Quantitation by magnetic resonance imaging of heating of commercial baby foods in glass jars

This study demonstrates how magnetic resonance imaging can be used to quantitate the heating of commercially available baby foods as sold in glass jars either ‘on‐line’ during immersion in warmed water in the scanner's magnet, or ‘off‐line’ following microwave heating. The internal temperature distribution can be measured in 2‐ or 3‐dimensions with a precision of ±1.5 °C compared with fibre optical thermo‐probe measurements. Illustrative examples include jars of Heinz ‘Banana & Apple’, Sainsbury's ‘Organic Banana Rice Pudding’ and Cow & Gate ‘Organic Roasted Vegetable Lasagne’. Localised thermal lags induced by pieces of vegetable in the lasagne were observed during on‐line immersion heating. Importantly, the spatially heterogeneous heating by microwaves demonstrates the need for strong warnings about using microwave ovens for heating baby foods.     

Fumonisins in Brazilian corn-based foods for infant consumption.

A survey of 196 samples of corn-based infant foods from 13 cities of Sao Paulo State, Brazil, was carried out to investigate the fumonisin contamination in the products. Based on their ingredients, the products were divided into seven groups: infant cereal designated as types A-D, corn meal, corn starch and instant cereal baby food. Although certain infant food samples were free of fumonisin contamination (<20 microg kg(-1); corn starch and infant cereals of type A, B and D), contamination levels in the other products (corn meal, instant corn-based baby food and cereal type C) were of concern, particularly those in corn meal. All samples in these categories contained fumonisins. The mean level for total fumonisins (FB1 + FB2 + FB3) in corn meal was 2242 microg kg(-1) (maximum 8039 microg kg(-1)), in instant corn-based baby food was 437 (maximum 1096) microg kg(-1) and in infant cereal type C was 664 (maximum 1753) microg kg(-1).     

Study of fumonisins B1 and B2 contamination of baby food

Fumonisins content were studied in the baby foods, grits and flour by HPLC. FB1 +FB2 were found in 95% of 129 samples of grits and flour in quantities from 30 to 4350 microg/kg (mean: 580 microg/kg). Fumonisins were found in baby food in 52% of snacks in the range from 10 to 720 microg/kg (mean: 35 microg/kg). Processed cereal-based and cereal and dairy-based food contained FB1+FB2 in 39% of cases in the amount from 10 to 9200 microg/kg (mean: 244 microg/kg). Fumonisins were not found in canned baby food on the cereal-based with meat, fish or fruit products.     

Analysis of furan in heat-processed foods consumed in Korea using solid phase microextraction–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME–GC/MS)

Furan (C₄H₄O) is a volatile compound formed during the Maillard reaction and was recently classified as a possible human carcinogen (group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It has been reported to occur in various canned and jarred foods that undergo heat treatment. The aim of the present study was to optimise the sample preparation for furan analysis using solid phase microextraction–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME–GC/MS), according to the food matrix. We also performed the monitoring and risk assessment of furan in various food products. The optimised fibre exposure temperatures, time and amount of sample of liquid, semi solid and paste state foods were 5 g (ml), 50 °C, and 20 min, respectively. The level of furan in canned meat (32.16 ng/g) was the highest among the samples studied. The furan levels in canned fish, canned vegetable, nutritional/diet drinks, canned soups and jarred sauces were 29.40, 22.86, 7.28, 18.54 and 21.52 ng/g, respectively. Furan concentrations in baby food products were between 3.43 and 97.21 ng/g. Exposure estimates (14.59 ng/kg bw/day) of baby foods was the highest among all the tested food samples. However, the exposure estimate of baby foods was lower than that prescribed by the US FDA.     

Natural co-occurrence of deoxynivalenol and fumonisins B1 and B2 in Italian marketed foodstuffs

A survey was performed to obtain the frequency and levels of contamination by deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins B₁ and B₂ (FB1, FB2) mycotoxins in Italian marketed foods. Of 202 samples investigated, including raw materials and processed cereal foods (bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, biscuits, baby and infant foods), 84% were contaminated with DON at levels from 0.007 to 0.930 μg g^-1 (median 0.065 μg g^-1); 26% contained FB1 ranging from 0.010 to 2.870 μg g^-1 (0.070 μg g^-1); 35% contained FB2 at 0.010-0.790 μg g^-1 (0.080 μg g^-1). The highest levels of DON and FB1 were detected in raw cereals and wholemeal flours. The highest levels of FB2 were detected in durum wheat pasta. A widespread DON contamination was found in baby and infant foods at levels varying from 0.007 to 0.166 μg g^-1.     

Furan in commercial baby foods from the Spanish market: estimation of daily intake and risk assessment

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of furan in commercial baby food samples from the Spanish market was evaluated using an automated headspace solid-phase microextraction method coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). A total of 76 baby food samples including infant formula, baby cereals, fruit in cans and/or jars, vegetables, meat, and fish, were surveyed for furan content. The lowest concentration of this compound was found in infant formula (<0.02–0.33 ng ml^?1), and cereal-based food (0.15–2.1 ng g^?1) while baby food containing fish showed the highest concentrations (19–84 ng g^?1). Following recommendation of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the effect on furan content was evaluated of consumer home preparation of foods, heating and handling. Furan concentrations were reduced by up to 35% when samples were heated in a dish using microwave oven and by up to 53% when a hot water bath was used. Finally, we estimated the furan intake from baby food consumption (0.002–1.18 µg kg^?1 body weight day^?1) and we calculated the margin of exposure (MOE) from samples as purchased and also after home preparation of the food. For infant formula and cereal baby foods, the MOEs (26,278–412,776) indicated no infant health concern or priority, while for meat and fish-based baby foods the values pointed to a potential public health risk, even considering the furan losses during preparation at home.     

COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS VISCOSITY REDUCING TREATMENTS ON THE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF A COWPEA-SORGHUM INFANT FOOD

Three treatments, exogenous amylase, endogenous amylase (use of germinating cereal on untreated flour, also known as power flour or kimea treatment) and germination, were used to reduce the viscosity of the cereal component of a cowpea-sorghum weaning food. Proximate composition of seed samples and flour blends (ratio 1:1) showed that the samples contained 12–13% protein, 1–2% fat and 352–364 kcal/g. The relative viscosity, reconstitution time, sensory and nutritional properties of the samples given different treatments were evaluated. Viscosity reduction was achieved maximally by the use of exogenous amylase. The sample treated with endogenous amylase had the highest PER (2.1) and digestibility (98.7%). Digestibility values were, however, not significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) from one another. The germinated sample had the lowest reconstitution time (180 s.). A commercial weaning food ‘Nutrend’ (Nestle foods) possessed better sensory properties but poorer reconstitutability and viscosity characteristics than treated samples. There is need to improve the sensory characteristics of these products to ensure better consumer acceptance.     

Effect of storage conditions on furosine formation in milk–cereal based baby foods

The effect of storage during 9 months at 25, 30 and 37 °C on furosine formation in three milk–cereal based baby foods was studied to evaluate development of the Maillard reaction. Furosine was measured by HPLC-UV. Immediately after the manufacturing process, furosine contents were 310–340 mg/100 g protein and at the 9th storage month were 426–603 mg/100 g protein. Storage time and temperature have a significant increase (p < 0.05) of furosine content during storage. Furosine contents were higher in sample containing honey than in those without honey. Interactions (p < 0.05) between storage time and temperature or type of sample were found. A predictive model equation of the evolution of furosine during storage explaining 80% of the variability in furosine content was obtained. The blockage of lysine through storage calculated using the furosine and total lysine provided values ranged from 9.5% to 18.1% for analysed baby foods.     

The contribution of food groups to the nutrient intake and food pattern among pre-school children

A pre-school-based dietary survey, using 7-day records, was carried out in Sweden in the Stockholm area at 12 pre-schools; the survey included 109 of 131 participating children. The present study was designed to describe weekday and weekend food patterns, i.e. the frequency of consumption of food items and the contribution of energy and nutrient intake from different food groups, and to explore how foods are related in pre-school children's diet. At pre-school, all children except one ate vegetables and fruits about once a day, and all children consumed, on average, milk and cheese, meat products, bread and breakfast cereals and fats more than once a day. Milk and cheese products, bread and breakfast cereals and meat products were the primary source of energy and protein. The main source of dietary fibre was bread and breakfast cereals, potatoes and fruits. The “low-nutrient foods”, e.g. confectionery, buns, and soft drinks, contributed 20% of the energy during the weekdays and 33% during the weekend days. When all food groups (g/MJ) were analysed simultaneously in a Principal Components Analysis (PCA), 52% of the variation was explained. The food consumption data were described using four food clusters: milk and cheese products; bread and breakfast cereals; meat, potatoes and cooked cereals; confectionery, buns and soft drinks. In conclusion, the PCA seems to be a useful visual tool for elucidating how foods are related in the diet.     

Occurrence of phthalates in different food matrices: A systematic review of the main sources of contamination and potential risks

This systematic review aimed to investigate the occurrence of phthalates (phthalic acid esters [PAEs]) in different food matrices, as well as report the main sources of PAEs in food, the potential risks to the population, and the factors that influence its migration from food contact materials (FCMs) to food. Nineteen PAEs were identified, including di-(2-ehtylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl-phthalate (DBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, cereals, meat, fish, fat and oils, snacks, condiments and sauces, miscellaneous, and baby food. Fifty-seven values of PAEs were above the legal limits of countries. DEHP is the PAE with the highest incidence, with maximum concentrations above the specific migration limit (SML) for milk and dairy products, oils and fats, fish, cereals, condiments and sauces, meat, and fruits and vegetables. The risk of exceeding the tolerable daily intake (TDI) was high for DEHP and DBP in fish, fat and oils, cereals, and milk and dairy products for children and adults. Fat and oils are the most critical food for DEHP, DBP, BBP, and DINP. Comparing the estimated daily intake (EDI) with the TDI, there was a risk for “milk and dairy products” in adults and for “cereal and cereal products” in children concerning DEHP. “Cereal and cereal products” presented a risk in children and adults concerning DBP. The “fat and oils” category presented a risk in children and adults about DBP and DINP. Temperature, contact time between food and the FCM, fat percent, and acidity positively correlate with the PAE's migration. The contamination occurs in many steps of the production chain.     

“As long as it is not irradiated” – Influencing factors of US consumers’ acceptance of food irradiation

Innovative microbial decontamination strategies, such as food irradiation or treatment of foods with protective cultures, offer solutions for today’s food industry to produce safe food with appropriate shelf-life and quality. However, consumers frequently exhibit strong aversions towards highly processed foods and unfamiliar and artificially-sounding food technologies. This paper aimed at examining consumers’ quality perceptions of foods treated with different decontamination strategies and linking these findings to the theoretical assumptions of the affect heuristic in two online studies with US consumers (study 1: N = 184, study 2: N = 65). The main finding from study 1 was that the label “treated with food irradiation” had a detrimental effect on consumers’ quality perception of different foods, while “treated with food ionization” did to a lesser degree, despite being another term for the identical decontamination strategy. The suggestion that this detrimental effect origins in negative affect and associations raised by the term “food irradiation,” was substantiated in study 2. Consumers, who have negative feelings towards nuclear power, perceive irradiated foods as lower in quality, perceived less benefits and more risks associated with food irradiation and exhibit lower overall acceptance of this technology. The findings of the two studies are discussed in light of recommendations for the food industry and regulation. This study stresses the importance of consulting with social science ahead of the implementation of a new food technology.     

Ochratoxin A in conventional and organic cereal derivatives: a survey of the Italian market, 2001-02.

Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced mainly by Penicillium verrucosum and Aspergillus ochraceus. Although typically considered a cereal contaminant, it has also been detected in dried fruit, nuts, meat and derivatives. To estimate the quantity of ochratoxin A that might be ingested by Italian consumers from these foods, 211 cereal derivatives (flours and bakery products) were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Products were from conventional and organic agriculture and from integrated pest management agriculture. All commercial flours and derivatives examined contained ochratoxin A at concentrations very much below the legal limit (3 microg kg(-1)): the highest value, 0.816 microg kg(-1), was detected in a sample of spelt whole flour from organic agriculture. In many samples, the ochratoxin content was below the limit of detection; only rarely did values exceed 0.5 microg kg(-1). In baby foods, four samples were above the particularly restrictive Italian legal limit of 0.5 microg kg(-1). Although some significant differences were found between samples from conventional and organic agriculture when some product categories were examined (namely, baby foods as semolina and rice creams), no important difference was found between the two types of agricultural practice when all types of cereal derivatives were considered together.     

Nutritional evaluation of some commercial baby foods consumed in Pakistan

The nutritive value of some commercial baby foods commonly consumed in Pakistan was evaluated by means of chemical and biological assays. The protein content of milk based formulas and cereal-milk blends ranged from 13.3–26.0 and 11.1–13.2%, respectively. The fat content was highest (27%) in P-7f and was lowest (3%) in Robinson Baby Food. The available carbohydrates in milk based formulas were lower (44.1–59.9%) than cereal-milk blends (71.5–77.7%). The highest content of ash (5.6%) was found in Ostermilk. The metabolisable energy (ME) values ranged from 428–473 and 349–391 kcal, respectively, in milk based formulas and cereal-milk blends. The net protein utilisation (NPU) values of milk based formulas varied between 0.68 and 0.75 and NPU values of cereal-milk blends ranged from 0.69 to 0.71. The protein quality of baby foods was compared with the standards and the low NPU values reflected the influence of the processing technique.     

Phylloquinone (vitamin K1) content of commercially-available baby food products

The contents of phylloquinone (vitamin K₁) were investigated in two batches of 62 commercially available baby food products, by HPLC. They comprised vegetable products for babies from 5, 8 and 12 months and fruit and cereal products of three different brands. Vitamin K₁ was detected in all analyzed products. In vegetable products for babies from 5 months, the mean content of phylloquinone ranged from 30 to 100 μg/100 g, except for ‘Samples with spinach’, which provided 700 μg vitamin K₁/100 g on average. Vegetable products for babies from 8 months and from 12 months showed similar values. In the group of fruit and cereal products, the contents of phylloquinone were lower and varied between 10 and 20 μg/100 g only, except for ‘Various cereals’ (46 μg/100 g). The analyzed baby food products are a very good source of phylloquinone and are therefore excellent as a supplement to breast milk.     

Concentrations of bisphenol A in the composite food samples from the 2008 Canadian total diet study in Quebec City and dietary intake estimates

A total of 154 food composite samples from the 2008 total diet study in Quebec City were analysed for bisphenol A (BPA), and BPA was detected in less than half (36%, or 55 samples) of the samples tested. High concentrations of BPA were found mostly in the composite samples containing canned foods, with the highest BPA level being observed in canned fish (106 ng g(-1)), followed by canned corn (83.7 ng g(-1)), canned soups (22.2-44.4 ng g(-1)), canned baked beans (23.5 ng g(-1)), canned peas (16.8 ng g(-1)), canned evaporated milk (15.3 ng g(-1)), and canned luncheon meats (10.5 ng g(-1)). BPA levels in baby food composite samples were low, with 2.75 ng g(-1) in canned liquid infant formula, and 0.84-2.46 ng g(-1) in jarred baby foods. BPA was also detected in some foods that are not canned or in jars, such as yeast (8.52 ng g(-1)), baking powder (0.64 ng g(-1)), some cheeses (0.68-2.24 ng g(-1)), breads and some cereals (0.40-1.73 ng g(-1)), and fast foods (1.1-10.9 ng g(-1)). Dietary intakes of BPA were low for all age-sex groups, with 0.17-0.33 μg kg(-1) body weight day(-1) for infants, 0.082-0.23 μg kg(-1) body weight day(-1) for children aged from 1 to 19 years, and 0.052-0.081 μg kg(-1) body weight day(-1) for adults, well below the established regulatory limits. BPA intakes from 19 of the 55 samples account for more than 95% of the total dietary intakes, and most of the 19 samples were either canned or in jars. Intakes of BPA from non-canned foods are low.     

婴幼儿谷类辅助食品加工工艺对其脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇及衍生物影响

脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇(deoxynivalenol,DON)是由镰刀菌在侵染小麦等禾谷类作物过程中产生的一种有毒次级代谢产物,主要污染小麦、大麦、燕麦、黑麦和玉米等谷物。DON在植物和微生物作用下会转化形成各种衍生物,且这些衍生物可与DON原型同时存在,增加了谷物及其相关制品的安全风险。谷类辅食是婴幼儿膳食中的重要组成部分,且婴幼儿对毒素的敏感性更强,应严格限制DON及其衍生物在谷类辅食中被检出。已有研究表明谷物类食品的制作加工方式会对DON及其衍生物的含量水平产生影响,但专门针对婴幼儿消费人群的谷类辅助食品的加工过程如何影响DON及其衍生物水平还鲜有报道。目前婴幼儿谷类辅助食品中DON及其衍生物含量存在超标问题,严重影响婴幼儿这类特殊人群的生长发育和健康。本文从婴幼儿谷类辅食中DON及其衍生物的污染状况及其在加工过程中的含量变化等方面进行较为详细的阐述,以期为婴幼儿谷类辅食中DON的风险评估及防控策略的制定提供有利参考。     

Formation of furan in baby food products: Identification and technical challenges

Furan is generally produced during thermal processing of various foods including baked, fried, and roasted food items such as cereal products, coffee, canned, and jarred prepared foods as well as in baby foods. Furan is a toxic and carcinogenic compound to humans and may be a vital hazard to infants and babies. Furan could be formed in foods through thermal degradation of carbohydrates, dissociation of amino acids, and oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The detection of furan in food products is difficult due to its high volatility and low molecular weight. Headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) is generally used for analysis of furan in food samples. The risk assessment of furan can be characterized using margin of exposure approach (MOE). Conventional strategies including cooking in open vessels, reheating of commercially processed foods with stirring, and physical removal using vacuum treatment have remained unsuccessful for the removal of furan due to the complex production mechanisms and possible precursors of furan. The innovative food-processing technologies such as high-pressure processing (HPP), high-pressure thermal sterilization (HPTS), and Ohmic heating have been adapted for the reduction of furan levels in baby foods. But in recent years, only HPP has gained interest due to successful reduction of furan because of its nonthermal mechanism. HPP-treated baby food products are commercially available from different food companies. This review summarizes the mechanism involved in the formation of furan in foods, its toxicity, and identification in infant foods and presents a solution for limiting its formation, occurrence, and retention using novel strategies.