Category Archives: Uncategorized

Research – Insights into Bacterial Milk Spoilage with Particular Emphasis on the Roles of Heat-Stable Enzymes, Biofilms, and Quorum Sensing

Posted on September 24, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Journal of Food Protection Raw Milk Food Safety KSW Foodworld

Milk spoilage caused by psychrotrophic bacteria and their heat-stable enzymes is a serious challenge for the dairy industry. In many studies, spoilage has been explored based on the simplistic view of undesirable enzymes produced by planktonic cells. Recently, biofilms and quorum sensing (QS) have been suggested as important factors in the deterioration of milk, which opens new avenues for investigation of the processes and challenges. Production and heat stability of enzymes are enhanced in biofilms, mainly because of inherent differences in physiological states and protective shielding by extracellular polymeric substances. QS plays a key role in modulating expression of hydrolytic enzymes and biofilm formation. To date, few studies have been conducted to investigate the complex interplays of enzyme production, biofilm formation, and QS. This review provides novel insights into milk spoilage with particular emphasis on the roles of biofilms and QS and summarizes potential effective strategies for controlling the spoilage of milk.

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Posted in Biofilm, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Spoilage, Microbiology, Uncategorized

Research – Assessment of mycotoxins co‐occurrence in Italian dried figs and in dried figs‐based products

Posted on September 23, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

The possible contamination by aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisin B1 (FB1), fusaric acid (FA), and beauvericin (BEA), was investigated in 55 samples of dried figs and dried figs‐based products purchased from the South Italy (Calabria) market. A total of 41 samples showed contamination by at least one of the mycotoxins investigated. Aflatoxin B1 was found in six samples (0.19 — 8.41 μg/kg) total aflatoxins were found in 13 samples (0.5–17.12 μg/kg), OTA was found in 21 samples (<LOQ—158.58 μg/kg), FB1 was found in eight samples (153.81–5,412.96 μg/kg), BEA was found in 12 samples (<LOQ—5,708.49 μg/kg), and FA was found in 28 samples (<LOQ—74,520.20 μg/kg). The analyzed samples were contaminated with one (41.8%), two (7.3%), three (5.5%), four (10.9%), and five (5.5%) mycotoxins. To the best of our knowledge, the incidence of contamination by FA and BEA has been shown for the first time in dried figs.

Practical applications

The present work was focused on mycotoxin mixtures contamination levels of dried figs and dried figs‐based products. It is known that the co‐occurrence of mycotoxins leads to additive or synergistic effects. For some analyzed samples the AFB1, aflatoxins, and ochratoxin A (OTA) levels exceed the European Union countries legal limit. In addition, the simultaneous presence of FB1, FA, and BEA can be a potential threat to the health of consumers. Although different studies examined AFs, OTA, and Fusarium toxins as single mycotoxins in dried figs, to our knowledge, the co‐occurrence of AFs, OTA, FB1, FA, and BEA in dried figs and in dried figs‐based products samples has not been reported previously. Therefore, to prevent mycotoxins contamination, the employment of good practices in all the processing steps is necessary. Furthermore, the quality control of the ingredients used in figs preparations (spices, other dried fruits, cocoa, etc.), usually not adequately, is essential. Finally, it is of importance to establish more stringent rules to ensure food safety, even if no legal limit was still set for Fusarium toxins in dried fruit.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Fusarium Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Uncategorized

Research – Novel Continuous and Manual Sampling Methods for Beef Trim Microbiological Testing

Posted on September 22, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Journal of Food Protection

A sampling method that represents a greater proportion of the beef trimmings in a 900-kg combo bin should improve the current pathogen sampling and detection programs used by fresh beef processors. This study compared two novel, nondestructive sampling methodologies (a continuous sampling device [CSD] and a manual sampling device [MSD]) with the current industry methodologies, the N60 Excision (the “gold standard”) and N60 Plus, for collection of trim samples. Depending on the experiment, samples were analyzed for naturally occurring Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Salmonella, inoculated surrogates, or indicator organisms in multiple plants, on multiple days, across multiple lean percentage mixtures. Experiments 1A and 1B with natural contamination found no E. coli O157:H7 but similar (P > 0.05) prevalence of Salmonella (CSD 9.2% versus N60 Excision 6.0%) and similar (P > 0.05) levels of indicator organisms for CSD compared with both N60 methodologies. In experiments 2 and 3, CSD cloth sampling had the same or higher prevalence of naturally occurring E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli O157:H7 surrogate organisms, as well as similar levels of indicator organisms compared with the N60 methodologies. In experiment 4, MSD cloth sampling detected similar (P > 0.05) prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 surrogate organisms, as well as slightly lower (P < 0.05) levels of indicator organisms compared with N60 Plus. In experiment 5, the MSD found similar (P > 0.05) prevalence of naturally occurring E. coli O157:H7 and the same or slightly higher (P < 0.05) levels of naturally occurring indicator organisms compared with N60 Plus. In experiment 6, the MSD detected the same (P > 0.05) prevalence of naturally occurring Salmonella as did N60 Excision. The results of these experiments collectively demonstrate that sampling beef trim using either the CSD or MSD provides organism recovery that is similar to or better than the N60 Excision or the N60 Plus methodologies.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157:H7, Research, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Research – Dog owners face higher risk of E. coli, salmonella; bugs thrive in pets’ water bowls

Posted on September 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Deccan Chronicle

It turns out that dogs, apart from giving owners love and companionship can also give them a host of diseases.

Scientists have discovered their water bowls can harbour life-threatening bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella and MRSA.

Scientists say they have clear evidence to show dog water bowls can pose rosk of infection to both humans and their pets.

The research, conducted at the Hartpury University, tested three types of bowls as they wanted to know how much the build-up of bacteria could be affected by the material a bowl is made from, and how often it is cleaned.

Results revealed dangerous bacteria was most likely to thrive in plastic bowls, with the cheap containers harbouring the highest quantities of bugs.

However, the most harmful bacteria species, including strains of E. coli and MRSA, were most frequently found in ceramic bowls. Stainless steel bowls were also tested.

The study, presented at the 69th annual meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science at Dubrovnik in Croatia last month, also found the longer dog bowls are used, the greater quantity and species of bacteria that are present.

Animal scientists, led by Coralie Wright, have now called for stricter cleaning regimes of water bowls, to minimise the risk of spreading any killer bugs.

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Posted in Animal Feed, E.coli, MRSA, Salmonella, Salmonella Dog Food, Staphylococcus aureus, Uncategorized

Ireland -Recall of Cabots of Westport Basil Pesto Due to Detection of Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on September 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FSAI 

Summary
Category 2: For Information
Alert Notification: 2018.40
Product: Cabots of Westport Basil Pesto; pack size: 180g
Batch Code: ‘Use-by’ date: 24/09/2018
Country Of Origin: Ireland

Message:

Cabots of Westport is recalling the above batch of its basil pesto due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes. Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores that sold the implicated batch.

 

 

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSAI, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – CDC blames MDR Campylobacter outbreak on pet-store puppy exposure

Posted on September 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CIDRAP

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released further details today on an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni linked to puppies bought from pet stores.

The outbreak, which began in January 2016, affected a total of 118 people in 18 states through Feb 4, including 29 pet store employees, with 26 hospitalizations and no deaths reported. In an article in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC investigators say epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence indicate that puppies from Petland pet stores and five other pet store chains were the source of the outbreak, and that the findings warrant a closer look at antibiotic use in the commercial dog industry. They also warn of the potential for further cases.

“Although the investigation is completed, the risk for multidrug-resistant Campylobacter transmission to employees and consumers continues,” they write.

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Posted in Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – Moulds – Honey Cake

Posted on September 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-honey cake from Denmark infested with moulds in Denmark

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Posted in Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – ASP – Live Scallops

Posted on September 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) toxins (38.01 mg/kg – ppm) in live scallops (Pecten Jacobaeus) from Belgium in Italy

ASP Information

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Posted in Algal Toxin, ASP, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Enterobateriaceae – Chilled Lamb Products – Liquid Egg – White Seasame Seeds

Posted on September 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled lamb products from Ireland in Ireland

RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g), high count of Enterobacteriaceae (9500 MPN/g) and high aerobic plate count (6700 CFU/g) in liquid egg white from France in the UK

RASFF-Salmonella (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in white sesame seeds from Nigeria in Poland

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Posted in Enterobacteriaceae, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Parasite, Salmonella, Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – STEC E.coli – Sliced Salami

Posted on September 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx1/stx2+; eae+) in sliced salami from Austria in Austria

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Posted in E.coli, eae, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF, STX 1, STX 2, Uncategorized