Effect of sulfur dioxide and ethanol concentration on fungal profile and ochratoxin a production by Aspergillus carbonarius during wine making

Fungal profiles and ochratoxin A (OTA) accumulation during wine making were investigated using five different wine grape cultivars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah and Petit Verdot and the intrinsic influences caused by sulfur dioxide, ethanol and combine effect of ethanol and reducing sugar were analyzed using Cabernet Sauvignon and inoculation of Aspergillus carbonarius. Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. were found as the major fungi in all winemaking processes and were highly correlated with OTA accumulation in wine. Most fungi died and OTA production decreased after 48 h of alcoholic fermentation, being consistent with the period when ethanol accumulation increased. The addition of SO₂ significantly inhibited the growth and OTA production of A. carbonarius with complete inhibition at 500 mg/L. When the ethanol concentration in the must increased to the range of 2–4%, growth and OTA production of A. carbonarius were significantly inhibited. Reducing sugar concentration had no significant effect on the growth and OTA production of A. carbonarius within the levels changing during the winemaking. Therefore, the increase of ethanol concentration played an important role in causing the decrease of fungal contamination and OTA accumulation during winemaking.     

Aflatoxin contamination in unrecorded beers from Kenya – A health risk beyond ethanol

Samples of unrecorded opaque beers (n = 58; 40 based on maize, 5 on sorghum and 13 on other plants) and recorded wines (n = 8) in Kenya were screened for aflatoxins using a rapid ELISA technique followed by confirmation using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Six of the maize beers were obtained from Kibera slums in Nairobi County. Aflatoxin contamination was detected in six unrecorded beers (10%), but in none of the recorded wines. Remarkably, three of the aflatoxin positive samples were from the Kibera slums.The mean concentration of aflatoxins in the positive samples was 3.5 μg/L (range 1.8–6.8 μg/L), corresponding for an average consumption of 500 mL (1 standard drink) to a margin of exposure (MOE) of 36 (range: 15–58), which is considered as ‘risk’. On the other hand, the alcoholic strength of the aflatoxin positive samples had a mean of 4.3% vol (range 3.5–4.8%) corresponding to a MOE of 2.5 (range of 2.2–3.0) for the equivalent consumption volume. While aflatoxins pose a risk to the consumer, this risk is about 10 times lower than the risk of ethanol.The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives sets no acceptable daily intake for aflatoxins since they are genotoxic carcinogens and instead recommends for the reduction of aflatoxin dietary exposure as an important public health goal, particularly in populations who consume high levels of any potentially aflatoxins-contaminated food. Nevertheless, ethanol still posed a considerably higher risk in the unrecorded beers examined. However, consumers should be informed about aflatoxins, as these are an involuntary and unknown risk to them. In addition, producers should be educated about measures to reduce aflatoxins in alcoholic beverages.     

Detection of selected corticosteroids and anabolic steroids in calf milk replacers by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation – Tandem mass spectrometry

The use of corticosteroids and anabolic steroids in food producing animals is regulated or banned in the European Union (EU). However, their use as growth promoters cannot be excluded. Milk replacers, considered by EU legislation as feeds, may be a good way of administration of these compounds. In order to improve the control of growth promoter utilization in animal husbandry and preventing possible consequences to animal welfare, we developed a method for multiresidue analysis of prednisolone, prednisone, dexamethasone, cortisone, cortisol, 17α- and 17β-boldenone and their precursor androstadienedione (ADD), testosterone, epitestosterone, 17α- and 17β-nandrolone, and trenbolone in powdered milk for calves. All analytes were extracted, after a common deproteinization and defatting sample pre-treatment, by a unique immunoaffinity column and analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in both positive and negative electrospray ionization (ESI) modes. The method was validated according to the criteria of the Commission Decision 2002/657/CE. The analytical limits were from 0.39 to 0.73 ng mL⁻¹ for the decision limit (CCα) and 0.46–0.99 ng mL⁻¹ for detection capability (CCβ). The analysis of 50 samples of milk replacers for calves, always revealed the presence of cortisol and cortisone (average concentrations 2.56 and 1.06 ng mL⁻¹, respectively), frequently testosterone and epitestosterone (1.24 and 0.63 ng mL⁻¹, respectively), occasionally β-nandrolone (0.82 ng mL⁻¹) and prednisolone (0.41 ng mL⁻¹). The other anabolic steroids were never found.     

Risk identification in food safety: Strategy and outcomes of the EFSA emerging risks exchange network (EREN), 2010–2014

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established an Emerging Risks Exchange Network (EREN) to exchange information between EFSA and the Member states (MSs) on possible emerging risks for food and feed safety in 2010. The Network is composed of delegates from MSs and Norway designated through the Advisory Forum of EFSA and observers from the European Commission, EU pre-accession countries, the Food and Drug Administration of the USA and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations. Through 2010 to 2014, the EREN met 12 times. The EREN discussed a total of 63 signals of potential emerging issues that were presented and assessed using a standard template developed by the Emerging Risks unit of EFSA (EMRISK). Out of these signals, 39 originated from EFSA, 24 from MSs. The issues discussed were mainly microbiological and chemical hazards, but also food safety issues as result of illegal activity, new consumer consumption trends, biotoxins, new technologies and processes, allergens, animal health, environmental pollution, new analytical methods, new food packaging technology and unknown hazards were on the agenda. Based on the available evidence, EREN recommended whether an issue should be considered emerging or not, and if it merited further consideration, such as generating data on the issue, starting a full risk assessment and/or consultation of other bodies. According to the emerging risks identification process set in place at EFSA, the issues discussed and found of relevance by EREN were sent to the EFSA's Scientific Committee Standing Working Group on Emerging Risks for final evaluation. With four case studies, i.e the zoonotic potential of Usutu virus, risk of ciguatera fish poisoning in EU, zoonotic aspects of illegally imported wildlife products and benefits and risks of 3D food printing, the method developed to preliminary assess signals of potential emerging issues is presented and discussed.