Contamination Of Food Products Research Articles

Recent advances in nucleic acid signal amplification-based aptasensors for sensing mycotoxins.

Mycotoxin contamination in food products may cause serious health hazards and economic losses. The effective control and accurate detection of mycotoxins have become a global concern. Even though a variety of methods have been developed for mycotoxin detection, most conventional methods suffer from complicated operation procedures, low sensitivity, high cost, and long assay time. Therefore, the development of simple and sensitive methods for mycotoxin assay is highly needed. The introduction of nucleic acid signal amplification technology (NASAT) into aptasensors significantly improves the sensitivity and facilitates the detection of mycotoxins. Herein, we give a comprehensive review of the recent advances in NASAT-based aptasensors for assaying mycotoxins and summarize the principles, features, and applications of NASAT-based aptasensors. Moreover, we highlight the challenges and prospects in the field, including the simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins and the development of portable devices for field detection.

A simple fluorescence pyrocatechol-polyethyleneimine detection method for 3-MCPD.

A rapid fluorescence detection method was established for 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD). The detection system works based on the fluorescence quenching of pyrocatechol-polyethyleneimine (PCh-PEI) polymer by 3-MCPD. The fluorescence quenching ability of 3-MCPD for PCh-PEI polymer was measured at different pH and temperatures. Indeed, in the presence of 3-MCPD, the fluorescence intensity of PCh-PEI polymer solution was quenched best at 100 °C and pH 8.5. Also, the effect of different concentrations of 3-MCPD on the optical properties of the PCh-PEI polymer was examined. Under optimal experimental conditions, fluorescence detection was linear in a range of 0.08-2.0 mg per L 3-MCPD, with a calculated detection limit of 0.06 mg L-1 and a correlation coefficient of 0.9974. Concisely, the reported method has good sensitivity and can be used for the rapid detection of 3-MCPD contamination in food products.

Глобальное загрязнение территории Южной Якутии Cs-137 и дозы облучения населения

The aim of the work is to estimate the radioactivity of Cs-137 in the soils of South Yakutia and to calculate the dose of internal irradiation of a critical group of people caused by the consumption of local foods containing radionuclide. An assessment of the radioactive contamination of the soil cover of South Yakutia showed that the radioactivity of Cs-137 in the soils of eluvial landscapes varies between 714 and 1,665 Bq/m2 and is commensurate with the radioactivity of Cs-137 in the soils of the Primorsky Krai, the Western Siberia and the Kola Peninsula. The present soil contamination levels of Cs-137, compared to the 2003 data, have been reduced on average by half due to radioactive decay of the radionuclide, the soil deepening and removal with surface water and vegetation. At present time there is no appreciable additional input of Cs-137 from the atmosphere to the soil cover of automorphic taiga landscapes in the South Yakutia. The specific activity of Cs-137 in watershed soils and river floodplains is low and corresponds to the background level of global pollution. The vertical distribution of Cs-137 over the soil profile of eluvial landscapes is realized on regressive-cumulative and eluvial-illuvial types. In soil profiles of hydromorphic landscapes Cs-137 is distributed, without any clear patterns, which is a consequence of the impact of alluvial processes. Calculations showed that at the current level of contamination of local foodstuffs, the annual effective dose of internal exposure of a critical population group from this radionuclide is 87 times less than the annual dose limit for the Russian population.

MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF FRESHLY PREPARED FRUIT JUICES SOLD IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Fruit juices are among the best food products with respect to the nutritional and medicinal applications. However, disaster can come along the way, as bacteria can cause spoiling of fruit juices through contaminated raw materials, extraction equipment and malpractice of handlers and results into the deleterious health effects. Numerous bacterial species including Streptococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholera, etc can be present in high concentrations in fruit juices. In the present study, a total of 164 bacterial strains were isolated from nine samples of fresh fruit juices (Carrot, Orange and sugarcane) from different areas in Lahore. Three media i.e., Nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and Eosin Methylene Blue agar (EMB) were used for enumeration and isolation of various bacterial genera. Among the total 164 isolated bacterial strains, 37 were recovered from sugarcane juice samples, 91 from carrot juice samples and 36 from orange juice samples. The most frequent strains were E. coli and Enterobaacter spp. which were most likely due to the contamination from water. A panel of 10 antibiotics including Erythromycin, Ceftizoxime, Ciprofloxacin, Tobramycin, Vancomycin, Ampicillin, Streptomycin, Polymyxin B, Levofloxacin, and Cephalexin was used to determine the antibiotics sensitivity (AST) status of the isolated strains. It was observed that Levofloxacin showed highest zones of inhibition against all the tested strains and overall, strains didn’t have significant resistance against the tested antibiotics. The practice of proper hand and fruit washing can minimize the potential threat of bacterial contamination in food products.

Prospects for the use of layer-by-layer technology for the development of an enzyme biosensor used for milk quality control

This article presents the results of scientific research on the development of a biosensor system for the determination of salts of heavy metals (cadmium and lead) in milk. When developing a biosensor system, much attention is paid to the selection of biological material and the method of their stabilization using physical and chemical forces, namely, immobilization. In this regard, studies were carried out on the selection of the enzyme and the method of its immobilization in the development of a biosensor for the detection of salts of heavy metals in milk. The development of a biosensor for the determination of toxic elements in food products is of scientific and practical importance. In world practice, special attention is paid to the contamination of raw materials and food products with toxic chemicals, mainly of anthropogenic origin, which are persistent organic pollutants. Therefore, quality control of raw materials, food products is important for consumers, and, accordingly, for the food industry. Experimental studies are based on the methods of Filippova A. M., Vorobieva O. V. to determine the specific activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Determination of the activity of the catalase enzyme was carried out in accordance with the gasometric method according to the method of Warburg. As a result of experimental studies, the catalase enzyme as a biological material was chosen as a sensitive element. As a carrier for the immobilization of enzymes, a 5-bilayer combination of "chitosan-sodium alginate" was selected. The layer-by-layer technology was used to immobilize the enzyme on the substrate surface when creating an enzyme biosensor. The results of the research are recommended to be applied in the study of food safety issues and in the assessment of safety indicators of raw materials and food products by the express method.

Recent Progress of Electrochemical Aptasensors toward AFB1 Detection (2018-2023).

Food contaminants represent possible threats to humans and animals as severe food safety hazards. Prolonged exposure to contaminated food often leads to chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney or liver failure, immunosuppression, or genotoxicity. Aflatoxins are naturally produced by strains of the fungi species Aspergillus, which is one of the most critical and poisonous food contaminants worldwide. Given the high percentage of contaminated food products, traditional detection methods often prove inadequate. Thus, it becomes imperative to develop fast, accurate, and easy-to-use analytical methods to enable safe food products and good practices policies. Focusing on the recent progress (2018-2023) of electrochemical aptasensors for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) detection in food and beverage samples, without pretending to be exhaustive, we present an overview of the most important label-free and labeled sensing strategies. Simultaneous and competitive aptamer-based strategies are also discussed. The aptasensors are summarized in tabular format according to the detection mode. Sample treatments performed prior analysis are discussed. Emphasis was placed on the nanomaterials used in the aptasensors' design for aptamer-tailored immobilization and/or signal amplification. The advantages and limitations of AFB1 electrochemical aptasensors for field detection are presented.

RADIATION SITUATION IN THE CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE IN THE POST-CHORNOBYL PERIOD FROM 2013 TO 2022

Radiological tests analysis aimed to determine important issues regarding the safety of food products, feeds, medicinal herbs, etc., obtained from radioactively contaminated territories as a result of the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. The material for analysis was current documentation of the Regional State Laboratories of State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection in Zhytomyr, Volyn, Rivne, Chernihiv regions, Central Testing State Laboratory of State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection in Kyiv region and Kyiv city from 2013 to 2022. The analysis is conducted regarding contamination of food products, feeds, medicinal herbs, etc., with radionuclides 137Cs and 90Sr. The specialists of regional State Laboratories of State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection conducted 12 797 892 radiological tests, that showed 3 372 samples with higher than the permissible level content of 137Cs and 10 samples with higher than permissible level content of 90Sr. 137Cs is a main dose-forming radionuclide that has considerable influence on getting internal irradiation by population. There have been rare cases of contamination of food, feeds, and medicinal herbs with 90Sr. It was found that forest-based food (mushrooms, berries) – 62.1, milk – 22.7, meat of wild animals – 8.3, feeds – 1.8, and medicinal herbs – 0.8 had been mostly contaminated with 137Cs from the total number of samples with positive results for the specified period. Thus, analyzing the results of radiological tests over the past decade, it should be noted that even today, further radiological control of food products, feeds, etc. in radioactively contaminated territories is expedient and requires further implementation of anti-radiation protection actions established by current national legislation

Efficacy of essential oils from three Mentha species against postharvest groundnut pest, Caryedon serratus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides has resulted in many negative implications including degradation of the ecosystem, contamination of food products and effect on non-target organisms. Biopesticides is an efficient and ecofriendly alternative to these synthetic pesticides. Herein, we explored the efficacy of plant-extracted essential oils as a natural alternative to manage groundnut pests. Essential oils extracted from three Mentha species (M. arvensis, M. piperita and M. spicata) were detected for their chemical composition, oviposition deterrence, repellency and electrophysiological responses in groundnut bruchid, Caryedon serratus (Olivier). Gas chromatographic analysis revealed menthol (M. arvensis: 30.43%, M. piperita: 30.18%) and carvone (M. spicata: 65.58%) as the most abundant component in essential oils. Among all the four tested concentrations for the three mentha oils the most significant oviposition deterrence was seen in M. spicata (2% v/w) which completely inhibited oviposition followed by 1.5% M. piperita (21 ± 1.53; p < 0.01), 1.5% M. spicata (28 ± 0.58; p < 0.01) and 1.0% M. arvensis (35 ± 0.58; p < 0.01) oil treated groundnuts after 24 h. M. piperita (86%, ♀) and M. arvensis (70%, ♀) showed promising repellence against the females. In contrast, M. spicata was found to be a potent (90%, ♂) male repellent during olfactometer bioassays. Coupled gas chromatography electroantennogram (GC-EAG) revealed consistent sensory deflections in the antennae of female C. serratus from all the three oils. Our findings revealed promising oviposition deterrence and repellent properties of these mentha oils which offers a prospect in developing effective repellent and its application in integrated pest management, safety of human health, environment and agricultural productivity.

FROM FIELD TO FORKS: A DEEP DIVE INTO AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN FOOD ITEMS

Aflatoxin contamination in food items pretences a significant hazard to global foodstuff safety, public health, and economic stability. This assessment comprehensively examines the sources, risks, and potential solutions associated with aflatoxin contamination in various food products. Aflatoxins, produced by moulds of the Aspergillus genus, contaminate crops during cultivation, harvest, storage, and processing stages. Consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated food items has been linked to severe health issues, including liver cancer, stunted growth, and immune system suppression. This review delves into the diverse sources of aflatoxin contamination, ranging from agricultural practices and environmental factors to storage conditions. The risks associated with aflatoxin exposure are explored in detail, emphasizing the global impact on both human health and economies, especially in vulnerable communities reliant on staple crops. Furthermore, the review discusses multifaceted solutions aimed at mitigating aflatoxin contamination. These solutions encompass agricultural strategies such as crop rotation, improved irrigation methods, and biocontrol agents, as well as advancements in food processing techniques like sorting, washing, and hermetic storage. Regulatory measures and international standards are critically evaluated, highlighting their role in ensuring food safety and preventing aflatoxin-related health crises. Keywords : Aflatoxin, Contamination, Public Health, Global Foodstuff Safety

Antimicrobial potential of linear low-density polyethylene food packaging with Ag nanoparticles in different carriers (Silica and Hydroxyapatite)

Silver nanoparticles incorporation into polymeric packaging aims to prevent microbiological contamination in food products, thus ensuring superior food safety and preservation. In this context, this study aimed to verify the antimicrobial efficacy of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films incorporated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) dispersed in silica (SiO2) and hydroxyapatite (HAP) carriers at different concentrations. AgNPs + carriers polymer films were characterized at 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% concentrations using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission gun-scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and migration in acidic and non-acidic simulants. Antimicrobial action was investigated on Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative Escherichia coli, and the Penicillium expansum and Fusarium solani fungi with antimicrobial activity by direct contact test and bacterial imaging by scanning electron microscopy. AgNPs addition to the LLDPE matrix did not interfere with the films' chemical and thermal properties and presented no significant migration to the external medium. For antimicrobial action, silver nanoparticles showed, in most concentrations, an inhibition percentage higher than 90% on all microorganisms studied, regardless of the carrier. However, a greater inhibitory action on S. aureus and between carriers was found, making hydroxyapatite more effective. The results indicated that nanostructured films with AgNPs + hydroxyapatite showed more promising antimicrobial action on microorganisms than AgNPs + silica, making hydroxyapatite with silver nanoparticle potentially useful in food packaging, improving safety and maintaining quality.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Medicinal Plants and Their Biological Applications: A Review

The manufacture of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts is one of the simplest, most useful, economical and environmentally advantageous approaches to decrease the usage of hazardous substances. Since the earliest days of human history, silver and silver salts have been employed, but silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have just recently reached light. Particularly in agriculture and medicine, these have been used as antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidants. The current research on the environmentally friendly manufacture of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilising various plant extracts and their potential use as antibacterial agents is summarised and explained in this review. The main objective is to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of how various factors affect the synthesis of green Ag NPs with antimicrobial properties. These factors include the type and concentration of plant extracts and phytochemicals, the solvent and temperature of extraction, and the temperature, pH, time, and concentration of the reaction. Recent advances in using different plants to yield Ag NPs with different sizes, shapes, and stabilities have been presented. It is currently demonstrated that Ag NPs prevent many bacteria and fungi from growing and multiplying by combining Ag/Ag+ with the biomolecules found inside the microbial cells. Antioxidants and reactive oxygen species that might be produced by Ag NPs, which, by preventing cell replication, cause apoptosis and cell death. SEM and TEM images of the nanoparticle-pathogen solution show that Ag NPs may enter cells and break through the cell wall since they are smaller than microorganisms. It has similarly been established that lesser Nps present additional risks than superior ones. Additionally, Ag NPs are used in packaging to prevent microbial contamination of food products. Ag NPs' toxicity is influenced by the size, concentration, pH of the media, and length of pathogen exposure. Comprehensive details have also been provided on the biogenic AgNPs' shape- and size-dependent antibacterial properties as well as the improved antimicrobial activities caused by the synergistic interaction of AgNPs with well-known commercial antibiotic medicines.

GMOs policy and research in Tajikistan

The policy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of biosafety, regarding the issue of handling and use of living genetically modified organisms (LMOs or GMOs) is aimed at compliance with international legal acts, agreements and obligations to ratified Conventions. Tajikistan ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1997 and the Cartagena Protocol on Biological Safety in 2004. After ratifying the protocol, the country has prepared three National Reports in accordance with the requirements of international agreements. Earlier in Tajikistan, the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Biological Safety” (2005) was adopted. “The Law regulates the development, testing, production, import, export and release on the market and into the environment of GMOs, is aimed at reducing the risk of adverse effects of GMO on human health, biological diversity, ecological balance and the state of the environment”. Currently, this Law has been renamed into the Law “On Genetically Modified Organisms” and is under discussion, approval and adoption by the Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan.&#x0D; Among the urgent problems that the Republic of Tajikistan is currently facing, considering the prospects for the coming years, is the problem of food security, including issues related to ensuring food safety. Taking into account the importance of conducting research in the field of biological and food safety, scientifically based risk assessment of biological agents (including GMOs) and toxins, chemical contaminants in food products and crops by the Decree of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan No. 108 dated 30.11.2015 the Laboratory of Biological Safety was established at the Institute of Botany, Plant Physiology and Genetics of Tajikistan National Academy of Science, the main tasks of which are the development and application of modern methods of analysis for the detection of biological agents and toxins, chemical contaminants in food products and crops, and analysis of GMO products.&#x0D; It should be noted that at present there is no official information related to the production, use, distribution, sale, import and export of GMOs, as well as the registration of incoming GMO food products in Tajikistan. An analysis of the market for agricultural products in the capital city of Dushanbe showed that a number of GMO food products and genetically modified seed material are still imported from abroad in the form of technical and humanitarian assistance as well as international trade. In this regard, food safety activities should include risk assessment based on scientific evidence. Its emphasis should be on both process control and end product safety so that potentially unsafe foods can be identified early. GMO food can be considered safe if the risks associated with it are at an acceptable and acceptable level. It should be noted that an effective system for monitoring food products, including products containing GMOs, their compliance with quality standards is important for protecting the health and safety of the country’s population.

Identification of genetically modified crops in Tajikistan

The technology of genetically modified crops (also called GM crops, GM products) allows, using genetic engineering methods, to select a specific genetic trait of one organism for inclusion in the genome of the original crop. This has made it possible to develop food crops with beneficial properties and eliminate undesirable properties in others. Despite the great agricultural benefits of transgenic crops, they have not gained acceptance in some countries: a) consumer suspicion due to allergic reactions observed to some transgenic products, b) lack of international regulations regarding these GM crops and c) negative environmental impacts Wednesday. Impacts resulting from mass production of transgenic crops, such as loss of genetic diversity, development of more adaptive weeds, migration of transgenic genes to their wild relatives, and less likely migration of transgenic genes to other unrelated organisms through horizontal transfer [1]. In addition, contamination of food products with transgenic residues has prompted various countries to restrict the import of food products made from transgenic plants or plants labeling products or ingredients as or derived from transgenic crops [2].&#x0D; The aim of this study is to qualitatively evaluate various GM crops from the perspective of landrace conservation and sustainable development to achieve food security.&#x0D; Six varieties of agricultural crops were selected as the object of study: 2 varieties of tomatoes imported from abroad (2022 harvest at the experimental site of the IBPPG TNAS), 1st grade potatoes from the Dushanbe market (produced in Pakistan), 2 varieties of local production. “Sharaf” corn and 1 variety of corn (made in China).&#x0D; Isolation of genomic DNA was carried out according to the method: Easy Pure Food and Fodder Security Genomic DNA Kit (TransGen Biotech., China), or EasyPure Plant Genomic DNA Kit (TransGen Biotech., China). Identification was carried out using primers to the CaMV35S promoter.&#x0D; The results of PCR identification of GMOs showed that the endogenous CaMV35S promoter was found in potatoes (produced in Pakistan) and corn (produced in China). This endogenous CaMV35S promoter was not detected in the local tomato and potato and maize landraces studied, indicating the absence of a GM source in these samples.&#x0D; This is consistent with the data that the local varieties of the studied crops are traditional and do not contain GM sources.

Sensitive Immunochromatographic Determination of Salmonella typhimurium in Food Products Using Au@Pt Nanozyme

In this study, we developed a sensitive immunochromatographic analysis (ICA) of the Salmonella typhimurium bacterial pathogen contaminating food products and causing foodborne illness. The ICA of S. typhimurium was performed using Au@Pt nanozyme as a label ensuring both colorimetric detection and catalytic amplification of the analytical signal due to nanozyme peroxidase-mimic properties. The enhanced ICA enabled the detection of S. typhimurium cells with the visual limit of detection (LOD) of 2 × 102 CFU/mL, which outperformed the LOD in the ICA with traditional gold nanoparticles by two orders of magnitude. The assay duration was 15 min. The specificity of the developed assay was tested using cells from various Salmonella species as well as other foodborne pathogens; it was shown that the test system detected only S. typhimurium. The applicability of ICA for the determination of Salmonella in food was confirmed in several samples of milk with different fat content, as well as chicken meat. For these real samples, simple pretreatment procedures were proposed. Recoveries of Salmonella in foodstuffs were from 74.8 to 94.5%. Due to rapidity and sensitivity, the proposed test system is a promising tool for the point-of-care control of the Salmonella contamination of different food products on the whole farm-to-table chain.

INHIBITION OF AFLATOXIGENIC FUNGI BY LACTIC ACID BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM FERMENTED MAIZE SLURRY

Toxigenic fungi are persistent contaminants of food and food products. This study aims at the biocontrol of toxigenic fungi. The inhibitory activity of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented cereal slurry against toxigenic Aspergillus isolated from maize was investigated. The antagonistic compounds produced by LAB were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Toxigenic Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus were isolated from maize after screening with an ammonium hydroxide test, and their aflatoxin levels were quantified to be 877 and 797 ng g-1 respectively. Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus paraplantarum were isolated and their culture-free supernatants (CFS) had a mean inhibitory zone of 15 ± 0.4 to 18 ± 0.6 mm. They were sensitive to pH but slight loss of inhibitory activity when treated with proteolytic enzymes. The inhibitory CFS was subjected to GC-MS. Among the compounds detected, lactic acid, benzenepropanoic acid, 4-hydroxy, pyrrolo [1, 2a] pyrazine 1,4 dione and fatty acids especially hexadecanoic acid, were the main compounds with potential antifungal activity identified. Lactic acid bacteria inhibited the growth of aflatoxigenic Aspergilli, hereby reducing food intoxication.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity against the Listeria monocytogenes of Essential Oils from Seven Salvia Species.

In recent years, essential oils (EOs) have received interest due to their antibacterial properties. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the EOs obtained from seven species of Salvia on three strains of Listeria monocytogenes (two serotyped wild strains and one ATCC strain), a bacterium able to contaminate food products and cause foodborne disease in humans. The Salvia species analysed in the present study were cultivated at the Botanic Garden and Museum of the University of Pisa, and their air-dried aerial parts were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. The obtained EOs were analysed via gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for the evaluation of their chemical composition, and they were tested for their inhibitory and bactericidal activities by means of MIC and MBC. The tested Eos showed promising results, and the best outcomes were reached by S. chamaedryoides EO, showing an MIC of 1:256 and an MBC of 1:64. The predominant compounds of this EO were the sesquiterpenes caryophyllene oxide and β-caryophyllene, together with the monoterpenes bornyl acetate and borneol. These results suggest that these EOs may possibly be used in the food industry as preservatives of natural origins.

Identification and Coexposure of Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Their Transformation Products in Retail Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata).

There is growing evidence that the transformation products of emerging contaminants in foodstuffs may pose a health risk to humans. However, the exact identities, levels, and estimated dietary intake (EDI) of neonicotinoid transformation products in crops remain poorly understood. We established an extended suspect screening strategy to investigate neonicotinoid insecticides and their transformation products in retail cowpea from 11 cities in Hainan Province, China. Forty-nine transformation products were identified in retail cowpea, of which 22-36 were found in 98.6% of the samples. Notably, 31 new transformation products were derived from new processes or a combination of different transformation processes. The mean concentrations of neonicotinoids and nine of the transformation products (with authentic standards) were in the ranges of 0.0824-5.34 and 0.0636-1.50 ng/g, respectively. The cumulative EDIs of the quantified transformation products were lower than those of parent neonicotinoids with the exception of clothianidin desmethyl, which had a ratio of 1157%. However, the coexistence of the other 40 transformation products (without authentic standards) in cowpea suggested that the exposure risk from all of the transformation products might be higher. This study demonstrated that pesticide transformation products should be considered in food chain risk assessments and included in future regulatory management.

Controlling aflatoxin in maize: The effects of varieties, packaging materials, and agroecological zones

Contamination of crops by aflatoxin is rampant in warm regions worldwide, including Sub-Sahara Africa. Contamination of maize and other foodstuffs with aflatoxin seriously threatens the health of humans and animals. The experimental design used was 2 × 2 × 3 factorial, laid out in a complete randomized design (CRD) consisting of two agroecological zones, two varieties, and three different packaging materials. At the end of the six months of storage, there was no contamination of the maize with aflatoxin G1. Again, there was no contamination of maize stored in the Forest zone with aflatoxin B1. High contamination levels of aflatoxin B1 (8.91 μg/kg), aflatoxin B2 (10.74 μg/kg), and aflatoxin G2 (14.49 μg/kg) occurred in the Wangdataa variety stored in jute. Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags recorded lower contamination levels than jute and polypropylene (PP). Contamination was higher in the Savannah zone than in the Forest zone. The three packaging materials used gave maximum protection to all the maize stored in the Forest against aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin G1. Farmers, traders, and all aggregators of maize in the Savannah zone should be discouraged from using jute bags to store maize in the Savannah zone for an extended period. Opeaburo should be planted and stored in the Savannah zone rather than Wangdataa. Farmers should be encouraged to use PICS bags to store maize in the Savannah zone to control aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, and aflatoxin G2.

Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter isolates recovered from consecutively reused broiler litter.

Campylobacter is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States due to consumption of contaminated or mishandled food products, often associated with chicken meat. Campylobacter is common in the microbiota of avian and mammalian gut; however, acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) may result in strains that pose significant threat to public health. Although there are studies investigating the genetic diversity of Campylobacter strains isolated from post-harvest chicken samples, there are limited data on the genome characteristics of isolates recovered from preharvest broiler production. Here, we show that Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli differ in their carriage of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors may also differ in their ability to persist in litter during consecutive grow-out of broiler flocks. We found that presence/absence of virulence factors needed for evasion of host defense mechanisms and gut colonization played an integral role in differentiating Campylobacter strains.

Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in edible oils using the QuEChERS/GC‐MS method: A health risk assessment study

Population growth has made it difficult to provide safe food; because various toxic substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can contaminate food products such as edible oils which have very high-rate consumption worldwide. Aims of study are to determine the concentration of PCBs in edible oil samples and to evaluate the carcinogenic risk of PCBs in them among Iranian people by Monte Calo Simulation (MCS). After finding the location of high customer hyper market in Tehran, 42 samples of 7 various types of edible oils were collected; then PCBs content of them measured using the modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction method and GC/MS technique. According to the findings the mean level of NDL-PCB in oil samples were ranged from 1.88 to 25.62 ng/g fat. Results of uncertainty analysis showed that among children the 95th percentile of Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) were 7.80E-3, 5.37E-4, 5.37E-4, 2.00E-3, 1.59E-3, 13.9E-3 and 7.04E-4 for animal oil, corn oil, frying oil, olive oil, bran oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil, respectively. Also, the 95th percentile of ILCR among adults were 4.12E-2, 3.04E-3, 3.09E-3, 1.06E-2, 8.43E-3, 7.38E-3 and 3.74E-3 for animal oil, corn oil, frying oil, olive oil, bran oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil, respectively. The risk evaluation showed that in all edible oils the 95th percentile of simulated ILCR were more than 10−5, so it can be threatening health among both aging groups, although, the producers don't deliberately subject the users' lives to such danger, but high consumption rate and accumulation of PCBs in body tissues are contribute to increasing carcinogenic risk. Also, the 95th percentile of ILCR among adults were more than children, because the edible oil ingestion rate among adults was more than children.