Brazil nuts a non-timber potential: Uncertainties and investments

The Brazil nut is one of the main non-timber forest products in Brazil, but its price fluctuations generate uncertainties and risks for both extractivists and investors. Econometric models or other simpler methods can estimate price changes and indicate the investment attractiveness of the Brazil nut. The objective of the present study was to analyze the risk-return relationship and the export price for both volatility of the Brazil nut over a 15 years period. The historical series of Brazil nut export prices, shelled and unshelled nuts, was evaluated from 2002 to 2016. The geometric growth rate and the variation coefficient indicate the return and risk respectively, associated with its price series. The price volatility of shelled and unshelled Brazil nuts was estimated with the standard deviation of the price series and with generalized models of ARCH (GARCH, EGARCH and TARCH). The shelled or unshelled Brazil nut coefficient increased over 15 years, with a low risk-return ratio. The shelled Brazil nut volatility was lower in the 2002 to 2006, 2007 to 2011 and 2012 to 2016 periods than for the unshelled nut when estimated by the standard deviation method than for the unshelled nut. The shelled Brazil nut price was higher from 2002 to 2016, with low volatility and persistent shocks. The estimate of the shelled and unshelled Brazil nut price volatility was better with the TARCH and the EGARCH models, respectively.

Effects of a Brazilian cardioprotective diet and nuts on cardiometabolic parameters after myocardial infarction: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial

Background Nut consumption has been related to improvements on cardiometabolic parameters and reduction in the severity of atherosclerosis mainly in primary cardiovascular prevention. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effects of the Brazilian Cardioprotective Diet (DIetaCArdioprotetoraBrasileira, DICA Br) based on consumption of inexpensive locally accessible foods supplemented or not with mixed nuts on cardiometabolic features in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI). Methods DICA-NUTS study is a national, multicenter, randomized 16-week follow-up clinical trial. Patients over 40 years old with diagnosis of previous MI in the last 2 to 6 months will be recruited (n = 388). A standardized questionnaire will be applied to data collection and blood samples will be obtained. Patients will be allocated in two groups: Group 1: DICA Br supplemented with 30 g/day of mixed nuts (10 g of peanuts, 10 g of cashew, 10 g of Brazil nuts); and Group 2: only DICA Br. The primary outcome will consist of LDL cholesterol means (in mg/dL) after 16 weeks of intervention. Secondary outcomes will consist of other markers of lipid profile, glycemic profile, and anthropometric data. Discussion It is expected that DICA Br supplemented with mixed nuts have superior beneficial effects on cardiometabolic parameters in patients after a MI, when compared to DICA Br. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03728127. First register: November 1, 2018; Last update: June 16, 2021. World Health Organization Universal Trial Number (WHO-UTN): U1111-1259-8105.

Design of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Containing Cymbopogon martinii (Palmarosa) Essential Oil against Aspergillus nomius

Palmarosa essential oil (PEO) is an alternative to synthetic fungicides to control the contamination by food-deteriorating fungi, such as Aspergillus nomius. Nonetheless, the low long-term stability and volatility hamper its utilization. Thus, this study aimed to develop nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) containing PEO to improve its stability and consequently prolong the activity against A. nomius. A mixture design was applied to find the best preparation conditions for antifungal activity. The characterization analyses included size measurements, zeta potential (ζ-potential), entrapment efficiency (EE), and antifungal activity (by inhibition of mycelial growth (IMG) and/or in situ test (pre-contaminated Brazil nuts) tests). The nanocarriers presented particle sizes smaller than 300 nm, homogeneous size distribution, ζ-potential of −25.19 to −41.81 mV, and EE between 73.6 and 100%. The formulations F5 and F10 showed the highest IMG value (98.75%). Based on the regression model, three optimized formulations (OFs) were tested for antifungal activity (IMG and in situ test), which showed 100% of inhibition and prevented the deterioration of Brazil nuts by A. nomius. The preliminary stability test showed the maintenance of antifungal activity and physicochemical characteristics for 90 days. These results suggest a promising system as a biofungicide against A. nomius.

Biomonitoring aflatoxin B1 exposure of residents from the Amazon region: a pilot study

The present study was a pilot study that aimed to evaluate the occurrence of aflatoxins (AF) in the human diets and its presence in human urine as a metabolite (aflatoxin M1; AFM1). Volunteers from the Amazon region were evaluated before and after the consumption of 2 Brazil nuts/day for thirty days. At the end of 30 days (t=30) without the consumption of Brazil nuts, 9 samples (30%) were positive for AFM1. After 30 days (t=30) consuming 2 Brazil nuts per day, there was a reduction to 2 positive samples (7%). Questionnaires were also applied to volunteers, and the foods most often cited as consumed in their normal diet were cereals and bovine milk. However, there was no statistical relationship between these foods and the levels of AFM1 in the urine or in relation to those who already consumed Brazil nuts in culinary preparations or derived products. Despite the reduction of positive samples for AFM1 after 30 days of Brazil nut consumption, we suggest further studies regarding the clinical condition and genetics of individuals from the Amazon region, as well as the nutrient levels of the diet, e.g. for selenium, and which may protect the human body against aflatoxins.

Survival of Salmonella Enteritidis Phage Type 30 on Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds stored at 8, 23, and 37°C.

Experiments were performed to assess the survival of Salmonella on whole Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds stored at 8ºC, 23ºC, and 37ºC. Brazil nut kernels and pumpkin seeds were inoculated with bacterial inoculum containing 10.4 Log 10 CFU/ml of Salmonella Enteritidis Phage Type 30 ( S E PT30) and then aseptically dried at room temperature for 24 hrs. After the drying step, levels of Salmonella recovered from Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds were 8.67±0.01 and 9.27±0.03Log 10 CFU/g, respectively. The survival of Salmonella and change in water activity was assessed over a total of 413 days. Although Salmonella survived throughout the storage period, significant differences were recorded between the storage temperatures. Results showed that the survival of S E PT30 was more enhanced at 8ºC as compared to storage at 23ºC and 37ºC. Comparing the survival of Salmonella on the two products at different storage temperatures, there was no significant difference between the means of Salmonella counts for the two products. Although results show that Salmonella survived longer on pumpkin seeds stored at 8ºC (P=0.53, as compared to Brazil nuts) and at 23 and 37ºC Salmonella survived longer on Brazil nuts (P=0.12, as compared to pumpkin seeds). The highest and lowest survival of Salmonella was observed on pumpkin seeds with decay rates of -0.003±0.001 and -0.015±0.001 Log10 cfu/g per day for pumpkin seeds stored at 8 and 37ºC, respectively. The water activity values recorded at day 2 and day 413 for Brazil nuts stored at 8ºC, 23ºC, and 37ºC were 0.424 and 0.434, 0.383 and 0.385 and, 0.372 and 0.256, respectively. For pumpkin seeds stored at 8ºC, 23ºC, and 37ºC water activity values recorded at day 2 and day 413 were 0.754 and 0.412, 0.627 and 0.350 and, 0.787 and 0.205, respectively. The data obtained in this study provide useful insight on the influence of temperature on the survival of Salmonella on the surface of Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds.

Contamination by Aflatoxins B/G in Food and Commodities Imported in Southern Italy from 2017 to 2020: A Risk-Based Evaluation

This study reports the results of aflatoxins B/G monitoring in food of vegetal origin, imported in Southern Italy from extra-European Union countries. From 2017 to 2020, we analyzed 1675 samples using an accredited HPLC method with fluorescence detection. We found out 295 samples (17.6%) were contaminated by aflatoxin B1, 204 by aflatoxins B/G (12.2%), while 75 (4.5%) resulted non-compliant to maximum limits set by the European Union law. Most of the batches tested were unprocessed food; the distribution of contamination levels, incidence of non-compliant samples, inference for different kinds of food are reported. The study focuses on the food more susceptible to contamination by aflatoxins; nuts are the food more controlled, showing the higher number of non-compliant samples. Our study confirms that pistachio nuts, hazelnuts and almonds are the major sources of exposure for consumers. Still, other products, such as chili pepper and Brazil nuts, need to get more information about their contamination levels. The study’s findings are discussed in the perspective of the last opinion by EFSA about chronic exposure to aflatoxins. A case study to evaluate not compliance of a composed food to the European Union law is reported.