Food Safety Control Research Articles

A rapid and low-cost method for detection of nine kinds of vegetable oil adulteration based on 3-D fluorescence spectroscopy

The integrity of vegetable oil has become a focal concern within the global food industry, particularly in specific regions where economic interests drive authenticity issues. In this study, we used three-dimensional (3-D) fluorescence spectroscopy for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of adulteration in different vegetable oils, offering the advantages of rapid and low-cost detection. Nine types of adulterated vegetable oils were modeled using five machine learning methods: K-nearest neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Partial Least Squares (PLS), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). In the qualitative analysis, the Rp2 and RMSEP values ranged from 0.89 to 0.99 and 0.01 to 0.05, respectively. For qualitatively analysis, a threshold of 5 % was established for detecting adulteration in soybean oil with palm oil and sesame oil with palm oil, achieving an accuracy (ACC) greater than 90 %. Meanwhile, a threshold of 10 % was effective for remaining seven adulterated oils, with an ACC exceeding 90 %. Moreover, an ACC rate of over 95 % was attained when the threshold was set at 15 %. The findings demonstrate that 3-D fluorescence spectroscopy presents a robust tool for detecting various adulterated oils, heralding a valuable contribution to food safety and quality control.

CoFe2O4/MoS2@Au: Multifunction Z-Scheme Heterojunction for SERS Monitoring and Photocatalytic Degradation of Fungicides

Efficient detection and degradation of fungicides are greatly concerned with aquatic food safety. Herein, a multifunction CoFe2O4/MoS2@Au (ACMS) composite was synthesized for crystal violet (CV) and malachite green (MG) photocatalytic degradation and SERS determination. As the construction of the Z-scheme heterostructure of ACMS, which enhanced the light absorption capability and the separation efficiency of photoexcited carrier significantly, ACMS possessed an excellent photocatalytic performance with a degradation rate of 94.76% for CV under simulated solar light irradiation. Furthermore, the multifunction ACMS exhibited superior SERS capability with a detection limit (LOD) of 4.309 × 10−2 μg L−1 for MG residues in water. And the ACMS substrates could be utilized to determine the MG residues in crucian carp extract, resulting in a recovery rate of 96.00~116.00%. In addition, such multifunction heterojunctions were performed for in situ monitoring of the photodegradation process. This research opened up a novel perspective on the applications of heterojunction-based multifunction materials for food safety control.

Aptasensor development for T-2 toxin detection utilizing a dual signal amplification strategy: Synergistic effects of bimetallic oxide (Ce-In)Ox and COFTAPB-DMTP

The innovative bimetallic oxide, (Ce-In)Ox, derived from a (Ce-In)-metal organic framework (MOF), has been meticulously characterized to unveil its superior electrochemical properties. Harnessing the synergistic "dual-signal amplification" effect brought about by the collaborative actions of (Ce-In)Ox and COFTAPB-DMTP@Au-Apt (TAPB, 1,3,5-tris(4-aminopheny) benzene; DMTP, 2,5-dimethoxybenzene-1,4-dicarboxaldehyde; COF, covalent organic framework; Apt, aptamer), we developed an aptasensor. This aptasensor utilized methylene blue (MB) as its electrochemical signal probe, demonstrating unparalleled performance. Upon the presence of T-2 toxin, the aptamer undergoes a conformational change, leading to the detachment of MB from both the DNA duplex and the COF, thereby causing distinguishable electrochemical variations. Under the optimal conditions, the aptasensor achieved a detection limit as low as 7.6 × 10-8 ng mL-1 (S/N = 3) and proved proficient across a concentration range from 5.0 × 10-7 ng mL-1 to 5.0 ng mL-1. The robustness and reliability of this aptasensor were further validated using authentic crop samples, highlighting its immense potential in food safety and quality control applications.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Related to Bovine Brucellosis in Continental Ecuador.

Bovine brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic contagious disease. According to World Animal Health Information System reports Ecuador has presented an increasing number of bovine brucellosis outbreaks in the continental territory over the past years (756 in 2018 versus 964 in 2021), generating economic losses for producers and causing a risk to public health. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis and associated risk or protective factors between May and June 2018. This stratified random study was implemented in 290 cattle herds located in the 23 provinces of continental Ecuador, which represents a total of 3737 cows aged 24 months or older. A competitive ELISA was used to detect Brucella antibodies. Simultaneously, an epidemiological survey was implemented to assess the brucellosis risk or protective factors. The apparent prevalence of bovine brucellosis at the herd level was 21.3% (95% CI: 16.8-26.6) and 6.2% (95% CI: 5.5-7) at the animal level. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between the potential factors associated with the presence of bovine brucellosis. The risk factors identified after multivariate analysis were a surface in ha per herd > 70 ha (OR = 2.73; 95% CI: 1.18-6.32) and the number of parturitions per animal (two or more with OR ≥ 1.8 and p-value ≤ 0.047). On the contrary, the protective factors were the region (farms located in the eastern region) and the absence of reported clinical signs. In addition, in herds where extensive production predominates, farmers have a low level of knowledge, and the farm biosecurity level is low. These results can guide the authorities in managing the risk factors identified, understanding the current epidemiological situation in Ecuador, improving the bovine brucellosis control program and food safety, as well as increase the one-health approach.

A label-free aptasensor for colorimetric detection of food toxin: Mediation of catalytically active gold nanozymes and smartphone imaging strategy

A portable colorimetric aptasensor was developed on the surface of a plastic sheet for on-site detection of acrylamide. The mechanism of aptasensor is based on the disruption of the aptamer complex with its complementary strand on the sensing zone, and subsequently, the catalytic activity of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for the reduction process of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). A yellow-to-colorless change of the sample solution revealed the target presence, easily discernible by the naked eye. The acrylamide quantification was accomplished using the smartphone imaging readout technique. The aptasensor detected the acrylamide concentration in the range of 0.01–500 nmol L−1 with a detection limit of 0.0024 nmol L−1. Coffee, potato chips, bread, and lake water samples were successfully analyzed by the aptasensor for their acrylamide content. The introduced aptasensor can pave a facile, cost-effective, portable, and user-friendly sensing tool for food safety control and environmental monitoring.

Development and validation of a sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantitative analysis of bambermycin in livestock and aquatic products: Implications for food safety control and regulatory enforcement.

A sensitive and accurate analytical method was developed and validated to detect bambermycin, a commonly used antibiotic in animal feed and livestock. The presence of bambermycin residues in food products can pose health risks to consumers, emphasizing the need for a sensitive and accurate analytical method. A reversed-phase analytical column was utilized with a mobile phase comprising 0.005 mol/L ammonium acetate in 5% acetonitrile (A) and 0.005 mol/L ammonium acetate in 95% acetonitrile (B) to achieve effective chromatographic separation. Quantitative determination of bambermycin in various samples, including beef, pork, chicken, milk, eggs, flatfish, eel, and shrimp, was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Sample extraction involved a mixture of methanol and a 25% ammonium hydroxide solution, followed by low-temperature purification and phospholipid removal utilizing a Phree cartridge. The method exhibited a satisfactory recovery rate ranging from 69% to 100%. Validation results demonstrated the reliability, robustness, and accuracy of the method, exhibiting good linearity, precision, and recovery. This validated method can be applied for routine analysis of bambermycin residues, assisting in the development of effective monitoring and control measures to ensure the safety of livestock and aquatic products.

Juridical Analysis Of The Authority Of Quarantine Officers In Handling Illegal Importation Of Caws On Batam Island

Quarantine is a system of preventing the entry, exit, and spread of quarantined animal pests and diseases, as well as supervision and control of food safety and food quality, feed safety and feed quality, Genetic Engineering products, Genetic Resources, Biological Agents, Invasive Foreign Species, Wild Plants and Animals, and Rare Animals that are introduced into, spread from one area to another area, and removed from the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. To maintain, protect, and improve the quality of animal/livestock resources, animal/livestock health, animal welfare, and the provision of safe, healthy, whole, and halal (ASUH) food of animal origin, as well as maintaining peace or eliminating/preventing public unrest, it is necessary to provide guidance, regulation, control, and supervision of livestock businesses and animal health services. To create a conducive business climate and legal certainty in animal husbandry and animal health, it is necessary to regulate the mechanisms and procedures for licensing livestock and animal health businesses in the regions. The problem faced by the Batam Class I Agricultural Quarantine Center is caused by cows entering Batam Island that do not have an entry permit and are not by Law Number 21 of 2019, which states that every entry or release must be carried out through a designated Place of Entry and Place of Expenditure.

Understanding the impact of local funding cuts on environmental health and regulatory services and gastrointestinal infection outcomes: a longitudinal ecological study protocol

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) infections result in 17 million cases annually, with foodborne illness costing the National Health Service (NHS) £60m per year. The burden of GI infection is unequally distributed, with greater impact in more socioeconomically disadvantaged groups and areas. Local authorities (LA) provide vital services that protect public health and wellbeing. The impact of funding cuts to local services and their effect on public health is an area of concern. Environmental health and regulatory (EH) services are responsible for roles such as food safety and infectious disease control. This study aims to understand the impact of local funding cuts on EH and GI infection outcomes. Methods: We will conduct an ecological longitudinal study in England from 2010-2019 at the LA level to examine how changes in EH expenditure overtime have impacted EH and GI infection outcomes. Data will be gathered on food hygiene enforcement, food hygiene compliance levels, GI infection hospitalisation, NHS 111 calls relating to GI infection symptoms, GI infection pathogen data, deprivation, and population density. Measures will be aggregated to LA level and statistical analysis will be carried out. Ethics and dissemination: University of Liverpool Ethics committee have confirmed ethical approval will not be required. All data will be aggregated and anonymised, therefore only data sharing agreements will be required. Findings will be disseminated to the stakeholder group in addition to outputs through conferences and publications. These findings will help understand impact of key services on public health and should inform government and public health policy and strategy.

Evaluation of Toxicity Equivalency Factors of Tetrodotoxin Analogues with a Neuro-2a Cell-Based Assay and Application to Puffer Fish from Greece.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent marine neurotoxin involved in poisoning cases, especially through the consumption of puffer fish. Knowledge of the toxicity equivalency factors (TEFs) of TTX analogues is crucial in monitoring programs to estimate the toxicity of samples analyzed with instrumental analysis methods. In this work, TTX analogues were isolated from the liver of a Lagocephalus sceleratus individual caught on South Crete coasts. A cell-based assay (CBA) for TTXs was optimized and applied to the establishment of the TEFs of 5,11-dideoxyTTX, 11-norTTX-6(S)-ol, 11-deoxyTTX and 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX. Results showed that all TTX analogues were less toxic than the parent TTX, their TEFs being in the range of 0.75-0.011. Then, different tissues of three Lagocephalus sceleratus individuals were analyzed with CBA and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The obtained TEFs were applied to the TTX analogues' concentrations obtained by LC-MS/MS analysis, providing an indication of the overall toxicity of the sample. Information about the TEFs of TTX analogues is valuable for food safety control, allowing the estimation of the risk of fish products to consumers.

A Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy-Based Biosensor for the Detection of Biological Macromolecules: The Case of the Lipopolysaccharide Endotoxin Molecules.

The development of sensitive methods for the detection of endotoxin molecules, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), is essential for food safety and health control. Conventional analytical methods used for LPS detection are based on the pyrogen test, plating and culture-based methods, and the limulus amoebocyte lysate method (LAL). Alternatively, the development of reliable biosensors for LPS detection would be highly desirable to solve some critical issues, such as high cost and a long turnaround time. In this work, we present a label-free Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-based method for LPS detection in its free form. The proposed method combines the benefits of plasmonic enhancement with the selectivity provided by a specific anti-lipid A antibody (Ab). A high-enhancing nanostructured silver substrate was coated with Ab. The presence of LPS was quantitatively monitored by analyzing the changes in the Ab spectra obtained in the absence and presence of LPS. A limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 12 ng/mL and 41 ng/mL were estimated, respectively. Importantly, the proposed technology could be easily expanded for the determination of other biological macromolecules.

Ultrasensitive and Specific Phage@DNAzyme Probe-Triggered Fluorescent Click Chemistry for On-Site Detection of Foodborne Pathogens Using a Smartphone.

Rapid, specific, and on-site detection of virulent foodborne pathogenic strains plays a key role in controlling food safety. In this work, an ultrasensitive and specific Phage@DNAzyme signal probe was designed to detect foodborne pathogens. The proposed sensing probe was composed of the selected phage and functionalized DNAzyme, which realized the specific recognition of target foodborne pathogens at the strain level and the efficient catalysis of copper(II) based azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction with fluorescent signal, respectively. As a proof of concept, the virulent Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) as the representative analyte was first enriched and purified from the complex food samples by a 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid-modified gold slide. Following, the Phage@DNAzyme probes were specifically combined with the captured E. coli O157: H7 and catalyzed the click reaction between 3-azido-7-hydroxycoumarin and 3-butyn-1-ol with the assistance of Cu(II) to generate a visual fluorescent signal. Finally, the corresponding fluorescent signals were measured by a smartphone to quantify the target concentrations. Under optimized conditions, the bioassay exhibited a wide linear range from 102 to 108 CFU/mL and the detection limit was 50 CFU/mL (S/N = 3). It was further extended to the detection of another foodborne pathogen Salmonella typhimurium with satisfying sensing performances. This work gives a new path for developing rapid, specific, and on-site detection methods for trace levels of pathogenic strains in foods.

The food industry supply chain in the light of COVID-19: the constraint and development of measures to ensure food safety and quality control

The international borders opening led to goods and people migration with a significant change of consumer behavior, this favored new food-borne diseases uprising and outbreaks worldwide. Recently, the resurgence of COVID-19 has highlighted the limitations of the world-health surveillance measures and caused unprecedented effects on the food supply chain and the food industry. Amid this recent crisis, aroused population and scientific concerns and the demand for food safety and quality control improvement trough-out the food supply chain. To solve this constraint, it is primordial to understand food supply chain contamination stem and develop new, more sensitive, specific effective, and efficient point-of-care detection methods to segregate food items at an early pathogen contamination stage. 3D printing technology positioned itself as the solution because it enables the synergistic action of new molecular detection methods combined with the new 3D printing techniques for the production of high end-point biosensors capable of direct testing of food along the production line and the food supply chain. Because 3D printed biosensors are user and eco-friendly, convenient, fast, and take away the laboratory analysis constraints, 3D printed molecular biosensor devices are the new trend to enhance the food safety screening performances and guarantee food quality. We aimed to present how impactful COVID-19 was in the food industry and food supply chain across the globe and the adaptive measures that have been put in place to ensure consumer were provided with safe food with the usage of biosensors and 3D printed technology.

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean: Reconciling the Multiplicity of Ciguatoxins and Analytical Chemistry Approach for Public Health Safety.

Ciguatera is a major circumtropical poisoning caused by the consumption of marine fish and invertebrates contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs): neurotoxins produced by endemic and benthic dinoflagellates which are biotransformed in the fish food-web. We provide a history of ciguatera research conducted over the past 70 years on ciguatoxins from the Pacific Ocean (P-CTXs) and Caribbean Sea (C-CTXs) and describe their main chemical, biochemical, and toxicological properties. Currently, there is no official method for the extraction and quantification of ciguatoxins, regardless their origin, mainly due to limited CTX-certified reference materials. In this review, the extraction and purification procedures of C-CTXs are investigated, considering specific objectives such as isolating reference materials, analysing fish toxin profiles, or ensuring food safety control. Certain in vitro assays may provide sufficient sensitivity to detect C-CTXs at sub-ppb levels in fish, but they do not allow for individual identification of CTXs. Recent advances in analysis using liquid chromatography coupled with low- or high-resolution mass spectrometry provide new opportunities to identify known C-CTXs, to gain structural insights into new analogues, and to quantify C-CTXs. Together, these methods reveal that ciguatera arises from a multiplicity of CTXs, although one major form (C-CTX-1) seems to dominate. However, questions arise regarding the abundance and instability of certain C-CTXs, which are further complicated by the wide array of CTX-producing dinoflagellates and fish vectors. Further research is needed to assess the toxic potential of the new C-CTX and their role in ciguatera fish poisoning. With the identification of C-CTXs in the coastal USA and Eastern Atlantic Ocean, the investigation of ciguatera fish poisoning is now a truly global effort.

Digitalization and official food safety inspections at retail establishments

Digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to modernize official food safety control. Shift from paper- to digital-based systems enable recording and reporting data directly in digital format and further analyze and disclose inspection data. Further to this, digital technologies enable the automatization of processes through rule-based instructions, a fact that could positively influence the consistency of official control. Nevertheless, the extent of the use of digital technologies during official food safety control inspections by competent authorities (CAs) of European Union (EU) countries is not known. For this reason, the aim of this study was to assess the level of use of a digital environment during inspections at retail establishments. This was performed by administering a questionnaire to CAs from EU countries. A total of 88 national, regional or local CAs from 15 EU countries responded to the questionnaire. Of them, 62.5% (55/88) used a digital environment during inspections, the majority to standardize data collection and reporting. CAs autotomize processes through digital technologies related to the management of official control and generation of inspection results, but to a lesser extent to automatize decision-making during inspections. Of the CAs not using a digital environment (37.5%; 33/88), technological constraints and lack of economic resources were the two most prevalent reasons for not using such an environment. The use of digital technologies as decision support tools to standardize official controls and improve consistency and efficiency should be enhanced for the benefit of society.

DNA aptamers selection and characterization for development of impedimetric aptasensor for Bacillus cereus at different growing stages

The physiology (membrane integrity, intracellular esterase and redox activity) of individual pathogenic bacteria is various in different growing phase, which has a profound significance for food safety testing and control. In this work, the aptamers against B. cereus in different growing phase was firstly selected based on whole bacterium-SELEX screening approach. Out of 32 candidate aptamers screened, aptamer B15 and B16 showed relatively high binding affinity with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd value) of 16.13 ± 4.98 nM and 20.67 ± 5.23 nM, respectively. A label-free impedance based aptasensor was further fabricated based on the screened aptamer, immobilized onto the GCE/Au surface. With the addition of B. cereus, the electron transfer process was prevented and exhibited a significant decrease in the electron-transfer resistance. Under optimal conditions, the fabricated aptasensor can achieve high sensitive detection of B. cereus as low as 10 cfu/mL. A satisfactory recovery of 90.5%–105.3% was achieved for the B. cereus detection in spiked milk samples, exhibiting its prospect in the sensitive detection of B. cereus in daily life.

Oxidases as Oxygen Scavengers in Hypoxic Conditions: A Kinetic Model.

A simple kinetic model allowed for the description of the observed decay of the oxygen content in hypoxic aqueous samples with and without headspace, in the presence of glucose oxidase (Glucox) or laccase and their substrates (glucose for Glucox and ABTS for Laccase). The experimental tests involved both the direct measurement of the oxygen content with a fluorescence-based probe and the indirect stopped-flow spectroscopic detection of colored compounds generated from suitable chromogenic reagents. The complete depletion of dissolved oxygen occurred in the no-headspace samples, whereas some residual oxygen remained in a steady state in the samples with headspace. Simple pseudo-first-order kinetics was adequate to describe the behavior of the system, as long as oxygen was the rate-limiting compound, i.e., in the presence of excess substrates. The values of the kinetic constants drawn from best-fit routines of the data from both experimental approaches were quite comparable. The oxygen residues in the samples with headspace seemed related to the low solubility of O2 in the aqueous phase, especially if compared with the large amount of oxygen in the headspace. The extent of such residue decreased by increasing the concentration of the enzyme. The kinetic model proposed in this paper can be of help in assembling suitable sensors to be used for food safety and quality control.

Consumers’ Preferences and Willingness to Pay (WTP) for Traceable Liquid Milk: A Survey in Dhaka, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Consumers’ concerns about food safety have recently escalated in many developing nations as a result of repeated food safety incidents. Many countries, including Bangladesh, are trying to introduce more stringent food safety control measures such as food traceability. However, not much is known about the preferences of Bangladeshi consumers for food traceability, including whether they are willing to pay for traceable foods. This study attempts to fill this gap by evaluating factors that may influence consumers’ preferences and WTP for traceable liquid milk. Based on survey data obtained from 384 consumers in Dhaka in 2021, our results indicate that consumers are ready to pay almost 12% price premium for traceable liquid milk than for non-traceable liquid milk. Interval regression analysis reveals that international third-party certification, branding, price, information on contaminants, income, and milk consumption are important factors in determining consumers’ WTP for traceable liquid milk.

Electrochemical Sensor for Food Monitoring Using Metal-Organic Framework Materials

Feeding the world’s increasing inhabitants requires considerable quantities of food, whose quality is essential to personal and economic health. Food quality parameters are mandatory to control throughout the fresh produce supply chain to meet consumer requests. Until now, different analytical techniques have been employed in food safety control. However, most of these are laboratory needed, expensive, and time-consuming. To address these obstacles, many researchers have concentrated on developing electrochemical sensors (ECSs) as a powerful method with great sensitivity and reliability for food evaluation. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with surprisingly porous morphology provide uniform yet tunable features, a high specific surface, and established practical applications in various fields. MOF-based ECSs present novel routes for the fast and effective detection of food contaminants or nutrients. In this current review, we concentrate on the MOF-based ECSs for food evaluation by first overviewing the library of available MOF sensors from pristine to MOF-bio composites and then exploiting recent application fields, with an emphasis on how this novel material unlocks new opportunities to monitor food nutrients or hazards.

Food Safety Controls during Bulk Food Preparation-An Observational Analysis.

Seeing the palpable impact of food poisoning associated with catering operations, we surveyed caterers with and without past hygiene violations to examine staffing, food safety practices and correlations with microbial counts in food and the processing environment. Past infringements did not negatively impact the current execution of food safety measures nor the microbial quality of food. In preference to added stringencies for errant operators, we discuss alternative efforts to augment food safety, as well as the policy implications thereof.

Spatial Confinement-Enhanced electrochemiluminescence of Gold nanoclusters in chitosan nanogels and its application for ultrasensitive detection of Aflatoxin B1

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), as a category of promising electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitter, hold great potential for sensing applications. However, its application is still restricted by the relatively low ECL quantum yield and difficult to purification. In this work, AuNCs were confined in a soft chitosan (CS) nanogel matrix (AuNCs@CS) with good biocompatibility via a facile one-pot approach. The as-fabricated AuNCs@CS nanogels showed 2.4-fold ECL intensity relative to that of bare AuNCs without chitosan. The ECL enhancement was attributed to the increased percentage of Au(0) in AuNCs@CS nanogels, the confinement effect of chitosan nanogels, as well as chitosan as a polymer could reduce the diffusion of the radicals and prolong the excited state lifetime of AuNCs in ECL reaction. Moreover, the obtained AuNCs@CS nanogels are stable and easy to be purified by centrifugation. On this basis, a label-free ECL immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was developed by using AuNCs@CS nanogels modified fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode as a sensing interface. The linear range of the proposed immunosensor for AFB1 detection was 3.16 × 10-14 to 3.16 × 10-12 g/mL with a detection limit of 9.3 × 10-15 g/mL, which was at least one order of magnitude lower than the reported ECL biosensor of AFB1. The proposed strategy may be used for the determination of other toxins in the Aflatoxin family if corresponding antibodies are available, which is of great significance for the quality control of Chinese herbal medicine and food safety.