Heavy metal accumulation in vegetables irrigated with water from different sources

The present study was carried out to assess levels of different heavy metals like iron, manganese, copper and zinc, in vegetables irrigated with water from different sources. The results indicated a substantial build-up of heavy metals in vegetables irrigated with wastewater. The range of various metals in wastewater-irrigated plants was 116–378, 12–69, 5.2–16.8 and 22–46 mg/kg for iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), respectively. The highest mean levels of Fe and Mn were detected in mint and spinach, whereas the levels of Cu and Zn were highest in carrot. The present study highlights that both adults and children consuming vegetables grown in wastewater-irrigated soils ingest significant amount of these metals. However, the values of these metals were below the recommended maximum tolerable levels proposed by the [Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (1999). Summary and conclusions. In 53rd Meeting, Rome, June 1–10, 1999]. However, the regular monitoring of levels of these metals from effluents and sewage, in vegetables and in other food materials is essential to prevent excessive build-up of these metals in the food chain.     

A Comparative Study Between Labeling and Reality: The Case of Phytochemical Composition of Commercial Pomegranate‐Based Products

Manufacturers are deeply involved in the development of new pomegranate‐based products, which have acquired great prestige due to many studies proving their potential health benefits. Commercial pomegranate products including capsules and supplements and juices and nectars were assayed. The contents of the key phytochemical compounds (punicalagin, ellagic acid, and total polyphenolic content) and the associated antioxidant capacity (DPPH^?, ABTS^?+, and FRAP) were analyzed. The experimental ranges of punicalagin and ellagic acid contents were 0.96 to 308 mg/g and 0.09 to 13.1 mg/g, respectively. Punicalagin content was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with DPPH^? and total polyphenolic content values. No significant (P > 0.05) correlation was observed among ellagic acid with the antioxidant capacity. The labeling standardization of these products is necessary due to the wide variability among “theoretically” similar pomegranate‐based products.     

Effect of stocking rate and animal genotype on dry matter intake,milk production,body weight,and body condition score in spring-calving,grass-fed dairy cows

The objective of the experiment was to quantify the effect of stocking rate (SR) and animal genotype on milk production, dry matter intake (DMI), energy balance, and production efficiency across 2 consecutive grazing seasons (2014 and 2015). A total of 753 records from 177 dairy cows were available for analysis: 68 Holstein-Friesian and 71 Jersey × Holstein-Friesian (JxHF) cows each year of the experiment under a pasture-based seasonal production system. Animals within each breed group were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 whole-farm SR treatments defined in terms of body weight per hectare (kg of body weight/ha): low (1,200 kg of body weight/ha), medium (1,400 kg of body weight/ha), and high (1,600 kg of body weight/ha), and animals remained in the same SR treatments for the duration of the experiment. Individual animal DMI was estimated 3 times per year at grass using the n-alkane technique: March (spring), June (summer), and September (autumn), corresponding to 45, 111, and 209 d in milk, respectively. The effects of SR, animal genotype, season, and their interactions were analyzed using mixed models. Milk production, body weight, and production efficiency per cow decreased significantly as SR increased due to reduced herbage availability per cow and increased grazing severity. As a percentage of body weight, JxHF cows had higher feed conversion efficiency, higher DMI and milk solids (i.e., kg of fat + kg of protein) production, and also required less energy intake to produce 1 kg of milk solids. The increased production efficiency of JxHF cows at a similar body weight per hectare in the current analysis suggests that factors other than individual cow body weight contribute to the improved efficiency within intensive grazing systems. The results highlight the superior productive efficiency of high genetic potential crossbred dairy cows within intensive pasture-based milk production systems at higher SR where feed availability is restricted.     

Liability to diseases and their relation to dry matter intake and energy balance in German Holstein and Fleckvieh dairy cows

Dairy cow efficiency is increasingly important for future breeding decisions. The efficiency is determined mostly by dry matter intake (DMI). Reducing DMI seems to increase efficiency if milk yield remains the same, but resulting negative energy balance (EB) may cause health problems, especially in early lactation. Objectives of this study were to examine relationships between DMI and liability to diseases. Therefore, cow effects for DMI and EB were correlated with cow effects for 4 disease categories throughout lactation. Disease categories were mastitis, claw and leg diseases, metabolic diseases, and all diseases. In addition, this study presents relative percentages of diseased cows per days in milk (DIM), repeatability, and cow effect correlations for disease categories across DIM. A total of 1,370 German Holstein (GH) and 287 Fleckvieh (FV) primiparous and multiparous dairy cows from 12 dairy research farms in Germany were observed over a period of 2 yr. Farm staff and veterinarians recorded health data. We modeled health and production data with threshold random regression models and linear random regression models. From DIM 2 to 305 average daily DMI was 22.1 kg/d in GH and 20.2 kg/d in FV. Average weekly EB was 2.8 MJ of NE_L/d in GH and 0.6 MJ of NE_L/d in FV. Most diseases occurred in the first 20 DIM. Multiparous cows were more susceptible to diseases than primiparous cows. Relative percentages of diseased cows were highest for claw and leg diseases, followed by metabolic diseases and mastitis. Repeatability of disease categories and production traits was moderate to high. Cow effect correlations for disease categories were higher for adjacent lactation stages than for more distant lactation stages. Pearson correlation coefficients between cow effects for DMI, as well as EB, and disease categories were estimated from DIM 2 to 305. Almost all correlations were negative in GH, especially in early lactation. In FV, the course of correlations was similar to GH, but correlations were mostly more negative in early lactation. For the first 20 DIM, correlations ranged from ?0.31 to 0.00 in GH and from ?0.42 to ?0.01 in FV. The results illustrate that future breeding for dairy cow efficiency should focus on DMI and EB in early lactation to avoid health problems.     

Predicted dietary intake of selenium by the general adult population in Belgium

The total selenium content of about 800 food products purchased in Belgium was determined and combined with food records to determine the nutritional selenium status of Belgian people. The largest selenium concentrations (>1?mg?kg^?1) were found in Brazil nuts and offal, of which the consumption is limited. Usually consumed food groups with the highest selenium concentrations were fish and shellfish (0.2–0.9?mg?kg^?1), eggs, poultry meat, cheese, mushrooms and pasta (approximately 0.2?mg?kg^?1). The mean dietary selenium intake was calculated to be 60?µg?day^?1, which is at the lower end but within the range recommended by the Superior Health Council in Belgium (60–70?µg?day^?1), and adequate according to the 55?µg?day^?1 recommended by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) of the European Commission. The major sources of selenium intake are meat and meat products (31%), fish and shellfish (20%), pasta and rice (12%), and bread and breakfast cereals (11%).     

Performance and health responses of dairy calves offered different milk replacer allowances

Eighty female Holstein calves (12 ± 4.1 d of age and 42 ± 4.3 kg of BW) were collected from different herds, brought to the study site, and blocked by age and assigned to either a 6 L/d maximum daily milk replacer (MR) allowance (LMR) or a maximum MR allowance of 8 L/d (HMR). Calves were kept in individual hutches until 52 d of age and then moved into pens, forming groups of 10. All calves had ad libitum access to a mash starter feed. Calves in both treatments received the MR distributed in 3 separate allotments between 1 wk after the beginning of the study and 52 d of age. Then, all calves were moved to group pens and preweaned by offering 2 L/calf of the same MR twice daily in a trough until the age of 59 d, when MR offer was further reduced to a single dose of 2 L until the age of 73 d, when all calves were completely weaned. Individual starter feed and MR consumption was recorded on a daily basis until 52 d of age, and on a group basis until weaning time. Body weight was measured at the beginning of the study and at 52 (preweaning), 73 (weaning), and 110, 160, and 228 d of age. Solid feed consumption (mean ± SE) was greater in LMR (821 ± 42.1 g/d) than in HMR calves (462 ± 42.1 g/d) between 42 d of age and 52 d (preweaning). As expected, as age increased, solid feed consumption increased, and LMR showed a more marked increase than HMR calves. Despite the greater solid feed intake of LMR calves, HMR grew faster than LMR calves until preweaning time, but from preweaning to weaning, LMR calves grew more than HMR calves (977 vs. 857 ± 30.7 g/d, respectively; mean ± SE). No differences in feed efficiency were observed. While calves were individually housed, no differences were observed in the incidence of bovine respiratory disease or diarrhea between treatment groups. We concluded that, under the milk regimen, age range of calves, and weaning method used in the current study, before preweaning, HMR calves grow more than LMR calves, but between preweaning and weaning, LMR grow more than HMR calves, overcoming the difference in BW at preweaning. As a result, with the weaning scheme followed herein, providing more milk does not ensure greater performance; no differences are obtained in BW at weaning and at 228 d of life. Also, based on solid feed consumption patterns seen in this study, we determined that the optimum age to reduce MR allowances and foster solid feed intake is around 45 d of age.     

Acrylamide levels in Finnish foodstuffs analysed with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Sample clean-up and HPLC with tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS/MS) was validated for the routine analysis of acrylamide in various foodstuffs. The method used proved to be reliable and the detection limit for routine monitoring was sensitive enough for foods and drinks (38 microg/kg for foods and 5 microg/L for drinks). The RSDs for repeatability and day-to-day variation were below 15% in all food matrices. Two hundred and one samples which included more than 30 different types of food and foods manufactured and prepared in various ways were analysed. The main types of food analysed were potato and cereal-based foods, processed foods (pizza, minced beef meat, meat balls, chicken nuggets, potato-ham casserole and fried bacon) and coffee. Acrylamide was detected at levels, ranging from nondetectable to 1480 microg/kg level in solid food, with crisp bread exhibiting the highest levels. In drinks, the highest value (29 microg/L) was found in regular coffee drinks.     

蔬菜中植物生长调节剂残留的膳食暴露与 风险评估

目的为明确蔬菜中植物生长调节剂(plant growth regulator,PGR)残留的风险,对蔬菜中植物生长调节剂残留量实行监测并进行风险评估。方法整合3年的市场监测数据,利用农药残留专家联席会议(JMPR)农药急性膳食风险摄入量计算方法和@risk定量风险评估专用软件,对我国各类人群蔬菜中植物生长调节剂残留膳食摄入风险进行评估。结果蔬菜中植物生长调节剂的残留量较低,为0.0109~0.182 mg/kg,辣椒中主要检出矮壮素和甲哌啶残留,番茄中主要检出2,4-滴残留,马铃薯中主要检出甲哌啶和矮壮素残留;短期膳食摄入结果显示,辣椒、番茄和马铃薯3个蔬菜品种消费带来的有检出PGR残留短期膳食摄入量在0.0957~11.0?g/(kg bw·d),仅占其急性参考剂量的0.0319%~22.0%,急性风险较低。结论蔬菜中植物生长调节剂残留膳食摄入风险虽在不同蔬菜品种、不同风险因子和不同人群之间有差异,但整体风险水平不高,均在可接受范围内。     

如何限制油脂反式脂肪酸含量和摄入量

反式脂肪酸对人体有一定的负面作用,如引发冠心病、导致乳腺癌、影响必需脂肪酸的消化吸收等.反式脂肪酸存在于精炼油脂和氢化油脂中,为了减少油脂中反式脂肪酸的含量,应采用合适的设备、并控制油脂精炼过程中的脱臭条件,对于氢化油脂还需要控制氢化条件、选择合适的氢化油原料.通过低温、短时间的脱臭可以使精炼油脂中反式脂肪酸含量降到最低.另外,建议我国有关食品立法部门规定对反式脂肪酸加以标识,以正确引导消费.     

Dietary intake of dioxins in Japan in 2016 with time trends since 1998

Total diet samples collected from seven regions throughout Japan in 2016 were analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), known collectively as dioxins. This led to estimates of the latest dietary intake of these contaminants for the general Japanese population (≥1 year old). The average daily intake of dioxins for a person weighing 50 kg, calculated at non-detected congener concentrations assumed to be equal to zero, was estimated to be 0.54 pg TEQ (toxic equivalents) kg^?1 body weight (bw) day^?1. This value is well below the tolerable daily intake of 4 pg TEQ kg^?1 bw day^?1 for dioxins in Japan. The average intake was highest from fish and shellfish, followed by meat and eggs. The TEQ contribution of the fish and shellfish group to the total dietary TEQs was significant (89%). The DL-PCBs accounted for about 67% of the dioxin intake. The latest dioxin intake level was compared with previous estimates from total diet study results obtained annually since 1998 to determine the time trends in the dietary intake of dioxins in Japan. Overall, the average dioxin intake appeared to be decreasing gradually during the period of study. The previous average intakes of dioxins ranged from 0.58 to 1.9 pg TEQ kg^?1 bw day^?1. The latest average intake was the lowest since 1998 and was about one-third of the average intake in 1998. This decreasing trend in the dietary intake of dioxins was mainly influenced by the decreased dioxin intakes from two food groups, fish and shellfish, and meat and eggs.