Listeria monocytogenes, an intra-cellular, Gram-positive, pathogenic bacterium, is one of the leading agents of foodborne illnesses. The morbidity of human listeriosis is low, but it has a high mortality rate of approximately 20% to 30%. L. monocytogenes is a psychotropic organism, making it a significant threat to ready-to-eat (RTE) meat product food safety. Listeria contamination is associated with the food processing environment or post-cooking cross-contamination events. The potential use of antimicrobials in packaging can reduce foodborne disease risk and spoilage. Novel antimicrobials can be advantageous for limiting Listeria and improving the shelf life of RTE meat. This review will discuss the Listeria occurrence in RTE meat products and potential natural antimicrobial additives for controlling Listeria.

Metabolomics is a high-throughput technology that is widely used across disciplines to identify and quantify metabolites in biological samples; however, its use has been limited in meat and animal science. The use of metabolomics, especially in these fields, is often curtailed by challenges with data processing and analysis. Improvements in data analysis platforms have broadened metabolomics applications and offer promise for determining metabolic pathways that directly influence animal health and livestock production. This review will present an overview of metabolomics concepts and current applications of metabolomics techniques in meat and animal science. Furthermore, we present evidence of the need to incorporate metabolomics in a systems biology context for the improvement of livestock production with an emphasis on animal health and production efficiency.

The gastrointestinal (GIT) microbiome of food animals represents a promising source of biologically active compounds with applications in animal health, nutrition, and sustainable production. Recent advances in 16S rRNA gene sequencing have transformed microbiome research, enabling detailed taxonomic profiling of microbial communities across diverse animal hosts. This review explores the potential of GIT microbiome-derived biologics—including short-chain fatty acids, antimicrobial peptides, and probiotics—as alternatives to traditional feed additives and antibiotics, as well as the potential impact on meat quality. While short-read sequencing remains foundational, long-read platforms such as PacBio, Oxford Nanopore, and LoopSeq offer enhanced taxonomic resolution and support the identification of functionally critical microbial strains. Practical considerations for sequencing method selection, database compatibility, and bioinformatics challenges are discussed, emphasizing the importance of curated, system-specific reference datasets. Ultimately, multi-omics approaches are necessary to characterize microbial activity and host-microbial interactions to unlock the microbiome’s functional potential. These strategies pave the way for precision microbiome engineering and novel biologics tailored to specific species and production systems. The review concludes with recommendations to standardize methodologies, invest in functional validation, and align microbiome research with the evolving needs of sustainable meat animal agriculture.

There is an increasing need to develop alternative antimicrobials to replace currently used antibiotics. Phytochemicals, such as essential oils, have garnered significant attention in recent years as potential antimicrobials. However, the mechanisms underlying their bactericidal activities are not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated the bactericidal activity of eugenol oil against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) to elucidate its mechanism of action. We hypothesized that eugenol exerts its bactericidal effects through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which ultimately leads to cell death. The result of this study demonstrated that the bactericidal activity of eugenol against S. Typhimurium was significantly (p < 0.05) mitigated by thiourea (ROS scavenger) or iron chelator 2,2′-dipyridyl, supporting the hypothesis. This finding contributes to a better understanding of the killing mechanism by eugenol oil.

The study aimed to assess the relative effectiveness of selective media for isolating Campylobacter species, a foodborne pathogen commonly associated with poultry. Poultry rinsates were inoculated with C. jejuni, C. coli, or C. lari and enriched in 2 × Blood Free Bolton Broth for 20 h at 42 °C under microaerophilic conditions. Enriched samples were spread-plated on Campy-Cefex, mCCDA, and TSA agar and incubated for 48 h under respective conditions. The library was constructed based on the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene of the subsequent pooled colonies and was sequenced using an Illumina Miseq. The microbial composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing in QIIME2. Results indicated differences in microbial diversity and composition based on species and media. C. jejuni-inoculated rinsates showed the highest evenness and richness, followed by C. coli and C. lari (P < 0.05, Pielou's Evenness, Shannon's Entropy). C. jejuni-inoculated rinsates resulted in a high abundance of non-Campylobacter microbiota, including Lachsnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae (P < 0.05, ANCOM). Meanwhile, Staphylococcus was significantly more abundant on TSA plates. mCCDA and Campy-Cefex media types did not result in significantly different microbial compositional profiles. The heightened microbial diversity observed in C. jejuni-inoculated rinsates suggests a distinct niche within the poultry environment compared to the other Campylobacter species. More so, microbial diversity and composition in enriched poultry rinsates appear to be influenced by the media used for isolation and the specific Campylobacter species present. The findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate media for accurately assessing and isolating Campylobacter in poultry-related studies.

Hatching eggs possess multiple physical and chemical barriers that limit microbial invasion; however, the role of the eggshell membrane in shaping late-stage embryonic and early post-hatch gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota remains poorly understood. This study aimed to (i) validate a reproducible eggshell membrane extraction method, (ii) assess whether microbial loads differ between nest- and floor-laid eggs, (iii) examine relationships between eggshell membrane-associated microbiota and embryonic intestinal microbiota, and (iv) determine whether microbial blooms align with key stages of the hatching process. In a preliminary experiment using White Leghorn hatching eggs, no significant differences were observed in aerobic, anaerobic, or fungal membrane counts between nest- and floor-laid eggs. In a commercial hatchery study using Ross 708 broiler eggs, membrane and GI microbial populations were evaluated across days 18–20 of incubation, corresponding to pre-pipping, internal pipping, and external pipping/post-hatch stages. Significant, day-dependent shifts in microbial counts were observed, with strong interactions between sampling day and location (membrane vs. GI) for most bacterial groups. Enterococci and anaerobic bacteria were enriched in the GI tract prior to hatch, whereas aerobic, Gram-negative, and Staphylococcus populations were more abundant on membranes during late incubation. Post-hatch chicks exhibited markedly higher GI microbial loads compared to embryos, indicating rapid colonization during the hatch transition. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the pipping and hatching process represents a critical window for microbial redistribution from eggshell membranes to the developing chick gut, highlighting the hatchery as a key control point for early-life microbial exposure and intervention strategies.