The COMPARE Database: A Public Resource for Allergen Identification, Adapted for Continuous Improvement

Motivation: The availability of databases identifying allergenic proteins via a transparent and consensus-based scientific approach is of prime importance to support the safety review of genetically-modified foods and feeds, and public safety in general. Over recent years, screening for potential new allergens sequences has become more complex due to the exponential increase of genomic sequence information. To address these challenges, an international collaborative scientific group coordinated by the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI), was tasked to develop a contemporary, adaptable, high-throughput process to build the COMprehensive Protein Allergen REsource (COMPARE) database, a publicly accessible allergen sequence data resource along with bioinformatics analytical tools following guidelines of FAO/WHO and CODEX Alimentarius Commission.Results: The COMPARE process is novel in that it involves the identification of candidate sequences via automated keyword-based sorting algorithm and manual curation of the annotated sequence entries retrieved from public protein sequence databases on a yearly basis; its process is meant for continuous improvement, with updates being transparently documented with each version; as a complementary approach, a yearly key-word based search of literature databases is added to identify new allergen sequences that were not (yet) submitted to protein databases; in addition, comments from the independent peer-review panel are posted on the website to increase transparency of decision making; finally, sequence comparison capabilities associated with the COMPARE database was developed to evaluate the potential allergenicity of proteins, based on internationally recognized guidelines, FAO/WHO and CODEX Alimentarius Commission

Enhanced Control of the Fungus Gnat Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) by Co-Application of Clothianidin and Hexaflumuron

The fungus gnat is a major pest of chive in China. Its control has been relied heavily on the application of clothianidin. Due to the intensive application, its control efficacy become reduced. The present study was intended to evaluate co-drenching of clothianidin with hexaflumuron on absorption and dissipation of clothianidin in chive plants and soils and determine the effect of such application on control efficacies. Chive production fields in Guangdong and Hubei Provinces were drenched with clothianidin alone and a mixture of clothianidin and hexaflumuron at low application rates. Concentrations of clothianidin in chive plants and soils were analyzed by HPLC. Results showed that co-application had higher control efficacies against the fungus gnat than clothianidin alone. The co-application enhanced clothianidin absorption and dissipation and extended the half-lives of clothianidin in chive. It was likely that hexaflumuron protected chive roots from larva damage, and healthy roots absorbed more clothianidin, resulting in the extension of the half-lives. Additionally, the terminal residues of clothianidin in chive after 14 days of application were lower than the maximum residue limit in chive set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. This study for the first time documented that co-application of clothianidin and hexaflumuron improved chive plants in absorption and dissipation of clothianidin and enhanced fungus gnat control efficacies.

Food Safety, Coronavirus and Risk Prevention: Future Perspectives in Four Proposals

COVID-19 is a zoonosis, a disease transmitted by an animal to humans. The diffusion of the outbreak is therefore born of an unsuitable, insufficient, excessively permissive food safety system. Hence, the regulation of food safety plays a central role in the protection of health and has done so on a global scale. The overall regulation of food safety therefore requires an increase in the level of health protection, even at the expense of commercial prerogatives. For these purposes, four reform measures are suggested: to transform the Codex Alimentarius Commission into an organisation that adopts international standards with the sole purpose of protecting health; to apply the precautionary principle on a global scale and in international organisations; to strengthen the mandatory labelling tool; and to create a worldwide system of controls.

Gluten hypersensitivities and their impact on the production of gluten-free beer

This article consists of a study of the literature and an assessment of available data on the production of gluten-free beer and its constituents. The article shows how the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission for Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses defines celiac disease, gluten-free products, and gluten-free beer. It describes diet-dependent diseases, which require a gluten-free diet, and groups of potential consumers of gluten-free beer. This article describes the use of oats as a raw material for the production of brewing malt and its usefulness in the production of beer. It specifies how the technological process of standard beer production needs to be modified so that the product meets the requirements of patients with celiac disease. The article also provides an overview of literature data on the production of gluten-free beer from pseudocereal malts, such as sorghum malt, buckwheat malt, amaranth malt, and quinoa malt.

Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Fresh Vegetables from Three Major Markets in Lagos Using QuEChERS Method and GC-MS

The study evaluates pesticide residues in fresh vegetables from three major markets in Lagos and verified compliance of these fresh vegetables with the maximum residue levels (MRLs) as specified by Codex Alimentarius Commission. The residues were extracted by means of multi residue method based on the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method, Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine two organophosphates (dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos), two organochlorines (endosulfanII and chlorothalonil), two carbamates (carbaryl and carbofuran) and two pyrethroids(alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin). Fifteen samples of five common vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, fluted pumpkin, bitter leaf and African spinach) were analyzed. The linear ranged used were 0.005, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0mg/l, resulting to r2 of ≥0.996. While the mean recoveries obtained for two fortification levels (0.1 and 0.25 ppm) in three replicates for lettuce control sample and spinach control sample were 96.7 to 104.3%, 96.3 to 101.3%, and 92.0 to 114.3% ,92.1 to102.1% respectively. A satisfactory precision of RSD<20% was recorded. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of Quantitation (LOQ) were between 0.005 -0.050 mg/kg and 0.015-0.150 mg/kg respectively. Pesticide residues detected ranges from 0.025-0.529 mg/kg. EndosulfanII, Chlorothalonil, carbaryl and Carbofuran were not detected during the entire study. However, pesticide residues detected were below the MRLs specified by Codex Alimentarius Commission.

COMPARING BREASTFEEDING AND FEEDING WITH INFANT FORMULA

Global guidelines for infant formula say the ingredients are supposed to be those “which have been proved to be suitable for infant feeding.” “Proven” has not been defined, so there has not been any authoritative proof of suitability. Assessment of infant formula has focused on its ingredients. Globally, the Codex Alimentarius Commission has set out a list of ingredients that should be in all infant formula, while also giving national governments the option to introduce some variations within that framework. As illustrated by the practice in the United States, infant formula that includes the ingredients specified in the global guidelines and in national law is described as nutritionally adequate. This is not good enough. The gold standard against which infant formula should be compared is optimal breastfeeding. The comparison should be based not on examination of formula’s ingredients but on examination of its performance. Does infant formula do what it is supposed to do? Does feeding with any particular type of infant formula protect the health of infants and their mothers as well as breastfeeding? If not, it is not functionally adequate. Some might argue that while infant formula is not quite as good as breastfeeding for protecting infants’ health, it is not much worse. Families might have their own reasons for feeding their infants with formula. There is a need for serious discussion of the gap between breastfeeding and feeding with formula and about the degree to which considerations other than the infant’s health might play a role. New parents should be supported in making wise, well-informed choices about how they will feed their infants.