Journal of food protection最新文献

{"title":"Control of Listeria monocytogenes With Undissociated Organic Acids: Staged Evaluation in Broth, Milk, and a Proof-of-Concept Surface Application on Queso Fresco","authors":"Zoe Andersen ,&nbsp;Samantha Kilgore ,&nbsp;Joy Waite-Cusic ,&nbsp;Jovana Kovacevic","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Queso fresco (QF) is a high-moisture, near-neutral pH fresh cheese that supports the growth of <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> during refrigerated storage. This study evaluated whether delivering undissociated organic acid (UDA) can suppress <em>L. monocytogenes</em> across staged systems: broth, milk, and QF surface. Four dairy <em>L. monocytogenes</em> strains and Scott A were grown in non-pH-adjusted brain heart infusion (BHI) broth containing acetic (AA; total acid: 10–25 mM, pH: 5.24–6.81), lactic (LA; total acid: 20–40 mM, pH: 4.27–6.35), or propionic acid (PA; total acid: 2–25 mM, pH: 5.10–6.89). Growth (OD_595nm) was modeled (Logistic 4P model, JMP Pro18) to estimate lag phase duration (LPD), and the pH of treatments was used to calculate the UDA. LPD increased with total acid concentration and correlated significantly with UDA for AA and PA, whereas LA effects were pH-dependent (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). UDA targets (0, 2, 5, mM) from the broth screen were then applied in milk, with AA and PA slightly inhibiting growth of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> at low UDA (2 mM - pH: AA 5.93; PA 6.39), and controlling growth at high UDA concentrations (5 mM - pH: AA 5.39; PA 5.61). In contrast, LA inhibited growth only at low pH (4.62 ± 0.06). To assess the effect of UDA on QF, cubes of cheese (20 g; 3.81 × 3.81 cm) were surface-treated (20 min) with AA or PA to achieve low (&lt;20 mM), moderate (40–50 mM), or high (&gt;100 mM) UDA, inoculated with a five-strain <em>L. monocytogenes</em> cocktail (3 log CFU/g), vacuum-packaged, and stored at 7 °C for 28 days. In untreated, low and moderate groups, <em>L. monocytogenes</em> increased by &gt;1 log CFU/g (Harlequin <em>Listeria</em> agar; 37 °C, 48 h), whereas high UDA treatments were bacteriostatic throughout storage. At sufficient UDA levels, AA and PA suppressed <em>L. monocytogenes</em> growth on near-neutral-pH QF, while LA efficacy depended on pH. These findings support targeted, surface-directed UDA interventions to suppress <em>L. monocytogenes</em> on QF without lowering bulk product pH.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100667"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145504986","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":"Unveiling the Hidden Risks: Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soil and Vegetables Irrigated with Kalobe Wastewater Stabilization Ponds, Mbeya, Tanzania","authors":"Azaria Stephano Lameck ,&nbsp;Dickson Mlelwa ,&nbsp;John Chagu ,&nbsp;Victor Sanga ,&nbsp;Melkizedeck Hiiti Tsere ,&nbsp;Gisandu K. Malunguja ,&nbsp;Alinanuswe Joel Mwakalesi","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the concentrations of heavy metals in wastewater, soil, and tomatoes and Napa cabbage irrigated with effluent from the Kalobe Wastewater Stabilization Pond (KWWSP) in Mbeya, Tanzania. Human health risks were assessed using Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), and Target Cancer Risk (TCR) indices. The results showed that cadmium (Cd) in all ponds was below the FAO/WHO permissible limits, while lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) were below detection levels. Heavy metals in soil were found in the order of Pb (5.95 mg/kg) &gt; Cr (0.63 mg/kg) &gt; Cd (0.25 mg/kg), all within FAO/WHO acceptable limits, indicating suitability for agricultural use. Cd levels in Tomatoes (0.14 mg/kg) and Napa cabbage (0.40 mg/kg) exceeded permissible limits. Cr levels in the Tomato and Napa Cabbage were 1.87 and 2.10 mg/kg, respectively, and were close to the safety threshold, suggesting health concerns with long-term consumption. Cd exposure through vegetable intake was within but near acceptable limits, while Cr exposure, particularly for Napa cabbage, exceeded recommended safety thresholds. This resulted in elevated noncarcinogenic risks (THQ and HI &gt; 1) and carcinogenic risks (TCR above the USEPA’s acceptable range). These findings suggest that consuming wastewater-irrigated Tomatoes and Napa cabbage may pose human health risks. Continuous monitoring of heavy metals, safe irrigation alternatives, and cropping restrictions using inadequately treated wastewater is essential to safeguard public health and long-term environmental sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100653"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145370346","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":"Structural Equation Modeling of the Relationships Between Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Older Adults in Dhaka, Bangladesh","authors":"Aysha Siddiky ,&nbsp;Sultan Mahmud Imran ,&nbsp;Abdullah Al Adib ,&nbsp;Nitai Roy","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100649","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100649","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assessing food safety perceptions among older adults is crucial because their increased susceptibility to foodborne illnesses is primarily attributed to a decline in immune function. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) related to food safety among older adults in Bangladesh, with a focus on understanding the relationships between these factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to February 2024 to evaluate food safety KAP among 389 participants (mean age 67.70 ± 7.132) in various areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh, through structured, face-to-face interviews. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling were used to validate the model, while Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted using the extracted valid items for KAP. Overall, older adults exhibited a moderate level of knowledge; however, gaps were identified in specific areas, as more than half of the respondents were unaware of proper cooking temperatures, reheating guidelines, and cross-contamination. However, a large proportion of the respondents demonstrated a positive attitude toward food safety. Overall, self-reported food safety practices among older adults were adequate, as most respondents followed good hygiene practices and reheated cooked food after removal from the refrigerator. Both knowledge of food safety and attitudes toward food safety had a positive and significant impact on the self-reported food safety practices of the respondents. Knowledge and attitude towards food safety were also correlated with each other, and if food safety knowledge increased in these respondents, attitudes toward food safety would also improve. All of our hypotheses (<strong>H1</strong>, <strong>H2</strong>, and <strong>H3</strong>) were supported by the findings of this study. In conclusion, enhancing knowledge and attitudes toward food safety can lead to improved food safety practices among older adults, helping them prevent foodborne illnesses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100649"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145370336","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":"Dietary Behaviors and Risk Awareness Influencing Dietary Chemical Hazard Exposure: A Comparative Study of Singapore Residents Aged 18–25 and 26 and Above","authors":"Maggie Siow ,&nbsp;Valerie Sin ,&nbsp;Joanna Khoo ,&nbsp;S. Kalppana ,&nbsp;Joanne Sheot Harn Chan ,&nbsp;Kyaw Thu Aung","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100656","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100656","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This cross-sectional telephone survey study examined dietary preferences, consumption habits, and awareness of dietary chemical hazards among Singapore residents aged 18 years and above (<em>n</em> = 1,040), with focused analysis on a young adult subgroup aged 18–25 years (<em>n</em> = 399). The study revealed potential differences in process contaminant dietary exposure patterns between young adults and older demographics, attributable to age-specific dietary preferences and consumption behaviors. Young adults demonstrated significantly higher consumption frequencies of processed meats, deep-fried foods, and packaged snacks compared to older age groups, potentially increasing their exposure to process contaminants such as acrylamide and nitrosamines. Young adults exhibited lower concern levels about dietary chemical hazards and less confidence in making informed food choices, with cost being their primary consideration rather than exposure risk to dietary chemical hazards. While approximately three in four young adults indicated willingness to modify consumption patterns after exposure to information about dietary chemical hazards, one in two young adults acknowledged that other factors would likely take precedence over exposure risk to dietary chemical hazards. Logistic regression analysis revealed that there is a baseline willingness to change consumption patterns after exposure to information on dietary chemical hazards while older age groups and individuals of Indian ethnicity showed significantly higher likelihood of willingness to change consumption patterns. Young adults primarily relied on social media and websites for information about dietary chemical hazards, whereas older adults favored traditional media channels such as newspapers, television, and radio. These findings highlight the need for age-tailored interventions that consider both socioeconomic constraints and preferred information channels when addressing dietary chemical exposure risks among the adult population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100656"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145401034","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":"Unmasking Hidden Gluten: Evaluating the Compliance of Gluten-Free Products and Consumer Exposure in Lebanon","authors":"Hussein F. Hassan ,&nbsp;Ranim Assi ,&nbsp;Raceel Alkhatib ,&nbsp;Nada El Darra ,&nbsp;Sami Khatib ,&nbsp;George El Khoury ,&nbsp;Mireille Serhan ,&nbsp;Mohamad G. Abiad ,&nbsp;Nisreen Alwan ,&nbsp;Maya Bassil","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our study aims to determine gluten levels in gluten-free products marketed in Lebanon and to assess the consumption frequency of noncompliant products among gluten-free shoppers. Following a thorough market screening, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted on identified gluten-free (<em>n</em> = 115) stock-keeping units (SKUs) marketed in the country, including 54 local and 61 imported products. Gluten was quantified with the RIDASCREEN® R5 ELISA; levels &gt;20 ppm were deemed noncompliant. A qualitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was administered to a sample of 66 gluten-free shoppers for the intake frequency of each noncompliant SKU. Eleven SKUs (9.6%) exceeded 20 ppm, while another 15 (13%) fell between the 1 ppm quantification limit of the kit and 20 ppm. Noncompliance was markedly higher in local products (18.5%) than in imports (1.6%). Forty percent of the contaminated local SKUs and the sole contaminated import bore an FSMS logo, indicating implementation gaps. Bread (6/43) and snack/bars (4/30) accounted for most infractions; a single oat-based “other grain” also tested positive. Although 87% of products were analytically compliant, the FFQ revealed 8 daily and 11 weekly consumption events involving contaminated SKUs. Notably, 65% of respondents were celiac, and 27% purchased for celiac relatives, increasing clinical risk. Lebanon’s retail gluten-free sector is largely compliant, yet a substantial risk persists in domestically produced breads and snack items. Strengthened regulatory surveillance, dedicated production lines for high-risk categories, and targeted consumer education must be enforced to safeguard medically vulnerable populations and uphold ethical standards.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100655"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145475484","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 and Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes in Food Court Cold Noodles and Associated Contact Surfaces in Korea","authors":"Jeong-Eun Lee,&nbsp;Min Joo Kim,&nbsp;Juhee Park,&nbsp;Yong Sun Cho","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> is a foodborne pathogen that can survive at refrigerated temperatures. However, data on <em>L. monocytogenes</em> contamination in food court settings are lacking. We investigated the prevalence and characteristics of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> in cold food court noodles and their manufacturing environments in South Korea. One hundred eighty-two samples, including 168 ready-to-eat (RTE) cold noodle products, 1 noodle, 1 cold noodle broth, 4 garnishes, and 8 environmental swab samples, were collected from 44 large supermarket food courts and analyzed to isolate <em>L. monocytogenes.</em> Isolation was performed through selective enrichment followed by plating on PALCAM and ALOA agar, and identification was confirmed by PCR. Serotyping was performed using conventional antisera agglutination and PCR-based serogrouping, and molecular characterization was conducted through multilocus sequence typing (MLST) using seven housekeeping genes, detection of ten virulence genes by PCR, and antibiotic susceptibility testing using the E-test method. <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> was exclusively isolated from the cold noodle broth of six samples. Serotyping identified three serotypes (1/2a, 1/2b, and 1/2c), predominantly belonging to Lineage II, and MLST classified the isolates into ST9 and ST87, which are associated with food processing environments and linked to human infections, respectively. All isolates carried multiple virulence genes and exhibited resistance to ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, oxacillin, and tetracycline while remaining susceptible to β-lactam antibiotics and vancomycin. These findings underscore the critical need for rigorous hygiene management in the production and distribution of cold noodles, particularly in the handling of cold noodle broth. Given the persistence of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> in food-processing environments, continuous monitoring and enhanced sanitation protocols are essential to mitigate contamination risks in RTE food products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100661"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421935","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":"Sporulation and implications for composting food waste","authors":"Muriel Lepesteur,&nbsp;Carina Dexter,&nbsp;Yujing Zhang,&nbsp;Aleksandra Kusljic","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Well−managed composting is generally a safe method for processing organic wastes and generating a product that has beneficial uses. However, there is uncertainty regarding the safety of composts produced from high-risk organic wastes. High-risk organic wastes are wastes that may contain contaminants (biological, physical, or chemical) that render the waste difficult to process and are likely to pose unacceptable residual risks after suboptimal processing. In this article, we examine the environmental stressors present during the composting process and how they impact the fate of spore-forming bacteria. For example, promoting the sporulation of spore-forming bacteria early in the composting process by maintaining a steady but slow rise in temperature may increase their removal.</div><div>As a result, the composting process could be optimized to maximize the removal of pathogenic spore-forming bacteria otherwise likely to survive the composting process. A hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) is proposed that utilizes the timing of pathogen inactivation, as well as a multibarrier approach to ensure that inactivation during composting does not rely on a single operational parameter. This is a systematic and flexible approach which could offer composters a practicable and efficient system to reduce spore-forming bacteria as more high-risk organic wastes are diverted from landfills to be composted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100633"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145258467","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":"The Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network: 15 Years of Promoting Human and Animal Health by Collaborating with the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Community","authors":"Sarah M. Nemser ,&nbsp;Olgica Ceric ,&nbsp;Jake Guag ,&nbsp;Sarah Pauley ,&nbsp;Angelica Jones ,&nbsp;Kathleen Proia ,&nbsp;Megan R Miller ,&nbsp;Andriy Tkachenko ,&nbsp;David Rotstein ,&nbsp;April Hodges ,&nbsp;Renate Reimschuessel ,&nbsp;Gregory H. Tyson","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), a collaborative network established in 2010, is a partnership between the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA CVM) and 48 veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs) across North America. Vet-LIRN actively supports the CVM mission of protecting human and animal health by leveraging its network of VDLs. Initially focused on issues in animal foods, including by testing animal diagnostic samples, Vet-LIRN now addresses a broad range of CVM’s priorities. These include responding to animal foodborne illness outbreaks, developing new methods to detect potential microbial and chemical contaminants in animal foods, tracking antimicrobial resistance (AMR), promoting antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine, and preparing for emerging One Health threats such as COVID-19 and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Over the past 15 years, Vet-LIRN has played a pivotal role in many high-profile and important public health success stories, such as responding to multidrug-resistant <em>Campylobacter</em> outbreaks in puppies, aflatoxin contamination in pet food, <em>Salmonella</em> in pig ear treats, and botulinum toxin in alfalfa cubes. Additionally, Vet-LIRN’s AMR monitoring program collects data to understand AMR trends and assist in the response to foodborne and zoonotic outbreaks. Through collaboration with other key stakeholders such as CVM regulatory colleagues and external partners at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Vet-LIRN ensures rapid responses to critical issues. Looking ahead, Vet-LIRN remains dedicated to continuous improvements, reinforcing its commitment to the sustained protection of human and animal health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100625"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145181951","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":"Effect of Storage Time and Temperature on the Recovery of Peanut, Milk, and Gluten Residue from Environmental Swabs","authors":"Jessica Humphrey,&nbsp;Shyamali Jayasena,&nbsp;Steve L. Taylor,&nbsp;Joseph L. Baumert","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100645","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100645","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food companies utilize environmental swabs in production facilities to validate cleaning procedures and ensure food products and food contact surfaces contain no detectable residues of unintentional food allergens. When swabs are sent to third−party laboratories as part of cleaning validation trials, the current recommendation is to ship swabs on ice with same-day shipping. However, with unforeseen delays, the temperature and duration of storage exert unknown effects on the recovery of allergen residues from swabs. The recovery of three allergenic food residues (peanut, milk, gluten) from Neogen Environmental Swabs following storage at specified temperatures and times was evaluated. Extracts of 25, 50, and 100 ppm (mg/L) peanut flour, nonfat dry milk (NFDM), and gluten (an additional 10 ppm (mg/L) spike was included for gluten) were prepared and spiked onto the swabs that were then stored at room temperature, 37 °C, 4 °C, and −20 °C for 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 days. Subsequently, swabs were tested using two commercial ELISA methods (Neogen Veratox® and Morinaga) for each allergenic food. Higher and more stable recovery was obtained throughout the 14-day period across all three allergenic foods when tested using the Morinaga kits by comparison to the Veratox kits. For peanut and milk recovery from swabs analyzed using the Veratox kit, the greatest decrease in recovery was observed from day 0 to day 1. Gluten−spiked swabs tested with the Veratox kit did not demonstrate significant variability in recovery over time. Overall, higher recoveries were observed when swabs were stored at lower temperatures. These results indicate that swabs should be transported and stored at 4 °C or −20 °C until analysis. However, these results are limited to the Neogen Environmental Swabs and the ELISA kits evaluated in the current study. Further evaluation of additional protein targets, ELISA kits, and swab types is warranted to determine if these results are consistent for alternate targets, extractions, and swab types.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100645"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318318","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":"Fitness Factors and Siderophores Influence the Survival of E. coli in Reused Broiler Litter","authors":"Taejung Chung ,&nbsp;Adelumola Oladeinde ,&nbsp;Reed Woyda ,&nbsp;Samiru S. Wickramasuriya ,&nbsp;Joshua M. Lyte ,&nbsp;Rohana Liyanage ,&nbsp;Michael Rothrock ,&nbsp;Xiang Li ,&nbsp;Sohyun Cho ,&nbsp;Jodie Plumblee Lawrence ,&nbsp;Dinku Endale ,&nbsp;Timothy Strickland ,&nbsp;Zaid Abdo","doi":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100671","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100671","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Escherichia coli</em> (<em>E. coli</em>) is a common bacterium in poultry that can exhibit virulence toward poultry and humans, and harbor antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence factor (VF) genes. This study characterized 217 <em>E. coli</em> isolates recovered from reused broiler litter across three successive flocks from four broiler houses to identify associations between fitness factors (AMR and VF genes) and management (flock cohort, house, section, area, and grow-out period) or environmental (house temperature, litter pH, and moisture content) factors. Different <em>E. coli</em> strains were identified across flocks, with phylogenetic groups A and B1 being the most prevalent. A few sequence types, such as ST10, ST212, and, ST117 were frequently observed across flocks. Isolates from the first flock harbored more fitness factors, including siderophore biosynthesis operons such as yersiniabactin (<em>ybt</em>, 15/64), aerobactin (<em>iuc,</em> 32/64), and salmochelin (<em>iro,</em> 23/64), ColV plasmids (28/64), class 1 integrase gene (<em>intI1</em>) (12/64) and metal resistance genes than flock 2 and 3 (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), suggesting that these genetic elements may be required for adaptation to a naïve environment. Transcriptional and proteome analyses found that the majority of ST117 strains repressed siderophore gene expression and proteins needed for growth and acid/oxidative stress response under acidified CuSO₄ exposure (∼180 ppm), except for one strain (TE207) that showed significantly enhanced fitness. This study highlights the heterogeneity of fitness factors that <em>E. coli</em> may employ to persist in broiler chicken houses and underscores the role of litter management practices in controlling pathogens in poultry production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of food protection","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 100671"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145573696","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}