Scholarly Works, Food Science and Technology

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Research articles, presentations, and other scholarship

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Dietary (Poly)phenols in the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Narrative Review
Lobene, Andrea J.; Biruete, Annabel; Mirmohammadali, Seyedeh Nooshan; Ellis, Leah M.; Cladis, Dennis P. (MDPI, 2025-11-07)
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 850 million individuals globally and has no cure. The treatment of CKD centers on lifestyle interventions, including dietary changes, that slow disease progression. As emerging evidence suggests that fruit and vegetable-derived (poly)phenols may slow CKD, the goal of this narrative review is to synthesize current knowledge on the role of dietary (poly)phenols in CKD. To identify relevant articles, we searched databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science to identify relevant articles, using keywords including (poly)phenols, CKD, gut microbiome, and cardiovascular disease, among others. The relevant articles were synthesized into a summary of the evidence for (poly)phenols as a therapeutic strategy in CKD, though the paucity and heterogeneity of available research in this area precludes the identification of specific doses or types of (poly)phenols needed to slow CKD progression. The review is supplemented through our discussion of the gut microbiota and microbially derived metabolites as key targets in mediating the progression of CKD itself as well as subsequent cardiovascular outcomes. Finally, we discuss the integration of (poly)phenol-rich dietary patterns into CKD nutrition guidelines, highlighting future research directions to elucidate the potential therapeutic role of (poly)phenols in CKD.
Determining Aroma Compounds and Their Relation to Consumer Acceptability in United States Edamame
Miller, Rebekah J.; Duncan, Susan E.; Carneiro, Renata; Lahne, Jacob; Kuhar, Thomas P.; Zhang, Bo; Yin, Yun (American Chemical Society, 2025-06-06)
Edamame is a highly nutritious crop with significant economic value, but its consumption in the United States depends predominantly on imported products. Efforts in domestic edamame breeding aim to develop varieties that satisfy both agronomic performance and consumer expectations. Aroma profiles of 10 genotypes grown in 2019 across 4 U.S. locations were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sixteen aroma compounds were identified across edamame genotypes and growing locations. Significant differences in individual aroma concentrations were observed (p < 0.05) across genotypes and growing locations. The compounds 1-octen-3-ol, hexanal, and octanal consistently exhibited the highest odor activity values in all samples. The relationship between aroma compound profiles and previously published consumer acceptability was also examined. Correlation analysis revealed limited strong associations (>|0.5|) between aroma compounds and sensory attributes, with only one compound, 1-octanol, showing a strong correlation with overall consumer liking. No individual aroma compounds were found to strongly associated with consumer liking or disliking.
Rechargeable Manganese Dioxide Hard Carbon Lithium Batteries in an Ether Electrolyte
Xia, Dawei; Rosenberg, Keith; Li, Yilin; Hu, Anyang; Sun, Chengjun; Li, Luxi; Nordlund, Dennis; Sainio, Sami; Huang, Haibo; Lin, Feng (Electrochemical Society, 2024-03-31)
Earth-abundant, cost-effective electrode materials are essential for sustainable rechargeable batteries and global decarbonization. Manganese dioxide (MnO2) and hard carbon both exhibit high structural and chemical tunability, making them excellent electrode candidates for batteries. Herein, we elucidate the impact of electrolytes on the cycling performance of commercial electrolytic manganese dioxide in Li chemistry. We leverage synchrotron X-ray analysis to discern the chemical state and local structural characteristics of Mn during cycling, as well as to quantify the Mn deposition on the counter electrode. By using an ether-based electrolyte instead of conventional carbonate electrolytes, we circumvent the formation of a surface Mn(II)-layer and Mn dissolution from LixMnO2. Consequently, we achieved an impressive similar to 100% capacity retention for MnO2 after 300 cycles at C/3. To create a lithium metal-lean full cell, we introduce hard carbon as the anode which is compatible with ether-based electrolytes. Commercial hard carbon delivers a specific capacity of similar to 230 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 without plateau, indicating a surface-adsorption mechanism. The resulting manganese dioxide
Development of a hard cider flavor wheel using free word sorting and multivariate statistical techniques
Calvert, Martha D.; Neill, Clinton L.; Ac-Pangan, Marlon F.; Stewart, Amanda C.; Lahne, Jacob (Wiley, 2024-04-01)
Flavor wheels are visual tools built from standardized sensory lexicons that are used in many different industries to improve communication, marketing, and quality discrimination among products. To date, flavor wheels have been developed for spices, coffee, wine, beer, and many other foods and beverages-yet no flavor wheel has been constructed for hard cider. While there is no single established method for constructed flavor wheels, most approaches are based on sensory descriptive analysis (DA) and free word sorting activities that investigate the semantic similarity and dissimilarity of descriptive terms. This research study utilized multiple DA studies for the generation of a sensory lexicon, followed by independent word sorting tasks with cider industry professionals (N = 40) and untrained consumers (N = 58) to establish two flavor wheels that are broadly understandable to a variety of industry stakeholders. Based on the results of DISTATIS and additive tree partitioning, this research showcases a workflow for developing and refining flavor wheels that incorporate both stakeholder and researcher input and can be built upon by other analysts.Practical ApplicationsThis research demonstrates an accessible methodology for developing flavor wheels that incorporates input from diverse parties and considers the semantic associations of terms used by cider consumers and industry professionals. The proposed methodology is a useful framework for other sensory scientists seeking to efficiently develop flavor wheels for multiple audiences. As a demonstration, this research also delivers two flavor wheels-one that highlights discrepancies in how industry consumers and producers semantically understand sensory experiences compared to trained sensory personnel, and a second wheel that showcases how hard cider can more objectively be described. Together, these flavor wheels are tools for improving sensory communication, education, and marketing in the US hard cider industry.
New Pathways of Mutational Change in SARS-CoV-2 Proteomes Involve Regions of Intrinsic Disorder Important for Virus Replication and Release
Tomaszewski, Tre; DeVries, Ryan S.; Dong, Mengyi; Bhatia, Gitanshu; Norsworthy, Miles D.; Zheng, Xuying; Caetano-Anollés, Gustavo (SAGE Publications, 2020-01)
The massive worldwide spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is fueling the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the first whole-genome sequence was published in January 2020, a growing database of tens of thousands of viral genomes has been constructed. This offers opportunities to study pathways of molecular change in the expanding viral population that can help identify molecular culprits of virulence and virus spread. Here we investigate the genomic accumulation of mutations at various time points of the early pandemic to identify changes in mutationally highly active genomic regions that are occurring worldwide. We used the Wuhan NC_045512.2 sequence as a reference and sampled 15 342 indexed sequences from GISAID, translating them into proteins and grouping them by month of deposition. The per-position amino acid frequencies and Shannon entropies of the coding sequences were calculated for each month, and a map of intrinsic disorder regions and binding sites was generated. The analysis revealed dominant variants, most of which were located in loop regions and on the surface of the proteins. Mutation entropy decreased between March and April of 2020 after steady increases at several sites, including the D614G mutation site of the spike (S) protein that was previously found associated with higher case fatality rates and at sites of the NSP12 polymerase and the NSP13 helicase proteins. Notable expanding mutations include R203K and G204R of the nucleocapsid (N) protein inter-domain linker region and G251V of the viroporin encoded by ORF3a between March and April. The regions spanning these mutations exhibited significant intrinsic disorder, which was enhanced and decreased by the N-protein and viroporin 3a protein mutations, respectively. These results predict an ongoing mutational shift from the spike and replication complex to other regions, especially to encoded molecules known to represent major β-interferon antagonists. The study provides valuable information for therapeutics and vaccine design, as well as insight into mutation tendencies that could facilitate preventive control.
Microbial Community Analysis and Food Safety Practice Survey-Based Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Controlled Environment Hydroponic/Aquaponic Farming Systems
Dong, Mengyi; Feng, Hao (Frontiers, 2022-01)
Hydroponic and aquaponic farming is becoming increasingly popular as a solution to address global food security. Plants in hydroponic systems are grown hydroponically under controlled environments and are considered to have fewer food safety concerns than traditional field farming. However, hydroponics and aquaponics might have very different sources of microbial food safety risks that remain under-examined. In this study, we investigated the microbiomes, microbial hazards, and potential bacterial transmission routes inside two commercial hydroponic and aquaponic farming systems using 16S-ITS-23S rRNA sequencing and a hydroponic food safety practice survey. The hydroponic farming system microbiome was analyzed from the fresh produce, nutrient solution, tools, and farmworkers. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were the main components of hydroponic/aquaponic farming systems, with Pseudomonas being the most abundant genus in fresh produce samples. We further identified the presence of multiple spoilage bacteria and potential human, plant, and fish pathogens at the subspecies level. Spoilage Pseudomonas spp. and spoilage Clostridium spp. were abundant in the hydroponic microgreen farm and aquaponic lettuce farm, respectively. Moreover, we demonstrated the mapping of Escherichia coli 16s-ITS-23s rRNA sequence reads (∼2,500 bp) to small or large subunit rRNA databases and whole-genome databases to confirm pathogenicity and showed the potential of using 16s-ITS-23s rRNA sequencing for pathogen identification. With the SourceTracker and overlapping amplicon sequence variants, we predicted the bidirectional transmission route between plants and the surrounding environment and constructed the bacteria transmission map, which can be implemented in future food safety risk control plans.
Laser-driven sustainable modulation of growth, metabolomics, bioactive compounds, and physical attributes in broccoli, radish, and kale sprouts
Yildiz, Gulcin; Li, Yanfeng; Dong, Mengyi; Sun, Jianghao; Zhou, Bin; Feng, Hao (Elsevier, 2025-12-30)
Sprouts are valued for their bioactive compounds, yet conventional methods limit their biochemical potential. This study introduces a laser treatment (450 nm, 85 mW) to enhance the biochemical and physicochemical quality of broccoli, radish, and kale sprouts. Laser-treated seeds were germinated at 25 °C for 120 h and assessed for germination rate and biochemical properties, including total phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), antioxidant activity (DPPH), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity. UHPLC-HRMS-based metabolomics revealed enhanced glucosinolate and flavonoid pathways. Optimal exposure (180 s) significantly increased TPC (broccoli: 22.6, radish: 25.2, kale: 27.8 mg GAE/g), TFC (broccoli: 42.7, radish: 53.4, kale: 54.4 mg QE/g), and antioxidant activity (broccoli: 10.95, radish: 20.68, kale: 25.09 μmol TE/g). Laser treatment also elevated GABA (broccoli: 4.5, radish: 4.2, kale: 4.8 mg/100 g) and PAL levels (broccoli and kale: 17, radish: 15 mg/h/100 g). SEM, DSC, and texture analyses indicated greater surface roughness, improved thermal stability (ΔTd = +6–8 °C), and reduced compressibility (16–20 %) , reflecting beneficial physicochemical modifications.
Contextualizing hard cider flavor language and market position
Neill, Clinton L.; Lahne, Jacob; Calvert, Martha; Hamilton, Leah (Cambridge University Press, 2024-08-01)
This paper investigates the market position of hard cider within the broader alcoholic beverage market. The first experiment identifies two distinct consumer segments-around 40% prioritize flavor attributes, while 53% prefer production information. The second experiment utilizes a basket- and expenditure-based choice experiment and a multiple discrete choice extreme value model to assess hard cider's standing among commonly consumed alcoholic beverages. Results reveal that hard cider is perceived as a complement to red and white wine but is independent from beer. The study suggests marketing hard cider in conjunction with white wine to capitalize on observed complementarity. Emphasizing the importance of addressing both consumer segments-those valuing flavor notes and those prioritizing production information-the research offers valuable insights for optimizing hard cider market strategies.
Hydrothermally Assisted Conversion of Switchgrass into Hard Carbon as Anode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries
Li, Yilin; Xia, Dawei; Tao, Lei; Xu, Zhiyuan; Yu, Dajun; Jin, Qing; Lin, Feng; Huang, Haibo (American Chemical Society, 2024-05-23)
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, reducing the reliance on scarce transition metals. Converting agricultural biomass into SIB anodes can remarkably enhance sustainability in both the agriculture and battery industries. However, the complex and costly synthesis and unsatisfactory electrochemical performance of biomass-derived hard carbon have hindered its further development. Herein, we employed a hydrothermally assisted carbonization process that converts switchgrass to battery-grade hard carbon capable of efficient Na-ion storage. The hydrothermal pretreatment effectively removed hemicellulose and impurities (e.g., lipids and ashes), creating thermally stable precursors suitable to produce hard carbon via carbonization. The elimination of hemicellulose and impurities contributes to a reduced surface area and lower oxygen content. With the modifications, the initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and cycling stability are improved concurrently. The optimized hard carbon showcased a high reversible specific capacity of 313.4 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1), a commendable ICE of 84.8%, and excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 308.4 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles. In short, this research introduces a cost-effective method for producing anode materials for SIBs and highlights a sustainable pathway for biomass utilization, underscoring mutual benefits for the energy and agricultural sectors.
A Green, Fire-Retarding Ether Solvent for Sustainable High-Voltage Li-Ion Batteries at Standard Salt Concentration
Xia, Dawei; Tao, Lei; Hou, Dong; Hu, Anyang; Sainio, Sami; Nordlund, Dennis; Sun, Chengjun; Xiao, Xianghui; Li, Luxi; Huang, Haibo; Lin, Feng (Wiley-V C H Verlag, 2024-10-01)
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are increasingly encouraged to enhance their environmental friendliness and safety while maintaining optimal energy density and cost-effectiveness. Although various electrolytes using greener and safer glyme solvents have been reported, the low charge voltage (usually lower than 4.0 V vs Li/Li+) restricts the energy density of LIBs. Herein, tetraglyme, a lesstoxic, non-volatile, and non-flammable ether solvent, is exploited to build safer and greener LIBs. It is demonstrated that ether electrolytes, at a standard salt concentration (1 m), can be reversibly cycled to 4.5 V vs Li/Li+. Anchored with Boron-rich cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) and mitigated current collector corrosion, the LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) cathode delivers competitive cyclability versus commercial carbonate electrolytes when charged to 4.5 V. Synchrotron spectroscopic and imaging analyses show that the tetraglyme electrolyte can sufficiently suppress the overcharge behavior associated with the high-voltage electrolyte decomposition, which is advantageous over previously reported glyme electrolytes. The new electrolyte also enables minimal transition metal dissolution and deposition. NMC811||hard carbon full cell delivers excellent cycling stability at C/3 with a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.77%. This work reports an oxidation-resilient tetraglyme electrolyte with record-high 4.5 V stability and enlightens further applications of glyme solvents for sustainable LIBs by designing Boron-rich interphases.
Survival of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes on Food Contact Surfaces in Produce Packinghouses
Etaka, Cyril A.; Silva, Eugenia M.; Hamilton, Alexis M.; Murphy, Claire M.; Strawn, Laura K. (MDPI, 2025-09-18)
Short-season (90 d) produce packing operations may run double shifts with no clean breaks in between. This practice can result in produce contamination from food contact surfaces that are not cleaned and sanitized. Our study examined the survival of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes on polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, and stainless steel surfaces that contact produce in operations that have a short packing season. Coupons were spot-inoculated with five-strain cocktails of rifampicin-resistant Salmonella or L. monocytogenes (~7 log CFU/coupon), stored at 22 °C and 45–55% relative humidity, and enumerated at 0, 0.06, 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, 30, 60, and 90 d. Significant differences were evaluated (p ≤ 0.05), and survival was modeled using linear and biphasic models. Salmonella reductions varied significantly by surface type, with rubber showing the greatest survival, followed by stainless steel at 90 d. In contrast, Salmonella concentrations on polycarbonate, polypropylene, and PVC were below the limit of detection at 90 d. L. monocytogenes reductions were not significantly different across materials at 90 d. Biphasic models better fit the inactivation of both pathogens. These findings highlight the importance of clean breaks and focusing interventions where pathogens demonstrate greater persistence in short-season packinghouses.
Supplemental material for Hamilton et al. (2025), Industry Reaction and Perceived Barriers to Implementation of the Preharvest Water Requirements (Subpart E) from the US FDA Produce Safety Rule
Hamilton, Alexis; Rock, Channah M.; Melendez, Meredith; Critzer, Faith; Danyluk, Michelle D.; Strawn, Laura K. (2025-12-31)
Haloferax mediterranei for bioplastics production from wasted materials: potential, opportunities, and challenges
Zhang, Xueyao; Zhao, Fujunzhu; Wang, Mingxi; Huang, Haibo; Kim, Young-Teck; Lansing, Stephanie; Wang, Zhi-Wu (2025-04-01)
This chapter explored the potential of Haloferax mediterranei , a halophilic archaeon, as a sustainable biocatalyst for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production from waste ma- terials. PHAs, biodegradable bioplastics, offer an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum- based plastics but face commercialization challenges due to high production costs and feedstock variability. H. mediterranei addresses these issues with its ability to thrive in high-salinity environments, reducing contamination risks and sterilization costs, while metabolizing diverse, low-cost waste-derived substrates. The chapter details H. mediter- ranei s tolerance of inhibitors, high PHA yields, efficient downstream processing, and adaptability to continuous fermentation systems. Challenges, including substrate and product inhibition, can be addressed through innovative pretreatment and fermentation strategies. The chapter also highlighted H. mediterranei s versatility in producing valuable co-products like carotenoids and extracellular polymeric substances, explored its role in high-salinity wastewater treatment, and emphasized its upscaled application potential, thereby paving the way for scalable, eco-friendly bioplastic production.
Reducing Heat Without Impacting Quality: Optimizing Trypsin Inhibitor Inactivation Process in Low-TI Soybean
Xiao, Ruoshi; Rosso, Luciana; Walker, Troy; Reilly, Patrick; Zhang, Bo; Huang, Haibo (MDPI, 2025-08-29)
A soybean meal is a key protein source in human foods and animal feed, yet its digestibility is constrained by endogenous trypsin inhibitors (TIs). Thermal processing is the mainstream tool for TI inactivation, but high-intensity heat treatments increase energy consumption and can potentially denature proteins, diminishing nutritional quality. Reducing the thermal input while maintaining nutritional quality is, therefore, a critical challenge. One promising strategy is the use of soybean cultivars bred for low-TI expression, which may allow for milder processing. However, the performance of these low-TI cultivars under reduced heat conditions remains unstudied. This study treated soybean samples under four different temperatures (60, 80, 100, and 121 °C) for 10 min and investigated the impact of heat treatment on TI concentration, in vitro protein digestibility, and nutritional properties of meals from a conventional high-TI variety (Glenn) and a novel low-TI variety (VT Barrack). Results showed that heat treatment at 100 °C significantly improved protein digestibility and lower TI concentrations in both varieties. A negative correlation was observed between protein digestibility and TI concentration in both soybean varieties. At 100 °C, the low-TI variety achieved 81.4% protein digestibility with only 0.6 mg/g TIs, whereas the high-TI variety required 121 °C to achieve comparable protein digestibility and a TI reduction. These findings highlight that low-TI soybeans can lower the necessary thermal treatment to 100 °C to minimize TIs while simultaneously preserving protein quality and cutting energy demand, offering a practical, cost-effective approach to producing higher-quality soybean meals.
Ripening Kinetics and Grape Chemistry of Virginia Petit Manseng
Ting, Joy H.; Surratt, Alicia A.; Moccio, Lauren E.; Sandbrook, Ann M.; Chang, Elizabeth A.; Cladis, Dennis P. (MDPI, 2025-07-30)
Petit Manseng is a variety of Vitis vinifera gaining popularity in Virginia, USA because it consistently produces high quality grapes under variable growing conditions. However, its high sugar and acid levels complicate dry wine production. The goal of this study was to characterize Petit Manseng ripening kinetics from veraison to harvest to identify optimal harvest timing for producing dry white wines, using Chardonnay as a comparator because of its popularity in Virginia, well-known ripening kinetics, and ability to produce high quality dry white wines. A total of 74 samples of Petit Manseng and Chardonnay grapes were collected from five commercial sites over 2 years and evaluated for berry weight, pH, titratable acidity (TA), malic acid, total soluble solids (TSS), glucose, and fructose, with ripening kinetics modeled using segmented regressions. Results indicated that harvest timing and grape variety were the primary factors influencing ripening kinetics. In contrast, growing location and vintage had limited impact. In Chardonnay grapes, TA declined from 21 to 7.1 g/L and TSS increased from 6.1 to 19.5 g/L. In Petit Manseng, TA declined from 25 to 10.8 g/L and TSS increased from 8.0 to 23.6 g/L. Acid depletion plateaued ~2 weeks after sugar accumulation plateaued in Petit Manseng grapes, though the plateaus were similar in Chardonnay grapes. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) completely separated grapes based on pH or TA vs. sugars, but not malic acid vs. sugars, suggesting that tartaric acid is driving acidity differences between cultivars. These data indicate that regardless of when grapes are harvested, winemakers may need to employ targeted acid management strategies with Petit Manseng because of its ripening kinetics.
Soybean Lectin Cross-Links Membranes by Binding Sulfatide in a Curvature-Dependent Manner
Okedigba, Ayoyinka O.; Ng, Emery L.; Deegbey, Mawuli; Rosso, M. Luciana; Ngo, William; Xiao, Ruoshi; Huang, Haibo; Zhang, Bo; Welborn, Valerie; Capelluto, Daniel G. S. (American Chemical Society, 2025-05-24)
Soybean (Glycine max) is a key source of plant-based protein, yet its nutritional value is impacted by antinutritional factors, including lectins. Whereas soybean lectin is known to bind N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (GalNAc), its lipid interactions remain unexplored. Using a novel purification method, we isolated lectin from soybean meals and characterized its interactions with GalNAc and the glycosphingolipid sulfatide. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed micromolar affinity for GalNAc, whereas most GalNAc derivatives displayed weak or no binding. Lectin exhibited high-affinity binding to sulfatide in a membrane curvature-dependent manner. Binding of lectin to sulfatide promoted cross-linking of sulfatide-containing vesicles. Whereas sulfatide interaction was independent of GalNAc binding, suggesting distinct binding sites, vesicle cross-linking was inhibited by the sugar. Molecular dynamics simulations identified a consensus sulfatide-binding site in lectin. These findings highlight the dual ligand-binding properties of soybean lectin and may provide strategies to mitigate its antinutritional effects and improve soybean meal processing.
Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Calibration for Trypsin Inhibitor in Soybean Seed and Meal
Fletcher, Elizabeth B.; Rosso, M. Luciana; Walker, Troy; Huang, Haibo; Morota, Gota; Zhang, Bo (MDPI, 2025-05-14)
Trypsin inhibitors (TI) are naturally occurring antinutritional factors found in soybean seeds [Glycine max. (L.)] that decrease the growth rate of livestock, causing malnutrition and digestion troubles. The current accurate method to quantify TI levels in soybean seeds or meals is by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); however, it is time-consuming, creating bottlenecks in industrial processing. Establishing a near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR) model for estimating TI in seeds and meals would provide a more efficient and cost-effective method for breeding programs and feed producers. In this study, 300 soybean lines, both seeds and meals, were analyzed for TI content using HPLC, and calibration models were created based on spectral data collected from a Perten DA 7250 NIR instrument. The resulting models demonstrated robust validation, achieving accuracy rates of 97% for seed total TI, 97% for seed Kunitz TI, and 89% for meal total TI. The findings of this study are significant as no NIR calibration models had previously been developed for TI estimation in soybean seed and meal. These models can be used by breeding programs to efficiently assess their lines and by industry to quickly evaluate their soybean meal quality.
Environmental bodies of water as reservoirs for Salmonella: A Scoping Review
Chowdhury, Bhaswati; Ehsan, Rakib; Weller, Daniel; Kummer, Amber; Nguyen, Han; Comer, C. Cozette; Hoch, Jackson; Cheng, Rachel (2025-05)
Salmonella enterica is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States. Emerging evidence suggests that surface water may act as an environmental reservoir, contributing to its persistence and transmission. However, no comprehensive synthesis of the available literature exists to evaluate the strength of this evidence or to identify patterns in Salmonella occurrence in surface water sources from different regions in the United States. To address this gap, this protocol describes the methodology for conducting a scoping review, developed in accordance with PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines by trained reviewers in collaboration with evidence synthesis librarians, to assess the prevalence of Salmonella contamination in surface water in the US and evaluate its potential role in transmission, including links to agricultural runoff and wildlife activity. In brief, the descriptor terms for the pathogen of interest, i.e., “Salmonella” and surface water bodies (e.g., river, stream, wetland) were identified. These terms were then tailored to the syntax requirements of nine selected databases, based on scope and topical fit, and used to develop search strategies incorporating Boolean and proximity operators to enhance the retrieval of relevant records. Controlled vocabularies, such as MeSH and CAB Thesaurus terms, were also incorporated, and the search was restricted to studies conducted within the United States. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined a priori to guide the screening of retrieved records through title, abstract, and full-text review. Finally, data extraction items were identified to (i) synthesize evidence on risks associated with surface water used for irrigation in small and large produce operations and (ii) identify key knowledge gaps to inform future research on surface water as an environmental reservoir for Salmonella.
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.

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