Biofilms in the food industry - Impact on human health

Abstract

Biofilms are complex microbial communities formed by one and more species embedded in an extracellular polymeric matrix of different compositions depending on the attached microbial species and the type of food manufacturing. Attachment of bacteria to food contact surfaces and the subsequent formation of biofilms can cause equipment damage, food spoilage and even human diseases. Foodborne diseases associated with biofilms in the food industry can be intoxications or infections and can have great impact on human health. Foodborne pathogens that express capacity for biofilm formation under different conditions in the food industry, and that are in the scope of our investigations, are Salmonella (which, on contaminating a food pipeline biofilm, could induce massive outbreaks and even death in children and elderly) and Listeria monocytogenes (a ubiquitous bacterium that can cause abortion in pregnant women and other serious complications in children and the elderly).