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The objective of this study was the estimation of the content of 13 mycotoxins (diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, fusarenone X, aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone) in various products from the eastern part of Poland. The content of mycotoxins in the analysed samples was assayed using the extraction method combined with HPLC-MS/MS analysis. We found mycotoxins in 25 of the 92 samples tested (27%). Contamination with mycotoxins was noted most frequently in samples of cereals – 56% – and also in samples of flour and cocoa, in which a content of mycotoxins was noted in 24 and 16% of the samples, respectively. The most frequently identified were the following – deoxynivalenol detected in 18 samples (72%), zearalenone detected in eight samples (32%), toxin HT-2 detected in four samples (16%), ochratoxin A identified in three samples (12%), and toxin T-2 detected in one sample (4%). In one analysed sample of mixed flour and in one analysed sample of wheat and rye flour, the maximum allowable concentration was exceeded in the case of two identified mycotoxins – deoxynivalenol (2,250 μg/kg) and ochratoxin A (15.6 and 17.1 μg/kg).

The objective of the study was to determine the content of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), aluminium (Al), thallium (Tl), antimony (Sb) and uranium (U) in the apple and orange juices and black currant nectar in relation to the kind of packaging. Also, probabilistic risk assessment (non-carcinogenic) was estimated by models including target hazard quotient (THQ and THQ*). Aluminium (Al) was present at the highest concentration in the analysed juices and nectars, with average concentration ranging from 1.34 mg/kg in orange juices (glass) to 4.26 mg/kg in black currant nectar (glass). Fruit juices and nectars kept in tetra pack packaging were characterised by elevated concentrations of Al and Sb, while the products in glass packaging contained significantly higher concentrations of As compared with the products in tetra pack packaging. Although the average concentrations of trace elements were lower than the standard limit, exposure to non-carcinogenic factors was demonstrated.

The toxicity of heavy metals and their capacity for accumulation in the human organism make it necessary to conduct monitoring of their concentration in food. The objective of the study was to determine the content of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in milk and dairy products from various regions of Poland: the Lublin Region, Podlasie, Podkarpacie, and Silesia. The study showed the presence of the analysed heavy metals in most of the products. The content of lead was related to the level of industrialisation of a region. Higher levels of Pb were found in products from Silesia than in those from the other regions. The study revealed the presence of cadmium in 50% of the samples. Its content varied in range from 0.0067 to 0.0058 mg/kg. The levels of Cu and Zn concentration in the analysed products were within broad ranges, from 0.0015 to 4.94 mg/kg and from 0.01 to 56.44 mg/kg, respectively. In the case of all analysed elements an increase in their concentration was noted in cheese spreads and cottage cheeses. No relationship was found between the content of heavy metals in the analysed products, and the region of their origin.

The objective of the study was to identify suitable additives stabilizing standard solutions of ascorbic acid (AA) that would not cause interference in the analytical process with the use of voltammetry in the determination of the AA content in food products. In addition, the effect of various conditions of storage of selected fruit juices and drinks on the concentration of vitamin C was studied. The study demonstrated that AA degradation was inhibited the most effectively by tartaric acid and its optimum concentration was set to 200 mg L-1. Analysis of selected fruit juices stored in various temperature conditions confirmed that an elevation of temperature and extension of the time of storage caused a decrease in the content of vitamin C in the analyzed samples, while closing the packages caused a limitation of the changes in concentration of this vitamin. On the basis of literature data and of the results obtained in the present study it can be concluded that fruit juices should be stored at a temperature lower than room temperature to retain their nutritive value.

Hyssopus officinalis L. is a common plant that is most usually found in three color forms - f. cyaneus (blue), f. ruber Mill. (purple/pink) and f. albus Alef (white). In the present work, we evaluated the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils obtained from Polish-sourced white- and pink-flowered H. officinalis. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the essential oil has shown that both forms of color have a different content of main components. The principle essential oil component of white-flowered H. officinalis L. was pinocamphone (51%), while pink-flowered H. officinalis L. contained almost equal amounts of pinocamphone (28.8%) and isopinocamphone (21.9%). Of note, the essential oil of the pink form was more active against Grampositive bacteria, especially against Bacillus subtilis.

The primary objective of this investigation was to assess the potential applicability of hemp (Cannabis sativa L. var. sativa) lateral inflorescence extract in mitigating the growth of fungi, including phytopathogens, on agricultural plants. The extract, comprising a blend of biologically active compounds, holds promise for integration into contemporary plant protection methodologies. The research involved a comprehensive analysis of the extract's chemical composition, encompassing the determination of total polyphenol and flavonoid content (utilizing spectrophotometric methods), antioxidant activity (evaluated through the DPPH method employing synthetic 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical), and cannabinoid content (analyzed using HPLC techniques). Additionally, this study employed the poisoned substrate method to gauge the impact of 5, 10, and 20% extract concentrations on the growth of various microfungi, including Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. sporotrichioides, and Trichoderma koningii. The hemp extract demonstrated a substantial presence of total polyphenolic compounds, with polyphenol and flavonoid concentrations measuring 149.65 mg/mL and 1.55 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the extract contained cannabinoids at a concentration of 0.12%. The most pronounced antifungal activity was observed with the 20% extract, particularly against T. koningii (62.22–84.79%), C. coccodes (61.65–81.82%), and B. cinerea (45.00–75.42%). However, the efficacy of hemp extracts exhibited large differences against Fusarium spp. (3.10–72.95%), dependent on the specific extract and fungus strain. Introduction of hemp extracts to the substrate induced a reduction in substrate pigment and a discernible color alteration in the mycelium to a lighter shade compared to the control. These findings mark the initial phase in the exploration of practical applications for plant extracts, setting the groundwork for subsequent field trials to ascertain the extract's impact on phytotoxicity and the health status of agricultural plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]