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Sensors for Food Safety and Quality

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2015) | Viewed by 123893

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Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to publishing articles that describe the novel sensors or high-throughput screening technologies that are involved in detecting multiple pathogens, spoilage microorganisms, microbial communnities, indicator microorganisms, microbial or non-microbial toxins, and non-microbial parameters (water activity, pH, metabolic by-products) relevant to improving the safety, quality, and security of foods.

Prof. Dr. Arun K. Bhunia
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Sensor
  • high throughput screening
  • microbes
  • toxins
  • spoilage
  • indicator
  • safety
  • quality
  • food

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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4272 KiB  
Article
Theoretical Basis and Application for Measuring Pork Loin Drip Loss Using Microwave Spectroscopy
by Alex Mason, Badr Abdullah, Magomed Muradov, Olga Korostynska, Ahmed Al-Shamma’a, Stefania Gudrun Bjarnadottir, Kathrine Lunde and Ole Alvseike
Sensors 2016, 16(2), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16020182 - 02 Feb 2016
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 7932
Abstract
During cutting and processing of meat, the loss of water is critical in determining both product quality and value. From the point of slaughter until packaging, water is lost due to the hanging, movement, handling, and cutting of the carcass, with every 1% [...] Read more.
During cutting and processing of meat, the loss of water is critical in determining both product quality and value. From the point of slaughter until packaging, water is lost due to the hanging, movement, handling, and cutting of the carcass, with every 1% of lost water having the potential to cost a large meat processing plant somewhere in the region of €50,000 per day. Currently the options for monitoring the loss of water from meat, or determining its drip loss, are limited to destructive tests which take 24–72 h to complete. This paper presents results from work which has led to the development of a novel microwave cavity sensor capable of providing an indication of drip loss within 6 min, while demonstrating good correlation with the well-known EZ-Driploss method (R2 = 0.896). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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1343 KiB  
Article
Antibody Microarray for E. coli O157:H7 and Shiga Toxin in Microtiter Plates
by Andrew G. Gehring, Jeffrey D. Brewster, Yiping He, Peter L. Irwin, George C. Paoli, Tawana Simons, Shu-I Tu and Joseph Uknalis
Sensors 2015, 15(12), 30429-30442; https://doi.org/10.3390/s151229807 - 04 Dec 2015
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5602
Abstract
Antibody microarray is a powerful analytical technique because of its inherent ability to simultaneously discriminate and measure numerous analytes, therefore making the technique conducive to both the multiplexed detection and identification of bacterial analytes (i.e., whole cells, as well as associated [...] Read more.
Antibody microarray is a powerful analytical technique because of its inherent ability to simultaneously discriminate and measure numerous analytes, therefore making the technique conducive to both the multiplexed detection and identification of bacterial analytes (i.e., whole cells, as well as associated metabolites and/or toxins). We developed a sandwich fluorescent immunoassay combined with a high-throughput, multiwell plate microarray detection format. Inexpensive polystyrene plates were employed containing passively adsorbed, array-printed capture antibodies. During sample reaction, centrifugation was the only strategy found to significantly improve capture, and hence detection, of bacteria (pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7) to planar capture surfaces containing printed antibodies. Whereas several other sample incubation techniques (e.g., static vs. agitation) had minimal effect. Immobilized bacteria were labeled with a red-orange-fluorescent dye (Alexa Fluor 555) conjugated antibody to allow for quantitative detection of the captured bacteria with a laser scanner. Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) could be simultaneously detected along with the cells, but none of the agitation techniques employed during incubation improved detection of the relatively small biomolecule. Under optimal conditions, the assay had demonstrated limits of detection of ~5.8 × 105 cells/mL and 110 ng/mL for E. coli O157:H7 and Stx1, respectively, in a ~75 min total assay time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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1492 KiB  
Article
Novel PCR Assays Complement Laser Biosensor-Based Method and Facilitate Listeria Species Detection from Food
by Kwang-Pyo Kim, Atul K. Singh, Xingjian Bai, Lena Leprun and Arun K. Bhunia
Sensors 2015, 15(9), 22672-22691; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150922672 - 08 Sep 2015
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6072
Abstract
The goal of this study was to develop the Listeria species-specific PCR assays based on a house-keeping gene (lmo1634) encoding alcohol acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (Aad), previously designated as Listeria adhesion protein (LAP), and compare results with a label-free light scattering sensor, BARDOT [...] Read more.
The goal of this study was to develop the Listeria species-specific PCR assays based on a house-keeping gene (lmo1634) encoding alcohol acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (Aad), previously designated as Listeria adhesion protein (LAP), and compare results with a label-free light scattering sensor, BARDOT (bacterial rapid detection using optical scattering technology). PCR primer sets targeting the lap genes from the species of Listeria sensu stricto were designed and tested with 47 Listeria and 8 non-Listeria strains. The resulting PCR primer sets detected either all species of Listeria sensu stricto or individual L. innocua, L. ivanovii and L. seeligeri, L. welshimeri, and L. marthii without producing any amplified products from other bacteria tested. The PCR assays with Listeria sensu stricto-specific primers also successfully detected all species of Listeria sensu stricto and/or Listeria innocua from mixed culture-inoculated food samples, and each bacterium in food was verified by using the light scattering sensor that generated unique scatter signature for each species of Listeria tested. The PCR assays based on the house-keeping gene aad (lap) can be used for detection of either all species of Listeria sensu stricto or certain individual Listeria species in a mixture from food with a detection limit of about 104 CFU/mL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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1102 KiB  
Article
Analysis of a Lipid/Polymer Membrane for Bitterness Sensing with a Preconditioning Process
by Rui Yatabe, Junpei Noda, Yusuke Tahara, Yoshinobu Naito, Hidekazu Ikezaki and Kiyoshi Toko
Sensors 2015, 15(9), 22439-22450; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150922439 - 04 Sep 2015
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6068
Abstract
It is possible to evaluate the taste of foods or medicines using a taste sensor. The taste sensor converts information on taste into an electrical signal using several lipid/polymer membranes. A lipid/polymer membrane for bitterness sensing can evaluate aftertaste after immersion in monosodium [...] Read more.
It is possible to evaluate the taste of foods or medicines using a taste sensor. The taste sensor converts information on taste into an electrical signal using several lipid/polymer membranes. A lipid/polymer membrane for bitterness sensing can evaluate aftertaste after immersion in monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is called “preconditioning”. However, we have not yet analyzed the change in the surface structure of the membrane as a result of preconditioning. Thus, we analyzed the change in the surface by performing contact angle and surface zeta potential measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) and gas cluster ion beam time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (GCIB-TOF-SIMS). After preconditioning, the concentrations of MSG and tetradodecylammonium bromide (TDAB), contained in the lipid membrane were found to be higher in the surface region than in the bulk region. The effect of preconditioning was revealed by the above analysis methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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2464 KiB  
Article
Unmasking of Olive Oil Adulteration Via a Multi-Sensor Platform
by Marco Santonico, Simone Grasso, Francesco Genova, Alessandro Zompanti, Francesca Romana Parente and Giorgio Pennazza
Sensors 2015, 15(9), 21660-21672; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150921660 - 31 Aug 2015
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5710
Abstract
Methods for the chemical and sensorial evaluation of olive oil are frequently changed and tuned to oppose the increasingly sophisticated frauds. Although a plethora of promising alternatives has been developed, chromatographic techniques remain the more reliable yet, even at the expense of their [...] Read more.
Methods for the chemical and sensorial evaluation of olive oil are frequently changed and tuned to oppose the increasingly sophisticated frauds. Although a plethora of promising alternatives has been developed, chromatographic techniques remain the more reliable yet, even at the expense of their related execution time and costs. In perspective of a continuous increment in the number of the analyses as a result of the global market, more rapid and effective methods to guarantee the safety of the olive oil trade are required. In this study, a novel artificial sensorial system, based on gas and liquid analysis, has been employed to deal with olive oil genuineness and authenticity issues. Despite these sensors having been widely used in the field of food science, the innovative electronic interface of the device is able to provide a higher reproducibility and sensitivity of the analysis. The multi-parametric platform demonstrated the capability to evaluate the organoleptic properties of extra-virgin olive oils as well as to highlight the presence of adulterants at blending concentrations usually not detectable through other methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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2153 KiB  
Article
Distributed Wireless Monitoring System for Ullage and Temperature in Wine Barrels
by Wenqi Zhang, George K. Skouroumounis, Tanya M. Monro and Dennis Taylor
Sensors 2015, 15(8), 19495-19506; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150819495 - 10 Aug 2015
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7998
Abstract
This paper presents a multipurpose and low cost sensor for the simultaneous monitoring of temperature and ullage of wine in barrels in two of the most important stages of winemaking, that being fermentation and maturation. The distributed sensor subsystem is imbedded within the [...] Read more.
This paper presents a multipurpose and low cost sensor for the simultaneous monitoring of temperature and ullage of wine in barrels in two of the most important stages of winemaking, that being fermentation and maturation. The distributed sensor subsystem is imbedded within the bung of the barrel and runs on battery for a period of at least 12 months and costs around $27 AUD for all parts. In addition, software was designed which allows for the remote transmission and easy visual interpretation of the data for the winemaker. Early warning signals can be sent when the temperature or ullage deviates from a winemakers expectations so remedial action can be taken, such as when topping is required or the movement of the barrels to a cooler cellar location. Such knowledge of a wine’s properties or storage conditions allows for a more precise control of the final wine quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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2463 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Taste Attributes of Peanut Meal Enzymatic-Hydrolysis Hydrolysates Using an Electronic Tongue
by Li Wang, Qunfeng Niu, Yanbo Hui, Huali Jin and Shengsheng Chen
Sensors 2015, 15(5), 11169-11188; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150511169 - 13 May 2015
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6478
Abstract
Peanut meal is the byproduct of high-temperature peanut oil extraction; it is mainly composed of proteins, which have complex tastes after enzymatic hydrolysis to free amino acids and small peptides. The enzymatic hydrolysis method was adopted by using two compound proteases of trypsin [...] Read more.
Peanut meal is the byproduct of high-temperature peanut oil extraction; it is mainly composed of proteins, which have complex tastes after enzymatic hydrolysis to free amino acids and small peptides. The enzymatic hydrolysis method was adopted by using two compound proteases of trypsin and flavorzyme to hydrolyze peanut meal aiming to provide a flavor base. Hence, it is necessary to assess the taste attributes and assign definite taste scores of peanut meal double enzymatic hydrolysis hydrolysates (DEH). Conventionally, sensory analysis is used to assess taste intensity in DEH. However, it has disadvantages because it is expensive and laborious. Hence, in this study, both taste attributes and taste scores of peanut meal DEH were evaluated using an electronic tongue. In this regard, the response characteristics of the electronic tongue to the DEH samples and standard five taste samples were researched to qualitatively assess the taste attributes using PCA and DFA. PLS and RBF neural network (RBFNN) quantitative prediction models were employed to compare predictive abilities and to correlate results obtained from the electronic tongue and sensory analysis, respectively. The results showed that all prediction models had good correlations between the predicted scores from electronic tongue and those obtained from sensory analysis. The PLS and RBFNN prediction models constructed using the voltage response values from the sensors exhibited higher correlation and prediction ability than that of principal components. As compared with the taste performance by PLS model, that of RBFNN models was better. This study exhibits potential advantages and a concise objective taste assessment tool using the electronic tongue in the assessment of DEH taste attributes in the food industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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Review

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2890 KiB  
Review
Portable Nanoparticle-Based Sensors for Food Safety Assessment
by Gonca Bülbül, Akhtar Hayat and Silvana Andreescu
Sensors 2015, 15(12), 30736-30758; https://doi.org/10.3390/s151229826 - 05 Dec 2015
Cited by 139 | Viewed by 16255
Abstract
The use of nanotechnology-derived products in the development of sensors and analytical measurement methodologies has increased significantly over the past decade. Nano-based sensing approaches include the use of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanostructures to enhance sensitivity and selectivity, design new detection schemes, improve sample [...] Read more.
The use of nanotechnology-derived products in the development of sensors and analytical measurement methodologies has increased significantly over the past decade. Nano-based sensing approaches include the use of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanostructures to enhance sensitivity and selectivity, design new detection schemes, improve sample preparation and increase portability. This review summarizes recent advancements in the design and development of NP-based sensors for assessing food safety. The most common types of NPs used to fabricate sensors for detection of food contaminants are discussed. Selected examples of NP-based detection schemes with colorimetric and electrochemical detection are provided with focus on sensors for the detection of chemical and biological contaminants including pesticides, heavy metals, bacterial pathogens and natural toxins. Current trends in the development of low-cost portable NP-based technology for rapid assessment of food safety as well as challenges for practical implementation and future research directions are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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799 KiB  
Review
Fluorescence-Based Bioassays for the Detection and Evaluation of Food Materials
by Kentaro Nishi, Shin-Ichiro Isobe, Yun Zhu and Ryoiti Kiyama
Sensors 2015, 15(10), 25831-25867; https://doi.org/10.3390/s151025831 - 13 Oct 2015
Cited by 78 | Viewed by 10228
Abstract
We summarize here the recent progress in fluorescence-based bioassays for the detection and evaluation of food materials by focusing on fluorescent dyes used in bioassays and applications of these assays for food safety, quality and efficacy. Fluorescent dyes have been used in various [...] Read more.
We summarize here the recent progress in fluorescence-based bioassays for the detection and evaluation of food materials by focusing on fluorescent dyes used in bioassays and applications of these assays for food safety, quality and efficacy. Fluorescent dyes have been used in various bioassays, such as biosensing, cell assay, energy transfer-based assay, probing, protein/immunological assay and microarray/biochip assay. Among the arrays used in microarray/biochip assay, fluorescence-based microarrays/biochips, such as antibody/protein microarrays, bead/suspension arrays, capillary/sensor arrays, DNA microarrays/polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based arrays, glycan/lectin arrays, immunoassay/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based arrays, microfluidic chips and tissue arrays, have been developed and used for the assessment of allergy/poisoning/toxicity, contamination and efficacy/mechanism, and quality control/safety. DNA microarray assays have been used widely for food safety and quality as well as searches for active components. DNA microarray-based gene expression profiling may be useful for such purposes due to its advantages in the evaluation of pathway-based intracellular signaling in response to food materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
1361 KiB  
Review
Fruit and Vegetable Quality Assessment via Dielectric Sensing
by Dalia El Khaled, Nuria Novas, Jose A. Gazquez, Rosa M. Garcia and Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro
Sensors 2015, 15(7), 15363-15397; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150715363 - 29 Jun 2015
Cited by 70 | Viewed by 20845
Abstract
The demand for improved food quality has been accompanied by a technological boost. This fact enhances the possibility of improving the quality of horticultural products, leading towards healthier consumption of fruits and vegetables. A better electrical characterization of the dielectric properties of fruits [...] Read more.
The demand for improved food quality has been accompanied by a technological boost. This fact enhances the possibility of improving the quality of horticultural products, leading towards healthier consumption of fruits and vegetables. A better electrical characterization of the dielectric properties of fruits and vegetables is required for this purpose. Moreover, a focused study of dielectric spectroscopy and advanced dielectric sensing is a highly interesting topic. This review explains the dielectric property basics and classifies the dielectric spectroscopy measurement techniques. It comprehensively and chronologically covers the dielectric experiments explored for fruits and vegetables, along with their appropriate sensing instrumentation, analytical modelling methods and conclusions. An in-depth definition of dielectric spectroscopy and its usefulness in the electric characterization of food materials is presented, along with the various sensor techniques used for dielectric measurements. The collective data are tabulated in a summary of the dielectric findings in horticultural field investigations, which will facilitate more advanced and focused explorations in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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812 KiB  
Review
Fruit Quality Evaluation Using Spectroscopy Technology: A Review
by Hailong Wang, Jiyu Peng, Chuanqi Xie, Yidan Bao and Yong He
Sensors 2015, 15(5), 11889-11927; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150511889 - 21 May 2015
Cited by 270 | Viewed by 13378
Abstract
An overview is presented with regard to applications of visible and near infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy, multispectral imaging and hyperspectral imaging techniques for quality attributes measurement and variety discrimination of various fruit species, i.e., apple, orange, kiwifruit, peach, grape, strawberry, grape, jujube, banana, [...] Read more.
An overview is presented with regard to applications of visible and near infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy, multispectral imaging and hyperspectral imaging techniques for quality attributes measurement and variety discrimination of various fruit species, i.e., apple, orange, kiwifruit, peach, grape, strawberry, grape, jujube, banana, mango and others. Some commonly utilized chemometrics including pretreatment methods, variable selection methods, discriminant methods and calibration methods are briefly introduced. The comprehensive review of applications, which concentrates primarily on Vis/NIR spectroscopy, are arranged according to fruit species. Most of the applications are focused on variety discrimination or the measurement of soluble solids content (SSC), acidity and firmness, but also some measurements involving dry matter, vitamin C, polyphenols and pigments have been reported. The feasibility of different spectral modes, i.e., reflectance, interactance and transmittance, are discussed. Optimal variable selection methods and calibration methods for measuring different attributes of different fruit species are addressed. Special attention is paid to sample preparation and the influence of the environment. Areas where further investigation is needed and problems concerning model robustness and model transfer are identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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285 KiB  
Review
Electronic-Nose Applications for Fruit Identification, Ripeness and Quality Grading
by Manuela Baietto and Alphus D. Wilson
Sensors 2015, 15(1), 899-931; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150100899 - 06 Jan 2015
Cited by 226 | Viewed by 15303
Abstract
Fruits produce a wide range of volatile organic compounds that impart their characteristically distinct aromas and contribute to unique flavor characteristics. Fruit aroma and flavor characteristics are of key importance in determining consumer acceptance in commercial fruit markets based on individual preference. Fruit [...] Read more.
Fruits produce a wide range of volatile organic compounds that impart their characteristically distinct aromas and contribute to unique flavor characteristics. Fruit aroma and flavor characteristics are of key importance in determining consumer acceptance in commercial fruit markets based on individual preference. Fruit producers, suppliers and retailers traditionally utilize and rely on human testers or panels to evaluate fruit quality and aroma characters for assessing fruit salability in fresh markets. We explore the current and potential utilization of electronic-nose devices (with specialized sensor arrays), instruments that are very effective in discriminating complex mixtures of fruit volatiles, as new effective tools for more efficient fruit aroma analyses to replace conventional expensive methods used in fruit aroma assessments. We review the chemical nature of fruit volatiles during all stages of the agro-fruit production process, describe some of the more important applications that electronic nose (e-nose) technologies have provided for fruit aroma characterizations, and summarize recent research providing e-nose data on the effectiveness of these specialized gas-sensing instruments for fruit identifications, cultivar discriminations, ripeness assessments and fruit grading for assuring fruit quality in commercial markets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality)
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