scholarly journals Development of a DNA-based Assay to Detect and Quantify Tropane Alkaloids Producing Thornapple Contaminations in Processed Food

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 422-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Weston ◽  
Peter Brodmann ◽  
Maximilian Widmer ◽  
Julian Bartel ◽  
Eric Kübler

Contaminates such as pesticides, toxic molecules of natural origin, genetically modified organisms and others can occur in processed food, especially if the main ingredient grows in open fields exposed to the environment. In particular, some health threatening toxic compounds are natural ingredients of plants that grow wild next to vegetables intended for consumption and can therefore enter the crop yield and stay there undetected. The tropane alkaloids-containing nightshade thornapple Datura stramonium, often grows in close vicinity to millet (Panicum miliaceum) a widely cultivated cereal, representing an important nutrient source in different countries of Asia and Africa. Discriminating thornapple from millet during harvest is not easy and consequently, millet-containing food products are often contaminated with tropane alkaloids from thornapple. In this work, two DNA specific hydrolysis probe qPCR methods were developed for Datura stramonium and Panicum miliaceum in order to detect thornapple contamination in millet-containing food products. The specificity and sensitivity of the developed assay system allows for its application in screenings during food product testing.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Célia Regina Barbosa de Araújo ◽  
Karla Danielly da S Ribeiro ◽  
Amanda Freitas de Oliveira ◽  
Inês Lança de Morais ◽  
João Breda ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to characterise the availability, the nutritional composition and the processing degree of industrial foods for 0–36-month-old children according to the neighbourhoods affluence. Design: A cross-sectional exploratory study. Setting: All food products available in retail stores for children aged 0–36 months were analysed. Data collection took place in two neighbourhoods, comparing two different sociodemographic districts (high v. low per capita income), Campanhã and Foz do Douro in Porto, Portugal. Participants: A total of 431 commercially processed food products for children aged 0–36 months which are sold in 23 retail stores were identified. Food products were classified according to their processing degree using the NOVA Food Classification System. Results: For NOVA analysis, of the 244 food products that were included 82 (33·6 %) were minimally processed, 25 (10·2 %) processed and 137 (56·1 %) ultra processed. No food product was classified as a culinary ingredient. The products included mostly cereals, yogurts, prevailed in high-income neighbourhoods for the 0–6-month-old group. It was observed that some categories of ultra-processed food (UPF) presented higher amounts of energy, sugars, saturated fat and salt than unprocessed/minimally processed products. Conclusions: The high availability of UPF offered for 0–36-month-old children should be considered when designing interventions to promote a healthy diet in infancy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-521
Author(s):  
Durry Munawar ◽  
Dewi Sri Jayanti ◽  
Raida Agustina

Abstrak. Pemanfaatan kulit melinjo sebagai produk makanan olahan belum banyak diketahui oleh masyarakat. Biasanya kulit melinjo tidak dimanfaatkan lagi dan dibuang begitu saja padahal kulit melinjo dapat diolah kembali menjadi beberapa produk makanan seperti keripik kulit melinjo, manisan, teh, pewarna makanan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui karakteristik pengeringan dan mutu dalam pembuatan keripik kulit melinjo dengan alat pengering tipe tray dryer pada suhu 35oC dan 45oC. Masing-masing suhu tersebut diulang sebanyak dua kali. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pada suhu 35oC kelembaban udara yang diperoleh adalah 70,50% dengan lama pengeringan 390 menit (6,5 jam) dan rata-rata laju pengeringan sebesar 1,08 bk/menit, sedangkan pada suhu 45oC kelembaban udara yang diperoleh adalah 60,72% dengan lama pengeringan 300 menit (5 jam) dan rata-rata laju pengeringan sebesar 1,32 bk/menit. Kecepatan aliran udara ruang pengering pada suhu 35oC dan 45oC adalah konstan (2,4 m/s). Rata-rata kadar air awal kulit melinjo adalah 82,26% sedangkan kadar air akhir adalah 21,36%. Susut bobot pada suhu 35oC adalah 77,56% dan pada suhu 45oC adalah 77,32%. Hasil uji organoleptik terbaik adalah pada suhu 35oC dengan skor 4,28 untuk warna, 4,50 untuk aroma, 4,53 untuk rasa dan 4,40 untuk tekstur.Characteristic Melinjo Peel (Gnetum gnemon L) Drying with Tray Dryer for Making Melinjo Peel ChipsAbstract. The use of melinjo peel as a processed food product is not widely known in the public. Melinjo peel is usually no longer used and thrown away even though the peel could be reprocessed into several food products such as melinjo peel chips, confectionery, tea, and food coloring. This research aimed to determine the characteristics of drying and quality in the making of melinjo peel chips with tray dryer at 35oC and 45oC. Each temperature is repeated twice. The results showed that at a temperature of 35oC, the humidity was 70.50% with a drying time was 390 minutes (6.5 hours) and the average of drying rate was 1.08 dw/minute, meanwhile at 45oC the humidity was 60.72% with a drying time was 300 minutes (5 hours) and an average of drying rate was 1.32 dw/minute. The airflow velocity of the drying chamber at 35oC and 45oC was constant (2.4m/s). The average of initial moisture of melinjo peel was 82.26% and final moisture was 21.36%. The weight loss at 35oC was 77.56% and at 45oC was 77.32%. The best results of organoleptic test was at temperature 35oC with score 4.28 for color, 4.50 for flavor, 4.53 for taste and 4.40 for texture.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwi Bagus Pambudi ◽  
Rany Ekawati

Food safety is one of WHO’s primary concerns during a pandemic. The current Covid-19 pandemic requires us to boost our immune system by eating a healthy and balanced diet. Food consumed by the masses must be free of chemical and biological substances that can be harmful for the body. Nowadays, food products have developed to be more innovative, such as packaged processed food products that can be stored for a long time, generally using Food Additives. The safety of packaged processed food products must be guaranteed by the manufacturers in order to guarantee consumer protection. To ensure this, the government has established the Consumer Protection Law; the Government Regulation on Food Safety, Quality and Nutrition; and the Food and Drug Administration Division. Through the BPOM, the government supervises food products circulating in the community. The supervision carried out by BPOM are preventive and repressive. One form of supervision carried out by BPOM is granting distribution permits for packaged processed food products before they are distributed to the public. Keywords: packaged processed food products, BPOM


2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (11) ◽  
pp. 3361-3382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideo Aizaki ◽  
Kazuo Sato

PurposeThe production process of processed food products may involve several countries. This multi-dimensionality of the country of origin (COO) may affect consumer preferences for the products. We apply Case 2 best–worst scaling to measure Japanese consumers’ preferences for three dimensions of the COO of a vegetable juice product.Design/methodology/approachThe three dimensions of the COO include these: the country where the raw materials of the product were grown (the country of growing), the country where the raw materials were processed (the country of processing) and the country where the food company producing the product is headquartered (the country of the company). Japan, Australia, Thailand and China are the countries considered for the three COO-related attributes. Sixteen juice products (profiles) were created from the three four-level attributes. A survey queried 416 consumers to select the best and worst ones from among the three attribute levels shown in each profile.FindingsThe average utility of the country of growing is the highest among those of the three COO-related attributes. However, consumers evaluate the country of growing as the least preferred among the three attributes with respect to a country with a negative food quality reputation.Originality/valueThis is the first Case 2 best–worst scaling study to measure consumer preferences for the three dimensions of the COO of processed food products. It suggests marketing strategies for domestic and international juice companies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 1515-1519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula M Horta ◽  
Fernanda T Rodrigues ◽  
Luana C dos Santos

AbstractObjectiveTo analyse the content and extent of marketing of ultra-processed food products (UPP) and their brand pages on Facebook, which are highly accessed by Brazilians.DesignDescriptive.SettingSixteen UPP brand pages on Facebook were selected from 250 pages that were the most liked by Brazilians in October 2015.SubjectsWe analysed the frequency of ‘likes’ and members ‘talking about’ each one of the pages, in addition to fifteen marketing techniques used in the previous year (September 2014 to October 2015). The number of posts, likes, ‘shares’ and ‘commentaries’, and the mean number of likes, shares and commentaries per post, were collected for one month, from 23 September to 23 October 2015.ResultsThe two most liked pages were: Coke® (93 673 979 likes) and McDonald’s® (59 749 819 likes). Regarding the number of people talking about the pages, McDonald’s led with 555 891 commentaries, followed by Coke (287 274), Burger King® (246 148) and Kibon® (244 523). All pages used marketing techniques, which included photos, user conversations, presence of brand elements and links. Videos were observed on 93·8 % of the pages; promotions on 68·8 %; and celebrities on 62·5 %. In one month, Garoto®, Outback® and Coke were brands that published more than one post per day. Kibon achieved the highest ratio of likes per post (285 845·50) and Burger King had the highest mean shares per post (10 083·93), including commentaries per post (7958·13).ConclusionsUPP marketing is extensively used on Facebook pages and is highly accessed by Brazilians, with UPP companies employing a diversity of marketing strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-11
Author(s):  
E. V. Kryuchenko ◽  
Yu. A. Kuzlyakina ◽  
V. S. Zamula ◽  
I. M. Chernukha

The article discusses the definition and mechanism of IgE‑mediated food allergy, provides an overview of the legal regulation of the production and labeling of allergen-containing food products. In order to prevent the inadvertent appearance of allergens in products during their production, an allergenomics procedure is required — a comprehensive assessment of the allergic potential of a food product: allergenicity of product ingredients, risk analysis, and the procedure for managing allergens in the production.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Silvano Gallus ◽  
Elisa Borroni ◽  
Chiara Stival ◽  
Sharanpreet Kaur ◽  
Sofia Davoli ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Previous studies from European countries noted that food products promoted on TV for children did not comply with international guidelines, including the World Health Organization European Nutrient Profile Model (WHO-ENPM) and the EU Pledge Nutrition Criteria (EU-PNC, an initiative developed by leading food companies). We aim to provide new data from Italy. Design: Evaluation of Italian TV advertisements. Data on nutritional values for food product advertised were compared with nutritional standards issued by the WHO-ENPM and the EU-PNC. Setting: In total, 180 h of TV programmes from six Italian channels, 2016–2017. Participants: Eight hundred and ten consecutive advertisements during children’s programmes. Results: Out of 810 advertisements, 90 (11·1 %) referred to food products. Among these, 84·5 % of the foods promoted did not meet the WHO-ENPM and 55·6 % the EU-PNC guidelines. Advertisements promoting sweet and salty snacks (i.e. ≥ 70 % of all foods) v. other food products showed higher non-compliance with both the WHO-ENPM (OR: 73·8; 95 % CI: 4·09, 1330) and the EU-PNC (OR: 9·21; 95 % CI: 2·82, 30·1). Conclusions: In Italy, most food advertisements during children’s programmes are not compliant with European nutritional standards. Almost all the advertisements for snacks do not meet international guidelines. As the WHO-ENPM guidelines do not propose standards for all the food products, including meals, there is an urgent need to define independent and easy-to-read guidelines for food advertisements targeting children. As a first step towards the complete ban of food advertisements targeting children recommended by other researchers, these guidelines should be enforced by all the TV broadcasts.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Butnariu ◽  
Massimiliano Peana ◽  
Ioan Sarac ◽  
Salvatore Chirumbolo ◽  
Haralampos Tzoupis ◽  
...  

AbstractDatura stramonium L. (Solanaceae) possesses a rich tropane alkaloids (TAs) spectrum. The plant contains, in particular, the allelopathic compounds scopolamine and atropine, which are poorly soluble in water, thus limiting their use in agrochemical formulations as biocidal and deterrent agents against herbivore insects. The efficacy of the hydrophobic TAs extracts could be increased with the improvement of their dissolution/leaching properties. This is important for improving screening and test performance and for elucidating the activity of environmentally friendly agricultural approaches, with new perspectives for the production and use of those biodegradable insecticidal products. The present study explores the aspects of atropine and scopolamine complexation with cyclodextrin (CDs) through FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopies. In addition, the structures of the inclusion complex of atropine, scopolamine and β-CD have been investigated by molecular modeling techniques. The results obtained indicate that β-CDs are a promising carriers for improving the properties of TAs, therefore increasing their application potential in agrochemical formulations. Graphic abstract


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