Scientific Posters

Rapid methods such as PCR have been making in-roads into the routine nutraceutical and dietary supplements testing, the potential of multiplex PCR for routine detection of multiple pathogens has yet to be ascertained. The diversity and ever-growing list of matrices in these industries further exacerbates the challenges for such methods and thereby the method compatibility should be reviewed with the adoption of new technology.

Standard molecular methods (without immunoconcentration step) of STEC detection in food matrices based on stx and eae genes co-detection and Top5/7 serogroup associated genes may lead to identify a significant number of false positives without detection of all enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) potentially present. These major limits may cause either a substantial economic loss for food industry and a food safety risk for consumers.

In the United States, the production and consumption of green leafy produce has been steadily rising. The most recent attribution estimates from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013) indicated leafy produce to be responsible for the highest amount of foodborne illnesses and among the top five causes of foodborne hospitalizations and deaths. Between 1973 and 2012, Salmonella and Shiga toxinproducing Escherichia coli (STEC) species were the top bacterial pathogens responsible for outbreaks caused by leafy vegetables.

In order to meet the growing expectations of consumers and the vigilance of regulation authorities, the food industry now uses new technology to improve food traceability.

Standard molecular methods (without immunoconcentration step) of STEC detection in food matrices based on stx and eae genes co-detection and Top5/7 serogroup associated genes may lead to identify a significant number of false positives without detection of all enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) potentially present. These major limits may cause either a substantial economic loss for food industry and a food safety risk for consumers.