Tackling New Challenges on Microbial Food Safety: Advanced Processing Solutions and Comprehensive Control Strategies

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 September 2025 | Viewed by 637

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
Interests: food safety; food microbiology; fermented foods; LAB; yeast; microbial isolation; bacteriophages; food-borne pathogens; high pressure processing; emerging technologies; immunochemical methods; bacterial cell culture; biotechnology; protein purification; project management; SDS-PAGE; western blot analysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Consumers’ growing demand for products with adequate nutritional, physicochemical and sensory quality has challenged both the food industry and the academic sector, dictating a constant effort in the development of innovative strategies to provide new products with optimal attributes that must also guarantee microbial food safety. However, despite significant efforts by all involved parties, there is still a considerable burden of foodborne illnesses, in which microorganisms play a prominent role. Also, in the context of climate change, major challenges to global food safety are being anticipated, with the potential of affecting the occurrence and intensity of known foodborne diseases or favoring the emergence of novel risks.

Recent advances in rapid detection methods as well as food processing technologies are able to limit foodborne disease emergence. The development and application of novel natural broad-range preservatives and specific antimicrobials for the biocontrol of foodborne pathogens are also under study. Therefore, it is necessary to establish reference publications to show the most recent developments, potential applications and future trends that improve and/or complement those already in use.

Consequently, the purpose of this Special Issue is to compile up-to-date research dealing with a wide range of fields, such as new developments in microbial monitoring/detection and novel strategies for pathogen control (e.g., technologies, natural preservatives, and hurdle strategies), tackling the increasing occurrence of foodborne pathogens, concerning the main drivers of the future of microbial food safety. We invite contributions, in the form of original research as well as review articles, that explore innovative and sustainable strategies to control microbial burden in foods, including advanced processing technologies, molecular assays, predictive microbiology, biocontrol methods, and natural antimicrobials. In addition, it is widely known that microbial food safety is intimately linked to the health and microbial safety of animals, crops, and the environment, all together within the One Health concept. Thus, emphasis will also be given to studies focusing on the significance of improved agricultural methods and practices, and comprehensive food handling strategies to support the development of effective solutions to guarantee safer, more sustainable, and higher-quality food systems.

Dr. Maria Lavilla
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • foodborne pathogenic bacteria
  • food safety natural antimicrobials
  • biocontrol
  • microbial detection
  • molecular diagnostics
  • microbial inactivation
  • control strategies
  • emerging technologies
  • climate change
  • One Health

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 997 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Ultra-High Pressure Homogenization Treatments to Ensure the Microbiological Safety and Immunoglobulin Preservation in Donor Human Milk
by Kimia Jalali, Belén Pastor-Villaescusa, Katherine Flores-Rojas, Vanessa Pleguezuelos, Francisco J. Pérez-Cano, Àngels Franch-Masferrer, Antonio J. Trujillo-Mesa, M. Manuela Hernández-Herrero and Artur X. Roig-Sagués
Foods 2025, 14(8), 1310; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14081310 - 9 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Most donor human milk (HM) banks use Holder pasteurization (HoP) to ensure microbiological safety, although it can degrade essential bioactive factors for newborns. This study evaluates the innovative ultra-high-pressure homogenization (UHPH) technology as a potential alternative. Listeria innocua, Staphylococcus carnosus, Franconibacter [...] Read more.
Most donor human milk (HM) banks use Holder pasteurization (HoP) to ensure microbiological safety, although it can degrade essential bioactive factors for newborns. This study evaluates the innovative ultra-high-pressure homogenization (UHPH) technology as a potential alternative. Listeria innocua, Staphylococcus carnosus, Franconibacter helveticus (formerly named Cronobacter helveticus) and Escherichia coli strains were used as surrogates for common HM pathogens according to European Milk Bank Association (EMBA) guidelines, to evaluate the efficacy of new technologies. A reconstituted powder milk formula inoculated with these strains was used to determine the most efficient conditions (those to achieve a lethality of ≥5 Log), applying treatments from 150 to 300 MPa. These treatments were later validated using inoculated HM with the same strains. Immunoglobulin (sIgA, IgG, IgM) retention was also evaluated and compared with HoP. Results showed that UHPH treatments at 200 MPa achieved a lethality > 5 Log for all strains, except for St. carnosus, which required 250 MPa for complete inactivation in HM. Unlike HoP, UHPH at 200 and 250 MPa did not significantly reduce the basal concentration of sIgA, IgG, or IgM compared with raw HM. These findings suggest UHPH as a promising alternative to HoP, maintaining both microbiological safety and immunological quality. Full article
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Review

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23 pages, 367 KiB  
Review
Occurrence of Moulds and Yeasts in the Slaughterhouse: The Underestimated Role of Fungi in Meat Safety and Occupational Health
by Melissa Alves Rodrigues, Pedro Teiga-Teixeira and Alexandra Esteves
Foods 2025, 14(8), 1320; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14081320 - 11 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Despite their potential impact on meat safety and occupational health, fungi are often underestimated contaminants in slaughterhouses. Moulds and yeasts may be associated with meat contamination in multiple processing stages, and mycotoxigenic species, such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium, pose [...] Read more.
Despite their potential impact on meat safety and occupational health, fungi are often underestimated contaminants in slaughterhouses. Moulds and yeasts may be associated with meat contamination in multiple processing stages, and mycotoxigenic species, such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium, pose food safety concerns. Bioaerosols may carry infectious fungi at the slaughterhouse that are capable of causing respiratory conditions and allergies. Chronic exposure to mycotoxins can have hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, and carcinogenic effects in humans. While bacterial contamination in meat has been widely studied, fungal contamination remains overlooked due to limited evidence of immediate disease and the perception that its risks are lower than those of bacteria, which may contribute to insufficient research, awareness, and standardised surveillance protocols. This review compiles published data on the occurrence of fungi in slaughterhouses over the past twenty-five years. It highlights the primary mould and yeast isolated species, mainly identified based on morphological and microscopic characteristics, providing context for their role in meat safety and occupational health. The findings emphasise the need for improved risk assessment and fungal monitoring in meat plants. Standardised fungal detection and control protocols are also suggested for implementation to enhance meat safety and workplace conditions. Full article
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