In recent years, plant essential oils have been confirmed as natural inhibitors of foodborne pathogens. Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Tankan peel essential oil (CPEO) showed anti-Listeria monocytogenes (LM) activities, and this study investigated the associated mechanisms by using high-resolution electron microscope, fluorescence spectrometer, flow cytometer, potentiometer, and transcriptome sequencing. The results showed that CPEO restrained LM growth at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2% (v/v). The anti-LM abilities of CPEO were achieved by disrupting the permeability of the cell wall, damaging the permeability, fluidity, and integrity of the cell membrane, disturbing the membrane hydrophobic core, and destroying the membrane protein conformation. Moreover, CPEO could significantly inhibit the LM aggregation from forming biofilm by reducing the extracellular polymeric substances’ (protein, polysaccharide, and eDNA) production and bacterial surface charge numbers. The RNA sequencing data indicated that LM genes involved in cell wall and membrane biosynthesis, DNA replication and repair, quorum sensing and two-component systems were expressed differently after CPEO treatment. These results suggested that CPEO could be used as a novel anti-LM agent and green preservative in the food sector. Further studies are needed to verify the anti-LM activities of CPEO in real food.

This study developed a dietary polysaccharide-stabilized peptide-Fe²⁺ composite beverage to address iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Through single-factor and orthogonal experiments, the formulation was optimized (cranberry/blueberry concentrate ratio 4:6, 600 mL/L; FA-COS@Peptide-Fe²⁺@PTry-CMC 200 mL/L; vitamin C 1.5 g/L; pectin 0.06 g/L), and processing parameters were determined (homogenization: 12,000 rpm, 20 min; sterilization: 95 °C, 15 min). Storage stability was optimal at 4 °C in dark conditions. Under the optimal processing conditions, the beverage attained a maximum suspension stability of 17.74% and the optimized formulation achieved a highest sensory score of 94.0 (out of 100). In vivo experiments showed that the beverage dose-dependently restored hematological parameters (e.g., HGB, SI, TIBC) and tissue iron levels, alleviated intestinal oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in IDA mice, while repairing colonic mucosal damage without adverse effects. The beverage demonstrated high iron-supplementing efficacy and excellent biosafety, offering a promising strategy for IDA intervention.