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Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were determined in raw milk from Nigerian cattles (cow, goat and sheep), to assess the environmental pollution, impact on milk quality and health risk. Nine composite samples were collected from five states in Northwest Nigeria, being the major cattle breeders. The samples were wet digested and PTEs determined using ICP-OES. 45 PTEs were ascertained of which Nitrogen (43754 mg/L) and Strontium, Sr (0.007 mg/L) recorded the highest and least mean concentration respectively. The mean concentration of other PTEs were: Selenium (0.253 ± 0.077), Cadmium (0.040 ± 0.0411), Mercury (0.048 ± 0.037), Silver (0.088 ± 0.013), Arsenic (0.044 ± 0.006), Boron (0.056 ± 0.005), Aluminium (0.014 ± 0.002), Tin (0.109 ± 0.019), Lead (0.018 ± 0.006), Gold (0.088 ± 0.048), Manganese (214.8 ± 18.754), Iron (473.9 ± 55.901), Zinc (247.9 ± 15.874), Copper (84.5 ± 12.905), Nickel (0.0031 ± 0.001), Molybdenum (0.459 ± 0.160), Cobalt (0.055 ± 0.020), Chromium (0.028 ± 0.008), Vanadium (0.185 ± 0.051), Calcium (24988 ± 16302), Magnesium (5733 ± 1460.8), Potassium (6555 ± 1199.6), Sodium (17.59 ± 2.914), Phosphorus (497.2 ± 90.38), Bismuth (0.055 ± 0.032), Cerium (0.048 ± 0.043), Argon (0.083 ± 0.011), Silicon (0.265 ± 0.110), Sulphur (0.087 ± 0.009), Titanium (0.073 ± 0.030) and Bromine (0.021 ± 0.005). Others are Platinum (0.021 ± 0.008), Antimony (0.088 ± 0.007), Iodine (0.16 ± 0.022), Caesium (0.374 ± 0.037), Barium (0.025 ± 0.009), Lanthanum (0.115 ± 0.182), Samarium (0.150 ± 0.095), Palladium (1.47 ± 0.991), Curium (0.042 ± 0.009), Fermium (0.036 ± 0.0098), Americium (0.826 ± 0.618) and Rubidium (0.048 ± 0.044). The Pearson's correlation and paired sample t-test showed that most of the PTEs have similar origin at 0.05% significant level, and all the cattle had the same level of exposure to the PTEs respectively in the area. Raw milk is about 80% water and so, the determined PTEs concentrations are considered very high in the analyzed samples. The presence of Pb in the milk is a concern since Pb is a toxin at any concentration. The high content of PTEs in milk is attributed to the indiscriminate and artisanal mining activities in the region, and the fact that the animals are free rangers. The health risk factors were below unity (HR < 1) and so were not potential hazards. However, the environmental contaminations by these PTEs are very substantial and if this type of milk is taken raw or used for the production of dairy products like cheese and butter, then there may be a serious health condition on the consumer since they are not biodegradable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of antibiotic residues in cow's milk entails high risk for consumers, the dairy industry, and the environment. Therefore, the development of highly specific and sensitive screening tools for the rapid and cost-effective identification of traces of these compounds is urgently needed. A multiplexed screening platform utilizing DNA-directed immobilization (DDI) was developed aiming to detect three classes of antibiotic residues (fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, and tylosin) prevalently found in milk. Throughout this work, each oligonucleotide sequence was conjugated to a different hapten molecule, while the three complementary strands were immobilized in 24 independent microarray chips on a single glass slide. First, the array was incubated with the pool of hapten-oligonucleotide conjugate site encoded the signal through DNA hybridization. Next, commercial milk samples were incubated with the cocktail of monoclonal antibodies following a secondary fluorophore-labeled antibody which was required for fluorescent readout. Direct sample detection was achieved in milk diluting 20 times in assay buffer. The limits of detection (LODs) reached were 1.43 µg kg−1, 1.67 µg kg−1, and 0.89 µg kg−1 for TYLA, STZ, and CIP, respectively, which represented in raw milk 7.15 µg kg−1, 8.35 µg kg−1, and 4.45 µg kg−1 for TYLA, STZ, and CIP, respectively, that are below the EU regulatory limits. Cross-reactivity profiles were evaluated against the family of structurally related antibiotics in order to demonstrate the capability to detect antibiotics from the same family of compounds. A pre-validation study was performed by spiking 20 blind samples above and below the maximum residue limits established by the EU guidelines. The system was successfully implemented towards randomized sample classification as compliant or non-compliant. The proposed DDI-based immunoarray provides a fast and cost-effective alternative to obtain semi-quantitative information about the presence of three veterinary residues simultaneously in milk samples. Antibody fluorescent microarray based on DDI. The figure shows the main steps involved in the immunoassay. First, the printing of the oligo N4-6down probe over the glass slide, followed by an incubation with a complementary strand conjugated to the hapten and finally the selective recognition using monoclonal antibodies and fluorescent quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. In this study, possible reasons for an increased level of free fatty acids (FFA) in UHT-treated full-fat (3.5% wt/wt) milk and its effect on the frothing properties of milk were investigated. Lipolysis of raw milk from 2 different breeds of cattle (Holstein and Jersey) was induced by mechanical stress and kinetics of lipolysis were compared. Frothing capacity and foam stability of shelf-stable milk with different concentrations of FFA were determined, with a good to medium initial foam volume for up to 4 mEq FFA·(100 g of fat)−1 fat and poor foam stability with >2 mEq FFA·(100 g of fat)−1. A combination of mechanical stress and initial condition of fresh raw milk was found to trigger lipolysis and potential sources of mechanical stress during milk processing were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. There is an increasing interest in the microbiota of the dairy value chain, from field to fork. Studies to understand the effects of environmental, feed, and management factors on the raw milk microbiota have been performed to elucidate the origin of the bacteria and find ways to control the presence or absence of specific bacteria. In this study, we explored the microbiota in feedstuff, bedding material, and milk on a Swedish dairy farm to investigate the effects of feeding different silages on bacterial compositions throughout the dairy value chain. We evaluated 3 ensiling treatments: without additive, with acid treatment, and with inoculation of starter culture. The silage treatments were fed as partial mixed rations to 67 dairy cows for 3 wk each, with one treatment fed twice to evaluate if a potential change in milk microbiota could be repeated. The highest average total bacteria counts were found in the used bedding material (9.6 log 10 cfu/g), whereas milk showed the lowest (3.5 log 10 cfu/g). Principal coordinate analysis of the weighted UniFrac distance matrix showed clear separation between 3 clusters of materials: (1) herbage, (2) silage and partial mixed ration, and (3) used bedding material and milk. Surprisingly, the expected effect of the ensiling treatments on silage microbiota was not clear. Transfer of major bacteria from the silages and resulting partial mixed rations to the used bedding material was observed, but rarely to milk. The milk microbiota showed most resemblance to that of the used bedding material. Lactobacillus was a major genus in both feed and milk, but investigations at the amplicon sequence variant level showed that in most cases, the sequences differed between materials. However, low total bacteria count in the milk in combination with a high diversity suggests that results may be biased due to environmental contamination of the milk samples. Considering that the study was performed on a research farm, strict hygienic measures during the feeding experiment may have contributed to the low transfer of bacteria from feed to milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Milk somatic cell count (SCC) is an international standard for identifying mastitis in dairy cows and measuring raw milk quality. Milk SCC can be predicted based on dielectric relaxation parameters (DRPs). We noted a high correlation between DRPs and the milk composition content (MCC), and so we hypothesized that combining DRPs with MCC could improve the prediction accuracy of milk SCC. The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between milk SCC, DRPs and MCC, as well as to investigate the potential of combining DRPs with MCC to improve the prediction accuracy of milk SCC. RESULTS: The dielectric spectra (20–4500 MHz) of 276 milk samples were measured, and their DRPs (εl, εh, Δε, τ and σ) were solved by the modified Debye equation. The SCC prediction models were developed using dielectric full spectra, DRPs and DRPs combined with MCC. The results showed the correlations between DRPs (εl, εh, Δε and σ) and MCC (fat, protein, lactose and total solids) were high, and SCC exhibited a non‐linear relationship with DRPs and MCC. The 5DRPs + MCC‐generalized regression neural network model had the best prediction, with a standard error of prediction for prediction of 0.143 log SCC mL−1 and residual of the prediction bias of 2.870, which was superior to the models based on full spectra, DRPs and near‐infrared or visible/near‐infrared. CONCLUSION: The present study has improved the prediction accuracy of milk SCC based on the DRPs combing MCC and provides a new method for dairy farming and milk quality assessment. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a zoonotic pathogen that exerts huge public health and economic impacts in the world. The severity of illness is mainly related to the serovars involved, the presence of virulence genes, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns. However, data are scarce on serovars, virulence genes, and AMR among NTS identified from the human-dairy interface in Northwest Ethiopia. Thus, this study investigated the serovars, common virulence genes, and AMR patterns of NTS isolates in the area. The study was conducted from June 2022 to August 2023 among randomly selected 58 dairy farms. A total of 362 samples were processed to detect NTS using standard bacteriological methods. The presumptive positive colonies were confirmed by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time-of-Flight (MALDi-ToF). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect virulence genes, including invA and spvC. A slide agglutination test according to the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme was employed to identify the serovars of the NTS isolates. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Of the processed samples (362), 28 (7.7%) NTS isolates were detected. When distributed among samples, the proportions were 11.9%, 10.5%, 10.3%, 5.2%, 4.3%, and 1.7% among cows' feces, dairy farm sewage, pooled raw milk, milk container swabs, milkers' stool, and milkers' hand swab samples, respectively. Six serovars were detected with the dominancy of S. Uganda (39.3%), followed by S. enterica subsp. diarizonae (25.0%) and S. Typhimurium (21.4%). Among the 28 NTS isolates, 100% and 21.4% had the virulence genes invA and spvC, respectively. The susceptibility profile showed that 89.3% of the NTS isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent and 46.4% were resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobials (multidrug-resistant). Among antimicrobials, isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin (57.1%), followed by tetracycline (42.9%) and chloramphenicol (35.7%). On the other hand, the NTS isolates were 100%, 96.4%, and 96.4% susceptible to ceftriaxone, azithromycin, and norfloxacin, respectively. In conclusion, we detected NTS from humans, dairy cows, raw milk, dairy utensils, and the environment (sewage), showing the potential of the human-dairy farm-environment nexus in the NTS circulation. These further highlight that the interface is a good point of intervention in the control and prevention of NTS infection. The susceptibility profiles of the isolate necessitate interventions including the prudent use of the antimicrobials. Author summary: Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a bacterium that induces mild to severe life-threatening syndromes in humans and animals worldwide. The severity of NTS is affected by the serovars involved, the presence of the virulence genes, and the ability to resist antimicrobials. In this study, we followed an integrated approach involving three key sectors (humans, the food chain (food), animals, and the environment) (one-health approach), which is highly recommended in areas where their interaction is high (dairy farms). This study confirmed that the pathogen was circulating in the human-dairy interface. Six serovars were detected, which were dominated by S. Uganda, S. enterica subsp. diarizonae, and S. Typhimurium. Of the isolates, 89.3% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial and 46.4% were multidrug-resistant. Hence, our research confirmed that the human-dairy interface is one source of future outbreaks of NTS. The serovars, virulent genes, and resistant character of isolates are suggestive of the tendency of the infection to become more severe and the potential to induce high mortality in the community. Therefore, intervention measures have to be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming the food system while addressing climate change requires proactive measures based on quantitative projections of anticipated future conditions. A key component of the food system that must be considered during this transformation is food safety, which is the focus of this paper. Milk safety has been selected as a case study. Future milk contamination levels in Europe, in terms of total bacterial counts, are evaluated under various climate change scenarios. Projections from multiple climate models are integrated into a data-driven milk contamination model, validated using data from Malta, Spain, and Belgium. The modeling framework accounts for variability among dairy farms and the inherent uncertainties in climate projections. Results are presented through geographical heatmaps, highlighting coastal and southern areas such as Portugal, Western Spain, Southern Italy, and Western France as regions expected to face the highest bacterial counts. The analysis underlines the significant roles of humidity and wind speed, alongside temperature. It also examines compliance with the regulatory threshold for raw milk, revealing an increased frequency of summer weeks exceeding the threshold of 100,000 colony-forming units. Based on this analysis, regions are classified into low-risk, high-risk, and emerging-risk categories. This classification can guide the selection of farm strategies aimed at meeting future food safety standards. By informing these decisions with the anticipated impacts of climate change, the food system can be future-proofed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a global zoonosis, mainly spread through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols. This study investigated the presence of C. burnetii in two Sicilian sheep flocks that were affected by occasional reproductive disorders, as reported by the farmers. Blood, milk, ticks, and conjunctival swabs were sampled from both farms. Real-time and traditional PCRs were used to detect C. burnetii DNA, while anti-C. burnetii antibodies were analyzed using an ELISA. In both flocks, C. burnetii DNA was widely detected in blood (7.1% and 3.8% for Farm A and B, respectively), individual milk (20% and 39.4%), two bulk milk samples, swabs (66.6% and 100%), and in all tick pools. Anti-C. burnetii antibodies were found in sera (77.0% and 53.6% for Farm A and B, respectively), individual milk (92.5% and 73.2%), and bulk milk. The study showed widespread pathogen circulation, significant shedding in dairy products, and high environmental contamination. Surveillance and control measures are recommended to mitigate public health risks associated with C. burnetii in dairy sheep farms. Q fever is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii, primarily transmitted through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols. This study aimed to detect C. burnetii in two Sicilian sheep flocks, with no better defined reproductive disorders reported by the farmers. Blood, individual and bulk milk, ticks, and conjunctival swabs were collected from both flocks (A and B). Real-time and traditional PCRs were carried out to detect C. burnetii DNA and anti-C. burnetii antibodies were searched using an ELISA. In terms of Farm A, C. burnetii DNA was detected in 7.1% of blood samples, 20% of individual milk samples, bulk milk, 66.6% of conjunctival swabs, and in all the examined tick pools. Anti-C. burnetii antibodies were found in 77.0% of sera, 92.5% of individual milk samples, and bulk milk. In terms of Farm B, C. burnetii DNA was detected in 3.8% of blood samples, 39.4% of individual milk samples, bulk milk, 100% of conjunctival swabs, and in all tick pools; anti-C. burnetii antibodies were present in 53.6% of sera, 73.2% of milk samples, and in bulk milk. Our results highlight the high diffusion of C. burnetii in the two outbreaks, with widespread pathogen circulation, significant shedding in dairy products, and high environmental contamination, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance and control measures in dairy sheep farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cryptosporidium is an emerging One Health concern that is equally important in the public health and livestock sectors. To fulfill the aims and objectives of this review, data regarding the unique characteristics of Cryptosporidium, its transmission pathways, its life cycle, its prevalence in both humans and animals from the perspective of its zoonotic potential, water- and foodborne outbreaks due to this protozoan parasite, and associated economic losses are briefly discussed, prioritizing the latest research and quantified data. Finally, some strategies for breaking transmission pathways and future research perspectives are discussed, to show the research gaps regarding this ever-increasing threat, which is of great scientific interest. Based on the estimation of global prevalence trends, transmission pathways, and overall burden in cryptosporidiosis, better managemental policies, surveillance programs, and preventive measures can be adopted for safeguarding, following the One Health approach. A sharp rise in the global population and improved lifestyles has led to questions about the quality of both food and water. Among protozoan parasites, Cryptosporidium is of great importance in this regard. Hence, Cryptosporidium's associated risk factors, its unique characteristics compared to other protozoan parasites, its zoonotic transmission, and associated economic losses in the public health and livestock sectors need to be focused on from a One Health perspective, including collaboration by experts from all three sectors. Cryptosporidium, being the fifth largest food threat, and the second largest cause of mortality in children under five years of age, is of great significance. The contamination of vegetables, fresh fruits, juices, unpasteurized raw milk, uncooked meat, and fish by Cryptosporidium oocysts occurs through infected food handlers, sewage-based contamination, agricultural effluents, infected animal manure being used as biofertilizer, etc., leading to severe foodborne outbreaks. The only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug, Nitazoxanide (NTZ), provides inconsistent results in all groups of patients, and currently, there is no vaccine against it. The prime concerns of this review are to provide a deep insight into the Cryptosporidium's global burden, associated water- and foodborne outbreaks, and some future perspectives in an attempt to effectively manage this protozoal disease. A thorough literature search was performed to organize the most relevant, latest, and quantified data, justifying the title. The estimation of its true burden, strategies to break the transmission pathways and life cycle of Cryptosporidium, and the search for vaccine targets through genome editing technology represent some future research perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cow milk, which is sometimes consumed raw, hosts a plethora of microorganisms, some of which are beneficial, while others raise food safety concerns. In this study, the draft genome of an extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae strain Cow102, isolated from raw cow milk used to produce traditional foods in Nigeria, is reported. Result: The genome has a total length of 5,359,907 bp, with 70 contigs and a GC content of 57.35%. A total of 5,244 protein coding sequences were detected with 31% mapped to a subsystem, and genes coding for amino acids and derivatives being the most prevalent. Multilocus sequence typing revealed that the strain had new allelic profile assigned to the novel 6914 sequence type possessing capsular and lipopolysaccharide antigen K locus 122 with an unknown K type (KL122) and O locus O1/O2v2 with type O2afg, respectively. A total of 28 resistance-related genes, 98 virulence-related genes, two plasmids and five phages were identified in the genome. The resistance genes oqxA, oqxB and an IS3 belonging to cluster 204 were traced to bacteriophage Escher 500,465. Comparative analysis predicted one strain specific orthologous group comprising three genes. Conclusion: This report of a novel sequence type (ST6914) in K. pneumoniae presents a new allelic profile, indicating ongoing evolution and diversification within the species. Its uniqueness suggests it may represent a locally evolved lineage, although further sampling would be necessary to confirm this hypothesis. The strain's multidrug resistance, virulence gene repertoire, and isolation from animal milk render it a potentially significant public health concern, underscoring the importance of genomic surveillance in non-clinical settings to detect emerging strains. Further research is required to fully characterise the capsular K type of ST6914. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to its high nutritional content, raw milk contains a rich microbiota. Thus, to study microorganisms present in raw milk available in Xinjiang China, 142 raw milk samples from seven animal breeds (cow, sheep, goat, donkey, horse, camel, and yak) and four regions (Hami, Tarbagatay, Kashgar, and Ili) were analyzed by high-throughput DNA sequencing. These microorganisms were characterized by 10 dominant phyla. Proteobacteria (68.33%) was the major phylum, followed by Firmicutes (18.80%) and Thermi (3.16%). Horse milk contained more Bacteroidetes, sheep milk contained more Gammaproteobacteria, and donkey milk contained more unclassified sequences. Camel and donkey milk contained the highest and lowest bacterial diversity compared with that contained by the remaining milk samples, respectively. Additionally, spoilage microorganisms, including Chryseobacterium , Propionibacterium , and Flavobacterium , and pathogenic bacteria, including Ochrobactrum anthropi and Sphingomonas , were more prevalent in horse and yak milk, whereas probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB), such as Leuconostoc , Lactococcus , or Lactobacillus , were more prevalent in goat, donkey, and camel milk. Furthermore, Moraxella was abundantly present in goat, camel, and yak milk, Acinetobacter was more abundant in camel milk, and Pseudomonas was relatively abundant in sheep and donkey milk. Overall, specific harmful microorganisms and probiotic lactic acid bacteria were found in the raw milk samples obtained from different animals, which provided a basis for preventing and controlling the growth of harmful bacteria, as well as investigating probiotic resources in raw milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of the H5N1 subtype (clade 2.3.4.4b) have been detected in raw milk from infected cows. Several studies have examined the time and temperature parameters to ascertain whether influenza viruses in milk can be inactivated completely under commercial pasteurization conditions, yielding conflicting results. This study aimed to investigate whether milk could help protect influenza viruses from heat treatment. After heat treatment at 49 °C for one hour, the titer reduction of the influenza A/WSN/1933 (A/H1) virus in milk was approximately 1.6 log10TCID50/mL, which was significantly lower than that (3 log10TCID50/mL) observed in the Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) control media. The influenza D/bovine/CHN/JY3002/2022 (D/Yama2019) virus in milk retained a high residual infectivity (4.68 × 103 log10TCID50/mL) after treatment at 53 °C; however, the virus in DMEM completely lost its infectivity under the same conditions. Moreover, the influenza A/chicken/CHN/Cangzhou03/2023 (A/H5) virus in DMEM could be inactivated completely using any of the three heat treatment methods: 63 °C for 30 min, 72 °C for 15 s, or 80 °C for 15 s. For the virus present in milk, only heat treatment at 80 °C for 15 s completely inactivated it. These results suggest that milk prevents influenza viruses from pasteurization inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yogurt is popular as a natural and healthy food, but its flavor greatly affects acceptability by consumers. Flavor compounds of yogurt are generally produced by the metabolism of lactose, protein, and fat, and the resulting flavors include carbonyls, acids, esters, alcohols, and so on. Each flavor compound can individually provide the corresponding flavor, or it can be combined with other compounds to form a new flavor. The flavor network is formed among the metabolites of milk components, and acetaldehyde, as the central compound, plays a role in connecting the whole network. The flavor compounds can be affected by many factors, such as the use of different raw milks, ways of homogenization, sterilization, fermentation, postripening, storage condition, and packaging materials, which can affect the overall flavor of yogurt. This paper provides an overview of the volatile flavor compounds in yogurt, the pathways of production of the main flavor compounds during yogurt fermentation, and the factors that influence the flavor of yogurt, including type of raw milk, processing, and storage. It also aims to provide theoretical guidance for the product of yogurt in ideal flavor, but further research is needed to provide a more comprehensive description of the flavor system of yogurt. The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality raw milk is an important prerequisite for the production of long-ripened raw milk cheeses. This implies not only the absence of pathogenic microorganisms in raw milk, but also low levels of spoilage bacteria, including dairy propionic acid bacteria (dPAB), that can cause blowing and sensory defects in cheese, resulting in severe economic losses for producers. Raw milk contamination with dPAB has been primarily associated with improperly cleaned milking systems, but dPAB have also been detected in feed, soil, feces, and on the teat skin. The objective of this study was to identify potential sources of raw milk contamination with dPAB in the barn and milking parlor environments. We also wanted to know more about the prevalence of the dPAB species in these environments and the levels of contamination. For this purpose, 16 small scale Alpine dairy farms were visited in August 2022. Samples were taken from the barn environment (e.g., swab samples, air, feed, bedding) and the milking system (swab samples, residual cleaning water, cleaning sponges, milk filters), and milk samples were collected at various sampling points along the milking system. Samples were analyzed for dPAB contamination, and results showed contamination at multiple sampling locations. We observed potential adverse effects of improperly set cleaning parameters of the milking system, as well as of farm-specific practices. In addition, we identified cleaning water residues as an important source of contamination. Based on these findings, we propose potential mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of raw milk contamination with cheese spoilage bacteria, thereby contributing to a more sustainable food production. The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this research was to investigate the fate of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in naturally contaminated milk samples during various processing treatments such as skimming, boiling, sterilisation, pasteurisation and fermentation. The raw milk samples were collected, and AFM1‐contaminated samples were subjected to different processing treatments and analysed using AFM1 quantitative rapid test strip. Processing treatments like skimming and pasteurisation did not change the AFM1 content in milk, whereas high temperature heat treatments like boiling and sterilisation reduced AFM1 content up to 20%. Fermentation of milk with Streptococcus thermophilus reduced AFM1 up to 8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antibiotic administration in dairy livestock is a current widespread practice. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether milk from antibiotic‐treated animals, following the application of the withdrawal time and fully complying with European requirements in relation to residue content, affected the development of lactic acid bacteria. Forty‐five raw milk samples were collected after the withdrawal period and analysed to verify their compliance with the European maximum limits using four commercial screening tests. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus growth and acidifying activity were delayed from 5 to 8 h in milk from cow treated with β‐lactams and sulfonamides present in low concentration (cephalosporins < 15 μg/kg; penicillins < 8 μg/kg; sulfonamides < 10 μg/kg) and their effect persisted over time. No influences were detected in Streptococcus thermophilus and Lb. helveticus development. The use of antibiotics can hamper the starter performances, opening questions about the safety of dairy products and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) detected in dairy cows raises concerns about milk safety. The effects of pasteurization-like temperatures on influenza viruses in retail and unpasteurized milk revealed virus resilience under certain conditions. Although pasteurization contributes to viral inactivation, influenza A virus, regardless of strain, displayed remarkable stability in pasteurized milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to detect starch adulteration in dairy products utilizing an artificial neural network (ANN) model. Globally, milk fraud represents a significant challenge to food safety, posing substantial health risks to consumers. In this context, spectral data derived from milk samples with varying starch concentrations were processed using feature scaling and normalization techniques. The ANN model was rigorously trained and validated employing the stratified k-fold cross-validation method, demonstrating exceptional proficiency in detecting starch-adulterated milk samples and effectively differentiating among various starch concentrations. The principal findings indicate that the model achieved 100% accuracy, coupled with high levels of precision, sensitivity, and F1-scores. Future research should explore the application of this model to different types of adulteration and extend its validation on larger datasets. Furthermore, the potential adaptability of this method for other food products and field applications warrants investigation. This study offers valuable insights for milk producers, food safety professionals, and consumers, particularly highlighting the implications for small-scale rural farms, thereby enriching the discourse on food safety within short food supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the toxigenic genes and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from 260 raw milk samples collected from dairy farms in Türkiye. The results indicated that 60.7% of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes (sea, seb, sed, seg, sei, sej, sek, seq, sem, seo, and seu) and 21.4% of the tst and eta genes were positive, with most enterotoxin-positive samples carrying more than one gene. The sec, see, seh, sel, sen, sep, and etb genes were not identified in any samples. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (mecA, blaR, blaI, blaZ, vanA, ermT, tetK, aac/aph, ant, dfrA, tcaR, IS256, and IS257) was high at 89.2%, with bla being the most frequently detected gene (75%). The mecA gene was present in 14.2% of samples, while tcaR was detected in 78.5%. Nevertheless, the mecC was not identified. Disinfectant resistance genes (qacA/B, qacC, qacJ, smr) were detected in 21.4% of the samples. The results of the disk diffusion test showed that 64.2% of strains were resistant to penicillin G and ampicillin, with additional resistance found for cefoxitin, teicoplanin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin, and other antibiotics. These findings highlight a significant public health and food safety risk associated with raw milk due to the presence of S. aureus strains with toxigenic genes and high antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus, a prevalent pathogen associated with infectious and foodborne diseases, is also a significant cause of intramammary infections in dairy farms. This study aimed to determine the phenotypic and molecular characterization of S. aureus in two different stock sizes of dairy farms in Henan province (HN) and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region (IM), China, through biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and molecular type of S. aureus isolates. In HN, 74 S. aureus isolates (60.7%) were recovered from 122 bulk tank milk samples, while in IM, 24 S. aureus isolates (17.4%) were detected from 161 samples soured from various origins. Notably, 25.7% (19/74) of isolates in HN and 20.8% (5/24) in IM exhibited multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes. Molecular typing revealed distinct patterns: ST97 (n = 32) and spa type t189 (n = 20) predominated in HN, whereas ST50 (n = 13) and spa type t518 (n = 11) were prevalent in IM. Additionally, three isolates harbored both tsst-1 and lukF-PV genes, and two MRSA strains displayed a MDR phenotype in raw milk samples from HN. Biofilm formation was observed in 91.8% strains. Phylogenetic analysis identified two subpopulations (lineages 1 and 2). Among them, cluster 6 in lineage 2 comprised S. aureus strains from three sources within a farm, suggesting potential cross contamination during different stages in IM. Remarkably, among 19 MDR isolates in HN, ST398 MSSA strains exhibited a higher multidrug resistance compared to non-ST398 MSSA strains. This study underscores the high prevalence and diverse characteristics of S. aureus in raw milk, necessitating enhanced surveillance and control measures to mitigate associated risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of residues of antimicrobial substances in milk has been an important hygienic and technological parameter of raw milk quality since the 1960s. The presented review focuses on screening methods (microbiological inhibition methods and rapid specific tests) that are used in the control of antimicrobial residues in milk in the context of their historical development up to the present. We briefly explain the principles of the methods and discuss their pros and cons. The aim was to provide both the historical perspective on this topic and provide useful information on screening methods that are currently routinely used for the detection of residues of antimicrobials at farms, in the dairy industry, and in milk quality control laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This investigation describes the results of the analysis of the microbiological quality of raw ovine milk in the Banat region of Romania, emphasizing monitoring the human infective potential and antimicrobial resistance of the isolated Escherichia coli strains. Overall, 4.2% (3/72) of the processed bulk tank milk samples exceeded the regulatory limit (6.18 log10 CFU/mL) for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria imposed by European Union legislation. E. coli was detected in 66.6% of the processed samples. Of the 48 isolated strains, 18.8% demonstrated pathogenic potential, and 18.5% were multidrug-resistant. Resistance was found against ampicillin (45.8%), gentamicin (20.8%), ticarcillin–clavulanic acid (18.8%), cephalexin (18.8%), amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (8.3%), and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (2.1%), but all strains were susceptible to imipenem. This study provides important hygienic quality and safety data on raw ovine milk in Romania. This study investigated the bacteriological quality of raw ovine milk produced by farms located in the Banat region of Romania. Additionally, the pathogenic potential and antimicrobial resistance of the isolated Escherichia coli strains were evaluated. A total of 95.8% (69/72) of the screened bulk tank milk samples, collected at the farm level immediately after milking, demonstrated appropriate total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TMB) counts, varying from 3.32 to 6.09 log10 CFU/mL. However, 4.2% (3/72) of the samples were above the regulatory limit of 6.18 log10 CFU/mL. E. coli was identified in 66.6% of the examined samples, and from the total number (n = 48) of isolates, 18.8% harbored the stx2 gene, highlighting pathogenic potential. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing with the Vitek2 system of the isolated E. coli strains revealed resistance against ampicillin (45.8%), gentamicin (20.8%), ticarcillin–clavulanic acid (18.8%), cephalexin (18.8%), amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (8.3%), and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (2.1%). Additionally, 64.6% of the strains showed intermediate resistance against amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, while no resistance was recorded against imipenem. Five (18.5%) strains were multidrug-resistant. This study's results underline hygienic sanitary deficiencies during the milking phase and indicate that raw ovine milk can be contaminated with pathogenic and multidrug-resistant E. coli strains, highlighting a potential risk to public health. Further studies are encouraged to better understand the risk posed to the consumer via the consumption of ovine milk and derived products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kefir traditionally is based on pasteurised milk and the use of other substrates is unusual. Kefir beverages made with raw milk (RMK), pasteurised milk (PMK) or whey (WK), were obtained and fractionated in microbial cells and supernatants. Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of fractions against Cronobacter sakazakii and Escherichia coli were analysed. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained for PMK with values between 8500 and 10 000 μm TE/mg. Microbial extracts from RMK and PMK showed a reduction of C. sakazakii of 7 log units; while microbial extracts and supernatants from RMK decreased E. coli in 3 and 5 log units, respectively. These results indicate that dairy kefir beverages can be an excellent source of defensive agents to fight against bacteria that cause gastrointestinal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has become a growing public health problem in Europe. The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic virus that affects the central nervous system (CNS). TBEV has been detected in 27 European countries, and the rise in TBE cases is mainly due to environmental and ecological factors, and factors that increase the risk of human exposure to infected ticks. The infection via the alimentary route is the second most common means of TBEV transmission to humans. Raw milk from infected goats, sheep, or cows has been identified as a source of human food-borne infections. This study aims to gather new information on the prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in raw goat's and cow's milk and related raw products in the Lombard Alps (Italy). This is important due to the close proximity of Lombardy to the Triveneto region, where TBE is endemic, and southern Switzerland, where numerous TBEVpositive mammals have been found. Throughout 2023, a passive monitoring plan was implemented on samples delivered for TBEV analyses from the Alpine pastures. In total, 248 specimens including raw milk, raw milk cheese, and butter were tested. This is the first monitoring of food at risk of TBEV transmission in a non-endemic region with evidence of TBEV circulation. Despite testing a wide range of dairy products, no sample tested positive for RNA-TBEV by real-time RT-PCR. Preliminary results suggest that raw milk and raw dairy products do not pose a significant risk of TBEV transmission to humans in the territory of Lombardy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diminishing of food waste is gaining increasing importance, especially in context with a growing population and a need for the sustainable use of food resources. A more precise determination of the best-before date can contribute to this general aim. As proteoforms can be regarded as indicators for ecophysiological influences, their suitability for determining the spoilage and, consequently, the shelf-life of food is suggested. Proteoforms reflect the spoilage of food more accurately. The aim of the present study was to develop an efficient proteomics workflow to determine the shelf-life of milk as a prominent target. In this case, raw milk was chosen as model, as it degrades much faster. The integration of different multivariate analysis techniques was used to analyze the spoilage of raw milk with regard to aspects of its proteome. As the feasibility of such an approach has already been demonstrated in previous studies, it is further necessary to enable a robust and reproducible workflow, primarily gaining appropriate numbers and amounts of peptides when the research question differs and other dairy products are evaluated. In the present study, two approaches for gaining peptides were considered: In addition to a direct hydrolysis of a protein-rich sample solution, in-gel hydrolysis is another common approach in proteomics. By separating the proteins in a traditional gel electrophoresis before hydrolysis, the change in the individual proteins and, consequently, potential peptides can be monitored more specifically during storage. However, the traditional approach offers not only possibilities but also limitations that must be considered. The study showed that it is beneficial to apply a combination of different application strategies, as they complement each other and can thus increase the information content of a sample or confirm a theory. Mass spectrometric features, which represent a chemical–structural change of all kinds of compounds during storage, were selected, and three of them were identified as peptides, originating from α-s1-casein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HEV mainly enters animal and human hosts through the orofecal route, which presents a critical health concern alongside the associated environmental variable. Among products of animal origin, milk (both ovine and bovine) can harbor HEV RNA, which can potentially be transmitted to consumers. In this study, a total of 220 raw ovine milk samples were collected from Apennine breed subjects farmed (transhumance method) in three different Italian provinces, L'Aquila, Pescara, and Teramo, located in the Abruzzo region (Central Italy). All the specimens were screened using one-step real-time RT-qPCR and nested RT-PCR assays. Among them, 5/220 or 2.27% harbored HEV RNA fragments belonging to the ORF1 and ORF2 codifying regions of the genotype 3c. The average viral amount discovered was 102 GE/mL. These subjects represented 2/57 or 3.51% of the Pescara herd, and 3/105 or 2.86% of the Teramo herd. Although HEV RNA was discovered in sheep fecal samples, the original data obtained in the present study represent the first HEV RNA detection in ovine raw milk from Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Objectives: Researchers have focused on Staphylococcus aureus because it is transmitted through food, such as milk and dairy products, and causes human diseases. Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, presence, and distribution of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) virulence genes isolated from raw milk and dairy products were evaluated. Materials and Methods: 300 samples of dairy products were collected from Shahrekord, Iran. S. aureus was identified using biochemical tests and screened for sensitivity to 13 antibiotics to identify resistance genes. In addition, SCCmec typing was performed. Results: Out of 300, S. aureus was found in 82 samples. Raw milk had the highest contamination with S. aureus (60 of 82), followed by cheese (15 of 82), and butter (7 of 82). At least one resistance gene was present in every isolate of S. aureus. Virulence factors and enterotoxin-coding genes, such as sea, seb, sec, and sed were highly distributed. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed the presence of toxin-producing MRSA strains in raw milk and dairy products. MRSA in dairy farms is an important risk factor for the spread of staphylococcal infections; therefore, further studies are needed to find strategies for controlling the presence of S. aureus, especially MRSA, in dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Consumption of raw cow's milk has repeatedly been shown to protect from asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections. As raw milk bears potential health hazards, it cannot be recommended for prevention. Therefore, we performed an intervention study with microbially safe but otherwise minimally processed cow's milk. Here we describe feasibility and safety of the trial. Methods: The MARTHA trial (DRKS00014781) was set up as a double‐blind randomized intervention in a population residing in Bavaria. Infants from 6 to 36 months of age consumed minimally processed cow's milk (intervention arm) or ultra‐heat‐treated (UHT) semi‐skimmed milk (comparator arm). Results: At the age of 6 to 12 months, 260 infants were enrolled, with 72% having a family history of atopy. The extensive screening system for milk consumption and symptoms suggestive of adverse events was well accepted with 22,988 completed weekly surveys and an average completion of 82% surveys sent out. The children consumed the study milk on average on 457 days (61% of intervention days). The intervention proved to be safe without any case of milk allergy or milk intolerance under the intervention in both arms. All 6 cases of serious adverse events were unrelated to milk. The most common reason was unscheduled hospitalization of more than 3 days. Conclusions: The intervention with minimally processed milk and the study instruments proved feasible. During the age of 6 to 36 months, there was no increased risk of milk allergy in a population with a substantial proportion of family history of atopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria of the Pseudomonas genus, including the Pseudomonas gessardii subgroup, play an important role in the environmental microbial communities. Psychrotolerant isolates of P. gessardii can produce thermostable proteases and lipases. When contaminating refrigerated raw milk, these bacteria spoil it by producing enzymes resistant to pasteurization. One possible way to prevent spoilage of raw milk is to use Pseudomonas lytic phages specific to undesirable P. gessardii isolates. The first phage, Pseudomonas vB_PseuGesM_254, was isolated and characterized, which is active against several proteolytic P. gessardii strains. This lytic myophage can infect and lyse its host strain at 24 °C and at low temperature (8 °C); so, it has the potential to prevent contamination of raw milk. The vB_PseuGesM_254 genome, 95,072 bp, shows a low level of intergenomic similarity with the genomes of known phages. Comparative proteomic ViPTree analysis indicated that vB_PseuGesM_254 is associated with a large group of Pseudomonas phages that are members of the Skurskavirinae and Gorskivirinae subfamilies and the Nankokuvirus genus. The alignment constructed using ViPTree shows that the vB_PseuGesM_254 genome has a large inversion between ~53,100 and ~70,700 bp, which is possibly a distinctive feature of a new taxonomic unit within this large group of Pseudomonas phages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) population in traditional Muş Tulum cheese, which is produced from unpasteurized sheep’s milk, was identified during the ripening period (on the 1st, 45th, and 90th day) using biochemical, phenotypic, and genotypic techniques. Additionally, the isolated LAB strains were assessed for their technological characteristics. Enterococcus spp. accounted for 76.92 % of the sequenced isolates, while Lactiplantibacillus spp., Lactococcus spp., and Pediococcus spp. represented 15.38 %, 6.15 %, and 1.54 % respectively. All Lactococcus strains as well as E. faecium FFH2 and Lb. plantarum FFH59 strains showed high acidification capacity. E. faecalis (FFH46 and FFH14), L. lactis subsp. lactis FFH51 and E. faecium FFH16 strains showed high proteolytic activity (2.0593-2.2452 FFA mmol/L). Two Enterococcus strains (E. faecium FFH12 and E. faecium FFH77) with potential bacteriocin production and antimicrobial activity were identified. The results indicated that Enterococcus spp. was the dominant flora throughout the ripening period of Muş Tulum cheese, followed by Lactiplantibacillus spp [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lički Škripavac is a traditional Croatian cheese characterised by its soft and rubbery texture and the squeaky sound attained during chewing. Traditionally, it can be produced using two different salting methods: dry salting of curd grains and salting of milk before coagulation. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the salting method on the chemical composition, yield, texture and sensory properties of Škripavac cheese. Five batches of Škripavac cheese were produced from 40 L of raw cow milk. Milk was divided into two equal parts and cheeses were produced applying the above-mentioned salting methods. Cheeses produced from milk salted before coagulation had significantly (p<0.05) higher water content, significantly (p<0.01) lower protein content and significantly (p<0.01) higher pH value compared to cheeses with salted curd grains. Also, these cheeses had a higher milk fat recovery (p<0.05) and a higher actual (p<0.0001) and adjusted yield (p<0.01). In terms of textural properties, the cheeses that were produced by adding salt to the curd grains were significantly (p<0.05) harder, less crumbly and less elastic than those produced by salting the milk. The method of salting had no significant effect on sensory characteristics of the Škripavac cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. The nutritional components and quality of milk are influenced by the rumen microbiota and its metabolites at different lactation stages. Hence, rumen fluid and milk samples from 6 dairy cows fed the same diet were collected during peak lactation, early mid-lactation, and later mid-lactation. Untargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing were applied for analyzing milk and rumen metabolites, as well as rumen microbial composition, respectively. The levels of lipid-related metabolites, l-glutamate, glucose-1-phosphate, and acetylphosphate in milk exhibited lactation-dependent attenuation. Maltol, N -acetyl-d-glucosamine, and choline, which are associated with milk flavor or coagulation properties, as well as l-valine, lansioside A, clitocine, and ginsenoside La, increased significantly in early mid-lactation and later mid-lactation, especially in later mid-lactation. The obvious increase in rumen microbial diversities (ACE and Shannon indices) were observed in early mid-lactation compared with peak lactation. Twenty-one differential bacterial genera of the rumen were identified, with Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-001 , Candidatus Saccharimonas , Fibrobacter , and SP3-e08 being significantly enriched in peak lactation. Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group , Eubacterium_ruminantium_group , Lachnospira , Butyrivibrio , Eubacterium_hallii_group , and Schwartzia were most significantly enriched in early mid-lactation. In comparison, only 2 bacteria (unclassified_f__Prevotellaceae and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001) were enriched in later mid-lactation. For rumen metabolites, LysoPE(16:0), l-glutamate, and l-tyrosine had higher levels in peak lactation, whereas PE(17:0/0:0), PE(16:0/0:0), PS(18:1(9Z)/0:0), l-phenylalanine, dulcitol, 2-(methoxymethyl)furan, and 3-phenylpropyl acetate showed higher levels in early mid-lactation and later mid-lactation. Multiomics-integrated analysis revealed that a greater abundance of Fibrobacter contributed to phospholipid content in milk by increasing ruminal acetate, l-glutamate, and LysoPE(16:0). Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and unclassified_f_Prevotellaceae provide substrates for milk metabolites of the same category by increasing ruminal l-phenylalanine and dulcitol contents. These results demonstrated that milk metabolomic fingerprints and critical functional metabolites during lactation, and the key bacteria in rumen related to them. These findings provide new insights into the development of functional dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Bacillus licheniformis is one of the major spore-forming bacteria with great genotypic diversity in raw milk, dairy ingredients, and final dairy products; it is found throughout the dairy-processing continuum. Although being widely used as a probiotic strain, this species also serves as a potential risk in the dairy industry based on its roles in foodborne illness and dairy spoilage. Biofilm formation of B. licheniformis , combined with the heat resistance of its spores, make it impossible to prevent the presence of B. licheniformis in final dairy products by using traditional cleaning and disinfection procedures. Despite the extensive efforts to identify B. licheniformis in various dairy samples, no reviews have been written on both hazards and benefits of this sporeformer. This review discusses the prevalence of B. licheniformis from raw milk to commercial dairy products, biofilm formation and spoilage potential of B. licheniformis , and possible prevention methods. In addition, the potential benefits of B. licheniformis in the dairy industry are also summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cheesemaking industry is increasingly interested in using adjunct cultures with potential aromatic and anticlostridial activities. In this study, 34 Lb. paracasei and 2 Lb. rhamnosus strains were isolated from a semi-hard cheese and characterized for their proteolytic, esterase, and anticlostridial activity. Moreover, the strains were inoculated in a curd-based medium and the volatile compounds in the headspace of samples were evaluated by solid-phase microextraction–GC–MS analysis. Proteolytic activity was present in 30 strains, whereas only one Lb. paracasei strain showed esterase activity. All strains inhibited Cl. sporogenes, Cl. beijerinckii, and Cl. butyricum, and 18 isolates inhibited at least one Cl. tyrobutyricum strain. Principal component analysis and clustering analysis based on the volatilome grouped strains into three groups. One of these groups was characterized by high amounts of acids and esters and clustered with control samples inoculated with commercial starter cultures, suggesting similarity in the aroma profile. Strains belonging to this group with inhibitory effects against Cl. tyrobutyricum might be exploited as autochthonous adjunct cultures for the reduction of late-blowing defects in semi-hard cheeses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the pasteurization process on chemical quality, aroma, and fatty acid profile of goat milk from this region. In this context, physical–chemical parameters were assessed, the fatty acid profile was identified, and the profile of volatile compounds in raw (unpasteurized) and pasteurized goat milk was characterized. Regarding the fatty acid profile, the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids found in higher percentages were the same for both raw and pasteurized milk (capric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids). However, the polyunsaturated fatty acids differed, with linoleic acid in raw milk and eicosapentaenoic acid in pasteurized milk. After pasteurization, the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices decreased, while the ratio of hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic fatty acids increased, along with the content of desirable fatty acids. Manual solid-phase microextraction was the most viable method, and resulting in 34 volatile compounds, most of which were terpenes (8), aromatic compounds (7), and aldehydes (5) in raw milk. In pasteurized milk, 27 terpenes, 22 hydrocarbons and 11 aldehydes were identified. The results showed increased lipid and lactose content, and the decrease in the amount of saturated fatty acids was associated with a considerable increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The thermal pasteurization process influenced the volatile profile of goat milk, leading to the formation of new compounds/chemical classes in pasteurized milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from various Egyptian dairy products, examine their antibacterial and hemolysis potential, and ensure their safety when used as starter cultures in different dairy industries. Egyptian dairy products are often made without the use of commercial starter cultures, using raw milk and artisanal methods. The most popular traditional dairy products are Laban Rayeb and Zabady, as well as the cheese varieties of Ras, Domiati, and Karish. The microbial communities used for fermentation and the diversity of lactic acid bacteria are the most important factors that can affect the quality of these products. In order to investigate the diversity of cocci lactic acid bacteria in Egyptian dairy products, 70 samples of raw or fermented milk and cheeses were collected from traditional cheese-making factories, local markets, and farmhouses located in the Delta area of Egypt. Following this, the LAB were isolated from the samples. One hundred fifty-seven isolates of Gram-positive, catalase-negative, and cocci bacterial species were identified via rep-PCR, and some isolates were confirmed using pheS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, as follows: Streptococcus infantarius subsp. infantarius (three isolates), Enterococcus hirae (three isolates), Enterococcus faecium (ninety-six isolates), Enterococcus faecalis (forty isolates), Enterococcus durans (six isolates), Lactococcus garvieae (one isolate), Pediococcus acidilactici (seven isolates), and Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis (one isolate). These findings validate that five strains have strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes, and one hundred thirty-four strains were safe for hemolysis. The five strains were selected as protective cultures, including Pediococcus acidilactici, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, E. faecalis, and E. faecium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eighty milk samples, comprising raw cow's milk, pasteurised milk, ultra-high temperature milk, and camel milk, were collected randomly from supply centres from December 2022 to March 2023 in Gilan province, Iran. Aldrin, diazinon, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Aldrin and diazinon were observed in all samples. Furthermore, 87.5% of the milk samples were contaminated with DDT. The raw milk sample showed the greatest concentration of aldrin, measuring 9.31 ± 0.80 µg L−1, and there was no significant difference with the camel milk. The samples of camel milk, raw milk, and ultra-high temperature milk demonstrated the greatest levels of DDT, whereas the lowest concentration was detected in pasteurised milk. In all samples, the maximum residue level (MRL) of Codex Alimentarius and the national Iran standard (20 µg L−1 for DDT) was only exceeded by 1.25% of the milk samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food industry constantly seeks new starter cultures with superior characteristics to enhance the sensory and overall quality of final products. Starting from a collection of Algerian dairy (goat and camel) lactic acid bacteria, this work focused on the exploration of the technological and probiotic potential of Weissella cibaria (VR81 and LVT1) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum R12 strains isolated from raw camel milk and fermented milk, respectively. These bioactive strains were selected for their high performance among ten other LAB strains and were used as starter cultures to develop a novel and nutritionally enhanced dairy-like plant-based yogurt using quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) as a raw matrix. The strains were evaluated for their antagonistic effects against Listeria innocua, Listeria ivanovii, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resilience to acidic and osmotic challenges, and tolerance to gastrointestinal mimicking conditions (i.e., pepsin and bile salt). Their aggregation and adhesion profiles were also analyzed. Furthermore, L. plantarum and W. cibaria were tested in single and co-culture for the fermentation and biocontrol of quinoa. The strains exhibited probiotic properties, including a high potential for biocontrol applications, specifically against L. innocua and P. aeruginosa (20 mm diameter zone with the neutralized cell-free supernatant), which disappeared after protease treatment, suggesting that bioactive peptides might be responsible for the observed antimicrobial effect. Additionally, they demonstrated resilience to acidic (pH 2) and osmotic challenges (1M sucrose), tolerance to gastro-intestinal conditions, as well as good aggregation and adhesion profile. Furthermore, the strains were able to produce metabolites of interest, such as exopolysaccharide (yielding up to 4.7 mg/mL) and riboflavin, reaching considerable production levels of 2.5 mg/L upon roseoflavin selection. The application of W. cibaria and L. plantarum as primary starters (both in single and co-culture) for fermenting quinoa resulted in effective acidification of the matrix (ΔpH of 2.03 units) and high-quality beverage production. in vivo challenge tests against L. innocua showed the complete inhibition of this pathogen when L. plantarum was included in the starter, either alone or in combination with W. cibaria. Both species also inhibited Staphylococcus and filamentous fungi. Moreover, the co-culture of mutant strains of L. plantarum R12d and W. cibaria VR81d produced riboflavin levels of 175.41 µg/100 g in fermented quinoa, underscoring their potential as starters for the fermentation, biopreservation, and biofortification of quinoa while also displaying promising probiotic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yogurt, a widely consumed fermented milk product, is known for its health benefits attributed to the presence of probiotic bacteria. This study explores the impact of starter cultures on the texture and microbiological quality of yogurt. The production involved two types of starter cultures: a commercial culture and an heirloom culture. Various parameters, including chemical analysis of raw milk, yogurt production steps, texture parameter analysis, syneresis, water holding capacity, and microbial analysis, were examined. Statistical analysis was performed to indicate the effect of the type of culture on the production of yogurt. Results indicated that the physicochemical analysis of raw cow milk revealed parameters within recommended quality standards. Significant differences in hardness, gumminess, chewiness, resilience, and syneresis between commercial and heirloom yogurts were found. Microbiological analysis demonstrated higher Lactic acid bacteria counts in commercial yogurt compared to heirloom yogurt. The study provides insights into the influence of starter cultures on textural and microbiological characteristics, emphasizing the importance of standardized production methods for consistent yogurt quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk, recognized worldwide as a nutritious and essential food, is susceptible to fraud that compromises its quality and poses health risks to consumers. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of adulteration in raw milk sold in Shahrekord City during both cold and hot seasons. A total of 100 raw milk samples were collected from distribution centers in Shahrekord and analyzed at the food hygiene laboratory of Shahrekord Azad University. Chemical parameters including water content, sodium bicarbonate, salt, formalin, hypochlorite, detergents, starch, and hydrogen peroxide were assessed for seasonal variations. Results indicated a significant difference in lactose levels between cold and hot seasons, while other parameters showed no statistically significant variance. Moreover, findings revealed a higher incidence of adulteration during the hot season compared to the cold season, with average adulteration percentages across both seasons as follows: water (54%), salt (35%), detergents (34%), starch (25%), formalin (14%), sodium bicarbonate (6%), hypochlorite (4%), and hydrogen peroxide (4%). Given these findings, relevant authorities must intensify oversight and regulatory measures to safeguard public health against milk fraud.

Abstract Background The safety of milk production in terms of foodborne infections is a worldwide issue, particularly in developing countries where production is often unhygienic. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2018 to August 2019 in the Meta District of Eastern Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. We aim to assess milk hygiene practices among smallholder dairy farmers, estimate the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in raw cow milk and swabs, assess associated risk factors, and the antimicrobial susceptibility test of S. aureus isolates. Face-to-face interviews with 30 respondents randomly selected from smallholder dairy farmers were used to assess the potential risk factors for S. aureus contaminations in milk. A total of 177 samples were examined using standard microbiological testing. The disc diffusion technique was also employed to assess the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates. The data was analyzed using STATA® version 14.0 statistical software. Results According to the milk hygiene assessment, 80% of respondents did not wash cow udder before milking, did not use detergent to clean milk containers, and did not keep milk refrigerated before consumption or sale, while 63.3% of milk consumers ingested raw milk. They had never heard of staphylococci foodborne disease. Likewise, the overall prevalence of S. aureus was 12.42% (95%CI: 8.32–18.98). The prevalence of S. aureus in udder milk, equipment swabs, and milkers’ hands was 18.8%, 26.7%, and 30%, respectively. The prevalence of S. aureus in milk is significantly associated with age, and mastitis history (p

Milk is an excellent medium for the growth of microorganisms, which is easily contaminated by microorganisms from the environment. Psychrophilic bacteria are the most common microorganisms in cold-stored raw milk. Moreover, psychrophilic bacteria produce heat-resistant proteases and lipases in low-temperature environments, which remain active even after heat treatment, and decompose proteins and fats in liquid milk during storage, thereby affecting the quality of milk. The counting method for psychrophilic bacteria in milk specified by the agricultural industry standard of China takes 10 days to culture samples at 6.5 ℃ for 10 days, which is time-consuming and has low application value in actual production. Therefore, the development of detection technologies for psychrophilic bacteria and their heat-resistant enzymes is very important for ensuring the quality of milk and dairy products. This article reviews a variety of methods for the identification and analysis of psychrophilic bacteria in milk, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification. It provides a reference for the development of new detection technologies for psychrophilic bacteria in milk.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli portion as an important food‐borne pathogen owing to the consumption of raw milk of animal species is unmoving unidentified. This survey appraised both phenotypic and genotypic patterns of antimicrobial resistance amongst the C. jejuni and C. coli strains isolated from raw milk samples. Totally, 850 raw milk samples were examined for C. jejuni and C. coli. After culture, species identification was done using PCR. Phenotypic and genotypic patterns of antimicrobial resistance were assessed using disk diffusion and PCR, respectively. One hundred and ten out of 850 (12.94%) raw milk samples were contaminated with Campylobacter spp (95% confidence interval). The highest contamination rate with Campylobacter spp. was observed in raw cow milk (18.18%). C. jejuni and C. coli species were detected in 45.45% and 32.72% of Campylobacter isolates, respectively (P < 0.05). C. jejuni strains showed the highest resistance rate toward tetracycline (84%), gentamicin (80%), ampicillin (74%), and erythromycin (64%). Similarly, C. coli isolates showed the highest resistance rate toward tetracycline (63.88%), gentamicin (58.33%), and ampicillin (52.77%). The lowest resistance rate of C. jejuni and C. coli was observed against chloramphenicol (10% and 2.77%), nalidixic acid (22% and 8.33%), clindamycin (36% and 13.88%), and ciprofloxacin (38% and 16.66%), respectively. The most routinely identified antimicrobial resistance genes amongst the C. jejuni isolates were tetA (66%), blaOXA−61 (54%), tetO (46%), and tetB (40%), while those of C. coli isolates were blaOXA−61 (52.77%), tetA (41.66%), cmeA (27.77%), and tetO (27.77%). The prevalence of simultaneous resistance toward more than 4 antimicrobial agents amongst the C. jejuni and C. coli isolates was 46% and 16.66%, respectively. C. jejuni and C. coli average multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR)‐indexes in the present research were 0.49 and 0.32, respectively. The simultaneous presence of phenotypic and genotypic profiles of antimicrobial resistance amongst the resistant C. jejuni and C. coli bacteria suggests an imperative threat rendering contaminated raw milk consumption and probable occurrence of campylobacteriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The downstream concentration of agricultural products markets under the asymmetric competition pattern of the supply chain has a profound impact on upstream agricultural production. Is this centralized market structure sustainable and efficient? The study examines the effects and mechanisms of agricultural product downstream concentration on the high-quality development of agriculture using the dairy industry as an example. Panel data from 10 provinces in China from 2004 to 2021 were selected for analysis. Using Malmquist index, fixed effects model and other methods, the research results prove that: (1) Downstream dairy market concentration is unfavorable to upstream raw milk total factor productivity growth. However, there is scale heterogeneity in this negative effect, with a positive impact for small-scale farming and a negative impact on medium-scale and large-scale farming. (2) Downstream market concentration drives upstream raw milk total factor productivity growth through technical efficiency improvements and market demand expansion, but it also inhibits raw milk total factor productivity growth through mechanisms that squeeze production margins and impede technological progress. Negative mechanisms are the main effect. (3) Higher wages, higher raw milk prices and an improved ratio of concentrate to crude are all helping to mitigate the negative effects of downstream concentration to some extent, but net profit retention and a high proportion of fixed assets will further exacerbate the negative effects. To better address the challenges brought by the trend of downstream market concentration and promote high-quality agricultural development, this paper proposes three suggestions: enhancing the market position of dairy farmers, regulating monopolistic behavior of oligopolies, and building a mechanism for linking interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b, during 2021, these viruses have spread widely among birds worldwide, causing poultry outbreaks and infections of a wide range of terrestrial and marine mammal species. During 2024, HPAI A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b, was detected in dairy cattle for the first time and caused an ongoing multistate outbreak, with high levels of virus documented in raw cow milk. Human infections with clade 2.3.4.4b viruses from exposures to infected poultry or dairy cattle have resulted in a wide spectrum of illness severity, from conjunctivitis or mild respiratory illness to severe and fatal pneumonia in different countries. Vigilance, and stronger global virologic surveillance among birds, poultry, terrestrial and marine mammals, and humans, with virus characterization and rapid data sharing, is needed to inform the threat of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, as they continue to evolve, to public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is an ideal environment for the growth of microorganisms, especially psychrotrophic bacteria, which can survive under cold conditions and produce heat-resistant enzymes. Psychrotrophic bacteria create the great problem of spoiling milk quality and safety. Several ways that milk might get contaminated by psychrotrophic bacteria include animal health, cowshed hygiene, water quality, feeding strategy, as well as milk collection, processing, etc. Maintaining the quality of raw milk is critically essential in dairy processing, and the dairy sector is still affected by the premature milk deterioration of market-processed products. This review focused on the recent detection and control strategies of psychrotrophic bacteria and emphasizes the significance of advanced sensing methods for early detection. It highlights the ongoing challenges in the dairy industry caused by these microorganisms and discusses future perspectives in enhancing milk quality through innovative rapid detection methods and stringent processing controls. This review advocates for a shift towards more sophisticated on-farm detection technologies and improved control practices to prevent spoilage and economic losses in the dairy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The somatic cell count (SCC) refers to the number of somatic cells present in each milliliter of raw milk and serves as a crucial indicator of dairy cow udder health and raw milk quality. Traditional SCC detection methods are often time-consuming, expensive, and susceptible to bacterial interference, rendering them unsuitable for the rapid and unbiased assessment of raw milk quality. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a low-cost, accurate, and user-friendly SCC quantification method. Here, a method based on an OPD-Cu2+ system for SCC quantification was developed. It was found that OPD oxidation signals exhibited a linear correlation with SCC. Following optimization, the detection system was established with a Cu2+ concentration of 25 μM, an OPD concentration of 2 mM, and an incubation time of 15 min. Furthermore, the method demonstrated significant resistance to bacterial interference, though it produced weaker signals in response to bacteria. The somatic cell recovery rate in milk after pretreatment was 88.9%, and SCC was quantified accurately within 45 min, with a linear range of 104–106 cells/mL. In summary, the method developed is cost-effective, straightforward, and facilitates precise somatic cell quantification, offering significant practical value and a new approach for SCC detection in raw milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]