Title:The Role of Probiotics in Improving Food Safety: Inactivation of
Pathogens and Biological Toxins
Volume: 25
Issue: 8
Author(s): Fereshteh Ansari, Chi-Ching Lee, Azadeh Rashidimehr, Soheyl Eskandari, Tolulope Joshua Ashaolu, Esmaeel Mirzakhani, Hadi Pourjafar*Seid Mahdi Jafari*
Affiliation:
- Dietary Supplements and Probiotic Research
Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
- Department of Food Materials and Process Design Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
Keywords:
Probiotics, food safety, detoxification, inactivation, pathogens, mycotoxins.
Abstract: Currently, many advances have been made in avoiding food contamination by numerous
pathogenic and toxigenic microorganisms. Many studies have shown that different probiotics,
in addition to having beneficial effects on the host’s health, have a very good ability to eliminate
and neutralize pathogens and their toxins in foods which leads to enhanced food safety. The present
review purposes to comprehensively discuss the role of probiotics in improving food safety
by inactivating pathogens (bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasite agents) and neutralizing their toxins
in food products. Some recent examples in terms of the anti-microbial activities of probiotics in
the body after consuming contaminated food have also been mentioned. This review shows that
different probiotics have the potential to inactivate pathogens and neutralize and detoxify various
biological agents in foods, as well as in the host body after consumption.