Abstract:The continuing escalation in the prevalence of food allergies not only severely impairs patients’ quality of life but also exacerbates the burden on public health resources， thereby emerging as a critical global public health concern. Currently， this field continues to face pivotal challenges， including inadequate diagnostic precision， incompletely elucidated risk factors， and limited accessibility to preventive and control technologies. In recent years， however， the rapid advancement of technologies such as molecular biology， immunology， multi-omics， and artificial intelligence has propelled a series of cutting-edge breakthroughs in the field of food allergy. This article systematically reviews the latest achievements in the epidemiology， diagnosis， prevention， and policy support of food allergies. It provides an in-depth analysis of current practical bottlenecks concerning technology dissemination， primary healthcare capacity， public awareness， and policy implementation. Furthermore， it proposes comprehensive counterstrategies anchored in epidemiological research and driven by technological innovation， intervention optimization， systemic enhancement， robust interdisciplinary collaboration， and the translation of technology into policy. Ultimately， this review aims to provide theoretical insights and practical references for constructing a comprehensive， full-chain scientific prevention and control system for food allergies， spanning from the individual level to societal governance， thereby effectively safeguarding the health rights and well-being of allergic population.

Abstract:Objective To characterize the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of foodborne Salmonella among children in Hanzhong region.Methods From January 2018 to December 2023， clinical samples were collected from children diagnosed with foodborne diseases at a sentinel hospital in Hanzhong. Salmonella was detected using enrichment culture， followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF MS）. Positive isolates were further characterized by serotyping， antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing.Results A total of 505 clinical samples from children were tested， of which 122 （24.16%）were positive for Salmonella . The prevalence varied across age groups， showing a declining trend with increasing age. Fruits and their products were the most common suspected exposure sources， accounting for 45.90% of all cases. Salmonella Typhimurium was the most prevalent serotype， followed by Salmonella Enteritidis. A consistent linkage was observed between serotypes and their corresponding sequence types （STs）. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that Salmonella isolates had the highest resistance rate against ampicillin （81.36%）， and relatively low resistance rate to cephalosporins， including 11.86% to cefotaxime， 3.39% to ceftazidime， and 5.08% to cefepime. Most of Salmonella typhimurium （ST34/ST19） was multidrug resistant， while Salmonella enteritidis （ST11） exhibited a limited resistance profile， with resistance mainly against ampicillin （94.12%）. The β-lactamase gene bla_TEM-1B gene was harbored at a high frequency （69.49%）， while the extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene bla_CTX-M was found in 5.08% of the isolates. Whole-genome analysis revealed that Salmonella Typhimurium ST34 and ST19 form dominant clades， from which single-nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） of 0-9 between strains was found， reflecting their close genetic relatedness.Conclusion The prevalence of Salmonella infection among children in Hanzhong decreased from 2018 to 2023， however， infants aged 0-3 years remain a high-risk group， with fruit and fruit-based products as the key exposure vehicle. Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis are the dominant serotypes， and may undergo clonal transmission. Therefore， enhanced monitoring of the food chain and improved safeguards for infants and young children are recommended.

Abstract:Objective A analytical method for the determination of cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in infant formula and its arachidonic acid raw materials was developed based on online solid-phase extraction （SPE） coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method utilized online SPE column for purification， C18 chromatographic column for separation， and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for detection. It was subsequently applied to the quantitative determination of the target toxin in real samples.Methods A 1.00 g test portion was weighed， and isotope-labeled internal standards were added. After the addition of 10 mL of 70% acetonitrile solution， the mixture was extracted by shaking and subjected to low-temperature centrifugation. The supernatant was filtered through a membrane， and the filtrate was purified by online SPE. Gradient elution was carried out using mobile phases consisting of 0.1% formic acid in water and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was performed on a NanoChrom ChromCore 300 C18 column （3.0 mm×100 mm， 3 μm）. Detection was conducted in electrospray positive ionization （ESI⁺） mode under multiple reaction monitoring （MRM）， and quantification was achieved using the internal standard method.Results Excellent linearity was observed over the concentration range of 0.010-5.0 μg/L， with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 9. The limit of detection and quantification were 0.030 μg/kg and 0.10 μg/kg， respectively. The average recoveries ranged from 98.5% to 106.0%， with relative standard deviations between 0.96% and 2.73%. No significant difference was observed between this method and conventional offline solid-phase extraction method.Conclusion This method is simple， sensitive， and demonstrates strong resistance to matrix interference. It can be employed as an efficient analytical tool for the food safety risk monitoring and quality control of B. cereus emetic toxin in infant formula and its raw and auxiliary materials.

Abstract:Objective A method for the quantification determination of total phosphate （calculated in PO₄^3-） in aquatic products was established by using acid hydrolysis combined with liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometer （LC-MS/MS）.Methods The sample were extracted with nitric acid hydrolysis at boiling water bath， that converted polyphosphates， including pyrophosphate （P₂O₇^4-）， trimetaphosphate ［（PO₃）₃^3-］ tripolyphosphate （P₃O₁₀^5-）， and hexametaphosphate （P₆O₁₈^6-）， into orthophosphate （PO₄^3-）. The total phosphate （calculated in PO₄^3-） in the resulting solution following extraction was determined by LC-MS/MS operated in selected reaction monitoring （SRM） mode with negative electrospray ionization. Quantitation was performed using the internal standard method. The chromatography， mass spectrometry， acid hydrolysis， and extraction conditions were optimized， and the established method was validated.Results Good linearity was observed for total phosphate in the concentration range of 0.1 mg/L to 20.0 mg/L， with correlation coefficient greater than 0.999. The limits of detection （LOD） and quantitation （LOQ） of orthophosphate in aquatic products were 0.03 g/kg and 0.10 g/kg， respectively， based on signal-to-noise ratio of 3 and 10. Recoveries ranged from 84.4% to 96.6% at spiked levels of 1.0， 5.0， and 10.0 g/kg， with intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations （RSDs） both below 10.0%.Conclusion The developed method features simple sample preparation， high resistance to matrix interference， good accuracy， and rapid analysis. It is therefore well-suited for determining total phosphate in aquatic products.

Abstract:Objective To investigate the occurrence of aflatoxins in commercially available peanut butter and sesame paste in China， and to assess the health risk associated with dietary exposure to aflatoxin B₁ （AFB₁）.Methods A total of 647 samples， including 323 peanut butter and 324 sesame paste samples， were collected from retail stores and open fairs nationwide. Aflatoxins B₁， B₂， G₁， and G₂ in peanut butter and sesame paste were determined using the isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS） method within the National Food Safety Standard Determination of Aflatoxin B and G Groups in Food （GB 5009.22—2016）. Based on national food consumption data， the dietary exposure to AFB₁ via peanut butter and sesame paste was assessed using the point assessment approach， and the margin of exposure （MOE） as well as the associated risk of hepatocellular carcinoma were estimated.Results The occurrence of total aflatoxins in peanut butter and sesame paste were 49.2% and 41.7%， respectively. The detection rates of AFB₁ were 47.4% in peanut butter and 38.3% in sesame paste， respectively， with an exceedance rate of 4.33% observed in peanut butter. The mean concentrations of AFB₁ were 4.60 μg/kg in peanut butter and 2.74 μg/kg in sesame paste， respectively. The average daily dietary exposure to AFB₁ from peanut butter and sesame paste among the general population was 2.97 ×10^-3 ng/（kg·BW）. The corresponding MOE was 134 790， and the estimated annual incidence of aflatoxin-induced liver cancer was 0.000 08 cases per 100 000 population.Conclusion Dietary exposure to aflatoxin B₁ through the consumption of peanut butter and sesame paste among the Chinese population is relatively low and the health risk is at an acceptable level.

Abstract:Objective To compare the management systems of food disinfectants in countries and regions， including the European Union， the United States and China， by analyzing the similarities and differences in their management models for food disinfectants， and provide evidence for improving safety management practices of food disinfectants in China.Methods Relevant laws， regulations， standards， and other documents related to food disinfectants were collected from different countries/regions， and then the similarities and differences of the regulatory entities， disinfection targets， approval of main ingredients， and other compliance requirements of food disinfectants， were sorted out and analyzed.Results The management approaches for disinfectants with varying intended uses differ slightly among the European Union， the United States， and China， however， they all mandate the food disinfectants to be strictly used according to product labels or instructions. China’s regulations restrict the use of food disinfectants to surface disinfection of raw fruits， raw vegetables， and poultry carcasses during the slaughter process， while the United States and the European Union allow their uses for various types of food such as fruits， vegetables， carcass of livestock and poultry， and seafood. In terms of raw material management， the European Union only requires approval for active ingredients， while the United States and China have established corresponding approval processes for both active and auxiliary ingredients.Conclusion It is recommended to enhance the safety management system of food disinfectants in China， evaluate the effectiveness of food disinfectants in multiple scenarios， intensify targeted trainings for relevant standards， and strengthen process oversight to foster the healthy and sustainable growth of the industry.

Abstract:Objective This study examined the regulatory frameworks of food claims established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission （CAC）， the European Union （EU）， the United States， Canada， Australia and New Zealand， and Japan. Concurrently， the survey on the demand for food claims was conducted to provide evidence-based suggestions for refining the management of food claims in China.Methods Laws， regulations and standards related to different food claims were reviewed and compared. Surveys （questionnaires） were used for the study participants， while focus group discussions were organized with food industry representatives， with the results being subsequently analyzed statistically.Results Major countries and regions， including the EU and the United States， have established comprehensive and risk-based classification systems for food claims. Both the study participants and the food industry representatives expressed a strong demand for the approval of health claims and reduction of disease risk claim on ordinary foods in China.Conclusion It is recommended that China establish a food claim management system suited to its national context， incorporating insights from all parties.

Abstract:Objective This study aimed to investigate the status of research， development， and production of alternative protein products in China， in order to propose evidence-based regulatory and policy recommendations.Methods An industry survey was conducted to analyze the types of alternative protein products and compare their production processes. Based on this， science-based management policy suggestions for China were formulated.Results The alternative protein produced by 40 surveyed enterprises included cell-cultivated meat， microbial protein， algae protein， insect protein， and plant protein. Significant process variations were observed that cell-cultivated meat focused on cell selection and proliferation， microbial proteins and algae proteins emphasized fermentation， while insect proteins and plant proteins prioritized extraction technologies. Specifically， a case-by-case approval is recommended for cell-cultivated meat. In contrast， microbial， algal， and insect proteins， with their more established technologies， can be regulated under novel food requirements based on their intended uses. Certain plant-based alternative proteins can be regulated as conventional foods.Conclusion While alternative proteins are managed as novel food under Chinese regulatory frameworks， the development of category-specific application guidelines and evaluation criteria is necessary to facilitate sustainable and high-standard industry growth.

Abstract:Objective This study aimed to analyze data from active foodborne diseases surveillance in Shanxi Province from 2014 to 2024， characterize the epidemiology and etiology of these diseases， and provide scientific evidence for the formulation of prevention and control measures.Methods Epidemiological and clinical data along with stool specimens were collected from foodborne disease patients with diarrhea as the main complaint. The stool samples were detected for 5 pathogens such as. The data was analyzed with the χ2 test using SPSS 22.0.Results A total of 19 869 stool specimens were collected， with a detection rate of pathogens at 20.37%. The 0-9 age group and scattered children had both the highest number of reported cases and highest detection rate， with a peak in cases reporting in July. Detection rates of different pathogens differed significantly （χ2=2 983.212， P<0.05）.Conclusion The detection rate of pathogens in reported cases showed clear seasonal and population-distribution patterns. Targeted health education， enhanced sentinel hospital capacity， and full-process quality control were therefore recommended.

Abstract:Objective To review and compare regulatory requirements and compliance considerations for the use of human milk oligosaccharides （HMOs） in food for special medical purposes intended for infants across major jurisdictions， and to appraise the mechanistic and clinical evidence for their application in hydrolyzed protein formulas， focusing on safety and key risk-assessment considerations.Methods Official documents （regulations， standards and accompanying） issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission （CAC）， the U.S. Food and Drug Administration （FDA）， the European Food Safety Authority （EFSA）， Food Standards Australia New Zealand （FSANZ）， and Chinese regulatory authorities were systematically extracted and analyzed using a structured comparative framework. Simultaneously， relevant literature was retrieved from Web of Science （WoS）， PubMed， and CNKI， with a focus on evidence for HMO functions， as well as their clinical application， safety， and tolerability in hydrolyzed protein-based formulas.Results Notable cross-jurisdictional differences existed in permitted HMO species and combinations， maximum usage levels and the basic for their calculation， scope of use and approval pathways， as well as permitted labeling and claim boundaries. Clinical researches have primarily focused on the effects of HMO supplementation in hydrolyzed formulas on gut microbiome-related outcomes， with generally good tolerability reported. However， clear evidence supporting improvements in clinical endpoints such as infections and allergies remains limited， and long-term follow-up data are scarce.Conclusion HMOs represent a promising direction for optimizing hydrolyzed protein-based food for special medical purposes intended for infants. Future regulatory compliant efforts are， however， required to refine dose-population matching， strengthen long-term safety surveillance， and generate higher-quality clinical evidence， to support precision-nutrition applications and evidence-based regulatory evaluation for infants with special medical needs.

Abstract:With the improvement of living standards and the increasing burden of chronic diseases， nutrition labeling plays an increasingly important role in safeguarding consumer’s right to know， guiding healthy dietary choices， and regulating the food industry. Based on the newly released General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods （GB 28050—2025） in China and the established Republic of Korea nutrition labeling system， this paper systematic comparisons were made between China and Republic of Korea regarding their legislative foundations and institutional frameworks， as well as the scope of application and exemptions， nutrition facts panels， nutrition claims， protection for vulnerable population， and digital labeling innovations. The findings indicate that the Chinese system emphasizes uniformity and policy orientation， while the Republic of Korea system demonstrates flexibility and dynamic adaptability. The differences and complementarities between the two countries in nutrition labeling provide valuable insights for the future localization and optimization of labeling systems， corporate compliance support， public education， stakeholder engagement， and international harmonization.

Abstract:Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli （EAEC） is recognized as a significant enteric pathogen associated with both acute and persistent diarrhea in infants， travelers， and immunocompromised individuals， posing a substantial disease burden particularly in developing countries. Due to the genetic heterogeneity of EAEC， internationally standardized protocols for its detection have yet to be established. Various screening strategies employed across regions pose a critical challenge to both the accurate assessment of disease burden and molecular epidemiological research. This paper systematically reviews the pathogenic mechanisms and widely recognized molecular biomarkers associated with EAEC. Furthermore， it compares the technical protocols and target genes used for EAEC detection in food matrices and clinical fecal specimens. The status of surveillance was also summarized. This review aims to provide a scientific basis and practical insights for the establishment and optimization of standardized EAEC detection protocols.

Abstract:Lactococcus spp. are gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacteria that can utilize carbohydrates to produce compounds such as lactic acid and diacetyl， which can impart characteristic flavors to foods. They are widely used in food processing， where they play important roles in improving the quality of dairy products， delaying spoilage， and reducing levels of harmful compounds. Recently， Lactococcus spp. have also gained attention as expression hosts in synthetic biology. Additionally， this bacteria exhibit potential probiotic properties， playing important roles in regulating gut microbiota， modulating blood pressure， inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms， and suppressing intestinal inflammatory responses. However， compared to other lactic acid bacteria， research on the understanding of Lactococcus， as well as detection methods and safety assessment remain limited. Therefore， systematically elucidating the functional characteristics and mechanisms of action of Lactococcus， and establishing specific， effective， and accurate detection methods for Lactococcus are crucial for promoting its application in food and safeguarding consumer health. This article reviews the biological characteristics， classification， health functions， food applications， and existing detection methods of Lactococcus spp.， providing a reference for the development and rational regulation of industries related to Lactococcus.