Food Safety Methods Research Articles

Recent Progress on Single-Molecule Detection Technologies for Food Safety.

Rapid and sensitive detection technologies for food contaminants play vital roles in food safety. Due to the complexity of the food matrix and the trace amount distribution, traditional methods often suffer from unsatisfying accuracy, sensitivity, or specificity. In past decades, single-molecule detection (SMD) has emerged as a way to realize the rapid and ultrasensitive measurement with low sample consumption, showing a great potential in food contaminants detection. For instance, based on the nanopore technique, simple and effective methods for single-molecule analysis of food contaminants have been developed. To our knowledge, there has been a rare review that focuses on SMD techniques for food safety. The present review attempts to cover some typical SMD methods in food safety, including electrochemistry, optical spectrum, and atom force microscopy. Then, recent applications of these techniques for detecting food contaminants such as biotoxins, pesticides, heavy metals, and illegal additives are reviewed. Finally, existing research challenges and future trends of SMD in food safety are also tentatively proposed.

Application of Raman Spectroscopic Methods in Food Safety: A Review.

Food detection technologies play a vital role in ensuring food safety in the supply chains. Conventional food detection methods for biological, chemical, and physical contaminants are labor-intensive, expensive, time-consuming, and often alter the food samples. These limitations drive the need of the food industry for developing more practical food detection tools that can detect contaminants of all three classes. Raman spectroscopy can offer widespread food safety assessment in a non-destructive, ease-to-operate, sensitive, and rapid manner. Recent advances of Raman spectroscopic methods further improve the detection capabilities of food contaminants, which largely boosts its applications in food safety. In this review, we introduce the basic principles of Raman spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and micro-Raman spectroscopy and imaging; summarize the recent progress to detect biological, chemical, and physical hazards in foods; and discuss the limitations and future perspectives of Raman spectroscopic methods for food safety surveillance. This review is aimed to emphasize potential opportunities for applying Raman spectroscopic methods as a promising technique for food safety detection.

Evaluating of Phage as Bio-control Agent in Enumeration of Food Borne Pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Phage acts as a bio-controlling agent to overcome chemical supplement in the treatment food pathogens. Bacterial pathogens mainly cause food borne diseases; these are harmful to human health and also threat to nutritional economy. Due to aggregating in the multidrug resistance among the pathogens, the conventional methods for food safety are drawn in the use of chemicals and causes toxicity. In our present study, the P. aeruginosa isolates were determined from food samples on specific Cetrimide agar and a specific phage was isolated against the strain. The microbial enumeration growth was carried out on meat samples. The preservative activity was performed on banana samples. The present phage has indicated a prominent agent in enumeration of microbial growth against meat and mutton samples. It also showed a quality preservative for storage in banana samples. The potential advantage of using phage is their specificity and ability to multiply; hence, it can be used in food safety and provide a natural alternative to conventional synthetic preservatives used in food industries. The phage has ability in decreasing the growth microbes in food samples and long storage as preservative in fruits.

Molecular modelling methods in food safety: Bisphenols as case study

Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic compound widely used as a building block for polycarbonate plastics, has been declared in the European Union (EU) as a substance of very high concern (SVHC). A series of BPA alternatives and derivatives (bisphenols/BPs) with similar physical-chemical properties have been produced and used by companies for substituting it. To evaluate the estrogenic and androgenic binding activity of 26 BPs, a non-statistical in silico approach has been applied. The results of molecular docking analyses applied on six different nuclear receptors (NRs) have revealed that: i) some BPA metabolites could lower the harmful effects of BPA exposure; ii) BPS is a lower interactor for all NRs, but it does not appear safer at all for androgen receptor (AR), for which its binding activity is found similar to a pharmacological anti-androgen; iii) only a BP has been found as a safer compound for all NRs considered. Moreover, molecular dynamic simulation of three BPs on ERα have revealed that the presence of negative hydrophobic interactions could induce a decrease in receptor activity. Overall, the present results demonstrate that in silico methods could be a valid approach to screen estrogenic and androgenic activity of food contact materials (FCMs).

Collections‐based science in the 21st Century

AbstractDiscoveries from collections‐based science change the way we perceive ourselves, our environment, and our place in the universe. The 18thCentury saw the beginning of formal classification with Linnaeus proposing a system to classify all of life. The 19thCentury ushered in the age of exploration as naturalists undertook large‐scale collecting expeditions leading to major scientific advances (the founding of Physical Geography, Meteorology, Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution) and challenging long held beliefs about nature. In the 20thCentury collections were central to paradigm shifts, including theories of Continental Drift and Phylogenetic Systematics; Molecular Phylogenetics added testable hypotheses, and computerized specimen records gave rise to the field of Biodiversity. In the first 15 years of the 21stCentury we have seen tree‐thinking pervade the life sciences, leading to the emergence of Evolutionary Medicine, Evolutionary Ecology, and new Food Safety methods. More advances are on the way: (i) Open access to large amounts of specimen data & images, (ii) Linking of collections and climate data to phylogenies on a global scale, and (iii) Production of vast quantities of genomic data allowing us to address big evolutionary questions. As a result of collections‐based science people see themselves not as the center of all things but rather as part of a complex universe. It is essential that we integrate new discoveries with knowledge from the past (e.g., collections) in order to understand this planet we all inhabit. To ensure the health of collections‐based science we must come together and plan for the future.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Food Safety Methods and Techniques (2015), edited by C.‐Y.Chen, X.Yan and C.R.Jackson, Elsevier (Academic Press), London, UK. ISBN: 978‐0‐12‐801214‐7. Price £67.14.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Food Safety Methods and Techniques (2015), edited by C.‐Y.Chen, X.Yan and C.R.Jackson, Elsevier (Academic Press), London, UK. ISBN: 978‐0‐12‐801214‐7. Price £67.14.

Aptamer-based technology for food analysis.

Aptamers are short and functional single-stranded oligonucleotide sequences selected from systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) process, which have the capacity to recognize various classes of target molecules with high affinity and specificity. Various analytical aptamers acquired by SELEX are widely used in many research fields, such as medicine, biology, and chemistry. However, the application of this innovative and emerging technology to food safety is just in infant stage. Food safety plays a very important role in our daily lives because varieties of poisonous and harmful substances in food affect human health. Aptamer technique is promising, which can overcome many disadvantages of existing detection methods in food safety, such as long detection time, low sensitivity, difficult, and expensive antibody preparation. This review provides an overview of various aptamer screening technologies and summarizes the recent applications of aptamers in food safety, and future prospects are also discussed.

The Biomimetic Immunoassay Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Progress and Future Prospects

Immunoassay, based on a selective affinity of the biological antibody for its antigen, is one of the most usual analytical methods in food safety and environmental chemistry. However, it presents several drawbacks because of the nature of the antibody. Molecular imprinting technique, due to its high selectivity and stability, ease of preparation and low cost, has shown great potential in producing artificial antibodies in biomimetic immunoassays. This article focuses on the recent states, advantages, current problems and outlooks of molecularly imprinted radio, fluoro, enzyme-linked and chemiluminescent immunoassays, and biomimetic immunosensor, with special emphasis on the challenges in developing biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (BELISAs). The biomimetic immunoassay method will provide an important new analysis platform in food safety, although the sensitivity and specificity is relatively low. As a new simple analysis method, the biomimetic immunoassay has attractive prospect, although some limitations were existed in real-sample assay. In this critical review, some promising solutions for overcoming its drawbacks were put forward, which may promote the more quick development and extensive application of this method in food safety.

Potentials and limitations of molecular diagnostic methods in food safety

Molecular methods allow the detection of pathogen nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and, therefore, the detection of contamination in food is carried out with high selectivity and rapidity. In the last 2 decades molecular methods have accompanied traditional diagnostic methods in routine pathogen detection, and might replace them in the upcoming future. In this review the implementation in diagnostics of four of the most used molecular techniques (PCR, NASBA, microarray, LDR) are described and compared, highlighting advantages and limitations of each of them. Drawbacks of molecular methods with regard to traditional ones and the difficulties encountered in pathogen detection from food or clinical specimen are also discussed. Moreover, criteria for the choice of the target sequence for a secure detection and classification of pathogens and possible developments in molecular diagnostics are also proposed.

Food Safety Issues: A Summary Report of a Panel Session Addressing Pre- and Post-Harvest Strategies to Improve Public Health

ABSTRACT The paper presents a summary of a panel presentation by animal scientists and public health veterinarians on food safety methods to improve public health of the public consuming beef and poultry. Pre-harvest methods discussed include vaccination to decrease shedding of Esherichia coli O157:H7, direct-fed microbials (DFMs), calving methods, and responsible use of antimicrobials. Post-harvest methods discussed include increased sampling and use of hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) methods, test-and-hold of meat products prior to release for public consumption, development of attainment categories, the use of pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for genotyping and serotyping, and an 11-step surveillance program. The public health concern and financial consequences of contamination with E. coli O157:H7 is discussed. A “carrot and stick” approach for both producers and processors to increase vaccination and product testing is recommended.

The achievement of a hazard analysis critical control point plan at a large state institution

Today's focus for foodservice is disease prevention through food safety methods such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). HACCP is a preventive food safety program that emphasizes the flow of food through the entire foodservice system. Traditional food safety plans look at foods in segmented sections, failing to follow the whole process. Fairview Developmental Center had an objective to develop a HACCP plan that works using the cook/chill system with multiple satellite serving sites. The procedure to carry out this program included the following steps: 1) A literature review, 2) Identification of potentially hazardous foods on the menu, 3) Development of flow diagrams from receiving to service for each food identified, 4) Identification of critical control points and establishment of critical limits, 5) Development of a monitoring procedure, 6) Immediate corrective action for problems identified, and 7) Ongoing in-service education. The results of Fairview's project revealed that in order for HACCP to be successful, some convenience foods had to be purchased to replace labor intensive menu items, production staff had to be rescheduled to effectively use blast chiller space, and a monitoring system had to be established which increased involvement and accountability from staff. HACCP is a team effort from management on down, and to be effective it must be continuously modified as the institution's needs change.