Overview

• Study identifies 10,899 food-associated microbes, with half being previously unknown species.
• Food microbes account for 3% of the adult and 56% of the infant gut microbiome on average.
• Database created from study offers open access for future research on food quality and safety.
• Metagenomics used to efficiently sequence genetic material from diverse food samples.
• Findings may help authenticate food sources and improve understanding of local food characteristics.