Principles and limitations of stable isotopes in differentiating organic and conventional foodstuffs: 2. Animal products

In this review, we examine the variation in stable isotope signatures of the lighter elements (δ²H, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, and δ³⁴S) of tissues and excreta of domesticated animals, the factors affecting the isotopic composition of animal tissues, and whether stable isotopes may be used to differentiate organic and conventional modes of animal husbandry. The main factors affecting the δ¹³C signatures of livestock are the C3/C4 composition of the diet, the relative digestibility of the diet components, metabolic turnover, tissue and compound specificity, growth rate, and animal age. δ¹⁵N signatures of sheep and cattle products have been related mainly to diet signatures, which are quite variable among farms and between years. Although few data exist, a minor influence in δ¹⁵N signatures of animal products was attributed to N losses at the farm level, whereas stocking rate showed divergent findings. Correlations between mode of production and δ²H and δ¹⁸O have not been established, and only in one case of an animal product was δ³⁴S a satisfactory marker for mode of production. While many data exist on diet–tissue isotopic discrimination values among domesticated animals, there is a paucity of data that allow a direct and statistically verifiable comparison of the differences in the isotopic signatures of organically and conventionally grown animal products. The few comparisons are confined to beef, milk, and egg yolk, with no data for swine or lamb products. δ¹³C appears to be the most promising isotopic marker to differentiate organic and conventional production systems when maize (C4) is present in the conventional animal diet. However, δ¹³C may be unsuitable under tropical conditions, where C4 grasses are abundant, and where grass-based husbandry is predominant in both conventional and organic systems. Presently, there is no universal analytical method that can be applied to differentiate organic and conventional animal products.     

Taste perception and purchase intent of oil‐in‐water spreads: effects of oil types and salt (NaCl or KCl) concentrations

Associations of sodium intake with heart‐related problems are creating awareness towards reducing sodium. Potassium chloride (KCl), a substitute for sodium chloride (NaCl), has the disadvantage of imparting bitterness at high concentrations. We evaluated physical characteristics, taste perception and purchase intent of KCl and NaCl in oil‐in‐water spreads/emulsions composed by olive, rice bran and soya bean oils. Consumers (N = 300) evaluated saltiness/bitterness of emulsions prepared with 65% oil, and NaCl (0.5% and 1.0%) or KCl (0.75% and 1.5%). Olive oil spreads (104.07–107.43 Pa s) had higher viscosity compared to other spreads (59.16–74.96 Pa s). Type of oil had significant effects on bitterness, overall taste liking and viscosity. Taste liking decreased due to bitterness of olive oil spreads (mean drop=1.72–2.43). Purchase intent was positively associated with saltiness and pH and increased with oil claims (increase = 1.3%–22.1%) compared to sodium claims (increase = 0.0%–12.9%). These findings are useful for understanding taste perception of emulsions.     

Validation of genomic predictions for wellness traits in US Holstein cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of wellness trait genetic predictions in commercial herds of US Holstein cows from herds that do not contribute phenotypic information to the evaluation. Tissue samples for DNA extraction were collected from more than 3,400 randomly selected pregnant Holstein females in 11 herds and 2 age groups (69% nulliparous, 31% primiparous) approximately 30 to 60 d before their expected calving date. Lactation records from cows that calved between September 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015, were included in the analysis. Genomically enhanced predicted transmitting abilities for the wellness traits of retained placenta, metritis, ketosis, displaced abomasum, mastitis, and lameness were estimated by the Zoetis genetic evaluation and converted into standardized transmitting abilities. Mean reliabilities of the animals in the study ranged between 45 and 47% for each of the 6 traits. Animals were ranked by their standardized transmitting abilities within herd and age group then assigned to 1 of 4 groups of percentile-based genetic groups of equal size. Adverse health events, including retained placenta, metritis, ketosis, displaced abomasum, mastitis, and lameness, were collected from on-farm herd management software, and animal phenotype was coded as either healthy (0), diseased (1), or excluded for each of the 6 outcomes of interest. Statistical analysis was performed using a generalized linear mixed model with genetic group, age group, and lactation as fixed effects, whereas herd and animal nested within herd were set as random effects. Results of the analysis indicated that the wellness trait predictions were associated with differences in phenotypic disease incidence between the worst and best genetic groups. The difference between the worst and best genetic groups in recorded disease incidence was 2.9% for retained placenta, 10.8% for metritis, 1.1% for displaced abomasum, 1.7% for ketosis, 7.4% for mastitis, and 3.9% for lameness. Odds ratio estimates between the highest and lowest genetic groups ranged from 1.6 (lameness) to 17.1 (displaced abomasum) for the 6 traits analyzed. These results indicate that wellness trait information of young calves and heifers can be used to effectively predict meaningful differences in future health performance. Improving wellness traits through direct genetic selection presents a compelling opportunity for dairy producers to help reduce disease incidence and improve profitability when coupled with sound management practices.     

Hyperspectral Imaging-Based Classification and Wavebands Selection for Internal Defect Detection of Pickling Cucumbers

Hyperspectral imaging is useful for detecting internal defects of pickling cucumbers. The technique, however, is not yet suitable for high-speed online implementation due to the challenges in analyzing large-scale hyperspectral images. This research aimed to select the optimal wavebands from the hyperspectral image data, so that they can be deployed in either a hyperspectral or multispectral imaging-based inspection system for the automatic detection of internal defects of pickling cucumbers. Hyperspectral reflectance (400–700 nm) and transmittance (700–1,000 nm) images were acquired, using an in-house developed hyperspectral imaging system running at two conveyor speeds of 85 and 165 mm/s, for 300 “Journey” pickling cucumbers before and after internal damage was induced by mechanical load. Minimum redundancy–maximum relevance (MRMR) was used for optimal wavebands selection, and the loadings of principal component analysis (PCA) were also applied for qualitatively identifying the important wavebands that are related to the specific features. Discriminant analysis with Mahalanobis distance classifier was performed for the two-class (i.e., normal and defective) and three-class (i.e., normal, slightly defective, and severely defective) classifications using the mean spectra and textural features (energy and variance) from the regions of interest in the spectral images at selected waveband ratios. The classification results based on MRMR wavebands selection were generally better than those from PCA-based classifications. The two-band ratio of 887/837 nm from MRMR gave the best overall classification results, with the accuracy of 95.1 and 94.2 % at the conveyor speeds of 85 and 165 mm/s, respectively, for the two-class classification. The highest classification accuracies for the three-class classification based on the optimal two-band ratio of 887/837 nm were 82.8 and 81.3 % at the conveyor speeds of 85 and 165 mm/s, respectively. The mean spectra-based classification achieved better results than the textural feature-based classification, except in the three-class classification for the higher conveyor speed. The overall classification accuracies for all selected waveband ratios at the low conveyor speed were slightly higher than those at the higher conveyor speed, since the low speed resulted in more scan lines, thus higher spatial resolution hyperspectral images. The identified two-band ratio of 887/837 nm in transmittance mode could be applied for fast real-time internal defect detection of pickling cucumbers.     

Composition and biological effects of goldenberry byproducts: an overview

Goldenberry is a wild fruit that has been widely used for centuries, mainly in folk medicine. Most studies of goldenberry have focused on the fruit, but new research has studied its byproducts, which were considered to be waste until recently. The main objective of our study was to systematize the published information regarding the composition of goldenberry byproducts (calyces, leaves, seeds, and pomace) and their effects on biological systems. Goldenberry byproducts contain minerals, amino acids, withanolides, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids, thus representing good sources of these compounds. Some of their major biological effects include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antiproliferative effects. Information regarding their toxicity is also presented here. To determine the optimal dosage, further safety studies would be recommended to ensure the best health benefits of these compounds. The available evidence has demonstrated the nutritional value of different byproducts of goldenberry, suggesting them to be potential candidates for use in the cosmetic industry, in the preparation of functional foods, and in phytomedicine for the prevention and adjuvant treatment of some diseases. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of dietary inclusion of sunflower soap stocks on colour,oxidation and microbiological growth of meat from light fattening lambs

Thirty-two lambs were finished on a total mixed ration (TMR) pelleted alone (00SS) or including sunflower soap stock (SS): 15SS (15 g SS per kg TMR), 30SS (30 g SS per kg TMR) and 60SS (60 g SS per kg TMR). Lambs (8 per group) were slaughtered at 27 kg live weight. Colour evolution, lipid oxidation, microbial growth and detection of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli were studied in meat samples. SS in the diet reduced meat lipid oxidation (P < 0.05), but had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the cholesterol oxidation products. Meat from 60SS and control animals (00SS) revealed greater discoloration (P < 0.05) than 15SS. SS supplementation did not affect the microbiological populations, whereas high doses of SS seemed to increase the proliferation of diarrhoeagenic E. coli on day 14 (P < 0.10). These results suggest that the rate of SS inclusion in the diet of fattening lambs should not be above 15 g SS per kg TMR.     

Technological and sensorial properties of liquid nitrogen ice cream enriched with protein from brewing waste (trub)

Debittered trub (brewing waste) is an important source of protein source (70.26%). Trub and whey protein were used for 5% protein enrichment of ice cream frozen by liquid nitrogen. Three formulations were elaborated: ice cream standard (ICS), ice cream with whey protein (ICW) and ice cream with trub (ICT). Chemical composition, rheological properties, texture, overrun, melting rate, scanning electron microscopy and a sensorial test were performed. Results showed that ICT presented a higher viscosity, obtained on the upward curve up to 6.76 Pa s⁻¹, consistency index (22.96 (Pa s⁻¹)ⁿ), hysteresis area (140.40 mPa s⁻¹) and hardness (31113.33 g) but a lower melting rate (0.38 g min⁻¹), overrun (13.92%) and sensorial acceptability than the other formulations. The addition of trub debittered for protein enrichment improved ice cream properties and demonstrated that it could be used as a food ingredient.     

A role of sea buckthorn on Alzheimer’s disease

Evidence suggests that diets rich in antioxidants reduce the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Hippophae rhamnoides, commonly known as sea buckthorn (SB), is rich in antioxidants which could have direct effects on amyloid-beta (Aβ) levels and consequently influence AD pathogenesis. In this study, sea buckthorn powder (SBP) was administered at varying concentrations (0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5 and 1.8 µg mL⁻¹) to cell cultures (BE(2)-M17) with 20 mm Aβ for 72 h. MTS test indicated that SB significantly increased cell viability in Aβ-induced cells up to 95%. Results of Western blot showed maximum 38% inhibition of Aβ compared to the control (Aβ only). ELISA demonstrated significantly lower amyloid-β level (6672 pg mL⁻¹) than the control (10189 pg mL⁻¹). Images of AFM further confirmed the presence of low quantity of amyloid beta in SBP-treated cells. These findings suggest that SB warrants further investigation as potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of AD.