The prevalence of foodborne outbreaks due to the consumption of uncooked and ready‐to‐eat fruits and vegetables has seen a noticeable increase, particularly in environments lacking sanitation. This article extensively explores recent advancements in the detection of foodborne pathogens in uncooked and ready‐to‐eat fruits and vegetables, alongside potential prevention strategies. Predominantly, pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica are the main culprits in outbreaks linked to these food items globally. Notably, contamination is more prevalent in fresh leafy greens than in fruit products. Various detection methods such as culturing, microscopy, immunological assays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), biosensors, and hyperspectral imaging have proven effective in identifying pathogens in these foods. Nonetheless, these methods come with challenges, including time consumption, accuracy concerns, and high costs. Research is ongoing to refine these detection techniques, with efforts including combining methodologies like PCR–enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and integrating culturing with PCR. Additionally, several interventions, including cold plasma treatment, ultraviolet irradiation, and the application of edible coatings, have shown promise in mitigating contamination risks, thereby enhancing the safety of these fresh produce items.

The wasp, Bracon hebetor Say, is an important potential biocontrol agent of a wide range of lepidopteran insect species. The current study was subjected to compare these ectoparasitoid fitness traits on different host species belonging to the order Lepidoptera. Moreover, we determine the population dynamic with different host densities, sex ratio patterns, super-parasitism, longevity, paralysis success, and reproductive potential under laboratory conditions. Our results revealed that oviposition increased with an increase in host density, while the adult emergence and egg hatching were decreased due to the super-parasitism on host larvae. A higher male and female-biased population were observed when virgin and mated females offered fresh hosts. Adults' longevity was recorded more in females than males when kept only with bee honey + royal jelly + host larvae. The mean duration of egg-adult development was recorded higher on Galleria mellonella and lowest on Busseola fusca. The parasitization rate, super-parasitism, and cumulative fecundity of mated and virgin female wasps with different host species were observed higher on specific host Galleria mellonella while it was lower on Phthorimaea operculella. Furthermore, the parasitoids having mating experience preferred fresh, while the parasitoids' lack of mating experiences preferred paralyzed host under olfactometer test. Besides, this research has produced novel facts on the biology of parasitic wasp, B. hebetor that may guide the advancement of sustainable biological control programs to control lepidopteran pests.