Redesigning Food Handler Training: A Gamified Approach Tested in Italy's Large-Scale Retail.

Foodborne diseases remain a major global health issue, with over 250 illnesses linked to contaminated food. Effective food safety management relies on well-trained handlers; however, traditional classroom-based, passive learning often lacks engagement and efficacy, limiting awareness and hindering the development of a strong food safety culture. Gamification offers a promising alternative for vocational training, enhancing motivation and engagement through interactive, emotionally engaging learning experiences.

Assessing Ochratoxin A Contamination in Pre-Packaged Grated Cheese: Implications for Food Safety.

Cheese is a globally consumed dairy product, with Europe leading the world in its consumption. Italy, as the third-largest cheese producer within the European Union, plays a crucial role in the sector, particularly through its production of Protected Designation of Origin (P.D.

Microbiological Analysis Conducted on Raw Milk Collected During Official Sampling in Liguria (North-West Italy) over a Ten-Year Period (2014-2023).

Milk has been consumed by humans for thousands of years for its nutritional properties. In recent years, raw milk demand has increased, valued for its authenticity and connection to local traditions. In Italy, the sale of raw milk is allowed exclusively through direct sale from the producing farm to the final consumer, either at the producing farm itself or through vending machines.

Antibiotic Resistance in Enterococci and from Laboratory-Reared Fresh Mealworm Larvae ( L.) and Their Frass.

The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in foodstuff involves a human health risk. Edible insects are a precious resource; however, their consumption raises food safety issues. In this study, the occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in laboratory-reared fresh mealworm larvae ( L.

Analysis of two cross-contamination cases of foodborne disease in fragile subjects in the territory of a Local Health Authority in Tuscany, Italy.

Campylobacteriosis is the most reported foodborne disease in the European Union, with more than 100,000 confirmed cases annually. Human infection can be caused by a low infectious dose, and in fragile populations, the food disease can manifest itself in acute and severe forms. This study aims to analyze two cases of campylobacteriosis in fragile people caused by in 2023 in Tuscany and the actions of the Local Health Competent Authority.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity against the of Essential Oils from Seven Species.

In recent years, essential oils (EOs) have received interest due to their antibacterial properties. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the EOs obtained from seven species of on three strains of (two serotyped wild strains and one ATCC strain), a bacterium able to contaminate food products and cause foodborne disease in humans. The species analysed in the present study were cultivated at the Botanic Garden and Museum of the University of Pisa, and their air-dried aerial parts were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus.

Behaviour of in the Rearing Substrate of Larvae.

(mealworm) is one of the most promising insect species to produce sustainable feed and food with high nutritional value. Insects may harbour microorganisms both in the gut and on the exoskeleton originating from the rearing environment. is a pathogenic microorganism frequently involved in food poisoning due to its enterotoxin production.

Food safety culture in food companies: evaluation of the perception of food safety culture in three Tuscan food companies.

The Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2021/382 (European Commission, 2021), amending the Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 (European Commission, 2004), introduced the obligation for companies to establish and maintain a food safety culture (FSC).

Occurrence of in Faeces, Livers and Carcasses of Wild Boars Hunted in Tuscany (Italy) and Evaluation of MALDI-TOF MS for the Identification of Species.

A total of 193 wild boars hunted in Tuscany, an Italian region with a high presence of wild ungulates, were examined to assess the occurrence of species in faeces, bile, liver and carcasses, with the aim of clarifying their contribution to human infection through the food chain. spp. were found in 44.

Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of manuka essential oil against and of food origin.

The activity of manuka () essential oil (EO) on biofilms of foodborne and has been studied. Seven strains of and 7 of (5 methicillin-resistant) were tested. EO minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), EO minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and biofilm production quantification were determined for each strain by microtiter methods.

Microbiological Changes in Meat and Minced Meat from Beavers ( L.) during Refrigerated and Frozen Storage.

This study aims to evaluate the microbiological status, pH, and water activity of European beaver meat to establish its shelf-life and microbiological safety. In this study, the microbiological profiles of meat and minced meat obtained from the carcasses of beavers were investigated. Microbial evaluation of the chilled meat was performed within 24 h after hunting, on the 7th day and 14th day, and the evaluation of the frozen meat was made during the 11th week of storage.

Coagulase negative staphylococci from ovine bulk-tank milk: Effects of the exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of disinfectants for teat-dipping.

Teat-dipping is one of the most effective methods to prevent mammary infections in ruminants, including sub-clinical mastitis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). Improper disinfectant application could expose microorganisms to sub-inhibitory concentrations leading to phenotypic variations. In this study, 12 chlorhexidine-digluconate (CHDG)-tolerant (of which 4 qac positive) and 12 benzalkonium chloride (BC)-tolerant (of which 7 qac-positive) CoNS isolates from ovine milk were exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of CHDG and BC, respectively.

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Manuka ( J.R. et G. Forst) and winter Savory ( L.) Essential Oils and Their Blends against Pathogenic Isolates from Pigs.

Neonatal diarrhoea (ND), post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) and oedema disease (OD) are among the most important diseases affecting pig farming due to economic losses. Among the main aetiological agents, strains of are identified as the major responsible pathogens involved. Several strategies have been put in place to prevent these infections and, today, research is increasingly studying alternative methods to antibiotics to reduce the antibiotic resistance phenomenon.

Genotyping and Antibiotic Resistance Traits in and From Pigs and Wild Boars in Italy.

The present study investigated the genomic constitution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of 238 from pigs and wild boars in Italy between 2012 and 2019. strains were genotyped using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole genome MLST (wgMLST), screened for antimicrobial resistance genes, and tested for phenotypic susceptibility to six different antibiotics. was detected in 98.

Effects of Garlic Powder and Salt on Meat Quality and Microbial Loads of Rabbit Burgers.

The aim of the research study was to evaluate the effects of a common culinary spice such as garlic powder and salt addition on the quality and microbial shelf life of rabbit meat burgers. Rabbit burgers were evaluated for pH, the colour parameters, the water holding capacity and microbial loads during storage time of seven days at 4 °C. Four different formulations of burgers ( = 180 in total) were tested as control samples (only meat, C), burgers with garlic powder (at 0.

Effects of garlic powder and salt additions on fatty acids profile, oxidative status, antioxidant potential and sensory properties of raw and cooked rabbit meat burgers.

Rabbit burgers were evaluated for fatty acids profile, oxidative status, antioxidant potential and sensory during storage time of seven days at 4 °C. The aim of the research study was to evaluate if a common culinary spice as garlic could overcome the controversy effects of salt (mostly related to a pro-oxidant effect). Therefore, four formulations were made: only meat (control, C) meat added with garlic powder at 0.

Detection of Pseudorabies Virus in Wild Boar Foetus.

Pseudorabies, or Aujeszky's disease, is a notifiable worldwide infection of domestic and feral swine that causes economic losses for the swine industry. In domestic pigs, the virus is responsible for nervous and/or respiratory symptoms; in pregnant sows, it is one of the major causes of stillbirth, mummification, embryonic death, and infertility (SMEDI). It is known that PRV infection in wild boar is associated with low pathogenicity and attenuated or absent symptomatology, but limited information is available about the ability of the virus to infect the foetuses of infected wild boar pregnant sows.

Effect of an Italian propolis on the growth of and in milk and whey cheese.

Propolis antimicrobial activity has been limitedly studied in food, particularly in dairy products. We studied the antimicrobial activity of an alcoholic extract of an Italian propolis in sterile skim milk, pasteurized cow's milk, and cow's and goat's whey cheese (ricotta). Following the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration on Gram+ and Gram- bacteria, the extract was employed at 2 and 5% (P2, P5), using controls with the same ethanol concentrations (E2, E5) and without any addition.

Listeria monocytogenes contamination of Tenebrio molitor larvae rearing substrate: Preliminary evaluations.

Today, edible insects represent a hot topic as an emerging and eco-friendly source of protein. The mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) is among the most employed insects for human consumption and feed purposes.

Antimicrobial activity of four essential oils against pigmenting and biofilmproducing of dairy origin.

Essential oils (EOs) are mixtures of secondary metabolites of plant origin with many useful properties, among which the antimicrobial activity is also of interest for the food industry. EOs can exert their antimicrobial potential both directly, in food products and active packaging, and indirectly, as sanitizing and anti-biofilm agents of food facility surfaces. Aim of this research was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of four EOs (bergamot, cinnamon, manuka and thyme) against and isolated from milk and dairy products.

Biofilm Formation and Its Relationship with the Molecular Characteristics of Food-Related Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Unlabelled: The capability to produce biofilm is an important persistence and dissemination mechanism of some foodborne bacteria. This paper investigates the relationship between some molecular characteristics (SCCmec, ST, spa-type, agr-type, cna, sarA, icaA, icaD, clfA, fnbA, fnbB, hla, hlb) of 22 food-related methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains and their ability to form biofilm on stainless steel and polystyrene. Five (22.

Meat from cattle slaughtered without stunning sold in the conventional market without appropriate labelling: A case study in Italy.

In the European Union, slaughter without stunning is allowed for religious slaughter to obtain halal and kosher meat. Especially in the case of Jewish slaughtering, cuts which are not deemed as kosher are sold to regular market without any specific labelling. This survey, conducted in Tuscany in 2016, aimed to quantify the carcasses rejected in relation to the type of religious slaughter.

Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus thermophilus as starter cultures for a donkey milk fermented beverage.

Donkey milk is recently gaining attention due to its nutraceutical properties. Its low casein content does not allow caseification, so the production of a fermented milk would represent an alternative way to increase donkey milk shelf life. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of employing selected Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum isolates for the production of a novel donkey milk fermented beverage.

Prevalence, phenotypic and genetic diversity of Campylobacter in poultry fresh meat and poultry products on retail sale in Tuscany (Italy).

In this study, the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry fresh meat and ready‑to‑cook products was evaluated. Seventy‑three samples were collected at retail level from supermarkets and discount stores, obtaining 61.

Serological, culture and molecular survey of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis in a goat flock in Tuscany.

Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (Map) is a pathogen which causes a chronic progressive granulomatous enteritis known as paratuberculosis or Johne's disease and it primarily affects wild and domestic ruminants. The aim of this research was to examine a flock which consisted of 294 goats and was located in Garfagnana district (Tuscany, Italy) performing ELISA tests, culture and IS900 PCR assay; direct diagnostic methods were carried out not only on bulk tank milk and cheese samples but also on individual milk and tissue specimens collected from nine subjects positive to ELISA tests. Out of 294 animals, 20 goats (6.