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In recent decades, analytical techniques have increasingly focused on the precise quantification. Achieving this goal has been accomplished with conventional analytical approaches that typically require extensive pretreatment methods, significant reagent usage, and expensive instruments. The need for rapid, simple, and highly selective identification platforms has become increasingly pronounced. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has emerged as a promising avenue for developing advanced sensors that can potentially surpass the limitations of conventional detection methods. In recent years, the application of MIP-silica materials-based sensors has garnered significant attention owing to their distinctive characteristics. These types of probes hold a distinct advantage in their remarkable stability and durability, all of which provide a suitable sensing platform in severe environments. Moreover, the substrate composed of silica materials offers a vast surface area for binding, thereby facilitating the efficient detection of even minuscule concentrations of targets. As a result, sensors based on MIP-silica materials have the potential to be widely applied in various industries, including medical diagnosis, and food safety. In the present review, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of the latest research developments in the field of MIPs-silica materials based sensors, with a focus on succinctly summarizing and elucidating the most crucial findings. This is the first comprehensive review of integration MIPs with silica materials in electrochemical (EC) and optical probes for biomedical analysis and food safety., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Phthalates have been characterized as endocrine disruptors and migrated from plastic products for food use. The migration of five phthalates: di‐butylphthalate (DBP), butyl‐benzyl‐phthalate (BBP), bis(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), di‐isononylphthalate (DINP) and di‐isodecylphthalate (DIDP), from various plastic products for food use into different food simulant (3% acetic acid, 10% ethyl alcohol and oil) through different polymer coating [(polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PETE)] was studied. This study showed that phthalates are found in all plastic products for food use that are common in Turkey. DBP, DINP and DIDP were not detected or detected at lower levels than their limit of quantification (LOQ) values in all analyzed samples. The results showed that DEHP was the predominant phthalate in only acetic acid and ethyl alcohol food simulants, followed by BBP, found in only samples analyzed in ethyl alcohol simulants. The concentration of DEHP in the samples, higher than the LOQ value, was within 5.23–8.89 µg/kg, while BBP was only detected in ethyl alcohol simulant, ranging between 5.31 to 6.49 µg/kg. However, the concentration of DEHP and BBP did not exceed their specific migration limits established by Regulation of the Commission (EU) No. 10/2011: 0.6 mg/kg for DEHP and 6 mg/kg for BBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral flow assays (LFAs) offer some attractive features that are utilized as portable devices in food safety control. However, these platforms have faced challenges such as low specificity, poor detection ability, providing only semi-quantitative and qualitative results, limiting their practical uses. These challenges may sometimes produce false positive or false negative results, leading to unreliability. To address these challenges, many research groups have focused on improving their analytical performances, incorporating multiplex detection, and applying new strategies for quantitative detection. This review article discusses the application of new materials in fabricating LFAs for food safety control. It also explores the influence of various detection techniques, including optical and electrochemical in fabricating sensing probes for food control. The technology gaps of the portable LFAs, including the creation of high-throughput light sources and detectors for optical and sensitive electrochemical substrates to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, were discussed. By considering the advantages and disadvantages, investors are interested in giving priority to the development of commercial LFA-based platforms for food safety control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied food fraud detection and the reporting of suspected cases using a questionnaire survey and interviews with Finnish food control officers (FCOs). In total, 95 FCOs responded to the questionnaire, and 17 were interviewed. We found that even though many respondents had either suspected (69.2%) or detected (43.4%) food fraud or other food-related crime during the past five years, 46.8% thought they had no realistic chance of detecting food fraud during inspections. Challenges raised by the FCOs we interviewed included inadequate resources (8/17) and difficulties in inspecting documents or establishing their authenticity (14/17). Moreover, many interviewees highlighted difficulties in assessing whether to inform the police about a suspected case (7/17), and 62% (18/29) of respondents who had detected fraud had not reported it to the police. Training in food fraud detection, increased resources and guidelines on reporting suspected food fraud would improve food fraud detection and harmonize reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for natural food additives makes propolis an exciting alternative due to its known antimicrobial activity. This work aims to investigate propolis' behavior as a nitrite substitute ingredient in cooked ham (a ready-to-eat product) when confronted with pathogenic microorganisms of food interest. The microbial evolution of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Clostridium sporogenes inoculated at known doses was examined in different batches of cooked ham. The design of a challenge test according to their shelf life (45 days), pH values, and water activity allowed the determination of the mesophilic aerobic flora, psychotropic, and acid lactic bacteria viability. The test was completed with an organoleptic analysis of the samples, considering possible alterations in color and texture. The cooked ham formulation containing propolis instead of nitrites limited the potential growth (δ < 0.5 log10) of all the inoculated microorganisms until day 45, except for L. monocytogenes, which in turn exhibited a bacteriostatic effect between day 7 and 30 of the storage time. The sensory analysis revealed the consumer's acceptance of cooked ham batches including propolis as a natural additive. These findings suggest the functionality of propolis as a promising alternative to artificial preservatives for ensuring food safety and reducing the proliferation risk of foodborne pathogens in ready-to-eat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the response of food business operators (FBOs) to the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to food safety and FBOs' experiences of remote inspections performed by official food control. The study was conducted between November and December 2020 with a web-based questionnaire for food processing businesses in Finland. Most of the 60 responded FBOs had made changes to many own-check sectors such as working hygiene (83.4%) and preparedness for special situations (78.0%). Of the FBOs, 47.1–83.0% assessed that the changes in the own-check sectors had a positive impact on food safety and 43.2–100.0% believed that some of the changes would remain after the pandemic. Of the FBOs, 69.8% found on-site inspections at least partially replaceable with video inspection of the production areas. This study shows that, although the pandemic seriously interfered with food production, it also induced FBOs to take measures that promote food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers in developed and Western European countries are becoming more aware of the impact of food on their health, and they demand clear, transparent, and reliable information from the food industry about the products they consume. They recognise that food safety risks are often due to the unexpected presence of contaminants throughout the food supply chain. Among these, mycotoxins produced by food-infecting fungi, endogenous toxins from certain plants and organisms, pesticides, and other drugs used excessively during farming and food production, which lead to their contamination and accumulation in foodstuffs, are the main causes of concern. In this context, the goals of this review are to provide a comprehensive overview of the presence of toxic molecules reported in foodstuffs since 2020 through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal and use chromatography to address this challenge. Overall, natural toxins, environmental pollutants, and food-processing contaminants are the most frequently reported toxic molecules, and liquid chromatography and gas chromatography are the most reliable approaches for their control. However, faster, simpler, and more powerful analytical procedures are necessary to cope with the growing pressures on the food chain supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel nanocomposite based on bacterial cellulose (BC) modified by manganese sulfide (MnS) decorated graphene oxide (GO) was prepared. The hydrogel was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and adsorption/desorption techniques. The sorbent was employed for determining acrylamide in bread samples using micro‐solid‐phase extraction coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography. The extraction efficiency of prepared sorbent was 1.4‐fold higher than that of BC. The important extraction factors including elution conditions (acetonitrile 300 μL, 5 min), sorbent composition and mass (50 mg), adsorption time (7 min), sample solution pH (8), and salt effect (3% w/v) were considered for optimization of the method. The analytical merit was validated by assessing the preconcentration factor (178–225), limit of detection (1.56 μg/kg), limit of quantification (5.15 μg/kg), linearity (5.15–500 μg/kg), and determination coefficient (0.9845). The adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies demonstrated that the adsorption process followed the Langmuir model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetics. The relative recoveries and relative standard deviations were 84%–106% and 2.4%–9.2%, respectively. This paper is the first report on the fabrication and use of BC doped with MnS‐GO composite for extraction of acrylamide in typical commercial bread samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for natural food additives makes propolis an exciting alternative due to its known antimicrobial activity. This work aims to investigate propolis’ behavior as a nitrite substitute ingredient in cooked ham (a ready-to-eat product) when confronted with pathogenic microorganisms of food interest. The microbial evolution of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Clostridium sporogenes inoculated at known doses was examined in different batches of cooked ham. The design of a challenge test according to their shelf life (45 days), pH values, and water activity allowed the determination of the mesophilic aerobic flora, psychotropic, and acid lactic bacteria viability. The test was completed with an organoleptic analysis of the samples, considering possible alterations in color and texture. The cooked ham formulation containing propolis instead of nitrites limited the potential growth (δ < 0.5 log10) of all the inoculated microorganisms until day 45, except for L. monocytogenes, which in turn exhibited a bacteriostatic effect between day 7 and 30 of the storage time. The sensory analysis revealed the consumer’s acceptance of cooked ham batches including propolis as a natural additive. These findings suggest the functionality of propolis as a promising alternative to artificial preservatives for ensuring food safety and reducing the proliferation risk of foodborne pathogens in ready-to-eat products.

Cold chain disruption and refrigeration failures are common issues in the logistics of perishable food products. In these cases, the use of pallet covers should be very useful, delaying the increase of product temperatures inside the pallets until cooling conditions are restored. However, there are no studies about the performance of pallet covers in these types of situations, which could persist for hours. This paper evaluates the performance of three different types of cold chain covers versus having no cover for three different types of vegetables (chard, cucumbers, and carrots). A refrigeration failure during the cold chain was simulated. The three covers presented an improvement in temperature loss compared to the no-cover situation, with the average time for the temperature to increase from 4 to 10 °C with a cover being a range of 214 to 506 min, while for no cover, from 162 to 211 min. Relative humidity (RH) always presented improved preservation with a cover than with no cover, except for one case. The correlation between the thermal images and sensor temperatures was also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of chemical contaminants, toxins, or veterinary drugs in milk, as well as the adulteration of milk from different species, has driven the development of new tools to ensure safety and quality. Several analytical procedures have been proposed for the rapid screening of hazardous substances or the selective confirmation of the authenticity of milk. Mid-infrared spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared have been two of the most relevant technologies conventionally employed in the dairy industry. These fingerprint methodologies can be very powerful in determining the trait of raw material without knowing the identity of each constituent, and several aspects suggest their potential as a screening method to detect adulteration. This paper reviews the latest advances in applying mid-infrared spectroscopy for the detection and quantification of adulterants, milk dilution, the presence of pathogenic bacteria, veterinary drugs, and hazardous substances in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the occurrence of the artificial sweetener aspartame (E951) in foods and beverages sampled by food control authorities in Germany between 2000 and 2022. The dataset was obtained through the Consumer Information Act. Out of 53,116 samples analyzed, aspartame was present in 7331 samples (14%), of which 5703 samples (11%) in nine major food groups were further evaluated. The results showed that aspartame was most commonly found in powdered drink bases (84%), flavored milk drinks (78%), chewing gum (77%), and diet soft drinks (72%). In the solid food groups, the highest mean aspartame content was detected in chewing gum (1543 mg/kg, n = 241), followed by sports foods (1453 mg/kg, n = 125), fiber supplements (1248 mg/kg, n = 11), powdered drink bases (1068 mg/kg, n = 162), and candies (437 mg/kg, n = 339). Liquid products generally had the highest aspartame content in diet soft drinks (91 mg/L, n = 2021), followed by regular soft drinks (59 mg/L, n = 574), flavored milk drinks (48 mg/kg, n = 207), and mixed beer drinks (24 mg/L, n = 40). These results suggest that aspartame is commonly used in some foods and beverages in Germany. The levels of aspartame found were generally within the legal limits set by the European Union. These findings provide the first comprehensive overview of aspartame in the German food market and may be particularly useful in informing the forthcoming working groups of the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the WHO/FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which are in the process of evaluating the human health hazards and risks associated with the consumption of aspartame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers in developed and Western European countries are becoming more aware of the impact of food on their health, and they demand clear, transparent, and reliable information from the food industry about the products they consume. They recognise that food safety risks are often due to the unexpected presence of contaminants throughout the food supply chain. Among these, mycotoxins produced by food-infecting fungi, endogenous toxins from certain plants and organisms, pesticides, and other drugs used excessively during farming and food production, which lead to their contamination and accumulation in foodstuffs, are the main causes of concern. In this context, the goals of this review are to provide a comprehensive overview of the presence of toxic molecules reported in foodstuffs since 2020 through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal and use chromatography to address this challenge. Overall, natural toxins, environmental pollutants, and food-processing contaminants are the most frequently reported toxic molecules, and liquid chromatography and gas chromatography are the most reliable approaches for their control. However, faster, simpler, and more powerful analytical procedures are necessary to cope with the growing pressures on the food chain supply.

Bacillus cereus is a foodborne pathogen causing food safety issues due to the formation of difficult to eliminate spores and biofilms. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of B. cereus (conducted as part of monitoring in 2017-2018) and the presence of a toxin gene in strains isolated from retail products (pastries/cakes; vegetables, spices, delicatessen products) in Poland, and to determine the susceptibility of these microorganisms to different antimicrobial agents. A total of 267 B. cereus isolates from food products were examined, of which 95.51% were found positive for the presence of at least one toxin gene, with the highest frequency of the nhe gene (91.39%). The hbl and cytK genes were detected in 53.56% and 44.19% of B. cereus strains, respectively. The lowest frequency was found for the ces gene (2.62%). The susceptibility of B. cereus isolates to 16 antimicrobials was investigated. Ampicillin and penicillin resistance was the most common resistance phenotype and was identified in 100% of the B. cereus isolates. In addition, the tested isolates exhibited resistance to: amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (96.25%), cephalothin (67.79%), ceftriaxone (64.42%), rifampicin (46.82%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (5.62%), quinupristin/dalfopristin (4.87%), chloramphenicol (3.75%), clindamycin (2.62%), teicoplanin (1.87%), erythromycin (1.87%), ciprofloxacin (0.75%), imipenem (0.75%), tetracycline (0.37%), and gentamicin (0.37%). The study results contribute to characterizing the diversity of B. cereus isolated from various food products in Poland and their impact on food safety and public health. This study delivers practical information on antibiotic resistance and the frequency of toxin genes among strains isolated from food.

Analysing the effects of using a digital environment in official food safety control and understanding its benefits is crucial for competent authorities. The aim of this paper was to assess the effectiveness of official control carried out by the Barcelona Public Health Agency between 2015 and 2022 in Barcelona city (Spain) at retail outlets following the transition from a traditional to a digital inspection. Effectiveness is defined as the ability to detect non-compliance during inspections. This study assessed 2,188 inspection reports of risk-based planned inspections from 2015 to 2019 (traditional inspection) and 2022 (digital inspection) to compare the detection of non-compliances. The results show a significant increase in the detection of non-compliance when using the digital inspection. Compared to all inspection areas studied, the highest prevalence difference in the detection of non-compliance using a digital environment was found for the areas of food processing and handling procedures (34.0%) and own controls (16.7%). On the other hand, the areas of food labelling and general cleanliness of premises and equipment showed the lowest difference, 11.1% and 7.9%, respectively. The present case study shows that the use of a digital environment during inspections positively supports the control officers in structuring the compliance judgement and being more sensible to detect non-compliance. This fact results in a greater effectiveness of food control. • This research investigated the impact of using digital technologies on the effectiveness of food control. • The mean number of non-compliant inspection areas significantly increased with digital inspection. • The inspection area with the highest prevalence difference was food processing and handling procedures (34.0%). • The use of a digital environment increased the effectiveness of official control in Barcelona city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold chain disruption and refrigeration failures are common issues in the logistics of perishable food products. In these cases, the use of pallet covers should be very useful, delaying the increase of product temperatures inside the pallets until cooling conditions are restored. However, there are no studies about the performance of pallet covers in these types of situations, which could persist for hours. This paper evaluates the performance of three different types of cold chain covers versus having no cover for three different types of vegetables (chard, cucumbers, and carrots). A refrigeration failure during the cold chain was simulated. The three covers presented an improvement in temperature loss compared to the no-cover situation, with the average time for the temperature to increase from 4 to 10 °C with a cover being a range of 214 to 506 min, while for no cover, from 162 to 211 min. Relative humidity (RH) always presented improved preservation with a cover than with no cover, except for one case. The correlation between the thermal images and sensor temperatures was also studied.

The presence of chemical contaminants, toxins, or veterinary drugs in milk, as well as the adulteration of milk from different species, has driven the development of new tools to ensure safety and quality. Several analytical procedures have been proposed for the rapid screening of hazardous substances or the selective confirmation of the authenticity of milk. Mid-infrared spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared have been two of the most relevant technologies conventionally employed in the dairy industry. These fingerprint methodologies can be very powerful in determining the trait of raw material without knowing the identity of each constituent, and several aspects suggest their potential as a screening method to detect adulteration. This paper reviews the latest advances in applying mid-infrared spectroscopy for the detection and quantification of adulterants, milk dilution, the presence of pathogenic bacteria, veterinary drugs, and hazardous substances in milk.

Food safety as a credence food attribute potentially leaves room for adverse selection arising from information asymmetry between consumers and suppliers. To mitigate this market inefficiency, certification works effectively when a credible control system is in place. However, in a situation where control is weak and uncoordinated, introducing certification may encounter consumer‐related behavioural barriers. The case of weak food control in an emerging market in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) gives us a unique opportunity to stochastically link consumers' perception of the food control system to preference for different food safety certification options. We test the hypothesis that this perception induces consumers to depend on subjective cue food safety attributes. Using choice experiment data, we estimate a hybrid choice model that includes consumers' perceptions of food control, accounting for measurement errors and endogeneity bias. Our results show that a strong preference for food safety may not translate into a positive valuation of any of the certification schemes when we control for consumer perception of food control. Consumers are likely to rely more on subjective cue attributes if they have negative perceptions of food control. When such cue attributes are susceptible to market manipulation, consumers become more vulnerable to the risk of adverse selection in the food market. We recommend combining market mechanisms with strengthened food control systems and boosting consumers' confidence in food control to address asymmetric information problems in emerging food markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus cereus is a foodborne pathogen causing food safety issues due to the formation of difficult to eliminate spores and biofilms. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of B. cereus (conducted as part of monitoring in 2017-2018) and the presence of a toxin gene in strains isolated from retail products (pastries/cakes; vegetables, spices, delicatessen products) in Poland, and to determine the susceptibility of these microorganisms to different antimicrobial agents. A total of 267 B. cereus isolates from food products were examined, of which 95.51% were found positive for the presence of at least one toxin gene, with the highest frequency of the nhe gene (91.39%). The hbl and cytK genes were detected in 53.56% and 44.19% of B. cereus strains, respectively. The lowest frequency was found for the ces gene (2.62%). The susceptibility of B. cereus isolates to 16 antimicrobials was investigated. Ampicillin and penicillin resistance was the most common resistance phenotype and was identified in 100% of the B. cereus isolates. In addition, the tested isolates exhibited resistance to: amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (96.25%), cephalothin (67.79%), ceftriaxone (64.42%), rifampicin (46.82%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (5.62%), quinupristin/dalfopristin (4.87%), chloramphenicol (3.75%), clindamycin (2.62%), teicoplanin (1.87%), erythromycin (1.87%), ciprofloxacin (0.75%), imipenem (0.75%), tetracycline (0.37%), and gentamicin (0.37%). The study results contribute to characterizing the diversity of B. cereus isolated from various food products in Poland and their impact on food safety and public health. This study delivers practical information on antibiotic resistance and the frequency of toxin genes among strains isolated from food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil oxidation, the main quality-deteriorated reaction, would significantly and negatively influence its quality and safety during processing and storage. Evaluating oil oxidation degree is an effective strategy to enable early warning and ensure food safety. Herein, principles, recent progresses, advantages and shortcomings, representative applications, current challenges and promising perspectives, and summary tables of traditional (titration), instrumental (chromatography and spectroscopy), and especially rapid detection methods (chemical colorimetric methods and portable miniaturized devices) for evaluating oil oxidation degree are presented and reviewed. It is believed that rapid detection methods are the most promising practical candidate for detecting oil oxidation. Also, the interaction between advanced data-processing techniques and detection methods, and the systematic integration of whole analytical processes is proposed as next-generation perspectives in the oil oxidation evaluation. We wish to provide the knowledge of oil oxidation degree determination and enlighten novel strategies. [Display omitted] • Evaluating the degree of oil oxidation is significant in ensuring food safety. • Oil oxidation analysis by titration, instrumental and rapid methods is summarized. • The rapid detection methods are the hot spot of oil oxidation analysis. • The challenges and prospects of analytical methods for oil oxidation are put forward. • Data-driven multi-method integrated device development is the most promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is one of the traditional foods in the human diet. However, subclinical mastitis infection in cows could compromise the nutritional composition of milk as well as the consumer safety. In this study, we investigated the possibility of implementing near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), using a portable spectrometer, as a screening method to detect milk contaminated with subclinical mastitis. The spectra was acquired from a highly complex milk sample set (two seasons: winter and summer; two years: 2021 and 2022; from five geographical locations within Brazil: Goiás, Pará, Paraíba, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina; different feeding systems.) were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), as well as machine learning models like Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). PCA revealed that the clustering of mastitis milk and non-mastitis milk samples was associated with variations in lactose content. This observation was also noted in PLS-DA, which achieved accuracy values of 78%, compared to the 62% achieved by RF and SVM in detecting mastitis milk. However, the sensitivity (recall) for detecting mastitis samples was higher for RF (78%), and SVM notably excelled in detecting non-mastitis milk (81%). Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the removal of outliers using Isolation Forest enhances the performance of RF and SVM models based on NIR spectra, with increases of up to 25% in the precision. In conclusion, the portable NIR spectrometer could potentially serve as a screening method in the dairy industry to detect mastitis milk samples. [Display omitted] • Milk with subclinical mastitis was classified by portable NIR spectrometer. • Lactose content is the main difference between mastitis and non-mastitis milk. • Isolation Forest improved 10–25% precision of RF and SVM by removing outliers. • RF reached a better sensitivity (recall) to classify mastitis milk samples. • PLS-DA reached the precision of 0.78 to classify milk with subclinical mastitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the occurrence of the artificial sweetener aspartame (E951) in foods and beverages sampled by food control authorities in Germany between 2000 and 2022. The dataset was obtained through the Consumer Information Act. Out of 53,116 samples analyzed, aspartame was present in 7331 samples (14%), of which 5703 samples (11%) in nine major food groups were further evaluated. The results showed that aspartame was most commonly found in powdered drink bases (84%), flavored milk drinks (78%), chewing gum (77%), and diet soft drinks (72%). In the solid food groups, the highest mean aspartame content was detected in chewing gum (1543 mg/kg, n = 241), followed by sports foods (1453 mg/kg, n = 125), fiber supplements (1248 mg/kg, n = 11), powdered drink bases (1068 mg/kg, n = 162), and candies (437 mg/kg, n = 339). Liquid products generally had the highest aspartame content in diet soft drinks (91 mg/L, n = 2021), followed by regular soft drinks (59 mg/L, n = 574), flavored milk drinks (48 mg/kg, n = 207), and mixed beer drinks (24 mg/L, n = 40). These results suggest that aspartame is commonly used in some foods and beverages in Germany. The levels of aspartame found were generally within the legal limits set by the European Union. These findings provide the first comprehensive overview of aspartame in the German food market and may be particularly useful in informing the forthcoming working groups of the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the WHO/FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which are in the process of evaluating the human health hazards and risks associated with the consumption of aspartame.

Vending machines (VMs) are common and convenient sources of various food and beverage items. Due to limited available information, concerns have been raised about the hygiene and safety of products dispensed by VMs. This study aims to assess the microbiological contamination of VMs in the Campania region (Italy), by combining microbiological and molecular biology analyses. The results revealed notable microbial contamination in VMs. Total Viable Count exceeded acceptable limits in VMs components, particularly in the inner walls of beverage dispensing nozzles and in the hot-drink product. Coffee and ginseng powders exhibited comparatively lower Total Viable Count values, while chocolate displayed none. Regarding pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. were not detected in any of the samples subjected to analysis. Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were detected in various VMs components. B. cereus contamination was prevalent, exceeding 80% in some surface swabs (water intake pipe, mixer bowl, and dispensing nozzle), and coincided with a high occurrence in the hot-drink final product. S. aureus was frequently found in milk powder, dispensing nozzles, and cappuccino samples. This research offers valuable insights into VM hygiene and safety, emphasizing the importance of multifaceted approaches to address microbiological contamination and promote public health. Regulatory compliance with cleaning procedures and proactive measures, such as robust self-monitoring plans and adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices, are crucial in mitigating contamination hazards and safeguarding product quality. • An assessment on Vending Machines' microbial contamination was conducted in South Italy. • Dispensing nozzle and cappuccino presented the highest Total Viable Count (104). • The pathogenic microorganisms Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus were detected. • Critical issues related to Vending Machines hygiene standards were highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to investigate the bio-distribution and the persistence of fipronil and its primary metabolite fipronil sulfone after oral and dermal administration by simulating natural farming conditions. Fipronil and fipronil sulfone detection and quantification were performed in different poultry matrices using an LC-MS/MS method coupled with modified QuEChERS extraction. After oral administration, fipronil was detected in feathers at each sampling time, in eggs for 28 days, and in the internal organs at the end of the experiment. After dermal administration, high levels of fipronil were detected in feathers, accounting for 195.85 ± 8.54 mg/kg, which were reduced by a third after 60 days. No traces of fipronil were detected in the eggs or internal organs. In addition, fipronil sulfone showed remarkable residues in all samples in trial 2. The data obtained confirmed that inappropriate use of unauthorized pesticides can lead to severe contamination of entire poultry farms. The contemporary presence of fipronil sulfone in feathers and eggs associated with the lack of fipronil in eggs suggests recent dermal contamination or past oral contamination. Moreover, simultaneous analysis of hens’ feathers and eggs could represent a new method to improve large-scale monitoring programs and animal welfare, limiting their slaughter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrolides are critically important antimicrobials for both human and animal health and should be prioritized in risk assessments, as inappropriate use may result in antimicrobial resistance. The antimicrobials erythromycin, oleandomycin, spiramycin, tilmicosin and tylosin were analysed in infant formula samples by HPLC-MS/MS using a validated analytical method based on a modified QuEChERS extraction. The results of the occurrence study were employed to perform a dietary exposure assessment of infants to residues. In a total of 30 analysed samples, 73% contained spiramycin residues and 27%, tilmicosin residues. Calculated daily intakes ranged from 1.47 × 10−6 to 2.71 × 10−4 mg kg−1 body weight considering all analytes, representing 0.01–0.59% of acceptable daily intakes. The results of the dietary exposure assessment were all below acceptable daily intakes, indicating low potential health concerns. However, according to Brazilian regulations, infant formulas containing residues of one or more of the investigated analytes were deemed as non-compliant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are among the leading causes of food intoxications, affecting consumer health even in nanogram (ng) amounts. In the European Union, certain food safety criteria are specified, including the absence of SEs in cheeses, milk powder and whey powder. Until 2019, the analytical reference method used was the European Screening Method, which was replaced by EN ISO 19020. For the official laboratories involved in food control, the German Reference Laboratory for coagulase‐positive staphylococci including Staphylococcus aureus organized three interlaboratory proficiency tests (ILPTs) to detect SE type A in food during the years 2013–2018. The selected food products (cream cheese and vanilla pudding) were successfully tested beforehand with regard to easy handling, homogeneity and stability of the added toxin. In 2013, ILPT participants overall were not competent in detecting SE type A in food. The following factors were identified to improve the performance: (i) concentration of sample extract using dialysis; (ii) selection of a sensitive detection kit; and (iii) proper sample handling. By taking these factors into account and instructing and training the laboratories, their competence greatly improved. In 2018, all performance criteria (specificity, sensitivity and accuracy) were >90%, even at very low concentrations of SE type A of approximately 0·01 ng g–1 food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Antibiotic resistance represents a crucial and pressing issue for food safety. • Tailor-made functional conjugated monomers can enhance MIPs sensitivity. • Au-SPEs represent an alternative for the rapid detection of streptomycin in food. • Fast and reliable electrochemical antibiotic detection is viable in milk samples. Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat, challenging traditional treatments and complicating the food safety process. This study introduces an electrochemical detection method for streptomycin sulfate, utilizing gold screen-printed electrodes (Au-SPE) functionalized via electropolymerization of a custom-made naphthalene diimide-based conjugated monomer (Th 2 -NDI-PIA). This modification creates specific binding sites for streptomycin, allowing rapid detection of the antibiotic. The sensor's response to different concentrations of streptomycin was studied via Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) in a wide linear range from 10-13 M to 10-9 M, with a limit of detection (LoD) of 0.190 ± 0.005 pM. The imprinted electrode demonstrates selectivity to other antibiotics, but also to common interferents that can be found in milk such as lactose, glucose, riboflavin, and bisphenol A. Successful proof-of-principle in whole cow milk highlights the sensor's efficacy in detecting antibiotic residues in food samples, offering a promising alternative for a rapid and portable detection technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel acrylic acid/arginine (4:1) DES was prepared and polymerized. • Polymer DES was mixed with polycaprolactam and electrospun into polymeric nanofibers. • Fibrous mat was used in µQuEChERS/GCMS to detect multiclass pesticides in vegetables. • Electrospinning and microextraction factors were studied by single factor strategy. Novel green electrospun nanofibers based on a new polymeric deep eutectic solvent (DES) [polyacrylic acid (PAA)]:[l-arginine (Arg)] mixed with polyamide 6 (PA6) were fabricated and applied as a sorbent in a green alternative micro-quick easy cheap effective rugged and safe method. The analyses were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The physicochemical properties of sorbent and DES including chemical structure, specific surface area (74.587 m2/g), total pore volume (0.1028 cm3/g), mean pore size (5.5105 nm), diameters of PA6 (100–200 nm), and polymeric DES fibers (13–28 nm) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller/Barrett-Joyner-Halenda plots, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The effect of electrospinning conditions (voltage (16 kV), polymer solution feed rate (1 mL h−1), distance to collector (13 cm−1), and process time (45 min)), and extraction factors (sorbent composition and amount, desorption conditions, sample pH, and salt percent) was studied. The matrix effect was assessed and the method linearity (0.07–300 µg kg−1) was obtained using a matrix-matched calibration (determination coefficient, r2 , 0.9755–0.9975). The limits of quantification (0.07–0.80 µg kg−1) were lower than the maximum residue levels established by the European Union (0.01–1 mg kg−1) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (0.001–100 mg kg−1) for the selected pesticides in fruits and vegetables. The intra-day and inter-day RSDs were <6.0 % and <8.8 %, respectively. This work represents the first preparation and application of [PAA]:[Arg]/PA6 electrospun nanofibers as sorbent for extraction of multiclass pesticides in different edible vegetables. The extraction recoveries were in the range of 75–105 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbs and spices are some of the most vulnerable products in terms of fraud and adulteration in the food sector. Although standard analytical methods are accurate for quality control of specific lead or marker compounds, they cannot accurately assess the entire species composition of many marketed products. Complementary analytical approaches are thus often used for comprehensive screening of herbs and spices. In this study we evaluate DNA metabarcoding for the identification and authentication of 62 products, containing basil, oregano, and paprika collected from different retailers and importers in Norway. Our results show varying degrees of discrepancy between the constituent species and those listed on the product labels, despite high product authenticity. We suggest the false positives result from the sensitivity of DNA metabarcoding and filtering thresholds should be integrated into protocols to reduce false positives. Our results highlight how integrating DNA metabarcoding into the toolbox of analytical methods for quality control of fresh and/or processed plant-based food can improve product quality.

Herbs and spices are some of the most vulnerable products in terms of fraud and adulteration in the food sector. Although standard analytical methods are accurate for quality control of specific lead or marker compounds, they cannot accurately assess the entire species composition of many marketed products. Complementary analytical approaches are thus often used for comprehensive screening of herbs and spices. In this study we evaluate DNA metabarcoding for the identification and authentication of 62 products, containing basil, oregano, and paprika collected from different retailers and importers in Norway. Our results show varying degrees of discrepancy between the constituent species and those listed on the product labels, despite high product authenticity. We suggest the false positives result from the sensitivity of DNA metabarcoding and filtering thresholds should be integrated into protocols to reduce false positives. Our results highlight how integrating DNA metabarcoding into the toolbox of analytical methods for quality control of fresh and/or processed plant-based food can improve product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their derived oxides are toxins naturally produced by plants when they are exposed to stress factors. In particular, the unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids exhibiting a double bond between the 1,2-positions have caused great interest in recent years since they have pneumotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects upon ingestion. In this review, focus on their chemical structure justifying their toxicity is provided as well as insight on the recently adopted EU regulatory framework. In addition, to reveal current trends and highlight the research effort in the field, an all-time bibliometric analysis was performed for the first time. It was found that tea, infusions, honey, spices, and cereals are the most common foodstuffs in which pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been detected. In terms of pre-analytical steps, the application of efficient sample preparation is necessary to detect pyrrolizidine alkaloids in complex food matrices. Solvent extraction followed by a clean-up stage, e.g., solid-phase extraction was the most applied option. Focusing on the analytical methods, liquid chromatography combined with various mass spectrometry detectors has been the golden standard in the field. Gas chromatography methods were also applied, but the need for analyte derivatisation has hindered their application. All in all, this review provides an overview on the analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their derived oxides, comprehensively discussing the up-to-date advances and highlighting the analytical challenges to be faced. [Display omitted] • Tea, infusions, honey and cereals are contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids. • Efficient sample preparation methods are needed in complex food matrices. • Solvent extraction followed by a clean-up stage is the most applied option. • Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry is the most useful analytical technique. • Gas chromatography required derivatization that hindered its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Food fraud encompasses economic fraud and can produce health problems for consumers, as well as conservation problems for the involved species. Nevertheless, few studies tested for mislabeling in restaurants. In this study, we tested for mislabeling of fish species in restaurants. We sampled 77 fish dishes from 53 different restaurants located in 9 different districts of Madrid, Spain. A short fragment of the 16S rDNA was employed for DNA amplification leading to species or genera identification. Results showed that 7 species or genera and almost 30% of the samples were mislabeled. Mislabeling was present in 37% of the sampled restaurants and in 71% of the sampled districts. Mislabeling was common and it was not correlated with a districts' economic status (i.e. with the official average square-meter price of apartments). The analyses also showed that some species were more prone to be mislabeled than others. Highlights • Fish mislabeling was tested in 77 samples from 53 restaurants of Madrid. • Mislabeling was found in 28% of the samples (44% of menu labels). • Some species were more prone to be mislabeled than others. • Mislabeling was present in 37% of the restaurants and 71% of the districts. • Mislabeling was not correlated with economic status of districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Food additives show technological, biological and sensorial functions. • Twenty-five classes of foods additives and their industrial functions are reported. • Detection of food additives by spectroscopy, chromatography and electroanalysis. • Analytical techniques used in the studies of food additives. • Perspectives in food additives analysis by analytical techniques are provided. Abstract This work describes the 25 classes of food additives that contain about 230 compounds with technological, sensorial and/or microbiological functionalities. These compounds are added to foods at the processing, packaging and transport steps, to improve the standard of quality, durability and stability of the product and adjust the colour, smell and flavour attributes. Food industries need to follow national and international quality standards that establish the conditions under which food additives may be used, and the food safety is guaranteed by strict quality control. This review describes the analytical techniques used in identification and quantification of food additives in foodstuffs, highlighting the main characteristics of each method (spectroscopy, chromatography and electroanalysis), and indicating the advantages and disadvantages typical of the methods used. Perspectives of the chemical analysis in the food industries are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to modernize official food safety control. Shift from paper- to digital-based systems enable recording and reporting data directly in digital format and further analyze and disclose inspection data. Further to this, digital technologies enable the automatization of processes through rule-based instructions, a fact that could positively influence the consistency of official control. Nevertheless, the extent of the use of digital technologies during official food safety control inspections by competent authorities (CAs) of European Union (EU) countries is not known. For this reason, the aim of this study was to assess the level of use of a digital environment during inspections at retail establishments. This was performed by administering a questionnaire to CAs from EU countries. A total of 88 national, regional or local CAs from 15 EU countries responded to the questionnaire. Of them, 62.5% (55/88) used a digital environment during inspections, the majority to standardize data collection and reporting. CAs autotomize processes through digital technologies related to the management of official control and generation of inspection results, but to a lesser extent to automatize decision-making during inspections. Of the CAs not using a digital environment (37.5%; 33/88), technological constraints and lack of economic resources were the two most prevalent reasons for not using such an environment. The use of digital technologies as decision support tools to standardize official controls and improve consistency and efficiency should be enhanced for the benefit of society. • This research explores the use of a digital environment during official food safety inspections in the European Union. • More than half of the competent authorities use a digital environment to standardize the data recording process. • There still exist possibilities to employ digital technologies as support tools to increase the consistency of inspections. • The main barriers identified to use a digital environment were related to technological, budget and personnel constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With regard to the inefficient application of a food processing information system due to shortage of the knowledge acquisition measure and self-updating function of knowledge, a method of constructing an online aided decision making knowledge base for quality and security of food processing, based on regular expression, is discussed in the paper. Firstly, the method establishes an online aided decision making knowledge base for quality and security of food processing based on regular expression; and then an automatic knowledge inference engine is applied to update the knowledge in the base, combined with industry experts’ experience knowledge. Continuous deriving of food processing knowledge can be realized based on the inference engine. The research will greatly enhance the efficiency and applicability of obtaining knowledge from an online aided decision making system for quality and security of food processing.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of Essential Oils (EOs) and Organic Acids (OAs) on microbiological and physicochemical qualities of whole shrimps stored at 4°C. Shrimps of 1.1 kg were dipped in solutions of EOs (cinnamon oil, garlic oil and lime oil) and OAs (lactic acid, tartaric acid and sodium diacetate) at 1:2 shrimp/treatment solution (w/w) at 25°C for 30min. Concentration of sodium metabisulfite and distilled water (DH2O) were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Shrimps were drip-dried for 5 minutes, packaged and stored in a chiller (4°C) for 10 days. They were analyzed for microbiological (total aerobic plate count) and physicochemical (pH, colour and texture) properties at days 0, 2, 5, 7 and 10. Total aerobic plate count (TPC) of shrimps decreased immediately after dipping in solutions containing EOs, OAs and their mixture ratios. However, the TPC of shrimps continued to increase during storage and at day 10, TPC was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to other days. Mixtures of tartaric acid and cinnamon oil was the best in controlling TPC in shrimps. pH of shrimps ranged from 6.60 to 7.86. Most of the treatments had significantly lower pH compared to DH2O treated shrimp. L* values (Lightness), a* values (Redness) and b* values (Yellowness) ranged from 32.57-42.27, -1.90-4.39 and 3.14-10.67, respectively. The texture (hardness value) of the shrimps ranged from 1135.4-2511.8 and decreased throughout storage period except solutions of lactic acid and lime. Storage of shrimps in EOs and organic acids can serve as an alternative for the preservation of shrimps other than low temperature storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report provides an insight into the official control activities carried out by EU Member States, Iceland and Norway in 2016. Based on the analytical results provided by the reporting countries, a detailed data analysis was performed regarding pesticide occurrence in the most important food products consumed and the dietary risk related to the exposure of European consumers to pesticide residues. Overall, 96.2% of the 84,657 samples analysed fell within the legal limits (81,482 samples). In total, 50.7% of the tested samples were free of quantifiable residues (residue levels below the limit of quantification (LOQ)), while 45.5% of the samples analysed contained quantified residues not exceeding the maximum residue levels (MRLs). The findings on pesticide residues are described for the following categories: products of plant origin, products of animal origin, imported food, organic products and baby food. The acute and chronic dietary risk assessment indicated that the probability of European citizens being exposed to pesticide residue levels that could lead to negative health outcomes was low. Based on the analysis of the 2016 pesticide monitoring results, EFSA derived a number of recommendations to increase the efficiency of the European control systems to ensure a high level of consumer protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, beekeeping and honey production faces numerous challenges, including increasingly frequent use of antibiotics for the prevention of bee infection caused by pathogenic microorganisms. The most common antibiotics used to control the bee disease are tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides and macrolides. Therefore, the residues of these antibiotics can be found in the honey. At the European Union (EU) level, no maximum residue levels of antibiotics in honey is determined, which means that their use in beekeeping is not allowed. For this reason, effective methods of high sensitivity are required to ensure that the honey is controlled to the lowest detection limits. Control of these substances is carried out using different screening and confirmatory analytical methods. Today, increasingly are applying methods of liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry that have high sensitivity and allow the identification and quantification of many analytes. Antibiotic concentrations are controlled at EU level within national plans of member states. The European Food Safety Agency reported results within national plans of the EU member states in the period from 2013 to 2016, and the largest number of non-compliant results in honey was determined for macrolides, followed by sulphonamides and tetracyclines. Increased concentrations of these antibiotics and also aminoglycosides have been reported in the honey from EU market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the principle of incorporation 'we are what we eat,' the act of eating creates the eater and his/her body. The body is the support of the values of each social group and these values establish different uses of the body that contribute to its shape. Women's bodies, more than men's bodies, have been submitted to the norms of beauty. In societies where thinness is the dominant norm, overweight women are considered physically and mentally deviant, sick, ugly and lacking control. Therefore, the norm of thinness directly influences the eating habits of women, and 'dieting' to control the body/weight has become a widespread practice. In this study, using a qualitative approach based on sixty individual semistructured interviews with Brazilian and Spanish young women, we explore the meaning given by these women for the control of their eating behaviour: What are the rationalities involved in the process of controlling eating behaviour? What does 'dieting' mean? What is the role of dieting or control of eating behaviour in the lives of these women? How does this control become 'normal' for women? In addition, we are interested in understanding the universality of the meanings and rationalities involved in the control of eating behaviour. We observed that the idea of control is based on the relationship between women and their food habits in both countries. This concept of control, built on self-responsibility, is considered by these women as 'normal' and causes a rupture in previous habits. Beyond the problematic of aesthetics and health that motivates this idea of control, it represents a life style, a conquest, and self-control closely linked with the idea of femininity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report provides a detailed insight in the official control activities performed by EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. Overall, 97.2% of the 84,341 samples analysed in 2015 were free of quantifiable residues or contained residues within the legally permitted levels. Based on the analytical results provided by the reporting countries, a detailed data analysis was performed regarding pesticide occurrence in the most important food products consumed and the dietary risk related to the exposure of European consumers to pesticide residues. Moreover, the data were analysed with view to identify pesticides and food products that exceeded the legal limits. It also contains the findings on pesticide residues in imported food, organic products, baby food as well as results for animal products. Based on the analysis of the 2015 pesticide monitoring results, EFSA derived a number of recommendations to increase the efficiency of the European control systems to ensure a high level of consumer protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finnish food control authorities waived pre-inspections of food premises in 2011, leaving food business operators to begin operating with no pre-operation food control. This study aims to investigate the effects of this food policy change on the preconditions for Good Hygienic Practices (GHPs) on food premises. Of the 916 food premises that were included in this study, 379 were pre-approved whereas 537 merely notified their operations. The results show that notified food service premises (restaurants) preparing food displayed significantly more non-compliance pertaining to infrastructure than did restaurants pre-approved for food preparation (11.5% and 1.8% of the premises, respectively) (p < 0.05). Significant differences also emerged in the number of premises with non-compliance pertaining to cleaning facilities and equipment, and marked differences in the adequacy of hand and other washing sites. Such instances of non-compliance weaken the preconditions for GHPs. The results suggest that re-introducing pre-inspections of restaurants would strengthen the preconditions for GHPs and possibly provide a model for other countries with similar food control systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of food safety is determined by the actions of the consumers, the food business operators (FBOs) and the authorities that undertake official food control. Food control requires substantial investments by the FBOs as well as by the society, and these investments should be proportionate to the benefits obtained. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of economic resources currently invested in food control by the local food control authorities and by the restaurant business operators (RBOs). We also analysed the determinants of the variation in costs and evaluated the implications of the variation for the efficiency and equity of food control. Our results revealed a large variation in the costs, which in relation to the RBOs may in some cases imply risk-based targeting of food control, whereas in relation to the local control units, it may simply lead to unequal treatment of the control objects. The personnel resources (work years devoted to food control) of the local control units varied widely, and there were large differences (at most fourfold difference) in the number of control objects per personnel work year. The units that were found to have high costs had high costs regardless of the measurement unit (cost per work year, cost per control object, cost per inhabitant). Furthermore, larger units were found to have higher costs per work year and per control object. Less food control revenue was collected from control objects in units with a higher number of control objects per inspector. The challenge of management increases with the unit size, and focusing on the management skills and the organizational functionalities of the control units seems necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]