Background/objectives Nonnutritive sweeteners (NNSs) are zero-or low-calorie alternatives to nutritive sweeteners, such as table sugars. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to quantitatively synthesize existing scientific evidence on the glycemic impact of NNSs. Subjects/methods PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched. Two authors screened the titles and abstracts of candidate publications. The third author was consulted to resolve discrepancies. Twenty-nine randomized controlled trials, with a total of 741 participants, were included and their quality assessed. NNSs under examination included aspartame, saccharin, steviosides, and sucralose. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Results Meta-analysis was performed to estimate and track the trajectory of blood glucose concentrations over time after NNS consumption, and to test differential effects by type of NNS and participants' age, weight, and disease status. In comparison with the baseline, NNS consumption was not found to increase blood glucose level, and its concentration gradually declined over the course of observation following NNS consumption. The glycemic impact of NNS consumption did not differ by type of NNS but to some extent varied by participants' age, body weight, and diabetic status. Conclusions NNS consumption was not found to elevate blood glucose level. Future studies are warranted to assess the health implications of frequent and chronic NNS consumption and elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.

Queso Fresco (QF), a fresh Hispanic-style cheese, is often associated with Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks and recalls. Queso Fresco's susceptibility to bacterial contamination is partially due to its high pH and moisture content as well as Listeria's tolerance for the salt content typical for QF. Nine different brands of US QF, 2 packages from 4 different lots (to account for temporal variability), were sampled. The pH, salt content, and moisture content were analyzed in addition to microbial testing including yeasts and molds, coliforms, lactic acid bacteria enumeration, and L. monocytogenes counts. The cheeses were also inoculated with a cocktail of 5 food and human isolates of food-borne outbreak-associated Listeria monocytogenes strains to evaluate how the differences between brands influenced Listeria growth. Three of the cheeses underwent additional genus-level microbial analysis using extracted 16S rDNA, allowing for phylogenetic analysis between bacterial taxa including diversity and relative abundance. We found little variation between the sampled QF pH (range = 6.62-6.86), salt content (1.53-2.01%), and moisture content (43.90-54.50%). Yeasts and molds were below the detection limit of enumeration in all of the cheeses and coliforms were below the detection limit across the first 3 lots, but were detected at varying levels in the fourth lot (>3.0 most probable number/g) for 3 of the brands. Listeria monocytogenes was not isolated after enrichment in any of the samples. All cheeses tested positive for the presence of lactic acid bacteria, with only 1 of the cheeses being labeled as produced with added cultures having substantial counts. Fourteen days after inoculation with L. monocytogenes, at least 2.5 log10 cfu/g of growth was found for all QF brands stored at 4°C. Microbial genus analysis showed that, among the 3 brands, the microbial community was more similar within brand than when compared with the other 2 brands. Thermus, Anoxybacillus, and Streptococcus accounted for the dominant genera of brands A, B, and C, respectively. These variations within the microbial community may account for sensory differences and help manufacturers determine quality control consistency more readily than culture-based methods.

The milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is a complex, highly conserved structure surrounding fat droplets secreted into mammalian milk. This study evaluated the impact of MFGM on Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). MFGM-10 (2.5 g/L, 5 g/L, and 10 g/L) did not affect LGG growth in MRS medium but enhanced the ability of LGG to survive in the presence of 0.5% porcine bile. In the presence of MFGM-10 (5 g/L) and bile (0.5%), there were less complex polysaccharides in the media and less capsular polysaccharides associated with the LGG cells compared to the bile exposure alone (p < 0.05). The expression of four EPS genes was modulated by bile stress and MFGM. Biofilm thickness was increased (p < 0.05) during bile stress with MFGM compared to other treatments. Furthermore, MFGM increased LGG survival during transit in the murine GI tract. Future experiments will determine the impact of MFGM on LGG probiotic functionality.

Kefir is a fermented beverage containing yeast and bacteria produced by the fermentation of water or milk with kefir grains. Lack of regulation for probiotic-containing fermented food sold for companion dogs and cats creates the potential for misreporting on viable microbial counts, taxonomy, and label claims. In this study, the microbiota of 6 companion animal kefir products were measured quantitatively using standard plating techniques. Microbial composition of these products was also characterized by using high-resolution, long-read amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Five products (83%) listed specific microorganisms, and 4 products (66%) guaranteed colony forming units (CFU)/g on their label. To enumerate viable lactic acid bacteria (LAB), two lots of each homogenized product were plated upon opening and following 14 d on deMan Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar and incubated under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Results from point of opening revealed that all commercial kefir products with a guaranteed CFU/g overstated the number of microorganisms present by at least 1 log, with only one product exceeding 1 X 10 9 CFU/g. Sequencing results demonstrated that none of the labels claiming specific bacterial genera and species on their labels were correct, and all products contained at least three additional bacterial species above the minimum detectable threshold (0.001% relative abundance) that were not disclosed by the manufacturer. In addition to the incorrect viable CFU and bacterial taxonomies, several of the product labels and websites contained a wide range of health claims, none of which are supported by the companion animal literature. Our results demonstrate a low level of accuracy in the labeling of commercial kefir products intended for use in dogs and cats. Regulatory agencies, veterinarians, pet food professionals, and pet owners must scrutinize these products and demand a higher level of accuracy and quality in the future.

Endolysins, cell wall hydrolases derived from bacteriophages, are promising candidates for controlling bacterial pathogens in food systems; however, only a few endolysins have had their lytic capabilities characterized. In this study, changes in lytic activity against Listeria for endolysins PlyP40 and PlyPSA were monitored under varying environmental conditions in vitro and compared with the previously studied endolysin PlyP100. Additionally, the individual endolysins were added to queso fresco (QF) contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. PlyP40 was able to lower the inoculum cell count over the 28-d shelf life of QF, and PlyPSA was able to lower the cell count until d 14. However, neither endolysin was better than PlyP100 at controlling Listeria monocytogenes in QF. Highlights• PlyP40 had lytic efficacy against a broad range of Listeria • PlyP40 and PlyPSA were able to maintain lytic activity at refrigeration temperature • Lytic activity of PlyP40 decreased as pH increased, whereas that of PlyPSA increased • PlyP40 and PlyPSA maintained lytic activity within the queso fresco (QF) salt range • PlyP40 and PlyPSA were able to decrease counts of Listeria monocytogenes in QF