Levels In Beverages Research Articles

Synthesis and comparison of the performance of two different water-soluble phthalocyanine based electrochemical biosensor

Herein, a comparative study between novel water-soluble phthalocyanine-based biosensors was performed for the application of glucose sensing. For this purpose, two different copper (II) and manganese (III) phthalocyanines and their water-soluble derivatives were synthesized, and then their role as a supporting material for enzyme immobilization was evaluated by comparing their sensor performances. Two different phthalocyanine (AP-OH2-MnQ (MnPc) and AP-OH2-CuQ (CuPc)) were tested using electrochemical biosensor with immobilized glucose oxidase (GOx). To the best of our knowledge, the related water-soluble phthalocyanine-based glucose biosensors were attempted for the first time, and the developed approach resulted in improved biosensor characteristics. The constructed biosensors GE/MnPc/GOx and GE/CuPc/GOx showed good linearity between 0.003–1.0 mM and 0.05–0.4 mM, respectively. The limit of detection was estimated at 0.0026 mM for the GE/MnPc/GOx and 0.019 mM for the GE/CuPc/GOx. KMapp and sensitivity values were also calculated as 0.026 mM and 175.043 µAmM−1 cm−2 for the GE/MnPc/GOx biosensor and 0.178 mM and 117.478 µAmM−1 cm−2 for the GE/CuPc/GOx biosensor. Moreover, the fabricated biosensors were successfully tested to detect glucose levels in beverages with high recovery results. The present study shows that the proposed water-soluble phthalocyanines could be a good alternative for quick and cheap glucose sensing with improved analytical characteristics.

The optimization of gold nanoparticles–horseradish peroxidase as peroxidase mimic using central composite design for the detection of hydrogen peroxide

The oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is a part of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is well-known to contribute to oxidative stress-induced damage to biological molecules. An excess of free radicals can harm health and is associated with human diseases. Gold nanotechnology, a highly relevant nanomaterial, has been utilized as a new material in advanced sensor detection. In this study, colorimetric methods based on peroxidase enzymes were developed for measuring H2O2. The synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) showed a concentration of approximately 1.73 nM at a wavelength of 520 nm. The average diameter displayed a uniform size distribution, estimated at 18 nm, and an increase in the shell thickness of AuNPs-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was observed in the TEM images. The AuNPs-HRP system demonstrated remarkable catalytic activity in the reaction of the chromogenic substrate tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) with H2O2, resulting in the production of an oxide product. The optimal conditions for the AuNPs-HRP system, as determined by central composite design (CCD), were a temperature of 25 °C and a pH of 7 within an 8 h period. A strong linear relationship was observed between different absorbance values and the H2O2 concentration, with a coefficient of determination of 0.9956. A portable platform was successfully used to determine H2O2 levels in beverages with recoveries ranging from 95.51% to 118.85%. These findings suggest that the AuNPs-HRP system could be applied to detect H2O2 in beverages.

Pengaruh Circuit Training dan Kadar Oksigen dalam Minuman Terhadap Nilai VO2MAX

This study aims to determine the effect of Circuit Training and oxygen levels in beverages on the VO2 MAX value of Rugby SME students. The sample used in this study amounted to 10 students of Rugby SMEs. The instrument in this study used the bleep test. The results of the analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the VO2 MAX value before and after the Circuit Training and the provision of beverages with high oxygen levels with data t-count value of 5.15 is greater than the T-table value of 1,833. This means that the difference in average VO2 MAX before and after exercise can be said to be significant with a significant level of 0.5%. The results of data analysis showed a significant effect between Circuit Training and the provision of drinks with high oxygen levels to the value of VO2 MAX Rugby UKM students. The conclusion of this study shows that Circuit Training exercises and oxygen levels in drinks have a positive and significant impact on increasing VO2 MAX Rugby UKM students, with a significant level of 0.5%. T-count values greater than T-table values prove the existence of strong evidence to state significant differences between VO2 MAX before and after exercise.

Human Health Risk Assessment of Phthalate Esters and Antimony Levels in Beverages Packaged in Polyethylene Terephthalate under Different Storage Conditions

The main objective of this study was to examine how common storage conditions affect the migration of phthalate esters (PAEs) and antimony (Sb) from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into bottled drinks. The drinks were collected from local supermarkets in Turkey, including different types such as bottled drinking water (DW), mineral water (MW), cola (C), orange flavored carbonated drink (OFCD), fermented turnip drink (FTD), and lemonade (L). Additionally, a deterministic model was utilized to evaluate the potential risk to human health associated with this migration process. The performance and optimization of the LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS instruments for the analysis of PAEs and Sb were also evaluated. The limits of detection (LODs) for PAEs and Sb ranged from 0.004 to 1.88ng/mL, while the limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.013 to 6.27ng/mL. The analysis results revealed the presence of PAEs at varying concentrations. Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) exhibited the highest level of migration to drink samples. The type of beverage also affected the migration of PAEs and Sb. The highest migration levels were detected in MWs. Storage temperature (4 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C) and storage duration (365 days) had an impact on the release of PAEs and Sb into beverages from PET bottles. The Hazard Quotients (HQs) calculated for PAEs and Sb were significantly lower than 1 in all scenarios, indicating that no adverse health effects are anticipated due to exposure to PAEs and Sb through beverage consumption.

Impact Of Oxygen Levels In Beverages On The Acceleration Of Pulse Rate Reduction After Physical Activity

This study examines the effect of drinking water with oxygen levels to decrease the pulse rate after physical activity in students of Physical Education Health and Recreation. The research method used is experimental research with Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design. Two groups were formed: a control group and an experimental group of 20 UNUGIRI Health and Recreation Physical Education Study Program students. Sampling is done randomly (Random Sampling). The pulse rate is measured before and after running for 20 minutes. The results of the analysis showed a significant difference between the provision of oxygenated drinking water (experimental group) and ordinary drinking water (control group) on the acceleration of pulse rate reduction after running activities. The significance value obtained was 0.057, indicating a significant difference between the two groups. The average pulse of the experimental group was 89.44, while the average pulse of the control group was 98.33. The administration of drinking water with an oxygen content has a positive effect on the decrease in the pulse rate after physical exertion. Subjects who consumed oxygenated drinking water after a 20-minute run had a faster pulse rate decrease than those who consumed only plain water. The conclusion of this study shows that the provision of oxygenated drinking water positively affects the decrease in pulse rate after physical activity in health and Recreation physical education students. Oxygenated drinking water can be an effective alternative to accelerate pulse recovery after intense physical exertion. This research provides a better understanding of the benefits of oxygenated drinking water in maintaining health and accelerating physical recovery after sports activities

Single-preparation rGO/Cu–Cu2O nanocomposite-modified electrode integrating NaOH immobilized polymer blend film for one-step nonenzymatic glucose detection

Nowadays, a one-step nonenzymatic glucose sensor with a portable detector system is still required for food quality control and food safety monitoring. This paper introduces a one-step nonenzymatic glucose sensor using a sodium hydroxide/polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene oxide (NaOH/PVA/PEO) blend film integrating a reduced graphene oxide composited with a copper-based-nanoparticle (rGO/Cu–Cu2O)-modified electrode. The NaOH/PVA/PEO blend film facilitated direct measurements of real samples without sample preparation and pretreatment. A single-step preparation of the rGO/Cu–Cu2O nanocomposite-modified electrode was easily performed by electrodeposition via amperometry. The rGO/Cu–Cu2O deposited on the electrode surface was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, confocal microscopy, and electrochemical characterization. The analytical performance of the proposed rGO/Cu–Cu2O-modified electrode was also compared with the CuO/rGO-modified electrode using commercial CuO nanoparticles. The glucose measurements were achieved by singly dropping glucose on the sample inlet well and detecting with amperometry using a small portable potentiostat connecting to a PStouch app with an overall analysis time of 180 s after sample loading. Linearity was observed in the range of 0.01–7 mM with a limit of detection of 0.06 μM. The proposed sensor with high storage stability (up to 56 days) was directly applied to measure the glucose levels in beverages, demonstrating promising results corresponding to the labeled values of the beverage products. Eventually, the proposed sensor is an alternative tool for one-step nonenzymatic glucose measurements to precisely control the glucose content in foods and beverages.

The Study of Selection Bottle Packaging for Carbonated Beverages

The growth of the packaged beverages market in Indonesia is overgrowing. One sector of packaged beverages is carbonated beverages and bottled water. The main problem with packaged beverages containing dissolved gases is maintaining product quality during shelf life. Packaging materials and packaging lids cause a decrease in dissolved gas levels in beverages. Therefore, this study aims to analyze leaks in polyethylene terephthalate and glass bottles so that can use them to estimate the shelf life of the product. This study uses water, 3 types of glass bottles, and 1 type of plastic bottle. Bottles filled with water with various filling volumes of 40%v/v, 60%v/v, and 80%v/v were then analyzed for bottle leakage for 8 days. The results showed that effectively used a glass bottle with a volume of 250mL filled with more than 80%v/v, this was because it had the least leakage rate compared to others. In addition, this bottle has an attractive visual, easy labeling, and the size is not too large (ergonomic).

Ionophore-modified polyaniline-based optode for the determination of hydrogen sulfite levels in beverages, wastewater, and soil.

Sulfite is a very important species, affecting human health, plant and animal life, and environmental sustainability. In this study, for the first time, an ionophore-based ion-selective optode was constructed for hydrogen sulfite determination in beverages, such as Birell® and Sprite®, water, and soil samples; instead of normal pH-chromoionophores, polyaniline film was precipitated on a glass slide and used for the transduction of the sensation mechanism. The ionophore-modified polyaniline-based optode incorporated thiourea derivative as an ionophore and tridodecyl methyl ammonium chloride as an ion-exchanger. The optode film was prepared in situ with a modified chemical polymerization method, and it was characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD); also, FTIR spectroscopy was performed for the film before and after interaction with hydrogen sulfite for mechanism elucidation. The optode was applied in the hydrogen sulfite concentration range of 10-1 to 10-5 M with a low detection limit of 8.0 × 10-6 M and minimum interference of other interfering species, such as salicylate, iodide, and sulphide. The response mechanism was due to the ion-exchange of hydrogen sulfite with the anion exchanger, followed by the molecular recognition between thiourea ionophore and hydrogen sulfite, with concomitant redox reaction via the protonation of the polyaniline that causes a decrease in absorbance at 685 nm. The optode was applied successfully for the determination of hydrogen sulfite in real beverages, Birell® and Sprite® without any pretreatment steps. Also, it was applied successfully for the environmental monitoring of hydrogen sulfite in real wastewater and soil samples.

Determination of Sugars, Amino Acids, pH and Alcohol in Bamboo Beverage from Southern Highlands, Tanzania

The amounts of sugars and amino acids play significant roles in defining the fermentation process and quantifying the alcohol levels in beverages, while pH affects the biological stability, colour, oxidation rate, and protein stability of alcoholic beverages. This study investigated the sugar content, amino acids, alcohol levels, and pH of bamboo beverage from Tanzania's southern highlands. During storage, the sugars significantly decreased (p < 0.05), especially when kept at room temperature from 52.96 to 0.00 (source 1), 53.35 to 0.00 (source 2) and 53.57 to 0.00 (source 3) g/L for fructose, from 47.93 to 14.78 (source 1), 47.23 to 14.91 (source 2) and 47.61 to 14.77 (source 3) g/L for glucose, and from 0.40 to 0.00 (source 1), 0.36 to 0.00 (source 2) and 0.37 to 0.00 (source 3) g/L for sucrose after six days of storage. A total of 15 amino acids were determined from the bamboo beverage with tyrosine being the most prevalent (597.68 mg/L for source 1, 599.44 mg/L for source 2 and 597.83 mg/L for source 3), followed by valine (261.13 mg/L for source 1, 261.24 mg/L for source 2 and 262.54 mg/L for source 3), threonine (76.69 mg/L for source 1, 76.91 mg/L for source 2 and 77.13 mg/L for source 3), and serine (66.37 mg/L for source 1, 67.23 mg/L for source 2 and 66.68 mg/L for source 3). After six days of storage at room temperature, there was a significant decrease in pH from 4.04 to 3.63. Alcohol content ranged from 3.11 to 9.05% v/v at the room temperature storage. These results might facilitate the optimal use of bamboo beverages, which have been neglected due to lack of scientific information such as amino acid and sugar levels.
 Keywords: Bamboo beverage, ulanzi, amino acids, sugars, alcohol content

Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Nano-Conjugates for Effective Extraction of Food Components-A Model Study of Tyramine Determination in Craft Beers.

In this paper, magnetic molecularly imprinted nano-conjugates were synthesized to serve as selective sorbents in a model study of tyramine determination in craft beer samples. The molecularly imprinted sorbent was characterized in terms of morphology, structure, and composition. The magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction protocol was developed and combined with liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to determine tyramine. Ten samples of craft beers were analyzed using a validated method, revealing tyramine concentrations in the range between 0.303 and 126.5 mg L−1. Tyramine limits of detection and quantification were 0.033 mg L−1 and 0.075 mg L−1, respectively. Therefore, the fabricated molecularly imprinted magnetic nano-conjugates with a fast magnetic responsivity and desirable adsorption performance could be an effective tool for monitoring tyramine levels in beverages.

A disposable, simple, fast and low-cost paper-based biosensor and its application to the determination of glucose in commercial orange juices

A new biosensor for monitoring glucose levels in beverages is presented. The measurements are performed using potentiometric detection. Working electrodes are made using platinised paper as support and a biocompatible polymeric membrane made of a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan containing glucose oxidase as the recognition layer. The system is based on the detection of the hydrogen peroxide generated by an enzymatic reaction performed in a highly sensitive, selective and simple way. The biosensors display suitable analytical performance (sensitivity −119.6 ± 6.4 mV/dec in the 0.03–1.0 mM range with a limit of detection of 0.02 mM). Determination of glucose in commercial orange juices is presented. These results were validated against conventional standard methods, showing good accuracy and fast analytical response. The methodology presented herein does not require complex samples treatment, offering an alternative to conventional methods, particularly for determinations performed with minimal expertise and without a laboratory infrastructure.

Assessment of the concentrations of various advanced glycation end-products in beverages and foods that are commonly consumed in Japan.

Dietary consumption has recently been identified as a major environmental source of pro-inflammatory advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in humans. It is disputed whether dietary AGEs represent a risk to human health. Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), a representative AGE compound found in food, has been suggested to make a significant contribution to circulating CML levels. However, recent studies have found that the dietary intake of AGEs is not associated with plasma CML concentrations. We have shown that the serum levels of glyceraldehyde-derived AGEs (Glycer-AGEs), but not hemoglobin A1c, glucose-derived AGEs (Glu-AGEs), or CML, could be used as biomarkers for predicting the progression of atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular events. We also detected the production/accumulation of Glycer-AGEs in normal rats administered Glu-AGE-rich beverages. Therefore, we assessed the concentrations of various AGEs in a total of 1,650 beverages and foods that are commonly consumed in Japan. The concentrations of four kinds of AGEs (Glu-AGEs, fructose-derived AGEs (Fru-AGEs), CML, and Glycer-AGEs) were measured with competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays involving immunoaffinity-purified specific antibodies. The results of the latter assays indicated that Glu-AGEs and Fru-AGEs (especially Glu-AGEs), but not CML or Glycer-AGEs, are present at appreciable levels in beverages and foods that are commonly consumed by Japanese. Glu-AGEs, Fru-AGEs, CML, and Glycer-AGEs exhibited concentrations of ≥85%, 2–12%, <3%, and trace amounts in the examined beverages and ≥82%, 5–15%, <3%, and trace amounts in the tested foods, respectively. The results of the present study indicate that some lactic acid bacteria beverages, carbonated drinks, sugar-sweetened fruit drinks, sports drinks, mixed fruit juices, confectionery (snacks), dried fruits, cakes, cereals, and prepared foods contain markedly higher Glu-AGE levels than other classes of beverages and foods. We provide useful data on the concentrations of various AGEs, especially Glu-AGEs, in commonly consumed beverages and foods.

Benzene as a Chemical Hazard in Processed Foods.

This paper presents a literature review on benzene in foods, including toxicological aspects, occurrence, formation mechanisms, and mitigation measures and analyzes data reporting benzene levels in foods. Benzene is recognized by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) as carcinogenic to humans, and its presence in foods has been attributed to various potential sources: packaging, storage environment, contaminated drinking water, cooking processes, irradiation processes, and degradation of food preservatives such as benzoates. Since there are no specific limits for benzene levels in beverages and food in general studies have adopted references for drinking water in a range from 1–10 ppb. The presence of benzene has been reported in various food/beverage substances with soft drinks often reported in the literature. Although the analyses reported low levels of benzene in most of the samples studied, some exceeded permissible limits. The available data on dietary exposure to benzene is minimal from the viewpoint of public health. Often benzene levels were low as to be considered negligible and not a consumer health risk, but there is still a need of more studies for a better understanding of their effects on human health through the ingestion of contaminated food.

How the inclusion of treated water in beverages influences the appearance of halogenated volatile organic compounds.

A simple, robust, and reliable headspace gas chromatography method has been developed for the determination of 14 halogenated volatile organic compounds, including iodinated trihalomethanes (THMs), at nanogram per liter levels in beverages. The main source of the presence of THMs in reconstituted fruit juices, nectars, and soft drinks is the treated water included as an ingredient; the concentration and speciation depend on the volume and disinfection process of the treated water either from the distribution network or from water directly disinfected by the food factory. Chloroform appears at concentrations below 1 μg/L in natural juices and soft drinks prepared with mineral water due to contamination from the chlorinated sanitizers usually employed in the food industry. However, the beverages manufactured with treated water contain, in addition to chloroform, brominated THMs and dichloroiodomethane (detected in beverages for the first time), which can be used as indicators of the presence of treated water.

A reliable determination of zinc levels in beverages with and without alcohol by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after cloud point extraction

Cloud point extraction (CPE) has been used for the preconcentration and quantification of zinc after the formation of a stable complex with N-phenylbenzohydroxamic acid (PBHA) at pH 9.0 and analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) using polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether (Triton X-114) as the extracting surfactant. The chemical variables affecting the phase separation and the viscosity affecting the detection process were optimized. A preconcentration of only 50 mL of sample in the presence of 0.02% (w/v) Triton X-114 and 2.0 × 10−4 mol L−1 PBHA permitted the detection and quantification of 0.42 and 1.41 μg L−1 zinc, respectively. The improvement and preconcentration factors were 74.2 and 50 for zinc, respectively. The accuracy was controlled by analysis of the certified reference materials, SRM 1515 and SRM 1573a. The obtained results were in good agreement with the certified values. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace levels of zinc in beverage samples with satisfactory results. The results of zinc determination in the digested samples with HNO3/H2O2 (3 : 1, v/v) are in agreement with that in the digested samples with HNO3/HClO4 (5 : 1, v/v). Zinc levels are in the range of 44.40–110.15 μg L−1 with standard deviation values ranging from 1.35 to 2.65 μg L−1 for the canned beverages without alcohol and 35.65–135.80 μg L−1 with standard deviation values ranging from 1.10 to 3.50 μg L−1 for the beverages with alcohol.

Development of a novel solid-phase extraction, LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of ethyl carbamate in alcoholic beverages: application to South African wine and spirits

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a known genotoxic carcinogen that is frequently present in alcoholic beverages and is therefore a public health concern. As a consequence, maximum concentration levels for EC in these commodities are legislated in several countries. Quantitative analytical methods are therefore essential to monitor EC levels in beverages. Most published analytical methods for the determination of EC in alcoholic beverages utilise elaborate sample pre-treatment procedures to obtain injectable samples, or yield low sensitivity, for example where direct injection is used. In addition, these procedures often require large volumes of toxic solvents and are not generally applicable to diverse alcoholic beverages. This paper describes a novel procedure for the determination of EC in wines, fortified wines and spirits. The procedure is based on reversed-phase solid-phase extraction (SPE) sample clean-up combined with normal-phase liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation tandem mass spectrometric (NP-LC-APCI-MS/MS) analysis. This method provides a rapid, robust and simple analytical procedure suitable for the analysis of a diverse range of alcoholic beverages. The accuracy of the method (expressed as average recovery from diverse matrices) is 94.5%, with limits of detection (LODs) ranging between 0.25 and 0.63 µg l−1 for different matrices. Benefits such as simplified sample preparation, low detection limits, low solvent consumption and good selectivity render the methodology ideally suited to study the occurrence of EC in diverse commodities. The method was applied to study the occurrence of EC in South African wines, fortified wines and spirits. South African wines, aged 1–9 years, contained 1.8–31 µg l−1 EC (RSD = 69%, n = 106), fortified wines aged 2–34 years contained 2.8–79 µg l−1 EC (RSD = 89%, n = 21), and brandies aged 3–20 years contained 4.4–95 µg l−1 EC (RSD = 105%, n = 26). Factors affecting the formation of EC in these commodities were investigated and storage temperature, alcohol content and pH were found to affect the rate of EC formation. Of these variables storage temperature has by far the greatest effect.

Migration of antimony from PET bottles into beverages: determination of the activation energy of diffusion and migration modelling compared with literature data

Plastics bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are increasingly used for soft drinks, mineral water, juices and beer. In this study a literature review is presented concerning antimony levels found both in PET materials as well as in foods and food simulants. On the other hand, 67 PET samples from the European bottle market were investigated for their residual antimony concentrations. A mean value of 224 ± 32 mg kg−1 was found, the median was 220 mg kg−1. Diffusion coefficients for antimony in PET bottle materials were experimentally determined at different temperature between 105 and 150°C. From these data, the activation energy of diffusion for antimony species from the PET bottle wall into beverages and food simulants was calculated. The obtained value of 189 kJ mol−1 was found to be in good agreement with published data on PET microwave trays (184 kJ mol−1). Based on these results, the migration of antimony into beverages was predicted by mathematical migration modelling for different surface/volume ratios and antimony bottle wall concentrations. The results were compared with literature data as well as international legal limits and guidelines values for drinking water and the migration limit set from food packaging legislation. It was concluded that antimony levels in beverages due to migration from PET bottles manufactured according to the state of the art can never reach or exceed the European-specific migration limit of 40 µg kg−1. Maximum migration levels caused by room-temperature storage even after 3 years will never be essentially higher than 2.5 µg kg−1 and in any case will be below the European limit of 5 µg kg−1 for drinking water. The results of this study confirm that the exposure of the consumer by antimony migration from PET bottles into beverages and even into edible oils reaches approximately 1% of the current tolerable daily intake (TDI) established by World Health Organisation (WHO). Having substantiated such low antimony levels in PET-bottled beverages, the often addressed question on oestrogenic effects caused by antimony from PET bottles appears to be groundless.

Caffeine levels in beverages from Argentina's market: application to caffeine dietary intake assessment

The caffeine content of different beverages from Argentina's market was measured. Several brands of coffees, teas, mates, chocolate milks, soft and energy drinks were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection. The highest concentration level was found in short coffee (1.38 mg ml−1) and the highest amount per serving was found in instant coffee (95 mg per serving). A consumption study was also carried out among 471 people from 2 to 93 years of age to evaluate caffeine total dietary intake by age and to identify the sources of caffeine intake. The mean caffeine intake among adults was 288 mg day−1 and mate was the main contributor to that intake. The mean caffeine intake among children of 10 years of age and under was 35 mg day−1 and soft drinks were the major contributors to that intake. Children between 11 and 15 years old and teenagers (between 16 and 20 years) had caffeine mean intakes of 120 and 240 mg day−1, respectively, and mate was the major contributor to those intakes. Drinking mate is a deep-rooted habit among Argentine people and it might be the reason for their elevated caffeine mean daily intake.

Inactivation of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis 197 and Francisella tularensis LVS in Beverages by High Pressure Processing

In 2003, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a new research program to develop technologies and strategies to prevent and minimize potential food safety and security threats. The threat of terrorist attacks against the nation's food supplies has created the need to study microorganisms not typically associated with foodborne illness. High-pressure processing has been proposed as a treatment to reduce Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis LVS levels in beverages. The objectives of this work were to determine the pressure resistance of Y. pseudotuberculosis 197 (surrogate for Y. pestis) and F. tularensis LVS (vaccine strain). For each bacterium, samples of ultrahigh-temperature pasteurized skim milk and pasteurized reduced-acid orange juice (pH ca. 4.2) were inoculated at a minimum level of 5 log CFU/ml. Ten-milliliter samples of the inoculated product were vacuum sealed in polyester pouches and subjected to pressures of 300 and 500 MPa for holding times ranging from 30 s to 6 min. One set of trials was performed at an initial temperature of 10°C and another at 25°C. Processed samples were immediately plated and enumerated. A pressure treatment of 300 MPa at 25°C for less than 6 min was not sufficient to achieve a 5-log reduction of Y. pseudotuberculosis 197 or F. tularensis LVS in milk. However, a pressure treatment of 500 MPa was effective at hold times as low as 30 s. Overall, F. tularensis LVS demonstrated less pressure resistance than Y. pseudotuberculosis 197. Based on these findings, a high-pressure process designed to inactivate 5 log CFU of Y. pseudotuberculosis 197 per ml and F. tularensis LVS in orange juice or milk should be set at or above 500 MPa with a hold time of 2 min or greater.

Lignan contents of Dutch plant foods: a database including lariciresinol, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol

Enterolignans (enterodiol and enterolactone) can potentially reduce the risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Enterolignans are formed by the intestinal microflora after the consumption of plant lignans. Until recently, only secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol were considered enterolignan precursors, but now several new precursors have been identified, of which lariciresinol and pinoresinol have a high degree of conversion. Quantitative data on the contents in foods of these new enterolignan precursors are not available. Thus, the aim of this study was to compile a lignan database including all four major enterolignan precursors. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to quantify lariciresinol, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol in eighty-three solid foods and twenty-six beverages commonly consumed in The Netherlands. The richest source of lignans was flaxseed (301,129 microg/100 g), which contained mainly secoisolariciresinol. Also, lignan concentrations in sesame seeds (29,331 microg/100 g, mainly pinoresinol and lariciresinol) were relatively high. For grain products, which are known to be important sources of lignan, lignan concentrations ranged from 7 to 764 microg/100 g. However, many vegetables and fruits had similar concentrations, because of the contribution of lariciresinol and pinoresinol. Brassica vegetables contained unexpectedly high levels of lignans (185-2321 microg/100 g), mainly pinoresinol and lariciresinol. Lignan levels in beverages varied from 0 (cola) to 91 microg/100 ml (red wine). Only four of the 109 foods did not contain a measurable amount of lignans, and in most cases the amount of lariciresinol and pinoresinol was larger than that of secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol. Thus, available databases largely underestimate the amount of enterolignan precursors in foods.