Integrated dual-function strategy for rapid detection of Escherichia coli and screening of natural antimicrobial herbs for enhanced food safety

Ensuring rapid detection of foodborne pathogens and identifying effective natural antimicrobial agents are critical priorities for the food industry. This study presents an integrated dual-function strategy specifically designed for practical food safety applications, enabling simultaneous rapid detection of Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) in foods and screening of natural antimicrobial herbs. The developed Thermally Efficient Array Gas Membrane Separation (TAGMS) device, optimized for food sample testing conditions, allowed reliable detection of E. coli within just 18 min, significantly outperforming traditional plate-culture methods. Capable of processing up to 48 samples simultaneously, this method effectively addresses high-throughput demands typical in food production and quality control environments. The selective proliferation of E. coli was successfully achieved using selective agents (pig bile salts, amphotericin B, bacitracin), minimizing interference commonly encountered in complex food matrices. The approach leveraged ethanol—a key metabolic marker for E. coli —to provide accurate, real-time pathogen quantification. Additionally, practical evaluation demonstrated the antimicrobial efficacy of Trans-Anethole (IC 50  = 25.45 μg/mL), positioning it as a promising natural antimicrobial candidate for food preservation. Overall, this integrated analytical platform provides substantial practical benefits for food safety management and supports the adoption of natural antimicrobials to enhance consumer safety and product quality.