Food Products For Human Consumption Research Articles

Optical fiber immunosensors based on surface plasmon resonance for the detection of Escherichia coli.

Every year, millions of people suffer some form of illness associated with the consumption of contaminated food. Escherichia coli (E. coli), found in the intestines of humans and other animals, is commonly associated with various diseases, due to the existence of pathogenic strains. Strict monitoring of food products for human consumption is essential to ensure public health, but traditional cell culture-based methods are associated with long waiting times and high costs. New approaches must be developed to achieve cheap, fast, and on-site monitoring. Thus, in this work, we developed optical fiber sensors based on surface plasmon resonance. Gold and cysteamine-coated fibers were functionalized with anti-E. coli antibody and tested using E. coli suspensions with concentrations ranging from 1 cell/mL to 105 cells/mL. An average logarithmic sensitivity of 0.21 ± 0.01 nm/log(cells/mL) was obtained for three independent assays. An additional assay revealed that including molybdenum disulfide resulted in an increase of approximately 50% in sensitivity. Specificity and selectivity were also evaluated, and the sensors were used to analyze contaminated water samples, which verified their promising applicability in the aquaculture field.

Valorisation Process Using Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation Induces Significant Changes in the Physical and Functional Properties of Brewers Spent Yeast

Brewer’s spent yeast (BSY) is a plentiful by-product of the brewing process. Currently regarded as a waste product, this low-value material is used in animal feed formulations or disposed of. However, BSY is known to be nutritionally dense, particularly regarding high-quality proteins, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Previous work has examined the effect of a process including fermentation with Lactobacillus amylovorus FST 2.11 on BSY and indicates a reduction in bitterness intensity and an increase in sour and fruity flavours. The current study expands on this previous work, examining the changes in composition and functionality resulting from this upcycling process. The major changes include protein degradation and a decrease in pH, leading to increased protein solubility by 41%, increased foam stability by up to 69% at pH 7, and improved emulsion stabilising characteristics as well as differences in rheological behaviour during heating. Compositional changes are also detailed, with evidence of glucan and trehalose degradation. These changes in the physical and functional properties of BSY provide useful information, particularly with regard to the incorporation of BSY into food products for human consumption.

Assessing the sustainability of groundwater quality for irrigation purposes using a fuzzy logic approach

Deterioration of water quality poses significant threats to various aspects of life, particularly affecting agricultural irrigation, the primary source of food production for human consumption. In Iran, unregulated groundwater extraction for agriculture has resulted in a decline in groundwater quality, exemplified by a reduction in permitted wells for water exploitation in the Houmand-Absard aquifer from 47 to 20 over 18 years. Current water quality assessments for agricultural use often employ indicators focusing on specific ions, neglecting a comprehensive evaluation. This study introduces the Fuzzy Groundwater Quality Index (FGWQI), utilizing a fuzzy inference system model to appraise groundwater quality in the Houmand-Absard aquifer, specifically for irrigation in Iran. The FGWQI amalgamates five agriculture-oriented quality indicators: Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Sodium Percentage (Na%), Magnesium Hazard Ratio (MHR), Kelly's Index (KI), and Potential Salinity (PS). Comparative analyses between FGWQI and the widely used MHR were conducted on water samples collected from twenty stations during the 2021 seasons. Laboratory analyses of the samples determined parameters including Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, and Sulfate. The FGWQI model outperformed traditional indicators, notably MHR, demonstrating more realistic assessments. Despite MHR deeming water quality unsuitable in 47% of cases where FGWQI surpassed 60, FGWQI indicated permissible results (30–70), suggesting that, with proper groundwater management, a greater water resource allocation to agriculture is feasible. By adopting FGWQI over MHR, water wells deemed suitable for irrigation won't be decommissioned, offering farmers increased flexibility in groundwater utilization in the case study region.

Hazards Causing Human Food Poisoning

For confirming suitability of food products for human consumption it should be evaluated for hazards causing human food poisoning as microbial, fungal and parasitic contamination. Consumption of infected food products containing hazards causing human food poisoning could affect human health and lead to spread of pathogens. A hazard causing human food poisoning as Salmonella spp. is pathogenic to human when consumed via contaminated food. Human food poisoning, also called foodborne illness, is an infection or irritation of the digestive tract that spreads through food or drinks. Hazards causing human food poisoning as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Harmful chemicals may also cause food poisoning. Food poisoning is most often acute, meaning it happens suddenly and lasts a short time. Most cases of food poisoning last less than a week, and most people get better on their own without treatment. In some cases, human food poisoning can last longer or lead to dangerous complications.

Sustainability Assessment of Food-Waste-Reduction Measures by Converting Surplus Food into Processed Food Products for Human Consumption

Food waste is a major challenge for society as it causes economic, environmental and social problems. Many food-waste-reduction measures aim to prevent food waste at the source or by redistributing surplus food via donation. However, it would also be useful to evaluate surplus-food redistribution, where surplus food can be made available for human consumption by valorization (recycling). This paper evaluates food-waste-reduction measures, where surplus food is converted into processed food products for human consumption, which are then sold in a German retail store. The objective is to assess whether this kind of recycling of surplus food is effective in reducing food waste and how sustainable it is considering the economic, environmental and social impacts. The results of this pilot study show a total reduction of 19 kg of food waste within 17 weeks. Furthermore, all products were economically profitable, with a per product net revenue of sold upcycled products between EUR 0.42 and 0.70. The results of the environmental assessment varied from savings of 1.55 kg of CO2 equivalents/kg of product to the addition of 1.88 kg of CO2 equivalents/kg of product in product carbon footprint and the addition of between 0.42 and 0.70 mPt/kg of product in product environmental footprint. The social indicators could only be qualitatively described. The results, therefore, can only recommend this recycling option as an effective and efficient food-waste-reduction measure under optimal conditions. More research is needed to describe different recycling situations and to therefore improve the sustainability of the food supply chain.

Dietary Change and Global Sustainable Development Goals

Food production for human consumption is a leading cause of environmental damage in the world and yet over two billion people suffer from malnutrition. Several studies have presented evidence that changes in dietary patterns across the world can lead to win-win outcomes for environmental and social sustainability and can complement ongoing technological and policy efforts to improve the efficiency of agricultural production. However, the existing evidence have been compiled in “silos” by a large range of researchers across several disciplines using different indicators. The aim of this quantitative review is to bring together the existing knowledge on heterogeneity of current dietary patterns across the world and how a transition toward healthy diets in different countries can aid in progress toward multiple global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We first summarize the nutritional quality, economic cost, and environmental footprint of current diets of over 150 countries using multiple indicators. Next, we review which shifts in dietary patterns across different world regions can help toward achievement of SDG2 (Zero hunger), SDG3 (Good health and wellbeing), SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation), SDG13 (Climate action), SDG14 (Life below water), and SDG15 (Life on land). Finally, we briefly discuss how to enable the shift toward sustainable dietary patterns and identify the research and data gaps that need to be filled through future efforts. Our analysis reveals that dietary change is necessary in all countries as each one has unique priorities and action items. For regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, increased intake of nutrient dense foods is needed to address deficiency of essential nutrients like folate, potassium, and vitamin A. For North America and Europe, shifting toward more plant-based diets would be healthier and simultaneously reduce the per capita environmental footprints. The results can be useful for policymakers in designing country-specific strategies for adoption of sustainable dietary behaviors and for food industry to ensure the supply of sustainable food items customized with regions' need.

EFFECT OF NaCl CONCENTRATION ON THE PRODUCTION OF Arthrospira maxima CULTIVATED IN THE HUMID TROPICS

The production of microbial biomass can be affected by the composition of the culture medium, including the content of salts and there is little information in terms of the NaCl concentration. Therefore, in this study, the effect of the addition of different NaCl concentrations (0.0, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 g L-1) in a Jourdan medium was evaluated on cell growth and physical and chemical properties of Arthrospira maxima cultivated in the region of Cordoba, Veracruz, Mexico. The experiment was established under a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement (AxB). During the production stage, cell growth and morphology of filaments were evaluated, and after harvesting, the physical and chemical analysis (moisture, crude fiber, total protein and lipid content, mineral composition, photosynthetic compounds, antioxidant activity, and structural composition through FTIR-Spectroscopy analysis) of A. maxima was performed. Results obtained show that the addition of NaCl did not affect cell development, the morphology of the filaments, or the content of photosynthetic compounds. The maximum rate of biomass production in all treatments was at 6 d, without significant differences (p > 0.05) among treatments. In all treatments, A. maxima showed adequate concentrations of protein and minerals, as well as antioxidant activity. FTIR spectra showed absorption bands associated with proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. A decrease in the amide I and amide II bands of the proteins was observed with the addition of NaCl. A. maxima cultivated in these tropical climatic conditions had excellent properties to be used as a functional ingredient in the development of innovative and biotechnological food products for human consumption.

An overview on the nanotechnological expansion, toxicity assessment and remediating approaches in Agriculture and Food industry

Analytical nanoscience and nanotechnology serve to be one of the most promising avenues for streamlining the developments in the field of analytical science. The two main objects of action, the analyte and the tool have provided valuable information about the material at the nanometre​ scale and had contributed much in the development of novel analytical processes and improvement of the existing ones. Consequently, the scope of analytical nanotechnology in the biological field remains a challenge in understanding the functional aspects at the molecular level. This demands a combination of analytical methods in translating the nanoscale methods to biologically relevant tools. One such smart strategies of analytical nanotechnology toward sustainable agriculture practice and food production is the introduction of ‘nanobiosensors.’ This smart sensing approach is gaining momentum in the most important and stable sectors — the agriculture and food industry to ensure increased production with minimal inputs via real-time monitoring of the environmental conditions. This ‘sensing’ potential of nanobiosensors designed using hybrid technologies with utmost sensitivity and selectivity has been critically reviewed pertaining to a safer food production for human consumption. Furthermore, the nanotoxicity induced by the release of engineered nanomaterials into the environment, its monitoring and bioremediating measures have also been discussed in detail. • Analytical nanotechnology in biological field is of utmost importance for a more specific and selective data interpretation. • Nanobiosensor implication in agriculture sector would be a step forward in sustained and precision agriculture. • Nanobiosensor comprising nanomaterial-biological entity augments sensitive detection of analytes. • Toxins, pathogens, obnoxious gases (E-nose) and chemicals (E-tongue) detection attribute next-gen sensing strategy. • Exploring the nano-bio-ecological interaction helps resolve toxicological issues for better stewardship in agriculture.

Antidiabetic effects and mechanisms of action of γ-conglutin from lupin seeds

The glucose modulating properties of lupin have been attributed to its seed protein γ-conglutin. Here we explored the antidiabetic potential of γ-conglutin purified from lupin seeds in-vitro. To mimic the effects of an orally administered supplement, purified γ-conglutin was hydrolysed by gastrointestinal proteolytic enzymes and the resulting peptides evaluated for their antidiabetic effects in pancreatic β-cells and primary human skeletal muscle myotubes. γ-conglutin peptides did not promote insulin secretion in β-cells but elicited a potent insulin-mimetic action by activating insulin signalling pathways responsible for glycogen, protein synthesis, and glucose transport into myotubes. Additionally, the peptides potently suppressed the activity of DPP4 indicating their potential to increase the half-life of incretin hormones in circulation. These results substantiate the health benefits of consuming lupin seeds as part of a healthy diet and can drive the current market for lupins from primarily stockfeed, towards value-added lupin-based food products for human consumption.

Effects of dietary nano-selenium supplementation on broiler chicken performance, meat selenium content, intestinal microflora, intestinal morphology, and immune response

BackgroundSelenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient that is important to both animals and humans. Furthermore, scientists are increasingly interested in boosting the Se content of food products for human consumption, such as Se-enriched meat, because it has been shown to have a positive effect on human health. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of green synthesized nano selenium (GNS) on broiler chicken growth performance, meat selenium content, intestinal microflora, intestinal morphology, and immune response to sodium selenite (SS) as inorganic Se. MethodsA total of 360 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four experimental groups, each of six replicates of 15 birds. The experimental treatments were as follows: (1) based diet supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg of SS (control group), (2–4) basal diet supplemented with 0.075, 0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg of GNS respectively. ResultsThe results showed that different experimental diets had no significant effect on growth performance. Meat Se content increased with dietary GNS supplementation (P < 0.05). The birds fed dietary supplements GNS compared to SS had higher lactic acid bacteria counts and lactic acid bacteria/coliform ratios in ileum on day 42 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, as compared to SS, dietary supplementation of 0.3 mg GNS/kg significantly reduced coliform numbers in the cecum on day 42 (P < 0.05). Supplementation of 0.3 mg GNS/kg in the diet vs. SS at 21 days, there was a significant increase in VH/CD in the ileum and jejunum, as well as villus height and villus surface area in the ileum, and a decrease in crypt depth and epithelial cell layer thickness in the jejunum. Furthermore, at 42 days, birds fed 0.3 mg GNS/kg had higher villus height, villus surface area, and goblet cell density in the ileum and jejunum than birds fed SS (P < 0.05). Compared to SS, broilers fed 0.3 mg GNS/kg dietary supplementation had higher IgG at 42 days (P < 0.05). ConclusionIn comparison to the use of SS, it could be concluded that the inclusion of GNS as a novel Se source can improve meat Se content, intestinal microflora, intestinal morphology, and immune response.

Some Haematological Observations in Columba Livia Due to Haemoproteus Infection

Birds contribute indirectly to human welfare as majority of them feed on insects and rodents and some are efficient scavengers. Poultry forming is a leading profession which provides nutritive food products for human consumption. However, these valuable resources can be infected with a wide range of blood parasites which may affect their survival and existence. In this study, the impact of Haemoproteus, an intracellular sporozoan parasite of the common pigeon. Columba livia on some heamatological parameters (Hb% and TEC) was examined. The investigations were conducted in two groups of Columba livia. Group A: Control, Group B, Heamoproteus infected. The Hb values (13.410.17gm/100ml) in Group A decline to (10.8±0.37 gm/100ml) in Group B. TEC in Group B also declined to 1.620.05×106/Cmm from the normal values of 2.19±0.02×10/Cmm in Group A. The fall in Hb% was 18.97%. and that in TEC was 24.2%. The values of TEC are more affected (24.2 %) as compared to Hb (18.97%). Being an intracellular parasite, the metabolism of Heamoproteus appears to be directly associated with the cells.

Some Haematological Observations in Columba Livia Due to Haemoproteus Infection

Birds contribute indirectly to human welfare as majority of them feed on insects and rodents and some are efficient scavengers. Poultry forming is a leading profession which provides nutritive food products for human consumption. However, these valuable resources can be infected with a wide range of blood parasites which may affect their survival and existence. In this study, the impact of Haemoproteus, an intracellular sporozoan parasite of the common pigeon. Columba livia on some heamatological parameters (Hb% and TEC) was examined. The investigations were conducted in two groups of Columba livia. Group A: Control, Group B, Heamoproteus infected. The Hb values (13.410.17gm/100ml) in Group A decline to (10.8±0.37 gm/100ml) in Group B. TEC in Group B also declined to 1.620.05x106/Cmm from the normal values of 2.19±0.02x10/Cmm in Group A. The fall in Hb% was 18.97%. and that in TEC was 24.2%. The values of TEC are more affected (24.2 %) as compared to Hb (18.97%). Being an intracellular parasite, the metabolism of Heamoproteus appears to be directly associated with the cells.

Beyond processing waste: Extraction of oil from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) by-products using immobilized Alcalase on chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles

Atlantic salmon (Salmon salar) aquaculture has been fully developed on a large scale worldwide. Currently in the Atlantic salmon processing industry, 40–50% of the fish body ends up as by-products, which contain a variety of nutrients and are mainly processed into functional ingredients for premium pet food and animal feed. With the global increase of interest in nutritional diets and supplements, more research has been performed for the valorization of salmon by-products into value-added food products for human consumption. In the present study, an immobilized protease was used for hydrolysis of Atlantic salmon by-products to extract salmon oil. Alcalase was immobilized on chitosan-coated iron (II, III) oxide nanoparticles via glutaraldehyde crosslinking. The immobilized Alcalase was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope. The optimum pH and temperature range for the immobilized Alcalase were determined as 8 and 55–65 °C, respectively. The salmon oil extraction process using the immobilized Alcalase was optimized through a factorial design, and the highest oil yield of 20.55% (88.30% recovery) was obtained from 1 h of hydrolysis at 65 °C. The oil recovery using the immobilized Alcalase was comparable to the use of free Alcalase. The low levels of oxidation and hydrolysis indicated the high quality of the extracted oil, which is promising to be processed into high-value products such as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. The immobilized Alcalase was collected using a magnet and reused at least three batches without a significant decrease in oil yield, indicating its potential for effective and consecutive oil extraction from salmon by-products. The present study would promote the production of value chain products from unutilized Atlantic salmon resources and achieve sustainable development of the blue economy.

Recognizing the wealth of non-marketable food in distribution centres: The environmental benefits of donation

About one-third of annual global food production for human consumption is wasted, increasing the pressure on the environment in providing resources to support food supply-chains. Food waste reduction is of fundamental importance towards a more sustainable world, as recognized by the United Nations in the twelfth of its seventeen sustainable development goals for 2030. Among other practices, food donation appears as an alternative to overcome the existing social and environmental issues related to food waste, however, donation also causes environmental pressure by requiring additional energy investment on infrastructure and operational goods, while releasing gases to atmosphere, due to its processes. This work applies the life cycle assessment (LCA) method to evaluate the environmental impacts of plausible food donation scenarios in the ‘CEAGESP’ food distribution center in São Paulo city, Brazil, the third largest in the world regarding marketable food (about 3 million tons/yr). Under the concept of waste hierarchy management options, six scenarios for the CEAGESP's non-marketable food (37,652 tons/yr) were established, from landfilling as a baseline to a donation alternative. Results show that donation scenarios have the least environmental burdens for all nine LCA impact categories. Worst-case scenarios were obtained by landfilling the non-marketable food, considering electricity generation or otherwise. Differences over tenfold in comparative bases among the best and worst-case scenarios were obtained by fossil depletion, global warming, human toxicity, water and metal depletion LCA's impact categories. Results highlight the environmental advantages of donating the non-marketable food of distribution centres, which is aligned with the concepts of circular and regenerative economy towards a sustainable development that should be promoted by public policies. Regional variables as the Brazilian electricity grid based on hydropower plants have considerable influence in some LCA impact categories, especially when accounting for the avoided emissions, emphasizing the importance of carrying out this study for Brazilian conditions.

Protecting Consumer Health by Developing an Electrochemical Immunosensor for the Detection of Banned Antibiotic Residues in Honey

IntroductionChemical (eg pesticides, veterinary drugs, etc.) and bacteriological contaminants (eg. foodborne pathogens) could contaminate animal and plant derived food products for human consumption. Some antibiotic residues (eg. chloramphenicol, nitrofuran metabolites, dyes) are banned in foodstuffs of animal origin (eg. milk, meat, eggs, etc.) in European Union because of toxicological risks for the consumer. The European Regulation has set Minimum Required Performance Limits (MRPL) [1] or Reference Point for Action (RPA) for banned substances [2]. Food containing residues of substances at or above the MRPL or RPA are declared non-compliant and consignments are rejected from the consumer's market.Screening methods are the first stage of food control and so are essential for food safety monitoring. Conventional screening methods are microbiological methods (eg. plate tests, tube tests), immunological methods (eg. ELISA, radioimmunoassays) or physico-chemical methods (Thin Layer Chromatography, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)). These methods sometimes lack of sensitivity or specificity; they also could be time and money consuming. There is thus a need to develop novel screening methods for antibiotic residues detection, preferably with the potential for the field-testing (eg. farm control, self-control). Electrochemical biosensors make it possible to develop a promising and economically interesting approach.Electrochemical immunosensorAn innovative electrochemical method based on disposable Screen Printed Carbon Electrodes (SPCE), coupled to magnetic beads (MB), allowing the simultaneous detection of 3 families of antibiotics in milk, was published by a Spanish academic team [3]. This technique presents major advantages: low cost (eg. disposable electrodes, potentiostat), promising detection limits, portability, and possible automatisation. Our laboratory has evaluated the transferability of the method. An electrochemical immunosensor has been developed for the detection of chloramphenicol residues in honey as a proof of concept. Honey composition and colour varies considerably depending on the botanical origin. Moreover some honey ingredients can interfere with the electrochemical detection, especially substances with antioxidant activities (eg. polyphenols). Therefore a lot of work had to be done to improve sample extraction to reduce matrix effects.The objective is to develop an electrochemical bead-based immunosensor for the multiplex detection of banned antibiotics (eg. chloramphenicol, nitrofuran metabolites, dyes) in bovine milk.MethodAntibodies (Abs) against antibiotics are grafted on the surface of magnetic beads (MBs). Milk samples and antibiotic conjugated with Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) are mixed with MBs-Abs. A competition occurs between the HRP conjugates and the antibiotic residues if present in the sample, for the binding to the antibody. The MBs are washed to remove free antibiotics and conjugates. Then, a Screen Printed Carbon Electrode (SPCE) with MBs on its surface (maintained by a magnet) is soaked into a buffer solution containing hydroquinone; when adding hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to the solution, an electrochemical signal is produced, due to the enzymatic activity of HRP and measured. The electrochemical signal is inversely proportional to the antibiotic concentration in the sample.Results and ConclusionsScreening methods for the detection of veterinary drugs in food products have to be validated according to the European regulation [1] and to the European guideline for the validation of screening methods [4]. After the development and the optimization of the analytical parameters (eg. sample preparation, HRP concentration, incubation time, applied potential, etc), the methods developed for single compounds will be evaluated and validated according to the European regulations. Then the single compound methods will be merged into one multiplex method if possible. The results will be presented to the conference, discussing the advantages and drawbacks of electrochemical biosensors for the screening of antibiotic residues in food products.

Region-specific nutritious, environmentally friendly, and affordable diets in India

Region-specific nutritious, environmentally friendly, and affordable diets in India

Development of New Chip Products from Brewer’s Spent Grain

Brewer’s spent grain (BSG) is a processing waste generated in large quantities by the brewing industry. It is estimated that over 38 million tons of BSG is produced worldwide each year and is usually used as animal feed, composted, or thrown into landfills. BSG contains valuable nutritional components, including protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Due to its brittle texture, strong nutty flavors, and dark color profiles, BSG has seen limited use in food products for human consumption. The objective of this study was to develop a palatable chip product that maximized the level of inclusion of BSG. Chips were produced that contained BSG levels ranging from 8% to 40%, and the physical and sensory properties of the chips were evaluated. Spent grain samples were provided by Iron Monk in Stillwater and were dried at a low temperature and milled into flour for use in the chip formulation. BSG chips were evaluated for water activity, color, and texture (fracture force). An informal sensory evaluation was conducted to evaluate flavor, texture, and probability of purchase using a 5-point hedonic rating scale. Results showed that there were no significant differences in the texture of the chips containing different levels of BSG. The color measurements showed no significant differences between L ∗ and a ∗ values for the chips containing different inclusion levels of BSG, but there were some differences in the b ∗ values. Results from the sensory evaluation showed that consumers preferred the texture of chips with 40% BSG over chips with 8% BSG, and they were also more likely to purchase the 40% BSG chips. There were no significant differences in flavor among the chips containing different inclusion levels of BSG. These results suggest that, for a chip-type product, BSG inclusion levels up to 40% are possible with positive consumer responses. Development of an alternative value-added product represents an opportunity for breweries nationwide to turn a processing waste into a future asset.

Potential Applications of Cereals and Yams as Functional Foods to Reduce the Risk of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

The chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) are increasing throughout the populations and the burden of diseases is rising globally. Epidemiological evidences supports claim that intake of foods with certain health benefits and reducing the risk of NCDs are having positive correlation, therefore, a rise in demand for foods including phytochemicals can be observed. Cereals and yams are known to be rich sources of phytochemicals which can be utilized to produce functional food products having the potential of reducing the risk of chronic NCDs such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and certain types of cancers. In this review, the potentials of various cereals and yams that are being used as functional food products for human consumption to reduce the risk of NCD are being examined. The study further included a review on different phytochemicals in cereals and yams based functional food products and their bioactivity, potential of microencapsulation, cereal by products, influence of starch modification on functional food products, and capability of utilizing cereal by products in functional food industry.

Toward a unified framework for investigating micro(nano)plastics in packaged beverages intended for human consumption.

The continuously increasing presence of micro- and nanoplastics contamination in numerous food products for human consumption is threatening and their potential health effects towards humans remain uncertain. At present, investigations on packaged beverages (e.g. bottled drinking water, beer, milk and refreshments) have received scientific attention and represent an important part of microplastic research as humans are orally exposed to these anthropogenic contaminants every day. Rapid and effective detection methods are important to quantify micro- and nanoplastic particles with a great accuracy as well as to identify their sources and characteristics. A number of methods are currently in use to assess microplastics in packaged beverages; however, the great variations in methods and data acquisition render difficulties when comparing the results and developing the protocols. Based on the challenges, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of emerging technological approaches, points out the current limitations from sample preparation to quantification and present recommendations. From the results of our analysis, we postulate an example framework that can be applied to different types of drinking products for investigating micro- and nanoplastics. Overall, this review will serve as a first step towards harmonization of micro- and nanoplastic monitoring efforts and a point of reference to help direct future researches focusing on drinking products intended for human consumption.

YIELD OF GRAIN LEGUMES INTERCROPPING WITH CEREALS IN THE FLORINA AREA IN GREECE

Intercropping of two or more crops in the same area at the same time is an old and commonly used practice that results in the highest overall yield on a given plot, because ofdifferent root growth, height and nutrient requirements of the crops involved. The aim of this study was to determine the possibilities of intercropping grain legumes with cereals for food production for human consumption. The completely randomized design was applied with three replications and the experiment was established in the farm of the Western Macedonia University in Florina (Greece). Particularly, lentils (two varieties) was used as grain legumes, and bread wheat (two varieties) and oat were used as cereals, which were grown individually as well as intercropped with each other in mixed rows in a sowing ratio 50:50. The plots consisted of seven rows five meters long of which the five inner were harvested. A total of 33 experimental plots was installed. The field was fertilized only with base fertilization. During the growing season, the following morphological traits were measured: height and total height, the blooming, as well as the grain yield, the length of spike (cm) and the number of fertile grain/spike. Differences were found between treatments regarding yield as well as the agronomic traits.In most cases the mixtureshad higher yield compared to their respective monocrops.