Fuente: PubMed "bee pollen" Foods. 2026 Jun 12;15(12):2115. doi: 10.3390/foods15122115.ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the microbiological quality, phenolic compound profile, antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens, and the presence of potential chemical markers associated with microplastic polymers in 35 commercial bee pollen samples obtained from the seven geographical regions of Türkiye. Microbiological analyses included the enumeration of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, coliforms, yeasts and molds, lactobacilli, lactococci, and psychrophilic bacteria. Antimicrobial activity was determined against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Enteritidis using the disk diffusion method. Phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, while characteristic pyrolysis products associated with microplastics were analyzed by PY-GC/MS. The results indicated that the pollen samples generally exhibited low microbial contamination levels and variable antimicrobial activity, depending on their geographical origin. Quercetin was identified as the predominant phenolic compound, and samples with higher phenolic content tended to show stronger antimicrobial effects, particularly against S. aureus. PY-GC/MS analyses revealed the presence of several chemical markers potentially associated with plastic polymers in a considerable proportion of the samples. Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between total phenolic content and particularly S. aureus inhibition. These findings highlight the nutritional and functional value of bee pollen while also drawing attention to emerging food safety concerns related to possible exposure to plastic-associated environmental contaminants. Regular monitoring of bee pollen is therefore recommended to ensure product quality and consumer safety.PMID:42354083 | PMC:PMC13298105 | DOI:10.3390/foods15122115