Reduction of fumonisin B₁ in corn grits by twin-screw extrusion

Abstract: This study was designed to investigate the fate of fumonisins in flaking corn grits during twin‐screw extrusion by measuring fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) and its analogs with a mass balance approach. Food grade corn grits and 2 batches of grits contaminated with FB₁ at 10 and 50 μg/g by Fusarium verticillioides M‐2552 were processed with or without glucose supplementation (10%, w/w) with a twin‐screw extruder. Extrusion reduced FB₁ in contaminated grits by 64% to 72% without glucose and 89% to 94% with added glucose. In addition, extrusion alone resulted in 26% to 73% reduction in the levels of fumonisin B₂ and fumonisin B₃, while levels of both mycotoxins were reduced by >89% in extruded corn grits containing 10% glucose. Mass balance analysis showed that 38% to 46% of the FB₁ species detected in corn extruded with glucose was N‐(deoxy‐D‐fructos‐1‐yl)‐FB₁, while 23% to 37% of FB₁ species detected in extruded corn grits with and without added glucose was bound to the matrix. It was also found that the hydrolyzed form of FB₁ was a minor species in extruded corn grits with or without added glucose, representing <15% of the total FB₁ species present. Less than 46% of FB₁ originally present in corn grits could be detected in the fumonisin analogues measured in this study. Research is needed to identify the reaction products resulting from extrusion processing of fumonisin‐contaminated corn products. Practical Application: Twin‐screw extrusion is widely used in food industry for its versatility. This technology may reduce the level of fumonisins in corn particularly with added glucose.     

Stability of mycotoxins during food processing

The mycotoxins that commonly occur in cereal grains and other products are not completely destroyed during food processing operations and can contaminate finished processed foods. The mycotoxins most commonly associated with cereal grains are aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. The various food processes that may have effects on mycotoxins include sorting, trimming, cleaning, milling, brewing, cooking, baking, frying, roasting, canning, flaking, alkaline cooking, nixtamalization, and extrusion. Most of the food processes have variable effects on mycotoxins, with those that utilize the highest temperatures having greatest effects. In general the processes reduce mycotoxin concentrations significantly, but do not eliminate them completely. However, roasting and extrusion processing show promise for lowering mycotoxin concentrations, though very high temperatures are needed to bring about much of a reduction in mycotoxin concentrations. Extrusion processing at temperatures greater than 150 degrees C are needed to give good reduction of zearalenone, moderate reduction of alfatoxins, variable to low reduction of deoxynivalenol and good reduction of fumonisins. The greatest reductions of fumonisins occur at extrusion temperatures of 160 degrees C or higher and in the presence of glucose. Extrusion of fumonisin contaminated corn grits with 10% added glucose resulted in 75-85% reduction in Fumonisin B(1) levels. Some fumonisin degredation products are formed during extrusion, including small amounts of hydrolyzed Fumonisin B(1) and N-(Carboxymethyl) - Fumonisin B(1) and somewhat higher amounts of N-(1-deoxy-d-fructos-1-yl) Fumonisin B(1) in extruded grits containing added glucose. Feeding trial toxicity tests in rats with extruded fumonisin contaminated corn grits show some reduction in toxicity of grits extruded with glucose.     

Stability of zearalenone during extrusion of corn grits

The effects of extrusion cooking on the stability of zearalenone (ZEN) in spiked (4.4 microg/g) food-grade corn grits were investigated using a twin screw extruder. A ground rice culture material containing a high level of ZEN was used to spike the corn grits. The extrusion variables were screw type (mixing and nonmixing), temperature (120, 140, and 160 degrees C), and moisture content (18, 22, and 26%). Both unextruded and extruded samples were analyzed for ZEN by high-performance liquid chromatography. Extrusion cooking of the corn grits resulted in significant reductions of ZEN in grits extruded with either mixing screws or nonmixing screws, but use of mixing screws was somewhat more effective (66 to 83%) overall than nonmixing screws (65 to 77%). Greater reduction of ZEN was observed at either 120 or 140 degrees C than at 160 degrees C. The moisture content of corn grits was not a significant factor affecting reduction of ZEN during extrusion with either mixing or nonmixing screws.     

Reduction of Moniliformin in Corn by Heat Processing

The effects of autoclaving, baking, extrusion, frying, and roasting on the stability of moniliformin (MON) in spiked (5 μg/g of MON) corn‐based food products were investigated. Roasting corn meal at 218 °C for 15 min had the most significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on the reduction of MON (44.6%). Autoclaving creamed corn at 121 °C for 65 min resulted in only 10% reduction of MON. Reductions of MON ranging from 5.4 to 28.9% were observed when corn chips were prepared from spiked masa. MON was reduced by 42.2% when corn muffins were baked and by 26.7% when corn grits were extruded. Overall, MON showed heat stability similar to or greater than other Fusarium mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol and fumonisin B₁     

Reduction of fumonisin B1 in extruded corn breakfast cereals with salt,malt and sugar in their formulation

The objective was to determine the effect of added sodium chloride, barley malt and sucrose on the stability of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) present in corn flour. Two levels of both sodium chloride (0.4% and 2%) and barley malt (0.8% and 5%) were added to the unextruded corn flour, and six levels of sucrose (3–10%) were used. The addition of sucrose at the lowest salt content (0.4%) as well as salt, either at 0.4% or at 2%, led to a significant decrease of FB₁ levels in extruded samples, whereas malt, either at 0.8% or at 5%, did not significantly affect FB₁ stability. Decontamination rates depended on the concentrations of added ingredients and ranged from 2% to 92%. The greatest reductions in FB₁ content were achieved with extrusion cooking with a high salt content, whilst the lowest reductions were the result of processing corn flour with low contents of both salt and sucrose. Salt at 2% was the most effective ingredient in reducing FB₁ content of the final extruded food.     

Continuous production of very enriched fructose syrup by the conversion of glucose to ethanol from glucose-fructose mixtures in an immobilized cell reactor

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 36859, which preferentially utilizes glucose in glucose-fructose mixtures, was immobilized and used for the continuous production of very enriched fructose syrup. A syrup containing fructose as 99% of the reducing sugars was produced from a 10.1% w/v glucose and 9.8% w/v fructose mixture at a dilution rate of 0.106 h⁻¹. Later in this process when the dilution rate was increased to 0.366 h⁻¹ the ethanol productivity was 12.7 g 1⁻¹ h⁻¹. This is 16% less than the value attained in a similar medium containing only glucose as the carbohydrate. The fructose content was also increased from 55 to 95% of the reducing sugars in a food grade mixture of high fructose corn syrup and Jerusalem artichoke juice. Purification of the product with activated carbon and ion-exchange resin produced a stable, colourless and very enriched fructose syrup suitable for human consumption.     

A SIMPLE SOLID-PHASE RADIOIMMUNOASSAY FOR AFLATOXIN B1

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) for aflatoxin B₁ (afla B₁) was developed. This method involved the incubation of afla B₁, both labelled and unlabelled, with immunoglobulin (IgG)-sepharose gel which was prepared by conjugation of the IgG highly specific to afla B₁ with CNBr-activated sepharose gel, followed by a filtration step. The binding capacity was determined by counting the radioactivity in the filtrate. Studies with different afla B₁ analogues revealed that the IgG-gel bound most effectively with B₁. Binding of afla B₂, G₁, G₂, and aflatoxicol to the IgG-gel was less effective in comparison with the IgG before coupling. Between 0.5–5.0 ng per assay, the displacement of radioactivity from the gel was directly proportional to the amount of afla B₁ present. Using a simple extraction procedure without clean-up step, the recovery yields for afla B₁ in the contaminated corn or wheat at levels of 5 ppb or above were above 60%.     

Detecting vegetable oil adulteration in hazelnut paste (Corylus avellana L.)

The possibilities of detecting hazelnut paste adulterated with refined and non-refined vegetable oils have been studied. Research was focussed mainly on peanut, high oleic-acid sunflower, corn and soybean oils which have a similar composition to hazelnut oil. The analytical procedures to detect fatty acid (FA), triacylglycerol (TAG) and tocopherol profiles as indicators of adulteration were determined. The better indicators experimentally determined were seven FA (palmitic, stearic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, behenic and lignoceric acids) and different TAG with three unsaturated FA (the code letters used for FA are: P = C_16:0; S = C_18:0; O = C_18:1; L = C_18:2;; L_n = C_18:3) (LLL_n, LLL and OOO), two unsaturated FA (POL, PLL and SOO), and one unsaturated FA (PPL). As expected, when refined vegetable oils were added to hazelnut paste, the increment of stigmasta-3,5-diene allowed detection at levels of 2% oil added. Limits of detection were measured using standard and adulterated hazelnut with different amounts of non-refined vegetable oils added (5%, 10%, 20% and 30%). The distribution of tocopherols and tocotrienols is highly useful, except in the case of added sunflower oil. The differences between the experimental and theoretical values of the TAG with equivalent carbon number (ΔECN) of 42 does not improve the detection limit of hazelnut paste adulterated with peanut or sunflower oils. Similarly, tocopherols usually added to refined vegetable oils as an antioxidant were also determined.     

Stability of deoxynivalenol in heat-treated foods.

The effects of high-temperature and -pressure processing of foods spiked with deoxynivalenol (DON) were examined. In extruded corn grits, extruded dry dog food, and autoclaved moist dog food, there were no significant reductions (P < 0.05) in DON after processing. Autoclaved cream-style corn showed a reduction in DON of only 12%. Overall, DON was stabile to the high temperature and pressure processes tested. The use of an alpha-amylase in the extraction method for analysis by an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) improved the recovery of DON from the spiked extruded and autoclaved products by as much as 26% over the standard ELISA method.     

EFFECT OF SLURRY PREPARATION METHODS ON THE RHEOLOGICAL AND GELLING BEHAVIOR OF SOY PROTEIN

The order of addition of solutes and soy protein during the preparation of slurries influenced rheological behavior of unheated and heated slurries. The effect of the order of addition of glucose, sucrose and Na₂HPO₄ into the slurries was small with respect to the influence of the order of addition of CaCl₂ and NaCl. The effectiveness of salts in reducing apparent viscosity of both unheated and heated slurries was greater than that of glucose and sucrose. Na₂HPO₄ was the more effective salt in reducing viscosity followed by NaCl and CaCl₂. When salts were added, an inverse relationship was obtained between viscosity and water-holding capacity of gelled soy protein slurries.     

Extrusion of corn grits containing various levels of hydrocolloids

Fourteen hydrocolloids, locust bean, agar, guar, alginate, tragacanth, carrageenan, xanthan, pectin, gelatin and Methocels A4M, E4M, F4M and K4M were dry blended with corn grits at levels of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0%. Twenty percent moisture was added and each product extruded in a Brabender Model PL-V500 laboratory extruder at temperatures of 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150°C with a 1:1 screw operating at 100 rpm. Locust bean, agar, guar, alginate, arabic and Methocels E4M, F4M and K4M significantly lowered torque at an extrusion temperature of 50°C, but did not in general produce significant reductions at higher extrusion temperatures. In contrast, tragacanth, carrageenan, xanthan, pectin, gelatin and Methocel A4M did not significantly reduce torque over the concentrations and conditions evaluated during the extrusion of corn grits. All the Methocel derivatives lowered yield at low extrusion temperatures. No gum significantly increased yield over the entire extrusion temperature range evaluated. Therefore, certain gums can significantly reduce torque without influencing yield during the extrusion of corn grits.     

MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING of SWEET CORN ON COB

Respiration rates (RR) of two varieties of sweet corn on cob were determined at O₂ concentrations: 5, 10, 15, and 21% and CO₂: 0, 5, and 10%, and temperatures: 2, 12, and 25C. Temperature and O₂ had strong influence on RR. Activation energies for effect of temperature on RR(O₂) and RR(CO₂) were, 44.6 and 104.4 kJ/mole, respectively. At 12C, to maintain 4% O₂ and 6% CO₂ in a package 10.8 cm² area, with 1.12 kg of corn, the estimated film permeabilities were 14 ml O₂/h.cm² and 65 ml CO₂/h.cm², respectively. Experimental and theoretical transient gas concentrations using microporous films were in reasonable agreement, but the desired O₂ and CO₂ levels were not achieved.     

Improved Sanitizing Treatments for Fresh Tomatoes

ABSTRACT:  Fresh tomatoes repeatedly have been associated with major outbreaks of salmonellosis; however, efforts to disinfect them with chlorine or other sanitizing agents have had only mixed success. Our objective was to determine whether hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) treatments would be more efficacious than conventional methods in disinfecting tomatoes containing human pathogens and, at the same time, be noninjurious to quality. Tomatoes were dip inoculated with Escherichia coli NRRL B-766 or a Salmonella cocktail and then held for 0, 24, or 48 h at 4 or 24 °C prior to treatment. Treatments included 200 ppm chlorine (Cl₂) at 20 °C for 3 min, water at 20 °C for 3 min or at 60 °C for 2 min, 1% H₂O₂ at 20 °C for 15 min or at 60 °C for 2 min, and 5% H₂O₂ at 60 °C for 2, 3, or 5 min. In tomatoes held 48 h postinoculation, the chlorine treatment was only marginally more effective than an equivalent water rinse in reducing the target bacterial population, while the hot water and 1% H₂O₂ treatments achieved reductions no greater than 1.3 logs. However, application of 5% H₂O₂ at 60 °C resulted in larger reductions. Efficacy of all treatments decreased as the time interval between inoculation and treatment increased. Greater reductions could not be achieved with 5% H₂O₂ at 60 °C by increasing the contact time or addition of surfactants, and these treatments caused some quality loss.     

Fumonisin levels in commercial corn products in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fumonisins B₁ (FB₁) and B₂ (FB₂) were determined in 35 samples of corn flour and corn grits destined for human consumption and purchased directly from Buenos Aires food shops and supermarkets from October 1996 to January 1997 and during the month of January 1998. During the first period of sample collecting, 16 out of 19 samples were found to be contaminated. Considering all 19 samples, contamination levels were between not detected and 1860 ng/g FB₁, and from not detected to 768 ng/g FB₂. During the second period all 16 samples were found to be contaminated with levels ranging from 75 to 4987 ng/g FB₁, and from not detected to 1818 ng/g FB₂. The levels of FB₁ and FB₂ in the samples collected during January 1998 were significantly higher than the samples collected during the period from October 1996 to January 1997. No significant difference was found in terms of fumonisin levels between the branded and unbranded samples.     

1H NMR Studies of Water in Chicken Breast Marinated with Different Phosphates

ABSTRACT: Samples of boneless, skinless chicken breasts were vacuum tumbled in 7% salt and 1.2% of either disodium pyrophosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, or glass phosphate, and studied using ¹H NMR. Spin-lattice (T₁) values ranged from 568 to 642 ms, with highest values seen for phosphate-treated samples. Increases with treatment were attributed to changes in moisture. Cooking reduced T₁ values due to loss of moisture and setting of the protein gel. Compression produced further reductions in T₁ values. Little dispersion in R₂ with pulse spacing (τ) was observed for uncooked samples.     

THE EFFECT OF CARBOHYDRATE ADJUNCTS ON BREWER'S WORT FERMENTATION BY SACCHAROMYCES UVARUM (CARLSBERGENSIS)*

The use of carbohydrate adjuncts such as sucrose, fructose and glucose in brewer's wort significantly modifies the initial wort sugar spectrum and also the pattern of sugar uptake during fermentation by a strain of Saccharomyces uvarum (carlsbergensis). Under these conditions, the concentration of glucose and fructose in the wort was observed to increase when compared to worts in which corn starch was employed as an adjunct and glucose was taken up at a faster rate than fructose. The increase in glucose concentration in the wort also resulted in severe repression of maltose and maltotriose utilization with significant levels of these sugars remaining in the beer produced.     

Reduced toxicity of fumonisin B1 in corn grits by single-screw extrusion

Corn grits spiked with 30 microg/g fumonisin B1 and two batches of grits fermented with Fusarium verticillioides (batch 1 contained 33 microg/g, and batch 2 contained 48 microg/g fumonisin B1), which were extruded by a single-screw extruder with and without glucose (10%, dry weight basis) supplementation were fed to rats. Control groups were fed uncontaminated grits. Extrusion with glucose more effectively reduced fumonisin B1 concentrations of the grits (75 to 85%) than did extrusion alone (10 to 28%). With one exception, the fumonisin B1-spiked and fermented extrusion products caused moderately severe kidney lesions and reduced kidney weights, effects typically found in fumonisin-exposed rats. Lesions in rats fed the least contaminated grits (batch 1) after extrusion with 10% glucose were, however, significantly less severe and not accompanied by kidney weight changes. Therefore, extrusion with glucose supplementation is potentially useful for safely reducing the toxicity of fumonisins in corn-based products and studies to determine the optimal conditions for its use are warranted.     

Inulin and Sugar Contents in Helianthus tuberosus and Cichorium intybus Tubers: Effect of Postharvest Storage Temperature

ABSTRACT: Inulin, sucrose, fructose, and glucose contents in tubers of Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) and Cichorium intybus stored at different temperatures (-18, 4, and 18 °C) after harvesting were followed. Inulin content in both tubers decreased during storage. In C. intybus this decrease was associated with increases in glucose and fructose contents. In H. tuberosus the fructan fraction having molecular weight between 800 and 1200 increased after sucrose reached its maximum content [1.3–10⁻¹ g(g d.w.)⁻¹] in tubers stored at 4 °C. Fructose-to-glucose ratio was followed in H. tuberosus tubers harvested at different times; samples from plants subjected to different fertilization treatments were used. This parameter can be used for choosing the harvest date since it is related to the disappearance of the fructan fraction having molecular weight higher than 1200.     

APPLICATION OF CHLORINE TO REDUCE POPULATIONS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI ON BEEF

The effects of chlorine against 2 strains of E. coli attached to the surface of beef carcass tissue (BCT) were examined using a model carcass washer. Lean and adipose BCT with approximately 5 log ₁₀ CFU/cm ² E. coli bacteria were spray-treated with water and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) to give chlorine concentrations of 50, 100, 250, 500, or 800ppm, incubated for 24 h, 4C, and E. coli populations enumerated. Spray treatments with water did significantly (P < 0.05) reduce the bacterial populations of either organism attached to lean or adipose BCT, as compared to populations of controls; however, reductions were less than 0.60 log ₁₀ CFU/cm ². Treatments with 500 and 800 ppm chlorine against E. coli ATCC 25922 attached to BCT resulted in the greatest reductions of 1.22 and 1.28 log ₁₀ CFU/cm ², respectively. At 800 ppm chlorine , E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 attached to BCT was reduced by 1.04 log ₁₀ CFU/cm ², whereas spray treatments with 50, 100, 250, and 500 ppm chlorine resulted in reductions of < 1 log ₁₀ CFU/cm ². Spray treatments with chlorine from sodium hypochlorite solutions reduced populations of E. coli, however, these reductions were not sufficient to completely inactivate the bacteria attached to red meat .     

EFFECT OF GAMMA IRRADIATION ON AFLATOXIN B1 PRODUCTION BY ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS IN GROUND BEEF STORED AT 5C

The effect of γ-irradiation for controlling the production of aflatoxin B₁ by Aspergillus flavus in ground beef stored at 5C for 2 weeks was investigated. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Mucor, Scopulariopsis, Candida and Rhodotorula were the most common fungal genera contaminating ground beef. A. flavus and A. niger were the most common Aspergillus spp. Aspergillus flavus isolates were able to produce aflatoxin B₁ in ground beef. Only 3 (20%) samples of ground beef were contaminated with aflatoxin B₁ (25–45 μg/Kg). Gamma irradiation dose levels resulted in an immediate reduction in the total numbers of A. flavus. No growth or aflatoxin B₁ production occurred at 1.50 kGy during storage.