Search

In the food matrix are involved very elemental products like water to other more complex like, for example, processed and non processed, vegetables and dairy products. All these matrix pass very restrictive controls and a intensive monitoring during the processing time to evaluate their safety and quality. The early detection of the contamination is critical to preserve the consumer's health and to avoid economic losses for the industry. On the other hand, microorganisms are part of a wide range and significant managing process, like fermentations used since ancient times and applied to many different matrix. One of this group of microorganism are Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) that play a different role, fermentative or contaminant, depending on the matrix where are founded. Electronic Noses (ENs) has shown to be a very effective and fast tool for monitoring microbiological spoilage and food quality control. The ability of this instrument can also be used for the selection of the most appropriate species or strains for a determinate purpose. The aim of this study was essay the ability of a novel EN for the detection of bacterial presence in water and other foodstuff in cooperation with classical microbiological and chemical techniques like Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry with SPME (GC-MS-SPME). The achieved results notably advocate the use of EN in industry laboratories like a very important tool in quality control. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the last few years Electronic Noses (ENs) have been revealed to be a very effective and fast tool for monitoring the microbiological spoilage and food quality control. European regulations report the maximum concentration of mycotoxins permitted in green coffee beans. The aim of this study was to test the ability of a novel EN, equipped with an array of MOX gas sensors based on thin films as well as nanowires, to early detect mold contaminations from Aspergillus spp., in cooperation with classical microbiological and chemical techniques like Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectroscopy with SPME technique. In general the selection of the green coffee is controlled by visual inspection of shape, color and size. However, this process in often not enough to prevent the entrance in the food chains of contaminated products. We have demonstrated that the novel EN is able to early detect the qualitative and quantitative differences between contaminate and uncontaminated samples. Achieved results vividly recommend the use of our EN as a quality control tool in coffee producer industry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Electronic Noses (ENs) are attracting a relevant interest as valuable monitoring tool in several fields, between which the food industry, with special emphasis on microbial contamination detection on food products. Herein we present the ability of an Electronic Nose to early identify the fungi contamination in green coffee. The detection of mold in green coffee was achieved thanks to the cooperative use of different chemical and microbiological (fenotipic) techniques aimed to detect the secondary metabolites. Obtained results strongly recommend the use of the ENs as screening tools in industrial quality control laboratories, emphasizing at the same time some limits still affecting the sensor technology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]