Analytical strategies for the determination of biogenic amines in dairy products

Biogenic amines (BA) are mainly produced by the decarboxylation of amino acids by enzymes from microorganisms that emerge during food fermentation or due to incorrectly applied preservation processes. The presence of these compounds in food can lead to a series of negative effects on human health. To prevent the ingestion of high amounts of BA, their concentration in certain foods needs to be controlled. Although maximum legal levels have not yet been established for dairy products, potential adverse effects have given rise to a substantial number of analytical and microbiological studies: they report concentrations ranging from a few mg/kg to several g/kg. This article provides an overview of the analytical methods for the determination of biogenic amines in dairy products, with particular focus on the most recent and/or most promising advances in this field. We not only provide a summary of analytical techniques but also list the required sample pretreatments. Since high performance liquid chromatography with derivatization is the most widely used method, we describe it in greater detail, including a comparison of derivatizing agents. Further alternative techniques for the determination of BA are likewise described. The use of biosensors for BA in dairy products is emerging, and current results are promising; this paper thus also features a section on the subject. This review can serve as a helpful guideline for choosing the best option to determine BA in dairy products, especially for beginners in the field.     

发酵食品中生物胺的研究现状

发酵食品因具有多种多样的促进健康功能、特殊风味和便于储藏等优点而受到人们的喜爱。然而,在发酵食品制作过程中,会产生和蓄积大量的有害物质生物胺(biogenicamines,BA),过量食用后会严重危害消费者的身体健康。BA是一类非挥发性低分子量的含氮有机物,由氨基酸脱羧形成。在食品发酵过程中,由于微生物、化学和物理条件的影响,BA的产生很难被控制,因而使得发酵食品面临着严峻的安全问题。目前对于BA以及产BA微生物的检测已经有较成熟的方法,但是对于如何清除发酵食品中的BA仍然缺乏有效的措施。较为可行的一种措施是BA酶降解法,通过向发酵食品中添加能够降解BA的微生物来降低BA的含量,但是此方法规模化的应用仍然有诸多问题需要探索。本文在现有文献的基础上,对当前发酵食品中BA引发的问题、检测、预防以及微生物降解BA的研究进行论述,旨在让人们了解发酵食品中BA的危害,同时让发酵食品行业对于微生物降解BA这一新方向有较全面的认识。     

Biogenic Amines in Dairy Products: Origin,Incidence, and Control Means

Biogenic amines (BAs) are toxic compounds produced by a number of microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, and molds) as a result of the metabolism of some amino acid, usually decarboxylation reactions. BA‐producing microorganisms are not necessarily pathogenic, such as lactic acid bacteria, which are, on the contrary, among the most beneficial microbiota to human beings and some of which even have probiotic properties. However, the incidence of BAs in dairy products and their possible implication in serious dairy‐borne intoxications has long been overlooked. Consequently, the implementation of control measures to limit such an incidence has not been considered among the priorities of the food safety authorities. Nonetheless, there is a growing concern with regard to the presence of BAs in dairy products, because their toxicological status as toxins that may have serious acute and/or chronic adverse health effects is becoming increasingly evident and well‐documented. The main BAs associated with dairy products are reviewed herein from the perspective of their incidence in these food products, and to draw the attention of readers to the shortage in data to perform pertinent risk assessment, which is considered to be a key action to provide efficient control means and to help decision makers issue appropriate legislative and regulatory measures.     

食品中的生物胺及其检测方法

生物胺普遍存在于生物体中,有重要的生理功能.许多天然食品中都含有生物胺.摄入大量生物胺会引起身体不适,严重的还可能危及生命.引起食物中毒的生物胺主要包括组胺和酪胺.此外,存在大量微生物的食品中,生物胺的含量较高,同类食品中生物胺的种类和含量又有很大的变化,这一现象受许多因素影响,如微生物的种类和数量、温度、pH值等.生物胺含量还与食品的腐败变质有关,是食品品质的指示器,因此对于生物胺的检测受到重视.目前检测食品中生物胺含量的方法主要有薄层色谱、气相色谱、毛细管电泳和高效液相色谱.     

Non-dairy probiotic products

There is evidence documenting the beneficial health effects of probiotic microorganisms. Also, many studies have reported that the best matrices to deliver probiotic are dairy fermented products. However, recently several raw materials have been extensively investigated to determine if they are suitable substrates to produce novel non-dairy probiotic microorganisms, and it has been found that traditional fermented foods may contain viable probiotic microorganisms. Numerous such examples can be found in the text. Therefore, the aim of this review was to investigate the utilization of probiotics in new and traditional non-dairy products with probiotic potential. It was found that while cereals have been extensively investigated to develop new probiotic foods; further research about the probiotic beneficial effects of traditional fermented products is needed.     

A review: Current analytical methods for the determination of biogenic amines in foods

Analysis of biogenic amines (BA) in foods was reviewed. Biogenic amines are natural antinutrition factors and are important from a hygienic point of view as they have been implicated as the causative agents in a number of food poisoning episodes, and they are able to initiate various pharmacological reactions. Histamine, putrescine, cadaverine, tyramine, tryptamine, β-phenylethylamine, spermine, and spermidine are considered to be the most important biogenic amines occurring in foods. Analysis of BA is important because of their toxicity and their usage as indicators of the degree of freshness or spoilage of food. Several methods have been developed for determination of biogenic amines in food. The analytical methods used for quantification of BA are mainly based on chromatographic methods: thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC is most often used for the analysis method of BAs. Due to low volatility and lack of chromophores of most BA, UV-spectrometric detectors cannot be used. The large majority of assays employs fluorimetric detection with precolumn or postcolumn derivatization techniques. This review shows that these methods allow quantitative determination of biogenic amines, individually or simultaneously in foods.     

传统发酵肉制品中生物胺形成机理及检测控制技术

生物胺是动植物和多数微生物体内正常的生理成分,过量生物胺则会对人体健康产生潜在的安全隐患.国内外对于肉制品中生物胺的产生机制进行了大量的研究.本文综述传统发酵肉制品中生物胺产生积累的机理条件、与生物胺积累有关的微生物以及相关生物控制方法等方面的研究进展,以期寻找生物胺形成积累的原因,为研究探索传统中式发酵肉制品中生物胺的控制方法提供参考,有效降低食品安全风险.     

Biogenic amines in dry fermented sausages: a review

Biogenic amines are compounds commonly present in living organisms in which they are responsible for many essential functions. They can be naturally present in many foods such as fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, chocolate and milk, but they can also be produced in high amounts by microorganisms through the activity of amino acid decarboxylases. Excessive consumption of these amines can be of health concern because their not equilibrate assumption in human organism can generate different degrees of diseases determined by their action on nervous, gastric and intestinal systems and blood pressure. High microbial counts, which characterise fermented foods, often unavoidably lead to considerable accumulation of biogenic amines, especially tyramine, 2-phenylethylamine, tryptamine, cadaverine, putrescine and histamine. However, great fluctuations of amine content are reported in the same type of product. These differences depend on many variables: the quali-quantitative composition of microbial microflora, the chemico-physical variables, the hygienic procedure adopted during production, and the availability of precursors. Dry fermented sausages are worldwide diffused fermented meat products that can be a source of biogenic amines. Even in the absence of specific rules and regulations regarding the presence of these compounds in sausages and other fermented products, an increasing attention is given to biogenic amines, especially in relation to the higher number of consumers with enhanced sensitivity to biogenic amines determined by the inhibition of the action of amino oxidases, the enzymes involved in the detoxification of these substances. The aim of this paper is to give an overview on the presence of these compounds in dry fermented sausages and to discuss the most important factors influencing their accumulation. These include process and implicit factors as well as the role of starter and nonstarter microflora growing in the different steps of sausage production. Moreover, the role of microorganisms with amino oxidase activity as starter cultures to control or reduce the accumulation of biogenic amines during ripening and storage of sausages is discussed.     

生物胺前处理技术及分析方法研究进展

生物胺(biogenic amine,BA)作为一种具有生物活性、含氨基的低分子量化合物,主要由氨基酸进行脱氨基作用而产生。该类物质广泛存在于天然及加工后的食品中,适量摄入生物胺能够对机体的生理功能产生积极作用,但一旦摄入过量会导致不适,严重时甚至会危及生命。因此,建立灵敏、快速、高通量的生物胺前处理和检测方法与人体健康息息相关。目前,常用于样品中生物胺检测的前处理技术包括液液萃取、固相萃取和基质辅助固相分散萃取等,常用的检测方法有液相色谱-质谱法、液相色谱法、气相色谱法、薄层色谱法、毛细管电泳法和生物传感器法等。本文对生物胺的种类与生理作用、前处理方法与检测方法的最新进展进行了综述,以期能够为食品及生物制品中生物胺含量的检测提供参考。     

Early PCR detection of tyramine-producing bacteria during cheese production

Biogenic amines (BA) are toxic substances that appear in foods and beverages. Tyramine is the most abundant BA in cheeses. A PCR method was developed to detect the presence of tyramine-producing bacteria during cheese manufacture and ripening. Six different batches of a farmhouse blue cheese were analysed by PCR. Tyramine concentrations were also determined by HPLC. The PCR method was able to anticipate tyramine accumulation in the cheeses; the presence of tyramine-producing microorganisms in the early stages of manufacture correlated well with a high concentration of BA in mature cheese samples.     

Biogenic amines in meat and meat products

It has been recognized for some time that biogenic amines occur in a wide range of foods, among them meat and meat products. Meat is an important component of the diet in developed countries. The presence of these amines in food is of interest for two reasons: firstly, for toxicological reasons, in the sense that high levels of dietary biogenic amines can be toxic for certain consumers, and secondly, for their role as possible quality indicators. Based on these two premises, the present article offers a new analysis on aspects of toxicology and on the use of biogenic amines as a quality control method, as well as on their presence in meat and meat products. The article focuses particularly on factors affecting the production of biogenic amines, with reference to various parameters relating to microorganisms, meat raw materials, and processing conditions. A better understanding of the factors determining their formation (i.e., microorganisms, raw materials used, and technological processes applied) and their effects could lead to ways of controlling their production, limiting their presence in the end product, and hence, rendering them less toxic.     

Biogenic Amines in Meat and Meat Products

It has been recognized for some time that biogenic amines occur in a wide range of foods, among them meat and meat products. Meat is an important component of the diet in developed countries. The presence of these amines in food is of interest for two reasons: firstly, for toxicological reasons, in the sense that high levels of dietary biogenic amines can be toxic for certain consumers, and secondly, for their role as possible quality indicators. Based on these two premises, the present article offers a new analysis on aspects of toxicology and on the use of biogenic amines as a quality control method, as well as on their presence in meat and meat products. The article focuses particularly on factors affecting the production of biogenic amines, with reference to various parameters relating to microorganisms, meat raw materials, and processing conditions. A better understanding of the factors determining their formation (i.e., microorganisms, raw materials used, and technological processes applied) and their effects could lead to ways of controlling their production, limiting their presence in the end product, and hence, rendering them less toxic.     

Bioconversion,health benefits,and application of ginseng and red ginseng in dairy products

Ginseng and red ginseng are popular as functional foods in Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and China. They possess various pharmacologic effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and anti-viral activities. Ginsenosides are a class of pharmacologically active components in ginseng and red ginseng. Major ginsenosides are converted to minor ginsenosides, which have better bioavailability and cellular uptake, by microorganisms and enzymes. Studies have shown that ginseng and red ginseng can affect the physicochemical and sensory properties, ginsenosides content, and functional properties of dairy products. In addition, lactic acid bacteria in dairy products can convert into minor ginsenosides and ginseng and red ginseng improve functionality of products. This review will discuss the characteristics of ginseng and red ginseng, and their bioconversion, functionality, and application in dairy products.     

发酵肉制品中微生物对生物胺形成机理的影响研究

富含高蛋白质的食品中存在生物胺,发酵肉制品中蛋白质含量丰富可能存在高浓度的生物胺。微生物在不同发酵肉制品中的分布不尽相同,导致了在不同发酵肉制品中生物胺种类和数量上的差异。该文综述发酵肉制品中微生物对生物胺形成机理的研究进展,将发酵肉制品中的微生物群落构成与生物胺分析有机地结合起来,为利用发酵剂调控微生物菌群结构来降低生物胺潜在危害的应用提供科学依据。     

发酵食品中生物胺检测技术研究进展

生物胺作为一类具有生物活性的小分子含氮化合物,是发酵食品中常见的代谢物之一,过量摄入会引起呼吸困难、心悸等不良反应,而在食品发酵过程中,由于原料中蛋白质含量高,且发酵微生物能够产生蛋白酶和氨基酸脱羧酶等因素,导致生物胺的产生和积累。同时生物胺与食品腐败密切相关,其含量可作为衡量食品质量和新鲜度的指标,因此,发酵食品中生物胺的定性和定量检测技术非常重要。本文综述了国内外目前针对发酵食品中生物胺的检测技术,分析其优缺点,并探讨了生物胺检测技术的发展趋势,为发酵食品中生物胺的检测提供技术基础和方法依据。     

Biogenic amines content in Spanish and French natural ciders: application of qPCR for quantitative detection of biogenic amine-producers

Biogenic amines (BA) are low molecular weight nitrogenous bases commonly found in fermented foods and beverages and their consumption can induce undesirable reactions. In this work, the BA content in natural cider from Spain and France was determined. Samples from commercially available cider or obtained during the elaboration process were analyzed. A different profile and BA concentration was observed depending on cider origin. qPCR tools developed for the quantitative detection of BA producers from cheese and wine were tested in the cider samples. A good connection between the BA content and the presence of BA-producing microorganisms was observed. Based on these tools, BA-producing bacteria were isolated from the analyzed cider samples, including new potential histamine- and putrescine-producing Lactobacillus paracollinoides strains.     

Microbiology of food taints

Fresh and processed foods are often spoilt by the presence of undesirable flavours and odours caused by microbial action. The aim of this paper is to review the current knowledge of microbiologically induced taints that occur in a wide range of foodstuffs, including meats, poultry, fish, crustaceans, milk, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, cereals and cereal products. Examples have been chosen where the compounds responsible for the taint have been identified and sufficient data obtained to demonstrate the involvement of microorganisms. However, in some cases the full identity of the causative organism may not have been elucidated. The types of microorganisms covered by this review include bacteria, fungi, yeasts, actinomycetes and cyanobacteria. Although cyanobacteria do not in general infect foods, their presence in aqueous systems and water supplies can lead to off-flavours in aquatic organisms and processed foodstuffs. Several examples of each of these processes are discussed. Wherever possible, the likely biosynthetic pathway used by the microorganism to produce the offending compound in a foodstuff is indicated.     

Non-dairy Based Probiotics: A Healthy Treat for Intestine

Dairy-based fermented products and yoghurts have been utilized as potential probiotic products since ancient times. However, recent upsurge in interest of consumers towards dairy alternatives has opened up new vistas for non-dairy probiotic research and development. Various matrices and substrates such as cereals, fruit juices, or mixture thereof are being utilized for delivering these beneficial microorganisms. Each matrix offers some advantages over the other. Vast knowledge available on a number of conventional fermented foods can also be utilized for future research in this area. The present review provides an insight on the recent research/developments in the field of non-dairy probiotic foods with particular reference to the foods consumed conventionally, in addition to their commercial availability and a way forward.     

Effects of pulsed electric fields on pathogenic microorganisms of major concern in fluid foods: a review

Pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Campylobacter jejuni have been implicated in foodborne diseases and outbreaks worldwide. These bacteria have been associated with the consumption of fresh fruit juices, milk, and dairy products, which are foodstuff, highly demanded by consumers in retails and supermarkets. Nowadays, consumers require high quality, fresh-like, and safe foods. Pulsed electric field (PEF) is a non-thermal preservation method, able to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms without significant loss of the organoleptic and nutritional properties of food. The PEF treatment effectiveness to destroy bacteria such as Listeria innocua, E. coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli 8739 at pasteurization levels (> or = 5.0 log(10) cycles) in some fluid foods was reported. However, data on the inactivation of some microorganisms such as Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Campylobacter jejuni in fluid foods by PEF processing is very limited. Therefore, future works should be focused toward the inactivation of these pathogenic bacteria in real foods.     

Biogenic Amines in Wines

Biogenic amines are low molecular weight organic compounds that occur in fermented foods and are produced mainly through the microbial decarboxylation of amino acids. Decarboxylation of several amino acids can form some biogenic amines in wines such as histamine, tyramine, putrescine, and phenylethylamine. Biogenic amines can cause direct or indirect toxicity when their concentrations are high in food. The enological importance of the biogenic amines in wines is due to their possible toxicological risks and the possibility of the relationship between high amine content and unsanitary conditions during wine production. Various analytical techniques have been developed for the determination of biogenic amines in wines. In this article, the presence, the formation, the microorganisms and the methods of determination of biogenic amines in wine and other fermented foods are reviewed.