Microalgae-Based Disinfectant Formulation for Aseptic Processing of Ethiopian Ingredient-Sourced Functional Bread and...

The global prevalence of food-borne infections has become a major concern. Food-borne pathogens like Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella enterica, and Clostridium botulinum cause food poisoning and even mortality, necessitating the maintenance of aseptic conditions during food processing. The sterilization of food processing facilities often requires chemical and heat treatment. The formulation of many chemical-based disinfectants includes chemicals generating toxic and carcinogenic by-products. The microalgae like Chlorella spp. reportedly exhibit antimicrobial activity and therefore, can be used for formulating safer and eco-friendly natural sanitizers. This study aims to aseptically prepare functional bread using Ethiopian ingredients, highlighting the application of microalgae-based disinfectant formulation and various disinfection techniques. The functional bread was designed to be potentially effective in reducing hypernatremia condition which is indicative of high levels of sodium in serum that can cause an array of symptoms including deaths in serious cases. The physico-chemical and sensory properties of the designed functional bread were analyzed. The interaction of phytochemicals in the ingredients with the target receptor (Vasopressin V2 receptor) and their drug-likeness were determined using molecular docking and Lipinski's rule of five analyses. The results suggest that the designed functional bread incorporating Ethiopian ingredients may serve as an effective dietary strategy to prevent hypernatremia. Aseptic processing of the bread ensures longer shelf life and prevention of spoilage by food pathogens.