Analysis of the Correlation Between Food Microbial Community Structure and Quality Safety

Abstract

The structure of food microbial communities has a direct impact on food safety. Genomic methods allow for accurate prediction of pathogens in food. Key steps to achieve this goal include whole-genome sequencing technology, machine learning-optimized data analysis, pan-genomics approaches, traditional molecular biology methods, new bioinformatics tools, and international collaboration and data sharing. Additionally, microbial communities are potentially linked to dietary habits, diseases, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and the immune system. Monitoring changes in food microbial communities helps in the timely identification of potential food safety issues. The HACCP system and hurdle technology are two important microbial control methods in the field of food safety. Future research directions include the application of omics technologies such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, and metabolomics, as well as the study of nutritional interactions. Although significant progress has been made, challenges remain in data interpretation, industrial application, and the cultivation or identification of difficult-to-culture or unknown microbial species.