Safety Of Food Products Research Articles

Fluorescence determination of 3-MCPD by combining amino silica nanoparticles with fluorescein isothiocyanate

Using amino silica modified with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), a quick fluorescence analysis technique is used for the detection of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD). At 100 °C and pH 8.5, FITC-modified amino silica exhibits the lowest fluorescence intensity in the presence of 3-MCPD. This can predominantly be explained mostly explained by 3-MCPD’s capacity to occupy the amino group that FITC normally binds to. The fluorescence intensity of FITC-modified amino silica was greatly quenched by 3-MCPD’s reaction with the amino group under alkaline conditions, and the fluorescence intensity is different at different reaction times, reaction pH, and reaction temperature. The effects of various 3-MCPD concentrations on the optical characteristics of FITC-modified amino silica were also investigated. Fluorescence analysis is used to obtain a linear range from 0.025 to 1.0 mg/L for 3-MCPD detection under optimal experimental conditions, with a detection limit of 0.025 mg/L and a correlation coefficient of 0.9915. The quantity of 3-MCPD in soy sauce was measured under ideal conditions. Using the optimized conditions, the contents of 3-MCPD in soy sauce were determined. These results suggest that this method is sensitive to 3-MCPD and may have a substantial application in the rapid detection of food contaminants particularly, where the quality and safety of food products are of paramount concern.

Occurrence of Virulence Genes among Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Subclinical Bovine Mastitis.

The occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus-induced subclinical mastitis holds significant implications for public health. This specific microorganism possesses a wide array of pathogenic factors that enable it to adhere to, colonize, invade, and infect the host. The objective of the current study was to assess the prevalence of S. aureus, determine antimicrobial resistance patterns, and identify virulence genes of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains responsible for subclinical mastitis in bovines. A total of 249 milk samples were collected from various farms in the district of Faisalabad. The presence of subclinical mastitis was assessed by using the California mastitis test. Positive milk samples (n = 100) were then subjected to standard microbiological techniques for isolation and identification of S. aureus. Antibiogram analysis was conducted by using the disc diffusion method to assess antimicrobial resistance. For the molecular detection of S. aureus and its virulence genes, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with species-specific primers. The overall prevalence of S. aureus was found to be 40% (40/100), which was confirmed through molecular detection of the nuc gene in 40/40 (100%) of samples using PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests indicated the highest susceptibility to vancomycin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, erythromycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and chloramphenicol, while the highest resistance rate was observed against tetracycline. Additionally, 30% of samples (12/40) tested positive for methicillin resistance. PCR analysis revealed that 100% of MRSA-tested isolates harbored the mecA and clfA genes. Furthermore, the MRSA isolates showed the presence of pvl, hla, hlb, sec, icaA, icaD, icaB, and icaC genes at rates of 92, 75, 67, 42, 42, 75, 8, and 25%, respectively. These findings underscore the need for stricter aseptic control in dairy farms to prevent disease transmission between animals and ensure the production of safe and uncontaminated food for human consumption.

Betalains as promising natural colorants in smart/active food packaging.

Betalains are water-soluble nitrogen pigments with beneficial effects, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and pH-indicator properties. The development of packaging films incorporated with betalains has received increasing attention because of pH-responsive color-changing properties in the colorimetric indicators and smart packaging films. As such, intelligent and active packaging systems based on biodegradable polymers containing betalains have been recently developed as eco-friendly packaging to enhance the quality and safety of food products. Betalains could generally improve the functional properties of packaging films, such as higher water resistance, tensile strength, elongation at break, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. These effects are dependent on betalain composition (about its source and extraction), content, and the kind of biopolymer, film preparation method, food samples, and storage time. This review focused on betalains-rich films as pH- and ammonia-sensitive indicators and their applications as smart packaging to monitor the freshness of protein-rich foods such as shrimp, fish, chicken, and milk.

In Situ Toxicity Reduction and Food Safety Assessment of Pak Choi (Brassica campestris L.) in Cadmium-Contaminated Soil by Jointly Using Alkaline Passivators and Organic Fertilizer.

An economical and effective method is still lacking for cadmium (Cd) toxicity reduction and food product safety improvement in soil-vegetable systems. Therefore, this study aimed to reduce the Cd toxicity to pak choi (Brassica campestris L.) by jointly using passivators and organic fertilizer, highlighting food products' safety based on pot experiments. The results showed that compared with the control, organic fertilizer decreased the Cd content in edible parts and the soil's available Cd by 48.4% and 20.9% on average, respectively, due to the 0.15-unit increases in soil pH. Once jointly applied with passivators, the decrements increased by 52.3-72.6% and 32.5-52.6% for the Cd content in edible parts and for the soil's available Cd, respectively, while the pH increment increased by 0.15-0.46 units. Compared with the control, the transport factor of Cd was reduced by 61.9% and 50.9-55.0% when applying organic fertilizer alone and together with the passivators, respectively. The combination treatment of biochar and organic fertilizer performed the best in decreasing the Cd content in the edible parts and the soil's available Cd. The combination treatment of fish bone meal and organic fertilizer induced the greatest increases in soil pH. The grey relational analysis results showed that the combination treatment of biochar and organic fertilizer performed the best in reducing the potential Cd pollution risk, thereby highlighting the vegetable food safety. This study provides a potential economical and effective technology for toxicity reduction and food safety in Cd-polluted soil.

A Comparative Analysis of OIML Documents and Russian Rules on the Use of Reference Materials

The article analyzes the compliance of Russian legal documents with the Recommendations of the International Organization of Legal Metrology regarding the use of reference materials in the fields covered by the state control and supervision. The problem of ensuring the quality of measurement results is relevant for each laboratory, performing measurements in any fields of activity. In addition to a reliable and proven measurement method, a decisive role in obtaining comparable results is played by reference materials. In order to ensure the traceability of measurements, a reference material must be certified. Certified reference materials are obligatory for the state metrological control and supervision of the quality and safety of food and pharmaceutical products, quality of measurements in clinical laboratories, environmental safety, etc. Considering the important role of reference materials in the process of ensuring the uniformity of measurements in analytical laboratories, this study can contribute to the promotion of ideas for improving the Russian legislative framework in the relevant area.

Food Security and Human Health

Eradication of hunger is one of the sustainable development goals listed by the United Nations. By 2050 the expected world population would be 10 billion and to provide food for all, we need to prioritize food security. A robust food security ecosystem will help to ensure that hygienic, nutritious food is available to the general population of a country. A decrease in the production of nutritious and safe food or limited purchasing power of consumers leads to food insecurity. Individuals facing financial constraints are affected the most because of food insecurity and hence are at a high risk of hunger and malnutrition. A deficiency, excess or imbalance of certain nutrients in the diet leads to malnutrition. Malnutrition is often used synonymously with undernutrition, which can be because of a deficiency of protein and/or micronutrients in the diet. Among the micronutrients, iron, zinc, and folic acid deficiency is very prevalent and the leading cause of undernutrition. Protein-energy malnutrition leads to conditions like Marasmus and Kwashiorkor. The common infectious diseases associated with undernutrition are pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles, and AIDS. Thus, food insecurity poses challenges not only to addressing public health but also affects the overall economic growth and socio-political stability of any nation. Hence at the global level, several programmes have been envisioned by the World Health Organization and United Nations Standing Committee on Nutrition. In context to the Indian population, the Government of India has started implementing various initiatives to establish food security. However, issues such as climate change, drought, floods, demographic changes, wars, increasing global population and pandemics need to be constantly addressed to achieve sustainable developmental goals. In this review, we have discussed what food security is and how in its absence, malnutrition predominates in a sizable population, especially children. The consequences of nutrient deficiency and their relationship with immunity and infection are highlighted and finally, the efforts that are being taken to tackle food security at a global level and in context to Indian issues are discussed.

Organic agriculture in the function of sustainable development of rural areas of the Republic of Srpska

Organic agriculture in the function of sustainable development of rural areas of the Republic of Srpska

Analysis of Pesticide Residues on Fruit Using Swab Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

The vast quantity and high variety of pesticides globally used in agriculture entails considerable risks for the environment and requires ensuring the safety of food products. Therefore, powerful analytical tools are needed to acquire qualitative and quantitative data for monitoring pesticide residues. The development of ambient ionization mass spectrometry methods in the past two decades has demonstrated numerous ways to generate ions under atmospheric conditions and simultaneously to reduce the need for extended sample preparation and circumvent chromatographic separation prior to mass analysis. Swab spray ionization enables the generation of ions directly from swabs via the application of high voltage and solvent flow. In this study, swab sampling of fruit surfaces and subsequent ionization directly from the swab in a modified electrospray ion source was employed for the screening and quantitation of pesticide residues. Aspects regarding sample collection, sampling efficacy on different surfaces, and swab background are discussed. The effect of solvent composition on pesticide-sodium adduct formation and the suppression of ionization by the background matrix have been investigated. Furthermore, a novel approach for the quantitation of pesticide residues based on depletion curve areas is presented. It is demonstrated that swab spray ionization is an effective and quick method for spectral library-based identification and the quantitative analysis of polar contact pesticide residues on food.

Role of Animal Husbandry Nutrition Science on Feed, Food and Environment Safety

Animal protein is an important part of the human diet to support physical activities. The role of livestock as a source of animal protein requires adequate nutrition from feed to be able to produce optimally. The feed must be given in adequate amount of quality and quantity, safe feed (not toxic) is a must, and this cannot be separated from the contribution of animal husbandry nutrition science. Formulation of feed ingredients based on local feed and agro-industrial by-products into complete feeds in ruminant production is a strategy to meet the nutritional needs of ruminants so that they can produce optimally, efficiently, and environmentally friendly which ultimately produces products that are safe for human consumption. The success of this strategy has a greater opportunity through a corporate-based livestock approach, and through this approach, it is expected that the concepts of safe feed, safe food, and safe environment can be realized. Based on this phenomenon, animal husbandry nutrition science has proven its capability to contribute significantly to 1) produce livestock (ruminants) with efficient nutrition; 2) improve food safety and quality of food products originating from livestock for human consumption; 3) improve health status and welfare of livestock; and 4) reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of livestock on environmental security.

Traditional Fish Farming Based on Indigenous Knowledge in Homestead Pond Can Uplift Socioeconomic Status of Coastal Rural People and Sustainability

In a time of environmental degradation and increasing demand for safe food production, traditional fish farming is gaining global attention. Utilizing indigenous agricultural methods founded on traditional knowledge contributes to sustainability by safeguarding the ecosystem and preserving biodiversity. However, it is still less studied whether traditional farming systems based on indigenous knowledge currently in place are improving the socioeconomic conditions of farmers. Hence, this study was conducted with the following objectives: (i) to reveal the present status of traditional fish farming systems, (ii) to define the socioeconomic profile of the farmers, (iii) to identify the problems associated with traditional fish farming, and (iv) to show the inter-relationship between fish farming and socioeconomic development. For achieving these objectives, data were collected from 100 small-scale fish farmers from a rural coastal area of Bangladesh through a well-structured questionnaire, focus group discussion, and cross-check interviews. Our findings showed that most of the homestead ponds were small-sized (44%) and shallow (61%) where a polyculture system was prevalent (91%). The majority of the ponds (77%) were found to be perennial, 60% of which had single ownership. Socioeconomic data revealed that the highest number of farmers (42%) earned 1000.00 to 1500.00 USD annually, and 62% of the respondents took fish farming as their secondary occupation. Among the farmers, 62% had primary education, whereas 7% had no education, and only 26% of the farmers had official training in fish farming, indicating that culture management was mainly based on indigenous knowledge. A total of 55% of the farmers had 5 to 10 family members, and 80% of them lived in joint families. Furthermore, 40% of the farmers owned tin shed houses, whereas the maximum (60%) utilized katcha toilets. However, almost half of the farmers (57%) utilized their own funds for fish farming, and the majority (90%) had access to their own tube well. The study found that the biggest obstacles to fish farming were pressure from large families, a lack of education and training, a lack of quality seed and feed, outbreaks of fish diseases, an inadequate supply of water during the dry season, and a lack of adequate funding. However, Pearson correlation showed that there was a significant positive association between age and experience (r = 0.908, p < 0.01) and age and income (r = 0.326, p < 0.01). Multiple regression analyses also demonstrated that age and experience in fish farming played a significant role in increased annual income. In conclusion, 94% of the respondents claimed that fish farming had improved their socioeconomic situation. Homestead pond fish farming through indigenous knowledge increased household fish consumption with a source of protein and micronutrients, improved dietary diversity, and generated extra household income, which inferred their better sustenance.

Recent Advances in Electrochemical Enzyme-Based Biosensors for Food and Beverage Analysis.

Food analysis and control are crucial aspects in food research and production in order to ensure quality and safety of food products. Electrochemical biosensors based on enzymes as the bioreceptors are emerging as promising tools for food analysis because of their high selectivity and sensitivity, short analysis time, and high-cost effectiveness in comparison to conventional methods. This review provides the readers with an overview of various electrochemical enzyme-based biosensors in food analysis, focusing on enzymes used for different applications in the analysis of sugars, alcohols, amino acids and amines, and organic acids, as well as mycotoxins and chemical contaminants. In addition, strategies to improve the performance of enzyme-based biosensors that have been reported over the last five years will be discussed. The challenges and future outlooks for the food sector are also presented.

The use of probiotic in chicken-broilers feeding

Biologically active feed additives of natural origin that do not hurt the body are increasingly used in poultry farming, making it possible to produce safe food products. It is known that probiotics are preparations of microbial origin that manifest their properties through the regulation of intestinal microflora. The primary mechanism of action of probiotics is to populate the gastrointestinal tract with strains of beneficial bacteria that displace opportunistic microflora from the intestinal biocenosis. The experiment aimed to establish the effect of probiotic feed additives on the productivity, slaughter performance, and meat quality of broiler chickens. Following the purpose of the research, a scientific and economic experiment was conducted on two similar groups of broiler chickens of the “Cobb-500” cross from one day to 42 days of age, with 20 heads in each group according to the experiment scheme. The experiment lasted 42 days. With the use of a feed additive in feeding broiler chickens of the 2nd group, the live weight increased by 11.9 % (Р ≤ 0.001) compared to the control group. It was found that under the influence of the supplement, the average daily growth in broiler chickens of the 2nd group was higher by 12.1 %, absolute by 12.2 % (Р ≤ 0.001) compared to control peers during the entire experiment period. In addition, in the 2nd group of broilers, feed consumption per 1 kg of growth is reduced by 8.9 % compared to the control. The use of a feed additive in the feeding of broiler chickens of the 2nd group increases the pre-slaughter live weight by 12.0 % (Р ≤ 0.001), the weight of an uncut carcass by 12.1 % (Р ≤ 0.001), half-cut carcass by 9.9 % (Р ≤ 0.01) and by 13.3 % (Р ≤ 0.001) relative to the control value. With the consumption of the investigated feed additive in broilers of the 2nd group, the level of total moisture in the pectoral muscles increased by 1.3 % (Р ≤ 0.05), and in the femoral muscles, the hygromoisture level was higher by 0.2 % (Р ≤ 0.05) and the amount of nitrogen by 0.2 % (Р ≤ 0.05), compared to the control group.

Improvement of the technology of cooking culinary products from poultry meat for children's food: a systematic review

Currently, more and more new technologies are being discovered in the food industry and public catering for the production of culinary products from poultry. This type of raw material is very popular among the population, due to its chemical composition and nutritional value. The study of new approaches to the quality and safety of food products for baby food is also an urgent topic. The purpose of this review is to analyze literature sources on new technologies in the production of culinary products from poultry and methods of ensuring safety and quality for the nutrition of children of various age groups. The presented systematic review includes articles from the Scopus, Rsci and Google Scholar databases, limited by the time period from 2011 to 2023, 24 works of highly rated journals are analyzed and divided into three thematic blocks: general studies of semi-finished poultry products, new technologies in the production of culinary products and the safety of culinary products from poultry for children's nutrition different age categories. In the course of the work carried out, various studies of semi-finished poultry products, the impact of new technological techniques on the quality and consumer properties of culinary products, as well as basic research in the field of baby food safety were considered. As a result, a fairly strong experimental and research base in these areas of public catering has been identified. The data of this review will provide invaluable assistance in the development of culinary products from poultry for baby food of various age categories, as well as in the preparation of food rations and the development of technological processes in educational institutions.

Effects of Aflatoxins and Fumonisins, Alone or in Combination, on Performance, Health, and Safety of Food Products of Broiler Chickens, and Mitigation Efficacy of Bentonite and Fumonisin Esterase.

The current study evaluated the effects of feeding diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), fumonisins (FBs), or both on the performance and health of broiler chickens and the safety of their food products as well as the efficacy of bentonite and fumonisin esterase to mitigate the effects of these mycotoxins under conditions representative for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Four hundred one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 20 treatments with either a control diet, a diet with moderate AFB1 (60 μg/kg feed) or high AFB1 (220 μg/kg feed), or FBs (17,430 μg FB1+FB2/kg feed), alone or in combination, a diet containing AFB1 (either 60 or 220 μg/kg) and/or FBs (17,430 μg FB1+FB2/kg) and bentonite or fumonisin esterase or both, or a diet with bentonite or fumonisin esterase only. The experimental diets were given to the birds from day 1 to day 35 of age, and the effects of the different treatments on production performance were assessed by feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Possible health effects were evaluated through blood biochemistry, organ weights, mortality, liver gross pathological changes, and vaccine response. Residues of aflatoxins (AFB1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2) were determined in plasma, muscle, and liver tissues using validated UHPLC-MS/MS methods. The results obtained indicated that broiler chickens fed high AFB1 alone had poor FCR when compared to a diet with both high AFB1 and FBs (p = 0.0063). Serum total protein and albumin from birds fed FBs only or in combination with moderate or high AFB1 or detoxifiers increased when compared to the control (p < 0.05). Liver gross pathological changes were more pronounced in birds fed contaminated diets when compared to birds fed the control or diets supplemented with mycotoxin detoxifiers. The relative weight of the heart was significantly higher in birds fed high AFB1 and FBs when compared to the control or high AFB1 only diets (p < 0.05), indicating interactions between the mycotoxins. Inclusion of bentonite in AFB1-contaminated diets offered a protective effect on the change in weights of the liver, heart and spleen (p < 0.05). Residues of AFB1 were detected above the limit of quantification (max: 0.12 ± 0.03 μg/kg) in liver samples only, from birds fed a diet with high AFB1 only or with FBs or the detoxifiers. Supplementing bentonite into these AFB1-contaminated diets reduced the levels of the liver AFB1 residues by up to 50%. Bentonite or fumonisin esterase, alone, did not affect the performance and health of broiler chickens. Thus, at the doses tested, both detoxifiers were safe and efficient for use as valid means of counteracting the negative effects of AFB1 and FBs as well as transfer of AFB1 to food products (liver) of broiler chickens.

Green Energy Process "Ozonation" and Food Safety: A Comprehensive Review

Improving the storage life of food products is a major problem for manufacturers, and the food sector needs an "ecofriendly" alternative to present technology. As a disinfectant, ozone has been utilized in waste-water purification systems since the beginning of the century. Recently, ozone has been utilized to handle a wide variety of agricultural products because of its qualities, including fast disintegration and low residual consequences during food preservation. Ozone is an interesting substitute preservative that the food industry demands and a suitable decontaminator for guaranteeing the microbiological hygiene and safety of food products. Ozone treatment has been demonstrated to be a potential strategy for lowering pollutants in dairy effluents. This review comprehensively highlights ozonation as a preservative in dairy, fruits and vegetables, poultry, cereals, and fresh produce in depth for save and effective use of ozone, whereas other published articles only discuss one of these categories. Overall, ozone has proven to be a viable technique, despite its high food-preservation efficacy, and market certification requires extensive information on the applicability of ozone-based technologies and their potential benefits

Sensory Evaluation and Fatty Acid Composition of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Containing with Prosopis Africana Essential Oil

Exploring the use of phytogenic components in plants is one of the ways to ensure safety in food and sustainable livestock production. This experiment was designed to investigate the sensory evaluation and fatty acid composition of broiler chickens fed diets containing Prosopis africana essential oil. A total of 540 – one- day- old broiler chicks (Arbo Acres) were randomly distributed into 6 treatments, each containing six replicates of 15 birds. Experimental diets were adequate in all nutrients (NRC, 1994). Birds in treatment one was fed basal diet without Prosopis africana oil, basal diet with antibiotic growth promoter (oxytetracycline at 2.5 g/kilogram) was fed to treatment two while treatment three, four, five and six were fed basal diet supplemented with 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg and 800 mg per kilogram respectively. Completely randomized design was used and the experiment lasted for 56 days. Feed and fresh water were offered ad libitum and other management practices were rigorously followed. Result revealed that the composition of total monosaturated fatty acid and total polyunsaturated fatty acid were significantly (P˂0.05) influenced by the treatments. Total saturated fatty acid (TSFA) levels decrease as the level of Prosopis africana oil increases across the treatments (P˂0.05). TSFA values were highest in treatment 1, intermediate in treatment 2 and lowest in treatment three through six. Omega 3: omega 6 fatty acid and artheriogenicity index were significantly (P˂0.05) different among the treatments. Prosopis africana oil also influenced color, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, texture, and general acceptability of broilers meat. It was concluded that the dietary supplementation of Prosopis africana oil has a number of phyto-constituents that can modify the fatty acid of meat, enhancing its quality, shelf life and sensory attributes. Without having a negative impact on the health of birds. It can be added to the diet of broiler chickens up to 800 mg per kilogram.

Problems of rural areas of Ukraine in the context of European integration processes

Ukraine has favorable geographical, climatic, resource and other prerequisites for the development of rural areas, therefore it is potentially capable of becoming a state with priority development of the agricultural sector and one of the main suppliers to the world markets of ecologically safe food products. However, the problem of non-compliance of the level of development of the Ukrainian agricultural sector and rural areas with the world level and standards of the EU countries in general remains unresolved. The competitiveness of domestic agricultural products is achieved mainly due to cheap labor and ruthless exploitation of the land. The article analyzes the socio-economic and ecological state of rural areas of Ukraine and establishes that at the current stage rural areas are in a catastrophic state. The state of natural resources and the ecological situation are deteriorating, the engineering and social infrastructure, the system of social services (medicine, culture, preschool education) and the sphere of life are in decline, human potential is decreasing, unemployment and poverty are flourishing, which stimulates labor migration. The lack of work, medical care, social and infrastructure support does not encourage rural youth to actively give birth to children, as a result of which the rural population is aging at a very fast pace, there is no simple replacement of the population, mortality prevails over birth rate. The lifespan expectancy of the population in one or another country is precisely the indicator that characterizes well-being. In Ukraine, the average lifespan expectancy as of 2020 was 66.4 years for men and 76.2 years for women, which is an average 3.6–14.4 years for men and 1.3–9.3 years for women less compared to the countries of the European Union. During 32 years of independence, Ukraine, as a state, did nothing to improve the living conditions of the rural population, stop migration processes and the natural reduction of the population in general, and especially the rural population. As a result of such non-statistical attitude of the state of Ukraine towards rural areas, 435 rural settlements disappeared from the map of Ukraine during this period. The primary solution to the social and infrastructure problems of the rural population is one of the main conditions for Ukraine’s food security, its economic and social well-being, and therefore should become a priority direction for the state of Ukraine.

Moving beyond agriculture and aquaculture to integrated sustainable food systems as part of a circular bioeconomy

The objective of this perspective paper is to present and discuss how systemic innovations can deliver a step change in the way food is produced in Europe. The production of healthy, safe and affordable food can contribute toward a just transition to net zero carbon (C) for Europe. A systemic and cross sectorial approach can contribute to climate mitigation by transfer of atmospheric CO2 to the terrestrial biosphere using low trophic species (LTS), including plants, seaweed and mussels (i.e. C sequestration) and increasing organic C stocks in soils and vegetation biomass (i.e. C storage). Innovative combinations of technologies applied to LTS, processed animal protein, new crops, and diversified and integrated production systems can link the high primary productivity rates of the marine environment to the C storage capability of the terrestrial food sector. Furthermore, the important roles of both private and public sector actors and better use of systemic approaches to further elucidate the multi-dimensional and multi-level interplays in complex food systems needs consideration. This can pave the way for linking and scaling up C-neutral marine and terrestrial food production systems into a future sustainable and circular bioeconomy. This systems-based approach can address some of the challenges associated with the current farming systems, as interdisciplinary research on aquaculture innovation can support the development of a resilient and sustainable food system. Examples of technologies provided include: a custom configured and digital user-oriented co-creation approach for Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), a WebGIS tool on soil C storage, innovative composting methods, advanced breeding methods, new machinery for low greenhouse gas diversified orchard farming, AI model systems to improve decision support systems in management of soil, vertical farming, and animal feeding.

Hybrid Raman and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Food Authentication Applications.

The issue of food fraud has become a significant global concern as it affects both the quality and safety of food products, ultimately resulting in the loss of customer trust and brand loyalty. To address this problem, we have developed an innovative approach that can tackle various types of food fraud, including adulteration, substitution, and dilution. Our methodology utilizes an integrated system that combines laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy. Although both techniques emerged as valuable tools for food analysis, they have until now been used separately, and their combined potential in food fraud has not been thoroughly tested. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the potential benefits of integrating Raman and LIBS modalities in a portable system for improved product classification and subsequent authentication. In pursuit of this objective, we designed and tested a compact, hybrid Raman/LIBS system, which exhibited distinct advantages over the individual modalities. Our findings illustrate that the combination of these two modalities can achieve higher accuracy in product classification, leading to more effective and reliable product authentication. Overall, our research highlights the potential of hybrid systems for practical applications in a variety of industries. The integration and design were mainly focused on the detection and characterization of both elemental and molecular elements in various food products. Two different sets of solid food samples (sixteen Alpine-style cheeses and seven brands of Arabica coffee beans) were chosen for the authentication analysis. Class detection and classification were accomplished through the use of multivariate feature selection and machine-learning procedures. The accuracy of classification was observed to improve by approximately 10% when utilizing the hybrid Raman/LIBS spectra, as opposed to the analysis of spectra from the individual methods. This clearly demonstrates that the hybrid system can significantly improve food authentication accuracy while maintaining the portability of the combined system. Thus, the successful implementation of a hybrid Raman-LIBS technique is expected to contribute to the development of novel portable devices for food authentication in food as well as other various industries.

Evaluation of Bacterial Activity Based on the Electrochemical Properties of Tetrazolium Salts.

This study focused on the electrochemical properties of tetrazolium salts to develop a simple method for evaluating viable bacterial counts, which are indicators of hygiene control at food and pharmaceutical manufacturing sites. Given that the oxidized form of 3-(4,5-di-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), which has excellent cell membrane permeability, changes to the insoluble reduced form of formazan inside the cell, the number of viable cells was estimated by focusing on the reduction current of MTT remaining in the suspension. Dissolved oxygen is an important substance for bacterial activity; however, it interferes with the electrochemical response of MTT. We investigated the electrochemical properties of MTT to obtain a potential-selective current response that was not affected by dissolved oxygen. Real-time observation of viable bacteria in suspension revealed that uptake of MTT into bacteria was completed within 10 min, including the lag period. In addition, we observed that the current response depends on viable cell density regardless of the bacterial species present. Our method enables a rapid estimation of the number of viable bacteria, making it possible to confirm the safety of food products before they are shipped from the factory and thereby prevent food poisoning.