J. Food Protection June 8, 2025, published a manuscript entitled “ Biocontrol of two Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains and a non-pathogenic surrogate E. coli in wheat grains and wheat milling operations using a lytic bacteriophage cocktail” Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) contamination of wheat and flour is a significant public health risk and a major challenge for the milling industry. Several interventions, such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and lactic acid, have been evaluated and are used with variable success. Phage biocontrol has proven to be an effective strategy for controlling foodborne pathogens in various food products. This study investigated the effectiveness of phage biocontrol in reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7 contamination in soft wheat milling operations. The findings demonstrated the efficacy of phage applications in reducing E. coli O157:H7 on wheat while maintaining flour quality and sensory attributes. The phage cocktail reduced E. coli O157:H7 populations by up to 1.3 log CFU/g within 4 hours on wheat grains, with reductions correlated to phage concentrations. In mill trials, tempering soft wheat with a phage cocktail at three concentrations, i.e., 1 × 10^6 PFU/g, 2.5 × 10^6 PFU/g, and 1 × 10^7 PFU/g, resulted in significant reductions in populations of a non-pathogenic E. coli O88 strain, ranging from 1.4 to 3.1 log CFU/g, in a dose-dependent manner. Two different tempering systems, the DAMPE system and the Bühler Turbolizer, were evaluated. Both systems achieved similar overall reductions, although the DAMPE system showed slightly higher efficacy than the Bühler Turbolizer after 6 hours of tempering. Additionally, phage treatments reduced the number of positive samples in straight-grade and patent flours by 15%-29%. Phage treatment did not affect the functionality or baking qualities of the flour. These findings confirm that phage applications effectively reduce foodborne pathogens in wheat without compromising product quality. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X25001097
