A meta-analysis and systematic review of Salmonella prevalence in table eggs from China and the efficacy of inactivation technologies for Salmonella in table eggs.

Salmonella contamination of table eggs poses a significant public health risk in China. However, systematic assessments of the national prevalence and comparative efficacy of inactivation technologies remain limited. We systematically searched the PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wan Fang databases from 1990 to 2025. Studies reporting Salmonella prevalence in Chinese table eggs or log reduction values of inactivation technologies were included. The total of 7472 records were identified. The total of 73 prevalence and 91 inactivation studies were finally analyzed. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists, and random-effects models were used to pool estimates, with subgroup analyses and meta-regression to explore heterogeneity. The prevalence of Salmonella in Chinese table eggs varies significantly across production stages. The farm stage showed a high contamination rate (10.03%, 95% CI: 5.87-16.61%), whereas the sale and consumption stage had a lower rate (1.00%, 95% CI: 0.52-1.94%). Eggs from open-style farms had a high rate of 18.92% (95% CI: 5.87-16.61%). Regarding inactivation, pasteurization consistently achieved >5 log CFU/g reduction across all liquid egg products. Electrolyzed water was the most effective on eggshell surfaces (4.71 log CFU/g, 95% CI: 4.54-4.87). Radiofrequency combined with water also achieved strong inactivation on shelled eggs (4.92 log CFU/g, 95% CI: 3.94-5.91). Taken together, these findings highlight priority areas for intervention and provide a quantitative benchmark for technology selection. Control efforts should target farm-stage contamination, particularly in northern regions and on small open farms. While established technologies such as pasteurization and radiofrequency remain reliable for inactivation, emerging methods, including electrolyzed water, offer promising alternatives. Future research should focus on optimizing combined technologies to balance microbial safety with egg quality preservation and cost-effectiveness.