Selenium content in selected products of animal origin and estimation of the degree of cover daily Se requirement in Poland

The aim of the study was to determine Se concentration in selected products of animal origin (dairy products, pork, beef, chicken, giblets, fish, eggs) and to estimate the degree to which these products cover daily Se requirement in humans. Selenium concentrations were determined using the spectrofluorometric method. Mean Se concentration in the milk, yoghurt, kefir, and probiotic drinks was 0.020 μg mL⁻¹, 0.010 μg mL⁻¹, 0.012 μg mL⁻¹ and 0.012 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. Selenium concentration in cheese ranged 0.022–0.088 μg g⁻¹ wet weight. The average selenium content of meat ranged from 0.064 (beef) to 0.094 (chicken) μg g⁻¹ w.w. The mean Se content of giblets (liver: 0.307–0.401 μg g⁻¹ w.w.) was significantly ( P  < 0.05) higher than in meat. The concentration of Se depends on fish species and in our study it ranged from 0.136 ± 0.023 (flounder) to 0.282 ± 0.024 μg g⁻¹ w.w. (mackerel). The results obtained show that the analysed food provides 22.8% of the daily selenium requirement. Considering that animal products account for 40–45% of the diet daily selenium intake averages 33–37 μg.     

Iodine content in commonly consumed food in Hong Kong and its changes due to cooking

Levels of iodine of foods found in Hong Kong were analysed in 271 samples from 11 groups, including (i) cereals and grain products, (ii) legumes and vegetables, (iii) meat and poultry, (iv) egg and egg products, (v) milk and milk products, (vi) fish, (vii) crustaceans and mollusks, (viii) non-alcoholic beverages, (ix) condiments and sauces, (x) sashimi and (xi) seaweeds. All food samples were analysed individually as purchased. The iodine in all samples ranged from undetectable to 2.9?g?kg^?1. Seaweeds, iodised salt, seafood, milk and milk products as well as egg and egg products were rich sources of iodine. To estimate the influence of cooking on iodine levels in foods, a total of 15 individual samples were analysed as raw and respective cooked food. The influence of cooking on the iodine level was minimal, except for boiling, as iodine dissolved into the soup.     

Rapid and sensitive determination of formaldehyde in some beverages and foods by flow-injection fluorimetric analysis

A simple and sensitive flow-injection (FI) method for rapid determination of formaldehyde in beverage and food products has been developed. Adopting stop-flow technique, the proposed method distinctly improved the sensitivity of FI fluorimetric method for the determination of formaldehyde based on Hantzsch reaction with cyclohexane-1,3-dione. The fluorescent intensity was proportional to formaldehyde concentrations ranging 0.1 ng mL⁻¹ to 1.000 μg mL⁻¹, and the detection limit ( S / N  = 3) was 0.04 ng mL⁻¹ of formaldehyde. The relative standard deviations ( n  = 11) for determination of 0.100 and 0.005 μg mL⁻¹ of formaldehyde were 1.3% and 2.1%, respectively. The analytical frequency was 18 samples per hour. This method was applied directly for the determination of formaldehyde in diluted beverages and extraction solutions of foods, and the results obtained correlated well with those obtained by the standard method in which a sample pretreatment of steam distillation was required.     

The determination of N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) at trace levels in shampoos and skin creams by a simple, rapid colorimetric method

A technique is described for the rapid determination of N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) in shampoos, skin creams and similar products based on aqueous extraction, partition into ethyl acetate and colorimetric determination using the Eisenbrand-Preussman cleavage reaction.
Recoveries of NDELA added at levels of 5–100 μg kg⁻¹ to a range of shampoo and cream types ranged from 90–101%. The limit of determination for the method is 2.5 μg kg⁻¹. Observations on the application of a thermal energy analyser linked to a gas chromatograph are also reported.
Application of the technique to a survey of a wide range of shampoo and skin cream types showed that levels of total N-nitroso compounds were less than 30 μg kg⁻¹ in < 90% of samples and, in many cases, less than 2.5 μg kg -1 .
Dosage des traces de N-nitrosodiethanolamine dans les shampooings et crèmes     

EXAMINATION OF THE MICROBIAL STATUS OF SELECTED INDIGENOUS FERMENTED FOODS IN NIGERIA

Four Nigerian traditionally fermented foods (wara, nono, ogi and kununzaki) were evaluated for the presence of some microorganisms of public health concern. Among the dairy foods , Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella sp. were isolated from wara while Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Klebsiella sp. were isolated from nono. The cereal-based fermented foods (ogi and kunu-zaki) contained Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, S. aureus, Klebsiella sp. and Enterococcus faecalis. The mesophilic aerobic counts were: 5 × 10⁵ for wara; nono, 1.53 × 10⁷; ogi, 3.6 × 10⁶ and kunu-zaki, 2.6 × 10⁶ cfu/mL. The enterobacteriaceae counts on nono, wara, ogi and kunu-zaki were 1.79 × 10⁷, 4.5 × 10⁵, 4.0 × 10⁵ and 1.2 × 10⁶ cfu/mL, respectively. No Vibrio count (detection limit: <10 cfu/mL) was recorded in all the food samples considered. The yeast and mold counts ranged from 1.0 × 10⁵– 3.31 × 10⁷ among the food products. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the organisms isolated from dairy products (nono and wara) revealed that they were resistant to ampicillin (100%) and sensitive to gentamicin (100%) and nalidixic acid (100%). Most isolates from cereal based products (ogi and kunu-zaki) were 100% resistant to penicillin, ampicillin and chloramphenicol. This work highlights the need to maintain hygienic standards in the preparation of our locally fermented cereal and dairy foods.     

Detection of aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products consumed in Adana, Turkey

A total of 70 dairy products consisting of 20 sterilized milk, 10 butter, 20 white cheese and 20 Kashar cheese samples were analysed for aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The detection limit was 5 ng/L for milk and 25 ng/kg for butter, white cheese and Kashar cheese. Of the 70 dairy products analysed, AFM₁ in 49 samples (70%) was found to range from 10 to 388 ng/kg. Moreover, AFM₁ levels in three samples of milk, two samples of butter, one sample of white cheese and one sample of Kashar cheese were found to be higher than the Turkish legal limits.     

氢化物发生-高分辨连续光源原子吸收光谱法测定食品中的汞和砷

使用氢化物发生-高分辨连续光源原子吸收光谱法对谷类、蔬菜、饮品、水产品和乳制品5 类共22 种常见食品中汞和砷的含量进行检测。建立样品预处理和连续光源原子吸收光谱法定量分析的方法,汞和砷的检出限分别为0.067、0.088 μg/L,加标回收率为97.0%～104.2%和96.4%～105.1%,相对标准偏差为0.8%～4.7%和3.5%～4.9%（n=6）。结果表明：全麦面、咖啡和4 种海鲜类样品中的汞含量较高;韭菜、带鱼、贝类和虾中的砷含量较高。     

New Kinetic Approach to the Evolution of Polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) Activity in a Commercial Enzyme Preparation Under Pulsed Electric Fields

ABSTRACT:  The effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF) on polygalacturonase (PG) activity in an aqueous solution of a commercial enzyme preparation was studied. Monopolar square wave pulses of 4 μs were delivered to the solution, which circulated through tubular chambers with 2 stainless steel electrodes in continuous operation. The electric field intensities ( E ) and treatment time ( t ) ranged within 15 to 38 kV cm⁻¹ and 300 to 1100 μs, respectively. Although important reduction of the PG activity could be achieved (up to 76.5% at E = 38 kV cm⁻¹ and t = 1100 μs), the experimental data showed certain enhancement of PG activity under soft conditions (up to 110.9% at E = 15 kV cm⁻¹ and t = 300 μs). A kinetic mechanism involving 2 consecutive irreversible first-order steps was developed to describe and explain the experimental data. The tested model exhibited high accuracy in respect of the experimental data and the error of the model was lower than 4.4%. The kinetic rate constant of the first ( k ₁) and second step ( k ₂), ratio between the activities of intermediate and native forms of the enzyme (Λ), and other quantities related to the model, were obtained within a Bayesian framework. k ₁ resulted independent of the E applied and considerably greater in magnitude order ( k ₁ mean = 6 μs⁻¹) with respect to k ₂, which was dependent on the applied E (mean values ranged from 489E-6 μs⁻¹ at E = 38 kV cm⁻¹ to 1215E-6 μs⁻¹ at 38 kV cm⁻¹). The dependency of k ₂ toward E was described using an exponential relationship.     

Microbiological and Sensorial Quality Assessment of Ready-to-Cook Seafood Products Packaged under Modified Atmosphere

ABSTRACT:  The effects of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) (30:40:30 O₂:CO₂:N₂ and 5:95 O₂:CO₂) on the quality of 4 ready-to-cook seafood products were studied. In particular, the investigation was carried out on hake fillets, yellow gurnard fillets, chub mackerel fillets, and entire eviscerated cuttlefish. Quality assessment was based on microbiological and sensorial indices determination. Both packaging gas mixtures contributed to a considerable slowing down of the microbial and sensorial quality loss of the investigated seafood products. Results showed that sensorial quality was the subindex that limited their shelf life. In fact, based primarily on microbiological results, samples under MAP remained acceptable up to the end of storage (that is, 14 d), regardless of fish specie. On the other hand, results from sensory analyses showed that chub mackerel fillets in MAP were acceptable up to the 6th storage d, whilst hake fillets, yellow gurnard fillets, and entire cuttlefish became unacceptable after 10 to 11 d. However, compared to control samples, an increase in the sensorial shelf life of MAP samples (ranging from about 95% to 250%) was always recorded.
Practical Application: Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is an inexpensive and uncomplicated method of extending shelf life of packed seafood. It could gain great attention from the fish industrial sector due to the fact that MAP is a practical and economic technique, realizable by small technical expedients. Moreover, there is great attention from the food industry and retailers to react to the growing demand for convenience food, thus promoting an increase in the assortments of ready-to-cook seafood products.     

Influence of vitamin E supplementation on spontaneous oxidized flavour of milk in dairy buffaloes

Twenty-four Murrah buffaloes (60 days pre-partum) were divided into four equal groups (T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ and T ₄ ) and were supplemented with 0, 1000, 1500 and 2000 IU α-tocopheryl acetate per day up to 30 days of lactation, and half of these doses from 30 to 60 days of lactation. Milk samples collected fortnightly were analysed for vitamin E, fat, and development of oxidized flavour, with and without copper addition by a panel of judges, and chemically by the thiobarbituric acid test. Scores for oxidized flavour ranged from 0 to 10 with 0–4 as definite, 5–7 as light and 8–10 having no defect. The α-tocopherol content in milk fat (µg/g) averaged 20.55, 25.56, 29.98 and 31.38 in T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ and T ₄ groups, respectively. The addition of Cu in the milk significantly increased milk fat oxidation. Better stability of milk in T ₃ and T ₄ groups was observed, which might be due to a higher level of milk α-tocopherol. Addition of 1500 IU α-tocopheryl acetate in the diet of buffaloes helped in improving the oxidative stability of milk.     

SPECIFICITY OF THE FERRIC-H2SO4 REAGENT FOR ALGINATES

SUMMARY— Alginate in foods was isolated from papain digests of the samples as the insoluble calcium salt. dispersed by sodium hexametaphosphate and a 1- to 5-ml aliquot of the dispersion 50–250 μg of sodium alginate) dried at 100°C. Heating of the anhydrous sample in the presence of the ferric-H₂SO₄ reagent for 12 min at 60°C produced a pink color with maximum absorption at 490–515 mμ and maximum density after aging for 90 min at 29±1°C. Under these conditions, proteins, amino acids (except tryptophane), other carbohydrates, vitamins. food additives and incipients did not interfere. The presence of water in the medium rendered the reaction nonspecific and increasing the temperature above 60°C or heating for longer periods at lower temperatures resulted in color formation by other polyuronides, especially pectin and pectic acid. Recoveries of alginate from several products were good: Milk, 94–98%; ice cream, 93.5–98%; pasteurized process cheese spread. 92.6-95%; chocolate milk, 92.4-95%; dietetic foods, 90-97.2%.     

Impact of nitrite on detection of Listeria monocytogenes in selected ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and seafood products

ABSTRACT:  The impact of sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) on detection and recovery of Listeria monocytogenes from select ready-to-eat (RTE) foods including smoked salmon, smoked ham, beef frankfurters, and beef bologna was assessed. Nitrite-containing (NC; 100 to 200 ppm NaNO₂) or nitrite-free (NF) foods were inoculated with a 5-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes by immersion into Butterfield's buffer solution containing 5.4 to 7.4 × 10³ L. monocytogenes per milliliter. Inoculated products were vacuum-packaged and stored at 5 °C. A weekly comparative analysis was performed for presence of L. monocytogenes using 5 detection methods on products held at 5 °C for up to 8 wk. L. monocytogenes initially present at <100 CFU/g during the first 2 wk of storage increased throughout the study, attaining final populations of approximately 1 × 10⁴ to 1 × 10⁵ CFU/g. Lactic acid bacteria predominated throughout the study in all products. Exposure to NaNO₂ (100 to 200 ppm) resulted in 83% to 99% injury to the L. monocytogenes strains tested. The genetic-based BAX^® System (DuPont™ Qualicon, Wilmington, Del., U.S.A.) and modified USDA/FSIS methods detected 98% to 100% of Listeria -positive food samples and were consistently superior to and significantly different ( P < 0.05) from conventional cultural methods in recovering Listeria from NC samples. Data show that nitrite-induced injury adversely affects detection and recovery of L. monocytogenes from NC food, confirming earlier findings that nitrite-induced injury masks L. monocytogenes detection in NC RTE food products. Nitrite-injured Listeria can subsequently repair upon nitrite depletion and grow to high levels over extended refrigerated storage.     

Aflatoxins in imported edible nuts: some data 1982–84

Results of 188 analyses for aflatoxin in edible nuts imported into the U.K. during 1982–84 are presented. Most samples (140/188, 74%) had aflatoxin B₁, content ≤ 5 μg/kg. Brazilian peanuts may be identified as consistently unreliable as regards aflatoxin contamination.     

Contamination levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and Co-PCBs in commercial baby foods in Japan

To examine dioxin contamination in commercial baby foods in Japan, congener analyses of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) were performed on 102 varieties of baby foods obtained from supermarkets in 2001-2002. The toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) levels for dioxins in samples ranged from < 0.001 to 0.135 pg-TEQ/g wet weight when undetected or trace levels of congeners were taken as zero. Among 102 samples tested, 26 samples exceeded 0.010 pg-TEQ/g. The highest TEQ value was for "sardine, vegetables" (0.135 pg-TEQ/g), followed by "Japanese radish (daikon), sardine" (0.080 pg-TEQ/g). Thus, dioxins were detected at low levels in baby foods containing animal products such as fishes and/or dairy products.     

CARBOISIYL AND FATTY ACID ANALYSIS OF ANTELOPE AND BEEF FAT

Characterization of kidney fat from twelve antelope and four beef was accomplished by monocarbonyl, ketoglyceride and fatty acid analysis. Antelope lipids are highly saturated, possessing strong odor and flavor characteristics which many people find objectionable. The antelope fat had a stearic acid content of 42% and an oleic acid content of only 20% while beef fat contained 28% stearic and 34% oleic acid. The lipid was further analyzed by reacting on a 2, 4-DNPH Celite impregnated column. The derivatives were separated from unreacted lip-id, and monocarbonyls and ketoglycerides fractionated using column chromatography. The ratio of monocarbonyls to ketoglycerides was about 1:3 in beef and 1:1 in antelope. Amounts of monocarbonyls average 0.70 μM/g of fat for beef and 1.47 μM/g of fat for antelope. Further analysis of the monocarbonyls indicated 7% methyl ketones, 70% saturated aldehydes, 18% enals and 6% 2,4 dienals in beef while antelope had 15%, 70%, 11% and 4%, respectively. Major constituents of the saturated aldehydes were C₂ through C₈ for both species and C₁₀ for beef while the major methyl ketones were C₃ through C₇ for both species. Methyl ketone, saturated aldehyde and enal fractions showed similar trends in composition with short-chain components higher in antelope and long-chain components higher in beef. Considerable variation occurred among animals of the same species.     

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.     

Nalidixic Acid Resistance Increases Sensitivity of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to Ionizing Radiation in Solution and on Green Leaf Lettuce

ABSTRACT: Nalidixic acid resistance has been used as a selective marker for studies of pathogen-inoculated fruits and vegetables. Three nalidixic acid-sensitive outbreak strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were used to generate mutants resistant to nalidixic acid (Nal^R, 50 μg/mL) by successive culturing and selection in nalidixic acid-amended broth. The resistance to ionizing radiation of the parent and Nal^R strains was determined (a) in a phosphate buffer solution and (b) on green leaf lettuce. The Nal^R strains of each of the 3 isolates were significantly ( P < 0.05) more sensitive to ionizing radiation than the nalidixic acid-sensitive (Nal^S) parent strains in both systems. D₁₀ values (the amount of ionizing radiation required to achieve 1 log10 reduction) determined in buffer for the parent strains ranged from 0.18 to 0.33 kGy, whereas for the Nal^R strains, D₁₀ were approximately 0.10 kGy, a reduction of up to 69%. When evaluated on green leaf lettuce, the D₁₀ for the Nal^S strains was approximately 0.18 kGy as opposed to 0.10 to 0.12 kGy for the Nal^R strains, a reduction of up to 45%. The D₁₀ values obtained on lettuce were significantly different than those obtained in buffer for 4 of the 6 isolates examined. The magnitude of the increase in radiation sensitivity resulting from resistance to nalidixic acid varied among the strains tested and also varied depending on the suspending medium. These results suggest that the use of nalidixic acid resistance as a selective marker may result in significant overestimates of the antimicrobial efficacy of ionizing radiation against E. coli O157:H7.     

Direct 'low-NOX' gas combustion heating of a spray drier during milk powder manufacture

Direct gas-fired heating experiments were carried out during spray drying of milk using a 'low-NO_x' burner in order to minimize contamination of the drying air by the combustion products in the flue gases from the burner. The burner, model CXA (Urquhart Engineering Co Ltd, England) was of the 'excess air' type, and was fuelled by natural gas. There was no significant difference between the mean values of the nitrate content of the skim milk powders produced by direct firing, electrical heating and the factory produced (indirect heating) sample. Only with nitrite content (NO₂) was there a significant difference between the direct gas fired (0.811 ppm NO₂-) and the factory (0.460) samples, but the range of values encountered was very small (0.24–1.68). Direct gas-fired heating using the low NO_x burner did not contribute to the levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) detected in the test powders when compared to the levels found in the control samples (trace-1.3 μg/kg NDMA).     

Carotenoid composition and vitamin A value of some native Brazilian green leafy vegetables

The composition of carotenoids in five native Brazilian leafy vegetables was determined. The ranges of total carotenoid contents of Amaranthus viridis, Lepidium pseudodidymum, Xanthosoma spp., Sonchus oleraceus , and Portulaca oleracea were 347–468, 237–280, 225–361, 149–334 and 71–109 μg g⁻¹, with lutein and β-carotene predominating. The mean β-carotene contents (μg⁻¹) and vitamin A values (retinol equivalents RE_g⁻¹) were 110 and 18.4, 84.6 and 14.1, 67.3 and 11.2, 62.9 and 10.5, 29.8 and 4.99, respectively. The leaves contained 54–61% of lutein plus violaxanthin, 24–34% of β-carotene, 10–14% of neoxanthin and traces of zeaxanthin and α-crypto-xanthin. The native leafy vegetables were richer sources of provitamin A than the cultivated leafy vegetables analysed previously, justifying their commercial production.     

INFLUENCE OF CARRAGEENAN AND TOTAL SOLIDS CONTENT ON THE RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF LACTIC BEVERAGE MADE WITH YOGURT AND WHEY

The purpose of this work was to study the influence of carrageenan level (X₁) and total solids content of yogurt/whey mixture (X₂) on starter culture fermentation time, physicochemical properties (pH, fat and total solids contents) and rheological characteristics of lactic beverages using response surface methodology. The physicochemical characteristics of the lactic beverages were similar to those of commercial products. All beverages showed non-Newtonian fluid behavior with thixotropy and yield stress. The total solids content of the lactic beverages had a greater influence on the rheological behavior of these products than the carrageenan level. Wide ranges of consistency measurements were observed by varying the stabilizer level and total solids content.