Scholarly Works, Food Science and Technology

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Consumer Preference and Purchase Intention for Plant Milk: A Survey of Chinese Market
Wang, Aili; Tan, Chunhua; Yu, Wenwen; Zou, Liang; Wu, Dingtao; Liu, Xuanbo (MDPI, 2025-04-01)
Plant milks are considered to be nutritious, sustainable, and vegetarian food products, and they have been the fastest growing beverages in the past decade in China. However, few studies have investigated consumers’ demands and purchase behaviors with respect to plant milks. Through an online questionnaire (n = 1052 valid responses), this study identified the factors that influenced individuals’ purchase intentions, purchase behaviors, attitudes, and demands with respect to current and future plant milk products. Through descriptive analysis and PCA, this study revealed that nutritional value (63.6%), taste (56.3%), and calories (42.8%) were the top three factors that Chinese consumers most cared about regarding plant milks. In the current Chinese market, coconut milk is the most popular plant milk with the highest purchase rate (61.2%), followed by soymilk (53.9%). Male consumers preferred plant milk with higher protein content and fortified with antioxidants, while female consumers preferred plant milk low in calories and enriched with collagen, dietary fiber, and probiotics. Chinese consumers are willing to pay higher prices for plant milks with enhanced nutritional value, improved product quality, and strengthened safety assurances. Innovative forms of plant milk, such as bean milk, rice milk, and quinoa milk, may be developed to satisfy the diversified needs of consumers.
Efficacy of a Rose Bengal-Embedded Antimicrobial Packaging Film in Inactivating Escherichia coli under Visible Light Irradiation
Johnson, Andrea; Wu, Jian; Zhou, Zhe; Li, Yilin; Yin, Yun; Ponder, Monica A.; Kim, Young-Teck; Shuai, Danmeng; Huang, Haibo (American Chemical Society, 2024-02-24)
Antimicrobial packaging reduces the extent of microbial contamination; however, conventional antimicrobial packaging, which releases antimicrobial agents into food, may experience rapid agent depletion and can adversely affect food flavors. In this study, a novel photocatalytic antimicrobial nanofiber film embedded with Rose Bengal (RB) dye that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in visible light was designed for inactivating microorganisms. The film’s antimicrobial properties under various light intensities and exposure times were evaluated, using Escherichia coli as a test microorganism. The results demonstrated that RB generates singlet oxygen as its principal ROS and has potent antimicrobial effects when incorporated into a film, achieving a 4.4 ± 0.1 log CFU reduction in E. coli after 45 h under a light intensity of 6500 lx. The film’s antimicrobial efficacy was dependent on light intensity, with significant E. coli inactivation occurring above 2000 lx. Overall, the RB-incorporated film effectively inactivates E. coli, providing a promising alternative to conventional antimicrobial packaging methods.
Impacts of cycles of a novel low-pressure homogenization process on cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) as a sustainable packaging film material
Lovely, Belladini; Kim, Young-Teck; Huang, Haibo; Zink-Sharp, Audrey; Roman, Maren (Elsevier, 2025-03-04)
Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) have been among the most researched materials for their myriad advantages, yet are still facing challenges toward advanced developments due to their natural hydrophilicity affecting a broad range of properties. A simple, mildly-conditioned (low pressure at 7 MPa, for 0–25 cycles) homogenization approach was explored, and its effects on the Northern bleached softwood based-CNF films’ functional properties were investigated. Post-homogenization, promoted hydrogen bonding and fibrillation were evidenced by FTIR and surface SEM, respectively. A maintained high crystallinity (64 %) and smoother surface of homogenized CNF films (Sa, 2.64 from 4.73 μm) compared to the untreated CNF films was also achieved. The resulting decrease in oxygen permeability (0.25 from 0.48 cc.μm/m2.day.kPa, at 50 %RH) is comparable to the reference values of the commercial oxygen barrier resin brand of ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH). Significant improvements in mechanical (tensile strength, 157 from 94 MPa; Young’s modulus, 3843 from 2630 MPa; and elongation-at-break, 7.59 from 5.69 %) and thermal (elastic modulus, loss modulus, damping factor, and degradation temperature) properties were confirmed. Contact angle improvement (0–60 s) was also obtained. With varying optimum homogenization cycles, this work demonstrates the prospect of a straightforward, cheap, and environmentally friendly approach in modifying CNF with enhanced processability and applicability for diverse applications.
Same data, different analysts: variation in effect sizes due to analytical decisions in ecology and evolutionary biology
Gould, Elliot; Fraser, Hannah S.; Parker, Timothy H.; Nakagawa, Shinichi; Griffith, Simon C.; Vesk, Peter A.; Fidler, Fiona; Hamilton, Daniel G.; Abbey-Lee, Robin N.; Abbott, Jessica K.; Aguirre, Luis A.; Alcaraz, Carles; Aloni, Irith; Altschul, Drew; Arekar, Kunal; Atkins, Jeff W.; Atkinson, Joe; Baker, Christopher M.; Barrett, Meghan; Bell, Kristian; Bello, Suleiman K.; Beltrán, Iván; Berauer, Bernd J.; Bertram, Michael G.; Billman, Peter D.; Blake, Charlie K.; Blake, Shannon; Bliard, Louis; Bonisoli-Alquati, Andrea; Bonnet, Timothée; Bordes, Camille N. M.; Bose, Aneesh P. H.; Botterill-James, Thomas; Boyd, Melissa A.; Boyle, Sarah A.; Bradfer-Lawrence, Tom; Bradham, Jennifer; Brand, Jack A.; Brengdahl, Martin I.; Bulla, Martin; Bussière, Luc; Camerlenghi, Ettore; Campbell, Sara E.; Campos, Leonardo L. F.; Caravaggi, Anthony; Cardoso, Pedro; Carroll, Charles J. W.; Catanach, Therese A.; Chen, Xuan; Chik, Heung Y. J.; Choy, Emily S.; Christie, Alec P.; Chuang, Angela; Chunco, Amanda J.; Clark, Bethany L.; Contina, Andrea; Covernton, Garth A.; Cox, Murray P.; Cressman, Kimberly A.; Crotti, Marco; Crouch, Connor D.; D’Amelio, Pietro B.; de Sousa, Alexandra A.; Döbert, Timm F.; Dobler, Ralph; Dobson, Adam J.; Doherty, Tim S.; Drobniak, Szymon M.; Duffy, Alexandra G.; Duncan, Alison B.; Dunn, Robert P.; Dunning, Jamie; Dutta, Trishna; Eberhart-Hertel, Luke; Elmore, Jared A.; Elsherif, Mahmoud M.; English, Holly M.; Ensminger, David C.; Ernst, Ulrich R.; Ferguson, Stephen M.; Fernandez-Juricic, Esteban; Ferreira-Arruda, Thalita; Fieberg, John; Finch, Elizabeth A.; Fiorenza, Evan A.; Fisher, David N.; Fontaine, Amélie; Forstmeier, Wolfgang; Fourcade, Yoan; Frank, Graham S.; Freund, Cathryn A.; Fuentes-Lillo, Eduardo; Gandy, Sara L.; Gannon, Dustin G.; García-Cervigón, Ana I.; Garretson, Alexis C.; Ge, Xuezhen; Geary, William L.; Géron, Charly; Gilles, Marc; Girndt, Antje; Gliksman, Daniel; Goldspiel, Harrison B.; Gomes, Dylan G. E.; Good, Megan K.; Goslee, Sarah C.; Gosnell, J. S.; Grames, Eliza M.; Gratton, Paolo; Grebe, Nicholas M.; Greenler, Skye M.; Griffioen, Maaike; Griffith, Daniel M.; Griffith, Frances J.; Grossman, Jake J.; Güncan, Ali; Haesen, Stef; Hagan, James G.; Hager, Heather A.; Harris, Jonathan P.; Harrison, Natasha D.; Hasnain, Sarah S.; Havird, Justin C.; Heaton, Andrew J.; Herrera-Chaustre, María L.; Howard, Tanner J.; Hsu, Bin-Yan; Iannarilli, Fabiola; Iranzo, Esperanza C.; Iverson, Erik N. K.; Jimoh, Saheed O.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Johnsson, Martin; Jorna, Jesse; Jucker, Tommaso; Jung, Martin; Kačergytė, Ineta; Kaltz, Oliver; Ke, Alison; Kelly, Clint D.; Keogan, Katharine; Keppeler, Friedrich W.; Killion, Alexander K.; Kim, Dongmin; Kochan, David P.; Korsten, Peter; Kothari, Shan; Kuppler, Jonas; Kusch, Jillian M.; Lagisz, Malgorzata; Lalla, Kristen M.; Larkin, Daniel J.; Larson, Courtney L.; Lauck, Katherine S.; Lauterbur, M. E.; Law, Alan; Léandri-Breton, Don-Jean; Lembrechts, Jonas J.; L’Herpiniere, Kiara; Lievens, Eva J. P.; de Lima, Daniela O.; Lindsay, Shane; Luquet, Martin; MacLeod, Ross; Macphie, Kirsty H.; Magellan, Kit; Mair, Magdalena M.; Malm, Lisa E.; Mammola, Stefano; Mandeville, Caitlin P.; Manhart, Michael; Manrique-Garzon, Laura M.; Mäntylä, Elina; Marchand, Philippe; Marshall, Benjamin M.; Martin, Charles A.; Martin, Dominic A.; Martin, Jake M.; Martinig, April R.; McCallum, Erin S.; McCauley, Mark; McNew, Sabrina M.; Meiners, Scott J.; Merkling, Thomas; Michelangeli, Marcus; Moiron, Maria; Moreira, Bruno; Mortensen, Jennifer; Mos, Benjamin; Muraina, Taofeek O.; Murphy, Penelope W.; Nelli, Luca; Niemelä, Petri; Nightingale, Josh; Nilsonne, Gustav; Nolazco, Sergio; Nooten, Sabine S.; Novotny, Jessie L.; Olin, Agnes B.; Organ, Chris L.; Ostevik, Kate L.; Palacio, Facundo X.; Paquet, Matthieu; Parker, Darren J.; Pascall, David J.; Pasquarella, Valerie J.; Paterson, John H.; Payo-Payo, Ana; Pedersen, Karen M.; Perez, Grégoire; Perry, Kayla I.; Pottier, Patrice; Proulx, Michael J.; Proulx, Raphaël; Pruett, Jessica L.; Ramananjato, Veronarindra; Randimbiarison, Finaritra T.; Razafindratsima, Onja H.; Rennison, Diana J.; Riva, Federico; Riyahi, Sepand; Roast, Michael J.; Rocha, Felipe P.; Roche, Dominique G.; Román-Palacios, Cristian; Rosenberg, Michael S.; Ross, Jessica; Rowland, Freya E.; Rugemalila, Deusdedith; Russell, Avery L.; Ruuskanen, Suvi; Saccone, Patrick; Sadeh, Asaf; Salazar, Stephen M.; Sales, Kris; Salmón, Pablo; Sánchez-Tójar, Alfredo; Santos, Leticia P.; Santostefano, Francesca; Schilling, Hayden T.; Schmidt, Marcus; Schmoll, Tim; Schneider, Adam C.; Schrock, Allie E.; Schroeder, Julia; Schtickzelle, Nicolas; Schultz, Nick L.; Scott, Drew A.; Scroggie, Michael P.; Shapiro, Julie T.; Sharma, Nitika; Shearer, Caroline L.; Simón, Diego; Sitvarin, Michael I.; Skupien, Fabrício L.; Slinn, Heather L.; Smith, Grania P.; Smith, Jeremy A.; Sollmann, Rahel; Whitney, Kaitlin S.; Still, Shannon M.; Stuber, Erica F.; Sutton, Guy F.; Swallow, Ben; Taff, Conor C.; Takola, Elina; Tanentzap, Andrew J.; Tarjuelo, Rocío; Telford, Richard J.; Thawley, Christopher J.; Thierry, Hugo; Thomson, Jacqueline; Tidau, Svenja; Tompkins, Emily M.; Tortorelli, Claire M.; Trlica, Andrew; Turnell, Biz R.; Urban, Lara; Van de Vondel, Stijn; van der Wal, Jessica E. M.; Van Eeckhoven, Jens; van Oordt, Francis; Vanderwel, K. M.; Vanderwel, Mark C.; Vanderwolf, Karen J.; Vélez, Juliana; Vergara-Florez, Diana C.; Verrelli, Brian C.; Vieira, Marcus V.; Villamil, Nora; Vitali, Valerio; Vollering, Julien; Walker, Jeffrey; Walker, Xanthe J.; Walter, Jonathan A.; Waryszak, Pawel; Weaver, Ryan J.; Wedegärtner, Ronja E. M.; Weller, Daniel L.; Whelan, Shannon; White, Rachel L.; Wolfson, David W.; Wood, Andrew; Yanco, Scott W.; Yen, Jian D. L.; Youngflesh, Casey; Zilio, Giacomo; Zimmer, Cédric; Zimmerman, Gregory M.; Zitomer, Rachel A. (2025-02-06)
Abstract Although variation in effect sizes and predicted values among studies of similar phenomena is inevitable, such variation far exceeds what might be produced by sampling error alone. One possible explanation for variation among results is differences among researchers in the decisions they make regarding statistical analyses. A growing array of studies has explored this analytical variability in different fields and has found substantial variability among results despite analysts having the same data and research question. Many of these studies have been in the social sciences, but one small “many analyst” study found similar variability in ecology. We expanded the scope of this prior work by implementing a large-scale empirical exploration of the variation in effect sizes and model predictions generated by the analytical decisions of different researchers in ecology and evolutionary biology. We used two unpublished datasets, one from evolutionary ecology (blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus, to compare sibling number and nestling growth) and one from conservation ecology (Eucalyptus, to compare grass cover and tree seedling recruitment). The project leaders recruited 174 analyst teams, comprising 246 analysts, to investigate the answers to prespecified research questions. Analyses conducted by these teams yielded 141 usable effects (compatible with our meta-analyses and with all necessary information provided) for the blue tit dataset, and 85 usable effects for the Eucalyptus dataset. We found substantial heterogeneity among results for both datasets, although the patterns of variation differed between them. For the blue tit analyses, the average effect was convincingly negative, with less growth for nestlings living with more siblings, but there was near continuous variation in effect size from large negative effects to effects near zero, and even effects crossing the traditional threshold of statistical significance in the opposite direction. In contrast, the average relationship between grass cover and Eucalyptus seedling number was only slightly negative and not convincingly different from zero, and most effects ranged from weakly negative to weakly positive, with about a third of effects crossing the traditional threshold of significance in one direction or the other. However, there were also several striking outliers in the Eucalyptus dataset, with effects far from zero. For both datasets, we found substantial variation in the variable selection and random effects structures among analyses, as well as in the ratings of the analytical methods by peer reviewers, but we found no strong relationship between any of these and deviation from the meta-analytic mean. In other words, analyses with results that were far from the mean were no more or less likely to have dissimilar variable sets, use random effects in their models, or receive poor peer reviews than those analyses that found results that were close to the mean. The existence of substantial variability among analysis outcomes raises important questions about how ecologists and evolutionary biologists should interpret published results, and how they should conduct analyses in the future.
Survival of Twelve Pathogenic and Generic Escherichia coli Strains in Agricultural Soils as Influenced by Strain, Soil Type, Irrigation Regimen, and Soil Amendment
Murphy, Claire M.; Weller, Daniel L.; Bardsley, Cameron A.; Ingram, David T.; Chen, Yuhuan; Oryang, David; Rideout, Steven L.; Strawn, Laura K. (Elsevier, 2024-08-13)
Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO) play an important role in agriculture but can introduce pathogens into soils. Pathogen survival in soil is widely studied, but data are needed on the impacts of strain variability and field management practices. This study monitored the population of 12 Escherichia coli strains (generic, O157, and non-O157) in soils while evaluating the interactions of soil type, irrigation regimen, and soil amendment in three independent, greenhouse-based, randomized complete block design trials. Each E. coli strain (4–5 log10 CFU/g) was homogenized in bovine manure amended or nonamended sandy-loam or clay-loam soil. E. coli was enumerated in 25 g samples on 0, 0.167 (4 h), 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 56, 84, 112, 168, 210, 252, and 336 days postinoculation (dpi). Regression analyses were developed to understand the impact of strain, soil type, irrigation regimen, and soil amendment on inactivation rates. E. coli survived for 112 to 336 dpi depending on the treatment combination. Pathogenic and generic E. coli survived 46 days [95% Confidence interval (CI) = 20.85, 64.72; p = 0.001] longer in soils irrigated weekly compared to daily and 146 days (CI = 114.50, 184.50; p < 0.001) longer in amended soils compared to unamended soils. Pathogenic E. coli strains were nondetectable 69 days (CI = 39.58, 98.66, p = 0.015) earlier than generic E. coli strains. E. coli inactivation rates demonstrated a tri-phasic pattern, with breakpoints at 26 dpi (CI = 22.3, 29.2) and 130 dpi (CI = 121.0, 138.1). The study findings demonstrate that using bovine manure as BSAAO in soil enhances E. coli survival, regardless of strain, and adequate food safety practices are needed to reduce the risk of crop contamination. The findings of this study contribute data on E. coli concentrations in amended soils to assist stakeholders and regulators in making risk-based decisions on time intervals between the application of BSAAO and the production and harvest of fruits and vegetables.
Methodological differences between studies confound one-size-fits-all approaches to managing surface waterways for food and water safety
Weller, Daniel L.; Murphy, Claire M.; Love, Tanzy M. T.; Danyluk, Michelle D.; Strawn, Laura K. (American Society for Microbiology, 2024-01-12)
Even though differences in methodology (e.g., sample volume and detection method) have been shown to affect observed microbial water quality, multiple sampling and laboratory protocols continue to be used for water quality monitoring. Research is needed to determine how these differences impact the comparability of findings to generate best management practices and the ability to perform meta-analyses. This study addresses this knowledge gap by compiling and analyzing a data set representing 2,429,990 unique data points on at least one microbial water quality target (e.g., Salmonella presence and Escherichia coli concentration). Variance partitioning analysis was used to quantify the variance in likelihood of detecting each pathogenic target that was uniquely and jointly attributable to non-methodological versus methodological factors. The strength of the association between microbial water quality and select methodological and non-methodological factors was quantified using conditional forest and regression analysis. Fecal indicator bacteria concentrations were more strongly associated with non-methodological factors than methodological factors based on conditional forest analysis. Variance partitioning analysis could not disentangle non-methodological and methodological signals for pathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. This suggests our current perceptions of foodborne pathogen ecology in water systems are confounded by methodological differences between studies. For example, 31% of total variance in likelihood of Salmonella detection was explained by methodological and/or non-methodological factors, 18% was jointly attributable to both methodological and non-methodological factors. Only 13% of total variance was uniquely attributable to non-methodological factors for Salmonella, highlighting the need for standardization of methods for microbiological water quality testing for comparison across studies.
Characterization of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica from Produce in the Chobe District of Botswana
Bywater, Auja; Dintwe, Galaletsang; Alexander, Kathleen A.; Ponder, Monica A. (Elsevier, 2024-08-24)
Diarrheal disease is a leading cause of death in children in low- and moderate-income countries. Fresh produce, including fruits and vegetables, may harbor diarrheal disease-causing bacteria including strains of Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of S. enterica and E. coli isolated from produce samples (n = 207) obtained from retail markets in northern Botswana in Chobe District of Botswana in 2022. Samples were enriched in the appropriate selective media: Brilliant Green Bile Broth for E. coli and Rappaport Vassiliadis Broth for S. enterica. E. coli were confirmed by PCR detecting the phoA gene, and classified as potentially pathogenic through screening for the eae, stx, and stx2 and estIb genes. S. enterica isolates were confirmed using invA primers. Isolates were evaluated for resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, chloramphenicol, cefotaxime, doxycycline, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline antibiotic using the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion method. E. coli was isolated from 15.5% of produce samples (n = 207). The gene eae was detected from 1.5% of samples, while stx1, stx2, and estIb were not detected. Resistance to one or more antibiotics was common (72%) with the majority of the resistant E. coli (n = 32) isolated from fruits (22%) and greens (18%) compared to other types of vegetables. Multidrug resistance (MDR, resistant to 3 or more antibiotics) was identified in 18% of samples. S. enterica was isolated from 3.4% of produce samples (7, n = 207). Resistance was uncommon among the S. enterica isolates (1/7). Overall prevalence of diarrheagenic S. enterica and E. coli was low; however, their presence and that of MDR E. coli in foods commonly consumed raw increases the risk to vulnerable populations. Strategies to reduce contamination of fresh produce and public education on washing and cooking some types of produce may be useful to reduce disease.
Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Escherichia coli isolated from Chobe River water in the Northern Botswana
Fleming, Madison; Yi, Saehah; Ponder, Monica A.; Patino, Lena; Alexander, Kathleen A. (2024-04-26)
Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Escherichia coli Isolated from Elephants in the Chobe Region of Botswana
Haddadin, Maisoon; Patino, Lena; Ponder, Monica A.; Alexander, Kathleen A. (2024-04-26)
Characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from poultry in the Chobe region of Botswana by molecular methods
Yi, Saehah; Bywater, Auja; Dintwe, Galaletsang; Haidl, Thomas; Cameron, Andrew; Ponder, Monica A.; Alexander, Kathleen A. (2024-07-15)
Introduction: Diarrheal illness incidence is high in rural dryland environments, including the Chobe region of Botswana, where peaks are often associated with high rainfall events. Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is also a growing problem in the region. Contributions of poultry to diarrheal illness and ABR in the region are not well understood. Purpose: Characterize the virulence potential and ABR of E.coli isolated from chicken purchased from local vendors in Botswana using molecular techniques, including whole genome sequencing. Methods: Poultry was purchased in Kasane, Botswana and enriched within 24h. E.coli was isolated using MacConkey and EMB agar. Isolates were shipped to Virginia Tech for molecular and antibiotic resistance characterization. Multiplex PCR was used to detect presence of genes phoA (all E.coli), and diarrheagenic E.coli (eae, and est1b). Phenotypic ABR was determined using CLSI disk diffusion methods. Whole genome sequencing was performed using an Illumina MiSeq system and genome annotated using BV-BRC. Results: E.coli was isolated from 62% (38/61) of poultry samples. Five isolates were classified as diarrheagenic based on eae, none were positive for est1LB. Multidrug resistance (3+) was seen in 26 isolates and resistance to 1 or more antibiotics in 41 E.coli isolates. Resistance amongst chicken isolates was as follows: tetracycline (29), doxycycline (21), sulfamethoxazole (20), streptomycin (15), ampicillin (15), chloramphenicol (9), ciprofloxacin (6), gentamicin (4), c ceftriaxone (4), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (3) and azithromycin (1). Comprehensive analysis of the genomes from chicken intestinal isolates revealed large numbers of virulence genes (125-252) common amongst diarrheagenic E.coli. Antibiotic resistance genes (65-85) were also present including those encoding resistance to ampicillin, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, streptomycin, and tetracycline. Significance: While prevalence of diarrheagenic E.coli was low, antibiotic resistant E.coli were frequently isolated. E.coli may be an important sentinel species to evaluate ABR emergence and effectiveness of control strategies by Botswana poultry producers.
Characterization of key aroma compounds in microgreens and mature plants of hydroponic fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.).
Liu, Jingsi; Li, Song; O'Keefe, Sean F.; Hurley, Ken; Rutto, Laban; Eriksen, Renee; Yin, Yun (Elsevier, 2024-10-23)
Fennel is a popular culinary herb known for its unique flavor. In this study, we identified key aroma-active compounds in fresh fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) and its microgreens. Fennel was cultivated hydroponically with soilless substrates. Upon harvesting, samples were ground with liquid nitrogen, and headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) gas chromatography-mass-spectrometry-olfactometry (GC-MS-O) was used for volatile analysis. Thirty-two and 28 key aroma-active compounds were identified in fennel microgreens and mature leaves, respectively. Phenylpropenes, especially (E)-anethole, were the predominant aroma-active compound in all samples (36.3–83.4 %). Quantitation results showed that fennel microgreens contained a significantly higher amount of monoterpenes, showing an 81.4–98.1 % increase when compared to mature fennel. Principal component analysis (PCA) of identified volatiles indicated a distinctive difference in the overall aroma profile between microgreens and mature leaf. The changes in aroma contents over different growth stages revealed the underlying volatile biosynthesis discrepancy. This study provided baseline information for understanding the aroma evolution from microgreen to mature fennel herbs.
Recovery and Survival of Aerosolized Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium on Food-Grade Rubber, HDPE Plastic, Stainless Steel, and Waxed Cardboard
Le, Tuan; Eifert, Joseph D.; Etaka, Cyril A.; Strawn, Laura K. (Wiley, 2024-12-12)
Contamination of food contact surfaces by airborne transmission of pathogens from the environment has contributed to disease outbreaks. Therefore, this study evaluated the survival and recovery of aerosolized generic Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium from four food contact surfaces (food-grade silicone rubber, high-density polyethylene [HDPE] plastic, stainless steel, and waxed cardboard), after four contact times (10, 20, 40, and 60 min), two relative humidity (RH) levels (high: 80%–90%, low: 40%–50%), three distances from aerosolization source (0, 36.5, and 73 cm; E. coli only), and with and without airflow (E. coli only). ANOVA test with Tukey's HSD at α = 0.05 was used to determine how treatment combinations influenced recovery. At high humidity, E. coli recovery on all materials after 40 min was ~1.0 log lower than recovery after 10 min, and further reduced by 1.0 log at 60 min. At lower humidity, E. coli recovery on all materials was ~1.0 log lower at 10 and 20 min compared with high humidity. Distances exerted no significance, whereas airflow presence lowered E. coli recovery. E. coli survival on all materials declined from ~5.0 log CFU/coupon at 0 h to 3.5 log CFU/coupon at 6 h, and 2.0 log CFU/coupon at 24 h post-inoculation. E. coli recovery was significantly lower (p < 0.05) on waxed cardboard. Low RH and longer contact time reduced E. coli recovery but not E. faecium. E. faecium recovery was consistent across treatment combinations, with changes < 0.5 log CFU/coupon. The findings are relevant for the survival of bacteria on common food contact surfaces and the potential of transmission to food products.
Analysis of the core bacterial community associated with consumer-ready Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica)
Hines, Ian S.; Markov Madanick, Justin; Smith, Stephen A.; Kuhn, David D.; Stevens, Ann M. (Public Library of Science, 2023-02-22)
Shellfish, such as the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), are an important agricultural commodity. Previous research has demonstrated the importance of the native microbiome of oysters against exogenous challenges by non-native pathogens. However, the taxonomic makeup of the oyster microbiome and the impact of environmental factors on it are understudied. Research was conducted quarterly over a calendar year (February 2020 through February 2021) to analyze the taxonomic diversity of bacteria present within the microbiome of consumer-ready-to-eat live Eastern oysters. It was hypothesized that a core group of bacterial species would be present in the microbiome regardless of external factors such as the water temperature at the time of harvest or post-harvesting processing. At each time point, 18 Chesapeake Bay (eastern United States) watershed aquacultured oysters were acquired from a local grocery store, genomic DNA was extracted from the homogenized whole oyster tissues, and the bacterial 16S rRNA gene hypervariable V4 region was PCR-amplified using barcoded primers prior to sequencing via Illumina MiSeq and bioinformatic analysis of the data. A core group of bacteria were identified to be consistently associated with the Eastern oyster, including members of the phyla Firmicutes and Spirochaetota, represented by the families Mycoplasmataceae and Spirochaetaceae, respectively. The phyla Cyanobacterota and Campliobacterota became more predominant in relation to warmer or colder water column temperature, respectively, at the time of oyster harvest.
Evidence of horizontal gene transfer and environmental selection impacting antibiotic resistance evolution in soil-dwelling Listeria
Goh, Ying-Xian; Anupoju, Sai Manohar Balu; Nguyen, Anthony; Zhang, Hailong; Ponder, Monica A.; Krometis, Leigh-Anne H.; Pruden, Amy; Liao, Jingqiu (Nature Research, 2024-11-19)
Soil is an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and understanding how corresponding environmental changes influence their emergence, evolution, and spread is crucial. The soil-dwelling bacterial genus Listeria, including L. monocytogenes, the causative agent of listeriosis, serves as a keymodel for establishing this understanding. Here, we characterize ARGs in 594 genomes representing 19 Listeria species that we previously isolated from soils in natural environments across the United States. Among the five putatively functional ARGs identified, lin,which confers resistance to lincomycin, is the most prevalent, followed by mprF, sul, fosX, and norB. ARGs are predominantly found in Listeria sensu stricto species, with those more closely related to L. monocytogenes tending to harbor more ARGs. Notably, phylogenetic and recombination analyses provide evidence of recent horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in all five ARGs within and/or across species, likelymediated by transformation rather than conjugation and transduction. In addition, the richness and genetic divergence of ARGs are associated with environmental conditions, particularly soil properties (e.g., aluminum and magnesium) and surrounding land use patterns (e.g., forest coverage). Collectively, our data suggest that recent HGT and environmental selection play a vital role in the acquisition and diversification of bacterial ARGs in natural environments.
Physical Cell Disruption Technologies for Intracellular Compound Extraction from Microorganisms
Zhao, Fujunzhu; Wang, Zhiwu; Huang, Haibo (MDPI, 2024-09-24)
This review focuses on the physical disruption techniques in extracting intracellular compounds, a critical step that significantly impacts yield and purity. Traditional chemical extraction methods, though long-established, face challenges related to cost and environmental sustainability. In response to these limitations, this paper highlights the growing shift towards physical disruption methods—high-pressure homogenization, ultrasonication, milling, and pulsed electric fields—as promising alternatives. These methods are applicable across various cell types, including bacteria, yeast, and algae. Physical disruption techniques achieve relatively high yields without degrading the bioactivity of the compounds. These techniques, utilizing physical forces to break cell membranes, offer promising extraction efficiency, with reduced environmental impacts, making them attractive options for sustainable and effective intracellular compound extraction. High-pressure homogenization is particularly effective for large-scale extracting of bioactive compounds from cultivated microbial cells. Ultrasonication is well-suited for small to medium-scale applications, especially for extracting heat-sensitive compounds. Milling is advantageous for tough-walled cells, while pulsed electric field offers gentle, non-thermal, and highly selective extraction. This review compares the advantages and limitations of each method, emphasizing its potential for recovering various intracellular compounds. Additionally, it identifies key research challenges that need to be addressed to advance the field of physical extractions.
The Preparation of W/O/W High-Internal-Phase Emulsions as Coagulants for Tofu: The Effect of the Addition of Soy Protein Isolate in the Internal Water Phase
Wang, Yongquan; Liu, Xuanbo; Zhang, Qiang (MDPI, 2024-08-29)
Tofu quality is determined by a controlled coagulation process using a W/O/W emulsion coagulant. The impact of adding soy protein isolate (SPI) to the inner water phase on the stability of W/O/W high-internal-phase emulsions (HIPEs) and its application as a coagulant for tofu was assessed. No creaming occurred during 7-day storage with SPI concentrations up to 0.3%, while the emulsion droplets aggregated with 0.5% and 0.7% SPI. Emulsions containing 0.3% SPI maintained a constant mean droplet size after 21 days of storage and exhibited the lowest TURBISCAN stability index value. HIPE stability against freeze–thaw cycles improved after heating. HIPEs with SPI concentrations above 0.3% demonstrated an elastic gel-like behavior. The increased viscosity and aggregation of the protein around droplets indicated that the interaction among emulsion droplets could enhance stability. W/O/W HIPE coagulants significantly increased tofu yield, reduced hardness, and produced a more homogenous tofu gel compared to a MgCl₂ solution. The HIPE with 0.3% SPI was found to be optimal for use as a coagulant for tofu.
Dietary Phosphorus Levels Influence Protein-Derived Uremic Toxin Production in Nephrectomized Male Rats
Cladis, Dennis P.; Burstad, Kendal M.; Biruete, Annabel; Jannasch, Amber H.; Cooper, Bruce R.; Hill Gallant, Kathleen M. (MDPI, 2024-06-08)
Gut microbiota-derived uremic toxins (UT) accumulate in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dietary phosphorus and protein restriction are common in CKD treatment, but the relationship between dietary phosphorus, a key nutrient for the gut microbiota, and protein-derived UT is poorly studied. Thus, we explored the relationship between dietary phosphorus and serum UT in CKD rats. For this exploratory study, we used serum samples from a larger study on the effects of dietary phosphorus on intestinal phosphorus absorption in nephrectomized (Nx, n = 22) or sham-operated (sham, n = 18) male Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were randomized to diet treatment groups of low or high phosphorus (0.1% or 1.2% w/w, respectively) for 1 week, with serum trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), indoxyl sulfate (IS), and p-cresol sulfate (pCS) analyzed by LC-MS. Nx rats had significantly higher levels of serum TMAO, IS, and pCS compared to sham rats (all p < 0.0001). IS showed a significant interaction between diet and CKD status, where serum IS was higher with the high-phosphorus diet in both Nx and sham rats, but to a greater extent in the Nx rats. Serum TMAO (p = 0.24) and pCS (p = 0.34) were not affected by dietary phosphorus levels. High dietary phosphorus intake for 1 week results in higher serum IS in both Nx and sham rats. The results of this exploratory study indicate that reducing dietary phosphorus intake in CKD may have beneficial effects on UT accumulation.
Flavor language in expert reviews versus consumer preferences: An application to expensive American whiskeys
Hamilton, Leah M.; Neill, Clinton L.; Lahne, Jacob (Elsevier, 2023-07)
Treating natural language flavor descriptions as data that can explain or “predict” consumer or market responses to a product, a process called Natural Language Processing or Text Mining, is increasingly common in food research. Text data has high variation in vocabulary usage and which features writers attend to, necessitating large datasets which tend to be from unblinded tastings with limited types of supplemental data. In this study, a random forest model trained on 4300 full-text whiskey reviews identified terms commonly describing higher- or lower-priced whiskeys. Ten terms were selected for a survey of American whiskey consumers. Professional whiskey reviewers commonly describe expensive whiskeys as tasting of “sultanas”, “oak”, “leather”, and “chocolate”. “Corn” and “grassy” are used commonly for inexpensive whiskeys. In contrast, US consumers are more likely to purchase whiskeys with “chocolate” and “caramel” flavor, ranking “corn” near the middle of the 10 terms tested and “tobacco”, “leather”, and “grass” the lowest. This study shows that the flavor terms reviewers use for expensive whiskeys aren’t necessarily most important to consumers, possibly due to bias from unblinded tastings or differences between reviewers and consumers. Predictions based on reviews can also overestimate the negative impact of common or expected flavors (like “corn” or “caramel” in whiskeys). Large correlational studies using convenient text corpora can effectively generate hypotheses or identify vocabulary and follow up surveys or controlled sensory experiments using the population of interest can provide additional insights about the product category and the groups of people interacting with it.
A taste of cell-cultured meat: a scoping review
To, K. V.; Comer, C. Cozette; O'Keefe, Sean F.; Lahne, Jacob (Frontiers, 2024-01-23)
Cell-cultured meat (CM) is a novel meat product grown in vitro from animal cells, widely framed as equivalent to conventional meat but presented as produced in a more sustainable way. Despite its limited availability for human consumption, consumer acceptance of CM (e.g., willingness to purchase and consume) has been extensively investigated. A key but under-investigated assumption of these studies is that CM’s sensory qualities are comparable to conventional, equivalent meat products. Therefore, the current review aims to clarify what is actually known about the sensory characteristics of CM and their potential impact on consumer acceptance. To this end, a structured scoping review of existing, peer-reviewed literature on the sensory evaluation of CM was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Among the included studies (N = 26), only 5 conducted research activities that could be termed “sensory evaluation,” with only 4 of those 5 studies evaluating actual CM products in some form. The remaining 21 studies based their conclusions on the sensory characteristics of CM and consequent consumer acceptance to a set of hypothetical CM products and consumption experiences, often with explicitly positive information framing. In addition, many consumer acceptance studies in the literature have the explicit goal to increase the acceptance of CM, with some authors (researchers) acting as direct CM industry affiliates; this may be a source of bias on the level of consumer acceptance toward these products. By separating what is known about CM sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance from what is merely speculated, the current review reported realistic expectations of CM’s sensory characteristics within the promissory narratives of CM proponents.
Characterization of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Food, Food Waste, and Water from the Chobe Region of Botswana
Bywater, Auja L.; Ponder, Monica A.; Alexander, Kathleen A. (2023-04-21)

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