Jar Lids Research Articles

Pickled Egg Production: Inactivation Rate of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus during Acidification Step

Based on current U.S. Food and Drug Administration acidified foods guidelines, regulatory approval of commercial pickled egg production without a final heat treatment requires challenge studies. We conducted challenge studies to verify common pickled egg processing parameters. Hard-boiled eggs were acidified in ambient temperature brine at a 60:40 egg/brine ratio. Four acidification treatments were studied in triplicate: 5% acetic acid (AA) or 2.5% AA brine with and without 0.05% sodium benzoate. These treatments resulted in 2% or 1% AA with or without 0.02% sodium benzoate, respectively, in the total system. Samples were stored at 7 °C until pH at the yolk center was ≤ 4.6; subsequently, samples were held at ambient temperature. Egg pH was measured at 24- to 48-h intervals until equilibrium pH was reached (4.0 and 4.4). Eggs and jar lids were challenged with separate pathogen cocktails (six strains and/or serovars) of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. After 5 and 9 days, the pH fell below 4.6 in 2% AA and 1% AA eggs, respectively. Sodium benzoate did not affect acidification rate for these brine treatments (P ≥ 0.05), nor did sodium benzoate affect pathogen die-off. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes were undetectable (<1 CFU/g) in pickled eggs in 2% AA at 72 h; S. aureus was undetectable after 7 days. In 1% AA eggs, Salmonella was undetectable after 10 days. No pathogens were detectable after 14 days. No pathogens were detectable on lids within 72 h for the 2% AA treatment. Only S. aureus was detectable on lids after 72 h in the 1% AA treatment and died off rapidly at ambient temperature. Although pathogens began die-off under refrigeration, heat treatment (ambient temperature storage) was required to reach undetectable levels. Minimal inversion was adequate treatment for lids. Pickled eggs should be held under refrigeration for the length of time needed to acidify them to ≤ 4.6 and then held at ambient temperatures to ensure pathogen inactivation.

Product Physical Interface Design Characteristics for Older Adults with Hand Use Limitations

This study is part of a larger research project addressing the problem of physical interface design for older populations with hand use limitations. Taking jar lids as the example of a product interface design problem provided a focus for the study; the research goal is to systematically evaluate jar lid design ideas that were collected from the prior phase of the study, by means of controlled laboratory testing. Eighteen older females with hand problems participated in the study. A subjective evaluation process was applied to quantitatively examine how different lid design characteristics affected each user’s perception of effort and discomfort. The main effect of each lid design characteristic and the interactions between them were explored. The result showed that the medium lid designs (42 mm in diameter) that were perceived as the best were the ones with a tall height, a hexagonal top shape, and a convex side shape; the best small lids (28 mm in diameter) were the designs with a tall height and a hexagonal top shape. There was no significant difference in perceived ratings between the texture conditions.

Testing the influence of various conditions on the migration of epoxidised soybean oil from polyvinylchloride gaskets

Epoxidised soybean oil (ESBO) is widely used as a plasticiser and stabiliser mainly in food contact materials on the base of polyvinylchloride (PVC), especially in the gaskets of jar lids. PVC gaskets containing 10–37% of ESBO were prepared by the baking of PVC plastisols at various process temperatures (180–240°C) in the laboratory. ESBO migration into olive oil and 3% acetic acid was studied at various temperatures (4°C, 25°C, 40°C and 60°C) during a storage time up to 12 months. ESBO released into food simulants was transmethylated, derivatised and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The effect of food processing, i.e. pasteurisation (80°C and 100°C) and sterilisation (125°C) on ESBO migration was also evaluated. The results were critically assessed with respect to the test conditions of specific migration in accordance with the current European Union legislation (Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011). The levels of ESBO migration found confirmed that the test conditions (i.e. 40°C or 60°C, 10 days) representing contact in the worst foreseeable use scenario seem to be insufficient for the simulation of ESBO migration during long-term storage and thus do not provide satisfactory objective results.

Preference of lid design characteristics by older adults with limited hand function

IntroductionAlthough opening jars is problematic for older adults, little is known about the best interface design for jar lids. Purpose of the studyTo evaluate preferences in current and new lids for persons self-reporting difficulty with opening jars. MethodsParticipants were twenty-six older females with hand pain. Preference ratings were obtained for twenty-four current and forty-two new lid designs of different sizes, shapes, and textures. ResultsCurrent lids with taller heights, larger diameters, and textured sides were preferred. Texture compensated for limitations of shorter and smaller diameter lids. Preferred characteristics in new smaller diameter lids included taller height, non-circular top shapes, and concave side shapes. Taller height, regardless of shape, was preferred for new medium diameter lids. Least preferred for small and medium lids was the short height, traditional circular shape. ConclusionsThe preferences of jar lids made by elderly females with hand pain support the recommendations commonly suggested by clinicians to increase the height, diameter, texture, and shape of jars, especially for lids smaller than 40 mm.

Quantification of plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) commodities by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

Flexible packaging films, lids of glass jars, elastic toys, or medical commodities made of poly(vinyl chloride) contain different plasticizers, which tend to migrate out of the respective product. To test compliance to regulations, the content of plasticizers and their migration properties have to be determined analytically. With a rapid high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method it was able to quantify phthalic acid esters, diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, sebacates, citrates, adipates, and epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) simultaneously. Chromatography was performed on HPTLC silica gel glass plates, and detection was enabled by dipping the plate into primuline solution. ESBO could be quantified after a newly introduced lipase treatment and chromatography of the epoxidized fatty acids. Validation was performed by analyzing self-made plastisols, showing good recoveries and standard deviations. Limits of detection and quantification generally were approximately 10–20 and 30–60 ng per z...

Mimetic Jar Device Capable of Measuring Dynamic Opening Forces: Development and Validation

INTRODUCTION On a daily basis, individuals open household jars without considering the biomechanical requirements involved, but for some people this task can be difficult to complete. Those with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia or other neuromuscular conditions need to make accommodations to their hand kinetics to successfully open a jar with minimal pain. Unfortunately, there exists little data to help clinicians suggest proper hand kinetics for these individuals. Many jar instruments have been developed to attempt to address these large populations; however, none of these jar instruments include a combination of : a six-axis load cell capable of measuring the total compensatory forces applied to the jar lid, multiple lid grip sensors, and a torque limiter to repeatedly simulate the experience of opening a sealed jar . Similarly, those who have quantified the forces and moments acting upon a jar have created instruments that are not true to form and presumably alter the natural requirements of the task. Thus, we developed a life-like device to measure the full kinetics of the hand during jar opening, including both grip forces and resultant forces applied to the jar in six degrees of freedom. This instrument was validated by bench top and healthy human subject testing. Subsequent testing with this jar device may help clinicians advise suitable hand kinetics for individuals with neuromuscular conditions to maximize their effective forces on the jar and minimize pain during jar opening. METHODS A jar device was designed and constructed so as to measure the 6-axes of forces and moments applied to the jar between the two hands as well as the grip forces on the lid (Fig. 1). This jar device utilized a torque limiter set to 2.4 Nm and the jar lid would open freely for 45o to provide a similar experience to opening a real jar. The lid was equipped with 5 mm force sensing resistors (FSR) to measure the force magnitude and direction of force application while gripping the lid (Fig. 1B). The instrumentation of the jar was designed to work with two interchangeable lids: 83 mm (Fig. 1A) and 55 mm (Fig. 1C). Each of these jars utilizes the same load cell and torque limiter and a size appropriate instrumented lid with identical force sensing transducers. The large jar is outfitted with 6 sensors equally spaced radially around the lid, while the small jar has 4.

An outbreak of food-borne botulism in Scotland, United Kingdom, November 2011

An investigation is currently underway to explain an outbreak of food-borne botulism in Scotland. Three children in the same family were confirmed as having botulism following consumption of a meal made with a jar of korma sauce. Residual sauce from the jar, the jar lid and a remnant of the meal, all tested positive for Clostridium botulinum type A toxin. The children are recovering, although two remain ventilated and in intensive care unit.

Product Physical Interface Design Characteristics for Older Adults with Hand Use Limitations: Exploration of Users' Experiences

The aim of the study is to apply ergonomics and product design research methodologies in concert, including questionnaires, focus groups, and a collaborative design process, to explore the associations between product interface design characteristics and user experiences of older adults with hand use limitations. There is a research void in understanding the relationship between product interface design characteristics and hand dysfunction levels in older populations. Taking jar lids as an example of the product interface as the focus of this study, associations between jar lid design characteristics, e.g. diameter, height, shape, and texture, and the user experiences of older people with hand use limitations were explored. In addition, several new lid design features that could possibly improve user performance have been proposed and will be assessed. When investigating jar lid design characteristics, prior research has focused on healthy study participants. To the best of our knowledge, no prior published research specifically studied older people who were known to have difficulties opening or closing jar lids or who reported experiencing hand pain around the time of their study participation.

Evidence for Ritual Engineering in the Late/Terminal Classic Site Plan of La Milpa, Belize

AbstractProponents of site-planning studies argue that the Ancient Maya expressed both political and cosmological symbolism in architecture and site plans, while detractors fault site-planning advocates for not being scientifically rigorous in their methods. Recently, the debate between the two sides has focused on whether or not the Maya created cosmograms in the layouts of their sites. Our recent investigations at La Milpa, Belize attempt to redirect site-planning studies back to a more encompassing approach that searches for meaning at various scales. In doing so, we propose that planning and engineering be considered together and that engineering can include ritual or symbolic components. This paper focuses on two contemporaneous caches, each of which contains incised jar lids decorated with a mat design. We argue the caches are ritually engineered deposits that integrate otherwise discrete architectural components into a coherent Late/Terminal Classic royal precinct plan. Furthermore, the mat design on the jar lids suggests royal sponsorship of the engineering and construction of the plaza. While much of the symbolism in the caches is unclear, we are able to recognize that political and/or cosmological symbolic communication has occurred as part of a ritually engineered component of Plaza B at La Milpa.

Manual Abilities of the Elderly - Handgrip Strength, Finger and Thumb Push Strength and Opening Strength in Age Comparison

The purpose of this paper is to display the static strength capacities of healthy adults in different age categories. A total of 279 healthy German adults at the ages of 20 to 29 years, 50 to 59 years and 60 to 69 years generated their maximum static handgrip, index finger and thumb push strength, as well as their maximum opening strength on a smooth jar lid of 85 mm diameter and on a knurled bottle lid of 31 mm with their right hand. The results show larger male strength than female strength. Significant age-induced differences appear primarily in opening strengths between the age groups 20 to 29 and 50 to 59 years in male subjects and in female opening strengths between the age groups 20 to 29 and 60 to 69 years as well as between the age groups 50 to 59 and 60 to 69 years. Of greatest interest is that elderly men show the largest opening strengths.

A novel device for evaluating forces during the dynamic jar opening action—Do older and younger adults do things differently?

Package opening tasks have been identified as some of the most challenging that individuals need to perform to access food. There is little previous study of the 3D hand loading that is required to open these products. A novel load measuring device was used to characterise torque, squeeze and compression forces during the dynamic action of jar opening for young and older adults. The current study showed that the older adults used lower squeeze forces (86.1 N vs. 95.4 N) and higher compressive forces (26.9 N vs. 25.2 N) on the jar lid than younger adults. Older adults tended to apply loading to the jar lid slower (0.038 Nm/s vs. 0.044 Nm/s) and to open the jar at a slower rate (0.84 Rad/s vs. 1.59 Rad/s) than young adults whilst using a higher proportion of their maximal grip strength (40% vs. 27%) indicating that older adults used a more cautious opening strategy. These differences suggest that a simple maximal torque test is not sufficient to characterise older adults’ abilities in relation to package opening. The loading required to open packaging should be understood to ensure that packaging design is developed to be inclusive. This is the first report of realistic complex packaging opening loading presented in the literature.

Having a jam!

Exploring a large collection of jam jar lids with children of all ages can be great fun, as well as giving adults a chance to discover what children know.

Determination of polyadipates migrating from lid gaskets of glass jars. Hydrolysis to adipic acid and measurement by LC–MS/MS

Polyadipate plasticizers can be present in the polyvinylchloride (PVC) gaskets used to seal the lids of glass jars. As the gaskets can come into direct contact with the foodstuffs inside the jar, the potential exists for polyadipate migration into the food. The procedure and performance characteristics of a test method for the analysis of polyadipates in food simulants (3% aqueous acetic acid and 10% aqueous ethanol) and the volatile test media used in substitute fat tests (isooctane and 95% aqueous ethanol) are described. The PVC gaskets were exposed to the food simulants or their substitutes under standard test conditions. Studies were initially carried out using direct measurement of the polyadipate oligomers by liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection (LC-TOF-MS) but this was not practical due to the number of peaks detected. Instead, the migrating polyadipates were hydrolysed to adipic acid and measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC–MS/MS). The amount of polyadipate that this measurement of adipic acid represents was then calculated. Method performance was assessed by analysis of gaskets from two types of jar lids by single-laboratory validation. Linearity, sensitivity, repeatability, intermediate reproducibility and recovery were determined to be suitable for checking compliance with the 30 mg/kg specific migration limits for polyesters of 1,2-propane diol and/or 1,3- and/or 1,4-butanediol and/or polypropylene-glycol with adipic acid, which may be end-capped with acetic acid or fatty acids C12–C18 or n-octanol and/or n-decanol. The method was found to be much quicker than previous methods involving extraction, clean-up, hydrolysis, esterification, derivatisation and GC measurement, consequently saving time and money.

At the window

“ALS won’t kill you, the loneliness will” — Erin Brady Worsham Clumsiness was the robin, </br> a harbinger hopping through the snow. </br> Always worn out and tired, </br> I just thought work was consuming, </br> sleep never quite enough. </br> Then lids of jars became

Rapid identification of additives in poly(vinyl chloride) lid gaskets by direct analysis in real time ionisation and single‐quadrupole mass spectrometry

Gaskets for lids of glass jars usually consist of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) containing plasticisers and additional additives, which may migrate into packed foodstuffs. To conform to legal regulations, any such migration has to be determined analytically, which is a big challenge due to the huge chemical variety of additives in use. Therefore, a rapid screening method by means of direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS), using a single-quadrupole mass spectrometer, was developed. On introducing a plastisol sample into the DART interface, protonated molecules and ammonium adducts were obtained as the typical ionisation products of any additives present, and cleavages of ester bonds as typical fragmentation processes. Generally, additives present in the 1% range could be directly and easily identified if ion suppressive effects deriving from specific molecules did not occur. These effects could be avoided by analysing toluene extracts of plastisol samples, and this also improved the sensitivity. Using this method, it was possible to identify phthalates, fatty acid amides, tributyl O-acetylcitrate, dibutyl sebacate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, 1,2-diisononyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, and even more complex additives like acetylated mono- and diacylglycerides, epoxidised soybean oil, and polyadipates, with a limit of detection of < or = 1% in PVC plastisols. Only in the case of epoxidised linseed oil were levels of > or = 5% required for identification. The detection of azodicarbonamide, used as a foaming agent within the manufacturing process, was possible in principle, but was not highly reproducible due to the very low concentrations in plastisols.

P23: Histopathological assessment of juvenile rat tissues treated with the food contaminant semicarbazide: Preliminary findings

Semicarbazide (SEM) is a food contaminant, by-product of azodicarbonamide sealing for gaskets of jar lids for baby foods. Toxicological data on SEM are insufficient; studies in rodents showed osteolathyrogenic effects in foetuses and potential carcinogenicity, but not genotoxicity. To characterize hazards for children, juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes are exposed po to SEM from PND 23 to PND 60 at dose levels of 0 (vehicle only – distilled water), 40, 75 and 140 mg/kg bw day. During the treatment, body weight gain and food consumption are recorded; vaginal opening and preputial separation are observed to evaluate the development of reproductive system. At sexual maturity rats are sacrificed and tissues/organs are collected for histological analysis, with attention to endocrine, immune and skeletal systems: thyroid, adrenals, testes, spleen, uteri and ovaries, thymus, coxal-femoral joint. Body weight gain is reduced in males at 75–140 mg/kg. Food consumption is reduced in both sexes at 140 mg/kg and increased in females at 75 mg/kg. Vaginal opening is delayed in all treated groups; preputial separation is anticipated at 40 and 75 mg/kg and delayed in the high dose group. Histology of thyroid showed in all treated males increased desquamation in follicular lumen; in females this is present only at 140 mg/kg. Adrenal alterations are present in females only: cortex vacuolization (all dose groups) and blurred zonation architecture (high dose only), in medulla increased cell degeneration (high dose). In the spleen, increased haematopoiesis is present in males (high dose), with a dose-related trend at mid-dose. Such preliminary observations show alterations in endocrine and immune tissues. Altered timing in sexual maturation, adrenal cortex and thyroid effects are present also at 40 mg/kg, without evident general toxicity, supporting the need for toxicological studies on food and environmental contaminants targeted to juvenile lifestages.

Jar-opening challenges. Part 2: Estimating the force-generating capacity of thumb muscles in healthy young adults during jar-opening tasks

This study discusses the force-generating capacity of thumb muscles during jar-opening tasks using two grip patterns: the power grip and the precision grip. This study develops a three-dimensional biomechanical model of the thumb to predict muscle forces in jar-opening activities based on external forces measured by a custom-designed jar device. Ten healthy subjects participated in the study. Each participant turned a jar lid of 66 mm diameter counterclockwise with maximal effort and preferred speed using both grip patterns. The average normal and tangential forces applied by the thumb to the jar lid show that the normal force is the primary contributive force for opening a jar. This normal force is approximately three times the tangential force. Muscular force-generating capacity measurements show that the major active muscles during a jar-opening activity for both grips include the flexor pollicis longus, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis, adductor pollicis, and opponens pollicis. The total muscle force ratios for the precision grip and power grip with respect to externally applied forces are 5.6 and 4.7 respectively. These ratios indicate that the power grip pattern produces less muscle force per unit of external applied load. The technique proposed in this study provides a proper apparatus and model for measuring three-dimensional loads and estimating the force-generating capacity of each muscle and tendon of the thumb during jar-opening tasks.

Jar-opening challenges. Part 1: An apparatus for assessing hand and finger torques and forces in a jar-opening activity

A simulated jar apparatus was developed to record hand kinetics and torque contribution of a digit during jar-opening activities. The design of the apparatus, namely a jar body and a lid, is similar to a commercial jam jar that is regularly seen in daily living. One six-axis force-torque transducer and a torque cell were mounted inside the jar lid to detect the external force exerted from the digit and fixed on to the jar body to record the overall torque generated by the hand and wrist respectively. The applications of the apparatus were used to test the twisting torque of the hand and to measure the applied forces of the digit, which are both important factors in opening a jar. The contribution of each digit relative to the total twisting torque of the hand could be obtained via the apparatus. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the repeated measurements of the obtained forces and moments for different counterweights was approximately 0.96-1.00, which indicates that the reliability of the measured components of the apparatus is high. The high coefficient of determination (r2 > 0.99) indicates high accuracy of prediction of the measured values with respect to the expected loads. The validation outcomes support the design rationale and actual body part of the simulated jar. In addition, understanding the contribution of a single digit in opening a jar was also achieved via the apparatus and model.

Assurance of compliance within the production chain of food contact materials by good manufacturing practice and documentation – Part 3: Lids for glass jars as an example

Parts 1 and 2 of this work outlined the background and the general terms of assuring compliance of food contact materials (FCM) with European legislation by good manufacturing practice (GMP) and compliance declaration (CD). All stages of the manufacturing process are engaged in GMP defined as the process to achieve compliance of the final product with Article 3 of the Framework Regulation 1935/2004 and the specific legislation derived there from. For each relevant aspect, either compliance is concluded (explicitly stating compliance if this is required) or compliance work is delegated to later stages of manufacturing by corresponding instructions in the documentation accompanying the product. A compliance box (CB) is proposed to structure the process and the documentation. Here it is applied to metal closures for glass jars, which are internally coated and contain a gasket of plasticized PVC. A specific composition is assumed and possible compliance work discussed to illustrate how the system is conceived. The system is tested by the problems and issues concerning these lids during the last 10 years: indeed, most of them would have been avoided.

Phenotypic Analysis of Arabidopsis Mutants: Ethylene Hormone Response: Figure 1.

Ethylene is one of the five classic plant hormones, having profound effects at all stages of plant growth and development from seed germination to tissue senescence. Tremendous strides have been made in our understanding of the molecular components of the ethylene signal transduction pathway through the identification of mutants having altered responses to ethylene. These mutants were isolated by screening for seedlings with an altered triple-response phenotype, which is manifested upon exposure to high levels of ethylene in the dark. The triple response consists of the formation of a pronounced apical hook, along with a shortening and thickening of both the hypocotyl and root and a proliferation of root hairs. This is unlike an untreated seedling, which normally has a long etiolated hypocotyl, normal root, and no apical hook formation. To carry out an ethylene gas treatment, seedlings must be grown in an enclosed system to maintain the levels of ethylene desired. This protocol describes ethylene treatment of seedlings in wide-mouth Mason jars sealed with canning jar lids.