No one thinks bacteriophages are the magic solution for all bacteria and foodborne diseases. But could they play a key role as another hurdle for pathogens?
Apparently, organic, non-GMO, hormone-free, free-range, grass-fed and antibiotic-free meat is no longer good enough. Cultured meat, also referred to as "clean meat" or lab-grown meat, is increasingly garnering more attention.
Increasing concerns of the overuse of antibiotics and the negative consumer perception of chemical preservatives in the food industry have spurred an interest for more "natural" antimicrobial compounds. Bacteriophage, also known as phage (/fãj/) fit into this growing category.
With the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) declaration of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) as adulterants in non-intact raw beef products and intact raw beef products intended for non-intact use (FSIS, 2012), adding antimicrobial interventions has become standard procedure during beef harvest and further processing.
On June 22, 2018, FSIS issued Notice 32-18, Actions To Take in Raw Poultry Establishments Exceeding Salmonella Performance Standards, instructing FSIS personnel on what actions to take at establishments that are exceeding Salmonella performance standards and are thus in Category 3.
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