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Abstract: The occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and deoxynivalenol (DON) in human milk and their correlation to the lactating donors dietary habits from Southern Brazil were investigated. Milk samples were collected from 86 nursing mothers who were also interviewed through a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The occurrence of AFM1, OTA, and DON in the human milk samples was evaluated by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) and correlated with the FFQ data. The analysis of the FFQs revealed a high intake of foods susceptible to mycotoxin contamination, such as wheat flour and its derivatives, bovine milk, and coffee which had habitual consumption reported by 71, 50, and 43% of the participants, respectively. AFM1, OTA, and DON were not detected in any sample of human milk, even though the results obtained by LC‐MS/MS suggest a possible occurrence of DON in four samples (>LOD: 2.5 ng/mL;

This study isolated Alphitobius diaperinus (live and dead) insects from shed's aviary bed to investigate their fungi spores distribution (that affects chicken health and meat production) and their accumulation sites (dorsal & ventral) characteristics by different microscopies (stereo and scanning electron). Despite live beetles being the main fungi spore carriers, the dead ones had far more spores attached on their body exoskeleton thereby being a focus of infection. That was due to the anatomical sites favoring spores trapping effect, together with beetles' different moisture content. Regarding the spores distribution and so the hyphae presence & mycelia concentration on dead A.w diaperinus, they were mainly detected at the (a) elytra, elytral suture and pronotum (on the dorsal side). Despite that, the highest spores/mycelia concentration was at the mouthparts, prosternum and legs (femur & tarsus) (on the ventral side). Indeed the beetle's ventral anatomical microscopic structures (mouthparts & legs) sheltered the highest fungi spores concentration and colonies proliferation. Thus dead beetle colonies growth lead to spore multiplication, their dissemination throughout the aviary bed environment and so their contact to chicken feet and body, leading to discomfort and diseases development/mycotoxicosis. The filamentous fungi were most detected from the Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. Therefore dead beetles should be removed from aviary (at each 45 breeding cycle) to reduce contamination. They represent rich substrates for fungi development with possibility of toxin formation, apart from the chicken diseases exposure due to their insects eating habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is a food rich in its composition and widely consumed. In it, consumers seek nutrients for a healthy life, believing it to be free of contaminants and chemical residues. However, it is known that the presence of chemical waste is a common finding in milk, among them antimicrobial treatments in which the withdrawal period was not respected. Contaminated equipment, improper milking and milk adulteration and low sanitary conditions also lead to contamination with antimicrobial residue. These substances interfere in the dairy industry, generating losses and interfering with the routine laboratory tests in industries, such as phosphatase, peroxidase and reductase tests. However, the greatest risk is to human health, which can cause extensive deleterious effects such as hipersensivity processes, teratogenesis, changes in intestinal microbiota and may harm your gastromucoprotector action, as well as providing a selection of populations of highly resistant bacteria. This study aimed to raise bibliographic data about how milk contamination with antibiotics happens, their impact on society and how to control this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An LC-MS/MS method with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the positive mode [M + H]+, for simultaneous determination of the aflatoxins (AFLs): AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 in Brazil nuts matrix is described. By means of multiple reaction monitoring it was possible to analyse the AFLs fragment ions to increase specificity and sensitivity. The separation of the toxins was carried out in a C8 column with gradient mobile phase composed of water:methanol (25 mM ammonium acetate) in a total run time of 5.0 min. The toxin extraction solvent was acetonitrile : water (80 : 20) and no clean up was required for the Brazil nut samples. The method values of LOD and LOQ utilizing the Brazil nut matrix for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were 0.04; 0.045; 0.050 and 0.060 µg kg-1; 0.08, 0.09, 0.10 and 0.12 µg kg-1, respectively. The recoveries from the Brazil nuts were between 92 and 100% and ΣAFL levels obtained from the positive naturally contaminated Brazil nuts ranged from 1.2 to 11.5 µg kg-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eggshell quality is essential for the preservation of commercial egg product properties. Poultry eggshells are fundamental for the growth and development of the embryo, and any quality alteration can lead to the death of the embryo and consequent damages to the production of chickens. In addition, in the Northeastern Brazilian region, the eggshell is consumed dry and crushed as a source of calcium for children. Contaminant fungi can penetrate eggshell through their microscopic hyphae, affecting its quality. Since the environment is conducive to this contamination, several eggshell decontamination methods have been studied. Ozone (O3) is a strong oxidant, with antimicrobial action, which spontaneously decomposes into O2. It is classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by USDA and FDA. Emerging technology is explored by the food safety area for the inactivation of pathogens and degradation of chemical contaminants. The greatest effectiveness of O2 is observed at low temperature. In this work, 25 g of commercial eggshells were stored at 8 °C for 7 weeks, being ground, homogenized and divided into two portions of 12.5 g. Control Group (CG) was separated and inoculated directly, being exposed only by air stream, and the second one, Treated Group (TG) was submitted to treatment with O3. The samples were transferred to glass chambers (70 x 50 mm), and the O3 applied at concentration of 15 mg of O3 for 1 kg of sample (15 ppm). The gas flow was maintained for 20 min, and then aseptically inoculated into PDA culture medium. The results were 6 UFC/g for CG and NG (no growths) CFU/g for TG. The decontamination of the commercial eggshells with O3 was effective, however, more studies are required regarding the exposure time and efficiency, including interaction with temperature, whether effects the internal physic-chemical properties of the egg and consumer acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi are responsible for deterioration in grains and food. They cause countless economic losses because they are associated to nutrient reduction, loss of germination and discoloration of food. When exposed to optimum environmental conditions, some species of toxigenic fungi can produce mycotoxins. Cold plasma (CP) is a green technology used as a decontaminant of microorganisms in grains and foods. This gas can perform the activity at low temperature without altering flavor, odor and grain structure, in addition to leaving no residue. Thus, the objective of this work was to explore the in vitro antifungal effects of CP on different fungal species of the genus Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium, where the growth of colonies and changes in hyphae such as morphology, mortality and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were highlighted by the application of scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence. The CP was formed by plasma jet reactor in dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), alternating current, voltage of 8.5 kV and power of 240 W, which effectively inhibited the growth of the fungal colonies of A. flavus and F. verticillioides at 10 min exposure time and P. citrinum for 20 min. In the tested parameters, CP exposure was able to inhibit fungal growth, caused morphological changes in hyphae and ROS production in all fungi tested, due to oxidative stress. This type of treatment proved to be effective in fungal inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish is susceptible to microbiological deterioration due to the amount of free water, chemical composition and pH variation. Fish changes occur due to either, their conditions when they were caught (physical exhaustion, lack of oxygen, excessive manipulation) or in the final products exposed commercially (fungi spores and bacteria). This work evaluated the development of different toxigenic fungal genotypes in fish products (dried and dry-salted, apart from in natura, with 49.4, 55 and 72% of moisture content – mc, respectively). Portions (50 g, n = 3) of each fish Type were inoculated with toxigenic fungi spores of Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium genus and incubated (7 days at 25°C) followed by microcultive. By means of stereo and light microscopies observation, it was possible to register that Aspergillus (aflatoxigenic) predominantly grew in all of fish Types (despite of the mc) and no growth registered on the others, including in natura. Also, no toxin was detected in any of the fish samples evaluated. In conclusion, despite of the rather high samples mc, it seems the fish substrate was not adequate and did not allow some of the genera to grow, or it occurred Aspergillus spores competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydration is one of the oldest known food preservation methods. It can be done naturally or artificially. Drying reduces the moisture content (mc) of the product to levels appropriate for its preservation. An effectively animal dry product is one in which the residual mc is less than 25%, while a partially dehydrated product is that of 50% residual mc. Ozone gas (O3) has already been used by the food industry and has proved to be a very promising technique regarding microorganisms and toxic compounds degradation. The aim of this work was to observe the O3 effect on toxigenic fungi contamination in dehydrated fish. Gas was applied (50 μmol/mol and flow: 5 L/min) at different exposure times (GT I, II, III - 10, 20 and 30 min, respectively) in dehydrated fish (n = 3) samples inoculated with the major toxigenic fungi genera spores (Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium - aflatoxins, fumonisins, deoxvnilenol, zearelanone, ochratoxin A producers, respectively). In parallel, two portions were kept as controls (no fungi spores/O3 - GC1 & with fungi spores/no O3 – GC2) and incubated at 25 °C. Colonies development was followed for seven days. As expected, the GC1 samples (no fungi spores) showed no growth (NG) over the whole period. The opposite happened with the GC2 (with fungi spores). Showed fungal proliferation since Day 2. Regarding the GT (O3 treated), 30 min presented the fungi reduction. The treated samples submitted to O3 for 30 min had the fungal growth reduction (≥ 30 min.). In conclusion that O3 gas applied for longer time is more effective for the fish sample studied. Regarding the GTs (O3 treated), the GTIII samples submitted to O3 for 30 min had the final growth totally inhibited. In conclusion, that O3 concentration applied for longer time (> 30 min.) showed to be more effective for the fish samples studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]