Upconversion nanoparticles-modified aptasensors for highly sensitive mycotoxin detection for food quality and safety.

Mycotoxins, highly toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi, pose significant health risks as they contaminate food and feed products globally. Current mycotoxin detection methods have limitations in real-time detection capabilities. Aptasensors, incorporating aptamers as specific recognition elements, are crucial for mycotoxin detection due to their remarkable sensitivity and selectivity in identifying target mycotoxins. The sensitivity of aptasensors can be improved by using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). UCNPs consist of lanthanide ions in ceramic host, and their ladder-like energy levels at f-orbitals have unique photophysical properties, including converting low-energy photons to high-energy emissions by a series of complex processes and offering sharp, low-noise, and sensitive near-infrared to visible detection strategy to enhance the efficacy of aptasensors for novel mycotoxin detection. This article aims to review recent reports on the scope of the potential of UCNPs in mycotoxin detection, focusing on their integration with aptasensors to give readers clear insight. We briefly describe the upconversion photoluminescence (UCPL) mechanism and relevant energy transfer processes influencing UCNP design and optimization. Furthermore, recent studies and advancements in UCNP-based aptasensors will be reviewed. We then discuss the potential impact of UCNP-modified aptasensors on food safety and present an outlook on future directions and challenges in this field. This review article comprehensively explains the current state-of-the-art UCNP-based aptasensors for mycotoxin detection. It provides insights into potential applications by addressing technical and practical challenges for practical implementation.

Comparing the effectiveness of delivery style in produce safety training for growers.

The Produce Safety Alliance grower training has been offered since 2016. Prior to the pandemic, the course was offered exclusively in-person. During the pandemic, trainers were allowed to offer the course remotely. The effectiveness of in-person and remote delivery options was compared utilizing four methods: course evaluations completed at the training; a pre- and post-training knowledge assessment; a 1-year follow-up survey; and focus groups with course trainers. All methods, except the focus groups, were used as evaluation tools starting before and continuing during the pandemic. On the course evaluations, remote delivery and in-person participants rated their satisfaction with the training and their confidence in their ability to make changes at the same high rate. The knowledge assessment found remote delivery participants scored higher on the posttest than in-person participants when controlling for pretest score (p < 0.001); the effect size was between low and medium (ηp 2 = 0.025). On the follow-up survey, remote delivery participants reported making changes to food safety practices or infrastructure at a higher rate than in-person participants (68% vs. 53%, respectively, Χ2 (1, N = 700) = 6.372, p = 0.012, Cramer's V = 0.012 (very low)). There were demographic differences in educational level, job description, and number of years farming between the two populations. The focus group revealed advantages and disadvantages of both delivery methods, including internet availability, engagement activity, and course logistics and planning. Because no practical differences in outcome were measured between delivery methods and each had unique strengths, researchers recommend that educators should utilize both methods in the future. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: 1. When deciding between offering in-person or synchronous virtual training, trainers can feel confident that both delivery methods result in positive experiences from participants, learning, and behavior change. 2. PSA trainers may choose to offer the training remotely to increase accessibility for people who live in areas where there may not be enough growers to warrant holding an in-person training nearby, but should also consider that reliable high-speed internet access may not be available to all. 3. Remote delivery trainings can be smoother by hosting remote delivery participants at local extension or other partner offices where high-speed internet is available.

Potentially pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria spp. in Brazilian unpasteurized cheese production / Staphylococcus aureus e Listeria spp. potencialmente patogênicos na produção de queijos não pasteurizados

This study aimed to identify potentially pathogenic microorganisms (Listeria innocua, L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii, L. monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and several virulence genes) in unpasteurized cheese production in the northeastern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Listeria species were detected in 68 (64.14%) out of 106 samples of bovine feces, swabs from milkers' and cheese handlers' hands, milking buckets, raw milk, whey, water, cheese processing surface,s and utensils. All the samples collected at one farm were contaminated with Listeria spp. L. innocua, L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii, or L. monocytogenes were not detected in the samples collected in this study. A set of 391 Staphylococcus spp. isolates were obtained in these samples, from which 60 (15.31%) were identified as S. aureus using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). S. aureus carrying virulence genes (eta, hlg, seg, seh, sei) were detected in milk, in swabs from cheese handler's hands, whey, milk, sieves, buckets, and cheese. The hlg gene (encodes gamma hemolysin) was detected in all the S. aureus isolates. These findings show that poor hygienic practice is associated with a higher risk of pathogenic bacteria in milk or cheese, providing useful information for public health authorities to increase food safety surveillance and prevent the dissemination of pathogens.

O objetivo desse estudo foi identificar microrganismos potencialmente patogênicos (Listeria innocua, L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii, L. monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus e diversos genes de virulência) na produção de queijos de leite cru na região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Listeria foram detectadas em 68 (64,14%) das 106 amostras obtidas de fezes bovinas, suabes das mãos de ordenhadores e queijeiros, baldes, leite cru, soro, água, superfícies e utensílios da produção de queijos. Todas as amostras coletadas em uma fazenda estavam contaminadas com Listeria spp. L. innocua, L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii, e L. monocytogenes não foram detectadas nas amostras coletadas nesse estudo. Um conjunto de 391 isolados de Staphylococcus spp. foram obtidos das amostras, e desses 60 (15,31%) foram identificados como S. aureus pela PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). S. aureus contendo genes de virulência (eta, hlg, seg, seh, sei) foram detectados em leite, mãos dos ordenhadores, soro, utensílios e queijos. O gene hlg (gama-hemolisina)foi detectado em todos os isolados de S. aureus.Esses resultados demonstram que práticas inadequadas de higiene estão associadas com um maior risco da presença de bactérias patogênicas no leite e queijos crus, fornecendo informações para as autoridades de saúde pública para incrementarem a vigilância e prevenirem a disseminação de patógenos.

A roadmap for developing educational actions using food safety culture assessment - A case of an institutional food service.

Food safety (FS) culture has been recognised as a phenomenon that can shape food safety behaviour. Specific educational actions can improve food safety behaviour. This study aimed to build a roadmap to guide the development of educational actions based on the assessment of the prevailing FS-culture. The study was conducted in an institutional food service in the Brazilian air force. A previously-developed mixed-methods and data triangulation approach was used to assess the FS-culture based on eight elements (leadership, communication, knowledge, commitment, risk perception, work pressure and normative beliefs, work environment, and management systems, styles, and process). The roadmap was designed based on a combination of the FS-culture element score (1-reactive, 2-active, and 3-proactive) and priority levels (highest, moderate, lowest, and no priority) of proposed topics to be included in educational actions. Such topics were based on specific literature about food safety culture and the behaviour of food handlers. The FS-culture diagnosis in the air force food service demonstrated an "active to proactive" FS-culture; the element "work pressure and normative beliefs" showed the highest score (3 - proactive), whereas "risk perception" and "management systems, styles, and process" indicated the lowest scores (1-2 - reactive to active). Based on the weaknesses and strengths in the prevailing FS-culture, the roadmap revealed that the topics showing the lowest scores, "risk perception" and "management systems, styles, and process," had the highest priority to be included in the educational actions. The designed roadmap may support food services in making decisions about food safety education towards a proactive FS-culture.

Toxicological safety assessment of essential oils used as food supplements to establish safe oral recommended doses.

Essential oils (EOs) are increasingly consumed as food supplements. The few published recommended doses available generally lack details both on the methodology used and concentration limits for substances of concern, including genotoxic carcinogens. We propose a tiered approach based on the toxicological evaluation of maximized concentrations of each constituent present in the EO investigated. The genotoxic potential of each constituent is assessed using literature data or QSAR analyses. Genotoxic constituents are evaluated according to the methodology provided in the ICHM7 guideline. A Toxicological Reference Value (TRV) is associated to each non-genotoxic constituent, using one of the following methodologies (decision-tree successive steps): extraction from recognized databases or clinical studies, application of adequate safety factors to NOAELs established in animal studies, read-across analyses and when none was possible, TTC of Cramer classes. An EO recommended dose is considered safe when the safety margin (ratio between TRV and systemic exposure) for all constituents is all at least equal to 1. In conclusion, this methodology has proven to be robust to establish safe recommended doses for EOs used as food supplements, consistent with those publicly available, and avoiding unnecessary dedicated new animal testing.

Standardization of a rapid quadruplex PCR method for the simultaneous detection of bovine, buffalo, Salmonella spp, and Listeria monocytogenes DNA in milk / [Padronização de um método rápido de PCR quadriplex para a detecção simultânea de DNA de bovino, bubalino, Salmonella spp. e Listeria monocytogenes em leite]

The objective of the present study was to Standardize a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) protocol for the authentication of bovine and buffalo milk, and to detect the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. For this, the target DNA was extracted, mixed, and subjected to a PCR assay. Milk samples were defrauded and experimentally contaminated with microorganisms to assess the detection of target DNA at different times of cultivation, bacterial titers, and concentration of genetic material. In addition, the protocol was tested with DNA extracted directly from food, without a pre-enrichment step. The proposed quadruplex PCR showed good accuracy in identifying target DNA sequences. It was possible to simultaneously identify all DNA sequences at the time of inoculation (0h), when the samples were contaminated with 2 CFU/250mL and with 6h of culture when the initial inoculum was 1 CFU/250mL. It was also possible to directly detect DNA sequences from the food when it was inoculated with 3 CFU/mL bacteria. Thus, the proposed methodology showed satisfactory performance, optimization of the analysis time, and a potential for the detection of microorganisms at low titers, which can be used for the detection of fraud and contamination.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi padronizar um protocolo de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) para a autenticação de leite bovino e bubalino e a detecção da presença de Salmonella spp. e Listeria monocytogenes. Para isso, o DNA-alvo foi extraído, misturado e submetido ao ensaio de PCR. Amostras de leite foram fraudadas e contaminadas experimentalmente com os micro-organismos, para se avaliar a detecção do DNA-alvo em diferentes tempos de cultivo, os títulos bacterianos e a concentração de material genético. Além disso, o protocolo foi testado com DNA extraído diretamente do alimento, sem a etapa de pré-enriquecimento. A PCR quadriplex proposta mostrou boa precisão na identificação de sequências de DNA-alvo. Foi possível identificar simultaneamente todas as sequências de DNA no momento da inoculação (0h), quando as amostras estavam contaminadas com 2 UFC/250mL, e com seis horas de cultura, quando o inóculo inicial foi de 1 UFC/250mL. Também foi possível detectar diretamente as sequências de DNA do alimento quando este foi inoculado com 3 UFC/mL de bactérias. Dessa forma, a metodologia proposta apresentou desempenho satisfatório, otimização do tempo de análise e potencial para detecção de micro-organismos em baixos títulos, podendo ser utilizada para detecção de fraude e contaminação.

The Possibilities of Using Ultrasonically Activated Streams to Reduce the Risk of Foodborne Infection from Salad.

In this study, we investigated the effects of an ultrasonically activated stream (UAS) on the removal of microbial contaminants from spinach leaves. The microbial loads on samples cleaned with and without UAS were enumerated using the cell culture method and compared against unwashed samples on day 0 and day 6 after cleaning. The effects of UAS cleaning on leaf quality were also examined through both macroscopic and microscopic inspection, as well as measurement of the electrolyte leakage rate. Results showed that the microbial load on samples cleaned with UAS for 2 min was significantly lower on day 6 after cleaning than on those treated without ultrasound. Comparison between the cleaning effects of UAS for 40 s versus 2 min indicated that a cleaning duration of 2 min allowed sufficient time for UAS to disaggregate and detach the microbial contamination more effectively. In this case, the induction of bacteria into a viable but non-culturable state does not affect the shelf-life test results as much as it does with a 40 s clean. UAS cleaning for 2 min did not produce significant surface damage, which can affect overall leaf quality. These findings highlight the potential of UAS systems in the salad industry to improve the microbiological quality and shelf life of salads.

Application of new technologies in decontamination of mycotoxins in cereal grains: Challenges, and perspectives.

Emerging decontamination technologies have been attracted considerable attention to address the consumers' demand for high quality and safe food products. As one of the important foods in the human diet, cereals are usually stored for long periods, resulting in an increased risk of contamination by different hazards. Mycotoxins comprise one of the significant contaminants of cereals that lead to enormous economic losses to the industry and threats to human health. While prevention is the primary approach towards reducing human exposure to mycotoxins, decontamination methods have also been developed as complementary measures. However, some conventional methods (chemical treatments) do not fulfill industries' expectations due to limitations like safety, efficiency, and the destruction of food quality attributes. In this regard, novel techniques have been proposed to food to comply with the industry's demand and overcome conventional methods' limitations. Novel techniques have different efficiencies for removing or reducing mycotoxins depending on processing conditions, type of mycotoxin, and the food matrix. Therefore, this review provides an overview of novel mycotoxin decontamination technologies such as cold plasma, irradiation, and pulse light, which can be efficient for reducing mycotoxins with minimum adverse effects on the quality and nutritional properties of produce.

Shelf-life, quality, safety evaluations of blueberry fruits coated with chitosan nano-material films.

Chitosan coating (B/CH) in addition with nano-material films as silicon (B/CH/Nano-SiO2) and titanium (B/CH/Nano-TiO2) dioxides were developed and applied to detect potential changes on fresh blueberry fruits in commercial storage temperature. Physical, mechanical parameters (weight loss, decay rate, colour index and firmness), phytochemical contents (ascorbic acid, acidity, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity, and repining index), phenolic enzymes (peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase), pigments (anthocyanin) and microbiological analysis (mesophilic aerobic, yeasts and molds populations) were detected every other day until the end of the experiment. Nano-coating based on (Nano-TiO2) established the most suitable values for weight loss (2.22%), titratable acidity (0.45% citric acid), and repining index. (B/CH/Nano-TiO2) reported a gradual increase in polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase enzyme activities (659.45 U/min g) and (20.39 U/min g), respectively. While, (B/CH/Nano-SiO2) established the slightest change in acidity (2.61), anthocyanin (105.19 cyanidin-3-O-glucoside mg/100 g FW) and minimized the growth of mesophilic aerobic, yeasts, and molds populations (3.73-3.98 log CFU/g), respectively. (B/CH) films maintained lightness (6.80% loss) and recorded the highest ascorbic acid content (7.34 g/100 g FW). Therefore, chitosan nano-material films can maintain nutrients and control the microbial growth for extending the shelf life of fresh blueberry fruits.

Smart monitoring of gas/temperature changes within food packaging based on natural colorants.

The development of smart packaging and innovation in common food packaging technology will greatly help to meet market needs, including consumer preference for "safe" foods, high-quality products and mitigate the negative environmental impacts of food packaging. In addition, consumers' tendency to use natural ingredients such as pigments and biopolymers has provided the basis for their application in the food industry, including smart food packaging. Hence, smart packaging in addition to protecting food products against environmental damage can also reveal a sign (colorimetric, chemical, electric, etc.) in real time in response to any changes in the packaging conditions and food quality. This comprehensive review emphasizes on the gas/temperature-sensitive smart films based on natural colorants and their key applications in the food packaging systems. Technological considerations associated with the natural colorant-responsive films, smart packaging, biopolymers, and importance of natural colorants versus synthetic dyes are investigated. In practice, the most common designed colorimetric indicators for monitoring gas and temperature changes and application of relevant smart films in real food models have also been discussed. Gas and time-temperature indicators provide a rapid, reliable, and online assessment and a visual indication of the food product quality level, usually through a color change, which is directly related to gas and temperature conditions during distribution and storage of relevant food products. However, future studies need to consider main points such as cost, consumers' acceptance, and confidence, regulatory aspects (i.e., labeling) and multifunctionality of smart packaging to be commercially sustainable.

Rapid and Quantitative Detection of Aflatoxin B1 in Grain by Portable Raman Spectrometer.

Many foodstuffs are extremely susceptible to contamination with aflatoxins, in which aflatoxin B1 is highly toxic and carcinogenic. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a rapid and effective analytical method for detecting and monitoring aflatoxin B1 in food. Herein, a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) method combined with QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap-effective, rugged, safe) sample pretreatment technique was used to detect aflatoxin B1. Sample preparation was optimized into a one-step extraction method using an Au nanoparticle-based solution (Au sol) as the SERS detection substrate. An affordable portable Raman spectrometer was then used for rapid, label-free, quantitative detection of aflatoxin B1 levels in foodstuffs. This method showed a good linear log relationship between the Raman signal intensity of aflatoxin B1 in the 1-1000 µg L-1 concentration range with a limit of detection of 0.85 µg kg-1 and a correlation coefficient of 0.9836. Rapid aflatoxin B1 detection times of ∼10 min for wheat, corn, and protein feed powder samples were also achieved. This method has high sensitivity, strong specificity, excellent stability, is simple to use, economical, and is suitable for on-site detection, with good prospects for practical application in the field of food safety.

qPCR quantification of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, Brochothrix thermosphacta, and Serratia liquefaciens growth kinetics in mixed culture.

Quantifying growth kinetics of specific spoilage microorganisms in mixed culture is required to describe the evolution of food microbiomes. A qPCR method was developed to selectively amplify individual meat spoilage bacteria, Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, Brochothrix thermosphacta and Serratia liquefaciens, within a broth medium designed to simulate the composition of beef. An optimized method of DNA extraction was produced for standard curve construction. Method specificity was determined by individual single peaks in melt curves. Reaction efficiency for standard curves of C. maltaromaticum, B. thermosphacta and S. liquefaciens was high (R2 = 0.98-0.99), and linear quantification was achieved over a 5 log CFU/ml range. Coefficient of variation was calculated considering both threshold cycle (Ct) and bacterial concentration; the value did not exceed 14% for inter- or intra-runs for either method. Comparison of growth kinetic parameters derived from plate count and qPCR showed no significant variation (P > .05) for growth rate (GR) and maximum population density (MPD); lag phase duration (LPD) was not included in this comparison due to high innate variability. Log quantification of each isolate was validated in a mixed-culture experiment for all three species with qPCR and plate count differing less than 0.3 log CFU/ml (average 0.10 log CFU/ml, R2 = 0.98).

A socio-environmental perspective on pesticide use and food production.

Pesticides are part of a large group of organic compounds with different physicochemical characteristics, designed to control and prevent pests in various crops and plantations, improving productivity. This works provides a perspective on pesticide use in current agriculture with the aim of identifying the influence of pesticides on food production and their impact on the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to highlight the importance of determining pesticide residues in food, aiming to ensure food safety, since these compounds can represent risks to human health and the environment. The effects of pesticides on humans range from headaches, nausea and skin and eye irritation to chronic problems such as cancer and neurological disorders, and extend to other non-target organisms such as birds, fish and bees, contaminating water, soil, and plants, as opposed to the benefits of increased production, consequently other measures for pesticide consumption need to be evaluate to ensure human health, food safety and environmental protection. It is important to note that chromatographic techniques and mass spectrometry assist in the determination of pesticide residues and evaluate the quality of the food that reaches the consumer, and together with the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), established by the legislation of each country, these instrumentation act to control the exposure of population to pesticides. Although the MRL is used as a parameter for food quality, the global differences in pesticide legislation do not guarantee the consumer safety. In this sense, a brief analysis of MRL inefficiency is also present in this paper.

Food Safety Practice and Associated Factors among Meat Handlers in Gondar Town: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction. Animal sources of foods (ASF), including meat, are a source of high-quality nutrients. However, meat composition makes it an ideal medium for the growth of a good number of microorganisms. Around 600 million foodborne illnesses and 420000 deaths occur each year due to poor food handling practice. Thus, probing into meat handling practice will be an insatiable input for the intervention. This study aims to investigate the level of meat handling practice and associated factors among meat handlers in butcheries in Gondar town, Ethiopia. Method: The study was a community-based cross-sectional study among butcher shops in Gondar town from April 20 to 30, 2019. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire by trained data collectors among 214 meat handlers from butcher shops. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to identify the factors significantly associated with a good level of meat handling practice. Result: More than half of the meat handlers 66.4% (95% CI: (59.8, 72.4)) in butcher shops had a good level of meat handling practice. Level of attitude (AOR = 4.45; 95% CI, 2.09-9.43) and knowledge (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.09-3.82) were significantly associated with a good level of meat handling practice. The majority of respondents wash their hands after disposing garbage (91.6%) with less vigilance after smoking, sneezing, or coughing (64.0%). Conclusion: The study revealed that the level of food handling practice was unsatisfactory among meat handlers. This result is a testimony to the prevailing potential risk faced by consumers due to the disregarding of hygienic behaviors by food handlers. Considering attitude and knowledge are associated with the outcome variable, investing time on behavioral change activities that will contribute to the improvement of meat handler's attitude & practice, primarily focusing on reducing working while ill is essential. Therefore, much supervisory and coaching work will be expected from local health departments & regulatory bodies.

Desenvolvimento de um instrumento quantitativo para inspeção sanitária em serviços de alimentação e nutrição, Brasil / Development of a quantitative health inspection instrument in food and nutrition services, Brazil

Resumo O estudo visou desenvolver um Instrumento Quantitativo para Inspeção Sanitária (IQIS) em serviços de alimentação e nutrição de grande porte no Brasil. Utilizou-se a tecnologia de inspeção, no Modelo de Avaliação do Risco Potencial (MARP) e legislação sanitária brasileira. Estruturaram-se 12 dimensões, 41 módulos, 57 indicadores de controle de riscos (críticos/não críticos), numa escala de 0-5, totalizando 1.512 índices com codificação de respostas fechadas. O IQIS foi validado com o Coeficiente de Kappa, com excelente concordância para atributos de clareza e relevância (k = 0,82 e k = 0,92) e boa concordância para o atributo aplicabilidade (k = 0,78). O teste de Kruskal-Wallis mostrou inexistir diferença significativa entre as avaliações (p = 0,423), o Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse foi satisfatório (CCI = 0,53), o Alpha de Cronbach (α = 0,71) aceitável. O resultado final possibilitou classificar o serviço como tendo risco sanitário inaceitável. Considera-se o IQIS com conteúdo validado, tendo confiabilidade e reprodutibilidade para avaliação higiênico-sanitária, sendo uma inovação tecnológica para serviços de alimentação e nutrição e vigilância sanitária, possibilitando inspeção detalhada e rigorosa.

Abstract The study aimed to develop a Quantitative Health Inspection Instrument (IQIS) large-sized Brazilian food and nutrition services. The inspection technology based on the Potential Risk Assessment Model (MARP) and the Brazilian Health Legislation was used. Twelve dimensions, 41 modules, and 57 risk control (critical/non-critical) indicators were structured on a scale of 0-5, totalling 1,512 indices with closed-ended response coding. The IQIS was validated with the Kappa Coefficient, with excellent agreement for the attributes of clarity and relevance (k = 0.82 and k = 0.92) and good agreement for applicability (k = 0.78). The Kruskal-Wallis test showed no statistically significant difference between the assessments (p = 0.423), the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient was satisfactory (ICC = 0.53), and Cronbach's Alpha (α = 0.71) was acceptable. The final result made it possible to classify the service as having an unacceptable health risk. IQIS is considered to have validated content, be reliable and reproducible to assess the hygienic-sanitary conditions, being a technological innovation for food and nutrition services and sanitary, allowing a detailed and rigorous inspection.

A systematic review and meta-regression of single group, pre-post studies evaluating food safety education and training interventions for food handlers.

BACKGROUND: Food handlers working in retail and food service establishments are a frequent source of foodborne disease outbreaks. Numerous studies have investigated different education and training approaches to improve their safe food handling knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Frequently, these studies use a single group, pre-post design, measuring changes before and after an intervention without a separate control group. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a systematic review of these studies to identify their key characteristics and to evaluate possible predictors of between study heterogeneity in their estimates of intervention effect. METHODS: the review steps included a comprehensive search; relevance screening; article characterization; risk-of-bias assessment; data extraction; and meta-regression on five outcome categories: attitudes and beliefs, knowledge, behaviours, food premise inspection scores, and aerobic plate counts. RESULTS: Among 85 relevant studies identified, the most commonly investigated intervention type was in-person, group-based training courses (81%). Interventions primarily targeted food handlers in educational institutions and restaurants (32% and 31%, respectively). The most frequently measured outcome was food handler knowledge (66%). Studies mostly (89%) covered multiple food safety content areas, primarily targeting personal hygiene (88%) and avoiding cross-contamination (87%). All studies were rated as 'critical' risk of bias given the lack of an independent control group. Significant intervention effects were found for all outcome categories, but substantial heterogeneity was also identified. Studies that informed their intervention from formative research reported larger effect sizes for attitude and belief outcomes, those that based their intervention on a theory of behaviour change reported larger effect sizes for behaviour outcomes, and those published in grey literature sources reported larger effect sizes for behaviour and knowledge outcomes. IMPLICATIONS: The results of this review have identified food safety training and education research gaps and future opportunities.

Digenean Holostephanus (Trematoda: Digenea: Cyathocotylidae) metacercariae in common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) muscle: zoonotic potential and sensitivity to physico-chemical treatments.

Metacercariae of various species within the genus Holostephanus Szidat, 1936 (Trematoda: Digenea: Cyathocotylidae) occur in muscles of both farmed and wild fish, including common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758). The life cycle includes a snail as first intermediate host, fish as second intermediate host and birds or mammals as final hosts. We studied the zoonotic potential and the viability of Holostephanus metacercariae from common carp following exposure to various physical and chemical treatments. Muscle tissue samples of common carp specimens from a fish farm in the north-eastern part of Hungary were examined and metacercariae recovered. The zoonotic potential was evaluated experimentally by using small mammals as models (albino mice, n = 2; and Syrian hamsters, n = 4) infected per os with Holostephanus cysts. Parallelly, Metagonimus metacercariae were used as positive controls. We could not confirm the zoonotic potential of Holostephanus metacercariae as they did not survive in the mammalian intestine whereas Metagonimus metacercariae developed to the adult stage. We assessed the viability of metacercariae isolated from common carp specimens during exposure to different physical treatments (temperatures of -18°C, +20°C, +40°C and +60°C) and chemical agents (5% and 10% acetic acid and 10% sodium chloride (NaCl)). Metacercariae lost viability by freezing at -18°C (2 h), heating at 60°C (20 min), incubation in 5% and 10% acetic acid (5 min) and 10% NaCl (2 h). These methods served as models to investigate the effectiveness of food preparation techniques (such as cold and hot smoking, freezing, salting and pickling) on the survival of metacercariae.

Toxicological significance of increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity in dog studies of pesticides: Analysis of toxicological data evaluated in Japan.

Increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity is an indicator of hepatobiliary damage in humans and experimental animals. Practically, increased ALP accompanied by no other hepatotoxic changes is often encountered in toxicity studies of pesticides in dogs. Here, we analyzed the toxicological significance of increased ALP in response to 206 pesticides evaluated by the Food Safety Commission of Japan as toxicological evaluation reports in their risk assessment process. Our analysis indicated that increased ALP was more frequent in dogs (108/206) than in rats (36/206). In 87 of 108 pesticides, increased ALP was observed with hepatotoxicity in dogs. However, increased ALP had no specific relationship with certain types of hepatotoxicity and was not a sensitive marker of hepatotoxicity. Approximately 50% of 87 pesticides showing hepatotoxicity also induced liver hypertrophy. No hepatotoxic changes were seen with the remaining 21 pesticides, other than increases in liver weight and/or liver hypertrophy. Most of these 21 pesticides were phenobarbital-like liver metabolism enzyme inducers in rodents. These results suggested that increased ALP was not an indicator of hepatotoxicity in dogs if hepatotoxic findings were absent. This analysis provided a new interpretation of the toxicological significance of ALP in dogs and could contribute to toxicological evaluation of pesticides.

The dawn of phage therapy.

Bacteriophages or phages, being the most abundant entities on earth, represent a potential solution to a diverse range of problems. Phages are successful antibacterial agents whose use in therapeutics was hindered by the discovery of antibiotics. Eventually, because of the development and spread of antibiotic resistance among most bacterial species, interest in phage as therapeutic entities has returned, because their noninfectious nature to humans should make them safe for human nanomedicine. This review highlights the most recent advances and progress in phage therapy and bacterial hosts against which phage research is currently being conducted with respect to food, human, and marine pathogens. Bacterial immunity against phages and tactics of phage revenge to defeat bacterial defense systems are also summarized. We have also discussed approved phage-based products (whole phage-based products and phage proteins) and shed light on their influence on the eukaryotic host with respect to host safety and induction of immune response against phage preparations. Moreover, creation of phages with desirable qualities and their uses in cancer treatment, vaccine production, and other therapies are also reviewed to bring together evidence from the scientific literature about the potentials and possible utility of phage and phage encoded proteins in the field of therapeutics and industrial biotechnology.