Papers on mycobacteria in food, feed and water, published between 1945 and 2010 and indexed in the database Web of Science (Thomson Reuters), were ranked according to authors, institutions, countries and source titles. The total number of papers on mycobacteria and food, and mycobacteria and water were 1,486 and 1,419, respectively. More than 40% of papers have been published in the last five years. In addition to publications in peer reviewed journals the archives of ProMED-mail and the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Union were also searched. It is evident that much attention is being paid to mycobacteria in food, feed and water as they likely pose a public health risk.

El agua electrolizada neutra (AEN) ha mostrado gran capacidad para la inactivación de microorganismos relevantes en alimentos. En este proyecto se evaluó la eficiencia del AEN para inactivar Salmonella y alargar la vida útil del queso Oaxaca y la jícama cortada; así como su efecto sobre los principales componentes de los alimentos con la posible formación de compuestos tóxicos. Con la exposición a AEN (56 ppm), Salmonella inoculada en la superficie del queso Oaxaca y trozos de jícama se redujo 0.85 y 1.25 Log UFC/porción, respectivamente. En las bacterias lácticas (BAL) naturalmente presentes en jícama se logró una inactivación de ~ 0.8 Log UFC/porción empleando AEN a 35 y 56 ppm; mientras que en queso Oaxaca se obtuvo una reducción máxima de 0.3 Log UFC/ml cuando se aplicó AEN a 35 ppm. Alargar el tiempo de exposición de 5 a 10 minutos, no mejoró el efecto antimicrobiano sobre Salmonella, ni sobre las BAL. El efecto antimicrobiano del AEN fue similar en todos los casos a una solución de hipoclorito en concentración equivalente, pero el AEN muestra mayor capacidad para conservar su actividad en presencia de materia orgánica. En jícama expuesta a AEN por 5 y 10 minutos no se detectó la formación de hidroperóxidos, mientras que en queso sumergido por 10 min se generaron estos compuestos en 0.4 ppm; en todos los casos la concentración de hidroperóxidos fue menor que en el alimento expuesto a cloro. Cambios en el perfil electroforético de las proteínas solubles del queso sólo se observaron cuando el queso se expuso a AEN por 10 min. La aplicación de AEN (6 y 35 ppm) no marcó una diferencia en las características de color del queso, ni en el comportamiento de las BAL durante el almacenamiento tanto a 30, como a 4°C; sin embargo, se observó un efecto de inhibición de la producción de hidroperóxidos en ambas temperaturas. La aplicación de AEN (6 y 35 ppm) sobre jícama cortada retrasó el deterioro aproximadamente 4 días en el almacenamiento a 4°C, sin cambios en la textura del alimento. La aplicación de AEN a queso y jícama muestra potencial para ser usada como una estrategia complementaria a las prácticas sanitarias en el control de la inocuidad y la vida útil de estos alimentos. | Neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) has shown good capacity for the inactivation of relevant microorganisms in food. In this project, the efficiency of NEW to inactivate Salmonella and to extend shelflife of Oaxaca cheese and cut jicama was evaluated; as well as its effect on toxic productos formation due to interaction with main compounds. With NEW exposition (56ppm), Salmonella on the surface of the Oaxaca cheese and jicama pieces was reduced 0.84 and 1.25 Log CFU/portion, respectively. A reduction of ~ 0.8 Log CFU/portion in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) naturally present in jicama was achieved employing NEW at 35 and 56 ppm; while only a maximum reduction of 0.3 Log CFU/ml was obtained when NEW at 35 ppm was applied. Extending exposure time from 5 to 10 min did not improve the antimicrobial effect. The antimicrobial effect of NEW was similar to a solution of a chloride solution at equivalent concentration in all cases, but NEW showed better capacity to preserve its activity in the presence of organic matter. Hydroperoxides formation was not detected in jicama exposed to NEW for 5 and 10 minutes, while these compounds were generated at 0.4 ppm in cheese immersed for 10 minutes; but in all cases, it was less than hidroperoxide concentration in food exposed to chloride solution. Changes in the electrophoretic profile of soluble proteins of cheese were only observed when the food was exposed to NEW for 10 minutes. NEW application (6 and 35 ppm) did not make a difference in the color characteristics of the cheese, nor in the behavior of the BAL during storage both at 30 and 4 ºC; nevertheless, an inhibition effect was observed in the production of hydroperoxides in both temperatures. The application of NEW (6 and 35 ppm) on cut jicama slowed the spoilage for approximately 4 days at 4ºC storage, without changes in food texture The application of NEW on cheese and jicama shows potential to be used as a complementary strategy to sanitarian practices within food safety control system and its shelflife.

Diagrs., illus., tables. Includes bibliographies