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Featured Application: Rapid and Non-Invasive Determination of Iodine Value in Commercial Edible Oils. This study presents a fast, non-invasive method to determine the iodine value (IV) of edible oils using Time Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD-NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques. The IV, which quantifies the degree of unsaturation in fats and oils, is a key parameter in assessing oil quality and detecting potential adulteration. Different edible oils were used in this study (sunflower, soy, olive, sesame, and linseed). Statistically significant regression models (R2 > 0.92) were established between the IV derived from NMR spectra and the longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation times of the oils, which were obtained from MRI and TD-NMR analyses. The regression models obtained allow for the prediction of the IV from the T1 and T2 relaxation times across a range that includes predominantly mono- and polyunsaturated edible vegetable oils. The TD-NMR approach stands out for its speed (<2 min), lack of sample preparation (including direct analysis within the commercial packaging), and reproducibility, with a variability of only 0.62%. Meanwhile, the MRI technique allows for the simultaneous evaluation of multiple samples in a single acquisition. Together, these features make TD-NMR and MRI effective tools for the rapid and reliable analysis of the IV in edible oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces a novel approach to detecting honey adulteration by combining ultra-fast gas chromatography (UF-GC) with advanced machine learning techniques. Machine learning models, particularly support vector regression (SVR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), were applied to predict adulteration in orange blossom (OB) and sunflower (SF) honeys. The SVR model achieved R2 values above 0.90 for combined honey types. Treating OB and SF honeys separately resulted in a significant accuracy improvement, with R2 values exceeding 0.99. LASSO proved especially effective when honey types were treated individually. The integration of UF-GC with machine learning not only provides a reliable method for detecting honey adulteration, but also sets a precedent for future research in the application of this technique to other food products, potentially enhancing food authenticity across the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of food fraud or food adulteration has become increasingly important in recent years, as it not only serves as a means for perpetrators to make quick money but also poses significant risks to consumer health. This threat is often fuelled by the use of unmonitored or unregulated ingredients. The rise in food fraud can be attributed to various factors, including the demand for specific food products, inadequate monitoring of food production, poor border management for food control, and the opportunities presented by free trade and entrepreneurship. To gain insights into the extent of food fraud, a review of reported cases from 2015 to 2024 was conducted, focusing on well-known cases in South Africa during this period. The review also examined the products typically implicated in food fraud, and identified the responsible authorities tasked with regulating the manufacturing, handling, and distribution of these products in South Africa. The findings indicate that food fraud is on the rise, with fraudsters becoming increasingly adept at concealing the illegitimacy of their products. While food adulteration may involve the use of uncertified ingredients, the most fraudulent activities occur in uncertified facilities and during processing steps. One of the challenges in controlling food fraud is the fragmentation of regulations and responsible authorities for enforcing these regulations. Over 94% of regulatory requirements identified in six regulatory authorities were found to be duplicated in some way, resulting in an unclear mandate for the industry. To address this issue, a new approach is needed to centralize food control plans in South Africa. This approach should facilitate proper recording, investigation, and resolution of complaints. Additionally, unified regulations, capacity building for authorities, and consumer awareness plans are necessary. A similar approach to the blitz inspection by bringing together food authorities, consumers, and the industry in a single forum to conduct inspection and enforcement and act against food fraud. While this is a good proactive response, however, keeping its momentum could not always be available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new nanocomposite based on alginate microbeads impregnated with novel strontium–aluminum layered double hydroxide (Sr‐Al LDH) incorporated with choline chloride‐urea deep eutectic solvent (ChCl‐U DES) was introduced. The microbeads and LDH were characterized by adsorption/desorption isotherms, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, SEM, and x‐ray diffraction. The adsorbent was employed for determining penicillin G (PENG) using dispersive solid‐phase extraction prior to HPLC analysis. The extraction efficiency of the adsorbent, compared with that of unmodified alginate, showed a 2.5‐fold increase. Significant parameters, including elution conditions, sorbent composition and mass, adsorption time, and sample pH, were optimized. The LOD was 0.4 µg kg−1, and the linear range was 1.4–500 µg kg−1. The LOQ (1.4 µg kg−1) was lower than the established maximum level for PENG by the European Union (4 µg kg−1). Enrichment factor and synthesis reproducibility were also investigated. The method's accuracy was evaluated through PENG analysis in dairy products and water, with recoveries of 81%–107% (RSDs < 7.6%). The procedure's greenness was assessed using the Analytical Eco‐scale and achieved excellent green credentials. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis and application of a novel alginate composite for the extraction of PENG from dairy and water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although antibiotics are the main therapy for bacterial infections, the reports showed that the overuse (or misuse) of antibiotics will results in several problems such as the development of antibiotic-resistant strains, persistence of drug residues, and numerous environmental concerns. Therefore, finding antibiotic alternatives is considered of vital importance. Investigation of the antimicrobial properties of several plant substances and extracts is of great value to replace antibiotics. With this objective, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of an ethanolic extract prepared from olive mill wastewater (OMWW), which is a by-product of olive oil production with considerable environmental burden, against 38 bacterial strains, including fish-associated pathogens, non-pathogenic isolates, collection strains, and one yeast strain, Candida albicans. Disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) tests were used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the OMWWE. According to the results, OMWWE provoked strong inhibitory effects against Shewanella baltica strain SY-S145. It also showed a moderate inhibitory effect on Plesiomonas shigelloides strain SY-PS16 and Vibrio anguillarum strain SY-L24. The MIC and MBC of OMWWE on Shewanella baltica SY-S145, Vibrio gigantis strain C24, and V. anguillarum strain SY-L24 were 500 µg/mL. The MIC and MBC on V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 were 1000 µg/mL, whereas the values for Aeromonas salmonicida ATCC 33658 were 500 µg/mL and 1000 µg/mL, respectively. To put it briefly, the OMWW extract showed high antimicrobial activity and can act as an environmentally friendly additive for the control and prevention of diseases caused by A. veronii, A. hydrophila, P. shigelloides, S. baltica, V. anguillarum, and V. parahaemolyticus. Its active agents also prevented infections of both fish-associated pathogens and food spoiling bacteria, which means it can not only help in the disease control mechanism but also in improving the safety of food by reduction of the microbial contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Non-targeted NMR is widely accepted as a powerful and robust analytical tool for food control. Nevertheless, standardized procedures based on validated methods are still needed when a non-targeted approach is adopted. Interlaboratory comparisons carried out in recent years have demonstrated the statistical equivalence of spectra generated by different instruments when the sample was prepared by the same operator. The present study focused on assessing the reproducibility of NMR spectra of the same matrix when different operators performed individually both the sample preparation and the measurements using their spectrometer. For this purpose, two independent laboratories prepared 63 tomato samples according to a previously optimized procedure and recorded the corresponding 1D 1H NMR spectra. A classification model was built using the spectroscopic fingerprint data delivered by the two laboratories to assess the geographical origin of the tomato samples. The performance of the optimized statistical model was satisfactory, with a 97.62% correct sample classification rate. The results of this work support the suitability of NMR techniques in food control routines even when samples are prepared by different operators by using their equipment in independent laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeine is an alkaloid belonging to the methylated xanthine family. It is found in various foods of plant origin, including tea leaves, guarana berries, and coffee beans. Due to its stimulating effect on the central nervous system and the associated increase in alertness and reduction in tiredness, caffeine is specifically added to some foods, such as food supplements. Claims about the positive physiological effects of caffeine are health claims within the definition of the European Union (EU) Health Claims Regulation and must be authorised before use. Despite a positive opinion from the European Food Safety Authority, regulation of the authorisation of caffeine claims was rejected due to a veto by the European Parliament. As a result, health claims are currently not regulated for caffeine in all EU member states, and the transitional on-hold status also no longer applies for most claims. Therefore, products with health claims regarding caffeine are still observed within the context of governmental food-control activities. To investigate how these are currently used on the market, internet research (n = 188) was carried out. The sample included foods that naturally contain caffeine or to which it is frequently added, namely coffee, tea, non-alcoholic soft drinks and mixed drinks, as well as food supplements, including sports nutrition products. Furthermore, the labelling of official samples that were conspicuous in relation to caffeine in the years 2019–2023 (n = 136) was included in the evaluation. The products most frequently advertised with unregulated health claims for caffeine were food supplements (31% of 135 products). On the other hand, health claims were least frequently used for coffee (4% of 77 products) and tea (18% of 33 products). For all product groups, health claims were mainly made regarding improved concentration and performance/energy. The individual effects the health claims referred to differed between the product groups. In the case of coffee and tea, the advertised effects are mainly limited to increased energy and performance in the form of a "kick" or "boost". A wider range of different health claims are used for food supplements and alcohol-free beverages, including claims relating to stamina and alertness. In general, the tendency was observed for health claims to be advertised more frequently on the internet than on the product labelling itself. This study exposes a critical issue: while scientific evidence supports some health claims for caffeine, they still remain unregulated, complicating enforcement and creating public confusion. Prompt regulatory revision is needed to align these claims with scientific validations, ensuring both accuracy and regulatory compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spelt products are popular with consumers achieving higher market prizes, making them susceptible to food adulteration with less valuable cereals. To facilitate product control, a recently developed duplex droplet digital PCR method enables the detection and quantification of common wheat (Triticum aestivum) contaminations in food products made from spelt (Triticum spelta). The duplex droplet digital PCR assay targets the γ-gliadin gene and the Q-locus of both subspecies. In this study, the method was validated in an interlaboratory ring trial involving 11 participating laboratories. Test materials containing defined proportions of spelt and common wheat were prepared and tested. The ring trial procedure included DNA extraction of the test samples and determination of subspecies proportions using droplet digital PCR. Results from the ring trial confirmed the method's capability for specific detection and quantification of common wheat in spelt, with acceptable relative measurement uncertainties, and without requiring reference material for calibration. To our knowledge, this is the first interlaboratory validation of a digital PCR method for species differentiation in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new polyether sulfone (PES) membrane modified with manganese-aluminum layered double hydroxide (Mn-Al LDH) was prepared and utilized in the membrane micro-solid phase extraction (M-µSPE) of acrylamide for the first time. The analyses were conducted using HPLC-UV. The extraction efficiency of the PES membrane was enhanced two-fold with the addition of LDH. The fabricated LDH@PES was characterized using ATR-FTIR, SEM, XRD, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. The specific surface area, average pore diameter, thickness, cross-sectional channels, and LDH particle size of the LDH@PES membrane were determined. The extraction key factors including membrane composition, desorption conditions, sample pH, and salt concentration were studied. The method was validated by determining the limit of detection, the limit of quantification, linear range, r2, matrix effect, enrichment factor, and precision. Extraction recoveries ranged from 87.4 to 103.5% with RSD < 5.9%. Finally, the method's green features were assessed with the AGREE protocol. This is the first report on the application of LDH@PES for microfiltration/extraction of acrylamide in various chocolate and cocoa products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial dyes are increasingly widespread, especially in foodstuffs and pharmaceutical products as an industry marketing strategy to attract consumers. Consumption of the synthetic azo dye Allura Red (AR) has potential risks to human health and can cause several adverse health effects such as genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, allergic and asthmatic diseases in children. The limited number of electrochemical sensing platforms for AR successfully applied for safety assessment of foods, beverages, and drug formulations testifies that the food and pharmaceutical matrices present significant analytical challenges and there is still a need to amplify the analytical performances of these systems. The authors intensively reviewed recent papers (mainly since 2019) emphasizing electrode engineering, strategies for electrochemical signal amplification, and analytical applications in food and drug control. A critical discussion on the latest interesting innovations and perspectives of the most promising electrochemical tools for AR electro­analysis is presented. The challenges and limitations in the design of electrochemical sensors for AR analysis are also discussed with a view to providing new directions for future research and development of sustainable sensing devices, paving the way for advancements in this field.

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]

Adulteration of meat products is a serious problem in the modern society. Consumption of falsified meat products can be hazardous to health and/or lead to violating religious dietary principles. To identify such products, rapid and simple test systems for point-of-need detection are in demand along with complex laboratory methods. This study presents the first double lateral flow (immunochromatographic) test system, which allows simultaneous revealing two prevalent types of falsifications—undeclared addition of pork and chicken components to meat products. In the proposed test system, porcine myoglobin (MG) and chicken immunoglobulin Y (IgY) were used as specific biomarkers recognizable by antibodies. Within the optimization of the analysis, the concentrations of the immune reagents and regimes of their application on the working membrane were selected, which provided minimal limits of detection (LODs) for both analytes. The developed test system enables the detection of MG and IgY with the LODs of 10 and 12 ng/mL, respectively, which accords to addition of 0.1% of the undeclared meat compounds. The applicability of the test system to control the composition of raw meat mixtures and cooked food products was confirmed. The developed approach can be considered as a promising tool for monitoring composition of meat products. [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]

Infections with bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp affect both humans and animals. These bacteria have acquired resistance to conventional antibiotics, which makes their treatment difficult and poses a health risk. For this reason, other natural options are being investigated to combat them, such as plant extracts. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts for the control of pathogenic bacteria of medical relevance. As a methodology, strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. were used, following the methods described by Duquense et al., 2015 and NOM-110-SSA1-1994. And to prepare the methanolic extracts, plant samples such as clove (Syzygium aromaticum), garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), vanilla (Vanilla planifolia), mint (Mentha spicata), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), stafiate (Artemisia ludoviciana) and berries such as strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius), purchased in popular markets in Reynosa Tamaulipas. The result of the antibiotic tests showed that the most effective methanolic extract was that of clove, followed by the methanolic extract of garlic. Therefore, these plant extracts could be an option for the control of medically relevant pathogenic bacteria. [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 presents the development of a sandwich ELISA method for gluten detection in foods, using recombinant Fab antibody fragments against gliadin. The Fabs were chemically biotinylated and immobilized on streptavidin-coated plates as capture antibodies, while alkaline phosphatase-conjugated Fabs were used as detection antibodies. Four different gliadin-binding Fabs were tested and the Fab pair Fab8E-4 and Fab-C showed the best compatibility. An indirect sandwich immunoassay, using unmodified Fab8E-4 for capture and Fab-C as the detection antibody, achieved a detection limit of 26 ng/mL of gliadin, corresponding to 10 mg/kg of gluten in foods. No cross-reactivity was observed against 60 gluten-free species commonly used in the food industry. Analysis of 50 commercial products demonstrated consistent results compared to the standard method for gluten detection. The complete lack of cross-reactivity of the developed immunoassay with oat products potentially provides an advantage over other gluten detection systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Among the hive products of stingless bees (SB), honey is distinguished because it has different physicochemical properties than the honey produced by Apis mellifera. Its taste is more acidic and less sweet, and it naturally contains a higher percentage of water. Honey is one of the most frequently adulterated products marketed. Therefore, this work aimed to verify if the qualitative tests performed for A. mellifera honey are also valid for SB honey from Tetragonisca angustula, Melipona quadrifasciata, and Tetragona elongata and if they can detect the most common adulterations. Adulterations of SB honey with corn syrup, inverted sugar, and A. mellifera honey were simulated and tested with Lugol, Fiehe, and Lund reactions. For these three analyses, sample volume reduction was also tested. The Lund test did not work well with honey samples from SB because they have a higher water content, and reliable results could not be obtained. For the other two tests, the sample volume reduction used was efficient. The Fiehe test detected adulteration with corn syrup only. The Lugol test detected corn syrup and inverted sugar adulterations in all dilutions for all three SB species. No adulteration by added water or honey from A. mellifera was detected in any test. Therefore, using the qualitative Lugol’s reaction test to evaluate SB honey quality is reasonably affordable. Since it is a rapid and inexpensive test, it allows the development of production chains for SB honey. Thus, detecting inauthentic honey can be done by combining qualitative tests as the first screening, followed by quantitative tests if necessary.

Eggs are a good source of balanced nutritional and biologically active substances - proteins, lipids, some irreplaceable nutritional components such as amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, macro- and microelements, etc. It is identified as the cheapest animal source of proteins, lipids, vitamins A, B12, riboflavin, choline, iron, zinc, phosphorus and calcium. At the same time, the dangers to human health that eggs can carry are also taken into account. Material/Methods: The literature used is based on databases PubMed, Embase and as well as data from own studies. Review Results: In the present review, we provide data on the importance of the composition of eggs in human nutrition are presented and the risk of their use is evaluated. Conclusions: The high biological and nutritional value of eggs are grounds for their use in the daily life of healthy people, without additional restrictions of cardiovascular diseases. There is a risk of food poisoning, which can be limited to acceptable levels by following good hygiene practices.

This study presents a fast, non-invasive method to determine the iodine value (IV) of edible oils using Time Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD-NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques. The IV, which quantifies the degree of unsaturation in fats and oils, is a key parameter in assessing oil quality and detecting potential adulteration. Different edible oils were used in this study (sunflower, soy, olive, sesame, and linseed). Statistically significant regression models (R2 > 0.92) were established between the IV derived from NMR spectra and the longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation times of the oils, which were obtained from MRI and TD-NMR analyses. The regression models obtained allow for the prediction of the IV from the T1 and T2 relaxation times across a range that includes predominantly mono- and polyunsaturated edible vegetable oils. The TD-NMR approach stands out for its speed (

Although antibiotics are the main therapy for bacterial infections, the reports showed that the overuse (or misuse) of antibiotics will results in several problems such as the development of antibiotic-resistant strains, persistence of drug residues, and numerous environmental concerns. Therefore, finding antibiotic alternatives is considered of vital importance. Investigation of the antimicrobial properties of several plant substances and extracts is of great value to replace antibiotics. With this objective, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of an ethanolic extract prepared from olive mill wastewater (OMWW), which is a by-product of olive oil production with considerable environmental burden, against 38 bacterial strains, including fish-associated pathogens, non-pathogenic isolates, collection strains, and one yeast strain, Candida albicans. Disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) tests were used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the OMWWE. According to the results, OMWWE provoked strong inhibitory effects against Shewanella baltica strain SY-S145. It also showed a moderate inhibitory effect on Plesiomonas shigelloides strain SY-PS16 and Vibrio anguillarum strain SY-L24. The MIC and MBC of OMWWE on Shewanella baltica SY-S145, Vibrio gigantis strain C24, and V. anguillarum strain SY-L24 were 500 µg/mL. The MIC and MBC on V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 were 1000 µg/mL, whereas the values for Aeromonas salmonicida ATCC 33658 were 500 µg/mL and 1000 µg/mL, respectively. To put it briefly, the OMWW extract showed high antimicrobial activity and can act as an environmentally friendly additive for the control and prevention of diseases caused by A. veronii, A. hydrophila, P. shigelloides, S. baltica, V. anguillarum, and V. parahaemolyticus. Its active agents also prevented infections of both fish-associated pathogens and food spoiling bacteria, which means it can not only help in the disease control mechanism but also in improving the safety of food by reduction of the microbial contamination.

Abstract The concern with food safety has been discussed since the end of the 19th century to improve its quality. The microscopic identification of plant species used in natura or in the elaboration of food products is extremely relevant because it is fast and satisfactory to characterize food composition and plant contaminants. Microscopy also allows evaluations of the hygienic quality of food, making it possible to observe physical, biological, and microbiological contaminants. Although it is an low-cost method compared to other chemical or molecular methodology, it relies on the expertise and knowledge of the analyst, especially in plant anatomy since it is a method that is mainly based on the identification of food products by comparison. Thus, this review aims to summarize studies related to the use of plant anatomy and the future perspectives of associations with other analytical methods for plant quality control. Therefore, this review is structured in two main topics: plant anatomy under light microscopy in food analysis and plant anatomy under microscopy associated with other methods.

The aim of this work is the description and characterization of a severe Microsporidia infection in a batch of salted and dried cod. Particularly, the case involves a batch of approximately 800 kg obtained from Gadus macrocephalus (Food and Agriculture Organization Zone 61 - Northwest Pacific Ocean), which, after rehydration and sectioning operations, underwent routine company checks before packaging. On about 20% of the samples, the presence of whitish nodules with a diameter ranging from 1 to 2 mm was observed on the surface of the fillets and in cross-section. The lesions ranged from a few units to 10 per cm2. Some samples were subjected to fresh microscopic observation with the stereomicroscope, confirming the nodular nature of the lesions, which were often confluent, alternating with empty spaces, giving the tissue a honeycombing aspect. The histological examination at low magnification allowed us to observe the heavy vacuolization of nodular lesions irregularly surrounded by a spongy-like wall. The observation at higher magnification of other sections allowed us to identify intra-myofibrillar cists containing presumptive microsporidian elements. The tissue damage derived from the technological processes and gravity of lesions did not allow a morphological characterization of presumptive protozoans. The molecular examination of the nodular lesions and the analysis of the sequence of an 897 bp fragment of the small subunit 16S rRNA revealed 100% identity with Microsporidium theragrae (GenBank Accession number MT928885-89) first isolated from the skeletal muscles of Gadus chalcogrammus specimens from the Sea of Okhotsk. This finding confirms the importance of selecting suppliers and raw materials in the seafood industry, as well as the usefulness of an effective traceability system.

Considering the importance of reducing the use of chemical preservatives in food and the increasing attention of consumers to consume food products with minimal additives, the main goal of this research was to study the effect of use of chemical (calcium propionate) and biological (Lactobacillus plantarum) preservatives on increasing shelf life of yufka paste considering its physicochemical and microbial characteristics. For this purpose, three samples of yufka paste were prepared by adding concentrations of 103, 105, and 107 cfu/mL of L. plantarum individually and three samples of paste were prepared by adding the same amount of bacteria in combination with 0.3% calcium propionate and these samples were compared with the control sample (without preservative) and the sample only containing 0.3% calcium propionate. The obtained results showed that different treatments and time had a significant effect on physicochemical properties including pH, moisture, and protein of yufka paste (p <.05). The results of the survival of L. plantarum showed that with increasing time, the survival rate of bacteria increased (p <.05). The pH of the samples showed that the L. plantarum has a significant effect on controlling the chemical quality of yufka during storage. The count of mold and yeast in the combined use of L. plantarum and 0.3% propionate was lower than the single use of propionate chemical preservative, which indicated the very good effect of the green preservative in controlling the moldy spoilage of yufka. Low concentrations of bacteria showed better antimold results than treatments containing bacteria and propionate in a combined form, propionate or control treatment. [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]

This study aimed to determine the acrylamide content in potato chips sold in Kermanshah, Iran and assess the potential health concerns associated with acrylamide exposure. HPLC-DAD was used to analyse 120 samples across 40 brands. The possible non-carcinogenic risk index for adults was below 1 for all 40 brands (100%), but for children it was only below 1 for 9 brands (22.5%) and above 1 for 31 brands (77.5%). Regarding the possible carcinogenic risk index, for adults only 1 out of 40 brands rated > 10−4, whereas for children all brands rated > 10−4. This shows that children's exposure to acrylamide through potato chips consumption in Kermanshah can be considered a risk on cancer and exposure of adults requires attention and monitoring. The best way to reduce acrylamide in potato chips and associated health risks is to improve the production process, especially temperature and time. [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]

Summary: Bacteria adherence to the surface and the resulting biofilm have serious harmful effects in food. Biofilm formation in foods can lead to food deterioration and disease transfer easily. Some alternative applications are being tried to remove biofilms. Among these, biosurfactants and bacteriophages are promising owing to their low toxicity, easy availability, and high activity. In our study, the action of phage and rhamnolipid, a biosurfactant, on the biofilm of Salmonella Infantis, which is an important pathogen in food, was examined. Additionally, the efficacy of phages in the biocontrol of foods was tested. It is observed that the phage significantly reduces the bacterial concentration in milk in the first 4 h at 4 °C and 25 °C and maintains its effect for 24 h at 4 °C. The p_S3 phage, rhamnolipid (RML), and p_S3 phage + RML mixture on the 48‐h biofilm decreased the biofilm mass by 44.9–81.8%, 20.8–81.1%, and 12–60%, respectively. On a 1‐week‐old biofilm, the p_S3 phage, RML, and p_S3 phage + RML mixture decreased the biofilm mass by 43–60%, 55–72%, and 49.7–61.7%, respectively. It is seen that the p_S3 phage and RML co‐administration on biofilm can be a biosafe application in food production facilities where it is a more effective application in removing the biofilm in long‐term exposure. [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]

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Glyphosate and glufosinate are among the most widely used pesticides in agriculture worldwide. Their extensive use leads to the presence of their residues on crops and in the surrounding environment. Beehives, bees, and apiculture products can represent potential sources for the accumulation of these substances and their metabolites, and the consequences for bee health, as well as the level of risk to human health from consuming contaminated food, are still unclear. Furthermore, information on the contamination levels of honey and other beehive products by these compounds remains poorly documented. This study is part of a broader research effort aimed at developing specific analytical methods for monitoring the level of these contaminants in bee products. The methodology employed enabled the acquisition of preliminary information concerning the levels of glyphosate and glufosinate contamination in honey samples obtained from various retailers in Italy to assess compliance with the limits established by Regulation 293/2013. The liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the 30 honey samples revealed quantifiable levels of glyphosate in eight samples, with contamination ranging from 5.4 to 138.5 ng/g. Notably, one sample of the wildflower type showed residue levels nearly three times the maximum residue limit. Additionally, trace levels of glyphosate contamination were detected in another ten samples. It is noteworthy that glufosinate and its metabolites were not detected in any of the analyzed samples within the established method’s detection ranges.

Remote meat inspection is currently not permitted under the European Union food control legislation. However, the environmental impact of travelling to and from abattoirs and increasing shortages of qualified veterinary staff make remote controls a potential future scenario. This paper reports the results of a qualitative study conducted with a sample of nineteen official veterinarians and food business operators in Sweden. We investigated attitudes, perceived risks, and prerequisites for remote meat controls in semi-structured interviews.Results indicate both positive attitudes towards remote meat inspection, and concerns related to technical challenges, reliability and security of data transfer, and possibilities of manipulation of the remote system. Respondents also noted both negative effects, such as physical hurdles for good control, and positive impacts on animal welfare, such as shortened waiting times for slaughter. Considering the current regulatory framework, only 21% of the respondents have had any prior experience with (pilot) remote meat inspections and the additional 11% carried out remote inspections of Food Chain Information documents. Nevertheless, all participants, including the majority without any prior experience in remote inspections, assumed that remote inspections would be done via video streaming. The optimal setting for a remote meat inspection, according to our respondents, seems to be a combination of cameras at fixed locations with body cameras worn by assisting abattoir personnel. Overall, remote meat inspections are possible to introduce but not without significant legal and technical adaptations as well as definition of the conditions for this type of control flexibility.

The study provides current information on the level of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in three kinds of milk. This is the first report on AFM1 contamination in raw camel milk in the studied area. Seven raw camel milk, 21 raw cow milk, and 13 powdered milk samples were analysed with a highly sensitive competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The results indicated that 14.63% (6/41) of all the analysed samples were positive, with an average concentration of 17.92ng/L, and a range of 5.5–42.5ng/L. It was found that only one sample (4.76%) of cow’s milk was positive, but all camels’ milk samples (100%) were free from Aflatoxin M1. The highest incidence and concentration (38.46%) was found in powdered milk with an average concentration of 20.34 ng/L. No analysed sample exceeded the limit set by European regulations (50 ng/L). This means that the milk analysed does not represent a consumer health hazard owing to the low concentration of Aflatoxin M1, but continuous monitoring is still needed to protect public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]