Search

Fish is one of fourteen allergens that must be highlighted on the label within the ingredients list. It should be noted that the European regulation, is very restrictive to allergens with zero tolerance. Therefore it is important to establish sensitive and specific methods for detecting fish allergen. Applicability to detect and quantify fish allergen by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) has been evaluated in this work. Genomic DNA of three fish species belonging to the most common fish families were analyzed. PCR primers were designed to amplify a 166 bp region of the 18S rRNA gene. Comparative studies were performed to establish the optimal primer and probe concentrations. Annealing temperature was determined by using thermal gradient. The results have shown good applicability of the optimized 18S rRNA gene-method to detect and quantify small amounts of the target in all samples analyzed. However, validation studies are needed in order to apply ddPCR technology for routine allergens analysis.

The presence of physical contaminants in mushrooms affects marketability of these products and may result in health risk. Entomological contaminations were investigated by macro and microscopic analytical methods so called filth-test. Ten samples of dried mushrooms collected in supermarkets were examined for a total of 49 determinations (15 g of the vegetable matrix). The selection on the imported product already dried, by visual examination, it is not sufficient to ensure a selection of product free of contaminants whereas microscopic method resulted to be more effective to detect impurities. In our study filth test confirmed an irregular distribution of physical contaminants within the repeated determinations of the same sample. The inspection of fresh or dried mushrooms today plays an important role as a result of the significant increase in the consumption of this kind of food: a more appropriate EU regulations and labelling of these products is today recommended.

The European legislation set the new hygiene standards in food chain with the purpose to ensure high levels of public health protection in relation to food production. In order to guarantee excellent hygiene standards in food chain, particular attention must be paid to the presence of foreign matter, like light solid impurities of mineral, vegetable or animal origin. The light filth test is a suitable method used to detect and count light solid impurities applicable to different foodstuffs. We report the results of the analysis of 93 foodstuffs official samples investigated for the presence of foreign matter at the Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia, from 2012 to 2013. Insect fragments were found in a sample of semolina and in a sample of canned tomato; plastic fragments were found in a sample of grated bread.

The Amflora (EH92-527-1) potato is a genetically modified (GM) potato in which only starch of the amylopectin form is produced. This has been achieved by intervening with the biosynthesis of starch in this variety of potato. The Amflora potato is solely grown for the purposes of enhancing its industrial application. Although the Amflora potato is not fit for human consumption, the presence of the potato itself or any of its derived products in the food chain cannot be excluded, it should be considerate adventitious or technically unavoidable and can be accepted in a proportion no higher than 0.9%. To achieve the goal of our work we analysed forty-five potato-derived products to evaluate transgenic potato presence by real time polymerase chain reaction, obtaining negative results. In order to verify the correct application of the law and to assure the quality for the consumer, it is necessary to continue GM monitoring to verify the adventitious presence itself in food.

The levels of histamine in Sardinian cheeses (Pecorino Sardo dolce, Pecorino Sardo maturo, Pecorino Romano, Fiore Sardo e Casizolu del Montiferru) were determined. The histamine values detected were lower respect to levels reported in the literature (500-1000 ppm).