Reported Use of Reduced-sugar Foods and Beverages Reflect High-quality Diets

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine differences in nutrient and energy intakes and in quantity of food eaten, and to compare the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of users of reduced-sugars foods and beverages with those who use only the full sugar versions of the same products. Records for adults (≥ 20 y old) responding to the 1994–1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) and the Diet Health and Knowledge Survey were used. CSFII food lists were scanned for both full and reduced-sugar versions of yogurt, cocoa, and other milk beverages, frozen and gelatin desserts, puddings, breads, cookies, cakes, fruit drinks, carbonated and noncarbonated drinks, confectionary products, and sweeteners. Recalls were sorted for those reporting use of only full sugar (FS) products and those reporting mixed use of full sugar and reduced-sugar (RS) versions. Comparisons were made between demographic characteristics, body mass index, food group servings, food intake amounts, and nutrient densities. When compared with FS users, RS users consistently reported significantly higher intakes of fruit, lower intakes of discretionary fat and added sugars, and equal or lower intakes of other foods (in gram amounts), except for greater intake of yogurt and frozen and gelatin desserts. RS users tended to report similar or higher micronutrient intakes compared with FS users. After adjusting for energy intake, significantly higher micronutrient intakes were found for both males and females consuming RS foods and beverages (13 and 15 of 17 nutrients, respectively).     

Physicochemical,nutritional and functional properties of marama bean flour

Marama bean is a protein-rich, underutilised, drought-tolerant legume in sub-Saharan Africa. Its utilisation may be increased through value addition into protein-rich flours. Defatted flour from unheated and dry-heated (150 °C/20 min) whole marama beans (UMF and HMF) were analysed for physicochemical and protein-based functional properties. Heating significantly increased in vitro protein digestibility of marama bean flour. Of functional importance are the high levels of tyrosine present in marama bean flours. Heating significantly reduced protein solubility and emulsifying capacity of marama bean flours whilst water absorption capacity was improved. Foaming capacity was not affected by heating. UMF could be useful in food systems requiring high emulsifying capacity, but would not be suitable for applications requiring high water absorption and foaming capacity. Due to its high protein contents, marama bean flour could be used to increase the protein quality of cereal-based foods to help alleviate protein-energy nutrition in the region.     

Bacterial Fibrinolytic Enzyme Coding Sequences from Indonesian Traditional Fermented Foods Isolated Using Metagenomic Approach and Their Expression in Escherichia Coli

Fibrinolytic proteins play an important role in treatment of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to express coding sequences of new bacterial fibrinolytic protein from Indonesian traditional fermented foods obtained by a PCR-based metagenomic approach and to test their biological activity. New amino acid variations were found in nattokinase (NAT) at several positions i.e. D41N and V192A from dried Tauco, V4F, D41N, and V192A from yellow Oncom but not in Douchy Fibrinolytic Enzyme (DFE) from Terasi. The NAT and DFE recombinant versions were overproduced in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) using pET16b(+). Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis analysis showed all clones produced mature soluble fibrinolytic proteins of 28 kDa. All recombinant proteins displayed caseinolytic and fibrinolytic activities. In conclusion, metagenomic approach can be applied to obtain and to express coding sequences of new variant bacterial fibrinolytic protein as active soluble mature form in E. coli.     

Modifying Bitterness in Functional Food Systems

The functional foods sector represents a significant and growing portion of the food industry, yet formulation of these products often involves the use of ingredients that elicit less than desirable oral sensations, including bitterness. Promising new functional ingredients, including polyphenolics, may be more widely and readily employed in the creation of novel functional foods if their aversive bitter taste can be significantly reduced. A number of approaches are used by the industry to improve the taste properties and thus the acceptance of conventional foods that elicit excessive bitterness. This article reviews the most commonly employed techniques, including the use of bitter-modifying additives, which may prove useful for successfully introducing new functional ingredients into this rapidly growing sector.     

基因食品的营养安全问题

随着生物技术的发展,基因食品逐渐走进我们的生活。本文概述的基因食品的概念,探讨了国内外倍受关注的转基因食品营养及安全问题,详细阐述了转基因食品的功能及其营养,安全问题的解决方法。最后对转基因食品的发展前景进行了展望。     

Characterisation of Italian commercial apricot juices by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis and multivariate analysis

The modern fruit juice industry needs their products to be characterized by high-quality attributes to meet consumers’ expectation. In this view, the composition of 26 Italian commercial apricot juices obtained from organic, integrated and conventional agriculture was analysed for carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, phenolic compounds and furanic compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The content of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in apricot juices (range 0.1–18 mg/l) was within the regulatory limit of 20 mg/l. The lack of furanic compounds in apricot fresh fruits confirmed their importance as quality markers of heating condition during processing and storage of fruit juices. Univariate analysis disclosed some significant differences among the composition of the apricot juices in terms of glucose, fructose, malic acid, glycine, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and a^∗-parameter (redness). Principal component analysis on chemical composition of apricot juices resulted in two principal components (PCs) that accounted for 66% of the total variance. Organic apricot juices showed some separation from the other juices, whereas a lack of distinction between integrated and conventional juices appeared.     

测定食物中5种类黄酮物质的高效液相色谱法的改进

目的优化、完善分析植物性食物中5种类黄酮成分的方法。方法采用Nova-Pak C18(3.9 mm×150mm,4μm)色谱柱;流动相为0.1%三氟乙酸(A)-5%乙腈甲醇溶液(B),梯度洗脱(0～5min,90%A→60%A;5～18 min,60%A→40%A;18～21 min,40%A→10%A;21～25 min,10%A→10%A;25～30 min,10%A→90%A),流速1 ml/min;检测波长365 nm,柱温35℃。结果杨梅黄酮、槲皮素、玉米黄酮、坎二菲醇、芹菜配基5种类黄酮在0.156～20μg/ml浓度范围内与色谱峰高呈良好的线性关系,相关系数(r)为0.9995～0.9999;检测限为0.0195μg/ml(S/N≥3);低、中、高浓度的平均加标回收率(n=3)为88.5%～105.6%,相对标准偏差(RSD)均小于6.32%。结论该方法灵敏、准确,具有良好的重复性和稳定性,可用于植物性食物中5种类黄酮含量的检测。     

Acrylamide in daily food in the metropolitan area of Hanoi,Vietnam

ABSTRACT

Acrylamide, a colourless and odourless crystalline solid, formed via the Maillard reaction in food, has been reported with harmful properties for humans, such as toxicity and carcinogenicity. Three hundred and four processed food samples from 17 product types, collected in Hanoi, Vietnam, were analyzed by LC-MS/MS to measure the acrylamide concentration. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of acrylamide were 1 µg Kg^?1 and 3 µg Kg^?1, respectively. Effectively, the highest acrylamide content is usually found in processed food, which is one of the primary reasons of increased acrylamide content in food. All French fried samples contained acrylamide above 500 µg kg^?1. Acrylamide concentration in non-fried noodle, vermicelli, rice noodle, ph?, dried vegetable, and rice cracker is lower than in potato chips, fried potatoes, fried cake, and fried noodles. The results could be helpful to estimate exposure and risk assessment of acrylamide in Vietnam.     

Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Raw Meats and Prepared Foods in Public Hospitals in Salvador,Bahia, Brazil

This study investigated the presence of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in raw meat and fish and foods prepared from them for patient consumption in public hospitals in Salvador, Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. A total of 114 samples of raw meat and fish (chicken, n = 30; beef, n = 30; pork, n = 24; and fish, n = 30) and 63 samples of prepared foods (made with chicken, n = 15; beef, n = 15; pork, n = 15; and fish, n = 18) were collected from the kitchens of 10 different hospitals. Of the 114 investigated raw meat and fish samples, 28.1% were positive for MRSA, which comprised 23.3% beef, 23.3% chicken, 37.5% pork, and 30% fish samples. Of the prepared foods, 9.5% were positive for MRSA, which comprised 5.6% chicken products, 6.7% pork products, and 22.2% fish products. MRSA contamination was not detected in prepared beef dishes. A statistical analysis showed no association between the presence of MRSA and the type of raw food (P > 0.05). The high prevalence of MRSA among the raw foods tested and the presence of the microorganism in prepared foods emphasizes the necessity of enforcing hygienic practices within hospital kitchens.     

Next‐Generation Sequencing Analyses of Bacterial Community Structures in Soybean Pastes Produced in Northeast China

Fermented soybean foods contain nutritional components including easily digestible peptides, cholesterol‐free oils, minerals, and vitamins. Various fermented soybean foods have been developed and are consumed as flavoring condiments in Asian regions. While the quality of fermented soybean foods is largely affected by microorganisms that participate in the fermentation process, our knowledge about the microorganisms in soybean pastes manufactured in Northeast China is limited. The current study used a culture‐independent barcoded pyrosequencing method targeting hypervariable V1/V2 regions of the 16S rRNA gene to evaluate Korean doenjang and soybean pastes prepared by the Hun Chinese (SPHC) and Korean minority (SPKM) populations in Northeast China. In total, 63399 high‐quality sequences were derived from 16 soybean paste samples collected in Northeast China. Each bacterial species‐level taxon of SPHC, SPKM, and Korean doenjang was clustered separately. Each paste contained representative bacterial species that could be distinguished from each other: Bacillus subtilis in SPKM, Tetragenococcus halophilus in SPHC, and Enterococcus durans in Korean doenjang. This is the 1st massive sequencing‐based study analyzing microbial communities in soybean pastes manufactured in Northeast China, compared to Korean doenjang. Our results clearly showed that each soybean paste contained unique microbial communities that varied depending on the manufacturing process and location.