Microbiological Control

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This episode of Food Safety Five discusses a UK proposed ban on Bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials, as well as two studies with global relevance: a successful clinical trial for a novel Salmonella vaccine and research demonstrating how nanoplastics enter the edible parts of crops.

A 2024 European foodborne illness outbreak caused by a rare Salmonella serotype, linked to leafy greens grown near a buffalo farm, exposed gaps in biosecurity, surveillance, and data transparency across the agri-food system.

A new study assessed the efficacy of a commercial lytic bacteriophage cocktail as a preharvest agricultural water treatment against Salmonella Infantis, and found modest but consistent pathogen reductions across diverse water conditions.

New research has demonstrated a low overall prevalence of Campylobacter on retail chicken meat; however, recovered C. jejuni strains did not match known poultry-associated genotypes, suggesting the need for sensitive detection methods and expanded genomic surveillance.

A recent study investigating Listeria monocytogenes in South Korea’s beef supply chain revealed the presence of the pathogen exclusively in retail product samples, underscoring the importance of strict food safety controls post-harvest. The strains isolated were hypervirulent and stress-adapted.

A recent study investigating biofilms in water hoses used in a meat processing facility revealed widespread microbial colonization, reaffirming concerns about hoses as reservoirs for pathogens, and underscoring the need for routine monitoring and maintenance of water delivery systems.

As the food safety threats posed by fungal contamination continue to grow, ILSI Europe has introduced a practical risk prioritization framework designed to identify which mycotoxins present the greatest risk to consumers, and where mitigation efforts should be concentrated.

The Trivalent Salmonella Conjugate Vaccine (TSCV), which simultaneously addresses typhoid fever and foodborne illness caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica, elicited strong immune response in 100 percent of participants in the randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. 

Cyclosporiasis is considered an "important neglected parasitic infection" by CDC. It is also a nationally notifiable disease. Cyclospora is an emergent foodborne pathogen that is frequently overlooked in risk assessments for food safety assurance—an oversight that might not be justifiable.

An updated literature review from the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) summarizes the effects of climate change on foodborne pathogens, and how strengthening surveillance and investing in control technologies can address the growing risks.