Inactivation Kinetics of Coxiella burnetii During High-Temperature Short-Time Pasteurization of Milk

The Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii is the causative organism of the zoonosis Q fever and is known for its resistance toward various intra- and extracellular stressors. Infected ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats can shed the pathogen in their milk. Pasteurization of raw milk was introduced for the inactivation of C. burnetii and other milk-borne pathogens. Legal regulations for the pasteurization of milk are mostly based on recommendations of the Codex Alimentarius. As described there, C. burnetii is considered as the most heat-resistant non-spore-forming bacterial pathogen in milk and has to be reduced by at least 5 log10-steps during the pasteurization process. However, the corresponding inactivation data for C. burnetii originate from experiments performed more than 60 years ago. Recent scientific findings and the technological progress of modern pasteurization equipment indicate that C. burnetii is potentially more effectively inactivated during pasteurization than demanded in the Codex Alimentarius. In the present study, ultra-high heat-treated milk was inoculated with different C. burnetii field isolates and subsequently heat-treated in a pilot-plant pasteurizer. Kinetic inactivation data in terms of D- and z-values were determined and used for the calculation of heat-dependent log reduction. With regard to the mandatory 5 log10-step reduction of the pathogen, the efficacy of the established heat treatment regime was confirmed, and, in addition, a reduction of the pasteurization temperature seems feasible.

Correlação entre o índice de acidez e peróxido em óleos de peixe

Entre os anos de 2005 a 2012, o óleo de peixe encapsulado foi o suplemento alimentar mais consumido na Europa e nos Estados Unidos, em 2020 ocupou a terceira posição. No Brasil, o consumo deste suplemento alimentar ocupa a posição de quarto lugar, atrás dos suplementos vitamínicos e minerais. A suscetibilidade da peroxidação lipídica nos alimentos depende da composição lipídica, da presença de pró-oxidantes e antioxidantes, níveis de oxigênio, temperatura, luz e métodos de processamento, ou seja, alimentos ricos em AGPI são mais suscetíveis à oxidação lipídica. Este trabalho teve como objetivo quantificar os índices de acidez e peróxido nos óleos de peixe e verificar a correlação destas variáveis. Foram analisadas 20 amostras de óleos de peixe encapsulados coletadas pelas Vigilâncias Sanitárias do Estado de São Paulo. As metodologias utilizadas foram fundamentadas no Livro de Normas do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, realizadas por titulação potenciométrica. Todos os óleos de peixe analisados estavam de acordo com o limite estabelecido pelo Codex Alimentarius para o índice de acidez, mas para o índice de peróxido apenas 4 amostras estavam abaixo do limite. Não foi verificada correlação entre índice de acidez e o peróxido. O monitoramento constante dos óleos de peixe é de extrema importância, devido ao estado de oxidação verificado, e ser muito consumido pela população.

La producción y su optimice la línea producción de agua

El presente proyecto se desarrolla debido a su importancia teórico práctico para la empresa Envasadora de agua LiquiAgua por ser una herramienta que permitirá controlar los costos del proceso productivo y por ende conocer la rentabilidad de la empresa. En la medida en que la competitividad es cada vez mayor, la posibilidad de obtener más utilidades con aumentos de precios es cada vez más difícil, por esto la disminución de los costos se ha convertido en la forma más clara para generar mayores utilidades; por esto se dice que los costos son una buena fuente de ingreso y claro está sin que esta disminución de costos lleve a una disminución de la calidad del producto o servicio. Se tomará en cuenta todas las etapas de la producción desde la obtención de la materia prima hasta llegar al consumir final, para lograr un producto inocuo existen ciertos reglamentos que han sido adoptados en varios países para elaboración de productos. El MSF (Medidas Sanitarias y Fitosanitarias), OMC (Organización Mundial del comercio), y las normas del Codex Alimentarius confirman las medidas que se debe tomar para elaborar productos inocuos y poder comercializarlos.

Caractéristiques Physicochimiques Récoltés des Miels de la Sous-Préfecture de Cechi (Dans le Département D’Agboville, Côte D’Ivoire)

La caractérisation des miels en développement d’un pays est nécessaire pour leur valorisation. Cette étude est une contribution à la connaissance de la qualité des miels des forêts de la Côte d’Ivoire. Des échantillons de miel de cinq localités de la Sous-Préfecture de Cechi (Agboville) ont été étudiés. Les paramètres physicochimiques des miels ont été analysés pour vérifier leur conformité aux normes du Codex alimentarius. Ces analyses ont donné les valeurs moyennes suivantes : le pH est 3,55±0,46; la conductivité électrique (σ) est 98,01±31 μS/cm, l’acidité libre est 19,50±4,47 mEq/Kg ; la densité relative est 1,42±0,07 ; la teneur en eau est de 20,2±3,11%, les cendres représentent 0,18±0,11% et la teneur en sucre totale est de 78,31±0,19%. La plupart de ces paramètres sont conformes au Codex alimentarius, à l’exception des teneurs en sucres qui dépasse la limite maximale accepté. Cela traduit que les miels analysés sont issus de nectar trop sucrés. The characterisation of a country's developing honeys is necessary for their valorisation. This study is a contribution of the knowledge of the Ivory Coast forests honeys quality. Honey samples from five localities of the Sub-Prefecture of Cechi (Agboville) were studied. The physicochemical parameters of the honeys were analyzed to verify their conformity to the standards of the Codex alimentarius. These analyses yielded the following average values: pH is 3.55±0.46; electrical conductivity (σ) is 98.01±31 μS/cm, free acidity is 19.50±4.47 mEq/Kg ; relative density is 1.42±0.07 ; water content is 20.2±3.11%, ash represents 0.18±0.11% and total sugar content is 78.31±0.19%. Most of these parameters are in conformity with the Codex Alimentarius, except for the sugar content which exceeds the maximum accepted limit. This means that the analyzed honeys are made from nectar with too much sugar.

From the Beehives: Identification and Comparison of Physicochemical Properties of Algerian Honey

In this study, the authors aimed at characterizing 11 Algerian kinds of honey taken from various geographical locations (beehives located at Djelfa (Medjbara and Dzaira), Laghouat, Aflou, Medea, Tiaret, Sidi bel-Abbes, Tiaret, Ain-Safra, Mostaganem, El Bayadh, and Ghardïa). The authors investigated the physicochemical parameters of these honey samples, including density, water content, electrical conductivity, ash content, pH, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, free acidity, and color. The physicochemical parameters obtained were found to be within acceptable ranges according to the international standards (Codex Alimentarius) for 9 out of 11 analyzed samples: density 1.38–1.50 g/cm3 (the same as kg/L, as commonly used for honey), water content 14.03–18.80%, electrical conductivity 0.38 × 10−1 − 6.41 × 10−1 mS/cm, ash content 0.06–0.48%, pH 3.50–4.50, free acidity 11–47 meq/kg, and color 1.1–9.2 Pfund index. Analysis of HMF content showed that only two honey samples have high values (117.7 and 90.0 meq/kg). Most samples of Algerian honey are of suitable quality according to international standards.

Evaluación de cadmio y plomo en almendras de cacao por espectroscopia de absorción atómica

El objetivo de la investigación es evaluar la concentración de cadmio y plomo en testa y cotiledón de almendras de cacao, para determinar en qué parte de la almendra existe mayor acumulación de estos metales, el método aplicado para la cuantificación de cadmio y plomo fue la espectroscopia de absorción atómica en horno de grafito, también se determinó parámetros físicos-químicos como humedad, pH y acidez; las muestras de cacao fueron recolectadas en 5 fincas productoras ubicadas en el sector La Adelina, cantón Balao. En los resultados obtenidos se determinó un porcentaje de humedad menor al 2% con respecto a las muestras de las 5 fincas; el pH es inversamente proporcional con la acidez, en la finca 1 la testa fue la que presentó un pH mayor de 3,34 con un porcentaje de acidez bajo de 2,4%. En lo que corresponde a la evaluación de metales pesados, se determinaron una ligera concentración de cadmio y plomo en la testa del cacao, los cuales se encuentran dentro de los límites permisibles por el Códex Alimentarius. Sin embargo se debe tener un control ya que a futuro dichos resultados podrían verse influenciados por la acumulación de estos metales

Mycotoxins in Foodstuffs: Case of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A in Dry Okra and Cassava Chips Marketed in Daloa (Côte d’Ivoire)

The mycotoxins are toxic composites frequently found in foodstuffs causing some damages to consumers. This current study has been realised in order to estimate the content of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A in dry okra and cassava chips frequently consumed by the population of Daloa. The analysis by chromatography in the liquid phase at high performance has shown that these foodstuffs contain Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A. These results reveal an average content of : 2.58 ± 3.65 µg/Kg and 3.08 ± 5.04 µg/Kg for the Aflatoxin B1 ; 1.06 ± 0.86 µg/Kg and 0.61±0.24 µg/Kg for the Ochratoxin A respectively in the flour of cassava chips and the powder of dry okra. These concentrations are somewhat to higher than those allowed by the norm of Codex Alimentarius. Under this form, the consumption of these foodstuffs by the population expose them at risk of diseases.

Physico-chemical properties and microbiological status of admixture and single-hive honey produced in Ghana

Honey is commonly used as a food sweetener in Ghana and it is one of the most important food products with enormous nutritive benefits. In recent times, the increasing concern about sugar related diseases such as diabetes has led to increased consumption of honey in Ghana. This study assessed the physico-chemical properties and microbiological quality of honey collected from supermarkets and apiaries across six major agro-ecological zones of Ghana. In all, 57 honey samples were analyzed for pH, colour, solid sugars and moisture contents, whereas 46 samples were assessed for their microbiological status. The results showed that honey produced in Ghana had significantly wider variations in pH, moisture (p=0.000), solid sugar (0.000) and RI (0.000) within and across the six agro-ecological zones. Similarly, wider variations of these indices occurred between honey harvested from single hives and the admixtures. The results also showed that most of the honey produced in Ghana are characteristically amber in colour, while fewer samples appear black. Honey from the Northern region had the widest variation in colour, ranging from light amber to black. Most of the honeys studied (66.7% of samples) contained solid sugar contents which is either below the CODEX Alimentarius recommendation of 80 %, while 33.3% of the samples contained levels within the recommended ranges. Moreover, the admixture had higher solid sugar contents than single hive honey. About 66% of the honey studied had moisture content above the 20% recommended by USDA and Codex Alimentarius. In addition, the single hive honeys had higher moisture contents than the admixture honeys. The results also revealed that admixtures possess higher RIs than single hive honey. The honey samples assessed in this study were contaminated with bacteria (Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Citrobacter amalonaticus, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Providencia rettgeri, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis) and fungi genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Mucor. Further, 45% of the total samples were above the USDA acceptable limits of microorganisms considered safe for foods and honey. Moreover, significant levels of bacterial and fungal contamination of honey samples; significantly high means of bacterial counts were observed in honey from both admixture and apiaries than fungi. Interestingly, Clostridium botulinum was isolated from a few samples of honey. Only 7% of the total honey samples from Greater Accra, Western, Volta, Eastern and Northern regions contained Clostridium botulinum and this was the first time this organism is being reported in the country. However, contamination levels were below USDA acceptable limits of 1 x 104 CFU per gram for detected samples. Therefore, the honey studied can be considered safe for consumption. This notwithstanding, the study has demonstrated the need for monitoring the quality of honey produced in the country to ensure the safety of consumers.

BEE HONEY: HISTORY, CHARACTERISTICS, PROPERTIES, BENEFITS AND ADULTERATION IN THE BEEKEEPING SECTOR

This review aims to share the history of bees and the use of honey as the only natural sweetener available to mankind for more than 40,000 years. At the same time, the characteristic of the beekeeping sector is presented, highlighting the top honey producers worldwide. The botanical origin of honey is the basis for the characterization of the 14 types of honey presented. Honey standards were analyzed to provide an overview of quality and physico-chemical indices. The data indicated in the national and regional honey standard are identical to the data for the international Codex Alimentarius standard. After the comparative analysis of these 3 sources, no significant deviations were identified. The tendencies of using honey from ancient times as a nutritious food product, as a preservative, as a medicine for treating various diseases and for performing certain rituals, etc. were highlighted. At the same time, the population must be encouraged to consume this incomparable bee product.