Codex Alimentarius Guidelines Research Articles

Evaluation of pesticide residues in rice marketed in Cape Verde by QuEChERS-LC/GC-MS analysis

In this work, a multiresidue pesticide analysis using both gas chromatography and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry systems has been conducted to determine 151 pesticides in rice samples consumed by the population of Cape Verde. The extraction and clean-up procedures were carried out by the QuEChERS method. The validation of both methodologies achieved determination coefficients higher than 0.9902 in matrix-matched calibration, relative recovery values in the range 58–120% with relative standard deviation lower than 20%, and limits of quantification of the method in the range 0.008–0.017 mg/kg, which agreed with the legal limits established by both EU regulations and the Codex Alimentarius guidelines. Among the total of 98 rice samples analysed, 91 samples were contaminated by pesticides at concentrations up to 18.3 mg/kg, with pirimiphos-methyl, propiconazole, tebuconazole, and imidacloprid being the most frequently detected. Following EU regulations, 14 non-compliances were found in 13 samples, whereas only one non-compliance was identified according to the Codex. Besides, a risk assessment based on the dietary exposure was performed for the pesticides found in the analysed rice samples. The results showed the need to carry out stricter controls to ensure the security of food agricultural products to protect consumers’ health.

Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Apis cerana honey from Lombok and Bali Islands.

Limited honey production worldwide leads to higher market prices, thus making it prone to adulteration. Therefore, regular physicochemical analysis is imperative for ensuring authenticity and safety. This study describes the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Apis cerana honey sourced from the islands of Lombok and Bali, showing their unique regional traits. A comparative analysis was conducted on honey samples from Lombok and Bali as well as honey variety from Malaysia. Moisture content was found slightly above 20% in raw honey samples from Lombok and Bali, adhering to the national standard (SNI 8664:2018) of not exceeding 22%. Both honey types displayed pH values within the acceptable range (3.40-6.10), ensuring favorable conditions for long-term storage. However, Lombok honey exhibited higher free acidity (78.5±2.14 meq/kg) than Bali honey (76.0±1.14 meq/kg), surpassing Codex Alimentarius recommendations (≤50 meq/kg). The ash content, reflective of inorganic mineral composition, was notably lower in Lombok (0.21±0.02 g/100) and Bali honey (0.14±0.01 g/100) compared to Tualang honey (1.3±0.02 g/100). Electric conductivity, indicative of mineral content, revealed Lombok and Bali honey with lower but comparable values than Tualang honey. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) concentrations in Lombok (14.4±0.11 mg/kg) and Bali (17.6±0.25 mg/kg) were slightly elevated compared to Tualang honey (6.4±0.11 mg/kg), suggesting potential processing-related changes. Sugar analysis revealed Lombok honey with the highest sucrose content (2.39±0.01g/100g) and Bali honey with the highest total sugar content (75.21±0.11 g/100g). Both honeys exhibited lower glucose than fructose content, aligning with Codex Alimentarius guidelines. The phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were significantly higher in Lombok and Bali honey compared to Tualang honey, suggesting potential health benefits. Further analysis by LC-MS/MS-QTOF targeted analysis identified various flavonoids/flavanols and polyphenolic/phenolic acid compounds in Lombok and Bali honey. The study marks the importance of characterizing the unique composition of honey from different regions, ensuring quality and authenticity in the honey industry.

Establishment of analysis method for the quantification of residues of halquinol and its metabolites in livestock and fishery products using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

In this study, an analysis method was established for the quantification of residues of halquinol and its metabolites in livestock and fishery products using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). We selected beef, pork (muscle and fat), chicken, egg, milk, flat fish, eel, and shrimp as target samples for validation of the method owing to them being typical livestock and fishery products. Validation of the developed analysis method was performed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) at three concentration levels (0.5, 1, and 2 × the maximum residue limits) following the Codex Alimentarius (CODEX) guidelines (CAC/GL 71–2009). For all samples, correlation coefficients (R2) exceeded 0.99, recoveries ranged between 75.59 and 119.36%, and coefficients of variation (CV) ranged between 1.39 and 28.66%, thus satisfying CODEX guidelines. In addition, inter-laboratory validation was conducted, and the resulting recoveries and CVs satisfied the CODEX guidelines; LOQ was established as 10 μg kg–1 for pig muscle and 5 μg kg–1 for the other samples. Therefore, the analysis method developed in this study can accurately and precisely screen for and quantify halquinol and its metabolites in livestock and fishery products.

Nutrient density and oral processing properties of common commercial complementary porridge samples used in Southern Africa: effect on energy and protein intakes among children aged 6-24 months.

Child malnutrition is an endemic public health problem in Africa. Infants are supposed to receive complementary foods from about six months onwards, as breastmilk alone no longer provide adequate nutrients. Commercially available complementary foods (CACFs) form an important part of baby foods in developing countries. However, systematic evidence on whether they really meet optimal quality specifications for infant feeding is limited. Some CACFs commonly used in Southern Africa and other parts of the world were investigated to establish if they meet optimal quality standards for protein and energy content, viscosity, and oral texture. For the energy content, most CACFs for 6-24-month-old children both in the dry and ready-to-eat forms (range: 372.0 kJ/100 g - 1816.0 kJ/100 g), were below Codex Alimentarius guidelines. The protein density of all CACFs (0.48-1.3 g/100 kJ) conformed with Codex Alimentarius requirements, but some (33%) were below the minimum World Health Organization (2019a) target of 0.7 g/100 kJ. Most CACFs had high viscosity values even at high shear rate of 50 s-1 , and were too thick or thick, sticky, grainy, and slimy, which may limit nutrient intake in infants, potentially causing child malnutrition. There is a need to improve the oral viscosity and sensory texture of CACFs for better nutrient intake by infants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Cadmium in soils and potato tubers under grower management in two contrasting soil types of Hokkaido, Japan

ABSTRACT In Japan, little has been reported on cadmium (Cd) concentration in upland soils, and its relation to Cd concentration in crops and vegetables other than rice. Cd concentration in the surface soils and potato tubers of growers’ fields in two main potato production areas in Japan with contrasting soil types (Andisols and Inceptisols) was investigated. Soil and tuber samples were obtained from 90 growers’ fields with variable management histories. Total and Mehlich-3 soil Cd concentration were determined, and Cd concentration in the peeled potato tubers was also measured. A significant positive correlation was found between total Cd and phosphorous concentration in the soils reflecting the historical heavy application of phosphate fertilizer in both soil types. Although the total Cd concentration was much higher in Andisols, the Mehlich-3 Cd as well as tuber Cd concentration was lower in Andisols than in the Inceptisols, suggesting that Cd in Andisols may be specifically adsorbed by humic substances and amorphous clay minerals. The Cd concentration of the peeled potatoes in all samples was less than 100 μg kg−1 fresh weight below the threshold set by the Codex Alimentarius guidelines. The Cd concentration in the tubers tended to be higher when the soil phosphate retention index and base saturation were lower, and this tendency was stronger when both conditions are satisfied. Differences in soil properties and not the total soil Cd concentration were the dominant factor affecting potato tuber Cd accumulation. It is quite possible to reduce the amount of phosphate fertilizer appropriately to minimize the accumulation of Cd in both soil types as well as by increasing the soil base saturation to suppress the transfer of Cd from the soils to the potato tubers is especially important in the Inceptisols.

Optimization of a Multi-Residue Analytical Method during Determination of Pesticides in Meat Products by GC-MS/MS.

In this study, a multi-residue analysis was developed for 32 compounds, including pesticides and metabolites, in five meat products using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The validation of the developed analytical method was also evaluated in accordance with Codex Alimentarius guidelines. Aminopropyl (NH2), C18, and florisil solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges were used to evaluate and optimize the cleanup procedure of the tested samples prior to GC-MS/MS analysis. Based on the analytical performance, the C18 SPE cartridge was deemed to be the most suitable among the examined SPE cartridges. The optimized method demonstrated that 29 out of 32 tested compounds acquired good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.99), and 25 tested compounds displayed the method limit of quantification (MLOQ) ≤ 0.01 mg/kg. Out of the 32 tested compounds, only 21 compounds met the acceptable analytical criteria for the lard and tallow samples, compared to 27 compounds in the beef, pork, and chicken samples that falls within the acceptable standards for recovery (70–120%) and analytical precision (relative standard deviation RSD ≤ 20%). The average matrix effect was widely varied (20.1–64.8%) in the studied meat samples that were affected by either ion enhancement or suppression. In particular, in the lard sample, 13 compounds showed poor recovery and analytical precision due to ion suppression. Thus, the matrix effect (ME) was considered a critical factor during multi-residue pesticide analysis in different meat products. In conclusion, this developed analytical method can be used as a routine monitoring system for residual pesticide analysis in livestock products with acceptable analytical standards. Further meticulous analytical studies should be optimized and validated for multi-residue pesticide analysis in diversified meat products.

Global wheat trade and Codex Alimentarius guidelines for deoxynivalenol: A mycotoxin common in wheat

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species that infect cereal grains, including wheat, is a significant food safety concern because of its adverse gastrointestinal effects and potential immunotoxicity. In 2015, the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the United Nations set guidelines for maximum allowable DON in wheat and other cereal grains. In this analysis, we employ social network models to analyze global wheat trade patterns in the years before and after the Codex DON guidelines were enacted in 2015: each year from 2012 to 2018 inclusive. Global wheat trading patterns in these seven years all presented hybrid structures: clusters of countries by continent, but a core-periphery structure within each continental cluster. This means that wheat trade, unlike maize and pistachio trade as determined from previous studies, appears to be driven by geographic proximity rather than similarity in food safety regulations. We found no evidence that global wheat trading patterns between nations changed as a result of the Codex DON guidelines, which stands in contrast to our earlier analyses of how aflatoxin regulations affected both maize and pistachio trade worldwide. This may be because insufficient time has passed, or because a single unified DON guideline does not have the same effect as multiple different national-level aflatoxin regulations in changing world food trade. If the central nations in such a global trade structure do not move upon a new policy, it is unlikely that the policy will affect the overall structure of global wheat trade. Without a core-periphery structure and engaged nations in the center of world wheat trade adopting these guidelines, it may take more years yet for these guidelines to be widely adopted, and for populations worldwide to benefit from lower DON exposure in their diets.

A Review on Food hygiene Knowledge, Practice and Food Safety in Ethiopia

Food safety is the assurance that food will not cause any harm to the consumer when it is prepared and/or consumed according to its intended use. Ensuring food safety to protect public health remains a significant challenge in both developing and developed countries. In the last decade, large efforts have been made on the global level towards development and implementation of food safety management systems to assure food safety in the agri‐food chain. This is demonstrated by multiple Codex Alimentarius guidelines and for example in European Union, illustrated by the introduction of the General Food Law. In Ethiopia, data on sanitation conditions and ensuing effects on health are very limited. Food safety system in Ethiopia is not as organized and developed as in other developed countries. Moreover, problems of growing population, urbanization, environment and food hygiene issues mean that food systems in the country continue to be stressed, adversely affecting the quality and safety of food supplies. The objective of this review is to provide a brief overview of hygiene and food safety system in Ethiopia and forward suggestions to bridge gaps. Keywords: Ethiopia, Food safety, Food Law, Hygiene DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/105-04 Publication date: February 28 th 2021

Prevalence and Credibility of Nutrition and Health Claims: Policy Implications from a Case Study of Mongolian Food Labels.

Nutrition and health claims should be truthful and not misleading. We aimed to determine the use of nutrition and health claims in packaged foods sold in Mongolia and examine their credibility. A cross-sectional study examined the label information of 1723 products sold in marketplaces in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The claim data were analysed descriptively. In the absence of national regulations, the credibility of the nutrition claims was examined by using the Codex Alimentarius guidelines, while the credibility of the health claims was assessed by using the European Union (EU) Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006. Nutritional quality of products bearing claims was determined by nutrient profiling. Approximately 10% (n = 175) of products carried at least one health claim and 9% (n = 149) carried nutrition claims. The credibility of nutrition and health claims was very low. One-third of nutrition claims (33.7%, n = 97) were deemed credible, by having complete and accurate information on the content of the claimed nutrient/s. Only a few claims would be permitted in the EU countries by complying with the EU regulations. Approximately half of the products with nutrition claims and 40% of products with health claims were classified as less healthy products. The majority of nutrition and health claims on food products sold in Mongolia were judged as non-credible, and many of these claims were on unhealthy products. Rigorous and clear regulations are needed to prevent negative impacts of claims on food choices and consumption, and nutrition transition in Mongolia.

A farm-to-fork quantitative risk assessment model for Salmonella Heidelberg resistant to third-generation cephalosporins in broiler chickens in Canada

Salmonella Heidelberg resistant to ceftiofur (a third-generation cephalosporin antimicrobial agent) in broiler chicken products pose a risk to public health in Canada. The objective of this study was to assess the extent of that risk and to evaluate the effect of intervention measures along the agri-food chain. A stochastic farm-to-fork quantitative microbial risk assessment model was developed following the Codex Alimentarius Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance. Different scenarios were analyzed to assess the individual relative effects of 18 possible interventions in comparison to a baseline scenario. The baseline scenario represented the first year of on-farm antimicrobial use surveillance in the Canadian broiler industry and the year before an industry-imposed ban on the preventive use of antimicrobials of very high importance to human health (2013), where 31.3% of broiler flocks consisted of birds to which ceftiofur was administered.The baseline scenario predicted an average probability of illness of 1.1 per 100,000 servings (SE: 0.064 per 100,000), corresponding to an average of 22,000 human infections (SE: 1900) with ceftiofur-resistant S. Heidelberg per year, which is likely an overestimation. This risk was reduced by 90% or 20% when two separate scenarios designed to capture the effect of withdrawing preventive ceftiofur use from poultry production were simulated using different approaches; data used for the former scenario were confounded by other potential concomitant control measures (e.g. Salmonella vaccination programme), so the true effect likely lies somewhere between the two estimates. A theoretical ‘worst case’ scenario where all flocks had birds exposed to ceftiofur increased the risk by 107%. A 50% reduction in the probability of human prior exposure to antimicrobials, which has a selective and competitive effect for Salmonella spp. following ingestion of contaminated products, reduced the risk by 65%. Other promising measures that could be considered for further risk management included improved cleaning and disinfection between broiler flocks on farm (risk reduction by 26%), exclusive use of air chilling (risk reduction by 34%), and the improvement of meat storage and preparation conditions, e.g., no temperature abuse at retail (risk reduction by 88%). These findings showed the importance of a structured approach to assessing and potentially implementing effective interventions to reduce the risk associated with ceftiofur-resistant S. Heidelberg at different steps along the agri-food chain.Major data gaps included information on concentrations of resistant bacteria, cross contamination at processing and how ceftiofur-resistant S. Heidelberg behave in comparison with susceptible ones, e.g., in terms of growth and survival ability, as well as pathogenicity and virulence.

Integrating Whole-Genome Sequencing Data Into Quantitative Risk Assessment of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance: A Review of Opportunities and Challenges.

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) will soon replace traditional phenotypic methods for routine testing of foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR). WGS is expected to improve AMR surveillance by providing a greater understanding of the transmission of resistant bacteria and AMR genes throughout the food chain, and therefore support risk assessment activities. At this stage, it is unclear how WGS data can be integrated into quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models and whether their integration will impact final risk estimates or the assessment of risk mitigation measures. This review explores opportunities and challenges of integrating WGS data into QMRA models that follow the Codex Alimentarius Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Foodborne AMR. We describe how WGS offers an opportunity to enhance the next-generation of foodborne AMR QMRA modeling. Instead of considering all hazard strains as equally likely to cause disease, WGS data can improve hazard identification by focusing on those strains of highest public health relevance. WGS results can be used to stratify hazards into strains with similar genetic profiles that are expected to behave similarly, e.g., in terms of growth, survival, virulence or response to antimicrobial treatment. The QMRA input distributions can be tailored to each strain accordingly, making it possible to capture the variability in the strains of interest while decreasing the uncertainty in the model. WGS also allows for a more meaningful approach to explore genetic similarity among bacterial populations found at successive stages of the food chain, improving the estimation of the probability and magnitude of exposure to AMR hazards at point of consumption. WGS therefore has the potential to substantially improve the utility of foodborne AMR QMRA models. However, some degree of uncertainty remains in relation to the thresholds of genetic similarity to be used, as well as the degree of correlation between genotypic and phenotypic profiles. The latter could be improved using a functional approach based on prediction of microbial behavior from a combination of ‘omics’ techniques (e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics). We strongly recommend that methodologies to incorporate WGS data in risk assessment be included in any future revision of the Codex Alimentarius Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Foodborne AMR.

Risk Ranking of Antimicrobial-Resistant Hazards Found in Meat in Switzerland.

Human exposure to bacteria resistant to antimicrobials and transfer of related genes is a complex issue and occurs, among other pathways, via meat consumption. In a context of limited resources, the prioritization of risk management activities is essential. Since the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) situation differs substantially between countries, prioritization should be country specific. The objective of this study was to develop a systematic and transparent framework to rank combinations of bacteria species resistant to selected antimicrobial classes found in meat, based on the risk they represent for public health in Switzerland. A risk assessment model from slaughter to consumption was developed following the Codex Alimentarius guidelines for risk analysis of foodborne AMR. Using data from the Swiss AMR monitoring program, 208 combinations of animal species/bacteria/antimicrobial classes were identified as relevant hazards. Exposure assessment and hazard characterization scores were developed and combined using multicriteria decision analysis. The effect of changing weights of scores was explored with sensitivity analysis. Attributing equal weights to each score, poultry-associated combinations represented the highest risk. In particular, contamination with extended-spectrum β-lactamase/plasmidic AmpC-producing Escherichia coli in poultry meat ranked high for both exposure and hazard characterization. Tetracycline- or macrolide-resistant Enterococcus spp., as well as fluoroquinolone- or macrolide-resistant Campylobacter jejuni, ranked among combinations with the highest risk. This study provides a basis for prioritizing future activities to mitigate the risk associated with foodborne AMR in Switzerland. A user-friendly version of the model was provided to risk managers; it can easily be adjusted to the constantly evolving knowledge on AMR.

Food hygiene knowledge and practice of consumers in Poland and in Thailand - A survey

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the knowledge of Polish and Thai consumers regarding the causes of food poisoning and hygienic practices during the preparation of food at home. A questionnaire was prepared on the basis of Codex Alimentarius guidelines. It consisted of 15 questions related to consumers' knowledge of food poisoning causes, and 20 questions related to the consumers' food hygiene practice during the preparation of meals at home. Six hundred questionnaires were collected, 300 in Poland and 300 in Thailand. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. In Thailand, consumers showed significantly lower levels of food hygiene knowledge than in Poland. However, both Polish and Thai consumers had incomplete knowledge of the causes of food poisoning and, in many cases, their food hygiene practice during food preparation and consumption was inaccurate. None of the consumers responded correctly to all the questions concerning food hygiene knowledge. In the case of food hygiene practice, nearly total correct responses were noted only in the cases of washing hands after using the toilet, and the risk of drinking raw water from open air lakes and reservoirs. Some other elements of food hygiene practice were incorrectly stated in both countries, e.g. food defrosting, storage of cooked food at room temperature, and hand washing after handling raw, unwashed foods. Further research on consumers' food hygiene knowledge and practice should be conducted, and better food safety education should be organised independently of country of origin, education level and age. The results of this study could play an important role in the prevention of food poisoning by indicating which areas of consumers’ food hygiene knowledge and food hygiene practice during food preparation at home should be strengthened by educational activities.

Parasite to patient: A quantitative risk model for Trichinella spp. in pork and wild boar meat

Consumption of raw or inadequately cooked pork meat may result in trichinellosis, a human disease due to nematodes of the genus Trichinella. In many countries worldwide, individual control of pig carcasses at meat inspection is mandatory but incurs high costs in relation to absence of positive carcasses from pigs reared under controlled housing. EU regulation 2015/1375 implements an alternative risk-based approach, in view of absence of positive findings in pigs under controlled housing conditions. Moreover, Codex Alimentarius guidelines for the control of Trichinella spp. in meat of suidae have been published (CAC, 2015) and used in conjunction with the OIE terrestrial Animal health code, to provide guidance to governments and industry on risk based control measures to prevent human exposure to Trichinella spp. and to facilitate international pork trade.To further support such a risk-based approach, we model the risk of human trichinellosis due to consumption of meat from infected pigs, raised under non-controlled housing and wild boar, using Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) methods. Our model quantifies the distribution of Trichinella muscle larve (ML) in swine, test sensitivity at carcass control, partitioning of edible pork parts, Trichinella ML distribution in edible muscle types, heat inactivation by cooking and portion sizes. The resulting exposure estimate is combined with a dose response model for Trichinella species to estimate the incidence of human illness after consumption of infected meat. Paramater estimation is based on experimental and observational datasets.In Poland, which served as example, we estimated an average incidence of 0.90 (95%CI: 0.00–3.68) trichinellosis cases per million persons per year (Mpy) due to consumption of pork from pigs that were reared under non-controlled housing, and 1.97 (95%CI: 0.82–4.00) cases per Mpy due to consumption of wild boar.The total estimated incidence of human trichinellosis attributed to pigs from non-controlled housing and wild boar in Poland, is similar to the incidence of human trichinellosis in that country reported by EFSA. Overall, in Europe, we estimated an upper incidence limit of 5.3×10−4 cases per Mpy, or less than one predicted case of trichinellosis in the European Union every 4years, due to consumption of pork from controlled housing. Therefore, Trichinella testing of pigs under controlled housing is not adding any value to protect human health. We suggest applying our farm-to-fork QMRA model to further support decision making on the global scale.

Penentuan Alergenisitas Protein Gen RB pada Kentang Produk Rekayasa Genetika Berdasarkan Studi Bioinformatika

<p>Genetically modified products (GMP) of Katahdin potato event SP951 containing RB gene resistant to late blight diseases<br />caused by Phytophtora infestans has been developed in the USA. This Katahdin SP951 potato has been crossed with local<br />varieties Atlantic and Granola for its development in Indonesia. In the release process, the GMP potato should be tested for<br />environmental and food safety. One of the food safety assessment needs to be done by determining allergenicity of RB protein<br />whether it is potential as allergen. This research aims to translate the RB gene sequence into RB protein sequence and<br />investigate the potential RB protein as an allergen through bioinformatic studies. This study was performed based on the<br />alignment with available protein allergens from available database websites. The predicted RB protein obtained from 2,913<br />amino acids RB gene was a 971 amino acids length protein with ATG as a start codon and TAA as a stop codon. Bioinformatics<br />studies of RB protein were performed using www.allergenonline.com, consisted of three searches, i.e. full-length search by<br />FASTA, 80 amino acids search by FASTA, and 8 amino acid exact matches. For full-length alignment search, there are three<br />allergen proteins similar with RB protein sequence with the percentage identity of <35%, while for alignment with 80 amino<br />acids and 8 amino acids did not show similarity with any allergen protein in the database. It can be concluded that RB protein<br />did not have any potential as an allergen, as according to Codex Alimentarius guidelines for full-length alignment search, only<br />protein with identity greater than >50% indicating possible cross reactivity with protein allergen.</p>

Synthesis of biodegradable films with antioxidant properties based on cassava starch containing bixin nanocapsules.

Biodegradable and active packaging based on cassava starch incorporated bixin nanocapsules with different concentrations were developed. The physical, mechanical, barrier properties and antioxidant activity of the active packaging were studieds. The films incorporated with bixin nanocapsules were found to be homogeneous and thermally stable. Films with higher concentrations of bixin nanocapsules exhibited a significant decrease in tensile strength, water solubility and increase in elongation at break and water vapour permeability, well as, significant improvement in protection against UV and visible light. The films were used to pack sunflower oil under accelerated oxidation conditions (65% RH/35°C). Sunflower oil packaged in films with bixin exhibited lower oxidation rates, thus maintaining its freshness according to Codex Alimentarius guidelines (<10mEqkg-1). Films containing bixin nanocapsules are very promising materials for use as packaging with antioxidant properties for maintaining food safety and extending the shelf life.

Reported behavior, knowledge and awareness toward the potential for norovirus transmission by food handlers in Dutch catering companies and institutional settings in relation to the prevalence of norovirus

Norovirus (NoV) in ready to eat food has recently been defined as one of the virus-food commodity combinations with greatest public health concern. The role of food handlers therein has well been recognized. The aim of this study was to identify gaps in food handlers' education and to investigate possible associations between reported behavior, knowledge and awareness of NoV, and environmental presence of NoV. For this, face-to-face interviews were conducted using structured questionnaires in 1023 catering companies (i.e. restaurants mainly), 101 non-hospital health care centers, 52 hospital central kitchens and in 102 hospital in-patient units. In addition, three surface swabs were taken at each setting. Multivariate logistic regression was performed on data restricted to NoV high season months only, in which NoV was present in 21/374 (6%) catering companies and 37/233 (16%) institutional settings (p < 0.01). The two independent determinants of presence of NoV on environmental surfaces identified were being situated in an institutional setting and having an attitude to continue food handling while sick with vomiting complaints. Several gaps in education and training were identified, demonstrating that knowledge on NoV was low, although awareness of NoV was significantly higher among food handlers in institutional settings than in catering companies. This is the first time questionnaires and environmental testing have been combined in the same study to identify issues of improvement. Training on all important aspects of NoV according to the recently developed Codex Alimentarius guidelines to control viruses in food is strongly recommended.

AllerTOP - a server for in silico prediction of allergens

BackgroundAllergy is a form of hypersensitivity to normally innocuous substances, such as dust, pollen, foods or drugs. Allergens are small antigens that commonly provoke an IgE antibody response. There are two types of bioinformatics-based allergen prediction. The first approach follows FAO/WHO Codex alimentarius guidelines and searches for sequence similarity. The second approach is based on identifying conserved allergenicity-related linear motifs. Both approaches assume that allergenicity is a linearly coded property. In the present study, we applied ACC pre-processing to sets of known allergens, developing alignment-independent models for allergen recognition based on the main chemical properties of amino acid sequences.ResultsA set of 684 food, 1,156 inhalant and 555 toxin allergens was collected from several databases. A set of non-allergens from the same species were selected to mirror the allergen set. The amino acids in the protein sequences were described by three z-descriptors (z1, z2 and z3) and by auto- and cross-covariance (ACC) transformation were converted into uniform vectors. Each protein was presented as a vector of 45 variables. Five machine learning methods for classification were applied in the study to derive models for allergen prediction. The methods were: discriminant analysis by partial least squares (DA-PLS), logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT), naïve Bayes (NB) and k nearest neighbours (kNN). The best performing model was derived by kNN at k = 3. It was optimized, cross-validated and implemented in a server named AllerTOP, freely accessible at http://www.pharmfac.net/allertop. AllerTOP also predicts the most probable route of exposure. In comparison to other servers for allergen prediction, AllerTOP outperforms them with 94% sensitivity.ConclusionsAllerTOP is the first alignment-free server for in silico prediction of allergens based on the main physicochemical properties of proteins. Significantly, as well allergenicity AllerTOP is able to predict the route of allergen exposure: food, inhalant or toxin.

Food allergy and anaphylaxis – 2039. Bioinformatics evaluation of new proteins in genetically engineered organisms and novel foods for potential risks of food allergy and celiac elicitation

Background Proteins introduced into foods through genetic engineering must be evaluated for potential risks of food allergy (FA) or if derived from grain, potential elicitation of celiac disease (CD). The evaluations are based on Codex Alimentarius guidelines (2003). Novel food ingredients may also be evaluated. Amino acid sequence comparisons are recommended to identify proteins that should be screened further by serum IgE tests for food allergy (FA) or T cell proliferation for potential CD eliciting proteinsprior to use in foods.

Cadmium in potato and soybeans: Do phosphate fertilization and soil management systems play a role?

While it has been claimed that phosphate (P) fertilizers are essential for agriculture production, there is considerable debate regarding the safety of the cadmium (Cd) added to the soil in such fertilizers. Cadmium intake is a major concern in health risk assessments, and food ingestion represents a relevant route of exposure. Although the addition of P fertilizers might increase Cd contents in soils, its transfer to plants varies according to the management system. This work evaluated the Cd contents in potato cultivars receiving up to 560kgP2O5ha−1 and in soybeans cultivated under different management systems in soils with records of long-term applications of high doses of P fertilizers. Most of the Cd remained in the potato peels (23–781μgkg−1 dry weight – DW) rather than in the tuber (14–43μgkg−1DW), and its values varied among cultivars and different areas. For soybeans, the Cd grain contents varied from 10 to 30μgkg−1DW for the experiment with crop rotation and 23–38μgkg−1DW in the soils receiving different liming rates. All the Cd contents found for the studied crops are in accordance with the Codex Alimentarius guidelines.