Journal of food protection最新文献

{"title":"Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Market Meats from Guangzhou, China: Age-Specific Dietary Exposure and Threshold Exceedance Risks","authors":"Yuting Qin ,&nbsp;Yuhua Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongfeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Yan Li ,&nbsp;Zhijun Bai ,&nbsp;Yanyan Wang ,&nbsp;Lili Huang ,&nbsp;Weiwei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100592","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100592","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), known for their environmental persistence and adverse health effects, pose an elevated risk to vulnerable populations through dietary exposure. Yet, there is limited research on PFAS concentrations in market basket meats and offal from Guangzhou, China. We examined the distribution of 16 PFAS in 166 market basket samples (beef, pork, and offal (pork liver)) from Guangzhou. Age-specific dietary exposure and related health risk were assessed for 3–6-year-old children, 7–17-year-old adolescents, adults, and seniors, integrating local food consumption data and probabilistic risk models. The results demonstrated a variable distribution of PFAS based on food species, with offal exhibiting the highest level of contamination (mean Ʃ₁₆PFAS: 6.209 ng·g⁻¹). Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) were identified as the most predominant compounds contributing to dietary exposure of total PFAS. For the estimated weekly intake (EWI) of Ʃ₄PFAS [PFOA, PFOS, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)] from meats and offal, the average EWI ranged from 3.252 to 5.710 ng·kg⁻¹ body weight (bw) per week in four age groups. The probability of exceeding tolerable weekly intake (4.4 ng·kg⁻¹ bw per week) is 51% in children, 45% in adolescents, and 39% in both adults and seniors. Offal was identified as the predominant source of the total PFAS exposure. This study provides the first insights into the age-specific health risk of PFAS from market meats and offal from Guangzhou, highlighting the urgent need for further research to establish safety benchmarks or consumption advisory values for these compounds in the Chinese diet.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 10","pages":"Article 100592"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764978","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":"Milk and Tissue Residue Depletion of Two Intramammary Dry Cow Antimicrobials in Dairy Goats","authors":"Michelle P. Buckley ,&nbsp;Kristen P. Hayman ,&nbsp;Paul J. Plummer ,&nbsp;Patrick J. Gorden","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100591","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100591","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The goal of this project was to provide residue depletion data for two common dry cow antimicrobial treatments – cloxacillin benzathine (CLOX) and cephapirin benzathine (CEPH) to assist in establishing meat and milk withdrawal intervals. In each portion of this study, does were treated with a full tube of their assigned treatment in each half of the udder. Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectroscopy. Twenty-six animals were treated with CLOX at dry-off and sacrificed at 3, 7, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 days posttreatment. Cloxacillin was present in kidney and liver through 35 days posttreatment but was not found in muscle at any time point. The highest concentration of CLOX was 0.438 μg/g in liver and 0.342 μg/g in kidney, both at three days posttreatment. Thirty-two does received CEPH at dry-off, and animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 6, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 days posttreatment. Cephapirin was not detected in any tissue at any timepoint.</div><div>To complete the milk residue depletion study, 22 does were randomly assigned to CLOX treatment at dry-off and 22 additional does were treated with CEPH. One CLOX doe was unenrolled from the study at 144 h postkidding for prolonged residue production with a final reading of 57.3 ng/g. Only three CEPH-treated does shed detectable residues after kidding, and no residues were detected after 60 h postkidding. The highest concentration of CLOX was 413.0 ng/g at the first milking while the highest concentration of CEPH was 14.0 ng/g at the first milking.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 10","pages":"Article 100591"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764977","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":"Thematic Analysis of Produce Packinghouse Sanitation: Challenges and Recommendations Based on Operator and Educator Insights","authors":"Allyson N. Hamilton ,&nbsp;Sahaana Chandran ,&nbsp;Kristen E. Gibson ,&nbsp;Juan Moreira","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100587","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100587","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ensuring food safety in produce packinghouses is vital for preventing foodborne illnesses and safeguarding public health. This study identifies cleaning and sanitation challenges within packinghouse environments through thematic analysis of interviews with produce safety educators (<em>N</em> = 21) and packinghouse operators (<em>N</em> = 15). Key challenges include resource limitations, knowledge gaps, outdated equipment, language barriers, and reluctance to invest in change. Small-scale growers often struggle with access to essential tools and supplies, while others may lack foundational knowledge regarding proper cleaning and sanitizing techniques. High employee turnover further complicates consistent training efforts. Language barriers hinder effective communication, particularly among non-English speaking workers and growers. In addition, reluctance or even the inability to invest in change can obstruct the adoption of improved practices. The study highlights specific contamination risks linked with common food-contact surfaces, such as wood, plastic, and stainless steel along with foam rollers, brushes, and rubber surfaces. Cleaning practices vary significantly, ranging from power washing and alcohol wipes to scrubbing with dish soap and steam cleaning. Sanitizers including chlorine, quaternary ammonium compounds, and peroxyacetic acid are frequently employed. Verification of cleaning effectiveness often relies on visual inspection rather than standardized methods such as environmental monitoring or Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) testing. Recommendations based on these findings include developing clear, accessible training materials, enhancing communication for consistent messaging regarding cleaning and sanitation practices, and investing in research for more effective cleaning technologies and durable food-contact surfaces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 9","pages":"Article 100587"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144753458","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":"Behavior of Inoculated Staphylococcus aureus During the Rearing of Protaetia brevitarsis Larvae on Fermented Oak Sawdust as a Food Product","authors":"K.M. Park ,&nbsp;S.Y. Kim ,&nbsp;Y.S. Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100588","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100588","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing use of edible insects as alternative protein sources underscores the need to ensure their microbiological safety. This study evaluated the fate of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> during the rearing of <em>Protaetia brevitarsis</em> larvae on oak sawdust substrate inoculated with high (7 log) and low (3 log) levels of the bacterium. In the substrate, <em>S. aureus</em> declined rapidly and fell below the detection limit (&lt;1 log CFU/g) within five days, regardless of the initial level. Similarly, in larvae, <em>S. aureus</em> was detected until day 2 but not thereafter. In fasted larvae, <em>S. aureus</em> became undetectable from day 2, suggesting fasting may facilitate its elimination. Aerobic bacteria and coliforms were also monitored. In the substrate, total aerobic counts ranged from 8.0 to 8.3 log CFU/g at day 0, remained stable until day 10, and then decreased to 7.6 log CFU/g. In larvae, aerobic counts stayed around 7.2 log CFU/g until day 5 and then slightly increased. Coliform levels in larvae were 1–3 log CFU/g lower (3.2–5.0 log) than in substrate (5.0–8.0 log CFU/g) at day 5, but differences became negligible by day 10. These findings suggest that while externally introduced <em>S. aureus</em> may not persist during rearing, aerobic bacteria and coliforms remain as dominant microbial groups. Thus, postharvest processing such as drying, freezing, or heat treatment is necessary to ensure the microbial safety of <em>P. brevitarsis</em> larvae for human consumption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 10","pages":"Article 100588"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144753457","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":"Reduction of Enteric Pathogens in Bottled Water Using Residual Ozone","authors":"William Ryan Schwaner ,&nbsp;Sanjay Kumar ,&nbsp;Harshavardhan Thippareddi","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100585","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100585","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ozone is an effective and safe disinfectant used globally in the bottled water industry. Ozone infusion at a high level helps maintain a residual level (0.1–0.4 mg/L) at the time of bottling, thus can ensure 4 log microbial reductions. This study validated the efficacy of residual ozone against <em>Escherichia coli</em> O157:H7, non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing <em>E. coli</em> (STEC; O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145), and <em>Salmonella</em> Typhimurium. A pilot-scale ozone system infused 0.5 L polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles with ozonated water (0.1–0.4 mg/L). Pathogens were inoculated into samples (∼6 or 4 log CFU/mL) immediately after ozonation treatment, followed by incubation at 25 °C for 5–180 min. Additional trials evaluated the isolated effect of pH (5.0, 7.0, and 9.0) and total dissolved solids (TDS; 5, 50, and 500 mg/L) at a fixed ozone concentration (0.1 mg/L ozone) and contact time (30 min). Posttreatment samples were neutralized (0.1% sodium thiosulfate), filtered, and plated on Petri films for enumeration (35 °C, 48 h). Neutralization (0.1% sodium thiosulfate) was validated to have no antimicrobial effect in controls. All pathogens exhibited ≥4 log reductions across ozone concentrations (0.1–0.4 mg/L), contact times (≥5 min), and inoculum levels (6 or 4 log CFU/mL). Extended contact (30–180 min) did not enhance reduction. However, at 500 mg/L TDS, reductions fell below 4 logs: <em>Salmonella</em> (2.60 log ± 1.24), <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 (1.72 log ± 1.10), and non-O157 STEC (2.74 log ± 1.45). Similarly, pH 5.0 and 9.0 resulted in &lt;4 log reductions. While residual ozone effectively achieves microbial safety benchmarks, elevated TDS and nonneutral pH significantly impair efficacy. These findings underscore the necessity of monitoring water quality parameters to optimize ozone disinfection in bottled water facilities, ensuring consistent compliance with food safety standards.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 9","pages":"Article 100585"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144718020","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":"Probiotics and Prebiotics in Foodborne Illness: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Directions","authors":"Louise Iara Gomes de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Ana Rita Ribeiro de Araujo ,&nbsp;Tatiana Colombo Pimentel ,&nbsp;Vittorio Capozzi ,&nbsp;Taliana Kenia Alves Bezerra ,&nbsp;Marciane Magnani","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100584","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100584","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne diseases (FBDs) represent a global public health concern, with millions of reported annual cases resulting in significant outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths. In this context, probiotics and prebiotics emerge among the promising alternatives to antibiotics. This mini-review aims to analyze the available evidence, mechanisms, and perspectives on the possible role of probiotics and prebiotics in preventing or treating FBDs. Probiotics have demonstrated effectiveness against various pathogens by producing antimicrobial substances such as fatty acids, organic acids, volatile compounds, and bacteriocins, resulting in immune system regulation, reducing the viable number of these microorganisms, and eliminating or neutralizing their toxins. Furthermore, they may offer health benefits through the positive modulation of the gut microbiota, strengthening immunity, and reducing pathogen colonization. Prebiotics, in turn, act as substrates promoting the growth of probiotics and increasing the production of desired metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs support probiotics in competing with pathogens, particularly for adhesion sites on intestinal cells. Prebiotics can also have direct antimicrobial action, controlling pathogen adhesion and modulating the immune system by stimulating cytokine production and improving intestinal barrier integrity. Although previous reviews have discussed the general benefits of probiotics and prebiotics, this mini-review offers a more in-depth analysis of their beneficial effects against FBDs. It also explores the isolated and combined potential of probiotics and prebiotics as therapeutic alternatives and adjuvants to classical antibiotic therapies in preventing and controlling foodborne diseases, pointing out the mechanisms that could help to improve global public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 9","pages":"Article 100584"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698725","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":"Benchmarking Metagenomic Pipelines for the Detection of Foodborne Pathogens in Simulated Microbial Communities","authors":"Madhusudan Timilsina ,&nbsp;Dhiraj Chundru ,&nbsp;Abani K. Pradhan ,&nbsp;Ryan Andrew Blaustein ,&nbsp;Mostafa Ghanem","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne pathogens pose a significant public health threat worldwide, despite modern advances in food safety. While molecular detection of pathogens in complex food matrices has gained attention to support tracking and preventing outbreaks, thorough benchmarking is needed to optimize workflows for specific scenarios. This study evaluated the performance of four metagenomic classification tools: Kraken2, Kraken2/Bracken, MetaPhlAn4, and Centrifuge, for estimating pathogen presence and abundance in simulated microbial communities representing three food products. Specifically, we evaluated workflow performance in predicting varying levels of <em>Campylobacter jejuni</em>, <em>Cronobacter sakazakii</em>, and <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> in metagenomes of chicken meat, dried food, and milk products. Metagenomes were simulated to include the respective pathogen at defined relative abundance levels (0%-control, 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, and 30%) within the respective food microbiome. Performance evaluations demonstrated that Kraken2/Bracken achieved the highest classification accuracy, with consistently higher F1-scores across all food metagenomes, whereas Centrifuge exhibited the weakest performance. MetaPhlAn4 also performed well, particularly in predicting <em>C. sakazakii</em> in dried food metagenomes, but was limited in detecting pathogens at the lowest abundance level (0.01%). Overall, Kraken2/Bracken and Kraken2 exhibited the broadest detection range, correctly identifying pathogen sequence reads down to the 0.01% level, whereas MetaPhlAn4 and Centrifuge had higher limits of detection. Our results highlight Kraken2/Bracken as an effective tool for pathogen detection, with MetaPhlAn4 serving as a valuable alternative depending on pathogen prevalence. These findings provide crucial insights for selecting metagenomic tools for applications in food safety and pathogen surveillance applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 9","pages":"Article 100583"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144667780","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":"Development of a Synthetic Medium to Investigate the Role of Buffer Capacity and Metabolites on the Fermentation Chemistry of Cucumber Juice","authors":"Allison Anthony ,&nbsp;Caitlin Skinner ,&nbsp;Neeraj Katare ,&nbsp;David Guydan ,&nbsp;Suzanne Johanningsmeier ,&nbsp;Fred Breidt","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100580","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this study was to investigate the role of buffer capacity in the fermentation biochemistry of a model cucumber fermentation system. To this end, synthetic media were prepared that had similar fermentation properties to cucumber juice (CJ). While synthetic media are commonly used, matching the buffer capacity of a natural microbial fermentation with a synthetic medium has not been attempted. Buffer modeling technology has recently been shown to be an effective means to link pH and weak acid concentration in acid and acidified foods. Our hypothesis was that an artificial cucumber juice medium (ACJ) with similar buffering and nutrients to CJ would result in similar metabolite and pH changes during fermentation by <em>Lactiplantibacillus pentosus</em> LA445 (a commercial cucumber fermentation isolate). ACJ formulations (<em>N</em> = 27) were prepared based on the composition of 10 independent CJ preparations. Selected ACJ formulations that had similar buffer capacities to CJ preparations in the pH 2–7 range were fermented under anaerobic conditions. Malic acid was found to be the principal buffer in this pH range, and the initial concentration correlated with sugar utilization and final medium pH. The data showed that media with similar buffer capacity resulted in similar sugar utilization (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05) following 72 h of fermentation. The data indicate that artificial media developed with buffer modeling technology may be useful for the study of a variety of food and other fermentations to control pH evolution and acid production, which influence quality and safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 9","pages":"Article 100580"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144667782","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":"CDC Directed Funding Improves Foodborne Outbreak Reporting in U.S. States, 2009–2022","authors":"Madhura S. Vachon ,&nbsp;Alexandra R. Edmundson ,&nbsp;Alice E. White ,&nbsp;Thuy N. Kim ,&nbsp;Hillary A. Booth ,&nbsp;Melanie J. Firestone ,&nbsp;Elaine J. Scallan Walter ,&nbsp;Craig W. Hedberg","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Through Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) cooperative agreements, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has funded three programs focused on enhancing foodborne illness outbreak detection and response at the state level—the Foodborne Diseases Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement (FoodCORE), the Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence (Food Safety CoE), and OutbreakNet Enhanced (OBNE). Data from the CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (FDOSS) were used to assess the effect of ELC-funded foodborne programs on single-state foodborne illness outbreak reporting from 2009 to 2022. Based on 2022 program status, participation in these programs was associated with higher rates of reporting compared to states not enrolled in any ELC programs. Average foodborne outbreak reporting rates per million population were 1.54 for states enrolled in No Programs, 2.40 for OBNE states, 3.75 for FoodCORE states, and 4.16 for Food Safety CoE states. For <em>Salmonella</em>, Shiga toxin-producing <em>E. coli,</em> and <em>Listeria</em> (SSL) outbreaks, average reporting rates per million population were 0.37 for states enrolled in No Programs, 0.46 for OBNE states, and 0.69 for FoodCORE and 0.67 for Food Safety CoE states. Overall ELC funding was associated with increased outbreak reporting rates. A one-dollar increase in average ELC funding was associated with an estimated 0.88 (95% CI 0.69, 1.07) unit increase in the single-state foodborne outbreak reporting rate and an estimated 0.14 (95% CI 0.09, 0.19) unit increase in the SSL outbreak reporting rate. Federal support for public health surveillance improves the detection and reporting of foodborne illness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 9","pages":"Article 100581"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144667781","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":"A Salmonella enterica Surrogate for Future Validation Studies for Nonfat Dried Milk and Low-Moisture Food Environments","authors":"Kavita Patil ,&nbsp;Manita Adhikari ,&nbsp;Peter Rubinelli ,&nbsp;Jennifer C. Acuff","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Low-moisture food persistent bacterial populations (LMF PBPs) may be responsible for pathogen harborage in LMF processing environments, resulting in outbreaks and recalls. To address this issue, industry requires a surrogate to understand the survivability of LMF PBP and perform in-plant validation studies to reduce the level of this pathogen to an acceptable level. Hygienic controls for the LMF industry must be tailored to different equipment, environments, and food types. In-plant validations with a surrogate would assist with evaluating the efficacy of sanitation protocols that eliminate LMF PBPs and harborage. This study explored surrogates for <em>Salmonella</em> LMF PBP to provide tools for challenge studies to eliminate LMF PBPs from stainless-steel surfaces. Three surrogates (<em>Escherichia coli</em> MP 26, <em>Enterococcus faecium</em>, <em>Pediococcus acidilactici</em>) were evaluated for similarity to a <em>Salmonella</em> LMF PBP in nonfat dried milk (NFDM) formed on stainless steel coupons stored at 30% or 70% relative humidity (RH) at 25 °C. Coupons were prepared with a previously established method to form an LMF PBP (0.5 g of NFDM, 0.4 mL culture). Microbial survival was enumerated at intervals (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days) using standard plating techniques. An ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD tests were used to compare log reductions to identify suitable surrogates. <em>E. faecium</em> exhibited higher survival trends that were most similar to <em>Salmonella</em>, with no significant differences in log reductions (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). In contrast, <em>E. coli</em> surrogate panel and <em>P. acidilactici</em> showed significantly greater reductions, making them unsuitable surrogate candidates for <em>Salmonella</em>. Matrices and RH interactions influenced survival, but <em>E. faecium</em> consistently mirrored <em>Salmonella</em> behavior. <em>E. faecium</em> was similar but hardier than <em>Salmonella</em> LMF PBPs and could be used in processing environments for challenging and validating sanitation protocols.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 9","pages":"Article 100578"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144600665","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}