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Interest in animal cell-based meat (ACBM) or cultured meat as a viable environmentally conscious replacement for livestock production has been increasing, however a life cycle assessment for the current production methods of ACBM has not been conducted. Currently, ACBM products are being produced at a small scale and at an economic loss, however ACBM companies are intending to industrialize and scale-up production. This study assesses the potential environmental impact of near term ACBM production. Updated findings from recent technoeconomic assessments (TEAs) of ACBM and a life cycle assessment of Essential 8™ were utilized to perform a life cycle assessment of near-term ACBM production. A scenario analysis was conducted utilizing the metabolic requirements examined in the TEAs of ACBM and a purification factor from the Essential 8™ life cycle assessment was utilized to account for growth medium component processing. The results indicate that the environmental impact of near-term ACBM production is likely to be orders of magnitude higher than median beef production if a highly refined growth medium is utilized for ACBM production.

There is an increasing interest in use of biotechnology as a means of sustainable food manufacturing; however, biotechnology processing is considerably resource and energy intensive. Recent interest in animal cell-based meat (ACBM) has prompted scientific and engineering questions about the economic and environmental viability of these proposed ACBM products. This study provides an environmental assessment of two proposed growth mediums (Essential 8TMand Beefy-9) for ACBM production. The study found that the addition of antibiotics/antimycotics (10,000 μg/mL) to the growth media increased the environmental metrics, such as the cumulative energy demand and global warming potential, by two orders of magnitude. To account for additional processing for animal cell culture, a scenario analysis was conducted to assess the potential environmental impacts of growth medium production with varying level of refinement required for the input components. The study indicates that the heavy refinement of the growth medium components is likely to undermine the potential sustainability of future ACBM products.

Potassium- and sodium-ion batteries (PIBs and SIBs) have great potential as the next-generation energy application owing to the natural abundance of K and Na. Antimony (Sb) is a suitable alloying-type anode for PIBs and SIBs due to its high theoretical capacity and proper operation voltage; yet, the severe volume variation remains a challenge. Herein, a preparation of N-doped carbon-wrapped Sb nanoparticles (L-Sb/NC) using pulsed laser ablation and polydopamine coating techniques, is reported. As the anode for PIB and SIB, the L-Sb/NC delivers superior rate capabilities and excellent cycle stabilities (442.2 and 390.5 mA h g

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of gaseous essential oils (EO gases) against Listeria monocytogenes on the surfaces of a laboratory medium and radish sprouts. We determined the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal lethal concentration (MLC) values of EO gases from eight EOs extracted from basil leaves, carrot seed, cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaves, clove flower buds, oregano leaves, thyme flowers (linalool), and thyme leaves (thymol) against L. monocytogenes on a nutrient agar supplemented with 1% glucose and 0.025% bromocresol purple (NGBA). Oregano, thyme thymol, and cinnamon bark EO gases showed the strongest antilisterial activities (MIC and MLC, 78.1 μL/L). We also investigated the inhibitory and lethal activities of these gases against L. monocytogenes on the surface of radish sprouts. The number of L. monocytogenes after exposure to EO gases at ≥ 156 μL/L was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower than that of untreated L. monocytogenes. For example, the initial number of L. monocytogenes on the surface of radish sprouts (ca. 6.3 log CFU/g) decreased by 1.4 log CFU/g within 24 h at 30 °C and 43% relative humidity (RH) without EO gas treatment, whereas the number of L. monocytogenes after exposure to oregano, thyme thymol, and cinnamon bark EO gases at 156 μL/L decreased by 2.1, 2.1, and 1.8 log CFU/g, respectively, after 24 h. Although EO gases exerted greater lethal activities at higher concentrations (312 and 625 μL/L), L. monocytogenes on the surface of radish sprouts was not completely inactivated. The number of L. monocytogenes on sprouts treated with oregano, thyme thymol, and cinnamon bark EO gases at 625 μL/L decreased by 2.7–3.0 log CFU/g after 24 h at 30 °C and 43% RH. Results indicate that EO gases that showed antilisterial activities on a laboratory medium also exhibited reduced lethal activity on the surface of radish sprouts. These findings will be useful when developing strategies to inactivate L. monocytogenes and possibly other foodborne pathogens on sprouts and perhaps other foods using EO gases.

Of the 1648 microbial isolates from 133 soil samples collected from 30 diverse locations in the Republic of Korea, two isolates exhibited strong antilisterial activity and ability to grow to high populations (>8.0 log CFU/ml) in Bennett's broth. Isolates were identified as Streptomyces lactacystinicus (strain Samnamu 5–15) and Streptomyces purpureus (strain Chamnamu-sup 4–15). Both isolates formed biofilms on the surface of stainless steel coupons (SSCs) immersed in Bennett's broth within 24 h at 25 °C. Cells retained antilisterial activity after biofilm formation and showed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced resistance against dry conditions (43% relative humidity [RH]) compared to the cells not in biofilm. An initial population (ca. 3.2 log CFU/cm2) of Listeria monocytogenes inoculated on SSCs lacking Streptomyces biofilm decreased to 1.4 log CFU/cm2 within 48 h at 25 °C and 43% RH. In contrast, L. monocytogenes (3.3 log CFU/cm2) inoculated on SSCs containing Streptomyces biofilm decreased to populations below the theoretical detection limit (0.5 log CFU/cm2) within 24 h. The results indicate that biofilms formed by the Streptomyces spp. inhibitory to L. monocytogenes showed enhanced resistance to desiccation condition (43% RH) and effectively inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes on the surfaces of SSCs. Antilisterial biofilms developed in this study may be applicable on desiccated environmental surfaces in food related environments such as food storage, handling, and processing facilities to enhance the microbiological safety of foods.

Food-grade galactooligosaccharide (GOS) with low water activity (aw of ca. 0.7) is used as an ingredient in various foods. We evaluated heat tolerances of Salmonella, Cronobacter sakazakii, and Pediococcus acidilactici at temperatures (70 to 85°C) used during the saturation process of GOS by comparing decimal reduction time (D-values) and thermal resistance constants (z-values). To determine the D- and z-values, GOS containing Salmonella (5.1 to 5.8 log CFU/g) or C. sakazakii (5.3 to 5.9 log CFU/g) was heat treated at 70, 77.5, or 85°C for up to 40, 25, or 15 s, respectively, and GOS containing P. acidilactici (6.1 to 6.5 log CFU/g) was heat treated at 70, 77.5, or 85°C for up to 150, 75, or 40 s, respectively. The D-values were calculated using a linear model for heating time versus microbial population for each bacterium. When the D-values for Salmonella, C. sakazakii, and P. acidilactici in GOS were compared, the thermal resistance of all bacteria decreased as the temperature increased. Among the three bacteria, P. acidilactici had higher D-values than did Salmonella and C. sakazakii. The z-values of Salmonella, C. sakazakii, and P. acidilactici were 30.10, 33.18, and 13.04°C, respectively. Overall order of thermal resistance was P. acidilactici > Salmonella ≈ C. sakazakii. These results will be useful for selecting appropriate heat treatment conditions for the decontamination of pathogenic microorganisms during GOS manufacturing.

Non-pathogenic bacterial biofilms were developed on the surface of stainless steel possessing desiccation tolerance and antimicrobial activity against Salmonella enterica. Three bacteria exhibiting strong antimicrobial activities against S. enterica were isolated from various soils, foods, and food-contact surfaces. Isolates were identified as Pseudomonas extremorientalis (strain Lettuce-28), Paenibacillus peoriae (strain Lettuce-7), and Streptomyces cirratus (strain Geumsan-207). These bacteria grew rapidly and formed biofilms within 24 h on the surface of stainless steel coupons (SSCs) immersed in laboratory media (tryptic soy broth or Bennet's broth) at 25 °C. Cells in biofilms had enhanced tolerance to desiccation (exposure to 43% atmospheric relative humidity [RH]) and retained antimicrobial activity against S. enterica. Populations of S. enterica deposited on SSCs containing biofilm formed by Ps. extremorientalis strain Lettuce-28, for example, decreased by > 2.5 log CFU/coupon within 24 h at 25 °C and 43% RH, while the number of cells inoculated on SSCs lacking biofilm decreased by 1.5 log CFU/coupon. Antimicrobial activities of the three antagonistic bacteria against S. enterica persisted in desiccated biofilms. This study provides insights to developing strategies to inactivate Salmonella and perhaps other foodborne pathogens on abiotic surfaces using non-pathogenic antagonistic bacteria.