Food safety considerations for innovative nutrition solutions.

Failure to secure safe and affordable food to the growing global population leads far too often to disastrous consequences. Among specialists and other individuals, food scientists have a key responsibility to improve and use science-based tools to address risk and advise food handlers and manufacturers with best-practice recommendations. With collaboration from production agriculture, food processors, state and federal agencies, and consumers, it is critical to implement science-based strategies that address food safety and that have been evaluated for effectiveness in controlling and/or eliminating hazards. It is an open question whether future food safety concerns will shift in priority given the imperatives to supply sufficient food. This report brings together leading food safety experts to address these issues with a focus on three areas: economic, social, and policy aspects of food safety; production and postharvest technology for safe food; and innovative public communication for food safety and nutrition.

Role of microbiological guidelines in the production and commercial use of milled cereal grains: a practical approach for the 21st century.

A contemporary survey of the microbiological profile of five milled cereal grains-wheat, corn, oats, whole wheat, and durum-was conducted largely from 2003 to 2005, with routine laboratory data obtained by North American dry-milling operations. When compared to data reported in the previous century, the contemporary data showed similar or reduced quantitative counts for indicator tests (e.g., total aerobes, yeasts, molds, coliforms, and Escherichia coli) as well as a substantially lower incidence of salmonellae. The implementation of modern management systems for the control of food quality and safety, i.e., good agricultural practices, good manufacturing practices, and the hazard analysis critical control point system, together with the excellent microbiological profiles, has eliminated the need for microbiological specifications and lot acceptance criteria for milled cereal grains. Instead, microbiological monitoring guidelines, such as the periodic testing of aerobic plate counts and mold counts, can be used to verify compliance with the requirements of food quality and food safety management systems.

Clostridium botulinum Toxin Formation in Romaine Lettuce and Shredded Cabbage: Effect of Storage and Packaging Conditions.

The potential for growth and toxin production by Clostridium botulinum spores was investigated in samples of fresh-cut romaine lettuce and shredded cabbage packaged in vented and nonvented flexible pouches at storage temperatures of 4.4, 12.7, and 21°C for up to 28 days. One hundred grams of cut, washed romaine lettuce and cabbage were placed in polyester bags. Approximately 104 heat-shocked spores were added per package. Before sealing, half the packages were vented. No toxin was detected with either storage method at 4.4 and 12.7°C. In nonvented pouches of romaine lettuce at 21°C, spores grew and produced toxin after 14 days. Romaine samples at 21°C in vented pouches became toxic after 21 days, indicating formation of anaerobic microenvironments within the pouches. In nonvented packages of cabbage at 21°C, toxin was detected after 7 days. All toxin-positive samples were judged to be inedible prior to toxin detection.

Rapid Detection of Listeria spp. in Food and Environmental Samples by Esculin Hydrolysis.

The use of Fraser Broth enables the presumptive detection of Listeria spp. within 48 h, thereby producing major cost and time savings when compared to existing methods. Fraser Broth was developed by modification of the USDA secondary enrichment broth through the addition of lithium chloride and ferric ammonium citrate. Esculin hydrolysis in Fraser Broth results in the production of a black precipitate. Since all Listeria spp. hydrolyse esculin, cultures which do not blacken can be considered to be Listeria -free. The efficacy of Fraser Broth was documented by testing a wide range of food and environmental samples from food processing facilities in parallel with the methods used by the government regulatory agencies. Fraser Broth inoculated from the USDA primary enrichment was found to be more sensitive than either Fraser Broth inoculated from the FDA enrichment or the existing FDA method in the analysis of ice cream products.

Influence of Water Activity on Foodborne Bacteria - A Review 1.

The influence of water activity on some characteristics of bacterial growth is presented. Bacteria are able to overcome the plasmolytic effect of reduced water activity by intracellularly accumulating compatible solutes such as glutamic acid or proline. In food systems, water activity is one of several preservative factors which interact to form a preservative system. Other preservative factors considered in this review are temperature, pH, O/R potential and chemical preservatives. Control of water activity in foods is receiving more attention as new food products and new technologies are developed.