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USDA scientists develop expertise to cut back pathogens in intact eggs


Salmonella causes 1.35 million infections within the US yearly


calendar icon 4 March 2024

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CDC estimates Salmonella micro organism causes about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the US yearly. Regardless of their look in on a regular basis meals and snacks, the reality is that uncooked eggs and egg merchandise can carry Salmonella and trigger foodborne sickness and outbreaks, and even dying, in some circumstances. However researchers on the US Division of Agriculture (USDA) lately discovered a strategy to fight this by means of Radio Frequency (R.F.) expertise, in response to a government-issued press launch.

A easy resolution to foodborne pathogens in eggs could be to pasteurize all uncooked eggs earlier than they’re consumed; nonetheless, lower than 3% of economic eggs are pasteurised in the US. Typical thermal pasteurization of intact eggs is normally a protracted course of that entails submerging eggs in scorching water for greater than 57 minutes to inactivate Salmonella cells. Researchers on the Agricultural Analysis Service’s (USDA-ARS) Jap Regional Analysis Middle in Wyndmoor, Pa., used a novel thermal expertise that pasteurizes eggs and inactivates Salmonella cells with a brief processing time.

Throughout the research, the water molecules contained in the egg rotate and align with the RF instrument’s electrical subject. This molecular friction causes the liquid contained in the egg to warmth up rapidly and subsequently scale back Salmonella by 99.999% inside 24 minutes. The R.F.-processed eggs have been transferred to the fridge and saved at 7°C for seven days to simulate the industrial chilly chain temperature.

“After remedy with the system, no intact Salmonella or sub-lethal Salmonella cell remnants have been recovered, and no cell restoration was discovered within the R.F. – handled eggs when saved at retail refrigerated temperature,” stated USDA-ARS Analysis Meals Technologist Daniela Bermudez-Aguirre. “The egg high quality, resembling the colour and different parameters, have been additionally preserved by means of the processing.”

This expertise has proven a number of benefits when utilized in meals, all with no adverse impact on meals high quality. Statistics additionally present that People consumed a complete quantity of 93.1 billion eggs in 2023. So, it is a promising development for small farmers or egg processors and might guarantee food-safe eggs whereas minimizing Salmonella. Customers may also profit from this expertise because it preserves the standard of the eggs that can be utilized for particular markets resembling nursing properties, hospitals, or faculties.

ARS researchers will proceed to develop this expertise’s capabilities and count on it to be commercially obtainable within the close to future.



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