Ready-to-eat Research Articles

Устойчивость к противомикробным препаратам изолятов Staphylococcus aureus, выделенных из пищевой продукции на территории республики Казахстан

Foodborne diseases are the serious public health problem. One of the most common food pathogens in the world is Staphylococcus aureus, which is second only to salmonellosis in terms of the frequency of cases. Materials and methods. We studied 146 antimicrobial-resistant S. aureus isolates isolated from ready-to-eat (RTE) food products in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2018 to 2019 and from 2021 to 2022. The taxonomic position of the bacteria was identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The phenotypic sensitivity of bacteria was determined to 45 antimicrobial drugs by the method of minimum suppressive concentration (MSC) and the disco diffusion method (DDM). Antimicrobial resistance genes in S. aureus multidrug-resistant isolates (MDR) were determined using genome-wide sequencing (WGS). Results. The comprehensive study of the profile of antibiotic sensitivity of S. aureus food isolates was conducted, in which phenotypic sensitivity to antibiotics and the presence of resistance determinants were characterized. As far as we know, this is the first epidemiological study of S. aureus cultures of food origin using WGS in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The results revealed that the studied S. aureus isolates belong to seven different sequence types based on multilocus sequence typing (MLST), with the predominance of sequence type ST22. The studied isolates may pose a threat to public health, since 33% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to methicillin (MRSA), and the mecA gene associated with a high level of nosocomial MRSA infections was found in 45% of S. aureus isolates. Conclusion. Since food products represent one of the key routes of transmission and distribution of resistance genes, it is necessary to further monitor food products and food raw materials for the presence of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus spp. Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, antimicrobial resistance, WGS

Quality attributes of cookies from wheat, lima bean and tigernut composite flour

Cookies are widely consumed throughout the world especially among children. They are ready-to eat, convenient and inexpensive food products, containing digestive and dietary principle of vital importance. This study investigated the quality attributes of cookies from wheat, lima beans and tigernut composite flour. Wheat flour was blended with lima beans and tigernut flour at the ratios of 90:5:5, 85:10:5, 80:15:5, 75:20:5 and 70:25:5, respectively. The flour blends were analysed for proximate, functional and pasting properties while the cookies produced from the blends were analysed for anti-nutritional, colour and sensory properties using standard laboratory procedure. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance, and mean values were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test. The moisture content, crude fat, crude protein, total ash, crude fibre and total carbohydrate ranged from 8.09%-10.82%, 4.24%-5.58%, 7.04%-8.08%, 1.65%-2.10%, 3.06%-3.48% and 72.68%-73.10%, respectively. Increase in lima bean substitution led to increase in bulk density, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, swelling capacity except solubility index. Significant differences were observed in the pasting properties of the flour blends. Phytate and tannin content of the cookies ranged from 0.574-0.634% and 0.168-0.231% while range of values for lightness, redness and yellowness of cookies were: 38.82-40.04, 6.90-7.96 and 16.26-18.26, respectively. However, cookies prepared from blend of 70% wheat flour, 25% lima bean and 5% tigernut flour were the most preferred in terms of overall acceptability.

Perubahan Nilai Gizi dan Alergenisitas Produk Olahan Intermediat Surimi dan Otak-Otak Ikan Tenggiri Siap Santap

Fish is one of the nine major food allergens. Avoiding consumption of fish is a common preventive measure to mitigate fish allergies. On the other hand, food processing may potentially alter the allergenicity of fish, and thus, it is important to identify the most effective fish processing methods that can reduce its allergenicity. This research aimed to characterize the nutritional value, intensity of allergens, and allergenicity from the processing of tenggiri fish processing to produce surimi as intermediate food and ready to eat (RTE) otak-otak. The processing steps consisted of washing and adding cryoprotectant during surimi processing, and using deep and air frying methods in RTE otak-otak processing. Changes in the nutritional value and intensity of allergens of fish meat and its processed products were measured using proximate analysis and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, respectively. The alterations in the allergenicity were investigated using immunoblotting and ELISA. The results revealed changes in the nutritional value due to the processing. Surimi production successfully removed a protein band of 10-–13 kDa, which is suspected to be an allergen. Additionally, both deep and air frying methods effectively removed allergenic proteins with molecular weights above 100 kDa. Immunoblotting assay showed the allergen only appeared in fish meat absent in all of the processed products. The allergenicity rates of surimi and otak-otak was reduced by 90.78 and 98.68%, respectively, as compared to the fish meat. In conclusion, the nutritional value of air-fried otak-otak is superior while the allergenicity is lower than the deep-fried ones. Therefore, air frying processing method for tenggiri fish can be potently used to produce hypoallergenic fish products.

Prevalence, antibiotic resistance and molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables in Shanghai, China

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the foodborne pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus in ready-to-eat (RTE) fruits and vegetables in Shanghai, China. We evaluated antibiotic resistance patterns and genetic diversity of isolates through whole genome sequencing. Our findings demonstrated that out of 143 market samples, 47 (32.87%) tested positive for S. aureus, with the prevalence rates ranging from 10% to 57.14% among 12 types of RTE fruits and vegetables. Most isolates were resistant to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, oxacillin, and ampicillin. We identified a total of 15 antibiotic resistance genes associated with resistance to 6 antibiotics, such as fosfomycin, fluoroquinolone, and β-lactam. Adhesion genes and enterotoxin genes, including icaA, icaB, icaC, set, seg, and sec, were also identified. Seven multi-locus sequence types (MLST) were detected, two of which were novel (ST7208 and ST7986). Notably, ST705-t529 (34.04%) and ST6-t701 (27.79%) represented the predominant types of S. aureus. Furthermore, three of the isolates were confirmed to be methicillin-resistant S. aureus by mecA genes. Taken together, our results highlight the high prevalence of S. aureus in RTE fruits and vegetables, posing a potential threat to food safety, particularly due to its high level of antibiotic resistance.

Unlocking the potential of pasting properties to predict extrudate characteristics of corn grits blends with high amylose corn starch, potato starch, or rice flour.

The development of new production lines of extruded ready-to-eat (RTE) snacks often results in high losses of edible food due to the trial-and-error approach in industry. Being able to predict extrudate characteristics of new formulations before having to run trials on industrial scale would be beneficial for reducing waste and having a more efficient development process. With this study, the correlation between pasting properties of seven blends of flours/starches and extrudate characteristics was investigated (100% corn grits, 25% and 50% replacement of corn grits with high amylose starch, potato starch, and rice flour). The predictive power of pasting characteristics on extrudate's moisture content, water absorption and solubility index, sectional expansion index (SEI) and hardness was studied. Results indicated the potential of predicting SEI, water solubility index (WSI), and water absorption index (WAI) of RTE-snacks. WSI and WAI were, respectively, negatively correlated with peak temperature (R2 =0.897), and positively with peak temperature and positively with trough viscosity (R2 =0.855). One can conclude that the rheometer can be a useful tool to gain insight into the characteristics of the extrudate, although further research with enlargement of the dataset is necessary to make the rheometer effectively deployable for potentially other extrudate characteristics.

Prevalence of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes, and Population Levels of Food Safety Indicator Microorganisms in Retail Raw Chicken Meat and Ready-To-Eat Fresh Leafy Greens Salads Sold in Greece.

The presence of microbial pathogens in foods compromises their safety resulting in foodborne illnesses, public health disorders, product recalls, and economic losses. In this work, 60 samples of chilled raw chicken meat and 40 samples of packaged ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh leafy greens salads, sold in Greek retail stores (butchers and supermarkets), were analyzed for the presence of three important foodborne pathogenic bacteria, i.e., Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes, following the detection protocols of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In parallel, the total aerobic plate count (APC), Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and staphylococci were also enumerated as hygiene (safety) indicator organisms. When present, representative typical colonies for each pathogen were biochemically verified, following the ISO guidelines. At the same time, all the Campylobacter isolates from chicken (n = 120) were identified to the species level and further phylogenetically discriminated through multiplex and repetitive sequence-based (rep) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, respectively. Concerning raw chicken, Campylobacter spp. were recovered from 54 samples (90.0%) and Salmonella spp. were recovered from 9 samples (15.0%), while L. monocytogenes was present in 35 samples (58.3%). No Campylobacter was recovered from salads, and Salmonella was present in only one sample (2.5%), while three salads were found to be contaminated with L. monocytogenes (7.5%). The 65% of the Campylobacter chicken isolates belonged to C. jejuni, whereas the rest, 35%, belonged to C. coli. Alarmingly, APC was equal to or above 106 CFU/g in 53.3% and 95.0% of chicken and salad samples, respectively, while the populations of some of the other safety indicators were in some cases also high. In sum, this study unravels high occurrence percentages for some pathogenic and food safety indicator microorganisms in raw chicken meat and RTE fresh leafy greens salads sold in Greek retail, highlighting the need for more extensive microbiological control throughout the food production chain (from the farm/field to the market).

Inter-strain variability on the cardinal parameters (pH and Aw) of clinical and food isolates of Listeria monocytogenes using turbidimetric measurements

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen which, in 2021, was considered the fifth most commonly reported zoonosis in humans in the European Union (EU). Ready-to-eat (RTE) fishery products, deli meats or soft cheeses have been mostly involved in food safety alerts and outbreaks in the last years. Hurdle technology by food industries has been widely used to enhance the safety of foods. Among the barriers, the application of acid and osmotic stress during processing is extensively used worldwide. This study aims to gain knowledge about the inter-strain variability of twenty-six clinical and food L. monocytogenes isolates with the estimation of their cardinal parameters using turbidimetric measurements. To analyse the data and to obtain the estimated cardinal values, a common statistical procedure was set up. The estimation of cardinal parameters showed a high inter-strain variability of L. monocytogenes, and no correlation was observed between Aw min and pHmin values for the studied strains. By grouping the strains in clinical, meat and fish origin, it was observed that strains from the meat group presented the lowest average pHmin values (4.57), thus showing potential acid adaptation. This work contributes to gain knowledge of the inter-strain variability of L. monocytogenes in relation with pH and Aw cardinal values, as well as provide a starting point for future validation studies in fish and meat food matrices.

Temperature status of domestic refrigerators and its effect on the risk of listeriosis from ready-to-eat (RTE) cooked meat products

Inadequate domestic refrigeration is frequently cited as a factor that contributes to foodborne poisoning and infection, and consumer behaviour in this regard can vary largely. This study provides insight into the temperature profiles of domestic refrigerators in the Netherlands and the impact on the number of listeriosis cases related to ready-to-eat (RTE) cooked meat products. A survey was conducted among Dutch consumers (n = 1020) to assess their knowledge and behaviour related to refrigerators. Out of these participants, 534 measured their refrigerator's temperature, revealing an average temperature of 5.7 °C (standard deviation (SD) of 2.2 °C) with a maximum of 17 °C. Elderly people (65 years and older) had refrigerators with temperatures that were on average 0.6 °C higher than those of younger people (35 years or younger). The 24-hour temperature profiles of an additional set of actively surveyed refrigerators (n = 50) showed that the temperature measured on the upper shelf was significantly higher (mean 7.7 °C, SD 2.7 °C) than the temperature measured on the bottom shelf (5.7 °C, SD 2.1 °C). Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment (QMRA) predicted that the primary factors contributing to the risk of listeriosis were the initial concentration and the time and temperature during household storage. Scenario analysis revealed that storing opened RTE cooked meat products at home for either <7 days or at temperatures <7 °C resulted in a significant reduction of over 80 % in predicted illness cases. Among all illness cases, the elderly represented nearly 90 %. When assessing the impact of the disease in terms of Years of Life Lost (YLL), the contribution of the elderly was 59 %. Targeted communication, particularly directed towards the elderly, on the importance of storing RTE cooked meat products at the recommended temperature on the bottom or middle shelf as well as consuming within two to three days after opening, holds the potential to significantly reduce the number of cases.

Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) delicatessen foods: Prevalence, genomic characterization of isolates and growth potential

This study investigated Listeria monocytogenes prevalence and count in 132 ready-to-eat (RTE) delicatessen samples belonging to different categories (starters with/without mayonnaise pasta/rice-based courses, meat/fish-based main courses) produced by an Italian industry. Whole Genome Sequencing characterized the isolates to map the pathogen circulation. Moreover, the growth potential of L. monocytogenes in the most contaminated product was investigated by a challenge test.L. monocytogenes was detected in 23 samples, giving an estimated prevalence of 17.4 %. Starters with mayonnaise showed a very high prevalence (56.7 %), showing the role of the sauce in the diffusion of the pathogen within the plant. A total of 49 isolates were obtained; they belonged to two different serogroups, IIb and IIa, and were related to two clonal complexes (CCs) and sequence types (STs) (CC288-ST330 and CC121-ST717), suggesting the possible persistence and circulation of the pathogen within the plant.The results of the challenge test showed a limited ability to grow in the selected product thanks to the presence of lactic microflora.

Pilot Scale Assessment of High-Pressure Processing (HPP) to Enhance Microbiological Quality and Shelf Life of Fresh Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Blue Crab Meat.

Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is a highly valuable wild fishery species of crab native to the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The annual commercial production of live blue crabs is approximately 50,000 metric tons with a dockside value of USD 200 million. Presently the US blue crab processing industry sells crab meat in three basic forms: fresh crab meat, pasteurized crab meat, and frozen crab meat. By far "Fresh" is the most desirable form of crab meat. However, fresh crab meat has a limited shelf life. This study evaluated the effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) on enhancing the microbiological quality and shelf life of blue crab meat. Live blue crabs were pressure-cooked in a retort (≥115 °C for 4-6 min). The crab meat was handpicked, packed in plastic containers with seals, subjected to HPP treatment, and stored at 4 °C. Container integrity and water leakage issues were examined by observation in addition to weight comparison before and after HPP treatment; the shelf life of crab meat with and without HPP treatments was examined via microbiological tests and sensory evaluations. Results show that polypropylene containers sealed with 10K OTR (oxygen transmission rate) film could withstand high pressure without water leakage issues; HPP treatment at 600 MPa for 3 min could extend the shelf life of fresh, cooked, and handpicked crab meat from 6 days to 18 days based on the strictest APC (aerobic plate account) limit (APC ≤ 100,000 CFU/g). The sensory quality of the HPP-treated crab meat was well accepted throughout the 3-week storage period. The results support the use of HPP as an effective non-thermal processing technology to enhance the microbiological quality and extend the shelf life of fresh RTE blue crab meat.

Satiating Capacity of Plant-Based Meat in Realistic Meal Contexts at Home.

Plant-based meat substitutes replacing animal meat can potentially support the transition towards more sustainable diets. To enable the required transition, consumer acceptance of plant-based meat is essential. An important aspect of this is the feeling of satiety or being full after eating. This study determined the satiating capacity of both plant-based meat and animal meat in 60 adults under real-life in-home conditions. Participants consumed four fixed ready-to eat meals for lunch at home once per week. Two types of Indian curry with 'chicken' were investigated as well as two types of pasta Bolognese with 'minced meat'. The two 'chicken' dishes and the two 'minced meat' dishes had the same recipe except for a gram-for-gram swap (125 g each) of either animal meat (chicken breast and minced meat) or plant-based (soy) meat. Results showed no difference in the satiating power of an animal meat dish and a plant-based meat dish when these were eaten as part of a full lunch meal at home. In addition, the meals did not result in energy nor macronutrient compensation during the rest of the day after consuming the meals. This occurred despite the caloric differences of the meals as a result of the real-life conditions (i.e., a lower energy content of the pasta with plant-based meat compared to the other meals). We conclude that meals with plant-based meat can be as satiating as meals with animal meat.

Prevalence and growth potential of Listeria monocytogenes in innovative, pre-packed, plant-based ready-to-eat food products on the Belgian market

In recent years, pre-packed ready-to-eat (RTE) food products on the Belgian market have shifted to a more plant-based composition due to a variety of reasons, including consumer concerns about health, animal welfare, and sustainability. However, similar to animal-based RTE foods, plant-based RTE foods can be susceptible to the presence and outgrowth of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). Three innovative, pre-packed, plant-based RTE food product categories on the Belgian market were identified based upon data gaps regarding the prevalence and growth potential of this pathogen. These were vegetarian and vegan deli sandwich slices (category 1), fresh-cut (mixes of) leafy vegetables (category 2), and multi-ingredient salad bowls (category 3). Reports on associated listeriosis outbreaks and recalls were collected and a comprehensive literature review on the prevalence of L. monocytogenes (i.e. detection in 25 g food) was performed. In addition, the prevalence of L. monocytogenes was also determined through an exploratory retail survey of ca. 50 different RTE products of each category. A batch was considered positive if L. monocytogenes was detected in a food item, either on the day of purchase, at the end of shelf life, or both. During the retail survey, L. monocytogenes was not detected in category 2 (0 out of 51 batches), while 1 out of 51 and 6 out of 48 batches were found positive for respectively category 1 and 3. The observed L. monocytogenes concentration did not exceed 10 CFU/g at any point in time in any batch. Furthermore, challenge tests were performed to determine the growth potential of L. monocytogenes in nine pre-packed, plant-based RTE food products (two to four different products of each category, and three different batches per product). After inoculation, products were stored for half of their shelf life at 7 °C and half of their shelf life at 9 °C (simulation of resp. retail and consumer storage). In six of the nine challenge tests executed, growth of L. monocytogenes was supported (i.e. growth potential ≥0.50 log10 CFU/g during shelf life). The highest growth potential was observed for fresh-cut iceberg lettuce (3.60 log10 CFU/g in 9 days), but a large variation regarding the growth potential of L. monocytogenes was noted both between and within the three studied pre-packed, plant-based RTE food product categories. This variation was mainly caused by differences in product composition, physicochemical product characteristics, present (competitive) microbiota such as lactic acid bacteria, applied preservation techniques, and shelf life.

Incorporation of garlic (Allium sativum) essential oil into cellulose acetate films: effect on the preservation of sliced cooked ham

AbstractGarlic essential oil (GEO) has been recognized as a natural antimicrobial agent with a broad spectrum of action that can be associated with polymeric sustainable matrices to provide active packaging capable of improving the preservation of ready‐to‐eat meat products. In this sense, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of cellulose acetate (CA) films incorporated with GEO on the growth of spoilage microbial groups (psychrotrophic (PSY) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB)) and physicochemical characteristics (pH, acidity index, color and index of thiobarbituric acid) of vacuum‐packed cooked sliced ham. Four treatments were evaluated (no film, CA‐film without GEO, CA‐film with 1.5% of GEO and CA‐film with 3% of GEO, applied as interfold packaging) over time (12 days). There was a significant reduction (ca 2.0 log cycle) in PSY and LAB growth when the active films were applied between the ham slices. Also, the lag phase of PSY was extended from around 2 to 6 days, which might positively impact the product's shelf life. However, the active films showed no significant effect on the food physicochemical characteristics. Therefore, the active CA‐films incorporated with small amounts of GEO could be an interesting alternative to reduce the impact of microbial spoilage on sliced cooked ham. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry.

Oxidative Status of Ultra-Processed Foods in the Western Diet

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have gained substantial attention in the scientific community due to their surging consumption and potential health repercussions. In addition to their well-established poor nutritional profile, UPFs have been implicated in containing various dietary oxidized sterols (DOxSs). These DOxSs are associated with a spectrum of chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic conditions, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we present a comprehensive database documenting the presence of DOxSs and other dietary metabolites in &gt;60 UPFs commonly consumed as part of the Western diet. Significant differences were found in DOxS and phytosterol content between ready-to-eat (RTE) and fast foods (FFs). Biomarker analysis revealed that DOxS accumulation, particularly 25-OH and triol, can potentially discriminate between RTEs and FFs. This work underscores the potential utility of dietary biomarkers in early disease detection and prevention. However, an essential next step is conducting exposure assessments to better comprehend the levels of DOxS exposure and their association with chronic diseases.

Ready-to-Eat Foods: A Potential Vehicle for the Spread of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci and Antimicrobial-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Buea Municipality, South West Cameroon.

The consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods contaminated with coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) and especially Staphylococcus aureus puts consumers at a potential risk of food-borne disease or colonization and subsequent infection. This cross-sectional study determined the levels of CoPS and the presence of S. aureus in RTE foods sold in Buea municipality. A total of 420 RTE food samples, comprising 70 each of cake, bread, fruit salad, meat hot-pot, suya, and boiled rice were randomly purchased from February to August 2020. The CoPS counts were determined by culturing on Baird-Parker agar, and S. aureus was identified by amplification of the nuc gene using the polymerase chain reaction. All S. aureus isolates were screened for the presence of classical staphylococcal enterotoxin genes. To determine antimicrobial resistance profiles, each isolate was tested against 11 antimicrobials. Oxacillin-resistant S. aureus strains were analyzed for the presence of the mecA gene. Overall, 161 (38.3%) samples had detectable levels of CoPS ranging from 2.0 to 5.81 log10 CFU/g. Based on CoPS levels, 37 (8.81%) of the 420 RTE food samples-only fruit salad and meat hot-pot, had unsatisfactory microbiological quality. A total of 72 S. aureus isolates, comprising 52.78% from fruit salad, 16.67% from meat hot-pot, 12.5% from boiled rice, 9.72% from suya, 5.56% from bread, and 4.17% from cake, were recovered. None of the S. aureus isolates possessed any of the classical enterotoxin genes. All the isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and ofloxacin, while 68 (94.44%) and 66 (91.67%) were susceptible to oxacillin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Resistance to penicillin (93.06%) was highest, followed by amoxicillin (91.67%) and erythromycin (79.17%). Four isolates were identified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus, all of which carried the mecA gene. A total of 24 antibiotypes were identified. Our findings showed that RTE foods sold in the Buea municipality are likely vehicles for the transmission of CoPS and antimicrobial-resistant S. aureus.

Antimicrobial resistance of E. coli strains in ready-to-eat red meat products in Nakuru County, Kenya

The demand for Ready-To-Eat (RTE) meat products is rising especially to the busy urban dwellers. Handling, processing, and selling methods of RTE contaminate them with pathogens. However, there is lack of evidence of the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of the pathogens. In this study, 105 RTE meat products were sampled across Nakuru County and assessed for Escherichia coli load, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and presence of AMR genes. All the sampled meat products were contaminated with coliforms and E. coli but levels differed significantly (p < 0.05) with location of sample collection and type of RTE. Antimicrobial susceptibility test results of 30 E. coli isolates indicated high prevalence of the isolates’ resistance to co-trimoxazole, tetracycline, streptomycin, and ampicillin at 80%, 73%, 67%, and 67%, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was highest towards ciprofloxacin and amikacin at 100% and 80%, respectively. All the 30 E. coli isolates showed 14 different AMR patterns, where each isolate was resistant to at least 2 antibiotics; a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of greater than 0.2. Meat samples collected from one sampling location, Salgaa had the highest number of multi-drug resistant E. coli isolates (88.9%). Molecular identification of AMR genes in four MAR isolates showed that tetA (for tetracycline resistance) and sul1 (for co-trimoxazole resistance) genes were present in all (100.0%) the isolates, while blaTEM (for ampicillin resistance) and strA (for streptomycin) genes were both present in two isolates. The four isolates were not E. coli O157 as confirmed by PCR for the O157 lipopolysaccharide O-antigen synthesis gene rfbE-O157. This study demonstrated the presence of MAR E. coli in RTE red meat products sold in Nakuru County, which is a human and animal public health concern, hence a need to urgently regulate and monitor the use of antimicrobials in animals.

Detection of Listeria Species by Conventional Culture-Dependent and Alternative Rapid Detection Methods in Retail Ready-to-Eat Foods in Turkey.

Foodborne pathogens, like Listeria monocytogenes, continue to inflict substantial financial losses on the food industry. Various methods for detecting Listeria in food have been developed and numerous studies have been conducted to compare the different methods. But, in recent years, new Listeria species have been identified, and currently the genus comprises 26 species. Therefore, it would be a more accurate approach to re-evaluate existing detection methods by considering new species. The present investigation involved the analysis of 42 ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, encompassing a variety of food categories, such as mezes, salads, dairy products, and meat products, with the aim of ascertaining the presence of Listeria. Among the traditional culture-dependent reference methods, the ISO 11290 method was preferred. The process of strain identification was conducted with the API Identification System. Furthermore, to ascertain the existence of L. monocytogenes and Listeria spp., the samples underwent additional analysis employing the VIDAS Immunoassay System, ELISA, and RT-PCR methodologies. Thus, four alternative approaches were employed in this study to compare not only the different methods used to determine Listeria while taking into account the newly identified Listeria species, but also to assess the compliance of retail RTE food items with microbiological criteria pertaining to the genus Listeria. Based on the conducted analyses, L. monocytogenes was conclusively determined to be present in one sample. The presence of Listeria spp. was detected in 30.9% of the samples, specifically in Turkish cig kofte, sliced salami, and salads.

Partial substitution of NaCl with alternative salts (KCl, CaCl2, and yeast extract) in smoked green mussel product

The excessive consumption of sodium (Na) is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as high coronary heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. The substitution of Na in processed and ready-to-eat (RTE) foods is one of the main strategies for reducing sodium intake. This study investigated the effects of substitution of sodium chloride (NaCl) with alternative substances, such as potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and yeast extract, on the quality characteristics of smoked green mussels (SGM) and their quality during storage at 4 ± 1°C for 16 days. The smoking yield, color, water activity, pH, and texture profile of the SGM were negligibly changed following substitution of NaCl with the alternative chloride salts. However, substitution of NaCl with KCl and CaCl2 in the SGMs worsened sensory acceptance, especially at the high concentrations used. The highest sensory acceptance and satisfactory Na levels were remarkable in the yeast extract substitution associated with the taste profile using the E-tongue. The microbial loads and quality of the SGM flavored with yeast extract (SGM-Y) complied with the Thailand community product standard. In addition, SGM-Y was nutritionally rich in both macro- and micro-nutrients including essential amino acids. Therefore, SGM-Y could be a potential formulation to develop an alternative RTE food product showing health benefits for consumers.

ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN READY-TO-EAT (RTE) VEGETABLES SALADS SOLD WITHIN KANO METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Ready-to-eat (RTE) salads prepared from leafy vegetables sold in the streets are now common in Kano metropolis due to their convenience and acceptance by consumers. Due to the unhygienic environmental conditions and other condiments used in its preparation, vegetable salad could be contaminated with heavy metals. This study aimed to determine heavy metals safety of RTE salads hawked in Kano metropolis, Kano state, Nigeria. Forty samples of RTE salads were purposely purchase from eight local government areas of Kano metropolis and were analyzed for the presence of Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results of the analysis showed the concentration of Hg (3.208 - 1.220 mg/kg), Cr (0.756 - 0.212 mg/kg), Pb (0.392 - 0.036 mg/kg) and Cd (0.056 - 0.044). It was therefore concluded that vegetable salad sold in Kano metropolis are prone to public health concerns since the levels of Hg, Cr and Pb were found to be above the permissible limits of 0.01, 0.1 and 0.1 (for leafy vegetables) ratified by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Thus, prevention of heavy metals contamination in vegetables salads is necessary, this will help in prevention of acute and chronic health problems due to exposure to heavy metals from consuming street vended RTE vegetables salads in this region.

Occurrence of Virulent and Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Selected Ready-To-Eat Foods in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria

Aims: Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus or its heat-stable toxins have been implicated in food-borne illnesses lately and are now a public health concern. This study is aimed at determining the microbial safety of RTE snacks (meat-pie, Egg-roll, Doughnut, Burns and Puff-puff) sold in Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State.&#x0D; Study Design: This work is based on a completely randomized design with two replications and the average values calculated for the mean comparison.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Imadavistic Laboratory, Osaks House, East-West Road Port Harcourt, Nigeria, between December 2021 and November, 2022.&#x0D; Methodology: A total of 100 samples of RTE food Snacks were randomly purchased and examined for proximate composition, microbial quality, and occurrence of antibiotic-resistant and virulent genes using standard conventional and molecular methods.&#x0D; Results: Puff-puff had the highest moisture, fiber and ash content while egg-roll had the highest crude fat, also meat-pie had the highest carbohydrate and protein content. Microbial counts ranged from 3.5×103 to 1.5×106cfu/g with 44 samples unsatisfactory and 39 at borderline by food regulatory standard. Presumptive S. aureus count ranged from 1.4×103 to 4.6×106 cfu/g, with 5 classified as potentially hazardous, 14 as unsatisfactory and 49 as borderline, 16 as satisfactory, and 16 with no detection. The 34 confirmed S. aureus showed varying resistance to cloxacillin 31(91.18%), cefuroxime 28 (82.35%), ceftazidime and erythromycin 25 (73.53%), gentamicin 18 (52.94%) and augmentin 13 (38.24%). Multi-drug resistance ranged from 3 to 5 antibiotic classes. Nine isolates produced the expected band of 250bp with SEA while 3 produced the band of 400bp with SEB.&#x0D; Conclusion: There is a correlation of statistically significant difference (p&lt;0.5) between the four types of RTE food and enterotoxin A, therefore confirming that RTE foods serve as a reservoir of antibiotic resistant and virulence gene bearing S. aureus.