Tetrapleura tetraptera is a flowering plant native to Africa with a wide range of applicability in local cuisines and traditional medicine. The T. tetraptera root extract possesses high antimicrobial activity against both gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria. This study could contribute to the better understanding of antibacterial mechanism of T. tetraptera. As a natural food preservative, it has broad prospect to be utilized in the meat industry.
This study provides preliminary results about the DON and OTA in organic wheat grains. The results indicate that the organic wheat produced in North Carolina during 2018 season were contaminated by DON and OTA to various degrees. However, the concentrations of these two mycotoxins determined by ELISA were significantly higher than those determined by HPLC. Therefore, to avoid overestimation or underestimation, it is important for researchers and regulatory agencies to conduct multi‐lab studies to develop and standardize analytical methods and detailed procedures for accurate DON and OTA quantification. Regardless of analytical methods, all bran samples showed higher DON and OTA concentrations than flour samples. Thus, when using organic wheat bran or whole wheat as food or feed ingredients, the level of bran inclusion should be controlled to protect consumers and animals from mycotoxicosis.
Essential oils from Lebanese plants could be used to selectively control foodborne pathogens, including fungi and bacteria. These essential oils could represents an alternative to conventional anti microbials as they did not affect benefiacial food‐related bacteria.
Strains of pathogenic Escherichia coli that are characterized by their ability to
produce Shiga toxins are referred to as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). STEC
are an important cause of foodborne disease and infections have been associated with a wide range of human clinical illnesses ranging from mild non-bloody
diarrhoea to bloody diarrhoea (BD) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)
which often includes kidney failure. A high proportion of patients are hospitalized,
some develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and some die.
The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) has discussed the issue of STEC
in foods since its 45th Session, and at the 47th Session, in November 2015, it was
agreed that it was an important issue to be addressed (REP 16/FH, 2015)2
. To
commence this work, the CCFH requested the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop a report compiling
and synthesizing available relevant information, using existing reviews where
possible, on STEC. The CCFH noted that further work on STEC in food, including
the commodities to be focused on, would be determined based on the outputs of
the FAO/WHO consultation.
The information requested by CCFH is divided into three main areas: the global
burden of disease and source attribution; hazard identification and characterization; and monitoring, including the status of the currently available analytical
methods. This report provides an overview of the work undertaken in response to
the request from the CCFH and provides the conclusions and advice of the Expert
Group based on the currently available information.
Posted in E.coli, E.coli 045, E.coli O103, E.coli O104, E.coli O111, E.coli O113, E.coli O121, E.coli O128, E.coli O145, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, E.coli O26, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Research, STEC, STEC E.coli, STX 1, STX 2, Uncategorized
In recent years, popularity of raw milk has increased in many industrialised countries.
This study (i) enumerated total viable counts (TVC) and Escherichia coli counts, (ii) assessed prevalence of Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, Salmonella spp. and STEC, (iii) screened for methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in sheep and goat tank milk samples collected throughout Switzerland and (iv) provided further strain characteristics on isolated pathogens and MRSA. One hundred and twenty-three tank milk samples from 116 farms were analysed. The median TVC was 3.8 log cfu mL-1. E. coli was detected in 16 (13.0%) and S. aureus in 18 (14.6%) samples. Polymerase chain reaction for stx genes was positive in 14 (11.4%) samples. MRSA were isolated from 4 (3.3%) samples. Salmonella spp. and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were not isolated.
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of simultaneous UV-A and UV-B irradiation (UV-A+B) for inactivating Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes in both phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and apple juice. A cocktail of the three pathogens was inoculated into PBS and apple juice, and then the suspensions were irradiated with UV lamps of 356 nm (UV-A) and 307 nm (UV-B). Significant (P < 0.05) log reductions of the three pathogens in PBS and apple juice were observed after a maximum dose of UV-B alone or the UV-A+B treatment, but few reductions were observed upon UV-A treatment alone. At all irradiation times, antagonistic effects were observed for the application of UV-A+B against in E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes in PBS and apple juice. The degree of antagonistic effect in apple juice was greater than that in PBS. The results of this study suggest that the combined treatment of commercial UV-A and UV-B lamps would be impractical for disinfecting juice products.
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Antimicrobial effect of UV-A+B irradiation in PBS and apple juice was investigated.
UV-A+B irradiation was antagonistic for inactivating pathogens in the PBS and juice.
The degree of antagonistic effect in apple juice was greater than that in PBS.
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One of the major foods causing norovirus gastroenteritis is bivalve shellfish, such as oysters. Depuration and relaying methods have been used to control norovirus. However, these methods may be inadequate to control norovirus gastroenteritis. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment in controlling norovirus in shelled oysters, by evaluating the inactivating effect of HHP on murine norovirus strain 1 (MNV-1) inoculated into a buffer, oyster homogenate, and shelled oysters. First, MNV-1 was inoculated (infectivity of 4.5 log PFU/mL) into the buffer and oyster homogenate, with a pH of 6.3 and salinity (NaCl) of 1.5%, mimicking the habitats of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). HHP treatment at 100, 200, 275, and 300 MPa for 2 and 5 min was conducted at an initial temperature of 0 or 5°C. The infectivity of MNV-1 in both the buffer and the oyster homogenate was lower when the initial temperature was 0°C. In the buffer, the infectivity of MNV-1 decreased to 1.8 log PFU/mL after HHP treatment (200 MPa for 5 min at 0°C), and the inactivating effect was higher in the buffer than in the oyster homogenate. MNV-1 was inoculated into shelled oysters (4.8 log PFU per oyster), and HHP treatment was done at 275, 300, and 350 MPa for 5 min at the initial temperature of 0°C. The infectivity of MNV-1 decreased to 2.8 log PFU per oyster after HHP treatment at 275 MPa for 5 min. The results indicate that the inactivating effect of HHP treatment varies, depending on the medium surrounding the viral particles. Inactivation was best in buffer, followed by oyster homogenate and shelled oysters. The data could inform the development of methods to control norovirus in oysters.
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HHP inactivation of MNV-1 was more pronounced at 0°C than at 5°C.
Inactivation differed, depending on the medium surrounding the virus.
HHP at 275 MPa for 5 min at 0°C inactivated MNV-1 inoculated in shucked oysters.
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Epidemiological evidence suggests that Salmonella on New Zealand eggs is not an important pathway for human salmonellosis. However, robust nationally representative data for Salmonella contamination of eggs is not available to support this. To better understand the exposure of New Zealand commercial eggs to Salmonella, a cross-sectional survey collected data on prevalence and serotypes of Salmonella in the feed, laying sheds (feces, dust, and boot or manure belt swabs), and packhouses (egg contact surfaces) of New Zealand commercial egg layer farms. Salmonella was not detected on 16 of 28 surveyed farms, and 4 farms had only one positive sample. Of the 43 (13.3%) of 323 Salmonella-positive samples, dust samples had the highest prevalence (19 of 67, 28.4%), followed by boot or manure belt swabs (11 of 67, 16.4%), feces (7 of 67, 10.4%), packhouse egg contact surfaces (5 of 87, 5.7%), and feed (1 of 33, 3.0%). A significantly higher prevalence was from caged (33 of 75, 44.0%; P < 0.001) compared with cage-free (4 of 126, 3.2%) systems, yet multiple practices differ between laying systems, which could influence prevalence. Salmonella-positive packhouse samples were only identified on the three farms with the highest laying shed prevalence, and isolates were genetically related (as determined by single nucleotide polymorphism analyses) suggesting cross-contamination between the laying shed and packhouse surfaces. Serotypes isolated included Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Thompson, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Anatum, and Salmonella Mbandaka. Importantly, Salmonella Enteritidis, which causes egg-associated outbreaks internationally, was not isolated. Genomic comparisons of isolates supported the presence of a common contamination source in the shed and farm environments rather than multiple sporadic contamination events. This survey establishes a benchmark of Salmonella prevalence and types in the New Zealand egg production environment and provides a reference point for assessing the impact of changes to practices on Salmonella prevalence.
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Salmonella prevalence was lower than from similar international surveys.
The highest prevalence was from pooled dust samples.
Salmonella occurred on packhouse egg contact surfaces from high-prevalence farms.
Isolates from the same farm, laying shed, and packhouse were genetically related.
Isolates included common New Zealand serotypes; Salmonella Enteritidis was not found.
RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Johannesburg (in 5 out of 5 samples /25g) in dog chews from Germany in Austria
RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis in chilled chicken necks and livers from the Netherlands in the Netherlands
RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Senftenberg (presence /25g) in organic sunflower cake from the Netherlands, via Lithuania in Germany
RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. London (presence /25g) in rapeseed extraction meal from Germany in Germany
RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Agona (presence /25g) in toasted soja from Belgium in Belgium
Given the extreme weather in 2019, producers and users of silage should carefully watch for molds and mycotoxins.
In a company news release, Alltech says extreme weather conditions and moisture levels can reduce yields and induce plant stress, and they can also lead to future issues for the crop, including mycotoxins and molds.
Mycotoxins are a concern for livestock producers, as they influence feed quality and animal safety. Samples of the 2019 corn silage from across the U.S. submitted to the Alltech mycotoxin analytical services laboratory include high levels of mycotoxins.
The samples have included an average of 7.13 mycotoxins, with a range of two to 14 mycotoxins per sample.
Dr. Max Hawkins, nutritionist with the Alltech Mycotoxin Management team, says, “These levels of mycotoxins found in the 2019 crop are significantly higher than the average values.”
