Protect Consumer Health Research Articles

Bioinformatics Approach to Mitigate Mislabeling in EU Seafood Market and Protect Consumer Health.

Fisheries products are some of the most traded commodities world-wide and the potential for fraud is a serious concern. Fish fraud represents a threat to human health and poses serious concerns due to the consumption of toxins, highly allergenic species, contaminates or zoonotic parasites, which may be present in substituted fish. The substitution of more expensive fish by cheaper species, with similar morphological characteristics but different origins, reflects the need for greater transparency and traceability upon which which the security of the entire seafood value-chain depends. Even though EU regulations have made significant progress in consumer information by stringent labelling requirements, fraud is still widespread. Many molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding provide valuable support to enhance the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in the protection of consumer interests by unequivocally detecting any kind of fraud. This paper aims to highlight both the engagement of EU fishery policy and the opportunity offered by new biotechnology instruments to mitigate the growing fraud in the globalized fish market and to enforce the food security system to protect consumers’ health. In this paper, after a presentation of EU rules on fish labeling and a general overview on the current state of the global fish market, we discuss the public health implications and the opportunities offered by several techniques based on genetics, reporting a case study to show the efficacy of the DNA barcoding methodology in assessing fish traceability and identification, comparing different species of the Epinephelus genus, Mottled Grouper (Mycteroperca rubra) and Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus), often improperly sold with the commercial name of “grouper”.

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

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

EFFECT OF HOUSEHOLD PROCESSING ON REMOVAL OF MULTI-CLASSES OF PESTICIDES FROM TOMATOES

In this paper, twenty-two pesticide residues were monitored in tomatoes.72 marketed samples were extracted and purified with QuEChERS method, and analyzed with liquid and gas Chromatography. The mean recoveries ranged from 90.75%to105.31%. The relative standard deviation was 1% to 7.5%. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.0004 to 0.0231 mg.kg−1 and 0.0012 to 0.0693 mg.kg−1, and good linearity was obtained. Out of total analyzed samples, 34 samples (47.22%) were contaminated with tested pesticide residues; out of which 10 samples (13.89%) exceeded the maximum residue limits. The effects of four processing techniques (washing with tap water, washing with solution of acetic acid, peeling and boiling) on the residual pattern of five insecticides (dimethoate, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and fenvalerate) and one herbicide (2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4D)) were evaluated. The reaction of the pesticides depends obviously on the physico-chemical features and also on the systemic character of the pesticides. Both of the washings lowered clearly the residues for all detected pesticides with removing up to 63.08%. Peeling was found to totally remove the residues of fenvalerate, carbaryl, cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos. Results obtained from the boiling indicated that a complete removal of 2,4D and dimethoate residues was finally achieved. In addition to that, the concentrations of cypermethrin and fenvalerate increased and processing factors above 1 were observed, the results can be seen as valuable base for monitoring of pesticides in tomatoes and supply more comprehension of residue demeanor after household processing. These implementations are important to protect consumer health from the damage of pesticide residues in food.

Algal blooms of Alexandrium spp. and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxicity events in mussels farmed in Sicily.

Marine biotoxins can accumulate in filter- feeders bivalve molluscs, that may represent a source of potential health problems being vectors of toxins, that are transferred to humans through their consumption. Harmful Algal Blooms impact on aquaculture may give also economic losses due to temporary closures of contaminated shellfish harvest and marketing. The presence of toxic algae for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP), with recurrent toxic blooms of dinoflagellates, such as several Alexandrium species, been known since 2000 in the waters of an Ionian bay of Sicily, the Syracuse harbour, where shellfish farms are located. Our previous works reported in this area the positivity for PSP toxin in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) with saxitoxin concentrations above the limit of the law and the simultaneous presence of toxic species of the genus Alexandrium in the waters. This work reports new recent episodes of algal blooms of Alexandrium minutum in the waters of the Syracuse harbour and PSP toxin contamination in farmed mussels, with values beyond the limits established by law, with the consequent immediate closure of the production area. PSP toxicity was detected with the MBA (Mouse Bioassay) with the confirm carried out with Lawrence method to quantify the total saxitoxin equivalents and characterize the toxic profile. Regular application of the implemented health plan is very important in order to prevent any risk and protect consumer health.

A multiplex real-time PCR approach for identification and quantification of sheep/goat, fox and murine fractions in meats using nuclear DNA sequences

Adulterating undeclared animal components into meats may cause health problems. In this study, nuclear DNA sequences for specific detection of sheep/goat, fox and murine (mouse, rat and hamster) were selected to design primers and probes for determination of mutton adulteration. The inter-specific specificity and intra-specific conservation were strictly evaluated in different individuals of 19 animal species. These three nuclear DNA sequences were confirmed to be fixed copy sequences by relative quantitative PCR. Furthermore, a multiplex qualitative and quantitative PCR system with sensitivity of 0.05 ng was developed to efficiently discriminate sheep/goat (237 bp), fox (211 bp) and murine (160 bp) in one reaction. Finally, several mixed DNA samples of goat, fox and rat were quantitatively analyzed by multiplex real-time PCR method, showing good accuracy (R.E. from 1.64% to 18.43%) and precision (R.S.D. from 0.51% to 12.70%). The method developed in this study will provide a powerful technology to combat meat adulteration and protect consumer health.

Interactions of nanomaterials and plants at the cellular level: current knowledge and relevant gaps

Nanoparticles (NPs) interact with living organisms through different pathways. These interactions depend on chemical nature of NPs, capping, and size, among others. In the last years, the use of different NPs for agricultural purposes has increased. Their applications mainly involve dosing though soil or foliar spraying. Different studies have indicated that NPs can be absorbed by plant roots or through foliar exposure, and may reach all plant organs including fruits, affecting their quality. In addition, they provide a route of exposure for humans and animals. Due to their physicochemical properties and high reactivity, NPs may influence basic cellular processes such as proliferation, metabolism, and death. In recent years, several studies have evaluated the effects of NPs applications, highlighting their capability to induce oxidative stress, interrupt the transport activity of the cell membrane of electrons/ions, cause oxidative damage, or modulating gene regulation. Given that risk assessment for conventional materials may not be applicable to nanomaterials (NMs), it is of great practical and scientific importance to study the safety of NMs for sustainable food production and consumer health protection. The present review intends to consolidate current knowledge on cellular and related interactions of NPs with plants. With this information we propose what we consider are relevant gaps to be filled in order to provide a more systemic picture of the above-mentioned interactions.

Cobalt and lead concentrations in cosmetic products sold at local markets in Saudi Arabia

Cosmetics are products that can be used on the human body for cleaning, beautification or enhancing perceived attractiveness. Cosmetics may contain a variety of heavy metals such as cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb), which at high concentrations may pose adverse effects on human health. This study focuses to measure the concentration of heavy metals (Co and Pb) in some cosmetic samples of four types (foundation, skin lighteners, kajal (kohl) and lawsone (henna)) available at local markets in Saudi Arabia. The total number of all cosmetic samples understudy was 41. The samples were analysed using atomic absorption spectroscopy to measure the content of Co and Pb. Quality control of the data was performed using Standard Reference Materials [IAEA-V-10] hay powder. For all cosmetic types and qualities combined, the Co concentration range was determined to be 21.14 ± 3.70-144.91 ± 2.27 μg/g and the Pb range 0.75 ± 0.00-10.60 ± 1.24 μg/g. The Co concentration in all cosmetic types understudy was higher than the recommended level. Pb concentration was within the range recommended by the United States Food and Drug Administration in all types of cosmetics except for kohl, for which 22 % of the samples contained concentrations higher than the permissible limit. The findings of this study call for immediate and ongoing testing to monitor the concentrations of toxic metals in cosmetic products used in Saudi Arabia to ensure that established limits are respected and thereby protect consumer health.

Prerequisites for stakeholder framework: Consumer advocacy and health protection in the digital industry. •.

The World Health Organization (WHO) included gaming disorders in International Classification of Disease-11th (ICD-11) on May 25, 2019. Since then, some academics and the gaming industry have continued to argue over the health system's response to online addictive behaviors. Under these circumstances, a framework involving groups representing various interests is needed to derive a reasonable solution to the dispute over the inclusion of gaming disorders in ICD-11. For this framework to work effectively, it is necessary to agree on consistent and advanced research findings that harms related to the excessive use of digital devices or content continue to occur empirically all over the world and that addictive use constitutes a primary addictive disorder. The problematic risk taking involving emerging technologies may include not only health risks from addictive use, but also more general harms associated with digital ethics and norms such as privacy and transparent money transactions. An understanding of a public health model of addiction is required to reduce harms associated with online addictive behavior that exist behind risk taking. Such harms are also mediated by excessive use, excessive money spending, and exposure to addictive content such as violence and pornography. Major stakeholders and their roles can be derived more effectively based on these conceptual models and parameters of harms. In conclusion, the context of the proposed stakeholder framework should be further optimized on the basis of two principles: (1) advocating consumer rights as a general and standard approach to digital products; and (2) protecting consumers' health from harms related to addictive behaviors.

Bacterial contaminants and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in ready-to-eat foods vended in Ogun state, Nigeria.

Contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods by pathogenic bacteria may predispose consumers to foodborne diseases. This study investigated the presence of bacterial contaminants and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in three locally processed RTE foods (eko, fufu and zobo) vended in urban markets in Ogun state, Nigeria. Bacteria isolated from a total of 120 RTE food samples were identified by 16S rRNA gene phylogeny while susceptibility patterns to eight classes of antibiotics were determined by the disc diffusion method. Species belonging to the genera Acinetobacter and Enterobacter were recovered from all RTE food types investigated, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus were recovered from eko and fufu samples, while those of Shigella were recovered from eko samples. Enterobacter hormaechei was the most prevalent species in all three RTE food types. Precisely 99% of 149 isolates were multidrug-resistant, suggesting a high risk for RTE food handlers and consumers. Co-resistance to ampicillin and cephalothin was the most frequently observed resistance phenotype. Results demonstrate that improved hygiene practices by food processors and vendors are urgently required during RTE processing and retail. Also, adequate food safety guidelines, regulation and enforcement by relevant government agencies are needed to improve the safety of RTE foods and ensure the protection of consumer health.

Microbiological quality of cooked skewers sold in the municipality of Adjame in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

The objective of this study is to evaluate the microbiological quality of skewers sold on the street in order to define an approach to protect consumer health. A consumption survey was carried in the commune of Adjame because in this commune, the sale and consumption of beef skewers meat is widespread. For this study, 108 peoples were interviewed. In the same way, the enumeration of certain microorganisms was carried out. Results had showed that the number of male consumers was equal to that of female consumers (50%) but majority of consumers were single (82%). Among consumers, 52% developed discomfort at least once after eating beef skewers meat. The symptoms of these discomforts were mainly diarrhea (18%), abdominal aches (11%) and vomiting (6%), These discomforts lasted at least 1 day to 3 days and 6 % of these patients were hospitalized. In addition, microbiological analyses reveal the presence of microorganism such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, mesophilic aerobic germs, and coliforms with microbial loads higher than the European Community (EC) standard n°2073/2005 on ready-to eat, notably cold sold skewers. The mesophilic aerobic flora counted after the analysis of the cold-cooked skewers was 9.7±2.7x108 CFU/g and those cooked hot were 6±1.1 x106 CFU/g. So, our samples are highly contaminated. Thus, the sellers and consumers of skewers should receive training in food hygiene. Particular attention should be paid to all causes of food poisoning.

Are Cyanotoxins the Only Toxic Compound Potentially Present in Microalgae Supplements? Results from a Study of Ecological and Non-Ecological Products.

Food supplements with microalgae are becoming increasingly abundant and can be easily found anywhere. The most popular products are based on cyanophytes, such as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Arthrospira platensis and Limnospira maxima, or on chlorophytes, such as Chlorella or Haematoccus. Although they are all advertised as being very beneficial for health, these products might be harmful because they may contain cyanotoxins and other contaminants, and no information on production methods or strain origins is usually provided. While legislation on the presence of microcystins in waters for different uses is clear, toxicological analyses are not compulsory for food supplements, nor for analyzing anatoxins. Given the potential risk of eating contaminated food, cyanotoxins, heavy metals and the presence of other contaminant organisms were analyzed in 10 microalgae food supplements. Microcystin-LR and anatoxin-a were detected in three analyzed products, and in both cyanophyte- and chlorophyte-based products. The light microscope study revealed the presence of different potentially harmful microbial contaminants. The ICP (OES) analyses detected high concentrations of some heavy metals, especially Pb. The results emphasize the need to promote the better control of food products containing microalgae, and to develop standard methodologies to analyze cyanotoxins and potential toxic compounds to protect consumer health.

Are In Silico Approaches Applicable As a First Step for the Prediction of e-Liquid Toxicity in e-Cigarettes?

Recent studies have raised concerns about e-cigarette liquid inhalation toxicity by reporting the presence of chemicals with European Union CLP toxicity classification. In this scenario, the regulatory context is still developing and is not yet up to date with vaping current reality. Due to the paucity of toxicological studies, robust data regarding which components in e-liquids exhibit potential toxicities, are still inconsistent. In this study we applied computational methods for estimating the toxicity of poorly studied chemicals as a useful tool for predicting the acute toxicity of chemicals contained in e-liquids. The purpose of this study was 3-fold: (a) to provide a lower tier assessment of the potential health concerns associated with e-liquid ingredients, (b) to prioritize e-liquid ingredients by calculating the e-tox index, and (c) to estimate acute toxicity of e-liquid mixtures. QSAR models were generated using QSARINS software to fill the acute toxicity data gap of 264 e-liquid ingredients. As a second step, the potential acute toxicity of e-liquids mixtures was evaluated. Our preliminary data suggest that a computational approach may serve as a roadmap to enable regulatory bodies to better regulate e-liquid composition and to contribute to consumer health protection.

Detection, hepatotoxicity, and tumorigenicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Chinese herbal plants and herbal dietary supplements

Since the U.S. Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994, herbal products, including herbal dietary supplements, represent the fastest growing segment of the vitamin, mineral supplements, and herbal products industry. To ensure consumer health protection, the quality and safety of raw herbal plants used for dietary supplement preparations have to be determined. To date, safety issues concerning the hepatotoxic and tumorigenic ingredients in many raw herbs and herbal dietary products are quite limited. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are a class of hepatotoxic and tumorigenic phytochemicals present in more than 6000 plants and have been detected in herbal plants and dietary supplements. In this review, the human exposure, metabolic activation leading to hepatototoxicity and tumorigenicity of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing Chinese herbal plants, and analytical methods used to identify and quantify pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbal plants and commercial samples are discussed. Suggestions for future research are provided.

Ризики для здоров’я та правові аспекти безпечного споживання безалкогольних енергетичних напоїв

Objective of the Work. Conduct an analysis of the safety studies of the major energy drink components carried out by various international scientific institutions. Compare European and Ukrainian legislation on the regulation of safe energy drink consumption. Methods and Materials. Analysis of scientific literature, as well as European and Ukrainian regulations on the safety and regulation of energy drinks. Results and Discussion. Non-alcoholic beverage is one that, due to its special component, activates the physiological functions of the human body. Its main components are caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, ginseng extracts, guarana and vitamin B complex. Caffeine safety assessment has been carried out by many scientific organizations. In 1991, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that caffeine was not classified as a human carcinogen. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has conducted a comprehensive and in-depth study on the safety of caffeine. The main findings of this study are: single doses of caffeine up to 200 mg (about 3 mg / kg body weight for an adult weighing 70 kg) do not cause safety concerns, regular caffeine intake up to 400 mg per day does not cause safety concerns for nonpregnant adults, regular caffeine intake of up to 200 mg daily by pregnant women does not cause fetal safety concerns, breastfeeding women do not raise infant safety concerns; for adolescents, caffeine intake in amounts that do not cause fears for adult caffeine intake (3 mg / kg body weight per day) may serve as a basis for determining safe single doses of caffeine and its daily intake, other components of energy drinks in concentrations typical of such drinks (about 300-320, 4000 and 2400 mg / l of caffeine, taurine and D-glucuronyl-γ-lactone, respectively), and also alcohol at doses up to 0.65 g / kg body weight do not affect the safety of receiving single doses of caffeine (up to 200 mg). Conclusions. The essential requirements governing the safe consumption of energy drinks relate to their labeling. In order to achieve a high level of consumer health protection, to guarantee their rights to obtain reliable information, to enable them to make a conscious choice of safe products for them, energy drink manufacturers should inform consumers about their products and the need to comply with the recommended consumption of these drinks. Key Words: energy drinks, caffeine, safety, risks, marking.

Microbiological quality of shellfish harvesting areas in the Ashtamudi and Vembanad estuaries (India): Environmental influences and compliance with international standards

The sources of microbiological contamination in shellfish harvesting areas in the Ashtamudi and Vembanad estuaries were identified through a sanitary survey. Samples of shellfish and waters were tested for faecal indicator bacteria. Both estuaries receive high levels of contamination from septic tank discharges and areas with high numbers of birds and livestock. An assessment to illustrate the classification status of the harvesting areas indicated that 64% of oyster and 58% of clam samples from Ashtamudi and 54% of mussel samples from Vembanad would comply with the lower class B standard of the EU classification system. Most water results would comply with the faecal coliform standard for ‘Prohibited’ areas under the US classification system. None of the water samples from Ashtamudi were below the standard for ‘Approved’ areas. Pollution reduction measures and implementation of a sanitation programme according to international best practice would improve consumer health protection.

Protecting Consumer Health By Developing a Multiplex Amperometric Immunosensor for the Detection of Banned Antibiotic Residues in Milk

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

Determination of 400 pesticide residues in green tea leaves by UPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS combined with QuEChERS extraction and mixed-mode SPE clean-up method

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides have been established in teas for quality control and protection of consumer health in many countries and regions, including Europe. It is, however, challenging to quantify multi-pesticide residues at low concentrations in complex matrices, such as tea. In this study, highly sensitive, efficient, and rugged analytical methods were adapted for simultaneous determination of 400 pesticide residues in green tea products using ultra performance liquid and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectroscopy (UPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS). Matrix effects were minimized by combining QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extraction and mixed-mode SPE clean-up with different sorbents in sample preparation. A C18 SPE cartridge paired with SPE GCB/PSA proved to be the most effective clean-up method and enabled 225 pesticide residues to be quantified, based on solvent calibration curves (154 residues using UPLC-MS/MS and 71 residues using GC-MS/MS). The analytical methods were validated fully in accordance with the SANTE/11945/2015. LOQs for most pesticides (386/400 or 96.5%) were below 10 µg/kg, i.e., less than the EU MRL (5–70 mg/kg). Thus, these approaches can be applied for routine analysis of multi-pesticide residues in green tea.

Presence of Foodborne Pathogens in Seafood and Risk Ranking for Pathogens.

This study aims at examining the contamination of coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio cholerae, which carry extremely serious risks to the consumer health, in 700 seafood belonging to 4 different (raw sea fish, raw mussels, raw shrimp, and raw squid) categories. The total number of samples was determined as 700. When the obtained results were viewed in total, they were found to be 48.14%, 18.71%, 8.57%, and 3.42% for coliform bacteria, E. coli, L. monocytogenes, and V. vulnificus, respectively. V. cholerae, one of the factors studied, was not found. Conventional microbiological cultivation methods were used in the analysis stage as well as the real-time PCR method. This study aims at making a risk ranking modeling for consumer health based on product category and pathogens by interpreting the results of the analysis with statistical methods. According to the statistical analysis, significantly binary correlations were determined among some parameters that stimulate one another for reproducing. In the light of the obtained results of the study, it has been concluded that the studies of the most detailed examinations of the microbiological risks associated with seafood, forms of microbial pollution and microorganisms that cause deterioration in seafood and threaten consumer health and the path that their epidemiologies follow, are of primary importance to both protecting consumer health and obtaining safe and quality seafood.

Addressing the Analytical Challenges for the Detection of Ciguatoxins Using an Electrochemical Biosensor.

The importance of ciguatoxins (CTXs) in seafood safety and their emerging occurrence in locations far away from tropical areas highlight the need for simple and low-cost methods for the sensitive and rapid detection of these potent marine toxins to protect seafood consumers. Herein, an electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of CTXs is presented. A sandwich configuration is proposed, using magnetic beads (MBs) as immobilization supports for two capture antibodies, with their combination facilitating the detection of CTX1B, CTX3C, 54-deoxyCTX1B, and 51-hydroxyCTX3C. PolyHRP-streptavidin is used for the detection of the biotinylated detector antibody. Experimental conditions are first optimized using colorimetry, and these conditions are subsequently used for electrochemical detection on electrode arrays. Limits of detection at the pg/mL level are achieved for CTX1B and 51-hydroxyCTX3C. The applicability of the immunosensor to the analysis of fish samples is demonstrated, attaining detection of CTX1B at contents as low as 0.01 μg/kg and providing results in correlation with those obtained using mouse bioassay (MBA) and cell-based assay (CBA), and confirmed by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-HRMS). This user-friendly bioanalytical tool for the rapid detection of CTXs can be used to mitigate ciguatera risk and contribute to the protection of consumer health.

Validation of a Multiresidue Method for the Analysis of 86 Multiclass Pesticides in Litchi Fruit by Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Although India is an important producer of litchi fruit, there is hardly any validated method available for its pesticide residue analysis. This strongly warrants the need to standardize a simple multiresidue analytical method for efficient analysis of multiclass pesticides with specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy in a single chromatographic run in combination with MS determination. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a rapid ethyl-acetate-based sample preparation method for a simultaneous determination of 86 pesticides in litchi fruit by using GC-tandem MS. The method involved ethyl acetate as an extracting solvent and a combined salt system comprising sodium chloride and sodium sulphate for the organic layer separation. To obtain satisfactory recovery percentage of each pesticide studied here, this combination was selected for further validation based on selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, precision, and accuracy values. The correlation coefficient (r2) of studied pesticides ranged between 0.97 and 0.99 at six concentration levels from 5 to 250 ng/mL. Furthermore, the average recovery values were within 70 and 120%, with repeatability relative SD below 20% for all 86 pesticides at the LOQ level and with an appreciable Horwitz ratio distribution that ranged between 0.5 and 2. All data demonstrate that the proposed method is adequately linear, accurate, and repeatable. Therefore, it can be widely used in commercial laboratories for analyzing pesticide residues for both domestic and export purposes. The method is in support of protecting consumer health. A large-scale multiresidue method is reported for simultaneous analysis of a wide range of pesticides in litchi. The method complies with the regulatory requirements in terms of sensitivity for maximum residue limit compliance. The performance of the method complied with the SANTE guidelines of analytical QC.