isolates were genotypically characterized using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) (Illumina MiSeq). ESBL/AmpC-producing isolates were detected in 17% of samples (38/224), primarily from fresh produce (54%), followed by soil (31%) and water (15%). The dominant Enterobacterales species identified from all three matrices included <em>Enterobacter</em> spp. (26%), <em>Klebsiella</em> spp. (26%), <em>Serratia</em> spp. (17%), and <em>Escherichia coli</em> (9%). Phenotypically, 47% and 43% of the isolates were classified as ESBL and AmpC-producers, respectively, with resistance to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and glycylcyclines. Notably, WGS analysis indicated the presence of clinically significant AMR and virulence genes among isolates from the environment, particularly those associated with mobile genetic elements. The results from the study add to the limited national and international knowledge of AMR prevalence in the smallholder agricultural landscape, needed for the introduction of appropriate intervention strategies and future risk assessment of the informal supply chain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 7","pages":"Article 100543"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093958","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":"Evaluation of Antifungal and Biopreservative Potential of Orange Peel-derived Lactobacillus fermentum O1.1 in Cherry Tomatoes","authors":"Mehmood Azhar ,&nbsp;Anita Chaudhary ,&nbsp;Swati Gaba ,&nbsp;Latief Bashir ,&nbsp;Anil Kumar Pinaka ,&nbsp;Anju Kamra ,&nbsp;Soora Naresh Kumar ,&nbsp;Praveen Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Neeraj Panwar ,&nbsp;Mohammad Irfan ,&nbsp;Abdel‑Halim I. Ghazy ,&nbsp;Abdullah A. Al-Doss","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100541","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100541","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cherry tomatoes, consumed worldwide, have a short shelf life and are highly susceptible to significant pre- and postharvest losses, largely due to fungal pathogens like <em>Alternaria alternata</em> and <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em>. With the growing demand for nutritious food products free from synthetic preservatives, biopreservation has emerged as a safe and reliable method for controlling fungal growth in food. Biopreservation using lactic acid bacteria (LAB), known for producing antimicrobial metabolites, presents a promising approach at both the farm and industrial scales. This study investigates the antifungal potential of <em>Lactobacillus fermentum</em> O1.1, an isolate obtained from orange peel, against <em>A. alternata</em> and <em>F. oxysporum</em>. The growth performance of this isolate was assessed in various plant-based media, including watermelon rind (WMR), banana peel, and orange peel, in addition to MRS medium. Among these, WMR was found to be the most supportive medium for its growth. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of <em>Lb. fermentum</em> O1.1 grown in WMR medium exhibited maximum inhibition of <em>F. oxysporum</em> (79.1%) and <em>A. alternata</em> (68%). Furthermore, cherry tomatoes infected with <em>A. alternata</em> and treated with the WMR-based CFS showed a reduced disease incidence (DI) of 16.78 ± 0.05%, compared to 40.17 ± 4.53% DI with the MRS-based CFS. Similarly, tomatoes infected with <em>F. oxysporum</em> and treated with the WMR-based CFS demonstrated a DI of 10.34 ± 4.86%, in contrast to 45.67 ± 4.53% DI with the MRS-based CFS. At room temperature (25 ± 2 °C), the WMR-based CFS extended the shelf life of cherry tomatoes from 2 to 5 days and decreased fungal susceptibility, with a reduction in DI by 16.78 ± 0.05% and 10.34 ± 4.86%, respectively. These findings suggest that <em>Lb. fermentum</em> O1.1 has significant potential as a biopreservative agent against fungal spoilage in cherry tomatoes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 7","pages":"Article 100541"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144086332","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":"Food Allergy Labeling and Disclosure Practices on Restaurants’ Online Menus in Toronto, Canada","authors":"Rawan Nahle,&nbsp;Abhinand Thaivalappil,&nbsp;Ian Young","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100533","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100533","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Restaurants have a responsibility to mitigate food-allergic reactions by nonverbally disclosing allergens on their menus and websites. In Canada, there are no laws requiring allergen labeling on non–pre-packaged food, leaving it up to restaurant managers to decide how to accommodate allergic customers. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess allergen disclosure and labeling on online menus in Toronto, Canada. A random sample of 1,000 nonchain restaurants was sourced from DineSafe, Toronto’s food inspection system. The online menus of each restaurant were accessed and assessed using a checklist in 2023–2024 to determine the presence of allergen menus, statements, or symbols. Mixed-effect logistic regression models were developed to assess the relationship between restaurant characteristics (cuisine type, Google review rating, cost indicator, and number of locations) and two outcomes: (1) presence of at least one allergen symbol on the menu, and (2) presence of an allergen statement on the menu. Only 16% (<em>n</em> = 159) of restaurants included allergen statements, and only 10% (<em>n</em> = 100) used allergen symbols. Regression models predicted that vegan and vegetarian restaurants were the most likely cuisine type to have at least one allergen symbol on their menu (19%, 95% CI: 13–24%), and Southeast Asian restaurants were the most likely to have an allergen statement (28%, 95% CI: 20–36%). Additionally, higher restaurant costs and multiple locations were linked to more allergen disclosures. This study highlights the need for improved allergen labeling in nonchain restaurants. Policies requiring allergen disclosures can improve menu transparency and encourage proactive customer-waiter interactions, preventing allergic reactions in restaurants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 7","pages":"Article 100533"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144072242","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":"Corrigendum to “Dietary Risk Assessment and Classification Model Basedon Trace Elemental Analysis in Commercially Available Dried Seaweed Products” [J. Food Protect. 88(6) (2025) 100509]","authors":"Jakob Avi Shimshoni ,&nbsp;Yuliana Andrushenko ,&nbsp;Orit Gal Garber ,&nbsp;Vasiliy V. Rosen","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100526","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100526","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 6","pages":"Article 100526"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143928777","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":"Campylobacter in Raw Chicken Meat at Retail Level: Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment, Genomic Profiling, and Comparison With Isolates From Human Infections","authors":"Lucien Kelbert ,&nbsp;Karen Barmettler ,&nbsp;Jule Anna Horlbog ,&nbsp;Marc J.A. Stevens ,&nbsp;Nicole Cernela ,&nbsp;Magdalena Nüesch-Inderbinen ,&nbsp;Roger Stephan","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100540","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Campylobacter</em> is the leading cause of human bacterial diarrheal disease, and the handling and consumption of poultry meat products account for most cases. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and levels of <em>Campylobacter</em> in Swiss and imported retail chicken meat during May – August 2024. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was applied to assess phylogenetic relatedness between <em>Campylobacter</em> from chicken meat samples and human infections occurring during the study time in Switzerland, and to identify antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. A total of 300 different chilled or frozen chicken meat samples and 50 chilled marinated meat samples were analyzed by qualitative (enrichment) and quantitative (plating) ISO 10272-1:2017 and ISO 10272-2:2017 methods. After enrichment, the <em>Campylobacter</em> recovery rate was higher in chilled (62%) than in marinated meat (40%) or frozen chicken meat (11%). <em>Campylobacter</em> were more prevalent in meat from organically labeled meat (72%) and free-range labeled meat (77%) compared to meat with other labels. Quantitatively, 3.7% of chilled, nonmarinated meat had &gt;100 colony-forming units (cfu)/g (range 100–700 cfu/g). The detection of multiple genetically indistinguishable isolates from meat and from humans indicated that chilled chicken meat is a major infection source for Swiss cases of campylobacteriosis. Antimicrobial resistance determinants included <em>bla</em>_OXA, <em>tet</em>(O), and the T86I substitution in GyrA. Virulence genes <em>cstIII</em>, <em>neuABC</em>, <em>wlaN</em>, and <em>cdtABC</em> which are linked to the Guillain-Barré syndrome and gastrointestinal cancers, respectively, were identified. Our data highlight the need to reduce the levels of <em>Campylobacter</em> in chicken meat to protect public health. Freezing meat prior to retailing is an effective and relatively inexpensive measure to increase product safety and to reduce the risk of campylobacteriosis in humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 7","pages":"Article 100540"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144004667","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":"Comparison of Methods for Extraction of Infectious Influenza Virus from Raw Milk Cheeses","authors":"Madeleine Blondin-Brosseau ,&nbsp;Wanyue Zhang ,&nbsp;Caroline Gravel ,&nbsp;Jennifer Harlow ,&nbsp;Xuguang Li ,&nbsp;Neda Nasheri","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100529","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100529","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses have spread widely among birds and multiple mammal species. The HPAI spillover to dairy cattle, and its excretion in milk in high-titers has created a new interface for human exposure and has raised food safety concerns. Multiple lines of evidence show that pasteurization is effective in inactivation of influenza viruses. In Canada, dairy products must be pasteurized with the exception of cheese. Since influenza viruses were not considered as foodborne, there is no data available regarding their survival in cheeses and no standard method exists for their extraction from food commodities, including dairy products. Herein, we examined the efficacy of multiple methods for the extraction of infectious H1N1 virus (as a representative for type A influenza viruses) from cream cheese made from unpasteurized milk. We used murine norovirus (MNV) as a surrogate for human norovirus and also as a process control virus and examined the efficacy of the employed methods by plaque assay. The limit of detection for the two best-performing methods was determined using a variety of soft and firm raw-milk cheeses. The described methods assist health authorities for the surveillance of foodborne viruses in dairy products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 7","pages":"Article 100529"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143947214","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":"Outbreaks Linked to Melons, United States, 2012–2021","authors":"Michelle Canning ,&nbsp;Michael Bazaco ,&nbsp;Brett Weed ,&nbsp;Meseret G. Birhane ,&nbsp;Jean Whichard ,&nbsp;Laura Gieraltowski ,&nbsp;Misha Park Robyn ,&nbsp;Katherine Marshall ,&nbsp;Jeffrey Torres ,&nbsp;Stelios Viazis ,&nbsp;Christina K. Carstens ,&nbsp;Marie Armstrong ,&nbsp;Colin Schwensohn","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100536","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100536","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), working closely with public health and regulatory partners, investigate outbreaks of foodborne illness. Outbreak investigations continue to identify melons as an important source of outbreak-associated illness. We characterized the epidemiology of outbreaks linked to melons from 2012 to 2021, summarized public health responses to these outbreaks, and identified potential opportunities for prevention efforts and interventions. We queried CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (FDOSS) for all <em>Salmonella</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em> (<em>E. coli</em>), and <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> outbreaks linked to melons and collected data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Coordinated Outbreak Response &amp; Evaluation (CORE) Network internal databases for information regarding outbreak investigations that involved FDA’s evaluation and response activities. Descriptive statistics were calculated for outbreaks overall, by melon type, and by etiology, including the number of outbreaks, illnesses, hospitalizations, deaths, patient demographics including sex and age, outbreak duration, investigation duration, seasonality, serotypes, and food preparation and consumption settings. During 2012–2021, 18 outbreaks were linked to melons. The median number of outbreaks per year was 2 (range: 0–3); there were no melon-associated outbreaks reported in 2015. These 18 outbreaks resulted in 821 illnesses, 251 hospitalizations, and 10 deaths. More than half of the melon-associated <em>Salmonella</em> outbreaks in this reporting timeframe were linked to cantaloupe. Outbreak illnesses clustered in the U.S. Midwest and in outbreaks where the growing area was known, most were produced domestically (4/7, 57%), frequently grown in Indiana. Traceback and epidemiologic investigations demonstrated that contamination can occur at all points along the farm-to-fork continuum, requiring the need for pathogen control at every step.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 7","pages":"Article 100536"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144020673","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}