Emerging Technologies and Integrated Strategies for Microbial Detection and Control in Fresh Produce
The global consumption of fresh and ready-to-eat (RTE) fruits and vegetables has surged due to increasing awareness of their nutritional benefits. However, this trend has been accompanied by a rise in foodborne illness outbreaks linked to microbial contamination. This narrative review synthesizes cu...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1447 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850071727889973248 |
|---|---|
| author | Ayman Elbehiry Eman Marzouk Feras Alzaben Abdulaziz Almuaither Banan Abead Mohammed Alamri Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini Akram Abu-Okail |
| author_facet | Ayman Elbehiry Eman Marzouk Feras Alzaben Abdulaziz Almuaither Banan Abead Mohammed Alamri Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini Akram Abu-Okail |
| author_sort | Ayman Elbehiry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The global consumption of fresh and ready-to-eat (RTE) fruits and vegetables has surged due to increasing awareness of their nutritional benefits. However, this trend has been accompanied by a rise in foodborne illness outbreaks linked to microbial contamination. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the prevalence and diversity of foodborne pathogens in fresh produce, including bacterial, viral, and fungal agents. It critically evaluates both conventional and emerging detection methods, ranging from culture-based techniques and immunoassays to advanced molecular diagnostics, biosensors, flow cytometry (FC), and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Additionally, this review discusses cutting-edge control strategies, such as natural antifungal agents, essential oils, biocontrol methods, and non-thermal technologies like cold plasma and UV-C treatment. Emphasis is placed on sampling methodologies, sustainability, One Health perspectives, and regulatory considerations. By highlighting recent technological advances and their limitations, this review aims to support the development of integrated, effective, and safe microbial control approaches for the fresh produce supply chain. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f0d3bbef5f7425b96b9b09380aacde9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f0d3bbef5f7425b96b9b09380aacde92025-08-20T02:47:14ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-06-01137144710.3390/microorganisms13071447Emerging Technologies and Integrated Strategies for Microbial Detection and Control in Fresh ProduceAyman Elbehiry0Eman Marzouk1Feras Alzaben2Abdulaziz Almuaither3Banan Abead4Mohammed Alamri5Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini6Akram Abu-Okail7Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6666, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6666, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Food Service, King Fahad Armed Hospital, Jeddah 23311, Saudi ArabiaFirst Air Defense Group, Department of Nutrition, Riyadh 13624, Saudi ArabiaSupport Service Department, King Fahad Armed Hospital, Jeddah 23311, Saudi ArabiaFamily & Community Medicine Department, Prince Sultan Medical Military City, Riyadh 12233, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaThe global consumption of fresh and ready-to-eat (RTE) fruits and vegetables has surged due to increasing awareness of their nutritional benefits. However, this trend has been accompanied by a rise in foodborne illness outbreaks linked to microbial contamination. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the prevalence and diversity of foodborne pathogens in fresh produce, including bacterial, viral, and fungal agents. It critically evaluates both conventional and emerging detection methods, ranging from culture-based techniques and immunoassays to advanced molecular diagnostics, biosensors, flow cytometry (FC), and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Additionally, this review discusses cutting-edge control strategies, such as natural antifungal agents, essential oils, biocontrol methods, and non-thermal technologies like cold plasma and UV-C treatment. Emphasis is placed on sampling methodologies, sustainability, One Health perspectives, and regulatory considerations. By highlighting recent technological advances and their limitations, this review aims to support the development of integrated, effective, and safe microbial control approaches for the fresh produce supply chain.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1447foodborne pathogensfresh producemicrobial safetyrapid detectionpublic health |
| spellingShingle | Ayman Elbehiry Eman Marzouk Feras Alzaben Abdulaziz Almuaither Banan Abead Mohammed Alamri Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini Akram Abu-Okail Emerging Technologies and Integrated Strategies for Microbial Detection and Control in Fresh Produce Microorganisms foodborne pathogens fresh produce microbial safety rapid detection public health |
| title | Emerging Technologies and Integrated Strategies for Microbial Detection and Control in Fresh Produce |
| title_full | Emerging Technologies and Integrated Strategies for Microbial Detection and Control in Fresh Produce |
| title_fullStr | Emerging Technologies and Integrated Strategies for Microbial Detection and Control in Fresh Produce |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emerging Technologies and Integrated Strategies for Microbial Detection and Control in Fresh Produce |
| title_short | Emerging Technologies and Integrated Strategies for Microbial Detection and Control in Fresh Produce |
| title_sort | emerging technologies and integrated strategies for microbial detection and control in fresh produce |
| topic | foodborne pathogens fresh produce microbial safety rapid detection public health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1447 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aymanelbehiry emergingtechnologiesandintegratedstrategiesformicrobialdetectionandcontrolinfreshproduce AT emanmarzouk emergingtechnologiesandintegratedstrategiesformicrobialdetectionandcontrolinfreshproduce AT ferasalzaben emergingtechnologiesandintegratedstrategiesformicrobialdetectionandcontrolinfreshproduce AT abdulazizalmuaither emergingtechnologiesandintegratedstrategiesformicrobialdetectionandcontrolinfreshproduce AT bananabead emergingtechnologiesandintegratedstrategiesformicrobialdetectionandcontrolinfreshproduce AT mohammedalamri emergingtechnologiesandintegratedstrategiesformicrobialdetectionandcontrolinfreshproduce AT abdulazizmalmuzaini emergingtechnologiesandintegratedstrategiesformicrobialdetectionandcontrolinfreshproduce AT akramabuokail emergingtechnologiesandintegratedstrategiesformicrobialdetectionandcontrolinfreshproduce |