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Grape pomace and seeds are important winemaking by-products. Their oils are rich in bioactive compounds such as fatty acids and tocopherols. We have characterized oils from both by-products from five Spanish grape varieties (Palomino Fino, Pedro Ximénez, Muscat of Alexandria, Tempranillo and Tintilla de Rota). A high content of UFAs was found in all the analyzed samples. Grape pomace oils generally had the same oleic acid (PUFAω-6) content as seed oils, and lower PUFA contents; they also had a markedly higher linolenic acid (PUFAω-3) content, improving the PUFAω-6/PUFAω-3 ratio. All the oil studied show good indicators of nutritional quality: low values of the atherogenicity (0.112–0.157 for pomace, 0.097–0.112 for seed) and thrombogenicity indices (0.30–0.35 for pomace, 0.28–0.31 for seed) and high values of the relationship between hypo- and hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (6.93–9.45 for pomace, 9.11–10.54 for seed). Three tocopherols were determined: α-, γ- and δ-tocopherol. Pomace oils have higher relative contents of α- and δ-tocopherol, whereas seed oils have higher relative contents of γ-tocopherol. A significantly higher content of total tocopherols has been found in pomace oil; it is higher in the oils from red varieties of pomace (628.2 and 706.6 mg/kg by-product), and in the oils from pomace containing stems (1686.4 mg/kg by-product). All the oils obtained can be considered as a source of vitamin E, and their consumption is beneficial for health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MPs contamination of Italian and Spanish vegetable edible oils was investigated. • MPs were detected in all samples which were stocked in both PET and glass bottles. • Automatic µ-FTIR spectroscopy was used for MPs detection and characterization. • PE and PP were the most abundant polymers in the analyzed oil samples. • MPs with size < 100 μm were more frequent in all oil samples. In this work, assessment of microplastics (MPs) in commercial vegetable edible oils from Italy and Spain, including extra-virgin olive oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, and mixed seed oil, has been conducted for the first time. The method was based on sample dilution with ethanol: n -hexane (1:3, v/v), homogenization, vacuum filtration on macroporous silicon filters with 5 μm pore diameter to collect MPs, and automatic µ-FTIR spectroscopy for MPs detection and characterization. In the analysis of oil samples, a mean MPs abundance of 1140 ± 350 MPs/L was found. Observed MPs were characterized, being most of them fragments (81.2 %), with particle sizes < 100 µm (77.5 %), and mainly composed of polyethylene (50.3 %) and polypropylene (28.7 %), among others. Statistical analysis revealed that there were not significant differences (p-value > 0.05) in the abundance of MPs between oil samples or types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oils by the food industry but there is limited information on actual intake. A detailed intake assessment of palm oil for Spain and Germany was conducted. For Spain, mean palm oil intakes ranged from 2.06 g/day in the elderly to 4.54 g/day in children and adolescents, while high-level intakes ranged from 10.34 g/day in the elderly to 20.88 g/day in toddlers. For Germany, mean palm oil intakes ranged from 3.06 g/day in toddlers to 6.22 g/day in the very elderly, while high-level intakes ranged from 13.61 g/day in toddlers to 30.10 g/day in the elderly. For both countries, the main contributing food categories to mean palm oil intake were biscuits, cakes, bread, breakfast cereal and margarine. In summary, the present paper provides a realistic assessment of the intake of palm oil in two EU countries for different population groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea in a sample of Spanish university students, and to describe their menstrual characteristics, lifestyle habits and associated risk factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 258 young female university students recruited from the Ciudad Real Faculty of Nursing, with a mean age of 20.63± 3.32 years. An anonymous self-report questionnaire was used to collect data from students. This included sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, gynecological personal history and the severity of pain using the visual analogue scale. The statistical analysis of the data included calculation of the mean, percentages, chi-square analysis of the data and logistic regression. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was of 74.8% (n = 193) with a mean pain severity of 6.88 (±1.71). Our results show that 38.3% of students described their menstrual pain as severe and 58% as moderate. The bivariate analysis showed statistically significant differences between students with and without dysmenorrhea: a higher proportion of women with dysmenorrhea had a greater duration of the menstruation flow (p = .003), a longer duration of the menstrual cycle (p = .046), were not using the oral contraceptive pill (p = .026) and had a family history of dysmenorrhea (p = .001). Backward step-wise binary logistic regression analysis using all the significant bivariate variables including lifestyle variables revealed the following risk factors: drinking cola drinks, duration of the menstrual flow, eating meat and having a first-degree relative affected by dysmenorrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable liquid fuels are a promising alternative solution to decarbonize the transport sector. However, the analysis of emissions of local contaminants coming from the use of such fuels relevant to preserve air quality and related human health issues. Even though the advantages in reducing climate change using renewable fuels appear to be clear, there are still discrepancies on the effect of fuel composition on engine performance, power, and emissions of local pollutants. In the present work, the performance and regulated emissions from a Euro VI-D hybrid bus using conventional fossil diesel fuel and renewable fuel (hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)) under urban driving conditions have been studied. The tests were carried out using an on-board modular measurement system that registers emissions, exhaust gas parameters and records data from the engine, as well as environmental conditions. The registered CO 2 emissions and calculated mass, volumetric and energy fuel consumptions were lower when using the renewable fuel, despite the lower volumetric heating value compared to fossil diesel fuel, which is partly attributed to the lower EGR rate with renewable fuel that leads to a higher energy efficiency. Additionally, CO and THC emissions coming from the combustion process of renewable fuel are lower than those of the fossil fuel, given the paraffinic structure of renewable fuel that favors a cleaner combustion. During cold operating conditions lower NOx emissions were registered using the renewable fuel in comparison with the fossil diesel fuel, although slightly lower EGR rates were observed. Finally, the average particle number obtained in the tests is higher when using renewable fuel, but differences are not considered as statistically significant. The results obtained regarding performance and emissions suggest that the renewable fuel could be used as partial or total substitute of diesel fuel with a reduction of direct CO 2 and gaseous pollutant emissions in most of the conditions. The developed methodology highlights the relevance of analyzing cumulative values, at least for CO 2 and particle number concentrations, before analyzing all the results after testing a vehicle under driving conditions, allowing the detection of any anomaly in the measurements of the different parameters. Future work may be addressed for electrified powertrains combined with renewable fuels and ad-hoc optimization of ECU settings for renewable fuels to improve pollutant emissions performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine the mean polyphenol composition of different varieties of virgin olive oil (VOO) habitually consumed in the region of southern Spain and to estimate the dietary exposure to olive oil polyphenols in that population. There were statistically significant differences in total polyphenols among varieties, with the Picual variety containing the largest amount with a mean value of 591.8 mg kg–1. The main phenolic compounds found in the VOOs under study were tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol. The highest amounts of both substances were found in Picual olive oils with concentrations of 2.3–6.6 mg kg−1. The total intake of polyphenols from VOO ranged between 8.2 mg day–1(SD = 4.14) for the under 19 year olds and 21.3 mg day–1(SD = 3) for the over 50 year olds. Some polyphenols, including tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, were consumed principally as olive oil. The intake of these compounds in the studied population was in the range of 88.5–237.4 μg day–1. This has particular importance as recent studies have demonstrated that hydroxytyrosol helps to improve plasma lipids levels and repair oxidative damage related to cardiovascular disease. There was a greater dietary consumption of polyphenols in olive oil among the participants who more closely followed the Mediterranean diet pattern. A higher consumption of olive oil and therefore a greater exposure to polyphenols was observed in females versus males and in participants of normal weight versus those who were overweight. The total intake of polyphenols from VOO significantly increased with higher age, reflecting the greater intake of this oil by older people, who also show a closer adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The over 50-year-old age group showed the greatest consumption of this olive oil and therefore of phenolic compounds, which are healthy protectors in the human diet that contribute to the acknowledged benefits of the Mediterranean diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The content of trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti, Tl and V) in edible oils (virgin olive, olive, pomace-olive, sunflower, soybean and corn) from Spain was determined, using inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave digestion, employing only nitric acid in this step. The method has been validated by using both an oil reference material and recovery experiments over different oil samples, obtaining satisfactory results in all cases. Inter-day repeatabilities lower than 10% were observed for all of the analysed elements in the different kinds of oil samples. Studying the content of trace elements, in order to detect tendencies in the samples of the same type of oil, principal components analysis was used. Promising groupings were observed using a model with two principal components and retaining 75.3% of the variance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To understand the relations between water use and yield in response to crop load, two experiments were conducted in olive (cv. Morisca), during six consecutive years (2002–2007) in an experimental orchard located in Badajoz, Southwest Spain. Experiment 1, assessed the responses during the early years of the orchard (2002–2004) using four irrigation treatments that applied fractions of the estimated crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (125%, 100%, 75% and 0%) and three crop load levels (100%, 50% and 0% of fruit removal, termed Off, Medium and On treatments). Experiment 2 assessed the response of more mature trees (2005–2007) to three irrigation treatments (115%, 100%, and 60% of ETc) and the natural crop load which were Off, On, and Medium in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Yield was reduced by water deficits and so did the estimated tree transpiration which was linearly related to yield (y =1.2302x −21.15, R 2 =0.8864), showing the high sensitivity of cultivar Morisca to water deficits. The relations between fruit number and fruit weight showed that high crop loads had lower fruit weights and oil yield, a decrease that was more pronounced as water deficits increased. The yield response to water supply in the control and excess treatments, and the observations on the water relations of these two treatments suggest that the calculations made using the FAO method () with the crop coefficient proposed by and the reduction coefficient () to apply 100% of ETc in the control treatment, underestimated the ETc of the orchard. The results indicate that, although the absence of fruits lead to reduced water use as compared to situations of medium and high crop loads, canopy size was much more determinant of orchard water requirements than crop load. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We undertook a population-based cohort study in Pizarra (Spain). Anthropometric and nutritional variables were recorded for 613 persons. The type of fat used was determined by measurement of the fatty acids contained in cooking oil. Serum fatty acid was used as a biological marker of the type of fat consumed. Obesity incidence in persons who were not obese at baseline was greater in those who consumed sunflower oil (Group 1: 41.5 (95% CI, 25.4–67.8) cases per 1000 person-years) than in those who consumed olive oil or a mixture of oils (Group 2: 17.3 (95% CI, 11.6–25.8) cases per 1000 person-years). The risk of developing obesity over 6 years, adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, smoking, instruction level, energy intake and baseline BMI, was 2.3 (95% CI, 1.06–5.02) in group 1 compared with that in group 2. The increase in the prevalence of obesity in the free-living population is associated with the type of fatty acids in the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, rapid analytical method for determining traces of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn and Pb in in various types of vegetable oils is proposed. Samples are digested in a microwave oven and then analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomization. The proposed method exhibits good linearity and sensitivity to the five metals, which it can determine with detection limits over the range 0.06-2.15 ig/kg. Its precision, as relative standard deviation, ranges from 2.6 to 4.2%. Its accuracy was assessed by using it to analyze a reference material consisting of Used Oil HU-1, which contains certified metal concentrations, and was found to be quite acceptable. The proposed method was applied to the determination of the five metals in virgin olive, olive, sunflower, maize and pomace olive oils from Spain and Morocco. Based on the results, the metal contents varied among oil types and, for olive oil, also with the country of origin; the oil samples from Morocco contained especially high levels of lead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of the PPAR gamma 2 gene (PPARG2) improves the action of insulin and its lipid metabolism. We examined the association between Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPARG2, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), and peripheral insulin sensitivity in a population with a high intake of oleic acid. A cross-sectional, population-based study was undertaken in Pizarra, a small town in the province of Malaga in southern Spain. A total of 538 subjects, aged 18-65 y, were selected randomly from the municipal census. All subjects underwent a clinical, anthropometrical, and biochemical evaluation, including an oral glucose tolerance test and Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPARG2. Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment. Those subjects with the Ala-12 allele had an odds ratio for impaired fasting glucose of 0.55, for impaired glucose tolerance of 0.59, and for DM2 of 0.30. The intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) contributed to the variance of the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA IR) (P = 0.04), with a 2-way interaction between the Ala-12 allele of PPARG2 and the intake of MUFA (P = 0.005). The results suggest the existence of an interaction between Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPARG2 and dietary MUFA, such that obese people with the Ala-12 allele have higher HOMA IR values, especially if their intake of MUFA is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports on the concentrations of eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in food samples collected in the city of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) front 2003 to 2004. Food samples included meat products, fish (fresh and smoked), other seafood (cephalopods, crustaceans, and bivalves), vegetable oil, and tea. Concentrations of benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[g.h.i]perylene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[e]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and indeno[1.2.3-c,d]pyrene were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. PAHs were detected in most tea samples (94%), which had the highest concentration of total PAHs (mean concentration of 59 μg/kg). Other food groups with a high presence of PAHs were bivalves (present in 34% of the samples; mean value of 2.7 μg/kg) and meal products (present in 13% of the samples; mean value of 1.7 μg/kg). The PAHs detected most frequently were benzo[e]pyrene and benzo[b]fluoranthene. No sample had levels above current regulation standards. Nevertheless, the frequent presence of PAHs in bivalves, tea samples, and meat products, together with the fact that dietary sources are the main exposure to these carcinogenic compounds, suggests the need for some monitoring scheme to follow up on these trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive oil solid residue, "orujo", results from the extraction of olive oil through physical processes. With a variable composition, it is mainly used as a raw material to extract the residual oil that remains in the solid cake, prior to drying. The resulting solid is called "orujillo", and has been mainly used as a solid fuel. Its use as a solid fuel presents some problems due to the changes in olive oil production methods which have resulted in lower quality residual olive oils and byproducts. This paper presents the advantages and disadvantages of the current systems, in an attempt to solve those problems. Furthermore, this research presents new solutions compared to the existing ones from economic and environmental points of view. All these solutions are set within the socio-economic framework of the province of Jaén, in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article examines the interrelations between establishment of territorial quality certification systems (Protected Designations of Origin or PDOs), diffusion of innovations through local agro-food chains, and the role of the institutions overseeing geographical designations. Empirical analysis is applied to olive oil PDOs in Spain and entails a detailed case study of the “Sierra Mágina” PDO in Andalusia. Making use of the neoinstitutional concept of ‘organised proximity’—and focussing specifically on the problematic of organizational quality—the article assesses characteristics that support the competitive positions of local certified-product production systems. In particular, the authors find that collective organisation and coordination between PDO agents who are locally responsible for quality assurance and protection can enhance local competitiveness. Three hypotheses are confirmed. First, PDO labels can, through the action of PDO regulators, become quality assurance systems for distributors. Second, PDO Regulatory Boards can enhance and coordinate local inter-professional activities, particularly with respect to the diffusion of quality-enhancing innovations and knowledge. Third, the study indicates that local certified-product systems are starting to incorporate quality attributes linked to the environment and sustainable development, although much remains to be accomplished in this regard. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using blends of vegetable oils with petroleum derivatives for heating purposes has several advantages over other energy applications for vegetable oils. These advantages are presented in this paper, using the results obtained from the installation of conventional heat generation using diesel and sunflower oil mixtures and the possibilities this holds for Castilla y León. Castilla y León is the biggest region of Spain; its main activity is the agriculture, with a continental climate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The main objective of this study is to analyse the olive oil bottling sector in Spain, applying the strategic group methodology to a group of firms from the sector. The study is divided in four sections: • Identification of the strategic groups, using multivariate statistical techniques. • Characterization of the groups, analysing their internal structure, delimiting and explaining their strategies. • The positioning. • And differences in the results of the groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Mediterranean diet is a healthy eating pattern with protective effects on chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between BMI and obesity and the level of adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet. The subjects were Spanish men (n = 1547) and women (n = 1615) aged 25-74 y who were examined in 1999-2000, in a population-based, cross-sectional survey in the northeast of Spain (Girona). Dietary intake was assessed using a FFQ. A Mediterranean diet score, including foods considered to be characteristic components of the traditional Mediterranean diet (vegetables, fruits, pulses, nuts, fish, meat, cereals, olive oil, and wine) was created. An increase of 5 U in the dietary score was associated with a change in the BMI of 0.43 (P = 0.030) and 0.68 (P = 0.007), after controlling for potential confounders, in men and women, respectively. The obesity risk decreased in men (P = 0.010) and women (P = 0.013) with increasing adherence to the traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern. The population in the top tertile of this score were less likely to be obese in both genders [odds ratio (OR) and (95% CI): 0.61 (0.40-0.92) in men; 0.61 (0.40-0.93) in women] after adjusting for potential confounders. These data suggest that the traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern is inversely associated with BMI and obesity. This finding may be useful in the development of dietary approaches for dietary counseling and the prevention of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new color scale was developed from a broad data set of 1700 virgin olive oil samples over four crop seasons, which can be considered highly representative of the whole color range of virgin olive oils available in Spain. This color scale provides a new set of 60 color standards, improving the results achieved by the old 60-color standards proposed by the bromthymol blue method. Seeking the greatest possibility of including a near match between colors of virgin olive oils and proposed standards, we developed our new color scale using a recent uniform color space, with standards placed in a regular rhombohedral lattice like the one employed by the Uniform Color Scales of the Optical Society of America. The average color difference between each of the 1700 virgin olive oils and its nearest standard is reduced from 8.17 CIELAB units, using the bromthymol blue standards, to 3.99 CIELAB units using the new standards. Within a color tolerance of 7.0 CIELAB units, 93.2% of our virgin olive oils can be classified with the new standards, but only 59.1% with the bromthymol blue ones. In the interest of future adoption, the performance of the new color standards should be tested by industry and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have been carried out on the influence of frying fats on the formation of food mutagens, but most of them have been performed on model systems or under cooking conditions that are more frequent in northern countries. The objective of this work was to study the overall mutagenic activity generated in hamburgers and frankfurters deep-fried under cooking conditions that are normal practice in Spain and other Mediterranean countries, in order to determine if there was any modulation of the mutagenic activity with respect to other cooking conditions previously studied. Hamburgers were prepared from beef purchased in a butcher's shop. Frankfurters as well as the oils [olive, marc olive (`orujo'), sunflower and soya bean oil] and butter were purchased in a local supermarket. The samples were fried in a teflon-coated frying pan at 170–180°C for 10, 20 or 30 min. The mutagens were extracted and the mutagenic activity evaluated using the Salmonella mammalian microsome assay with strain TA98. Two independent assays were carried out for each experimental condition. All the hamburgers showed a mutagenic activity that was more than four times higher than that of the controls. Frankfurters showed a lower mutagenic activity than hamburgers (fried under the same conditions) because they have a lower protein content and a higher fat content. Hamburgers fried in olive oil for 10 min showed a significant increase in the number of revertants with respect to the other oils, probably due to the fact that the temperature reached was ∼10°C higher. Longer frying times significantly increased the number of revertants in samples fried in oils, except in olive oil, probably due to its lower content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The authors conducted a mailed questionnaire survey of a 5% sample of the cohort of 20,643 people officially recognized by the Spanish government as having had toxic oil syndrome, a previously undescribed illness that was epidemic in Spain in 1981. After three mailings of a letter and questionnaire, responses for only 66% of the sample had been received. Nevertheless, responses were obtained from virtually all remaining patients (or surrogates for them in the cases of patients that had died) when they were sought by telephone. In 1981, there was clear-cut excess mortality in the cohort (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] 6.51; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.92-10.17). During the period January 1982 through 7 March 1988, there was no statistically significant overall mortality excess except during the period 1982-1983 among people aged < 65 years (SMR 2.26; 95% CI: 1.03-4.29). Toxic oil syndrome substantially altered the patterns of mortality among affected people. Analysis of deaths by cause among the TOS cohort will be useful for further evaluation of the long-term impact of the TOS epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the draft proposal issued by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality to develop the information that needs to be made available to consumers for non pre-packed food known as the Royal Decree. It mentions the goal of the proposal to adopt the list of processing aids authorised for the production of edible vegetable oils. A detailed list of approved processing aids for the production of edible vegetable oils is also offered.

The production and use of biolubricants as replacements for mineral lubricants align with the promotion of sustainable development goals, contributing to the sustainable economic growth of developing countries as well as the preservation of the environment. The implementation of biorefineries (where the production of biolubricants through transesterification could play an important role) is becoming important for these purposes, using natural feedstocks such as rapeseed, which is an interesting crop that can adapt to different climates under extreme weather conditions. The aim of this research work was to study the design of a reactor to produce rapeseed biolubricant through double transesterification of the corresponding vegetable oil. Thus, the kinetics to design a reactor was studied, sizing it according to the properties of the biolubricant and the demand in Spain. As a result, a SAE 10W30 biolubricant was obtained, which was suitable for Diesel engines. A batch reactor was selected for the production of this biolubricant at a national level, with a pseudo-first reaction order and a reactor volume of 9.66 m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the Chiquitita olive cultivar obtained in a crossbreeding program in Cordoba, Spain. The origin of Chiquitita seedling was a cross between the Picual and Arbequina varieties. Based on a comparative field trial plot established in 2001, Chiquitita has lower vigor than Arbequina and the former's height failed to reach the more than 3 m height in the third season of the latter. Also discussed are the fruit and oil characteristics of the olive cultivar.

Dietary exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) of the population in the Region of Valencia, Spain, was assessed. A group of 320 composite samples of different fatty foods was collected and analyzed, including the following: vegetable oils, and foods of animal origin such as (a) fish and seafood, (b) eggs, (c) milk and dairy products, and (d) meat and meat products. Two scenarios were assumed for left-censored results: lower-bound (LB) and upper-bound (UB). Vegetable oils, and fish and seafood presented the highest content of PBDEs [mean values of 503 and 464 pg g−1 wet weight (ww) for total PBDEs, respectively, in the UB]. The dominating congeners were BDE47 in the food categories of fish and seafood, meat and meat products, and vegetable oils, and BDE99 in the categories of eggs, and milk and dairy products. The dietary exposure to PBDEs through consumption of the studied foods by the population in the Region of Valencia was estimated for adults (>15 years of age) and young people (6–15 years of age). Average intake levels (UB scenario) were 1.443 and 3.456 ng kg bw−1 day−1 for adults and young people, respectively. In a risk-assessment context, the margin of exposure (MOE) for congener BDE47, -99, −153, and −209 (ranged: 30-3E6) indicate that the current dietary exposure to these substances does not pose a risk to human health. • PBDE intake in Spain including representative sampling and foods with limited data. • Salty fish, common in Spain and with high values, was included for the first time. • Derived MOEs from PBDEs dietary exposure do not indicate possible health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is considered an endocrine disruptor and it is present in numerous products of daily use. The aim of this study was to analyze serum BPA concentrations in a subcohort of the Spanish European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), as well as to identify potential predictors of the exposure. The population consisted on 3553 subjects from 4 EPIC-Spain centres and BPA levels were measured in serum samples by UHPLC-MS/MS. Almost 70% of the participants showed detectable BPA values (>0.2 ng/ml), with a geometric mean of 1.19 ng/ml (95% CI: 1.12–1.25). By sex, detectable percentages were similar (p = 0.56) but with higher serum levels in men (1.27 vs 1.11 ng/ml, p = 0.01). Based on the adjusted regression models, a 50 g/day increase in the consumption of added fats and oils were associated with 43% lower BPA serum levels, while sugar and confectionary was associated with 25% higher levels of serum BPA. We evidenced differential exposure levels by province, sex and age, but not by anthropometric or lifestyle characteristics. Further investigation is needed to understand the influence of diet in BPA exposure. • Almost 70% of the population had detectable serum levels of BPA, which are similar to other populations. • Geographical differences were observed in serum BPA levels across studied provinces. • Women showed in average 26% lower BPA serum concentrations than men. • Intake of sugar and confectionery was positively associated with serum BPA levels. • Intake of vegetable oils was inversely associated with serum BPA levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mislabeling of olive oil with respect to its geographical origin is a frequently encountered fraud. Although according to European Regulation (EU) No 29/2012 it is mandatory to declare the geographical origin of an olive oil on the label, no generally accepted analytical method exists to verify this labeling. As Italy, Greece, and Spain are the main producing countries in the Mediterranean Area, the aim is to develop an analytical method that allows classification of these three origins and which can be reliably applied to routine samples. A protocol for the extraction and subsequent 1H‐NMR measurement of the polar fraction of olive oil is developed and applied to a large number of authentic reference samples. A classification model is developed which obtains 96% of correct classification during cross‐validation. The method is being routinely applied for testing commercial off‐the‐shelf olive oils, and its accuracy is continuously verified. Practical Applications: In addition to checking the geographical origin of an olive oil, the developed protocol allows to analyze the polar constituents of an olive oil in great detail with little effort, which should prove useful also for other applications, for example, quantitation of phenols or detection of admixtures with other vegetable oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreber ssp. chamaepitys has been studied by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-six compounds were identified and γ-muurolene (40.3%), limonene (20.5%) and germacrene B (7.8%) were found to be the major constituents of the oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details that Spain's Cabinet of Ministers approved a royal bill to start payment to some victims of toxic oil syndrome who applied for compensation. Specifics of the illegal sale of rapeseed oil denatured with aniline as cooking oil; Amount of compensation; Involvement of the World Health Organization (WHO); Approximate number of deaths due to poisoning.