U CONN, assistant professor of food microbiology and safety Abhi Upadhyay, studied ultra-fine ozone bubbles as antimicrobial. Ultra-fine bubbles are small, spherical, ozone-filled with a diameter of fewer than 100 nanometers. The ultra-fine bubbles can stay in the solution for an extended duration to kill pathogens. The study tested eggs, spinach, lettuce, cucumber, and cantaloupes contaminated with Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, and Listeria monocytogenes. The goal is to find a safe addition to wash water to eliminate food pathogens. @ https://www.wateronline.com/doc/microbiologist-develops-improved-technology-for-poultry-food-safety-0001
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One Friday evening in the spring of 2019, Abhi Upadhyay, assistant professor of food microbiology and safety in the Department of Animal Science, found himself watching a video showing microbubbles for pet care and grooming. He started thinking about using this technology for food safety and spent the weekend researching its potential, current state of the field and appropriate grant opportunities.
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Effectiveness of PCR and CDx Immunoassay for the detection of Salmonella and STEC in the air of beef slaughterhouses
A study comparing the effectiveness of a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and the Crystal Diagnostic Xpress (CDx) immunoassay for detecting Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in air samples collected from abattoirs in Texas was published in J Food Prot (2021) 84 (1): 31–38 (Zahra et al., 2021). After 36 h enrichment, qPCR, and CDx assays, 37.5 and 57.1% of the samples, respectively, were positive for Salmonella (P < 0.05) and 65.0 and 60.7%, respectively, were positive for STEC (P > 0.05). Recovery of Salmonella and STEC increased 16 and 47%, respectively, when enrichment was extended from 18 to 36 h. Detection rates for samples from larger plants were higher for both pathogens. Salmonella detection was higher with the CDx assay than with the qPCR assay, but no differences were found in STEC detection. Detection rates for pathogens in the air are enhanced by using two methods simultaneously. @ https://meridian.allenpress.com/jfp/article-abstract/84/1/31/442605/Comparison-between-the-Real-Time-PCR-and-Crystal
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Midwestern Pet Foods recalls its pet food due to Aflatoxin
The FDA announced on its website that Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc., of Evansville, IN, issued a voluntary recall of dog and cat food products due to tests indicating levels of Aflatoxin that exceed acceptable limits. Products were distributed nationally to online distributors and retail stores. At high levels, Aflatoxin can cause illness and death in pets. There have been reports of illnesses and deaths in dogs associated with the Sportmix High Energy product. No cat or human illnesses have been reported. The recalled products include 50# Sportmix Energy Plus, 44# Sportmix Energy Plus, 50# Sportmix Premium High Energy, 44# Sportmix Premium High Energy, 31# Sportmix Original Cat, and 15# Sportmix Original Cat. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/midwestern-pet-foods-voluntarily-recalls-pet-food-recall-aflatoxin-health-risk?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc., of Evansville, IN is issuing a voluntary recall of the below listed dog and cat food products due to tests indicating levels of Aflatoxin that exceed acceptable limits.
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Israeli scientist developed a 15-minute Covid-19 PCR test
Dr. Amos Danielli and his laboratory technicians at the Faculty of Engineering at Bar-Ilan University developed a game-changer approach to testing Covid-19 using PCR. Danielli and his team added additional materials to the traditional assay, which gives the molecules in the solution a magnetic charge as well. An electromagnet is affixed to the PCR machine so that in real-time, the genetic information is collected and drawn closer to the sensors. Therefore, the identification of Covid-19 in a sample can be much quicker and test a greater amount of genetic information much earlier in the testing process. The assay look at how much light is emitted in the solution, and the amount of light increases at every PCR step, or as the machine’s sensor doubles the amount of genetic information. The technology is cutting down from 1-1 ½ hour to just 15 minutes. During the study, 274 samples were taken, 140 of which yielded negative-Covid-19 results, while 134 cases were found to be infected with the virus. In 100% of the cases, the new test (MagBiosense) test results were identical to that of the standard PCR tests, with a typical test-taking around 30 minutes. @ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3884554,00.html
