Affiliation:
1. College of Food Science and Engineering Northwest A&F University Yangling China
2. College of Life Science Northwest A&F University Yangling China
3. Department of Food Science & Technology, School of Agriculture & Biology, and State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
4. College of Chemical Technology Shijiazhuang University Shijiazhuang China
5. National Institutes for Food and Drug Control Beijing China
Abstract
AbstractThis research presents a comprehensive review of Salmonella presence in retail fresh fruits and vegetables from 2010 to 2023, utilizing data from recognized sources such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The study incorporates a meta‐analysis of prevalence, serovar distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility, and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Additionally, it scrutinizes the heterogeneous sources across various food categories and geographical regions The findings show a pooled prevalence of 2.90% (95% CI: 0.0180−0.0430), with an increase from 4.63% in 2010 to 5.32% in 2022. Dominant serovars include S. Typhimurium (29.14%, 95% CI: 0.0202−0.6571) and S. Enteritidis (21.06%, 95% CI: 0.0181−0.4872). High resistance rates were noted for antimicrobials like erythromycin (60.70%, 95% CI: 0.0000−1.0000) and amoxicillin (39.92%, 95% CI: 0.0589−0.8020). The most prevalent ARGs were blaTEM (80.23%, 95% CI: 0.5736−0.9692) and parC mutation (66.67%, 95% CI: 0.3213−0.9429). Factors such as pH, water activity, and nutrient content, along with external factors like the quality of irrigation water and prevailing climatic conditions, have significant implications on Salmonella contamination. Nonthermal sterilization technologies, encompassing chlorine dioxide, ozone, and ultraviolet light, are emphasized as efficacious measures to control Salmonella. This review stresses the imperative need to bolster prevention strategies and control measures against Salmonella in retail fresh fruits and vegetables to alleviate related food safety risks.