Largest Survey of Food Microbiomes Reveals Impact on Human Gut

Researchers sequence over 2,500 foods, finding significant microbial contributions to adult and infant gut microbiomes.

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.