Testing & Analysis

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This article discusses the problem of false positive results when using propidium monoazide (PMA) in PCR testing for food safety. 

The findings, based on a novel approach and published in Nature Health, suggest that traditional chemical safety assessments may overlook combined exposures and real-life environmental conditions. Transcriptomic analysis implicated a non-genotoxic mode of action by which pesticides interfere with normal cell function and identity processes.

This article reviews why testing for Salmonella is important, the challenges encountered when testing for Salmonella (specifically when using FDA's Bacteriological Analytical Manual Chapter 5 guidelines), and how to evaluate if your testing laboratory is providing reliable testing results. 

The list includes kits validated for Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, and Escherichia coli.

This episode of Food Safety Five discusses new academic publications exploring the limitations of a “zero-risk” approach to food safety and evaluating the limited benefits and trade-offs associated with intensified microbiological sampling.

The third Science Meets Policy conference will take place September 2–3 in Rome, Italy, focused on helping EU competent authorities and industry members effectively implement new WGS data-sharing requirements for foodborne pathogens.

Sponges far outperformed cotton swabs in laboratory experiments and real-world sampling in an RTE food production facility. The findings align with existing recommendations supporting the use of sponge-based sampling with neutralizers for environmental monitoring.

The updated Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook chapter on whole genome sequencing (WGS) of bacterial isolates now includes protocols for using both the Illumina MiSeq and MiSeq i100 sequencing platforms.

Using metagenomic sequencing and qPCR, the study analyzed bacteria from produce, chicken meat, and RTE deli meats sold at retail stores in Tennessee. A high abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes were identified, potentially contributing to the persistence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food supply.

Unlike many other foodborne pathogens, Listeria can both survive and grow at refrigeration temperatures. This ability, along with the risk of cross-contamination to other foods and surfaces, contributes to its persistence in food processing environments and makes it a significant concern for food safety.