Food safety issues associated with sesame seed value chains: Current status and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Microbiology
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is a globally demanded functional food crop, crucial for socio-economic development in producing nations.
• Increased global demand for sesame has unfortunately coincided with major foodborne incidents linked to imported seeds and products.
• Foodborne hazards in sesame present significant risks to consumer health and international trade, causing border rejections and stricter import controls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the routes of foodborne hazard contamination in the sesame value chain.
• To understand factors influencing the persistence of hazards like Salmonella in sesame seeds.
• To identify strategies for improving the microbiological safety of sesame seeds.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on sesame contamination.
• Analysis of potential contamination points across the agricultural and manufacturing value chain.
• Identification of knowledge gaps in microbiological quality data.

Main Results:

• Salmonella has been identified as a significant microbial hazard in imported sesame seeds, linked to global outbreaks.
• Agricultural and manufacturing practices during harvesting, storage, and processing are potential points for Salmonella contamination.
• Limited data exists on the microbiological quality of sesame across the value chain in producing countries.
• Concerns are rising regarding mycotoxins and pesticide residues exceeding regulatory limits in sesame seeds.

Conclusions:

• Eliminating foodborne hazards in the sesame value chain necessitates collaborative efforts from researchers, producers, processors, and regulators.
• Focused intervention and prevention strategies are needed to mitigate risks associated with sesame contamination.
• Urgent attention is required to improve the safety of sesame seeds and derived products.