Investigation about contamination of some food items in local markets, Mosul, Iraq

Results of enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), which was conducted on 58 samples of dried fruits and nuts available in the local market in Mosul city that there were samples that are contaminated with aflatoxins with rates higher than the tolerated level permitted by the European Union (4 parts per billion) in the human-consumed foodstuff products as the percentages were 40%, 40, 70% and 10% for almond, cashew, pistachio, and walnut respectively, which are beyond the permitted level. At the same time, the percentages were 66% and 10% for dried apricot and figs, respectively, and more than the permitted level. The average quantity of aflatoxins in the nuts samples was (1.6, 3.8. 4.1 and 6.1 ppb) for walnut, cashew, almond, and pistachio, respectively, while in the dried fruits (3.3, 1.4, and 6.9 ppb) for raisin, figs, and apricot respectively.

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Occurrence of Ochratoxin A Contamination and Detection of Ochratoxigenic Aspergillus Species in Retail Samples of Dried Fruits and Nuts

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-14-471 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 78 (4) ◽

pp. 836-842 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

JEFFREY D. PALUMBO ◽

TERESA L. O'KEEFFE ◽

YVONNE S. HO ◽

CARLO J. SANTILLAN

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Ochratoxin A ◽

The United States ◽

Aspergillus Species ◽

The European Union ◽

Dried Fruits ◽

Tree Nuts ◽

Low Levels ◽

Contamination Levels ◽

Potential Contaminant

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium and is a potential contaminant of a wide variety of food products. To determine the incidence of OTA contamination in dried fruits and tree nuts, retail packaged and bulk raisins, dates, figs, prunes, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts were collected from small and large supermarkets in seven areas of the United States between 2012 and 2014. Of the 665 samples analyzed, OTA was detected in 48 raisin samples, 4 fig samples, 4 pistachio samples, and 1 date sample. OTA contamination levels ranged from 0.28 to 15.34 ng/g in dried fruits and 1.87 to 890 ng/g in pistachios; two raisin samples and one pistachio sample exceeded the European Union regulatory limit of 10 ng/g. PCR detection of potential OTA-producing Aspergillus species revealed the presence of A. niger, A. welwitschiae, and A. carbonarius in 20, 7, and 7 of the 57 OTA-contaminated samples, respectively. However, OTA-producing A. carbonarius was isolated from only one raisin sample, and no other OTA-producing Aspergillus species were found. These results suggest that raisins are more frequently contaminated with low levels of OTA than are other dried fruits and nuts and that Aspergillus species are the likely source of that contamination.

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Heavy Metal Testing Ensures Better Supplement Safety

Advances in Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.33140/anfs.04.04.11 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

European Union ◽

Heavy Metal Contamination ◽

Food Supplements ◽

Quality Assurance Program ◽

Local Market ◽

The European Union ◽

Consumer Safety ◽

Two Samples

Heavy metal contamination in our food and supplements is a very real and serious issue. Surveillance activities in a number of countries in recent years have identified high levels of the heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury in certain food supplements. Consumption of such contaminated food supplements may contribute to human exposure to these metals. Heavy metal testing is a cornerstone of any GMP-certified manufacturer’s quality assurance program, and to ensure consumer safety. The aim of the study was to compare the levels of these metals found in food supplements, which are available in the local market of Dubai with the legislative requirements. Over 200 food supplements were analyzed in this study during the year 2018. The concentration of heavy metals in supplement products were determined using microwave digestion and high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with concentrated nitric acid. The results showed a high degree of compliance with the limits of 3 μg lead/g, 1 μg cadmium/g and 0.1 μg mercury/g in the products with the exception of two samples were above the maximum levels of 3 μg lead/g and 1 sample above the maximum levels of 0.1 μg mercury/g. Cadmium were below regulations set by the European Union. However, total arsenic has no regulatory limits set up by the European Union legislation to assess the risk. The concentration ranges were as follows: arsenic, <50-32381 μg/kg; cadmium, <10-958 μg/kg; mercury, <50-139 μg/kg; and lead, <50-44303 μg/kg. Therefore, determination of these elements in these products is necessary and the authorities should be survey and monitor these products at regular intervals.

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Influences of the free trade agreement between South Africa and the European Union on the South African fresh orange industry

South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences ◽

10.4102/sajems.v3i3.2626 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 484-498

Author(s):

S. H. Gay ◽

W. L. Nieuwoudt

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

European Union ◽

South African ◽

Free Trade ◽

Free Trade Agreement ◽

Trade Agreement ◽

Local Market ◽

The European Union ◽

The South ◽

Positive Effects

This paper evaluates the effects of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between South Africa and the European Union (EU) on the South African orange industry. Oranges account for ten percent of South African agricultural exports. The aggregate trade simulation model used here is designed on the programme STELLA, and consists of regional production models, a local market model, an export model and an exchange rate model. Results indicate that the FTA is expected to have small positive effects on both South African producers and consumers. This is caused by increasing real free-on-board prices and decreasing real local prices of oranges. Total area under oranges will increase more with the FT A, which thus results in a larger orange production too.

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Valuation of copyrights to audiovisual works: transparency practices of the copyright management organizations in the European Union

Ekonomia i Prawo ◽

10.12775/eip.2021.033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 543-571

Author(s):

Paweł Kossecki ◽

Oguzhan Akin

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Video On Demand ◽

Linear Ordering ◽

Local Market ◽

Exploratory Research ◽

The European Union ◽

Legal Challenges ◽

Market Status ◽

Intellectual Properties ◽

The Eu

Motivation: The functioning of the audiovisual sector strongly depends on the use of copyrights and related rights. Problems with their clearing could harm the functioning of companies and might even lead to strong financial problems. The distribution of copyright-protected audiovisual works requires the licensing of rights by different rightsholders. Some of them are represented by Copyright Management Organizations (CMOs), which allow users to clear rights for many works without individual negotiations. Fees paid to CMOs for copyright-protected content constitute a significant part of operating costs for companies like TV stations, cable operators, VoD (Video on Demand) platforms. In case of intellectual properties for audiovisual works, CMOs make the valuation. They have been facing legal challenges due to subjective valuations as a result of being monopolies in the local market of the represented country and lack of transparency. Aim: This work explores the transparency of 21 CMOs in 4 EU countries due to their expected to be an integrated market status as the result of political and economic amalgamation. In addition to the adoption of The European Union Directive on collective management of copyright and multi-territorial licensing of rights, as part of the EU’s Digital Single Market project, this exploratory research, with comparative analysis of CMOs using the linear ordering methods, explains the necessity of an epagogic approach to creating correct institutions besides directives and laws, such as central observation, an ombudsman for conflict management, or an official body to employ these features in one structure to actively govern the market. Results: The conducted analysis allowed us to reflect on the importance of transparency and taxonomic mapping of the audiovisual market landscape will be the guideline to flatten the copyright valuation divergence in the EU and eventually will pave the way for fewer disputes and more innovations.

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Development of the Market of Traditional Food Products in the Lubuskie Region in the Years 2006-2020

Multidisciplinary Aspects of Production Engineering ◽

10.2478/mape-2020-0062 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 745-753

Author(s):

Piotr Kułyk ◽

Leszek Kaźmierczak-Piwko ◽

Adrianna Dybikowska ◽

Arkadiusz Dąbrowski

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Direct Contact ◽

Food Products ◽

Point Of View ◽

Local Market ◽

Traditional Food ◽

The European Union ◽

Secondary Sources ◽

Institutional Aspects

AbstractThe paper discusses the issue of the development of the market of traditional food products in the Lubuskie province. Legal and institutional aspects of the development of the market are presented and the significance of the system of the European Union is stressed. The analysis was carried out from the point of view of sustainable development of the sector and according to the product structure as well as location of selected elements of the system of distribution. The aim of the paper is to identification and structuring of traditional food products in the Lubuskie region. Types of traditional products manufactured and sold on the market are presented, the research was conducted on the basis of secondary sources by means the analysis of information provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the years 2006-2020. Changes which have taken place in the system of distribution are shown, and in particular local market places offering direct contact between producers and consumers of regional products. The analysis demonstrates increased interest in this market among regional producers.

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Comparison of National Innovation Systems in the European Union Countries

Risks ◽

10.3390/risks10010006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 6

Author(s):

Edyta Dworak ◽

Maria Magdalena Grzelak ◽

Elżbieta Roszko-Wójtowicz

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Innovation System ◽

European Union Country ◽

Innovation Systems ◽

Similar Degree ◽

Local Market ◽

The European Union ◽

National Innovation Systems ◽

European Union Countries

The effective operation of national innovation systems can be a source of many opportunities, but it cannot be forgotten that innovation in itself may mean limiting but also generating various types of risks for the functioning of the local market. The main aim of the article is to present the concept and classification of national innovation systems in the world and to try to answer whether the type of NIS determines the level of innovation of the economies of the European Union countries. The following research thesis was formulated in the study: the type of National Innovation System determines a certain level of innovation in the economy of an European Union country, i.e., in countries belonging to a developed NIS, the level of innovation of the economy is higher than in countries belonging to developing systems. The results of the analysis confirm the research thesis. In the empirical part, the level of innovation in the European Union countries was assessed using the synthetic measure of development (SMD) by Z. Hellwig. Based on the obtained values of the synthetic measure of development (innovation), a ranking of the innovation of the economies of the EU countries was compiled and groups of countries with a similar degree of innovation in the economy were distinguished. The developed ranking of the European Union countries was compared with the NSI classification presented in the theoretical part of the article. The study covered 2010 and 2019.

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