Research Publications (Food Safety)

Background Fungal contamination in food products leads to mustiness, biochemical changes, and undesirable odor, which results in lower food quality and market value. In order to develop a rapid method for fungi detection, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was applied to identify five fungi inoculated on plates (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus ochraceus).

Background The relationship between dietary acrylamide intake and renal cell carcinoma risk is inconclusive. In consideration of the recent findings, we conducted an updated meta‐analysis to assess the association between acrylamide intake and renal cell carcinoma risk. Results (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane) database have been used to identify epidemiological study on dietary acrylamide intake and renal cell carcinoma risk.

Background Nitric oxide (NO) donors have been used to control biofilm formation. NO can be delivered in situ using organic carriers and act as a signaling molecule. Cells exposed to NO shift from biofilm to the planktonic state and are better exposed to the action of disinfectants.

Background Aphids are common insect pests that feed on and excrete feces/honeydew on storage vegetables, especially in the temperate region of the northern hemisphere. The honeydew of aphids is an excellent growth medium for microorganisms.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the influence of harvesting time and meteorological conditions on the occurrence of Fusarium spp. and mycotoxins in the grain of spring cereals. A field experiment was performed in 2016–2018 in spring oat (Avena sativa L.) and spring triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm.) plots.

Grafting of vegetable seedlings is a unique horticultural technology, practiced for more than 5 decades, to overcome problems associated with intensive cultivation on limited arable land. Grafting can protect vegetables against soil‐borne diseases and nematodes, against abiotic stresses such as high or low temperatures, salinity, drought or excessive soil‐water content, and against elevated soil concentrations of heavy metals and organic pollutants.

BACKGROUND Cereal seeds, such as maize seeds, are frequently contaminated with Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), one of the most dangerous naturally occurring carcinogens. In plants, phenolamides are involved in biotic stress response. The data on variations of phenolamides in AFB1 containing seeds are limited. RESULTS Five polyamine conjugates, including two spermidine and three putrescine conjugates, were tentatively identified in methanolic extracts, using HPLC‐DAD‐MS.

BACKGROUND Pesticides are extensively used worldwide to control plant pathogens and prevent agricultural product damage. However, they can pollute the environment and endanger human health. So far, a variety of sample preparation methods have been developed for pesticide residues analysis.

BACKGROUND Contamination of foods or environments by fungi, especially those resistant to conventional fungicides or drugs, represents a hazard to human health. The objective of this study is to identify safe, natural antifungal agents that can rapidly remove fungal pathogens or contaminants from food and/or environmental sources. RESULTS Fifteen antifungal compounds (nine benzo derivatives as candidates; six conventional fungicides as references) were investigated.

Biofilm‐forming Bacillus species are often involved in persistent contamination and spoilage of dairy products. Therefore, they present a major microbiological challenge in the field of dairy food quality and safety. Due to a vast physiological versatility, Bacillus species can survive in various sections of dairy manufacturing plants, leading to high risk in product spoilage and potential dissemination of foodborne diseases.

Background Many foods contain proteins and polyphenols, but there is a poor understanding of the nature of the inhibitory effect of protein on the biologic activity of polyphenols. The inhibitory mechanism of the food protein lactoferrin on the antibacterial activity of oligomeric ellagitannin oenothein B (OeB) was investigated using fluorescence quenching, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism (CD) measurement and molecular docking.

BACKGROUND In the last years, there is a concern about the presence of pesticides in honey since residues of DDT and carbaryl were found in honey samples. The traditional techniques, such as chromatography, reach the required limits of detection (LOD) but are not suitable for in‐situ implementation in honey packaging industry due to their high cost and the need of highly qualified staff for routine operation.

BACKGROUND In this study, we evaluated the combined effect of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) microemulsions and a temperature buffering package using phase change material (PCM) microcapsules on the physicochemical property, lipid oxidation and bacterial load of traditional Chinese pork balls (Shi Zi Tou) during temperature fluctuation storage for 9 days.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have recorded a high prevalence of intestinal parasites in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) destined for human consumption. This study determined the prevalence of contamination by intestinal parasites in these two plants sold in two street markets and two supermarkets in the city of Belém, northern Brazil. RESULTS A total of 200 plant samples were analyzed (100 of each species).

BACKGROUND Common bean is a staple food in Latin America and Africa, however, studies about contamination of common bean with pesticides are rarely reported. So, the goals of this study were to validate a multiresidue method and apply it in monitoring of pesticides in common beans. Extraction was performed applying QuEChERS approach to ground samples. C18 and PSA were used for clean‐up and a solvent exchange step was performed before injection into the GC–MS/MS.

Background Heavy metal contamination in water and agricultural products is a major concern that causes risks for human health. This article describes a highly selective approach to preconcentrate Co(II) ions based on the standard UV‐Vis measurement of Co(II)‐PAN complex at λ = 628 nm in water and nut samples. In this method, magnetic SiO2 (mSiO2) was utilized as a practical sorbent and 1‐(2‐pyridylazo)‐2‐naphthol (PAN) was employed as a complexing agent in the elution step.

Over the course of the last few years, the consumption of insects, known as entomophagy, has sparked increasing interest amongst scientists and environmentalists as a potential solution to the inevitable global food security and sustainability issues humans will be facing in the coming years. Despite the fact that insects have been an integral part of over 2 billion people's diet worldwide, the concept of eating insects is still new to Western culture.

BACKGROUND Pistachio fruits suffer from postharvest decay, caused by Aspergillus flavus, resulted in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation in kernels, which is hazardous for human health due to its carcinogenic activity. In this study, the mechanism recruited by exogenous β‐aminobutyric acid (BABA) treatment for attenuating Aspergillus decay, minimizing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation and maintaining nutritional quality in fresh in hull pistachio kernels, infected by A.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND A new type of deep eutectic solvent based on three components using phosphate salts has been synthesized, characterized, and applied in the extraction of eight organothiophosphate pesticides from honey samples. In the present study, the deep eutectic solvent was prepared from phosphocholine choline chloride as a hydrogen bond acceptor and dichloroacetic acid and decanoic acid as hydrogen bond donors.

Background In this study, the development of IR based‐prediction method for easy, fast and non‐destructive detection of pesticide residue levels measured by reference analysis in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch, Cv. Albion) samples using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and demonstrating its potential alternative or complementary use instead of traditional pesticide determination methods were aimed.

Postharvest techniques are widely used for the handling and storage of fresh horticultural crops. Some of these techniques are interesting for use with wine grapes to improve the quality of wine. In this review, we consider the postharvest techniques that are already commercially used in the wine sector and others that may be significant in inducing or extracting the aroma from grapes to produce high‐quality wines.

Food safety is a very complex issue. The food that reaches the plate from the farm is exposed to many hazards in processing methods and each of those steps is likely to contribute, indirectly or directly, to contaminants and pathogens that ultimately make the food unsafe. Consumers would always wish for 100% product safety; even regulators want to ensure 100% safety of the product and protect consumers.

Background Dairy farming feed can be contaminated with mycotoxins, affecting animals' health and milk quality. Dairy farming is also prone to occupational exposure to mycotoxins, and feed is recognized as a source of contamination in the workplace. An exploratory study was developed in a dairy farm located in Portugal intending to assess the mycotoxins present in the feed.

Background Fungicides are often applied to pears before kept in storage facilities. Scientific application of pesticides can reduce unnecessary exposure, which in turn could benefit both humans and the environment. Results We investigated dissipation behavior, residue distribution and conducted risk assessments for prochloraz, pyraclostrobin, and tebuconazole in pears stored under different conditions using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography.

BACKGROUND A new growing interest solvent named deep eutectic solvent has been prepared and used as an extraction solvent in the dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method. In order to prepare the solvent, dichloroacetic acid, L–menthol, and n–butanol at a molar ratio of 4: 1: 1 are mixed and after heating the deep eutectic solvent is formed.