Management strategies emphasizing advanced food processing approaches to mitigate food borne zoonotic pathogens in food system

Abstract

Abstract Foodborne zoonoses are the most neglected discipline due to a lack of awareness of potential health hazards, standardized detection methods, and identification of infectious host reservoirs. Food is the major carriage vehicle for the transmission of zoonotic pathogens and many outbreaks globally. Resilient surveillance and holistic intervention of effective mitigation strategies at both preharvest (bacteriophages, probiotics, vaccination, micronutrients, breeding, culling), postharvest (advanced food processing, biofilm removal, and disinfectant), retailer and consumer levels can reduce or prevent pathogens and cross‐contamination. Rapid tracking of contamination sources and identification of the route of infection should be implemented using analytical techniques for targeted detection of causative organisms and microbiological risk assessment. An overview elaborating various farm‐to‐fork pathogenic mitigation strategies at different stages of the food chain is presented. However, special emphasis is placed on the application of advanced novel food processing and preservation techniques, such as high‐pressure processing, pulsed light, ultrasound, ultraviolet light, ozone treatment, irradiation and other hurdle technologies for pathogen reduction and food quality assurance. This review will provide an overview of the overall scenario regarding foodborne pathogen–human health interactions and the possible prevention measures that would be helpful for producers, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers for the safer and sustainable development of food products.