Abstract
Plant-based meat (PBM) products have rapidly grown in popularity due to increasing consumer demand for sustainable, ethical, and health-oriented food alternatives. However, these novel products may pose microbiological risks similar to traditional meats, including contamination by Salmonella spp. In this study, PBM samples (n = 63), including raw products (ground pork, mushroom, and burger) and cooked products (chicken tender, chicken breast, nugget, and beef), were collected from local retail markets in Bangkok, Thailand. The prevalence of Salmonella spp. was assessed by calculating the proportion of confirmed positive samples relative to the total number of PBM products tested. Additionally, the genomic characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility of Salmonella isolated from PBM were also investigated. From the result, Salmonella enterica was detected in 2.44% (1/41) of raw PBM samples, whereas no contamination was observed in cooked PBM products (0/22). Serovar identification revealed the isolate to be S. Anatum. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis revealed the genome of S. Anatum SPBM3 consisted of 4,726,256 base pairs with 52.15% GC content, encoding 4717 coding sequences (CDS). Pangenomic analyses placed S. Anatum SPBM3 within a distinct sub-cluster closely related to pathogenic Salmonella strains previously reported, confirming its identity as part of the S. enterica lineage. The genome harbored 67 antimicrobial resistance genes, 5 prophage elements, and 305 key virulence determinants. Phenotypically, the isolate exhibited susceptibility to most tested antibiotics but showed intermediate resistance to streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, and colistin. Our findings highlight the potential microbial risks associated with PBM products and emphasize the importance of genomic surveillance to ensure food safety and public health protection as dietary preferences evolve toward non-traditional food matrices.