scholarly journals Phthalate and novel plasticizer concentrations in food items from U.S. fast food chains: a preliminary analysis

Author(s):  
Lariah Edwards ◽  
Nathan L. McCray ◽  
Brianna N. VanNoy ◽  
Alice Yau ◽  
Ruth J. Geller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Fast food consumption is associated with biomarkers of ortho-phthalates exposures. However, the chemical content of fast food is unknown; certain ortho-phthalates (i.e., di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)) have been phased out and replaced with other plasticizers (e.g., dioctyl terephthalate (DEHT)). Objective We conducted a preliminary study to examine ortho-phthalate and replacement plasticizer concentrations in foods and food handling gloves from U.S. fast food restaurants. Methods We obtained hamburgers, fries, chicken nuggets, chicken burritos, cheese pizza (n = 64 food samples) and gloves (n = 3) from restaurants and analyzed them for 11 chemicals using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Results We found DEHT at the highest concentrations in both foods (n = 19; median = 2510 µg/kg; max = 12,400 µg/kg) and gloves (n = 3; range: 28–37% by weight). We detected DnBP and DEHP in 81% and 70% of food samples, respectively. Median DEHT concentrations were significantly higher in burritos than hamburgers (6000 µg/kg vs. 2200 µg/kg; p < 0.0001); DEHT was not detected in fries. Cheese pizza had the lowest levels of most chemicals. Significance To our knowledge, these are the first measurements of DEHT in food. Our preliminary findings suggest that ortho-phthalates remain ubiquitous and replacement plasticizers may be abundant in fast food meals. Impact statement A selection of popular fast food items sampled in this study contain detectable levels of replacement plasticizers and concerning ortho-phthalates. In addition, food handling gloves contain replacement plasticizers, which may be a source of food contamination. These results, if confirmed, may inform individual and regulatory exposure reduction strategies.

Author(s):  
Anik Paul ◽  
Md. Mahmud Rahma ◽  
Tasnia Ahmed

Foodborne illness is generally caused after consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Food contamination often caused by contact with tabletops or food handling surfaces where the pathogenic microbes are present due to unhygienic condition of people working there and the overall environment of the food serving area. In current study, four areas (local restaurants, fast food shops, university canteens and hospital canteens) were selected for collection of swab sample (per cm2 area) from the tabletops. Five samples from each area were taken for further studies. After microbiological analysis we found ten different types of bacteria (Esherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Klebsiella oxytoca, Corynebacterium xerosis, Staphylococcus aures, Salmonella spp., Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, pseudomonas aeruginosa and Alcaligenes fecalis) which are already considered to be pathogenic bacteria causing different health issues in immune-compromised and also in healthy consumers. These bacteria were then subjected to antibiotic sensitivity test using ten antibiotics-Vancomycin (30 µg), Cotrimoxazol (30 µg), Azithromycin (15 µg), Gentamicin (10 µg), Amoxycillin (10 µg), Cephradine (30 µg), Ceftriaxone (30 µg), Cefuroxime (30 µg), Cefoxitin (30 µg) and Tetracycline (30 µg). Bacterial isolates collected from university and hospital canteens showed most resistance towards these antibiotics. Strict maintenance of proper sanitation and hygiene starting from personal aspects to the overall environment of food handling service should be maintained to reduce the food contamination and foodborne disease.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-333
Author(s):  
Purkayastha Moushumi ◽  
Sahidur Rahman ◽  
ATM Mahbub E Elahi ◽  
Sourav Roy ◽  
Tanimul Hussain ◽  
...  

Fast food monger and restaurants premises are more rapidly growing in Sylhet city. This may cause serious health concern due to unhygienic environment are noticeable almost all types of fast food vendors and restaurants. Hence, the study was undertaken to assess a total viable bacterial count and especially emphasis given on total staphylococcal count of fast food items from various restaurants in and around Sylhet town. From January to February 2016, a total of 45 samples were collected and assessed of five fast food items (Singara, Shamucha, Chicken burger, Chicken roll and cake) belongs to three types of restaurants (Street, mid-level and high level). Assessment revealed, the highest mean value of TVC (Total Variable Count) was found in Shamucha (89.6×109 CFU/g.) nearly all types of restaurants whereas lowest was observed in Chicken burger (58.8×109 CFU/g.). However, Staphylococcal load (mean value of TSC) was seen highest in both Shamucha and Chicken burger (26×103 CFU/g.) and lowest were in cake (16×103 CFU/g.) of all types of restaurants. Street level restaurants were observed highly risk for microbial as well as Staphylococcal load when comparison with mid-level and high level restaurants. Based on International Microbiological Criteria, the total viable count and total staphylococcal count found in fast food samples were unsatisfactory of all types of restaurants. Therefore, this study recommends that further analysis is needed regarding this issue. Besides, necessary steps should be taken by the Government for maintaining hygienic standard for preparing, processing and handling cooked food in various restaurants. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.5(3): 327-333, December 2018


2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Omar Faruk ◽  
Marufa Zerin Akhter

The Microbiological status of 50 fast food samples collected from middle class and lower middle class retail outlets of fast food shops and restaurants at New Market and Dhanmondi area of Dhaka city were assessed. Eighty four percent of the samples were found to be satisfactory and 16% of the samples were found to be unsafe for human consumption. Total coliform, fecal coliform, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus and    fungal count in 12%, 8%, 16%, 14% and 14% samples respectively have crossed the recommended limits and were unsafe for human consumption. Bare-handed handling of foods and use of unsafe water for dish  washing and hand washing by food handlers, keeping food for long time under lighting in display glass boxes with elevated temperatures and storage of uncooked and half cooked meat items side by side in the refrigerator    were noticed to be the possible sources and causes of microbiological contamination of the fast food items. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjm.v28i1.11810 Bangladesh J Microbiol, Volume 28, Number 1, June 2011, pp 49-51    


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W. C. Chung ◽  
S. K. Tong ◽  
Violette F. P. Lin ◽  
Melva Y. Y. Chen ◽  
Janny K. M. Ma ◽  
...  

This study aimed to examine trans fatty acids (TFA) content of 142 individual food items, including bakery, fast food, and other fatty food that may contain high level of TFA. TFA was detected in all samples, except for four samples including one plain bread, one sponge cake, and two batter-made foods (egg roll and eggette) samples. For those found to contain detectable TFA, the content ranged up to 4.7 g/100 g of food or 17.3% of total lipids. On a per 100 grams of food basis, the highest mean TFA content among the 18 food subgroups was the doughnuts/French toast subgroup (0.95 g), followed by the other pastries subgroup (0.49 g) and the bread with filling/topping subgroup (0.44 g). Among the samples, the highest TFA content is from a doughnut (4.7 g/100 g), followed by two cream-filled bread with shredded coconut (1.8 and 1.4 g/100 g) and a sweetheart cake (1.7 g/100 g). Only consuming one whole piece of doughnut would have reached 100% of the maximum daily TFA intake as recommended by WHO based on a 2000 kcal diet. About 78% of samples had TFA ≤0.3 g/100 g food. For the majority of the food samples available in Hong Kong, if TFA was present, C18:1 trans would possibly be the predominant one.


Author(s):  
Anshika Srivastava ◽  
Anjali Baranwal

Abstract— Restaurants are one of the favorite premises .An online food ordering is a integrated process in fast food Restaurants to offer choice of food from menu, cooked and served or packaged hot to satisfy customer  to immediately make orders on their ownselves. Customers can also call the restaurant to pack in advance or to  deliver the food item but sometimes restaurants run out of certain items.The existing system lacks the feature to use Remote GPS tracker such that restaurant managers are auto updated about the location of the customer before reaching the restaurant. We propose a complete system to easily manage online menu where items update as per the availability of food and prices. The Customer views the products, register and place the order. The system administrator adds and manages user accounts and the Manager manages product and orders. The Kitchen meal deliverable deals with pending deliveries .The proposed system is developed using Android platform which is open source software and built in data connection modules. It also decreases labour rates to replace mobile phones to book order and table unlike employees who come to take order and payments .In advent of food consumption problems like obesity, overeating etc. ,he proposed system will show food items with nutrition based searches showing ingredients of the food items.


2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (21) ◽  
pp. 6740-6747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilia Macovei ◽  
Ludek Zurek

ABSTRACT The influx of enterococcal antibiotic resistance (AR) and virulence genes from ready-to-eat food (RTEF) to the human digestive tract was assessed. Three RTEFs (chicken salad, chicken burger, and carrot cake) were sampled from five fast-food restaurants five times in summer (SU) and winter (WI). The prevalence of enterococci was significantly higher in SU (92.0% of salad samples and 64.0% of burger samples) than in WI (64.0% of salad samples and 24.0% of burger samples). The overall concentrations of enterococci during the two seasons were similar (∼103 CFU/g); the most prevalent were Enterococcus casseliflavus (41.5% of isolates) and Enterococcus hirae (41.5%) in WI and Enterococcus faecium (36.8%), E. casseliflavus (27.6%), and Enterococcus faecalis (22.4%) in SU. Resistance in WI was detected primarily to tetracycline (50.8%), ciprofloxacin (13.8%), and erythromycin (4.6%). SU isolates were resistant mainly to tetracycline (22.8%), erythromycin (22.1%), and kanamycin (13.0%). The most common tet gene was tet(M) (35.4% of WI isolates and 11.9% of SU isolates). The prevalence of virulence genes (gelE, asa1, cylA, and esp) and marker genes for clinical isolates (EF_0573, EF_0592, EF_0605, EF_1420, EF_2144, and pathogenicity island EF_0050) was low (≤12.3%). Genotyping of E. faecalis and E. faecium using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that the food contamination likely originated from various sources and that it was not clonal. Our conservative estimate (single AR gene copy per cell) for the influx of tet genes alone to the human digestive tract is 3.8 � 105 per meal (chicken salad). This AR gene influx is frequent because RTEFs are commonly consumed and that may play a role in the acquisition of AR determinants in the human digestive tract.


2017 ◽  

[Introduction]. Food-borne diseases (FBDs) are one of the most frequent public health problems in daily life. The hazards that cause FBD may occur in the different stages of the food chain (from primary production to the table). Independently from its origin, once the food reaches the consumer it may have an impact on public health and cause severe economic damage to the establishments devoted to its preparation and sale. These two events may cause loss of confidence and the closing down of a business. Fortunately, the measures for preventing food contamination are very simple and may be applied by anyone who handles food, by following easy rules for hygienic food handling. This Manual’s purpose is to provide to people who handle food, and particularly to food-handlers’ instructors, the information they need to facilitate the teaching of proper procedures to food workers. In addition, it seeks to provide basic information about food safety that Latin American and Caribbean countries may adapt to their own needs. The Manual is organized into three Modules and Appendixes focusing on the following topics: (1) food hazards; (2) FBDs; and (3) hygienic measures to prevent food contamination. The evaluation at the end, forms part of the Manual. Its purpose is to assess the knowledge learned during the course regarding the importance of hygienic food handling for public health.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cláudia Alexandra Colaço Lourenço Viegas ◽  
Jorge Torgal ◽  
Pedro Graça ◽  
Maria do Rosário Oliveira Martins

OBJECTIVE: High blood pressure is a major rick factor for cardiovascular disease, and it is closely associated with salt intake. Schools are considered ideal environments to promote health and proper eating habits. Therefore the objective of this study was to evaluate the amount of salt in meals served in school canteens and consumers' perceptions about salt. METHODS: Meals, including all the components (bread, soup, and main dish) were retrieved from school canteens. Salt was quantified by a portable salt meter. For food perception we constructed a questionnaire that was administered to high school students. RESULTS: A total of 798 food samples were analysed. Bread had the highest salt content with a mean of 1.35 g/100 g (SD=0.12). Salt in soups ranged from 0.72 g/100 g to 0.80 g/100 g (p=0.05) and, in main courses, from 0.71 g/100 to 0.97 g/100g (p=0.05). The salt content of school meals is high with a mean value of 2.83 to 3.82 g of salt per meal. Moreover, a high percentage of students consider meals neither salty nor bland, which shows they are used to the intensity/amount of salt consumed. CONCLUSION: The salt content of school meals is high, ranging from 2 to 5 times more than the Recommended Dietary Allowances for children, clearly exceeding the needs for this population, which may pose a health risk. Healthy choices are only possible in environments where such choices are possible. Therefore, salt reduction strategies aimed at the food industry and catering services should be implemented, with children and young people targeted as a major priority.


2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (9) ◽  
pp. 985-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.E. Fraser ◽  
M.B. Fenton

Eating behaviour can vary with age, experience, and gender, as well as food hardness. This variation can contribute to intraspecific dietary differences and may result in variable definitions of optimal foraging and decreased intraspecific competition. We quantified feeding behaviour of insectivorous bats eating hard and soft mealworm-based food items based on the bats’ ability to consume and manipulate food items, consumption time, chew frequency, and total chews to consume. Adult Myotis lucifugus (LeConte, 1831) were more successful at both consuming and manipulating mealworms and consumed mealworms more quickly, with greater chew frequency and in fewer chews, than did subadults. Adults chewed mealworm viscera more frequently than did subadults but showed no differences in the other variables. Adult Eptesicus fuscus (Beauvois, 1796) consumed mealworms more quickly and with fewer chews than did subadults but showed no differences in the other variables. There were no differences between adult and subadult E. fuscus when consuming mealworm viscera. Male and female M. lucifugus did not differ significantly when eating either mealworms or mealworm viscera. There was no change in subadult consumption time of mealworms over the summer. Age-based differences in eating abilities may play a role in defining optimal foraging and dietary composition in insectivorous bats.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Minda Asfaw Geresu ◽  
Behailu Assefa Wayuo ◽  
Gezahegne Mamo Kassa

The status of Salmonella and its antimicrobial susceptibility profile in animal origin food items from different catering establishments in Ethiopia is scarce. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Salmonella isolates from animal origin food items in the selected areas of Arsi Zone. One hundred ninety-two animal origin food samples were collected and processed for Salmonella isolation. Isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 13 antimicrobials using Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion assay. An overall prevalence of 9.4% (18/192) Salmonella spp. isolates were recovered from animal origin food samples collected from different catering establishments. Seven (21.9%) of “Dulet,” 4 (12.5%) of “Kitfo,” 3 (9.4%) of “Kurt,” 2 (6.3%) of raw milk, 1 (3.1%) of egg sandwich and 1 (3.1%) of cream cake samples were positive for Salmonella. Catering establishments, protective clothing, source of contamination, manner of hand washing, and money handling were among the putative risk factors that were significantly associated ( p < 0.05 ) with Salmonella spp. occurrence. Ampicillin, nitrofurans, and sulphonamide resistance were significantly associated ( p < 0.05 ) with Salmonella spp. occurrence in the selected food items. Three (16.7%), 5 (27.8%), 5 (27.8%), and 4 (22.2%) of the isolates were resistant to 3, 4, 5, and 6 antibiotics, respectively, whereas only a sole isolate was resistant to two antibiotics (viz. ampicillin and kanamycin). In conclusion, the general sanitary condition of the catering establishments, utensils used, and personnel hygienic practices were not to the recommended standards in the current study. Besides, detection of multidrug-resistant strains of Salmonella in animal origin food items from different catering establishments suggests the need for detailed epidemiological and molecular characterization of the pathogen so as to establish the sources of acquisition of resistant Salmonella strains. Hence, implementation of Salmonella prevention and control strategies from farm production to consumption of animal origin food items are crucial.


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