抄録
In recent years, the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) system was introduced to food processing industries in Japan. Consequently, the rapid and sensitive detection method of foodborne pathogens is now focusing on ensuring the safety of food in the processing line. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is expected to be a rapid, high specificity and highthroughput detection method for foodborne pathogens versus the conventional culture method. Moreover, realtime PCR technology has the potential to quantify the concentration of target pathogens in food material. Predictive microbiological analysis for pathogenic bacteria is a new approach for ensuring the safety of food. Accordingly, some analytical models are being developed to predict the growth of target pathogens in specific food material. The analysis for injured bacteria as a new risk potential in causing microbial food poisoning is also one of the focuses in food safety research. Therefore, a high-resolution analysis method to determine the level of injured bacteria is required to estimate bacterial killing efficiency in the food processing line. This article introduces a trial of real-time PCR application for rapid detection of bacteria, construction of predictive bacterial growth models, and determination of bacterial injury levels in food materials. These real-time PCR applications may not only provide for the detection of foodborne pathogens but may also support the formulation of new food composition and optimize bacterial killing conditions in the processing line.
