Detection of Biological Contaminants on Foods and Food Surfaces Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

Abstract

The rapid detection of biological contaminants, such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica , on foods and food-processing surfaces is important to ensure food safety and streamline the food-monitoring process. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an ideal candidate technology for this application because sample preparation is minimal and results are available rapidly (seconds to minutes). Here, multivariate regression analysis of LIBS data is used to differentiate the live bacterial pathogens E. coli O157:H7 and S. enterica on various foods (eggshell, milk, bologna, ground beef, chicken, and lettuce) and surfaces (metal drain strainer and cutting board). The type (E. coli or S. enterica) of bacteria could be differentiated in all cases studied along with the metabolic state (viable or heat killed). This study provides data showing the potential of LIBS for the rapid identification of biological contaminants using spectra collected directly from foods and surfaces.

A critical review of recent progress in analytical laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

“…In addition, toys, hair dyes, talcum, coffee, and tobacco were analyzed for toxic elements. Organic contaminants, for example pesticides or salmonella, were also successfully detected in and on food products including spinach, rice, olive oil, cooking oil, and apple, and in personal-care products including lipstick [174,175]. Pharmaceutical LIBS applications, for example the test of uniformity or migration of ingredients in tablets, continue to be relatively frequent.…”

The use of laser‐based diagnostics for the rapid identification of infectious agents in human blood

“…It has been shown in both published and unpublished work by two of the authors that this method of analysis can differentiate bacteria by both type and strain, by concentration and by metabolic state (Multari et al . ; Multari and Cremers ). First proof‐of‐principle experiments demonstrating the use of LIBS for the differentiation of pathogens spiked into human blood and Herpes Simplex virus in cerebral spinal fluid was presented at the 2012 Biodetection Conference (Multari et al .…”

“…Multivariate methods of analysis similar to the analysis presented in this manuscript have been applied to the laser spark generated spectra to identify and discriminate as follows: (i) bacterial species as well as strains of E. coli (Multari et al 2010); (ii) to identify and discriminate bacteria, parasites and viruses on substrates (Multari et al 2012); (iii) to detect the presence of pesticides and dioxins in tissue fats and rendering oils (Multari et al 2013d); as well as (iv) to discriminate bacterial pathogens and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains grown on blood agar (Multari et al 2013b). It has been shown in both published and unpublished work by two of the authors that this method of analysis can differentiate bacteria by both type and strain, by concentration and by metabolic state (Multari et al 2013c;Multari and Cremers 2015). First proof-of-principle experiments demonstrating the use of LIBS for the differentiation of pathogens spiked into human blood and Herpes Simplex virus in cerebral spinal fluid was presented at the 2012 Biodetection Conference (Multari et al 2013a).…”

Automatic determination of optimal spectral peaks for classification of Chinese tea leaves using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

“…In recent years, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been widely used in environmental, industrial, and agricultural product detection, because it is rapid and accurate; in addition, this method is capable of micro-damage detecting and multiple elements simultaneously [9][10][11][12] . The LIBS technique produces several thousands to tens of thousands of variable (spectral) information, which is the basis for the quantitative/qualitative analysis of samples.…”