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Campylobacter jejuni is a prominent bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis. Campylobacteriosis outbreaks reported were related to the ingestion of the contaminated food. Meat are reported to be frequently infected with C. jejuni. It is well recognized that C. jejuni is one of the main causes of gastroenteritis in humans, and poultry meat is reported to be the main source. A number of studies in several countries have shown the occurrence of C. jejuni in animal farms, slaughterhouses, and meat. This review simply describes the occurrence, spreading, and public health significance of C. jejuni.

This mini review focuses on foodborne illnesses and outbreaks caused by food-producing animals because statistical information of the foodborne illnesses is important in human health and food industry. Contaminated food results in 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 deaths worldwide every year. The world population is currently 7.8 billion, and 56 million people die every year; of these, every year, 7.69% of people experience foodborne diseases, and 7.5% of annual deaths (56 million deaths) was died by foodborne illness in the world. A majority of such patients are affected by norovirus and Campylobacter. Listeria monocytogenes is the most fatal. In the United States, except for those caused by Campylobacter, the number of foodborne diseases did not decrease between 1997 and 2017, and cases caused by Toxoplasma gondii are still being reported (9 cases in 2017). The percentage of foodborne illnesses caused by food-producing animals was 10.4%–14.1% between 1999 and 2017 in the United States. In Europe, foodborne illnesses affect 23 million people every year and cause approximately 5,000 deaths. Europe has more Campylobacter- and Salmonella-related cases than in other countries. In Australia, the highest number of cases are due to Campylobacter, followed by Salmonella. In Korea, Escherichia coli followed by norovirus. Campylobacter- and Clostridium perfringens-related cases have been reported in Japan as well. This review suggests that Campylobacter, Salmonella, L. monocytogenes, and E. coli, which are usually isolated from animal-source food products are associated with a high risk of foodborne illnesses.

Salmonella spp. is the most common cause of gastrointestinal food poisoning worldwide, and human salmonellosis is mostly caused by the consumption of contaminated food. Therefore, the development of rapid detection methods for Salmoenlla spp. and rapid identification of the source of infection by subtyping are important for the surveillance and monitoring of food-borne salmonellosis. Therefore, this review introduces (1) History and nomenclature of Salmoenlla spp., (2) Epidemiology of Salmoenlla spp., (3) Detection methods for Salmoenlla spp. - conventional culture method, genetic detection method, molecular detection methods, and aptamer, and (4) Subtyping methods for Salmoenlla spp. - pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

In Europe, salmonellosis has been ranked as the second leading cause of hospitalization and death due to the consumption of contaminated food. Information about consumers’ food safety perception, knowledge and practices in the domestic environment is lacking in order to define the main intervention opportunities to obtain a significant reduction in the occurrence of foodborne salmonellosis. We conducted an on-line survey of the Portuguese population on self-reported domestic egg handling and occurrence of illness from egg consumption, which were analysed in a Critical Consumer Handling (CCH) framework. Respondents (N = 927) reported behaviours associated with high risk of Salmonella infection, namely the frequent consumption of eggs from non-controlled sources (43%) and of dishes prepared with uncooked or lightly cooked eggs. Other risk related practices, from egg storage until consumption, were also found to be common. However, when buying eggs respondents value safety-related criteria above others – use-by date (highly valued by 72.8%), lack of cracks (72.2%) and cleanliness (48%). Association of eggs with Salmonella contamination was recognized by 65.8% of the respondents; 72.2% declared to have never been sick after eating eggs. In addition to global egg safety awareness messages, future campaigns should prioritize shifting consumers towards eggs with low probability of being contaminated and encouraging the use of pasteurized eggs, in particular when used in recipes that are not fully heat treated. The importance of storing backyards eggs at refrigeration temperature needs to be communicated. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Listeriosis is a serious disease caused by the germ Listeria monocytogenes. People usually become ill with listeriosis after eating contaminated food including meat. The disease primarily affects pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. In this paper, we propose and scrutinize a model problem describing the transmission dynamics of Listeriosis epidemic in animal and human population using the stability theory of differential equations. The model is qualitatively analysed for the basic reproduction number as well as possibility of forward and backward bifurcation with respect to the stability of disease free and endemic equilibria. The impact of the model parameters on the disease was evaluated via sensitivity analysis. An extension of the model to include time dependent control variables such as treatment, vaccination and education of susceptible (human) is carried out. Using Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle, we obtain the optimal control strategies needed for combating Listeriosis disease. Numerical simulation of the model is performed and pertinent results are displayed graphically and discussed quantitatively.

Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis ( Salmonella Enteritidis) is a major cause of foodborne disease outbreaks worldwide. In 2018, two concurrent outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis gastroenteritis in one district of South Africa were investigated. We describe the use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of bacterial isolates to assist with the investigation of these outbreaks. Outbreak A affected children (n=27) attending a day-care centre, while outbreak B affected adults (n=16) who ate breakfast at the same restaurant. Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated from stool samples in both outbreaks (four children in outbreak A; 12 restaurant customers and three restaurant food-handlers in outbreak B). In outbreak B, Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated from three food retention samples (raw chicken egg, hollandaise sauce and rocket-herb). Available isolates from both outbreaks (n=13) were investigated using WGS analysis. Sequencing data for isolates were analysed at the EnteroBase web-based platform and included core-genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST). Isolates with epidemiological links to the restaurant (n=10) and day-care centre (n=3), were shown by cgMLST to be highly genetically related, with no more than five allele differences when comparing one isolate against another. On food history, eggs and hollandaise sauce were the common food items consumed by ill restaurant customers. Unfortunately, Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from the egg and hollandaise sauce were not available for WGS analysis. Our investigation concluded that the two concurrent outbreaks were caused by a highly related strain of Salmonella Enteritidis, suggesting the possibility of a common contaminated food source, of which contaminated eggs are strongly implicated.

Norovirus (NoV) is an important etiological agent of diarrhea in children and adults. In Mexico, NoV screening is not routinely performed. NoV is highly infectious and is responsible for massive outbreaks due to the consumption of contaminated food. The study was a cross-sectional design. Samples of diarrheal stools were collected from (62) children and (38) adults with acute gastroenteritis during 2013-2014. The circulating genogroups of NoV were detected by amplifying the RdRp gene fragment, and for the genotyping, the capsid and polymerase fragments were sequenced. Seventy-seven percent of the analyzed samples were positive for NoV. Genotyping was possible for 51 samples; for polymerase GII.P2, GII.P31, GII.P4, GII.P7, GII.P40, and GI.P14 were identified, whereas for capsid, genotypes GI.3, GII.2, GII.4, GII.5, GII.14, and GII.17. In conclusion, there is a high prevalence of gastroenteritis due to NoV in the northwest of Mexico, including genotypes that have not been reported previously in Mexico.

Contamination with foreign objects is one of the main causes of customers? complaints against food manufacturers. Although different technologies are used for food and beverage inline monitoring, cases of contaminated food products still reach the market, many of which involve plastic and glass fragments. In this article, we propose the use of a microwave imaging (MWI) technology to monitor packaged foods along production lines. In this framework, MWI exploits the differences in dielectric properties between the food and the contaminant as well as the differences between faulty and unaltered items. A dedicated MWI system is designed and validated through numerical simulations. Then the prototype device is assessed experimentally, both in controlled laboratory conditions and on an industrial production line. The results of this study show the capabilities of this technology for food safety and security.

The studies on phage applications that provide successful results in biocontrol of foodborne pathogens and offer an environmentally friendly approach have been increasing today. Phages are viruses that can infect and kill the specific target bacterial cell. Salmonella is one of the most important pathogenic microorganisms that leading causes of food-borne illnesses called salmonellosis. Meat products especially chicken meat, fresh eggs, dairy products, ready-to-eat foods, seafood products and all kinds of contaminated food can be cause of salmonellosis. In this review, the phage application studies to control of Salmonella in food systems were summarized taking into account the research studied in recent years.

Cockroaches are one of the potential vectors on spreading disease and health problems for humans by contaminating foods, ingredients, or food storage. Cause of their habit and life in an unsanitary place, they can carry human pathogens in their body and contaminated. This review aims to know the types and prevalence of human pathogens carried by cockroaches in the food-related environment and discuss the possibility of human pathogens carried by cockroaches that can cause foodborne diseases. This systematic review conforms to the PRISMA guidelines. The initial search was done from four health-related electronic databases (PubMed Central, EBSCOhost, Proquest, and Scopus) for relevant literature on pathogens that isolated from the cockroaches. There are 129 articles identified in the initial search database. After screening and eligibility process, eight articles were identified for this review. It was found that most of the cockroaches captured in/around food handling establishment and human habitation. Furthermore, around 23 species pathogens, predominantly bacteria, were identified from the cockroaches. This review showed that cockroaches carry many pathogens, which can cause severe infections in humans, such as foodborne diseases through contaminated food.

This paper is part of a research cycle focusing on studying the current levels of 241Am and 137Cs in soils and local foodstuffs of populated areas neighboring the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Our objective was to estimate the maximum annual committed internal doses to individuals of the Bragin-area settlements from inhalation and consumption of locally produced foods. We updated the data on the levels of 241Am and 137Сs in soils of 28 settlements of the district. Specific activity of 241Am in soils in two of the settlements were the highest of all; we took and analyzed samples of local-grown foodstuff. 241Am in food samples was measured via a radiochemical method with the use of selective chromatographic resins and alpha-spectrometry measurement. A gammaspectrometry technique was used to measure 241Am in soil and 137Сs in soil and food samples. The most contaminated by 241Am and 137Cs appeared the soils in the town of Bragin, the administrative center of the district where the respective levels were as high as 2.8 and 560 kBq/m2. Among the analyzed samples, the specific activities of 241Am in root and tuber crops were one-digit values, while the samples of leafy vegetables contained a few tens of mBq/kg of the same radionuclide. That said, however, 241Am concentrations in food samples were lower than those of 137Сs by three orders of magnitude. The results showed an apparent difference between estimated annual committed internal doses to the Bragin residents due to 241Am intake and that resulting from 137Сs with the respective 0.03 and 1.7 mSv/year. The maximum doses to population of the Bragin-district villages from inhalation of 241Am varied from 0.006 to 0.033 mSv/year exceeding the doses from inhaled 137Сs – 0.0002-0.002 mSv/year – by one order of magnitude. The major contribution to the public internal exposure today is 137Сs intake through consumption of contaminated food that produced locally; its contribution is about 93-99% of the total internal dose received by the Bragin-district residents.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that are toxic to humans and animals when consumed in contaminated food and feed. The Rwandan climate conditions like steady temperature and sufficient rainfall favor the growth of fungi leading to high probability of mycotoxins contamination. Mycotoxins get into maize throughout the value chain from the field to processed products. Maize is promoted in Rwanda under the Crop Intensification Program (CIP), for nutrition and food security. The aim of the study was to evaluate mycotoxins (Aflatoxin and fumonisin) levels in maize and assess awareness and factors associated with mycotoxin contamination in Rwanda. Maize samples (227 kg) from season B 2019 were collected in 15 Districts in five provinces of Rwanda after an interview with a representative of the household or cooperative using a structured questionnaire. The samples were analyzed for aflatoxin and fumonisin using Reveal Q+ and AccuScan Gold Reader. From the interview, most of the respondents were not aware about aflatoxin (59.7 %) and 99 % did not know the effect of mycotoxins on human health. The average of aflatoxin contamination in surveyed districts was 6.69±13 μg/kg. In general, 90.4 % of samples scored below the limit of aflatoxin level regulated in East Africa/Kenya regulation standards (10 μg/kg). The levels of aflatoxin ranged between 0 and 100.9 μg/kg. The means aflatoxin levels within districts ranged between 1.36±0.5 μg/kg and 13.75±25 μg/kg. Among 9.6 % of the samples containing aflatoxins above the EU and Kenyan regulations standard limit, 5.7 % were above the US standards of 20 μg/kg. Within clusters, the level of aflatoxin more than 10 μg/kg was 5 %, 7 % and 18 % for stores, household and market samples, respectively. From the study, as mechanical damage of grains, moisture content of grains and the temperature of the store house increased, Aflatoxin level also increased. Fumonisin analyzed in maize ranged from 0 to 2.3 μg/g and only one sample from market showed a slightly higher level of fumonisin than the EU and US limit of 2 μg/g. More effort for aflatoxin mitigation is needed at the market level. Farmers need to be aware and taught how they can improve their agricultural system and more knowledge on mycotoxin control is needed. The results point to appropriate measures to recommend for control ofmycotoxins in Rwanda and awareness creation. Key words: AccuScan, Aflatoxin, Fumonisin, Fungal, Maize, Mycotoxins, Reveal Q+, Rwanda

Infections acquired from ingesting contaminated food and water poses an adverse effect on public health and safety, thus affecting nations’ economy. Technical approaches developed over years have contributed adequately to microbial detection in food and water, yet, unveiling spaces for more improvement on early and rapid detection of pathogens. This review highlights different strategy assessing bio-functionalized inorganic nanoparticles towards the detection of pathogens in food and water samples. Conjugates of several bio-receptors and inorganic nanoparticles showed rapid, real-time, repeatability, and appreciable limit of detection in targeted pathogens. A patent referenced in this study established the biocompatibility of bio-functionalized inorganic nanoparticles mechanism. Unique attributes exhibited by bio-functionalized inorganic nanoparticles showed potential and improvement of the existing bio-sensing pathogen detection methods. Each of the identified strategies described showed a promising pathway accommodating the development of simple, and even the fabrication of low-cost materials for easy detection of bacterial pathogens in food and water products.

Infection causing microbes spread through the air, water, contaminated food, cloth, equipment or from infected person to healthy one. The evidence collected on spreading mode of COVID-19 is mostly through skin contact and respiratory droplets. However, just in contact with the microbe is not enough to cause the disease. Reaching the germ to the internal body is the critical step involved in the manifestation of illness. Contact transmission for the sign of disease in an individual can occur from skin to the inner body especially when the infected part (mostly hands) reaches the mucous membrane of open cavities such as mouth, nose, eyes or open wound. Therefore the use of good quality sanitizers to prevent infections such as COVID-19 is one of the critical measures.Ayurveda is a rich source of vast information on therapeutic potentials of numerous herbs. Many simple to complex formulations can be prepared by using the therapeutic attributes of these herbs. Therefore in the present work, an attempt has been made to initiate the manufacturing of Ayurveda hand sanitizers based on various Ayurvedic medicated drugs mentioned in Samhitas, as developing countries such as India are facing a shortage of hand sanitizers which is a must prevent the spread of COVID-19. The shortage has resulted in an internal price hike, and thus there is a need for a homemade affordable way of sanitizing hands. Therefore by using a combination of antimicrobial, disinfectant, anti-allergic, skin disease curing herbs along can be recommended for the preparation of Ayurveda hand sensitizers. By using similar herbs, nasal spray and aerosols for cleaning and increasing the strength of the respiratory tract can also be prepared.

The presence of antibiotic residues in foodstuff has been of growing concern in recent years. They are associated with several adverse effects on human health such as the transmission of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria through the contaminated food, weakness of the immune system, allergic or toxic reactions and imbalance of the gut microbiota. Therefore, monitoring of the levels of antibiotic residues in animal-derived food is necessary to guarantee the safety of food products as well as the public health. Since the residual antibiotics in the foodstuff are in trace levels which are often lower than the limits of detection of analytical instruments, the sample preparation before the analysis is very important. This step is an essential part of an analytical process, especially for the extraction of chemical residues from a sample, preconcentration of the extract and elimination of any matrix interferences that may affect the selectivity, sensitivity and the overall performance of the analytical methods. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is one of the most widely used techniques for the sample preparation that provides an efficient and reproducible method for selective concentration of target analytes in complex matrices. The objective of this research was to provide an updated overview of the recent trends in SPE techniques over the past five years. Different variations of this method, including solid-phase microextraction, stir bar sorptive extraction, matrix solid-phase dispersion, micro-solid-phase extraction, dispersive micro solid-phase extraction, magnetic solid-phase extraction, and molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction are also given in the present study. The review is focused on recent developments and innovations in the SPE which tries to improve the efficiency, safety and performance of sample preparation.

Acute hepatitis is an unusual manifestation of listeriosis. Most patients with listeriosis present with fever, flu-like illness and gastroenteritis symptoms due to consumption of contaminated food. Pregnancy-associated Listeria monocytogenes infection commonly occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy compared to early trimesters. We report a case of listeriosis in the first trimester of pregnancy, which presented with the acute onset of jaundice and was successfully treated with ampicillin.

Introduction. Breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of infants, and therefore food is needed. Microbiologically contaminated food is particularly harmful for children Objective. The study was aimed to assess hygienic practices and associated factors during complementary feeding among children aged 6 to 24 months in Bahir Dar Zuria District, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross sectional study was conducted from March 20 to April 20, 2019. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using the structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with hygienic practice during complementary feeding. Data were entered by using Epi Data version 3.1, and then it was exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis, and at 95% CI, p value Result. Among 604 respondents, 235 (38.9%) of study participants had good hygienic practice during complementary feeding. Access to media (AOR: 8.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8–20.3), private latrine ownership (AOR: 4.11, 95% CI: 1.90–8.49), presence of hand washing facility at doorstep (AOR: 6.75 95% CI: 3.16–14.41), and residence of the study participants (AOR: 85.42, 95% CI: 1.94–15.2) were significantly associated with good hygienic practice of mothers during complementary feeding. Conclusion. Majority of mothers had poor hygienic practice during complementary feeding. Attitude of mothers, access to media, household private latrine ownership, presence of handwashing facility, and residence of the study participants were significantly associated with hygiene practice of mothers during complementary feeding. The health sector should train mothers on good hygiene practices during complementary feeding.

Background and study aim: Inadequately treated water supply and unhygienic food consumption are the major sources of contracting feco-orally transmitted viral pathogens, including Rotavirus. This prospective study aimed to assess the presence of Rotavirus in sewage, underground and surface waters collected from different locations within Maiduguri Metropolis, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 170 sewage and water samples (underground and surface waters) were collected from various sources in high-density and low-density areas of the Maiduguri metropolis. A modified adsorption- elution method for concentration of enteric viruses in sewage and water samples and detection of the presence of rotavirus (if present) was done using Enzyme linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). The viruses in water were concentrated by negatively charged membrane filtration, eluted with 0.05M Glycine at pH 11.5, and re-concentrated by centrifugation at 12,000rpm for one hour. Results: Out of the 60 domestic sewage samples collected from high-density areas, 8.3% were positive for rotavirus antigen, whereas none of the samples from low-density areas were positive. In addition, rotavirus antigen was not detected in underground and surface water samples. The temperature range of the 5 rotavirus positive samples was 23-30oC. All the 5 positive samples had alkaline pH that ranged between 8 and 9. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the persistence of rotavirus in sewage and its possible transmission through contaminated food and poor treated water

Hepatosplenic candidiasis and other fungal infections of the liver are uncommon in healthy individuals; however, high index of suspicion is essential in immunocompromised patients with prolonged fever. Parasitic infections are protozoan or helminthic; their distribution and epidemiology are variable among different world regions. Clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, and ascariasis are helminthic infections that commonly involve the biliary systems. Signs and symptoms of cholangitis require prompt management to relieve biliary obstruction; addition of antihelminthic agents is essential. Parasitic infections are mostly transmitted to humans by fecally contaminated food and water. Proper hand and food sanitation measures are essential in preventing disease transmission.

Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum and some other relative species. It causes a lethal disease called botulism. It can enter the body via infections by Clostridium (e.g. wound and children botulism) or by direct contact with the toxin or eating contaminated food (food-borne botulism). Botulinum toxin is also considered as a relevant biological warfare agent with an expected high number of causalities when misused for bioterrorist or military purposes. The current paper surveys the actual knowledge about botulinum toxin pathogenesis, the manifestation of poisoning, and current trends in diagnostics and therapeutics. Relevant and recent literature is summarized in this paper.

Human body is a perfectly designed and the most effectively functioning bio-machine. When there is no proper care microbes enter our body and lead to septicemia and makes us asthenic. Much of the pathogens gain entry into our body by contaminated food, water and physical contact with the affected person or material. Pathogens are biological fluids which disrupts homeostasis. The pathogens could be viral, bacterial, nematodal, prional or fungal. The impact of the infection depends on the pathogenicity of the infected pathogen. We are always concerned about the places that we see regularly and we hear frequently. We rarely thimk of certain sites that may cause us an infection. Not only drainages or an unclean surrounding is a place where pathogens grow; even nosocomial sites like catheters, ICU’s or operation theaters can be a site of infection. We never even think of these sites but we need to be cautious about such sites. Our own unclean habits lead us to various opportunistic infections from unnoticed sites like toothbrushes, currency notes etc.Our daily usage things like toiletries must be kept moisture free and clean. Moisture content in such things readily promote microbial growth. The reviewed article gives a brief outline of such unnoticed sites of infection.

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la calidad bacteriológica del agua para consumo humano y la enfermedad diarreica aguda, en el Distrito de Rázuri. Provincia de Ascope. Departamento de La Libertad – Perú. Según el tipo de investigación es aplicada y cuantitativa. Método: prospectivo, estadístico, interpretativo, documental y valorativo. Con un diseño cuasi experimental con corte longitudinal. Las tomas de muestra de agua fueron colectadas de 14 localidades en 03 puntos de muestreo: en pozo, en reservorio y red pública; y los análisis microbiológicos de agua fueron evaluados por el laboratorio de la Oficina de Salud Ambiental de la Sub Gerencia de la Promoción de la Gestión Territorial – GERESA / LL. Para la determinación de enfermedad diarreica aguda (EDA) los datos se tomaron del registro de consultas médicas del Centro de Salud de Rázuri – MINSA y software de registro médico – Puesto de Salud Malabrigo – ESSALUD. 2018. En la validación estadística se empleó la prueba no paramétrica prueba exacta de Fisher y Chi cuadrado ambas con un nivel de confianza del 95%, determinándose en cuanto a calidad bacteriológica del agua apta para las localidades de Puerto Malabrigo, Monte Seco, El Paraíso, La Perla de Macabí, Macabí Alto, La Línea, El Pancal y dentro de los grupos de no apta para las localidades de San Mateo, El Palomar, Santa Rosa, Los García, La Corlib, El Algodonal, y el Nuevo Paraíso. El agua potable es apta para consumo humano al 100% para la zona urbana administrada por SEDALIB y al 50% para la zona rural administrada por JASS. Se atendieron 318 (77%) casos de EDA acuosa procedentes de la zona urbana. Se concluye estadísticamente que no existe diferencia significativa en la calidad bacteriológica del agua potable clorada administrada tanto en la zona urbana y la zona rural. No existe diferencia significativa en los casos de EDA entre la zona urbana y la zona rural. En la zona urbana, administrada por SEDALIB, existe relación inversa entre agua clorada apta para consumo humano con respecto a la presencia de bacterias, por tanto, los casos de EDA posiblemente tengan otros orígenes como el consumo de alimentos contaminados; mientras que, para la zona rural, administrada por JASS, estos pueden deberse tanto al agua como a los alimentos contaminados.

DNA from hair that has undergone retort pouch sterilization shows considerably more fragmentation. Assessing the extent of DNA fragmentation using a PCR assay could therefore be applied to infer the sterilization history of a contaminated food sample. Such assessments could make it possible to determine whether a food sample had been contaminated by hair during the production process. To determine the extent of retort pouch sterilization, primers specific for the detection of human DNA were designed to give an amplification product of approx 500 bp. Hair was subjected to retort sterilization as a model of contamination, and PCR was performed using the extracted DNA as a template and the primer set for determining retort pouch sterilization. The results showed that no DNA amplification occurred in retort pouch samples, whereas amplification was observed in samples that were unheated, heated in hot water, or heated in a microwave oven. The present method was thus able to specifically detect thermal decomposition of DNA from hair that had undergone retort sterilization, and will be useful for determining whether hair discovered in a retort pouch was responsible for contamination.

Cadmium (Cd) has an important impact on agriculture, as the excessive consumption of this element from contaminated food crops leads to toxicity in humans. Rice is the greatest source of dietary Cd...

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers, additives, or solvents. Its extensive use has generated environmental and food contamination, which implies continuous population exposure. The aim of this work was to determine the probability of health risk of Mexican children exposed to phthalates through the consumption of contaminated food. A survey was applied to 384 Mexican school-age children (between 6 and 12 years old), to find out the type of food they eat most frequently, based on this, a research was made to know the concentration of phthalates contained in these foods. The daily intake had been calculated with the concentration of phthalates reported in food, obtaining: DEHP (19.50 μg/kg body weight/day), DnBP (5.52 μg/kg body weight/day) y for DEP (1.12 μg/kg body weight/day). The hazard index (HI) for DEP y DEHP was 0.49 to 42.5 for internal organs damage reported. HI for reproductive health damage due to exposure to DnBT and DEHP was of 0.04 to 5.58, so that there is a high probability that children's health is at risk. Therefore, it is necessary to a quantitative analysis of phthalates in food consumed in Latin American countries and establish the TDI of phthalates especially, to DEHP, which was obtained the higher HI.

Highlights • Estimation of dietary aluminum rates in the Lebanese population. • Creation of food frequency questionnaire targeting aluminum. • Safety requirements and recommendations., Widely used for a variety of applications, levels of dietary aluminum (Al) have seen a perpetual rise in Lebanon, leading to noticeable effects upon the human body. This study aims to estimate the rates of Al contaminated food consumption and quantify the Al present in different dietary matrices, revealing the major contributors to Al exposure for the Lebanese population. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a customized, self-reported Electronic Food Frequency Questionnaire (E-FFQ) using Curve®, targeting individuals between the ages of 18 and 64 from different Lebanese regions, distributed proportionally. The selection of food was based upon the results of the French EAT2 study. Al levels in food were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) after acid digestion. The E-FFQ was completed by 167 respondents. Data analysis was performed on SPSS version 25. Additionally, 97 food items were studied in 2018. Al levels had a mean of 3.56 ± 2.08 mg/kg (ranging from 0.14 to 9.37). The highest Al levels were found in vegetables, followed by sauces and condiments, candies, and ready meals. The Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) of Al was set at 0.50 mg/kg body weight (60 Kg/person). Al mean Daily Dietary Exposure (DDE) was estimated to be 4341.18 μg/day, with the highest food exposure coming from lettuce, soft drinks, ice cream and tea. Al ingestion rates for the adult Lebanese population does not exceed the international established thresholds of tolerable intake (1 mg/kg/week). National recommendation should be developed to control the presence of metal for food safety purposes.

Food borne pathogens have been the primary causative factor for high mortality rate due to waterborne diseases worldwide. Dielectrophoresis offers an alternate solution to traditional methods for classifying and removing microorganisms in selective, rapid and reversible manner. This study investigates the removal of foodborne pathogens using dielectrophoretic filter with different voltage and frequency. Experiments are conducted using food samples that are artificially contaminated by E. coli, S. aureus, S. typhi and Pseudomonas spp. Results indicate that the AC signal of 15 V with 1 MHz frequency is suitable for removing bacterial population. The efficiency of DEP system is also analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope.

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by fungi that contaminate many important crops worldwide. Humans are commonly exposed to mycotoxins through the consumption of contaminated food products. Mycotoxin contamination is unpredictable and unavoidable; it occurs at any point in the food production system under favorable conditions, and they cannot be destroyed by common heat treatments, because of their high thermal stability. Early and fast detection plays an essential role in this unique challenge to monitor the presence of these compounds in the food chain. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an advanced spectroscopic technique that integrates Raman spectroscopic molecular fingerprinting and enhanced sensitivity based on nanotechnology to meet the requirement of sensitivity and selectivity, but that can also be performed in a cost-effective and straightforward manner. This Review focuses on the SERS methodologies applied to date for qualitative and quantitative analysis of mycotoxins based on a variety of SERS substrates, as well as our perspectives on current limitations and future trends for applying this technique to mycotoxin analyses.

Soil contamination by SARS-CoV-2 is highly probable because soil can collect several transporters of the virus, such as fallout aerosols, wastewaters, relatively purified sludges, and organic residues. However, the fate and status of SARS-CoV-2 in soil and the possible risks for human health through contaminated food are unknown. Therefore, this perspective paper discusses the challenges of determining the SARS-CoV-2 in soil and the mechanisms concerning its adsorption, movement, and infectivity in soil, considering what has already been reported by perspective papers published up to May 2021. These issues are discussed, drawing attention to the soil virus bibliography and considering the chemical structure of the virus. The mechanistic understanding of the status and behavior of SARS-CoV-2 in soil requires setting up an accurate determination method. In addition, future researches should provide insights into i) plant uptake and movement inside the plant, ii) virus adsorption and desorption in soil with the relative infectivity, and iii) its effects on soil functions. Models should simulate spatial localization of virus in the soil matrix.

Triclocarban (3,4,4′-trichlorocarbanilide, TCC) is a high-volume chemical used as an antimicrobial ingredient in many consumer and personal care products. In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration removed TCC from over-the-counter hand washing products. However, TCC remains approved to use in many other products and is a ubiquitous contaminant in the environment; furthermore, many common food crops can efficiently accumulate environmental TCC, resulting in potential human exposure through oral ingestion of contaminated food products. Therefore, human exposure to TCC could be a long-lasting and serious problem. A better understanding of its impact on human health could lead to important impact for public health and regulatory policy. Using a spontaneous colonic inflammation model in Il-10−/− mice, here we demonstrate that exposure to TCC, at doses relevant to human exposure, exaggerates spontaneous colonic inflammation in Il-10−/− mice, with reduced colon length, increase fecal concentration of lipocalin 2, enhanced gene expression of Il-6 and Ifn-γ in the colon, and exaggerated crypt damage in the colon. Collectively, these results support that TCC could be a potential environmental risk factor of colitis and associated gut diseases.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced mainly by Fusarium graminearum in contaminated food, is assumed to cause several outbreaks of gastrointestinal disorder among humans. The development of a...

The human Listeriosis infection is a food-borne disease caused by the consumption of food products contaminated by the bacterial pathogen, Listeria. In this paper, we propose a mathematical model to analyse the impact of media awareness campaigns on the spread and control of Listeriosis. The model equilibria are determined and the model has three equilibria namely; the disease-free, the Listeria-free, and the endemic equilibria. The food contamination constant (ℛf) is determined and the stability analysis shows that the disease-free steady state is locally asymptotically stable if ℛf 1. Sensitivity analysis is done to determine the model parameters that most affect the severity of the disease. Numerical simulations are carried out to determine the role of media awareness campaigns on the spread of the Listeriosis. The results show that an increase in the intensity of the media awareness campaigns and removal of contaminated food products, a decrease in the contact rate, results in fewer humans getting infected leading to disease eradication, while an increase in the depletion of media awareness campaigns results in more humans been infected with Listeriosis. These findings may significantly impact policy and decision making in the control of Listeriosis disease.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has caused numerous foodborne illness outbreaks where beef was implicated as the contaminated food source. Understanding how STEC attach to beef surfaces may inform effective intervention applications at the abattoir. This simulated meat processing conditions to measure STEC attachment to adipose and lean beef tissue. Beef brisket samples were warmed to a surface temperature of 30 °C (warm carcass), while the remaining samples were maintained at 4 °C (cold carcass), prior to surface inoculation with an STEC cocktail (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157:H7). Cocktails were grown in either tryptic soy broth (TSB) or M9 minimal nutrient medium. Loosely and firmly attached cells were measured at 0, 3, 5, and 20 min and 1, 3, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h. TSB-grown STEC cells became more firmly attached throughout storage and a difference in loosely versus firmly attached populations on lean and adipose tissues was observed. M9-grown STEC demonstrated a 0.2 log10 CFU/cm2 difference in attachment to lean versus adipose tissue and variability in populations was recorded throughout sampling. Future research should investigate whether a decrease in intervention efficacy correlates to an increase in firmly attached STEC cells on chilled carcasses and/or subprimals, which has been reported.

Background: Food poisoning is caused by eating contaminated food. Improper food safety knowledge, poor food handling, and inadequate personal hygiene may allow microbes to grow in sufficient numbers to cause a food-borne illness. The aim of this paper was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding food poisoning and its determinants of parents in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 3011 parents in the Aseer region in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was used to collect the data. The level of knowledge of the participants was scored as a percentage and further classified as “good” or “poor”. Attitudes were classified as “positive”, “neutral”, or “negative” based on a calculated composite mean score. The participants were asked about standard food hygiene practices, and the practices were recorded based on how often they were performed, with the results recorded as “usually”, “sometimes”, or “never”. Results: The age range of the parents was between 18 and 65 years old, with a mean age of 28.9 ± 10.4 years. Among the participants, 96.2% were Saudi, and 81.8% were female. Almost 53% of the fathers and 41% of the mothers were university graduates. About 55% of the mothers were housewives. Almost equal proportions of the parents had “good” and “poor” levels of knowledge on food poisoning. Around 41% of the parents had positive attitudes towards safe food consumption. Older parents (defined as above 30 years of age), males, university graduates, and urban residents had significantly higher levels of knowledge regarding food poisoning. Conclusions: This study provided much needed information on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to food poisoning among parents in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia. Although most respondents reported satisfactory practices, gaps were identified in knowledge and attitudes. This suggests a need for further investigation focused on the observed practices and strengthening health education activities for the community.

In the handling of various foods, contamination can occur due to the irregular way in which utensils are handled, increasing the risk of transmission of microorganisms from one food to another. In most cases, contamination occurs due to inadequate sanitation. Cutting boards in the kitchen are widely used, and this utensil, with the accumulation of cuts, recesses and holes, becomes a hospitable place for the proliferation of microorganisms; glass, plastic and wood boards are the most used, but the one with the greatest risk of contamination is wood. This research aims to identify the level of contamination by microorganisms in cutting boards and the most suitable type for safe use. This article was developed through an integrative review of scientific articles found in electronic databases, Academic Google, PubMed and SciELO that addressed the microbiological analysis of cutting boards. The survey results showed the prevalence of mesophilic aerobic microorganisms, yeasts, fungi and bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family. To prevent cross-contamination in food, the use of colored polyethylene boards is recommended, where each color is designed for the preparation of a single type of food, in addition to not neglecting cleaning before and after using utensils. En el manejo de diversos alimentos se puede producir contaminación por la forma irregular en la que se manipulan los utensilios, aumentando el riesgo de transmisión de microorganismos de un alimento a otro, en la mayoría de los casos la contaminación se produce por un saneamiento inadecuado. Las tablas de cortar en la cocina son muy utilizadas, y este utensilio, con la acumulación de cortes, rebajes y huecos, se convierte en un lugar acogedor para la proliferación de microorganismos; Los tableros de vidrio, plástico y madera son los más utilizados, pero el que presenta mayor riesgo de contaminación es la madera. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo identificar el nivel de contaminación por microorganismos en las tablas de cortar y el tipo más adecuado para un uso seguro. Este artículo fue desarrollado a través de una revisión integradora de artículos científicos encontrados en bases de datos electrónicas, Academic Google, PubMed y SciELO que abordaron el análisis microbiológico de tablas de cortar. Los resultados de la encuesta mostraron la prevalencia de microorganismos aerobios mesófilos, levaduras, hongos y bacterias de la familia Enterobacteriaceae. Para evitar la contaminación cruzada en los alimentos, se recomienda el uso de tableros de polietileno de colores, donde cada color está diseñado para la preparación de un solo tipo de alimento, además de no descuidar la limpieza antes y después de usar los utensilios. Na manipulação de diversos alimentos pode ocorrer contaminação devido à forma irregular no manuseio dos utensílios, aumentando o risco da transmissão de microrganismos de um alimento para o outro, na maioria dos casos a contaminação ocorre pela inadequada higienização. As tábuas de corte na cozinha são bastante utilizadas, e esse utensílio, com o acúmulo de cortes, reentrâncias e orifícios, tornam-se um local hospitaleiro para a proliferação de microrganismos; as tábuas de vidro, plástico e madeira, são as mais utilizadas, porém a que possui maior risco de contaminação é a de madeira. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo identificar o nível de contaminação por microrganismos em de tábuas de corte e o tipo mais adequado para a utilização de forma segura. O presente artigo foi desenvolvido por meio de uma revisão integrativa em artigos científicos encontrados nas bases de dados eletrônicas, Google Acadêmico, PubMed e SciELO que abordaram a análise microbiológica de tábuas de corte. Os resultados das pesquisas apresentaram a prevalência de microrganismos aeróbios mesófilos, leveduras, fungos e bactérias da família Enterobacteriaceae. Para prevenção de contaminações cruzadas nos alimentos, é indicado o uso de tábuas de polietileno coloridas, onde cada cor é designada para o preparo de um único tipo de alimento, além de, não negligenciar a limpeza antes e após o uso dos utensílios.

The declaration of lupine supplements is mandatory to avoid lupine allergy for sensitive individuals. However, reliable detection methods against lupine allergen remain critical to prevent the unintended consumption of allergen contaminated food. In this study, we have immunized an alpaca with lupine protein extracts and retrieved nanobodies (Nbs). Nevertheless, the target antigen has been recognized as Lup an 1, which has been classified as β-conglutin, and confirmed to connect with lupine allergy. After selection of the best Nb-pair, a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed providing a linear range of 0.036–4.4 μg/mL with detection limit of 1.15 ng/mL. This immunoassay was confirmed by detecting the samples with spiked allergen, and a recovery from 86.25% to 108.45% with coefficient of variation (CV) less than 4.0% has been determined. Generally, this study demonstrated the selection of Nbs against allergen with crude protein content to develop the immunoassay for lupine surveillance in foods.

The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium has emerged as a leading cause of diarrhoeal illness worldwide, posing a significant threat to young children and immunocompromised patients. While endemic in the vast majority of developing countries, Cryptosporidium also has the potential to cause waterborne epidemics and large scale outbreaks in both developing and developed nations. Anthroponontic and zoonotic transmission routes are well defined, with the ingestion of faecally contaminated food and water supplies a common source of infection. Microscopy, the current diagnostic mainstay, is considered by many to be suboptimal. This has prompted a shift towards alternative diagnostic techniques in the advent of the molecular era. Molecular methods, particularly PCR, are gaining traction in a diagnostic capacity over microscopy in the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis, given the laborious and often tedious nature of the latter. Until now, developments in the field of Cryptosporidium detection and research have been somewhat hampered by the intractable nature of this parasite. However, recent advances in the field have taken the tentative first steps towards bringing Cryptosporidium research into the 21st century. Herein, we provide a review of these advances., Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image, Highlights • Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite, is a leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. • Despite its prevalence and impact, it is underreported, with no vaccine and few treatment options. • While molecular diagnosis options are increasing, microscopy remains the gold standard. • Many areas of research have also been limited by the intractable nature of this pathogen. • Advances in molecular biology, e.g. NGS and CRISPR/Cas, stand to advance research in this field.

Listeriosis is a food-borne disease caused by a bacterium known as Listeria monocytogens. Humans can be infected by consuming contaminated food products. A transmission can also occur through contact with infected animals or people, however to a less extent. In this paper, a mathematical model for Listeriosis dynamics was developed. The steady states and their stability of the model system were determined and analyzed. The result shows that the disease-free equilibrium is asymptotically stable if the bacteria’s growth rate is less than its removal rate, and also the growth rate of food contamination is less than its removal rate. It was further observed that we can still have Listeriosis driven by the contaminated food products even if the Listeria bacteria population in the environment is very small.The results indicate that Listeriosis can be effectively controlled by removing contaminated food products, which was the policy adopted by the South African government during the recent Listeriosis outbreak.

Food preservatives and additives are the universal concern of recent days. Particularly, formalin is a chemical compound that is being commonly mingled with food for the preservation purpose. The recurrent ingesting of formalin contaminated food causes uncompromising health sicknesses like chronic cancer. Therefore, identification of formalin in food substances is an extreme need and day by day this need is growing as a general issue in the emerging terrains. In this article, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based sensor, comprised of graphene-PtSe2 combined layers associated with a ZnO nano-sheet is presented for the detection of formalin in liquid solution. The performance of the sensor has been analyzed through an analytical approach using MATLAB commercial software. Consequence due to incorporation of the Graphene-PtSe2 combined layer into the sensor structure along with ZnO layer has been studied. The observed sensitivity and quality factor are 155.33° RIU−1 and 88.89 RIU−1, respectively. This sensor senses the presence of formalin molecules by using attenuated total reflection (ATR) approach, assessing the reflectance vs SPR angle. It is found that the sensitivity of the conventional SPR based sensor is 128.33° RIU−1, whereas an improved sensitivity of 155.33° RIU−1 is obtained for this proposed amalgamated sensor structure. Later in time, a comparison of performance for different SPR sensor structures and the proposed sensor has been studied. Finally, another comparison study has been made with performance of the proposed sensor to other reported sensor in the literature.

Acute hepatitis A is caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), which spreads through contaminated food or water or person-to-person contact, and has been epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) since 2018 in Tokyo. The majority of these patients have been found to be seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and contracted hepatitis A through sexual contact. We cared for an HIV-positive patient with fulminant hepatitis A while on antiretroviral therapy at our hospital. Hepatitis A vaccine should be aggressively promoted for HIV-positive MSM.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a known hepatotoxin present in drinking water, and contaminated food and algal dietary supplements poses a threat to environmental and public health and thus needs t...

The present study reports three cases of problems on farmed Arapaima gigas in the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon (1st case: Jaundice disease in farmedArapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822) in Pará, Brazil; 2nd case: Gas bubble disease in farmed Arapaima gigas from the Peruvian amazon and 3rd case: Mortalities caused by fights between sexually mature females of Arapaima gigas. All cases were reported during field expeditions to fish farms. The first case was reported in Para, Brazil and describes a jaundice disease caused by the consumption of contaminated food by micotoxins. The second case was reported in Iquitos, Peru and describes a “gas bubble” disease on young A. gigas caused by inadequate management and lack of acclimation when translated from a fish pond to glass aquaria and wooden boxes with shallow water. The third case is reported in Manaus, Brazil and describes a storage experiment where it was demonstrated that breeding tanks with more than one female results in fights against females and consequently the death of some specimens. El presente estudio reporta tres casos de problemas en Arapaima gigas cultivados en la Amazonía peruana y brasileña (1r caso: Ictericia en Arapaima gigas cultivados en la Amazonía peruana y brasileña; 2do caso: Enfermedad de las burbujas gaseosas en Arapaima gigas cultivados en la Amazonía peruana y 3r caso: Mortalidades causadas por peleas entre hembras maduras sexualmente de Arapaima gigas. Todos los casos fueron reportados durante expediciones de campo a piscigranjas. El primer caso fue reportado en Pará, Brasil y describe la condición de ictericia causada por el consumo de alimento contaminado por micotoxinas. El segundo caso fue reportado en Iquitos, Perú y describe la enfermedad de las burbujas gaseosas en especímenes jóvenes de A. gigas causada por inadecuado manejo y falta de aclimatación al trasladar a los peces de un estanque piscícola a acuarios de vidrio y cajas de madera con poca agua. El tercer caso es reportado en Manaus, Brasil y describe un experimento en el cual se demuestra que tanques de reproducción en los cuales se colocaron más de una hembra de A. gigas son inadecuados para la crianza y reproducción de esta especie, ya que como resultado se notaron peleas entre especímenes hembras que consecuentemente llevaron a la muerte de varios ejemplares.

Aflatoxins [AFs] are secondary metabolites of the fungus species Aspergillus spp. Both animal and epidemiological studies provided sufficient evidence on the carcinogenic, immunotoxic, mutagenic, and genotoxic potential of AFs. While ingestion is the main route of exposure for AFs through consumption of contaminated food products, agricultural workers and personnel who handle AF-contaminated grains are also at higher risk of exposure via inhalation. The main objective of the review is to provide a comprehensive overview of past scientific studies on occupational exposure to AFs, high-risk occupations, and disease outcomes. A search of peer-reviewed articles was done on PubMed and Web of Science Databases. A total of 164 papers was identified and 61 journal articles were selected for further review. High risk occupations include animal husbandry and processing of grain cereals and/or animal feed. Primary liver cancer and respiratory cancers were the most reported as a result of occupational exposure to AFs. For future studies, improved study designs, better characterization of AFs exposure in an occupational setting, and use of biomarkers are recommended in order to promote better understanding of occupational exposure to AFs and the resulting disease burden among workers.