Molecular typing of foodborne pathogens has become an indispensable tool in epidemiological studies. Thanks to these techniques, we now have a better understanding of the distribution and appearance of bacterial foodborne diseases and have a deeper knowledge of the type of food products associated with the major foodborne pathogens. Within the molecular techniques, DNA-based techniques have prospered for more than 40 years and have been incorporated in the first surveillance systems to monitor bacterial foodborne pathogens in the United States and other countries. However, DNA techniques vary widely and many microbiology laboratory personnel working with food and/or water face the dilemma of which method to incorporate. DNA Methods in Food Safety: Molecular Typing of Foodborne and Waterborne Bacterial Pathogens succinctly reviews more than 25 years of data on a variety of DNA typing techniques, summarizing the different mathematical models for analysis and interpretation of results, and detailing their efficacy in typing different foodborne and waterborne bacterial pathogens, such as Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, Listeria, Salmonella, among others. Section I describes the different DNA techniques used in the typing of bacterial foodborne pathogens, whilst Section II deals with the application of these techniques to type the most important bacterial foodborne pathogens. In Section II the emphasis is placed on the pathogen, and each chapter describes some of the most appropriate techniques for typing each bacterial pathogen. The techniques presented in this book are the most significant in the study of the molecular epidemiology of bacterial foodborne pathogens to date. It therefore provides a unique reference for students and professionals in the field of microbiology, food and water safety and epidemiology and molecular epidemiology.

Assists policymakers in evaluating the appropriate scientific methods for detecting unintended changes in food and assessing the potential for adverse health effects from genetically modified products. In this book, the committee recommended that greater scrutiny should be given to foods containing new compounds or unusual amounts of naturally occurring substances, regardless of the method used to create them. The book offers a framework to guide federal agencies in selecting the route of safety assessment. It identifies and recommends several pre- and post-market approaches to guide the assessment of unintended compositional changes that could result from genetically modified foods and research avenues to fill the knowledge gaps.

The determination of food authenticity is a vital component of quality control. Its importance has been highlighted in recent years by high-profile cases in the global supply chain such as the European horsemeat scandal and the Chinese melamine scandal which led to six fatalities and the hospitalisation of thousands of infants. As well as being a safety concern, authenticity is also a quality criterion for food and food ingredients. Consumers and retailers demand that the products they purchase and sell are what they purport to be. This book covers the most advanced techniques used for the authentication of a vast number of products around the world. The reader will be informed about the latest pertinent analytical techniques. Chapters focus on the novel techniques & markers that have emerged in recent years. An introductory section presents the concepts of food authentication while the second section examines in detail the analytical techniques for the detection of fraud relating to geographical, botanical, species and processing origin and production methods of food materials and ingredients. Finally, the third section looks at consumer attitudes towards food authenticity, the application of bioinformatics to this field, and the Editor’s conclusions and future outlook. Beyond being a reference to researchers working in food authentication it will serve as an essential source to analytical scientists interested in the field and food scientists to appreciate analytical approaches. This book will be a companion to under- and postgraduate students in their wander in food authentication and aims to be useful to researchers in universities and research institutions.

Modern Techniques for Food Authentication, Second Edition presents a comprehensive review of the novel techniques available to authenticate food products, including various spectroscopic technologies, methods based on isotopic analysis and chromatography, and other techniques based on DNA, enzymatic analysis and electrophoresis. This new edition pinpoints research and development trends for those working in research, development and operations in the food industry, giving them readily accessible information on modern food authentication techniques to ensure a safe and authentic food supply. It will also serve as an essential reference source to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and for researchers in universities and research institutions. - Presents emerging imaging techniques that have proven to be powerful, non-destructive tools for food authentication - Includes applications of hyperspectral imaging to reflect the current trend of developments in food imaging technology for each topic area - Provides pixel level visualization techniques needed for fast and effective food sample testing - Contains two new chapters on Imaging Spectroscopic Techniques

Genetic-based animal biotechnology has produced new food and pharmaceutical products and promises many more advances to benefit humankind. These exciting prospects are accompanied by considerable unease, however, about matters such as safety and ethics. This book identifies science-based and policy-related concerns about animal biotechnologyâ€"key issues that must be resolved before the new breakthroughs can reach their potential. The book includes a short history of the field and provides understandable definitions of terms like cloning. Looking at technologies on the near horizon, the authors discuss what we know and what we fear about their effectsâ€"the inadvertent release of dangerous microorganisms, the safety of products derived from biotechnology, the impact of genetically engineered animals on their environment. In addition to these concerns, the book explores animal welfare concerns, and our societal and institutional capacity to manage and regulate the technology and its products. This accessible volume will be important to everyone interested in the implications of the use of animal biotechnology.

The development of recombinant DNA methods has changed the face of the food industry over the last 50 years. Crops which have been genetically modified are being cultivated in more and more countries and this process is likely to accelerate as desirable traits are identified and transferred to appropriate organisms, and they are cleared by the regulatory authorities. However, the technique has its critics who claim that modification of the genome of the plant (or animal) in this way may pose unknown and unacceptable risks to the human consumer. Genetic Modification and Food Quality: A Down to Earth Analysis is the first comprehensive text on how GM production methods influence the quality of foods and feeds, based on a complete and unbiased assessment of the scientific findings. It presents a balanced analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of gene-modified food sources in the human diet. Chapters approach the topic with regard to different food types such as cereal grains, oilseed crops, vegetables, fish and animal products. Assessing the nutritive value as well as the health and safety of GMO foods, this book is a reference for anyone working in the food production industry and will also be of an interest to NGOs, trade associations and consumers who are looking for an objective, balanced study of this contentious issue.

Genetically Modified Food Sources reports detailed results of studies on the medical and biological safety of 14 species of genetically modified plant-derived organisms (GMOs). The authors focus on issues in GMO production and world output, specifically the basic legislative regulations of modern biotechnology in the Russian Federation. Also covered are international approaches to the medical and biological assessment of safety and control of the food produced from genetically modified organisms. A special chapter is devoted to the problem of informational coverage of novel biological technologies.Previously available only in a 2007 Russian-language edition published by the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, this English translation has been completely revised and updated to include the latest developments in regulations and human and animal safety assessment practices.The book is addressed to a wide community of specialists working in the fields of food science, plant genetics, and food safety as well as medicine and biology. Students and postgraduates focusing on the problems of modern biotechnology and biological safety will find it a valuable guide to these topics. - Specific assessments of 14 species of genetically modified plant-derived organisms used for food supply - Addresses the safety assessment requirements to ensure consumer health - International coverage provides comparative insights into regulation development and application