Relationships between food and diseases: What to know to ensure food safety

A novel biosensor MDC@N-MMCNs to selective detection and elimination of foodborne bacterial pathogens

BACKGROUND

Infections caused by foodborne pathogens pose a major threat to human health. Traditional bacterial detection methods, such as plate culture and polymerase chain reaction, cannot meet the growing demand for fast and accurate detection. In contrast, colorimetric sensors have the characteristics of convenience, speed, and visualization, but their specific sensitivity is relatively poor. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a biosensor with selective identification of foodborne pathogens, high sensitivity, and early detection of foodborne pathogen contamination in food.

RESULTS

We have developed a broad-spectrum microbial detection biosensor platform MDC@N-MMCNs that combines antimicrobial peptides as identifying ingredients with mesoporous carbon with peroxidase-like activity to detect and eliminate foodborne pathogens rapidly. In this study, nitrogen-doped magnetic mesoporous carbon nanospheres (N-MMCNs) were prepared using ferric nitrate as the magnetic source. Musca domestica cecropin (MDC) has abundant recognition sites on the surface of bacteria, which helps to recognize and amplify the signal, and combines with N-MMCNs to form MDC@N-MMCNs. MDC@N-MMCNs have high stability, specificity, and sensitivity, with a visual detection limit as low as 102 CFU/mL. The MDC@N-MMCNs paper-based sensor enables selective and rapid detection of four foodborne pathogens via a smartphone application.

SIGNIFICANCE

Based on these findings, we believe that MDC@N-MMCNs hold great potential for on-site bacterial infection diagnosis in resource-limited environments or point-of-care (POCT) settings, offering a simple, cost-effective solution for food safety and public health.

Rapid and accurate identification of foodborne bacteria: a combined approach using confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy and explainable machine learning

This study proposes a rapid identification method for foodborne pathogens by combining Raman spectroscopy with explainable machine learning. Spectral data of nine common foodborne pathogens are collected using a laser confocal Raman spectrometer, and their characteristic Raman peaks are identified and analyzed. Key spectral features are extracted using competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and the successive projections algorithm (SPA), while t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) is employed for visualization. Subsequently, classification models, including support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF), are developed, and the optimal model is selected based on classification accuracy (ACC), with the RF model achieving a test accuracy of 98.91%. To enhance the interpretability of the model, Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis is applied to evaluate the contribution of each spectral feature to the classification results, identifying critical Raman shifts significantly influencing pathogen classification. The results demonstrate that CARS-SPA feature selection not only improves the accuracy and efficiency of the classification model but also enhances its transparency and reliability. This study optimizes the workflow for food safety testing, reduces the risk of foodborne diseases, and provides robust technical support for public health and safety.

Network toxicological analysis of sodium dehydroacetate in food safety

Sodium dehydroacetate (Na-DHA), a synthetic preservative under tightened regulations, was evaluated for multi-organ toxicity using network toxicology. ADMETlab3.0 predicted genotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and carcinogenicity risks. Target mining identified 13 cancer-related, 11 liver injury-related, and 8 genotoxicity-related core genes, with shared hubs (ALOX5, PTGS2, SMAD3, TNF) across pathologies. Functional analyses revealed inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysregulation as central mechanisms. KEGG pathway analysis linked cancer/liver injury to AGE-RAGE signaling (TNF, NOX4) and genotoxicity to efferocytosis impairment (PTGS2, ALOX5), suggesting DNA repair disruption. The integrated network demonstrated Na-DHA's pleiotropic effects through convergent pathways, transcending organ-specific toxicity. This systemic profile challenges conventional single-endpoint assessments, advocating comprehensive multi-organ risk evaluation.

Overview of foodborne hazards associated with inflammation and metabolic health

Access to safe and nutritious food is key to ensuring health and well-being and is critical to meeting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. However, a synthesis of the associations between foodborne illness and malnutrition, such as metabolic health, remains a gap in the literature base. In this review, we summarized existing evidence on the impacts of biological and chemical hazards on nutrition-related health outcomes, specifically overweight and obesity, inflammation, metabolic disease, thyroid function, cancer development, and adverse birth outcomes, examining physiological mechanisms, epidemiological associations, and animal studies. Mechanisms between some foodborne hazards, such as H. pylori, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, e.g., gestational diabetes mellitus, or between nitrates and impaired thyroid function, are relatively well-studied. However, evidence on the effects of many other chemical hazards on metabolic and human health remains limited: for example, while arsenic exposure is associated with adverse birth outcomes, the limited availability of dose-response studies and other challenges limit ascertaining its causal role. Untangling these associations and physiological mechanisms is of high relevance for both high- as well as low- and middle-income countries. Emerging technologies and novel assessment techniques are needed to improve the detection and understanding of understudied and complex foodborne diseases, particularly those arising from chemical hazards. These evidence gaps are highlighted in this review, as well as the need for establishing surveillance systems for monitoring foodborne diseases and metabolic health outcomes across populations.

Development of pH and enzyme dual responsive chitosan/polyaspartic acid nanoparticle-embedded nanofibers for fruit preservation

This study focuses on the development and application of tea polyphenol-loaded chitosan/polyaspartic acid nanoparticles (TP@CS/PASP-Nps) embedded within polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers to extend the shelf life of fruit. The nanofibers were fabricated using electrospinning, which enhanced the stability and uniform dispersion of the nanoparticles. Experimental results demonstrated that the TP@CS/PASP nanoparticles exhibit significant pH and protease-responsive release of TP, with a cumulative release of 56.22 % at pH 5.0 after 120 h, compared to 26.70 % at pH 7.0. In the presence of 1 mg/mL protease, the release of TP increased by 25.31 %. Furthermore, the nanofibers displayed excellent antimicrobial properties, inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Botrytis cinerea, and exhibited antioxidant activity with a DPPH scavenging rate of 43.1 % at 10 mg/mL. When applied to strawberries, the nanofibers significantly prolonged shelf life, maintaining a 0 % mold growth rate over six days compared to 100 % in the control group. This innovative packaging system presents a promising solution for the intelligent control of active substance release, offering valuable insights into the application of stimulus-responsive nanoparticles in food preservation.

The pasture system improves natural antioxidants and functional lipids while reducing lipid peroxidation in Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp) burgers during storage

C. idella burgers made from a pasture-based system provide a natural method for producing high-quality fish products, resulting in meat enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, as well as fat-soluble vitamins and antioxidants. In this study, C. idella meat burgers were made from two types of diets: pasture-based (PS) and grain-based (GS). A total of 36 burgers were stored in plastic trays (three burgers per tray; 12 trays per group), in a refrigeration chamber at 4 °C ± 0.1 °C for 120 h to conduct a shelf-life experiment comparing the meats. Initial fatty acid profile and nutritional composition were determined at 0 h. Additionally, fat-soluble vitamins, antioxidants, TBA, and FRAP were measured at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h. PS burgers exhibited higher concentrations of n-3 LC-PUFAs, vitamins, antioxidants, except for gamma-tocopherol, and FRAP than GS burgers (P < 0.05), while GS burgers had higher TBA and γ-tocopherol (P < 0.05). Both burgers experienced vitamin reduction during storage, with PS burgers maintaining higher concentrations. Vitamin decline correlated with increased oxidation (TBA) in both burger types. These results suggest that pasture-fed burgers have longer shelf life than GS burgers due to reduced oxidation and enhanced stability of bioactive compounds.

An Antibacterial and Antioxidant Food Packaging Film Based on Amphiphilic Polypeptides-Resveratrol-Chitosan

Antimicrobial and antioxidant packaging films play a crucial role in extending food shelf life, maintaining quality, and enhancing safety by inhibiting microbial growth and slowing oxidation processes. However, most commercial preservative films suffer from limited antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Moreover, these films are made from petroleum-based materials that degrade into microplastics, resulting in environmental contamination and potential health risks for humans. Herein, an antibacterial and antioxidant food packaging film (CS-SAP@R) is developed by integrating star-shaped amphiphilic polypeptides (SAP) and resveratrol (R) into the chitosan (CS) matrix. The incorporation of SAP not only effectively addresses the existing compatibility issues between the highly hydrophobic resveratrol and water-soluble CS film, but also significantly enhances the antimicrobial properties of CS. Additionally, the well-integrated resveratrol molecules endow the film with superior antioxidant properties. Furthermore, CS-SAP@R has achieved bacterial killing rates of 97.31% against E. coli and 99.05% against S. aureus. The enhanced characteristics of the CS-SAP@R film contribute to its exceptional preservation performance, effectively extending the shelf life of perishable products by ≈3 days when stored at 4 °C. These remarkable attributes underscore the benefits of polypeptide-based biopolymers and demonstrate the potential applicability of the CS-SAP@R film in effectively safeguarding perishable products.

Bacteriocin-Producing Staphylococci and Mammaliicocci Strains for Agro-Food and Public Health Applications with Relevance of Micrococcin P1

Antimicrobial-producing strains and their bacteriocins hold great promise for the control of bacterial diseases, being an attractive alternative to antibiotics. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of 15 bacteriocin-producing staphylococci and mammaliicocci (BP-S/M) strains and their pre-purified extracts with butanol (BT) against a collection of 27 harmful or zoonotic strains (including Gram-positive/-negative bacteria and molds) with relevance in the public health and agro-food fields. These indicators (excluding Gram-negative strains) were grouped into seven categories based on their potential application areas: dairy livestock mastitis, avian pathogen zoonoses, swine zoonoses, food safety, aquaculture, wine making, and mushroom cultivation. In addition, cross-immunity assays between the BP-S/M strains were carried out to identify potential strain combinations to enhance their activity against pathogens. Finally, the hemolytic and gelatinase activities were tested in the BP-S/M strains. A strong inhibitory capacity of the BP-S/M strains was verified against relevant Gram-positive indicators, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Clostridium perfringens, among others, while no activity was detected against Gram-negative ones. Interestingly, several BT extracts inhibited the two mold indicators included in this study as representants of mushroom pathogens. The Micrococcin P1 producer Staphylococcus hominis C5835 (>60% of indicators were intensively inhibited by all the methods) can be proposed as a potential candidate for the control of bacterial diseases in the aforementioned categories alone or in combination with other BP-S/M strains (mainly with Staphylococcus warneri X2969). In this regard, five potential combinations of BP-S/M strains that enhanced their activity against specific pathogens were detected.

Application of Convolutional Neural Networks and Recurrent Neural Networks in Food Safety

This review explores the application of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs) in food safety detection and risk prediction. This paper highlights the advantages of CNNs in image processing and feature recognition, as well as the powerful capabilities of RNNs (especially their variant LSTM) in time series data modeling. This paper also makes a comparative analysis in many aspects: Firstly, the advantages and disadvantages of traditional food safety detection and risk prediction methods are compared with deep learning technologies such as CNNs and RNNs. Secondly, the similarities and differences between CNNs and fully connected neural networks in processing image data are analyzed. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of RNNs and traditional statistical modeling methods in processing time series data are discussed. Finally, the application directions of CNNs in food safety detection and RNNs in food safety risk prediction are compared. This paper also discusses combining these deep learning models with technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and federated learning to improve the accuracy and efficiency of food safety detection and risk warning. Finally, this paper mentions the limitations of RNNs and CNNs in the field of food safety, as well as the challenges in the interpretability of the model, and suggests the use of interpretable artificial intelligence (XAI) technology to improve the transparency of the model.

Analysis of Food Safety Knowledge and Practices Among Food Handlers in Restaurants and Street Food Markets in Dhaka, Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study is aimed at analyzing food safety knowledge and practices among food handlers in restaurants and street food markets in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Inadequate food handling practices remain a major worldwide health problem and are one of the main causes of food-related diseases. In Bangladesh, where the restaurant business is expanding quickly, food safety must be upheld to stop foodborne illness outbreaks. A cross-sectional study involving 300 street food vendors and restaurant workers was conducted through in-person interviews using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed to analyze the data. The study revealed that while most workers understood basic hygiene practices, critical knowledge gaps persisted. Male workers demonstrated lower food safety knowledge than females (p ≤ 0.01), and higher knowledge scores were associated with both greater education (p ≤ 0.001) and experience (p ≤ 0.05). Workers in fast food establishments showed higher knowledge levels (p ≤ 0.001), and knowledge was more strongly linked to job responsibilities than to training (p ≤ 0.001). In terms of practices, women adhered more closely to food safety guidelines than men (p ≤ 0.05). Age, education, and experience had no significant effects on practice adherence, though fast-food workers exhibited higher compliance (p ≤ 0.05). Training and job responsibilities showed no significant effects on food safety practices. The results demonstrate that there are disparities in food handlers' understanding of food safety, with gaps primarily in the areas of cross-contamination avoidance, personal hygiene, and temperature control. Furthermore, observed practices suggest suboptimal adherence to advised food safety protocols.

Calcium alginate reinforced zwitterionic double network hydrogel with mechanical robustness and antimicrobial activity for freshwater shrimp spoilage detection

Hydrogel indicators promise to monitor food spoilage, but their poor mechanics can cause defects in transport. Herein, a novel zwitterionic double network (DN) hydrogel was developed by polymerizing arylamide and sulfobetaine methacrylate in an alginate-Ca2+ system. This hydrogel exhibited enhanced mechanical properties, including a maximum 2087 % breaking elongation and 135 ± 12 kJ/m3 toughness, significantly outperforming the current zwitterionic DN hydrogels, which typically exhibit less than 1800 % breaking elongation, capable of supporting 150 g-136 times its own weight. Importantly, it also demonstrated excellent anti-fatigue and tear resistance, with a tearing energy of 2200 ± 180 J/m2. The abundant zwitterionic polymers, hydroxyl groups, and amino groups within hydrogel contribute to its strong adhesiveness to various substrates. Additionally, the hydrogel exhibited antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Furthermore, a pH/NH3 dual-sensitive hydrogel indicator, using phenol red, bromocresol purple, and their mixtures in ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1, was developed for monitoring shrimp freshness. The results showed that the hydrogel indicator with phenol red, effective at 4 °C and 25 °C, showed clear color changes (ΔE > 80) in response to spoilage and strong correlations between ΔE and TVB-N (R2 > 0.98) and pH (R2 > 0.97), surpassing the existing hydrogel indicators used for shrimp freshness monitoring, which generally have a correlation coefficient of only 0.86. This novel dual-responsive hydrogel, with excellent mechanical performance and TVB-N sensitivity, is suitable for real-time freshness monitoring in intelligent packaging.

Utilization of AI - reshaping the future of food safety, agriculture and food security - a critical review

Artificial intelligence is an emerging technology which harbors a suite of mechanisms that have the potential to be leveraged for reaping value across multiple domains. Lately, there is an increased interest in embracing applications associated with Artificial Intelligence to positively contribute to food safety. These applications such as machine learning, computer vision, predictive analytics algorithms, sensor networks, robotic inspection systems, and supply chain optimization tools have been established to contribute to several domains of food safety such as early warning of outbreaks, risk prediction, detection and identification of food associated pathogens. Simultaneously, the ambition toward establishing a sustainable food system has motivated the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to strengthen food security. Given the myriad challenges confronting stakeholders in their endeavors to safeguard food security, Artificial Intelligence emerges as a promising tool capable of crafting holistic management strategies for food security. This entails maximizing crop yields, mitigating losses, and trimming operational expenses. AI models present notable benefits in efficiency, precision, uniformity, automation, pattern identification, accessibility, and scalability for food security endeavors. The escalation in the global trend for adopting alternative protein sources such as edible insects and microalgae as a sustainable food source reflects a growing recognition of the need for sustainable and resilient food systems to address the challenges of population growth, environmental degradation, and food insecurity. Artificial Intelligence offers a range of capabilities to enhance food safety in the production and consumption of alternative proteins like microalgae and edible insects, contributing to a sustainable and secure food system.

Chitosan-gelatin composite hydrogel antibacterial film for food packaging

Antibacterial hydrogel film can serve as food packaging materials to prevent bacteria growth and spread, thereby extending shelf life and improve food safety. In this study, an efficient antibacterial hydrogel film (CLG) was prepared with chitosan, lysine, and gelatin. The light transmission of the CLG hydrogel film was over 80 % in the visible region, facilitating the observation of chicken breast storage conditions. Additionally, the swelling ratios of the hydrogel films decreased with increasing gelatin concentration, from 145.7 g/g (CLG1) to 92.6 g/g (CLG2) and 81.5 g/g (CLG3). This reduction was attributed to the denser network structure formed by the interaction between gelatin and the CL polymer. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that the water-absorbed CLG hydrogel had a unique sponge shape. Moreover, the CLG hydrogel film exhibits high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In a practical storage experiment, the CLG hydrogel film extended the shelf life of chicken breast by up to 4 days compared to untreated samples, while effectively reducing total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) levels. This hydrogel film is expected to become a promising food packaging material.

Role of the intestines on the muscle quality of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) during chilled storage: Physicochemical and label-free-based peptidomics analyses

The effect of shrimp deveining on the quality of Pacific white shrimp muscle was investigated by analyzing the protein degradation during chilled storage via physicochemical and label-free peptidomics analyses. In this study, shrimp with intact intestines were in the control group (CS), while deveined shrimp (DS) were in the treatment group. The total viability count (TVC), total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) content, and trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble peptide content in all of the shrimp groups gradually increased with prolonged chilled storage. However, in the later stages of chilled storage, the DS samples exhibited significantly lower TVB-N, total bacterial, and TCA-soluble peptide contents than the CS samples, indicating that deveining treatment effectively prolonged shrimp quality. The peptidomics analysis revealed varying degrees of protein hydrolysis in the DS and CS samples during chilled storage. A total of 396 differentially abundant peptides (DAPs) were identified in the DS compared with the CS, comprising 98 upregulated and 298 downregulated segments. This suggests that the removal of the intestine effectively inhibits protein hydrolysis. Gene ontology (GO) analysis suggested that the DAPs were mainly involved in catalytic activity, binding, and metabolic processes. The cluster of orthologous groups of protein (COG) analysis showed that the cytoskeleton dynamics of the muscle proteins underwent considerable alterations influenced by the shrimp's intestines during chilled storage.

Efficient metabolic pathway modification in various strains of lactic acid bacteria using CRISPR/Cas9 system for elevated synthesis of antimicrobial compounds

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known to exhibit various beneficial roles in fermentation, serving as probiotics, and producing a plethora of valuable compounds including antimicrobial activity such as bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) that can be used as biopreservative to improve food safety and quality. However, the yield of BLIS is often limited, which poses a challenge to be commercially competitive with the current preservation practice. Therefore, the present work aimed to establish an optimised two-plasmid CRISPR/Cas9 system to redirect the carbon flux away from lactate towards compounds with antimicrobial activity by disrupting lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldh) on various strains of LAB. The lactic acid-deficient (ldhΔ) strains caused a metabolic shift resulting in increased inhibitory activity against selected foodborne pathogens up to 78 % than the wild-type (WT) strain. The most significant effect was depicted by Enterococcus faecalis-ldh∆ which displayed prominent bactericidal effects against all foodborne pathogens as compared to the WT that showed no antimicrobial activity. The present work provided a framework model for economically important LAB and other beneficial bacteria to synthesise and increase the yield of valuable food and industrial compounds. The present work reported for the first time that the metabolism of selected LAB can be manipulated by modifying ldh to attain metabolites with higher antimicrobial activity.

Human Exposure through the Diet to Arsenic and Other Toxic Elements: A Literature Review of Scientific Studies Conducted in Catalonia, Spain, in the Current Century

Human exposure to arsenic and other toxic elements such as cadmium, lead and mercury may lead to a wide range of adverse health effects. In relation to this, it is well established that the diet is the main route of exposure to both essential and toxic trace elements. In recent years, the levels of toxic elements in foodstuffs have been measured in numerous studies conducted all over the world. Scientific databases show that, in the current century, China and Spain have been the countries where the most surveys on this topic have been carried out. Regarding Spain, Catalonia is the region where most studies aimed at determining the concentrations of trace elements in food have been performed. The objective of this paper was to review the studies carried out in Catalonia on the concentrations of As and toxic metals (including Cd, Hg and Pb) in food, as well as their estimated dietary intakes (EDIs). The results of total diet studies (TDSs) and duplicate diet (DD) studies have been included. For most toxic elements, a continued reduction in the EDI has been observed. This reduction is associated with a decrease in their concentrations in food, and with certain changes in dietary habits. Fish and seafood is the food group showing the highest content of toxic elements. However, none of the adult groups exceeded-in general-the safety thresholds for As, Cd, Hg and Pb established by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).

Recent Advances in the CRISPR/Cas-Based Nucleic Acid Biosensor for Food Analysis: A Review

Food safety is a major public health issue of global concern. In recent years, the CRISPR/Cas system has shown promise in the field of molecular detection. The system has been coupled with various nucleic acid amplification methods and combined with different signal output systems to develop a new generation of CRISPR/Cas-based nucleic acid biosensor technology. This review describes the design concept of the CRISPR/Cas-based nucleic acid biosensor and its application in food analysis. A detailed overview of different CRISPR/Cas systems, signal amplification methods, and signal output strategies is provided. CRISPR/Cas-based nucleic acid biosensors have the advantages of high sensitivity, strong specificity, and timeliness, achieving fast analysis of a variety of targets, including bacteria, toxins, metal ions, pesticides, veterinary drugs, and adulteration, promoting the development of rapid food safety detection technology. At the end, we also provide our outlook for the future development of CRISPR/Cas-based nucleic acid biosensors.

One Health and Oral Health: A Scoping Review to Inform Research and Present Challenges

BACKGROUND

"One health" is an integrated, unifying approach that recognizes the interconnectedness between the health of people, animals, and the environment. Oral diseases are the most common diseases to affect humankind, and it is increasingly acknowledged that key determinants of oral heath are social and environmental. However, there is a dearth of information on the relationship between oral health and one health.

AIMS

A scoping review was conducted to examine how animal and environmental health affects human oral health and vice versa, to examine the interest in the field overtime, and to provide a synthesis of the literature concerning one health in the oral health context to date.

METHODS

A broad standardized search strategy was employed across 5 electronic databases. Screening of publications with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria followed PRISMA-ScR (the Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 345 articles; 163 remained after removal of duplicates. Nineteen articles were identified as "potentially effective studies," and after consideration of the full text, 13 articles were identified as "effective studies" to inform this review. Most studies were published since 2020 (60.5%, 8/13), and there were reports from 5 of the 6 World Health Organization regions (except the Eastern Mediterranean region). Most studies were observation in nature and mostly of cross-sectional study design (84.7%, 11/13 studies). More than half of the studies (53.8%, 7/13) were concerned with how environmental factors such as chemical exposures affect human oral health. Studies involving animals (46.2%, 6/13) highlighted the risk of zoonotic infections from horses and livestock to humans.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a recent and growing interest in "one health" in the oral health context. Qualitative synthesis of data highlighted the interconnectedness between the health of animals and environment with human health with implications for consideration and action by dentistry.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

The results of this scoping review address the importance of dentistry in the "one health" concept. This scoping review will allow other researchers to be aware of and fill literature gaps with respect to the impact of animal health and environment on oral health and contribute to future research.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of tert-butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole and propyl gallate as synthetic food antioxidants

Synthetic food antioxidants such as tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and propyl gallate (PG) have been extensively utilized in different food industries because of their high protectant activities to stop food spoilage and remove foodborne diseases in humans and animals. It would be emphasized that increasing the intake of antioxidants through intracellular may lead to cyto/genotoxicity, and their complex formation with biological molecules eventually accelerate the progress of various diseases like multiple sclerosis, diabetes, neurological disorders, cardiac vascular disease, cancer, etc. Therefore, their toxicity is one of the challenging subjects due to their extensive use in food-related industries. TBHQ, BHA, and PG antioxidants have cytotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic effects if absorbed in high doses through the gastrointestinal tract. Thermodynamic parameters presented that the hydrophobic bind plays a key role in the complexation of the TBHQ, BHA, and PG with albumin. The molecular modeling results showed that subdomain IIA plays a vital role in the interaction of TBHQ and BHA with albumin. To comprehend the mechanisms of the cyto/genotoxicity effects of these food antioxidants and conformational alterations of albumin macromolecule, we aim to overview numerous types of research that evaluated the cyto/genotoxicity effects of these antioxidants using several procedures.

Electrochemical microfluidic sensing platforms for biosecurity analysis

Biosecurity encompasses the health and safety of humans, animals, plants, and the environment. In this article, "biosecurity" is defined as encompassing the comprehensive aspects of human, animal, plant, and environmental safety. Reliable biosecurity testing technology is the key point for effectively assessing biosecurity risks and ensuring biosecurity. Therefore, it is crucial to develop excellent detection technologies to detect risk factors that can affect biosecurity. An electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platform integrates fluid control, target recognition, signal transduction, and output and incorporates the advantages of electrochemical analysis technology and microfluidic technology. Thus, an electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platform, characterized by exceptional analytical sensitivity, portability, rapid analysis speed, low reagent consumption, and low risk of contamination, shows considerable promise for biosecurity detection compared to traditional, more complex, and time-consuming detection technologies. This review provides a concise introduction to electrochemical microfluidic biosensors and biosecurity. It highlights recent research advances in utilizing electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platforms to assess biosecurity risk factors. It includes the use of electrochemical microfluidic biosensors for the detection of risk factors directly endangering biosecurity (direct application: namely, risk factors directly endangering the health of human, animals, and plants) and for the detection of risk factors indirectly endangering biosecurity (indirect application: namely, risk factors endangering the safety of food and the environment). Finally, we outline the current challenges and future perspectives of electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platforms.

The potential of orally exposed risk factors and constituents aggravating food allergy: Possible mechanism and target cells

Food allergy is a significant concern for the health of humans worldwide. In addition to dietary exposure of food allergens, genetic and environmental factors also play an important role in the development of food allergy. However, only the tip of the iceberg of risk factors in food allergy has been identified. The importance of food allergy caused by orally exposed risk factors and constituents, including veterinary drugs, pesticides, processed foods/derivatives, nanoparticles, microplastics, pathogens, toxins, food additives, dietary intake of salt/sugar/total fat, vitamin D, and therapeutic drugs, are highlighted and discussed in this review. Moreover, the epithelial barrier hypothesis, which is closely associated with the occurrence of food allergy, is also introduced. Additionally, several orally exposed risk factors and constituents that have been reported to disrupt the epithelial barrier are elucidated. Finally, the possible mechanisms and key immune cells of orally exposed risk factors and constituents in aggravating food allergy are overviewed. Further work should be conducted to define the specific mechanism by which these risk factors and constituents are driving food allergy, which will be of central importance to the targeted therapy of food allergy.

Occurrence, evaluation, and human health risk assessment of ochratoxin a in infant formula and cereal-based baby food: a global literature systematic review

This study reviews global levels of ochratoxin A (OTA) in infant formula and cereal-based foods, using Monte Carlo simulation to assess risks. The review found 24 studies on global OTA levels in infant food and cereal-based products, using databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase until March 2024. We estimated OTA exposure in infant food based on concentration, intake and body weight. The exposure and hazard quotient margin were calculated using BMDL10 and TDI values. Monte Carlo simulation evaluated human health risks from OTA in infant formula and cereal-based foods. A global study from 14 countries shows varying levels, surpassing EU limits in Tunisia, Ecuador, the USA, and generally in Africa, notably in infant cereals, which had higher levels than formula. Globally, OTA was present in 29.3% of the 3348 samples analyzed, with Lebanon at 95.2% and Brazil at 0%. Analysis indicates only non-carcinogenic risk for infants. While health risks for infants are mostly low, ongoing research and monitoring are vital to minimize OTA exposure in infant food.

Review: Impact of food safety on global trade

Food safety encompasses the supply and assurance of safe, high-quality food for consumers. It is a crucial aspect of food security, gaining greater global attention due to the increasing number of widespread foodborne incidents. International trade is expanding as countries increasingly rely on each other to secure a sufficient and diverse food supply. Beyond this, concerns about food safety have become more prevalent due to various factors. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the effects of food safety-associated risks on the international trade of food and related products. A total of 37 published studies retrieved using different search engines were included in this review. This review revealed that because of rapid population growth and rising food demand in developing nations, agricultural intensification is growing. It has been found that foodborne illnesses and associated discrepancies can impede the international trade of food commodities. Trade bans due to the fear of foodborne illnesses are growing. The consequences of foodborne diseases are multifaceted and include financial losses from trade restrictions, medical costs for prevention or control, resource depletion and a decline in food production. The overall effects are increased international trade tensions and livelihood vulnerability to poverty, notably for small-scale livestock producers. Potential food contaminants include microbes, pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, heavy metals and fraudulent such as improper food processing, mislabelling, poor packaging, adulteration and substitution. Hence, countries are encouraged to harmonize the rights and duties set by the World Trade Organization under sanitary and phytosanitarys to maximize their advantages in global markets. Based on this evidence, we recommend that each country develop and integrate regulations that would ensure the safety of both domestic and international food production systems. Furthermore, the global community should either revise the current functioning food regulatory and monitoring body or establish a more genuine collaborative network.

Transplanting network pharmacology technology into food science research: A comprehensive review on uncovering food-sourced functional factors and their health benefits

Network pharmacology is an emerging interdisciplinary research method. The application of network pharmacology to reveal the nutritional effects and mechanisms of active ingredients in food is of great significance in promoting the development of functional food, facilitating personalized nutrition, and exploring the mechanisms of food health effects. This article systematically reviews the application of network pharmacology in the field of food science using a literature review method. The application progress of network pharmacology in food science is discussed, and the mechanisms of functional factors in food on the basis of network pharmacology are explored. Additionally, the limitations and challenges of network pharmacology are discussed, and future directions and application prospects are proposed. Network pharmacology serves as an important tool to reveal the mechanisms of action and health benefits of functional factors in food. It helps to conduct in-depth research on the biological activities of individual ingredients, composite foods, and compounds in food, and assessment of the potential health effects of food components. Moreover, it can help to control and enhance their functionality through relevant information during the production and processing of samples to guarantee food safety. The application of network pharmacology in exploring the mechanisms of functional factors in food is further analyzed and summarized. Combining machine learning, artificial intelligence, clinical experiments, and in vitro validation, the achievement transformation of functional factor in food driven by network pharmacology is of great significance for the future development of network pharmacology research.

A Health Threat from Farm to Fork: Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Co-Harboring blaNDM-1 and mcr-1 in Various Sources of the Food Supply Chain

The dissemination of resistant pathogens through food supply chains poses a significant public health risk, spanning from farm to fork. This study analyzed the distribution of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) across various sources within the animal-based food supply chain. A total of 500 samples were collected from livestock, poultry, the environment, fisheries, and dairy. Standard microbiological procedures were employed to isolate and identify E. coli isolates, which were further confirmed using MALDI-TOF and virulence-associated genes (VAGs) such as stx1, stx2, ompT, hylF, iutA, fimH, and iss. The phenotypic resistance patterns of the isolates were determined using the disc diffusion method, followed by molecular identification of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through PCR. STEC were subjected to PCR-based O typing using specific primers for different O types. Overall, 154 (30.5%) samples were confirmed as E. coli, of which 77 (50%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli. Among these, 52 (67.53%) isolates exhibited an array of VAGs, and 21 (40.38%) were confirmed as STEC based on the presence of stx1 and stx2. Additionally, 12 out of 52 (23.07%) isolates were identified as non-O157 STEC co-harbouring mcr-1 and blaNDM-1. O26 STEC was found to be the most prevalent among the non-O157 types. The results suggest that the detection of STEC in food supply chains may lead to serious health consequences, particularly in developing countries with limited healthcare resources.

A One Health framework for exploring zoonotic interactions demonstrated through a case study

The eco-epidemiology of zoonoses is often oversimplified to host-pathogen interactions while findings derived from global datasets are rarely directly transferable to smaller-scale contexts. Through a systematic literature search, we compiled a dataset of naturally occurring zoonotic interactions in Austria, spanning 1975-2022. We introduce the concept of zoonotic web to describe the complex relationships between zoonotic agents, their hosts, vectors, food, and environmental sources. The zoonotic web was explored through network analysis. After controlling for research effort, we demonstrate that, within the projected unipartite source-source network of zoonotic agent sharing, the most influential zoonotic sources are human, cattle, chicken, and some meat products. Analysis of the One Health 3-cliques (triangular sets of nodes representing human, animal, and environment) confirms the increased probability of zoonotic spillover at human-cattle and human-food interfaces. We characterise six communities of zoonotic agent sharing, which assembly patterns are likely driven by highly connected infectious agents in the zoonotic web, proximity to human, and anthropogenic activities. Additionally, we report a frequency of emerging zoonotic diseases in Austria of one every six years. Here, we present a flexible network-based approach that offers insights into zoonotic transmission chains, facilitating the development of locally-relevant One Health strategies against zoonoses.

The Application of Multi-Parameter Multi-Modal Technology Integrating Biological Sensors and Artificial Intelligence in the Rapid Detection of Food Contaminants

Against the backdrop of continuous socio-economic development, there is a growing concern among people about food quality and safety. Individuals are increasingly realizing the critical importance of healthy eating for bodily health; hence the continuous rise in demand for detecting food pollution. Simultaneously, the rapid expansion of global food trade has made people's pursuit of high-quality food more urgent. However, traditional methods of food analysis have certain limitations, mainly manifested in the high degree of reliance on personal subjective judgment for assessing food quality. In this context, the emergence of artificial intelligence and biosensors has provided new possibilities for the evaluation of food quality. This paper proposes a comprehensive approach that involves aggregating data relevant to food quality indices and developing corresponding evaluation models to highlight the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of artificial intelligence and biosensors in food quality evaluation. The potential prospects and challenges of this method in the field of food safety are comprehensively discussed, aiming to provide valuable references for future research and practice.

Ensuring food safety: Microfluidic-based approaches for the detection of food contaminants

Detecting foodborne contamination is a critical challenge in ensuring food safety and preventing human suffering and economic losses. Contaminated food, comprising biological agents (e.g. bacteria, viruses and fungi) and chemicals (e.g. toxins, allergens, antibiotics and heavy metals), poses significant risks to public health. Microfluidic technology has emerged as a transformative solution, revolutionizing the detection of contaminants with precise and efficient methodologies. By manipulating minute volumes of fluid on miniaturized systems, microfluidics enables the creation of portable chips for biosensing applications. Advancements from early glass and silicon devices to modern polymers and cellulose-based chips have significantly enhanced microfluidic technology, offering adaptability, flexibility, cost-effectiveness and biocompatibility. Microfluidic systems integrate seamlessly with various biosensing reactions, facilitating nucleic acid amplification, target analyte recognition and accurate signal readouts. As research progresses, microfluidic technology is poised to play a pivotal role in addressing evolving challenges in the detection of foodborne contaminants. In this short review, we delve into various manufacturing materials for state-of-the-art microfluidic devices, including inorganics, elastomers, thermoplastics and paper. Additionally, we examine several applications where microfluidic technology offers unique advantages in the detection of food contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, allergens and more. This review underscores the significant advancement of microfluidic technology and its pivotal role in advancing the detection and mitigation of foodborne contaminants.

Antimicrobial polysaccharide hydrogels embedded with methyl-β-cyclodextrin/thyme oil inclusion complexes for exceptional mechanical performance and chilled chicken breast preservation

While hydrogels have potential for food packaging, limited research on hydrogels with excellent mechanical performance and antibacterial activity for preserving chicken breasts. Herein, we created antibacterial hydrogels by embedding methyl-β-cyclodextrin/thyme oil inclusion complexes (MCD/TO-ICs) into a polyvinyl alcohol matrix containing dendrobium polysaccharides and guar gum in varying ratios using freeze-thaw cycling method. The resulting hydrogels exhibited a more compact structure than those without MCD/TO-ICs, enhancing thermal stability and increasing glass transition temperature due to additional intermolecular interactions between polymer chains that inhibited chain movement. XRD analysis showed no significant changes in crystalline phase, enabling formation of a 3D network through abundant hydrogen bonding. Moreover, the hydrogel demonstrated exceptional durability, with a toughness of 350 ± 25 kJ/m3 and adequate tearing resistance of 340 ± 30 J/m2, capable of lifting 3 kg weight, 1200 times greater than the hydrogel itself. Additionally, the hydrogels displayed excellent antimicrobial activity and antioxidant properties. Importantly, the hydrogels effectively maintained TVB-N levels and microbial counts within acceptable ranges, preserving sensory properties and extending the shelf life of chilled chicken breasts by four days. This study highlights the potential of MCD/TO-IC-incorporated polysaccharide hydrogels as safe and effective active packaging solutions for preserving chilled chicken in food industry.

Upconversion nanoparticles-modified aptasensors for highly sensitive mycotoxin detection for food quality and safety

Mycotoxins, highly toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi, pose significant health risks as they contaminate food and feed products globally. Current mycotoxin detection methods have limitations in real-time detection capabilities. Aptasensors, incorporating aptamers as specific recognition elements, are crucial for mycotoxin detection due to their remarkable sensitivity and selectivity in identifying target mycotoxins. The sensitivity of aptasensors can be improved by using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). UCNPs consist of lanthanide ions in ceramic host, and their ladder-like energy levels at f-orbitals have unique photophysical properties, including converting low-energy photons to high-energy emissions by a series of complex processes and offering sharp, low-noise, and sensitive near-infrared to visible detection strategy to enhance the efficacy of aptasensors for novel mycotoxin detection. This article aims to review recent reports on the scope of the potential of UCNPs in mycotoxin detection, focusing on their integration with aptasensors to give readers clear insight. We briefly describe the upconversion photoluminescence (UCPL) mechanism and relevant energy transfer processes influencing UCNP design and optimization. Furthermore, recent studies and advancements in UCNP-based aptasensors will be reviewed. We then discuss the potential impact of UCNP-modified aptasensors on food safety and present an outlook on future directions and challenges in this field. This review article comprehensively explains the current state-of-the-art UCNP-based aptasensors for mycotoxin detection. It provides insights into potential applications by addressing technical and practical challenges for practical implementation.

Ultra-sensitive and rapid detection of Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus to single-cell level by aptamer-functionalized carbon nanotube field-effect transistor biosensors

Foodborne diseases caused by Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) significantly impact public health, underscoring the imperative for highly sensitive, rapid, and accurate detection technologies to ensure food safety and prevent human diseases. Nanomaterials hold great promise in the development of high-sensitivity transistor biosensors. In this work, field-effect transistor (FET) comprising high-purity carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated and modified with corresponding nucleic acid aptamers for the high-affinity and selective capture of S. enterica and S. aureus. The aptamer-functionalized CNT-FET biosensor demonstrated ultra-sensitive and rapid detection of these foodborne pathogens. Experimental results indicated that the biosensor could detect S. enterica at a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 1 CFU in PBS buffer, and S. aureus at an LOD of 1.2 CFUs, achieving single-cell level detection accuracy with exceptional specificity. The biosensor exhibited a rapid response time, completing single detections within 200 s. Even in the presence of interference from six complex food matrices, the biosensor maintained its ultra-sensitive (3.1 CFUs) and rapid response (within 200 s) characteristics for both pathogens. The developed aptamer-functionalized CNT-FET biosensor demonstrates a capability for low-cost, ultra-sensitive, label-free, and rapid detection of low-abundance S. enterica and S. aureus in both buffer solutions and complex environments. This innovation holds significant potential for applying this detection technology to on-site rapid testing scenarios, offering a promising solution to the pressing need for efficient and reliable pathogen monitoring in various settings.

Preparation and properties of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan-based hydrogel with dual pH/NH3 sensor for naked-eye monitoring of seafood freshness

To address the issue of food spoilage causing health and economic loss, we developed a pH/NH3 dual sensitive hydrogel based on polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/CS) containing chitosan-phenol red (CP). The CP was synthesized via Mannich reaction and immobilized it in PVA/CS hydrogel through freezing/thawing method to prepare the final PVA/CS/CP hydrogel. The synthesis of CP was confirmed by 1H NMR, FT-IR, XRD, UV-vis, and XPS. The characteristics of hydrogel were evaluated by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, mechanical properties, thermal stability, leaching, and color stability tests. The PVA/CS/CP hydrogel showed distinctly different color at various pH and NH3 vapor levels (yellow to purple). The hydrogel exhibited obvious color changes (ΔE = 46.95) in response to shrimp spoilage, stored at 4 °C. It showed positive and strong correlation between the ΔE values of the indicator hydrogel and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) as (R2 = 0.9573) and with pH as (R2 = 0.8686), respectively. These results clearly show that the PVA/CS/CP hydrogel could be applied for naked-eye real-time monitoring of seafood freshness in intelligent packaging.

Multifunctional Eu3+-MOF for simultaneous quantification of malachite green and leuco-malachite green and efficient adsorption of malachite green

Multi-target detection combined with in-situ removal of contaminants is a challenging issue difficult to overcome. Herein, a dual-emissive Eu3+-metal organic framework (Eu3+-MOF) was constructed by pre-functionalization with a blue-emissive ligand and post-functionalization with red-emissive Eu3+ ions using a UiO-66 precursor. The fluorescence of the synthesized Eu3+-MOF is highly selective and sensitive toward malachite green (MG) and its metabolite leuco-malachite green (LMG), which are environmentally persistent and highly toxic to humans. The limit of detection of MG and LMG are 34.20 and 1.98 nM, respectively. Interestingly, the fluorescence of this Eu3+-MOF showed ratiometric but different responsive modes toward MG and LMG, which enabled the simultaneous quantification of MG and LMG. Furthermore, a paper-based sensor combined with the smartphone was fabricated, which facilitated not only the dual-channel detection of MG, but also its portable, visual, rapid, and intelligent determination. Furthermore, the high surface area of MOFs, together with the coordinate bonding interaction, π-π stacking, and electrostatic interaction sites, endows Eu3+-MOF with the efficient ability toward MG removal. This multifunctional Eu3+-MOF can be successfully used for trace detection, simultaneous determination of MG and LMG, as well as efficient removal of MG. Thus, it exhibits bright prospects for widespread applications in the field of food and environmental analysis.

On the potential role of naturally occurring carboxylic organic acids as anti-infective agents: opportunities and challenges

Carboxylic organic acids are intermediates of central carbon metabolic pathways (e.g. acetic, propionic, citric, and lactic acid) long known to have potent antimicrobial potential, mainly at acidic pHs. The food industry has been leveraging those properties for years, using many of these acids as preservatives to inhibit the growth of pathogenic and/or spoilage fungal and bacterial species. A few of these molecules (the most prominent being acetic acid) have been used as antiseptics since Hippocratic medicine, mainly to treat infected wounds in patients with burns. With the growth of antibiotic therapy, the use of carboxylic acids (and other chemical antiseptics) in clinical settings lost relevance; however, with the continuous emergence of multi-antibiotic/antifungal resistant strains, the search for alternatives has intensified. This prospective article raises awareness of the potential of carboxylic acids to control infections in clinical settings, considering not only their previous exploitation in this context (which we overview) but also the positive experience of their safe use in food preservation. At a time of great concern with antimicrobial resistance and the slow arrival of new antimicrobial therapeutics to the market, further exploration of organic acids as anti-infective molecules may pave the way to more sustainable prophylactic and therapeutic approaches.

Nanomaterial-Based Optical Detection of Food Contaminants

The presence of food contaminants remains a significant aspect contributing to global food safety issues, drawing widespread attention from ordinary consumers, governments, and researchers [...].

Effects of potassium sorbate on systemic inflammation and gut microbiota in normal mice: A comparison of continuous intake and washout period

Potassium sorbate (PS) is a widely used food preservative in the field of food industry. However, the effects of continuous intake and washout period of PS on host health are still unclear. In this study, to investigate long-term effect and after-effect of different concentrations and time points of PS, healthy mice were orally exposed to 150 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg of PS for 10 weeks, and washout treatment for another 5 weeks, respectively. The results indicated that PS intake for 10 weeks had no obvious effects on organs and adipose tissue, nor did it noteworthily interfere with glucolipid metabolism in the serum. However, it caused inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver, increased serum interleukin (IL)-1β level, changed abundances of gut microbiota but failed to promote the production of short chain fatty acids in the gut. After washout period for 5 weeks, liver inflammation and IL-1β level were decreased, and gut environment developed towards a healthier condition. Specifically, PS washout significantly increased abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and the production of isobutyric acid. This study confirmed washout period eliminated negative effects from continuous intake of PS, which provided positive evidence for its safety.

Removal of aflatoxin B1 from contaminated milk and water by nitrogen/carbon-enriched cobalt ferrite -chitosan nanosphere: RSM optimization, kinetic, and thermodynamic perspectives

In view of the feed/foods inevitably contaminated by toxic and carcinogenic aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), efficient mesoporous metformin-chitosan/silica‑cobalt ferrite nanospheres (Mt-CS/CFS NSs) was prepared to remove AFB1 from aqueous/non-aqueous media. The morphological, functional, and structural characteristics and adsorption properties of C/N-enriched CS/CFS were investigated systematically. The interactive operating variables (temperature (5.0-35 °C); time (10-100 min); AFB1 dose (50-100 μg/mL); and Mt-CS/CFS dosage (0.5-3.5 mg) were optimized via the Box-Behnken design (BBD), which demonstrated good agreement between the experimental data and proposed model. The adsorption efficiency in artificially contaminated cow's milk as well as aqueous environment reached over 91.0 % in a wide pH range (3.0-9.0), without significant change in the nutritional value of milk. Freundlich isotherm and second-order adsorption kinetics were regarded as the most suitable models to fit the adsorption results, and the adsorption rate is dominated by the intra-particle diffusion and boundary layer diffusion. Thermodynamic analyses proved that the process was spontaneous and exothermic. The adsorption mechanism could be explained as physisorption via hydrogen bonding, n-π interaction, and hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions. The porous Mt-CS/CFS NS derived from chitosan nanoparticles is therefore outstanding adsorbent, offering great adsorptive performance and recycabilities, which impedes economic losses in the food industry.

Edible nano-encapsulated cinnamon essential oil hybrid wax coatings for enhancing apple safety against food borne pathogens

Post-harvest losses of fruits due to decay and concerns regarding microbial food safety are significant within the produce processing industry. Additionally, maintaining the quality of exported commodities to distant countries continues to pose a challenge. To address these issues, the application of bioactive compounds, such as essential oils, has gained recognition as a means to extend shelf life by acting as antimicrobials. Herein, we have undertaken an innovative approach by nano-encapsulating cinnamon-bark essential oil using whey protein concentrate and imbibing nano-encapsulates into food-grade wax commonly applied on produce surfaces. We have comprehensively examined the physical, chemical, and antimicrobial properties of this hybrid wax to evaluate its efficacy in combatting the various foodborne pathogens that frequently trouble producers and handlers in the post-harvest processing industry. The coatings as applied demonstrated a static contact angle of 85 ± 1.6°, and advancing and receding contact angles of 90 ± 1.1° and 53.0 ± 1.6°, respectively, resembling the wetting properties of natural waxes on apples. Nanoencapsulation significantly delayed the release of essential oil, increasing the half-life by 61 h compared to its unencapsulated counterparts. This delay correlated with statistically significant reductions (p = 0.05) in bacterial populations providing both immediate and delayed (up to 72 h) antibacterial effects as well as expanded fungal growth inhibition zones compared to existing wax technologies, demonstrating promising applicability for high-quality fruit storage and export. The utilization of this advanced produce wax coating technology offers considerable potential for bolstering food safety and providing enhanced protection against bacteria and fungi for produce commodities.

Recent advances in inspection technologies of food safety health hazards for fish and fish products

The development of reliable and sensitive detection methods is essential for addressing the escalating concerns surrounding fish and fish products, driven by increasing market demands. This comprehensive review presents recent advances in detection approaches, specifically focusing on microplastic, biological, and chemical hazards associated with these products. The overview encompasses 21 distinct detection methods, categorized based on the type of hazard they target. For microplastic hazards, six methods are visual, spectroscopic, and thermal analyses. Biological hazard identification relies on six approaches employing nucleic-acid sequence, immunological, and biosensor technologies. The investigation of chemical hazards encompasses ten methods, including chromatography, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, immunological, biosensor, and electrochemical techniques. The review provides in-depth insights into the basic principles, general characteristics, and the recognized advantages and disadvantages of each method. Moreover, it elaborates on recent advancements within these methodologies. The concluding section of the review discusses current challenges and outlines future perspectives for these detection methods. Overall, this comprehensive summary not only serves as a guide for researchers involved in fish safety and quality control but also emphasizes the significance of staying abreast of evolving detection technologies to ensure the continued safety of fish and fish products in response to emerging food safety hazards.

Food Safety-Transcriptomics and Proteomics

Food safety is a critical aspect of public health and involves the handling, preparation, and storage of food to avoid contamination and foodborne illnesses [...].

Sensitive Immunochromatographic Determination of Salmonella typhimurium in Food Products Using Au@Pt Nanozyme

In this study, we developed a sensitive immunochromatographic analysis (ICA) of the Salmonella typhimurium bacterial pathogen contaminating food products and causing foodborne illness. The ICA of S. typhimurium was performed using Au@Pt nanozyme as a label ensuring both colorimetric detection and catalytic amplification of the analytical signal due to nanozyme peroxidase-mimic properties. The enhanced ICA enabled the detection of S. typhimurium cells with the visual limit of detection (LOD) of 2 × 102 CFU/mL, which outperformed the LOD in the ICA with traditional gold nanoparticles by two orders of magnitude. The assay duration was 15 min. The specificity of the developed assay was tested using cells from various Salmonella species as well as other foodborne pathogens; it was shown that the test system detected only S. typhimurium. The applicability of ICA for the determination of Salmonella in food was confirmed in several samples of milk with different fat content, as well as chicken meat. For these real samples, simple pretreatment procedures were proposed. Recoveries of Salmonella in foodstuffs were from 74.8 to 94.5%. Due to rapidity and sensitivity, the proposed test system is a promising tool for the point-of-care control of the Salmonella contamination of different food products on the whole farm-to-table chain.

A review of nucleic acid-based detection methods for foodborne viruses: Sample pretreatment and detection techniques

Viruses are major pathogens that cause food poisoning when ingested via contaminated food and water. Therefore, the development of foodborne virus detection technologies that can be applied throughout the food distribution chain is essential for food safety. A common nucleic acid-based detection method is polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which has become the gold standard for monitoring food contamination by viruses due to its high sensitivity, and availability of commercial kits. However, PCR-based methods are labor intensive and time consuming, and are vulnerable to inhibitors that may be present in food samples. In addition, the methods are restricted with regard to site of analysis due to the requirement of expensive and large equipment for sophisticated temperature regulation and signal analysis procedures. To overcome these limitations, optical and electrical readout biosensors based on nucleic acid isothermal amplification technology and nanomaterials have emerged as alternatives for nucleic acid-based detection of foodborne viruses. Biosensors are promising portable detection tools owing to their easy integration into compact platforms and ability to be operated on-site. However, the complexity of food components necessitates the inclusion of tedious preprocessing steps, and the lack of stability studies on residual food components further restricts the practical application of biosensors as a universal detection method. Here, we summarize the latest advances in nucleic acid-based strategies for the detection of foodborne viruses, including PCR-based and isothermal amplification-based methods, gene amplification-free methods, as well as food pretreatment methods. The principles, strengths/disadvantages, and performance of each method, problems to be solved, and future prospects for the development of a universal detection method are discussed.

Active and Intelligent Packaging: A Review of the Possible Application of Cyclodextrins in Food Storage and Safety Indicators

Natural cyclodextrins (CDs) can be formed by 6, 7, or 8 glucose molecules (α-, β-, and γ-, respectively) linked in a ring, creating a cone shape. Its interior has an affinity for hydrophobic molecules, while the exterior is hydrophilic and can interact with water molecules. This feature has been used to develop active packaging applied to food, interacting with the product or its environment to improve one or more aspects of its quality or safety. It also provides monitoring information when food is optimal for consumption, as intelligent packaging is essential for the consumer and the merchant. Therefore, this review will focus on discerning which packaging is most appropriate for each situation, solubility and toxicological considerations, characterization techniques, effect on the guest properties, and other aspects related to forming the inclusion complex with bioactive molecules applied to packaging.

The bitter side of toxicity: A big data analysis spotted the interaction between trichothecenes and bitter receptors

The bitter taste perception evolved in human and animals to rapidly perceive and avoid potential toxic compounds. This is mediated by taste receptors type 2 (TAS2R), expressed in various tissues, which recently proved to be involved in roles beyond the bitter perception itself. With this study, the interaction between food-related toxic compounds and TAS2R46 has been investigated via computational approaches, starting with a virtual screening and moving to molecular docking and dynamics simulations. The virtual screening analysis identified trichothecolone and the trichothecenes class it belongs to, which includes mycotoxins widespread in several commodities raising food safety concerns, as possible TAS2R46 binders. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were performed to further explore the trichotecenes-TAS2R46 interaction. The results indicated that deoxynivalenol and its 15-acetylated derivative could activate TAS2R46. Eventually, this study provided initial evidence supporting the involvement of TAS2R46 in the underpinning mechanisms of deoxynivalenol action highlighting the need of digging into the involvement of TAS2R46 and TAS2Rs in the adverse effects of deoxynivalenol and congeners.

Antiemetic effects of sclareol, possibly through 5-HT3 and D2 receptor interaction pathways: In-vivo and in-silico studies

BACKGROUND

Emesis is a complex physiological phenomenon that serves as a defense against numerous toxins, stressful situations, adverse medication responses, chemotherapy, and movement. Nevertheless, preventing emesis during chemotherapy or other situations is a significant issue for researchers. Hence, the majority view contends that successfully combining therapy is the best course of action. In-vivo analysis offers a more comprehensive grasp of how compounds behave within a complex biological environment, whereas in-silico evaluation refers to the use of computational models to forecast biological interactions.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of Sclareol (SCL) on copper sulphate-induced emetic chicks and to investigate the combined effects of these compounds using a conventional co-treatment approach and in-silico study.

METHODS

SCL (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) administered orally with or without pre-treatment with anti-emetic drugs (Ondansetron (ODN): 24 mg/kg, Domperidone (DOM): 80 mg/kg, Hyoscine butylbromide (HYS): 100 mg/kg, and Promethazine hydrochloride (PRO): 100 mg/kg) to illustrate the effects and the potential involvement with 5HT3, D2, M3/AChM, H1, or NK1 receptors by SCL. Furthermore, an in-silico analysis was conducted to forecast the role of these receptors in the emetic process.

RESULTS

The results suggest that SCL exerted a dose-dependent anti-emetic effect on the chicks. Pretreatment with SCL-10 significantly minimized the number of retches and lengthened the emesis tendency of the experimental animals. SCL-10 significantly increased the anti-emetic effects of ODN and DOM. However, compared to the ODN-treated group, (SCL-10 + ODN) group considerably (p < 0.0001) extended the latency duration (109.40 ± 1.03 s) and significantly (p < 0.01) decreased the number of retches (20.00 ± 0.70), indicating an anti-emetic effect on the test animals. In in-silico analysis, SCL exhibited promising binding affinities with suggesting receptors.

CONCLUSION

SCL-10 exerted an inhibitory-like effect on emetic chicks, probably through the interaction of the 5HT3 and D2 receptors. Further studies are highly appreciated to validate this study and determine the precise mechanism(s) behind the anti-emetic effects of SCL. We expect that SCL-10 may be utilized as an antiemetic treatment in a single dosage form or that it may function as a synergist with other traditional medicines.

Food hygiene and food safety practices of households in a township north of Tshwane, Gauteng

Background

Foodborne illness is still a major public health concern worldwide. Most cases of foodborne illness can be traced to the home. The food safety practices of food handlers in the household are an important determining factor in food safety at the household level.

Aim

To assess the food safety practices of food handlers in households in Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane.

Setting

The study was conducted in zones 1-9 and zone 16, as well as extension 25 of Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane.

Methods

A quantitative descriptive study design was used for which a structured questionnaire was administered among 339 food handlers. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed in STATA 13.1.

Results

The majority of food handlers reported always washing their hands before (81%) and after handling raw meat, chicken or fish; the majority of food handlers (69%) reported always washing preparation surfaces and utensils with clean, soapy water after handling raw meat, chicken or fish. Less than half (45%) of food handlers reported never thawing frozen meat, chicken or fish in a bowl of cold water.

Conclusion

The food handlers reported appropriate food safety practices regarding hand washing and food preparation surfaces and utensils. However, their practices regarding the storage of meat, chicken and fish were inappropriate.

Contribution

This study builds on the existing body of literature on the food safety practices of food handlers. Moreover, the study findings can serve as a basis for the development of interventions to ensure food safety at a household level.

Significance of Fermentation in Plant-Based Meat Analogs: A Critical Review of Nutrition, and Safety-Related Aspects

Plant-based meat analogs have been shown to cause less harm for both human health and the environment compared to real meat, especially processed meat. However, the intense pressure to enhance the sensory qualities of plant-based meat alternatives has caused their nutritional and safety aspects to be overlooked. This paper reviews our current understanding of the nutrition and safety behind plant-based meat alternatives, proposing fermentation as a potential way of overcoming limitations in these aspects. Plant protein blends, fortification, and preservatives have been the main methods for enhancing the nutritional content and stability of plant-based meat alternatives, but concerns that include safety, nutrient deficiencies, low digestibility, high allergenicity, and high costs have been raised in their use. Fermentation with microorganisms such as Bacillus subtilis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Neurospora intermedia, and Rhizopus oryzae improves digestibility and reduces allergenicity and antinutritive factors more effectively. At the same time, microbial metabolites can boost the final product's safety, nutrition, and sensory quality, although some concerns regarding their toxicity remain. Designing a single starter culture or microbial consortium for plant-based meat alternatives can be a novel solution for advancing the health benefits of the final product while still fulfilling the demands of an expanding and sustainable economy.

Theoretical and practical aspects of risk communication in food safety: A review study

Currently, food safety hazards have introduced as one of the most important threats to public health worldwide. Considering numerous crises in the field of food safety at global, regional, and national levels, and their impact on the physical and mental health of consumers, it is very vital to evaluate risk communication strategies in each country. Food safety risk communication (FSRC) aims to provide the means for individuals to protect their health from food safety risks and make informed decisions about food risks. The purpose of this study is to present FSRC as one of the key parts of risk analysis, its importance considering the prevalence of food contamination and recent crises related to food. Additionally, the stages of implementation of FSRC are mentioned. In FSRC, it is essential to comply with the principles and prerequisites. There are various strategies for FSRC nowadays. Different platforms for FSRC are rapidly evolving. Choosing and evaluating the appropriate strategy according to the target group, consensus of stakeholders, cooperation and coordination of risk assessors and risk managers have a significant impact in order to improve and implement FSRC.

Design, Fabrication, and Applications of SERS Substrates for Food Safety Detection: Review

Sustainable and safe food is an important issue worldwide, and it depends on cost-effective analysis tools with good sensitivity and reality. However, traditional standard chemical methods of food safety detection, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS), have the disadvantages of high cost and long testing time. Those disadvantages have prevented people from obtaining sufficient risk information to confirm the safety of their products. In addition, food safety testing, such as the bioassay method, often results in false positives or false negatives due to little rigor preprocessing of samples. So far, food safety analysis currently relies on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), HPLC, GC, UV-visible spectrophotometry, and MS, all of which require significant time to train qualified food safety testing laboratory operators. These factors have hindered the development of rapid food safety monitoring systems, especially in remote areas or areas with a relative lack of testing resources. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as one of the tools of choice for food safety testing that can overcome these dilemmas over the past decades. SERS offers advantages over chromatographic mass spectrometry analysis due to its portability, non-destructive nature, and lower cost implications. However, as it currently stands, Raman spectroscopy is a supplemental tool in chemical analysis, reinforcing and enhancing the completeness and coverage of the food safety analysis system. SERS combines portability with non-destructive and cheaper detection costs to gain an advantage over chromatographic mass spectrometry analysis. SERS has encountered many challenges in moving toward regulatory applications in food safety, such as quantitative accuracy, poor reproducibility, and instability of large molecule detection. As a result, the reality of SERS, as a screening tool for regulatory announcements worldwide, is still uncommon. In this review article, we have compiled the current designs and fabrications of SERS substrates for food safety detection to unify all the requirements and the opportunities to overcome these challenges. This review is expected to improve the interest in the sensing field of SERS and facilitate the SERS applications in food safety detection in the future.