Detection of Escherichia coli via VOC profiling using secondary electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (SESI-MS)

► First report of SESI-MS based method for foodborne bacteria detection. ► Escherichia coli can generate different VOC profiles than Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhimurium. ► A group of eleven E. coli strains were separated from two major foodborne bacteria. ► Six VOC biomarkers were discovered for E. coli species. ► E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli O145can be detected among other E. coli serotypes via SESI-MS.