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Dairy products are the most predominant food carriers for probiotics, providing adequate therapeutic and functional benefits to the host when sufficient probiotics are maintained. Bovine milk currently dominates the global probiotic food market, but there is an increasing trend of applying nonbovine milk from other dairy animals as probiotic carrier food matrices as described in this review. Nonbovine dairy products can be considered suitable food matrices for probiotic delivery due to their excellent probiotic viability (mostly >log 7 cfu/mL or g) during shelf life, functional properties and product quality characteristics, being considered desirable and novel dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to estimate the risk of staphylococcal toxin type A (SEA) poisoning from consuming Minas Frescal cheese (MFC) in Brazil. A Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment model was developed, focussing on the production of SEA while still in the raw material. The baseline scenario yielded a simulated mean concentration of SEA in the MFC portion of 16.20 ng. The concentration of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk is proved to be the most influential parameter for the risk, followed by the serving size and the prevalence of toxin genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Thirty‐four different ready‐to eat (RTE) vegetable salads were inoculated with a cocktail of three Salmonella enterica strains, and stored under a modified atmosphere for up to 168 h at 4, 7, 12 and 16°C. Eighteen (18) of the salad samples comprised of two or more vegetable ingredients (also referred to as MV RTE salads), and 16 were made up of single vegetable ingredients (SV RTE salads). Generally, the growth potential of inoculated S. enterica varied depending on temperature and type of RTE vegetable salad. The higher temperature was generally more favourable for the growth of S. enterica. Among all 34 salad samples, 5, 11, 18 and 24 salad samples supported the growth of Salmonella at 4, 7, 12 and 16°C, respectively. All salads consisting of multiple vegetable ingredients except two: one comprised of carrots, lettuce and beetroot and another comprised of white cabbage and purple cabbage, supported the growth of Salmonella at high temperatures (either 12 or 16 or both 12 and 16°C). Although the growth of Salmonella was variable in the different types of RTE salads, and growth was generally low at 4°C, Salmonella exhibited consistently minimal growth in some vegetable salads such as those comprised of carrots, lettuce and beetroot, carrots, beetroots, cabbage and cucumber, as well as one comprised of beetroot and corn at all temperature conditions tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review was the first to gather literature about the effect of emerging technologies on probiotic, prebiotic, and postbiotic products. Applying emerging technologies to probiotic products can increase probiotic survival and improve probiotic properties (cholesterol attachment, adhesion to Caco‐2 cells, increase angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities, and decrease systolic blood pressure). Furthermore, it can optimize the fermentation process, produce or maintain compounds of interest (bacteriocin, oligosaccharides, peptides, phenolic compounds, flavonoids), improve bioactivity (vitamin, aglycones, calcium), and sensory characteristics. Applying emerging technologies to prebiotic products did not result in prebiotic degradation. Still, it contributed to higher concentrations of bioactive compounds (citric and ascorbic acids, anthocyanin, polyphenols, flavonoids) and health properties (antioxidant activity and inhibition of ACE, α‐amylase, and α‐glucosidase). Emerging technologies may also be applied to obtain postbiotics with increased health effects. In this way, current studies suggest that emerging food processing technologies enhance the efficiency of probiotics and prebiotics in food. The information provided may help food industries to choose a more suitable technology to process their products and provide a basis for the most used process parameters. Furthermore, the current gaps are discussed. Emerging technologies may be used to process food products resulting in increased probiotic functionality, prebiotic stability, and higher concentrations of bioactive compounds. In addition, they can be used to obtain postbiotic products with improved health effects compared to the conventional heat treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of conventional heat treatments (high‐temperature–short‐time and low‐temperature–low‐time) and high‐intensity ultrasound (HIUS) on the physical stability and bacterial diversity of whole milk during refrigerated storage. HIUS processing used an energy density of 3 kJ/mL and an ultrasound intensity of 90 W/cm2. The most abundant bacterial genera found in raw milk were Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. After processing and storage for 7 days, Acinetobacter, Kluyvera and Serratia were the dominant genera in almost all samples, and Pseudomonas was the most abundant in HIUS‐processed milk. Only the HIUS process reduced the fat droplet size (<1 µm), providing better physical stability during the storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional technologies for the inactivation of microorganisms in food products have their limitations, especially changes in quality attributes that have led to quality deterioration, low consumer acceptance, impact on the environment, and potential health hazards (carcinogens). Ultraviolet (UV) light is an emerging promising nonthermal technology employed for microbial inactivation in water, liquid, and solid food products to curtail the limitations above. This review provides an insight into UV light‐emitting diodes (UV‐LEDs)' potential as an alternative to the traditional UV lamps for microbial inactivation in liquid and solid media. Also, the mechanisms of inactivation of lone and combined UVA‐, UVB‐, and UVC‐LEDs were discussed. The strategies utilized to improve the efficacy between the UV‐LED treatments at various wavelengths were summarized. Combining different UV‐LEDs treatments at different wavelengths have a synergistic effect and suppression of microbial cell reactivation. The UV‐LED‐based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) also have high germicidal action against numerous microorganisms and are efficient for the degradation of micropollutants. Among the UV‐LEDs discussed, UVC‐LED has the most antimicrobial effect with the most efficient micropollutants decomposition with regards to UV‐LED‐based AOPs. This review has provided vital information for future application, development, and customization of UV‐LED systems that can meet the food and water safety requirements and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the organic chlorine and acetic acid solutions on the inactivation of adhered cells of Escherichia coli, Cronobacter sakazakii and Klebsiella pneumoniae to lettuce. Besides, the growth and inactivation of K. pneumoniae adhered to lettuce was modeled. According to the findings, the use of chlorine solution (170 mg/ml of total residual chlorine) caused reductions of 1.8, 1.9, and 1.9 log for E. coli, C. sakazakii, and K pneumoniae, respectively, were recorded. In this regard, the organic chloramine was more effective in controlling the adhered microorganisms while compared with 1.5% acetic acid solution, while the addition of 0.5% sodium chloride to 1.5% acetic acid solution increased microbial inactivation. K. pneumoniae RC‐34 inactivation was characterized by the presence of two sub‐populations with different resistances against the proposed sanitizers. Moreover, the growth kinetic parameters of K. pneumoniae RC‐34 adhered to lettuce leaves were very similar to that reported in the literature for nonadhered microorganisms. The predictive data generated can be valuable to assess the growth and inactivation of produce adhered microorganisms in leafy produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large variety of cheeses exist in Brazil, reflecting historical and cultural aspects. Brazilian artisanal cheeses present differences in the processing, ripening time (when applied), type of milk used, texture, size, shape, color, moisture content, flavor, the use or not of starter cultures, among others. This review describes the main artisanal cheeses produced in Brazil, focusing on general and particular characteristics associated with their making process and geographical identity. Overall, the high variability of the physicochemical data and deficiency of information on sensorial properties of Brazilian artisanal cheeses were noticed. On the other hand, culture‐dependent methods were mostly used to expand the knowledge into the microbiology of these cheeses, whereas their microbial diversity has been recently discovered through the use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing‐based methods. The certification of a geographical indication for Brazilian artisanal cheeses may encompass an essential milestone for adding value to these products. Regardless of their significance in the diet, culture, and economy of producing regions, taken together, the reviewed literature discloses the need of insightful studies to generate scientific data to support the expansion of the market, while ensuring the protection of historic aspects related to the production of Brazilian artisanal cheeses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy foods, particularly those of bovine origin, are the predominant vehicles for delivery of probiotic bacteria. Caprine (goat) milk also possesses potential for successful delivery of probiotics, and despite its less appealing flavor in some products, the use of goat milk as a probiotic carrier has rapidly increased over the last decade. This review reports on the diversity, applicability, and potential of using probiotics to enhance the sensory properties of goat milk and goat milk‐based products. A brief conceptual introduction to probiotic microorganisms is followed by an account of the unique physicochemical, nutritive, and beneficial aspects of goat milk, emphasizing its advantages as a probiotic carrier. The sensory properties of probiotic‐enriched goat milk products are also discussed. The maintenance of probiotic viability and desirable physicochemical characteristics in goat milk products over shelf life is possible. However, the unpleasant sensory features of some goat milk products remain a major disadvantage that hinder its wider utilization. Nevertheless, certain measures such as fortification with selected probiotic strains, inclusion of fruit pulps and popular flavor compounds, and production of commonly consumed tailor‐made goat milk‐based products have potential to overcome this limitation. In particular, certain probiotic bacteria release volatile compounds as a result of their metabolism, which are known to play a major role in the aroma profile and sensory aspects of the final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of fermented sarshir (traditional dairy food), with three probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum strains (LP3, AF1, and LU5), were investigated. The oxidative stability and the lipid profile of non-fermented and fermented sarshir were compared, in addition to radical scavenging activity, as well as peroxide, anisidine and carbonyl values (PV, AnV and CV, respectively). RESULTS The strong antibacterial activity of fermented sarshir against common pathogenic bacteria, including Gram-negative Escherichia coli O157: H7 ATCC 35150 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, as well as Gram-positive Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, was established. Among the strains examined, L. plantarum LP3 exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity (53.1 ± 1.8%) and lowest PV (3.0 meq kg-1), AnV (1.31 ± 0.06) and CV (1.4 ± 0.08). The pH of sarshir decreased from 6.2 ± 0 to 3.5 ± 0.1 during 14 h of fermentation. Incorporated bacterial cells exhibited notable viability during 10 days of cold storage (4 °C). CONCLUSION The fermentation of sarshir by L. plantarum strains, especially LP3, resulted in beneficial changes in radical scavenging activity, as well as PV, AnV and carbonyl values, in addition to a broad spectrum of inhibitory activity against strains of P. aeruginosa, E. coli O157:H7, B. cereus and S. aureus. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to enumerate and identify lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae from spoiled and nonspoiled chilled vacuum-packaged beef and determine their potential to cause blown pack spoilage. These microbial groups were also enumerated in nonspoiled samples and detected in abattoir samples. The potential of isolates to cause 'blown pack' spoilage of vacuum-packaged beef stored at chilled temperature (4 °C) and abuse temperature (15 °C) was investigated. Populations of lactic acid bacteria in exudate of spoiled and nonspoiled samples were not significantly different ( P > 0.05), whereas the number of lactic acid bacteria on the surface was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in spoiled samples as compared to nonspoiled samples. The population of Enterobacteriaceae species in exudate and on the surface of samples were significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in spoiled packs in comparison with nonspoiled packs. Results of the deterioration potential showed that 'blown pack' spoilage was noticeable after 7 days at 15 °C and after 6 weeks at 4 °C for samples inoculated with Hafnia alvei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]