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This episode of Food Safety Five discusses two recent scientific studies that are advancing the food industry’s understanding of and ability to address Listeria monocytogenes, including new findings about the pathogen’s behavior in biofilms and a developing rapid detection method.

A new study by USDA researchers has shown that long-read whole genome sequencing (WGS) could detect Salmonella attachment to food-contact surfaces earlier than traditional culture-based methods, allowing for sanitation interventions to be applied before the maturation of robust and difficult-to-remove biofilms.

The new XP-Design Assay Salmonella Serotyping Solution from Bio-Rad enables rapid detection and precise characterization of Salmonella in food and environmental samples.

The Food Packaging Forum’s open access Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex) has been updated to include the most recent science on thousands of food contact chemicals to which humans are exposed. FCCmigex supports scientific and regulatory efforts to improve food contact material safety.

A recently published summary of an FAO technical meeting identified the challenges and needs related to applying gut microbiome data in future food chemical safety risk assessments.

Honeywell’s new Digital Holographic Microscopy technology leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and light-based holograms to quantify and classify microscopic particles and cells at the point-of-use. It can be used for liquid food safety and quality testing, as well as air and water environmental monitoring.

A new study conducted by Canadian Food Inspection Agency scientists demonstrates the capability of a streamlined workflow to detect low-level presence of Listeria monocytogenes in food samples within eight hours.

Classical approaches to environmental monitoring through "seek-and-destroy," while useful, can be enhanced with source tracking approaches applied in food production facilities. Such approaches have great potential to enhance food safety. However, these methods will look different when applied by academia and government, in contrast to the approaches recommended for industry. 

The new GENE-UP® TYPER solution from bioMérieux combines a PCR pathogen detection assay with a machine learning-based web application, facilitating root cause analysis of contamination incidents in the food industry.

The EU has adopted a new regulation requiring Member States to conduct whole genome sequencing (WGS) on the isolates of five important pathogens during the investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks, and sets data-sharing parameters.