A Mini-Review of the Main Effects of Essential Oils from Citrus aurantifolia, Ocimum basilicum, and Allium sativum as Safe Antimicrobial Activity in Poultry.

Poultry production is accompanied by the use of antimicrobial agents because no production step is free of microorganisms. In the absence of antimicrobial treatments with synthetic drugs, essential oils are among the most cited natural alternatives used to prevent and treat microbial contamination in poultry. Although there are several studies on the antimicrobial properties of essential oils, there is still no review that simultaneously compiles information on the leading antimicrobial role of essential oils from Citrus aurantifolia (CAEO), Ocimum basilicum (OBEO), and Allium sativum (ASEO) in poultry. Awareness of the antimicrobial role of these substances opens the door to encouraging their use in natural antimicrobial protocols and discouraging harmful synthetics in poultry. This review aimed to compile information on applying CAEO, OBEO, and ASEO as antimicrobials in poultry farming. The available literature suggests that these essential oils can proportionately align with the poultry industry's demands for microbiologically safe food products.

Effect of Optimized UV-LED Technology on Modeling, Inactivation Kinetics and Microbiological Safety in Tomato Juice.

This research analyzed, optimized and modeled the inactivation kinetics of pathogenic bacteria (PB1: Escherichia coli O157:H7 and PB2: Listeria monocytogenes) and determined the microbiological safety of tomato juice processed by UV-LED irradiation and heat treatment. UV-LED processing conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and were 90% power intensity, 21 min and 273-275 nm (251 mJ/cm2) with R2 > 0.96. Using the optimal conditions, levels of PB1 and PB2 resulted a log reduction of 2.89 and 2.74 CFU/mL, respectively. The Weibull model was efficient for estimating the log inactivation of PB1 and PB2 (CFU/mL). The kinetic parameter δ showed that 465.2 mJ/cm2 is needed to achieve a 90% log (CFU/mL) reduction in PB1 and 511.3 mJ/cm2 for PB2. With respect to the scale parameter p > 1, there is a descending concave curve. UV-LED-treated tomato juice had an 11.4% lower Listeria monocytogenes count than heat-treated juice on day 28 (4.0 ± 0.82 °C). Therefore, UV-LED technology could be used to inactivate Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes, preserving tomato juice for microbiological safety, but studies are required to further improve the inactivation of these pathogens and analyze other fruit and vegetable juices.

Microbiology of street food: understanding risks to improve safety.

Street foods play important socioeconomic and cultural roles and are popular worldwide. In addition to providing convenient and low-cost meals for urban populations, street food offers an essential source of income for vendors, especially women, and it can reflect traditional local culture, which is an important attraction for tourists. Despite these benefits, the microbiological safety of street food has become a worldwide concern because it is often prepared and sold under inadequate safety conditions, without legal control and sanitary surveillance. Consequently, high counts of fecal indicator bacteria and several foodborne pathogens have been detected in street foods. This review provides insight into the microbiology of street food, focus on the associated microbiological safety aspects and main pathogens, and the global status of this important economic activity. Furthermore, the need to apply molecular detection rather than traditional culture-based methods is discussed to better understand the actual risks of microbial infection associated with street foods. Recognition is always the first step toward addressing a problem.

Evaluation of Enterotoxins and Antimicrobial Resistance in Microorganisms Isolated from Raw Sheep Milk and Cheese: Ensuring the Microbiological Safety of These Products in Southern Brazil.

This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring the microbiological quality of animal products, such as raw sheep's milk and cheese, to ensure food safety. In Brazil, there is currently no legislation governing the quality of sheep's milk and its derivatives. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate: (i) the hygienic-sanitary quality of raw sheep's milk and cheese produced in southern Brazil; (ii) the presence of enterotoxins and Staphylococcus spp. in these products; and (iii) the susceptibility of the isolated Staphylococcus spp. to antimicrobial drugs and the presence of resistance genes. A total of 35 samples of sheep's milk and cheese were examined. The microbiological quality and presence of enterotoxins were accessed using Petrifilm and VIDAS SET2 methods, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted using VITEK 2 equipment and the disc diffusion method. The presence of resistance genes tet(L), sul1, sul2, ermB, tetM, AAC(6)', tetW, and strA were evaluated through PCR. In total, 39 Staphylococcus spp. were obtained. The resistance genes tetM, ermB, strA, tetL, sul1, AAC(6)', and sul2 were detected in 82%, 59%, 36%, 28%, 23%, 3%, and 3% of isolates, respectively. The findings revealed that both raw sheep's milk and cheese contained Staphylococcus spp. that exhibited resistance to antimicrobial drugs and harbored resistance genes. These results underscore the immediate need for specific legislation in Brazil to regulate the production and sale of these products.

Minimally Processed Vegetables in Brazil: An Overview of Marketing, Processing, and Microbiological Aspects.

The global demand for minimally processed vegetables (MPVs) has grown, driven by changes in the population's lifestyle. MPVs are fresh vegetables that undergo several processing steps, resulting in ready-to-eat products, providing convenience for consumers and food companies. Among the processing steps, washing-disinfection plays an important role in reducing the microbial load and eliminating pathogens that may be present. However, poor hygiene practices can jeopardize the microbiological quality and safety of these products, thereby posing potential risks to consumer health. This study provides an overview of minimally processed vegetables (MPVs), with a specific focus on the Brazilian market. It includes information on the pricing of fresh vegetables and MPVs, as well as an examination of the various processing steps involved, and the microbiological aspects associated with MPVs. Data on the occurrence of hygiene indicators and pathogenic microorganisms in these products are presented. The focus of most studies has been on the detection of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes, with prevalence rates ranging from 0.7% to 100%, 0.6% to 26.7%, and 0.2% to 33.3%, respectively. Foodborne outbreaks associated with the consumption of fresh vegetables in Brazil between 2000 and 2021 were also addressed. Although there is no information about whether these vegetables were consumed as fresh vegetables or MPVs, these data highlight the need for control measures to guarantee products with quality and safety to consumers.

Effects of Sanitizers on Microbiological Control of Hatching Eggshells and Poultry Health during Embryogenesis and Early Stages after Hatching in the Last Decade.

The sanitization of hatching eggs is the backbone of the hygienic-sanitary management of eggs on farms and extends to the hatchery. Poultry production gains depend on the benefits of sanitizers. Obtaining the maximum yield from incubation free of toxic sanitizers is a trend in poultry farming, closely following the concerns imposed through scientific research. The toxic characteristics of formaldehyde, the primary sanitizer for hatching eggs, are disappointing, but it is a cheap, practical and widely used antimicrobial. To overcome this shortcoming, multiple synthetic and natural chemical sanitizers have been, and continue to be, tested on hatching eggs. This review aims to evaluate the effects of different sanitizers on the microbiological quality of hatching eggshells and poultry health during embryogenesis and early stages after hatching.

Microbiological Safety and Presence of Major Mycotoxins in Animal Feed for Laboratory Animals in a Developing Country: The Case of Costa Rica.

Safety and quality of compound feed for experimental animals in Costa Rica is unknown. Some contaminants, such as Salmonella spp. and mycotoxins, could elicit confounding effects in laboratory animals used for biomedical research. In this study, different batches of extruded animal feed, intended for laboratory rodents in Costa Rica, were analyzed to determine mycotoxin and microbiological contamination (i.e., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, total coliform bacteria, and total yeast and molds enumeration). Two methods for Salmonella decontamination (UV light and thermal treatment) were assessed. Only n = 2 of the samples were negative (representing 12.50%) for the 26 mycotoxins tested. Enniatins and fumonisins were among the most frequent toxins found (with n = 4+ hits), but the level of contamination and the type of mycotoxins depended on the supplier. None of the indicator microorganisms, nor Salmonella, were found in any of the tested batches, and no mold contamination, nor Salmonella growth, occurs during storage (i.e., 2-6 months under laboratory conditions). However, mycotoxins, such as enniatins and fumonisins tend to decrease after the fourth month of storage, and Salmonella exhibited a lifespan of 64 days at 17 °C even in the presence of UV light. The D-values for Salmonella were between 65.58 ± 2.95 (65 °C) and 6.21 ± 0.11 (80 °C) min, and the thermal destruction time (z-value) was calculated at 15.62 °C. Results from this study suggest that laboratory rodents may be at risk of contamination from animal feed that could significantly affect the outcomes of biomedical experiments. Thus, improved quality controls and handling protocols for the product are suggested.

Caracterização microbiológica do queijo minas artesanal comercializado em São Paulo: segurança, higiene e diversidade microbiana / Microbiological characterization of artisanal minas cheese marketed in São Paulo: safety, hygiene and microbial diversity

Existe no Brasil uma grande variedade de queijos que se enquadram no conceito de "queijo minas artesanal". Produtores consideram que a legislação que regula o setor, em níveis municipal, estadual e federal, é confusa e excessivamente rigorosa, dificulta a padronização dos produtos, interfere no crescimento do setor e facilita a comercialização de queijos em desacordo com os padrões de higiene e segurança estabelecidos. Este trabalho de pesquisa de mestrado pretendeu gerar dados sobre as condições higiênico-sanitárias e segurança microbiológica de queijos minas artesanal, produzidos em Minas Gerais e coletados no comércio da cidade de São Paulo, bem como contribuir com informações a respeito da diversidade bacteriana nos queijos estudados. Foram estudadas 100 amostras de queijo minas artesanal coletadas no comercio de São Paulo, que foram submetidas à enumeração de microrganismos indicadores de higiene (coliformes, Escherichia coli e estafilococos), Salmonella e Listeria monocytogenes, empregando técnicas convencionais de cultivo e também moleculares. Os estafilococos coagulase positivos foram estudados quanto à tolerância à biocidas de interesse para alimentos, determinando-se também a diversidade microbiana, utilizando-se Next Generation Sequencing em Illumina MiSeq. Os resultados indicaram baixa ocorrência dos patógenos estudados, e que 10% e 32% das amostras excederam os limites para Escherichia coli e estafilococos coagulase positiva estabelecidos pelas legislações vigentes, respectivamente. Entre os estafilococos coagulase positiva, 37,7% foram tolerantes a algum dos biocidas testados, com maior prevalencia dos tolerantes ao cloreto de benzalcônio (75%). Quanto à diversidade bacteriana, os gêneros predominantes foram Streptococcus (32,7%), Lactococcus (30,6%) e Corynebacterium (15,6%). A microbiota bacteriana detectada nos queijos Canastra estudados não apresentou dissimilaridade quando comparada à microbiota bacteriana de outros queijos Canastra coletados nos locais de produção em outro estudo. Observou-se que as regiões de coleta dos queijos na cidade de São Paulo e os pontos de comercialização em São Paulo apresentam maior influência sobre a microbiota detectada para o queijo minas artesanal do que as regiões de produção (p<0,05), sugerindo a interferência das práticas de manipulação após a produção na diversidade bacteriana detectada nos queijos

There is a wide variety of cheeses in Brazil that fit the concept of "artisanal minas cheese". Producers consider that the legislation that regulates the sector, at municipal, state and federal levels, is confusing and excessively strict, hinders the standardization of products, interferes with the growth of the sector and facilitates the marketing of cheeses in disagreement with the hygiene and safety standards. This master's research work aimed to generate data on the hygienic-sanitary conditions and microbiological safety of artisanal Minas cheeses, produced in Minas Gerais and collected in São Paulo's commerce, as well as to contribute with information about the bacterial diversity in the studied cheeses. One hundred samples of artisanal Minas cheese collected in the São Paulo market were subjected to the enumeration of hygiene indicator microorganisms (coliforms, Escherichia coli and staphylococci), Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, using conventional cultivation and also molecular techniques. Coagulase positive staphylococci were studied for tolerance to biocides of interest to food, and microbial diversity was also determined using Next Generation Sequencing in Illumina MiSeq. The results indicated a low occurrence of the studied pathogens, and that 10% and 32% of the samples exceeded the limits for Escherichia coli and coagulase positive staphylococci established by the current legislation, respectively. Among the coagulase positive staphylococci, 37.7% were tolerant to at least one of the tested biocides, with a greater prevalence of those tolerant to benzalkonium chloride (75%). As for microbial diversity, the predominant genera were Streptococcus (32.7%), Lactococcus (30.6%) and Corynebacterium (15.6%). The bacterial microbiota detected in the studied Canastra cheeses showed no dissimilarity when compared to the bacterial microbiota of other Canastra cheeses collected at the production sites in another study. It was observed that the cheese collection regions in the city of São Paulo and the marketing points in São Paulo had a greater influence on the detected bacterial microbiota than the production regions (p<0.05), suggesting the interference of the practices of manipulation after production in the bacterial diversity detected in the cheeses

Microbiological safety of ready-to-eat minimally processed vegetables in Brazil: an overview.

The market of ready-to-eat minimally processed vegetables (RTE-MPV) is increasing in Brazil and many other countries. During processing, these vegetables go through several steps that modify their natural structure while maintaining the same nutritional and sensory attributes as the fresh produce. One of the most important steps is washing-disinfection, which aims to reduce the microbial load, prevent cross-contamination and inactivate pathogenic microorganisms that may be present. Nonetheless, the presence of pathogens and occurrence of foodborne illnesses associated with consumption of RTE-MPV concern consumers, governments and the food industry. This review brings an overview on the microbiological safety of RTE-MPV, focusing on Brazilian findings. Most of the published data are on detection of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes, indicating that their prevalence may range from 0.4% to 12.5% and from 0.6% to 3.1%, respectively. The presence of these pathogens in fresh produce is unacceptable and risky, mainly in RTE-MPV, because consumers expect them to be clean and sanitized and consequently safe for consumption without any additional care. Therefore, proper control during the production of RTE-MPV is mandatory to guarantee products with quality and safety to consumers. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lactic Acid Bacteria as Biological Control of Staphylococcus aureus in Coalho Goat Cheese.

The aim of this study is to investigate the bacterial population in coalho goat cheese produced in the semi-arid northeast region of Brazil, to analyse the antibiotic resistance profiles of the identified pathogenic bacteria, to detect the staphylococcal enterotoxin genes and to evaluate the addition of autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with technofunctional properties for the control of Staphylococcus aureus growth. In the analysed samples, strains of Escherichia coli (N=11), Salmonella spp. (N=18), Listeria spp. (N=6) and S. aureus (N=9) were classified as multidrug resistant (MDR). The most commonly isolated pathogen from the studied coalho goat cheese was S. aureus. Its isolates were positive for the genes encoding enterotoxins A (sea), B (seb), C (sec) and D (sed). The autochthonous LAB with the potential to inhibit S. aureus were identified as Enterococcus faecium. These strains were selected for in vitro tests of protective, safety, technological and functional properties. In the coalho goat cheese food matrix, these selected autochthonous LAB were able to reduce the enterotoxigenic MDR S. aureus load by approx. 3 log units.

Opinion on the Hurdles and Potential Health Benefits in Value-Added Use of Plant Food Processing By-Products as Sources of Phenolic Compounds.

Plant foods, their products and processing by-products are well recognized as important sources of phenolic compounds. Recent studies in this field have demonstrated that food processing by-products are often richer sources of bioactive compounds as compared with their original feedstock. However, their final application as a source of nutraceuticals and bioactives requires addressing certain hurdles and challenges. This review discusses recent knowledge advances in the use of plant food processing by-products as sources of phenolic compounds with special attention to the role of genetics on the distribution and biosynthesis of plant phenolics, as well as their profiling and screening, potential health benefits, and safety issues. The potentialities in health improvement from food phenolics in animal models and in humans is well substantiated, however, considering the emerging market of plant food by-products as potential sources of phenolic bioactives, more research in humans is deemed necessary.

Inocuidad microbiológica de quesillos comerciales y artesanales expendidos en Chillán / Microbiological safety of commercial and artisanal fresh cheeses sold in Chillán

Introducción: El quesillo es un alimento muy consumido en la población por sus características nutritivas y de inocuidad. Sin embargo, estas cualidades pierden relevancia si no se respetan condiciones adecuadas en su elaboración y almacenamiento. Objetivo: Evaluar la inocuidad microbio-lógica de quesillos comerciales y artesanales expendidos en Chillán. Metodología: Se analizaron 80 muestras de quesillo: 40 comerciales (marca 1 y 2) y 40 artesanales (marca 3 y 4). Se cuantificó Enterobacteriaceae (ENT) y Escherichia coli mediante las NCh 2676 y 2636 (2002). Salmonella, Staphylococcus aereus y Listeria monocytogenes utilizando NCh 2675, 2671 (2002) e ISO 11290-1: 1996 (rev 2004) y confirmadas por PCR. Cronobacter spp por medio de multilocus sequence typing (MLST) con criterios de http://www.pubmlst.org/cronobacter. Los requisitos de higiene del personal y expendio con listas de chequeo de acuerdo al RSA. Resultados: Las medianas globales de ENT fueron 30 000 000 UFC/g (2 000 000 - 300 000 000) y para E. coli de 450 UFC/g NMP/g (33 - 1 100), no existiendo diferencias significativas en los recuentos para ambos indicadores por marca y lugar de expendio (p>0.05). El cumplimento de requisitos de higiene del personal y expendio fue 50%. La positividad de L. monocytogenes fue 8.8%, no detectando Salmonella spp y S. aureus. Se aislaron 8 cepas sospechosas de Cronobacter spp las que fueron identificadas como Franconibacter helveticus. Conclusiones: Los quesillos evaluados no cumplen los criterios microbiológicos del RSA no siendo aptos para el consumo. La presencia de L. mono-cytogenes es un claro riesgo de salud en grupos de población hipersensible que consumen este alimento.

Introduction: Fresh cheese is consumed because of its healthy, nutritional, and safety characteristics. These features become less relevant when appropriatepreparation and storage conditions are not met. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the microbiological safety of commercial and artisanal fresh cheeses sold in the city of Chillán. Methods: A total of 80 fresh cheese samples were analyzed: 40 commercial (brands 1 and2) and 40 artisanal (brands 3 and 4). Enterobacteriaceae (ENT) and Escherichia coli were quantified by NCh 2676 and 2636 (2002). Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes used NCh 2675, 2671 (2002), ISO 11290-1 (1996 rev 2004), and were confirmed by PCR. Cronobacter spp was identified by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) using criteria from http://www.pubmlst.org/cronobacter. Furthermore, staff and sale hygiene requirements were identified with Sanitary Food Regulations (SFR) checklists. Results: Overall ENT medians were 30 000 000 UFC/g (2 000 000 - 300 000 000) and E. coli were 450 UFC/g NMP/g (33 - 1 100); there were no significant differences in counts for both brand and sale location indicators (p>0.05). Compliance with SFR hygiene requirements was 50%. Positivity of L. monocytogenes was 8.8%; Salmonella spp and S. aureus were not detected. Suspected Cronobacter spp strains were isolated and identified as Franconibacter helveticus. Conclusions: The evaluated fresh cheeses did not meet SFR microbiological criteria and were therefore not safe to eat. The presence of L. monocytogenes is clearly a health risk in hypersensitive population groups that consume this food.

Assessment of Nutrient Value and Microbiological Safety of Pomacea lineata.

Pomacea lineata is a fresh water shellfish that is utilized as food, medicinal portions, or licking remedies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and microbiological aspects of P. lineata and spawning. The samples were collected in the Jaguaribe River (Paraíba, Brazil) during the rainy and dry seasons. The biochemical composition, mineral composition, total mesophilic bacteria (TMB), total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio presence were determined. Each 100 g of P. lineata presented 3.1 g of ashes; 9.4 g of proteins; 2.7 g of lipids; 0.6 g of carbohydrates; 1800.0 mg of calcium; 78.0 mg of phosphorus, and 58.4 mg of iron. Each 100 g of spawning presented 10.4 g of ashes; 4.5 g of proteins; 2.8 g of lipids; 1.3 g of carbohydrates; 3633.0 mg of calcium; 39.4 mg of phosphorus; and 4.6 mg of iron. Each 100 g of P. lineata provided 65.7 kcal and spawning 48.3 kcal. In the dry season P. lineata and spawning showed no TMB and TC, FC, S. aureus, Salmonella, or Vibrio. In the rainy season P. lineata and spawning presented increase in TMB and TC, FC, S. aureus, and Salmonella. The presence of Vibrio was not detected. P. lineata presented proteins, low lipid, and carbohydrate content, energy values close to those of lean meats, high contents of calcium and iron, and presented low contamination level with pathogenic bacteria. Since P. lineata substances may be useful in the treatment of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases without presenting toxic or cytotoxic effects already described in the literature, it may be considered as a potential functional food.

Desarrollo de jalea de yacón de reducido valor calórico: caracterización físico-química, microbiológica y sensorial / Development of a low calorie yacon jam: physico chemical, microbiological and sensory characterization

This study aimed to evaluate the physical-chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of four formulations of yacon jams. The following characteristics were analyzed: chemical composition, soluble solids, pH, microbiological presence of total coliforms and salmonella at 45 °C, and presence of fungi and yeasts. The yacon jams exhibited high moisture content (> 62%) as well as high concentrations of carbohydrates (> 28%) and total dietary fiber (2.5%), mainly fructooligosaccharides (> 0.9%). The average energy value was 124.6 kcal/100 g. The average pH was 3.8 and the soluble solids measured 27.6 °Brix. All yacon jams complied with standard microbiological requirements and received high acceptance scores, especially the yacon jam and yacon jam with cinnamon. Yacon jam products may offer an excellent alternative to more common jams due to their lower concentrations of simple sugar, lower calorie value, increased presence of dietary fibers, and desirable sensory characteristics.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar las características físico-químicas, microbiológicas y sensoriales de cuatro formulaciones de mermeladas de yacón. Las características analizadas fueron: composición química, contenido de sólidos solubles, pH, presencia microbiológica de coliformes totales, coliformes y salmonella a 45 °C, y la presencia de hongos y levaduras. Los atascos de yacón mostraron alto contenido de humedad (> 62%), así como altas concentraciones de hidratos de carbono (> 28%) y fibra dietética total (2, 5%), principalmente fructooligosacáridos (> 0, 9%). El valor energético promedio fue de 124, 6 kcal/100g. El pH promedio fue de 3, 8 y los sólidos solubles mide 27, 6 ° Brix. Todas las mermeladas de yacón cumplido con los requisitos microbiológicos estándar y recibió altos puntajes de aceptación, en especial la mermelada de yacón y mermelada de yacón con canela. Productos de mermelada de yacón pueden ofrecer una excelente alternativa a los atascos más comunes debido a sus concentraciones más bajas de azúcar simple, un valor más bajo de calorías, el aumento de la presencia de fibras dietéticas y las características sensoriales deseadas.