Category Archives: Food Technology

Research – Compressed Air – Food Industry

Parker Balston

Understanding the potential risks from compressed air contamination is crucial for developing an effective compliance solution for your plant. Microbial contamination can exist wherever compressed air contacts food either directly or indirectly. As of July 2012, SQF auditors now assess this risk as they perform audits in accordance with the SQF 7th edition code.

How can you ensure your air filtration meets the most discriminating industry
standards and ensures compliance with ALL published GMPs? Proper filtration at point-of-use will minimize your contamination risks. Read this GMP Template for Food Plants that use risk-based systems including HACCP Procedures and GFSI – SQF Code.

Research – Ozone to Extend Shelf Life

The Engineer

A device developed in Scotland uses ozone to make food safer for consumers  and extend the shelf-life of food products by one day.

Dr Declan Diver and Dr Hugh Potts of Glasgow University’s School of Physics  and Astronomy have prototyped a system to rapidly, safely and temporarily turn  some of the oxygen inside the sealed packaging into ozone, which acts as a  germicide.

Plasma generated by a retractable device held briefly against the surface of  plastic or glass packaging splits the bonds between oxygen molecules inside the  packaging which then reform as ozone.

Read more:  http://www.theengineer.co.uk/device-improves-safety-and-shelf-life-of-food-products/1015509.article#ixzz2KhKAIIeS

Research-Decontamination of Leafy Green Vegetables Using Edible Plant Extracts

Journal of Food Science

Abstract

Fresh cilantro, parsley, and spinach are products that are regularly consumed fresh, but are difficult to decontaminate, as a result, they are common vehicles of transmission of enteropathogenic bacteria. In this study, the efficacy of plant extracts as alternatives for disinfection of cilantro, parsley, and spinach that were artificially contaminated with Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Shigella sonnei was determined. Edible plant extracts obtained using ethanol as the extraction solvent were tested to determine the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and those that exhibited the lowest MBC were selected for further studies. Leaves of fresh greens were washed with sterile water and dried. For seeding, leaves were submerged in suspensions of 2 different concentrations of bacteria (1.5 × 108 and 1 × 105), dried, and then stored at 4 °C until use. To determine the effects of the extracts, inoculated leafy greens were submerged in a container and subjected to treatments with chlorine, Citrol®, or selected plant extracts. Each treatment type was stored at 4 °C for 0, 1, 5, and 7 d, and the bacterial counts were determined. From the 41 plant extracts tested, the extracts from oregano leaves and from the peel and pulp of limes were found to be as effective as chlorine or Citrol® in reducing by > 2 logs, the population of pathogenic bacteria on leafy greens and therefore, may be a natural and edible alternative to chemicals to reduce the risk of Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and S. sonnei contamination on leafy vegetables.

Practical Application:  The antimicrobial efficacy of the extracts of Mexican lime and oregano was clearly demonstrated on cilantro, parsley, and spinach. The extracts of Mexican lime and oregano provide alternatives to chlorine to significantly reduce bacterial pathogens that have been associated with outbreaks from contaminated leafy green vegetables. A simple, low cost, and labor-saving extraction system for production of the extracts was used.

Research – Antilisterial Properties of Marinades

Journal of Food Science

Abstract

This study evaluated growth of Listeria monocytogenes inoculated on cooked chicken meat with different marinades and survival of the pathogen as affected by microwave oven reheating. During aerobic storage at 7 °C, on days 0, 1, 2, 4, and 7, samples were reheated by microwave oven (1100 W) for 45 or 90 s and analyzed microbiologically. L. monocytogenes counts on nonmarinated (control) samples increased (P < 0.05) from 2.7 ± 0.1 (day-0) to 6.9 ± 0.1 (day-7) log CFU/g during storage. Initial (day-0) pathogen counts of marinated samples were <0.5 log CFU/g lower than those of the control, irrespective of marinating treatment. At 7 d of storage, pathogen levels on samples marinated with tomato juice were not different (P ≥ 0.05; 6.9 ± 0.1 log CFU/g) from those of the control, whereas for samples treated with the remaining marinades, pathogen counts were 0.7 (soy sauce) to 2.0 (lemon juice) log CFU/g lower (P < 0.05) than those of the control. Microwave oven reheating reduced L. monocytogenes counts by 1.9 to 4.1 (45 s) and >2.4 to 5.0 (90 s) log CFU/g. With similar trends across different marinates, the high levels of L. monocytogenes survivors found after microwave reheating, especially after storage for more than 2 d, indicate that length of storage and reheating time need to be considered for safe consumption of leftover cooked chicken.

Research – The Microbiological Efficacy of Fresh Produce

Science Direct

Abstract

Fresh fruits and vegetables are an essential part of the world populations’ diet, contributing essential vitamins and minerals, and they are often eaten raw or minimally processed. Fruits and vegetables grown using conventional agricultural methods are at risk from microbiological contamination and foodborne illness relating to the consumption of produce is widely reported throughout the world, as illustrated by recent figures from the USA (at least 713 produce related outbreaks between 1990 and 2005) and UK (88 outbreaks between 1996 and 2006). Better understanding of produce decontamination is essential to support industry in assuring the safety of fruit and vegetable products, thus contributing to consumer health protection.

The purpose of this study was to establish the current state of knowledge on industrial produce decontamination techniques and to identify and prioritise research gaps regarding practical and effective mechanisms to reduce microbial loading of produce with particular reference to industrially cut, washed and prepared fresh produce. Using suitable keywords, a literature review was executed using academic databases and industry sources to identify current literature on different decontamination technologies. Efficacy of approaches was compared to that of chlorine washing, the most common decontamination method used by the fresh produce industry.

Findings indicate that the identified technologies had varying efficacy of microbiological reduction when compared to chlorine, and the reductions achievable across a range of methods are limited, giving rise to food safety concerns. In addition, the results demonstrate that there has been limited consideration given to several key factors, namely industrial application of the technology approaches, organoleptic acceptability of the product, whether the microbiological reduction could be sustained throughout the life of the product and consumer acceptability of the technology. This preliminary study has highlighted concerns about the efficacy of existing produce decontamination techniques and identified research gaps regarding efficacy and industrial application of new decontamination technologies.


Highlights

► The paper investigates current literature on fresh produce decontamination methods. ► Microbiological reduction is evaluated for various decontamination technologies. ► Different technologies have varying efficacy on microbiological reduction. ► Highlights a need for practical alternatives to chlorine washing to be found. ► Suggests further work on industrial use, organoleptic and consumer acceptability.

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Keywords

  • Fresh produce microbiological decontamination;
  • Fresh produce safety;
  • Fresh produce washing;
  • Chlorine decontamination efficacy;
  • Fresh produce and foodborne illness;
  • Fresh produce industrial processing


There are no figures or tables for this document.

Corresponding author contact information
Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 (0) 1772 893657; fax: +44 (0) 1772 892927.
1
Tel.: +44 7801 608 117; fax: +33 233 46 58 57.

Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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    Research – FDA Risk Assessment of Listeria monocytogenes in Cheese

    FDA FDA

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a draft quantitative assessment of the risk of listeriosis from soft-ripened cheese consumption in the United States and Canada. The risk assessment is a joint effort between FDA and Health Canada. View the Federal Register Notice for the assessment.

    The new FDA/Health Canada draft risk assessment found that the risk of listeriosis from soft-ripened cheeses made with raw milk is estimated to be 50 to 160 times higher than that from soft-ripened cheese made with pasteurized milk. This finding is consistent with the fact that consuming raw milk and raw milk products generally poses a higher risk from pathogens than do pasteurized milk and its products.

    While raw milk and raw milk products put all consumers at risk, the bacteria they may contain can be especially dangerous to people with weakened immune systems, older adults, pregnant women and children. View guidelines for avoiding illness by choosing milk and milk products carefully.

    FDA invites comments that can help FDA and Health Canada improve:

    • the approach used;
    • the assumptions made;
    • the modeling techniques;
    • the data used; and
    • the clarity and transparency of the draft quantitative risk assessment documentation.

    To submit comments electronically, go to docket FDA-2012-N-1182 on regulations.gov. The comment period opens February 11, 2013 for 75 days.

    Research – Flash Drying Poultry Cages – Reduces Campylobacter Levels

    Food Poisoning Bulletin Campylobacter

    Campylobacter is a bacteria that is commonly found in the intestines of poultry and shed  in their feces. During slaughter, these bacteria sometimes make their way onto cuts of meat, posing a health threat to consumers.

    Sometimes these bacteria are spread from infected birds to healthy ones during transport. For example, a healthy bird may be placed in a poultry cage whose previous occupant was infected, or the healthy bird’s poultry cage may be placed beneath an infected bird’s cage on a truck. Despite the risk to consumers, there hasn’t been much progress in reducing the presence of the pathogen in poultry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    A few years ago, researchers discovered that drying the cages for 24-48 hours after washing them, cut down and even eliminated Campylobacter levels in poultry cages. But these drying times were found to be overly long and impractical by the industry. So  microbiologists Mark Berrang and Richard Meinersmann at the US Department of Agriculture’s  Agricultural Research Service and their colleague Charles Hofacre at the University of Georgia in Athens researched a shorter drying time with a blast of hot air.

    They found that flowing hot air for 15 minutes on cages that had been spray washed with water “lowered the numbers of Campylobacter to an undetectable level,” according to a report of their study published in the January 2013 edition of Agricultural Research, a USDA publication. No word  yet on how the poultry industry views the breakthrough.

    Research – HHP Inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

    Science Direct Vibrio

    Abstract

    The effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatments on Vibrio parahaemolyticus cells were investigated using viability counting, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in order to determine optimal inactivation conditions and further understand the mechanisms of microorganism inactivation under HHP. The results showed that 300-MPa treatment for 10 min could extensively inactivate V. parahaemolyticus, with the number of viable bacteria decreasing from 109 CFU/mL to no viable bacteria. Damage to the cell wall, cell membrane, and cytoplasmic components by HHP treatments can be observed on scanning as well as transmission electron microscopy images. SDS-PAGE results showed that the protein bands differed between HHP untreated and treated V. parahaemolyticus, whereas HHP decreased protein content and caused partial protein degradation. Therefore, our results indicate that HHP can be applied to inactivate V. parahaemolyticus by inducing morphological changes in internal and external structures in the cell, as well as by causing cell membrane damage, cell wall rupture, and membrane protein degradation.

    RASFF- Alerts – Norovirus – Salmonella – Histamine – Moulds – E.coli

    RASFF – Salmonella in Bovine Meat in Sweden sourced in Ireland

    RASFF – Salmonella in Chilled Beef in Sweden sourced in Ireland

    RASFF – Moulds in Soft Toffee in Czech Republic sourced in Poland

    RASFF– Histamine in Tuna in Italy sourced in Spain

    RASFF – E.coli in Live Bivalve Molluscs in the Netherlands sourced in Denmark

    France – Norovirus warning for the English Channel

    Due to poisonings related to collective consumption of shellfish, fish and shellfish all marketing from one of the main production areas of Lower Normandy oysters in an area about 5 kilometers Blainville-sur-Mer , in the English Channel, is prohibited. Products shipped since January 28 are recalled to be destroyed, said Thursday the prefecture of Manche.

    USA – Research – Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Found in Retail Meat

    Food Poisoning BulletiniStock_000008493122Small

    The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) has just released its annual meat report detailing the bacteria found on meat sold at the retail level. The report states that there are increases in antibiotic-resistant bacteria found on ground turkey and chicken.

    Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY), a microbiologist, released a press statement about the report. She said, “we are standing on the brink of a public health catastrophe. The threat of antibiotic-resistant disease is real, it si growing and those most at risk are our seniors and children. We can help stop this threat by drastically reducing the overuse of antibiotics in our food supply, and Congress should act swiftly to do so today.” Rep. Slaughter is the author of the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA), which would phase out the use of medically important antibiotics in healthy food-producing animals.