Quality Control In Food Industry Research Articles

Amplified frequency-shifted interferometry fiber loop ringdown glucose sensors using side-polished fiber

An amplified frequency-shifted interferometry fiber loop ringdown (FSI-FLRD) sensor is proposed for the concentration measurement of glucose solutions. It detects glucose concentrations by measuring the ringdown distance of the continuous light in the fiber ringdown loop (RDL) instead of the ringdown time of the pulsed light in the loop as in traditional FLRD glucose sensors. A bidirectional erbium-doped fiber amplifier (Bi-EDFA) and a segment of side-polished fiber (SPF) are respectively inserted into the RDL to compensate the loop attenuation and to act as the sensing probe. The proposed optical sensor was tested with glucose solutions in the concentration range from 0 to 14 % at room temperature, which exhibits a linear response with a sensitivity of 0.0013 km−1/% (4.12x10−4 dB/%) for the 0–8 % glucose solutions. Additionally, it also achieved a system stability of 0.75 %, with a measuring resolution of around 2.63 %. The experimental results show the proposed sensor has simple structure, low cost, robust stability and good resolution, and it is a suitable alternative for the detection of glucose concentrations in biological detection, component analysis and on-line quality control in food industry.

Analytical Methods for Determination of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners in Foodstuffs.

Sweeteners have been used in food for centuries to increase both taste and appearance. However, the consumption of sweeteners, mainly sugars, has an adverse effect on human health when consumed in excessive doses for a certain period, including alteration in gut microbiota, obesity, and diabetes. Therefore, the application of non-nutritive sweeteners in foodstuffs has risen dramatically in the last decade to substitute sugars. These sweeteners are commonly recognized as high-intensity sweeteners because, in a lower amount, they could achieve the same sweetness of sugar. Regulatory authorities and supervisory agencies around the globe have established the maximum amount of these high-intensity sweeteners used in food products. While the regulation is getting tighter on the market to ensure food safety, reliable analytical methods are required to assist the surveillance in monitoring the use of high-intensity sweeteners. Hence, it is also necessary to comprehend the most appropriate method for rapid and effective analyses applied for quality control in food industries, surveillance and monitoring on the market, etc. Apart from various analytical methods discussed here, extraction techniques, as an essential step of sample preparation, are also highlighted. The proper procedure, efficiency, and the use of solvents are discussed in this review to assist in selecting a suitable extraction method for a food matrix. Single- and multianalyte analyses of sweeteners are also described, employing various regular techniques, such as HPLC, and advanced techniques. Furthermore, to support on-site surveillance of sweeteners’ usage in food products on the market, non-destructive analytical methods that provide practical, fast, and relatively low-cost analysis are widely implemented.

Near infrared spectroscopy and smartphone-based imaging as fast alternatives for the evaluation of the bioactive potential of freeze-dried açai

The development of green analytical techniques for food industry quality control has become an important issue in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. In this sense, near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and smartphone-based imaging (SBI) were applied to evaluate the bioactive potential of freeze-dried açai pulps. For this purpose, reference results of ninety-six samples were obtained by determining total anthocyanins (TAC), polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ORAC and TEAC) by traditional methods and correlated to NIR spectra and SBI to build predictive models based on partial square least (PLS) regression. In summary, the NIR-PLS models showed better performance for predicting the TAC, TPC and antioxidant capacity of studied samples; considering the parameters of merit, such as coefficient of determination (0.8) and residual prediction deviation (RPD) (2.2) compared to the SBI-PLS models (0.7 and lower 1.5, respectively). The better performance of NIR-PLS could be potentially justified by a higher sensitivity of the NIR equipment than the smartphone images. In conclusion, these results show that the proposed alternative methods are promising tools for the future context of the 4.0 food industry.

Effect of microwave irradiation on the pasting, thermal, and rheological properties of cassava starch–sugar mixtures

AbstractThe effects of microwave irradiation (300 W for 1.5 min, two times) on the pasting, thermal, and rheological properties of powder cassava starch–sugar mixture (1:1 or 1:2, w:w) were studied. Different sample preparation ways were used: microwave (of starch) before mixing (Mw‐mix), or mixing before microwave (Mix‐mw). Rapid visco‐analyzer (RVA) experiments showed that the peak viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity, setback, as well as pasting temperature of “Mix‐mw” sample were obviously higher than “Mw‐mix” sample. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments showed that the peak temperature (Tp) value of “Mix‐mw” sample was significantly higher than that of the “Mw‐mix” sample, while the gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) value of the former was significantly lower than that of the latter. Steady‐state rheological experiments showed that “Mix‐mw” samples had larger consistency coefficient (K) and yield stress (σ0) compared with those of “Mw‐mix” sample. The result demonstrated that microwave irradiation could significantly influence the pasting, thermal, and rheological properties of cassava starch–sugar mixture.Practical applicationsCassava starch is an excellent raw material for food industry, and low molecular sugars are often added into starchy food to produce starch‐based desserts. Meanwhile, microwave irradiation has been used as a “green” approach for starch modification and food processing. A comparative study of the pasting, thermal, and rheological properties of cassava starch–sugar mixtures has been studied. The results show that the “Mw‐mix” samples (microwave before mixing) have different physical property compared with the “Mix‐mw” samples (mixing before microwave). The results would be useful to simulate the process of starch modification during microwave irradiation, and they could be applied for the food quality control in food industry.

Ready-to-use single tube quadruplex PCR for differential identification of mutton, chicken, pork and beef in processed meat samples

ABSTRACTA reliable and sensitive identification method is required to tackle food adulteration mainly in meat production. We developed a dry reagent based ready-to-use single tube quadruplex PCR assay for accurate identification of chicken, mutton, beef and pork. The assay was found to be specific and reproducible. Thermo-stability studies of lyophilized PCR master mix were conducted at different temperature and time intervals, which revealed significant stability for 75 days at 4°C and for 60 days at 25°C. The developed assay was shown to be sensitive down to 16 pg DNA per reaction and the detection limit was found to be 0.01% (w/w) of each species. Furthermore, this method has been applied to the analysis of 68 commercial meat products and the results indicated that nine samples contained non-declared meat components. This dry reagent-based quadruplex PCR assay can be utilized to monitor various processed food products and also to maintain quality control in food industries mainly in the resource-limited settings.

Non-enzymatic fructose sensing by platinum decorated graphene oxide nanocomposite

In the present research, we developed a novel non-enzymatic fructose sensor by platinum decorated graphene oxide nanocomposite based cyclic voltammetry. This sensor can detect fructose in alkalized medium which converts fructose into oxidizable glucose. The dynamic range of trace detection is within 0.05–0.50mM and the detection limit was achieved around 10μM even in the presence of HPO42− and Cl− as interferent ions. The electrochemical signal from the fructose can be significantly discriminated from that of lactose and sucrose, leaving glucose to be further distinguished in neutral medium. This non-enzymatic fructose sensing approach potentially provides a novel strategy to measure the concentration of fructose in biological fluids with potential application for clinical diagnostics and quality control in food industry.

Surface Plasmon Biosensor Platform for Food Industry

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based biosensor is a gold standard optical sensor for biological protein interaction in life science. In this paper, we firstly discuss how the SPR based sensor can give unique advantages over other sensing techniques for food safety and food quality control in food industry. We discuss the differences in sample preparation process for the SPR system and other screening methods and point out that the SPR can reduce the food screen quality control cost and time. A brief review of food analysis that has been tested under SPR system. Key requirements for building up a surface plasmon resonance based sensor for food industry especially in Thailand are highlighted. An SPR based sensor has been recently developed and constructed based on the requirements. We also discuss practical issues and how to possibly get around them.

تشخیص تازگی گوشت گوساله به کمک پردازش تصویر و سطح پاسخ

گوشت و محصولات مرتبط با آن ارزش تجاریی بالایی داشته و یکی از مهمترین اقلام سبد غذایی خانوار را تشکیل می‌دهد. با توجه به عرضه گوشت در قصابی‌ها و نیز استفاده از آن در کارخانه‌های فرآوری نیاز به اطمینان از تازگی آن احساس می‌شود چه بسا گوشت با گذشت از زمان ذبح آن نه تنها از کیفیت آن کاسته می‌شود بلکه ممکن است به سبب فساد موجب بیماری نیز شود لذا هدف از این تحقیق تشخیص تازگی گوشت گوساله با تخمین مدت زمان گذشته از ذبح می‌باشد. برای این منظور از سه قسمت ران، سر دست و گردن گوساله ذبح شده نمونه‌هایی تهیه شد و نمونه‌ها در دو محیط استاندارد و رایج یکی در یخچال با دمای 3 درجه سانتی‌گراد و دیگری در محیط خنک با دمای میانگین 8 درجه سانتی‌گراد نگهداری شد سپس از نمونه‌ها در زمان‌های مشخص (هر 2 ساعت) تصویربرداری شد و از تصاویر تهیه شده توسط پردازش تصویر و به کمک نرم‌افزار MATLAB پارامترهایی استخراج گردید. از بین پارامترهای استخراج شده توسط آنالیز حساسیت سه پارامتر به‌عنوان عامل تأثیرگذار در مدت زمان گذشته از ذبح انتخاب گردید که عبارتند از: خصوصیت بافت، میزان کنتراست و زبری سطح گوشت. در نهایت به کمک روش سطح پاسخ و توسط نرم‌افزارDesign Expert مدل‌های مناسبی تدوین و بهینه گردید.

On-site identification of meat species in processed foods by a rapid real-time polymerase chain reaction system

Correct labeling of foods is critical for consumers who wish to avoid a specific meat species for religious or cultural reasons. Therefore, gene-based point-of-care food analysis by real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is expected to contribute to the quality control in the food industry. In this study, we perform rapid identification of meat species by our portable rapid real-time PCR system, following a very simple DNA extraction method. Applying these techniques, we correctly identified beef, pork, chicken, rabbit, horse, and mutton in processed foods in 20min. Our system was sensitive enough to detect the interfusion of about 0.1% chicken egg-derived DNA in a processed food sample. Our rapid real-time PCR system is expected to contribute to the quality control in food industries because it can be applied for the identification of meat species, and future applications can expand its functionality to the detection of genetically modified organisms or mutations.

1H NMR-based metabolic profiling for evaluating poppy seed rancidity and brewing.

Poppy seeds are widely used in household and commercial confectionery. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the application of metabolic profiling for industrial monitoring of the molecular changes which occur during minced poppy seed rancidity and brewing processes performed on raw seeds. Both forms of poppy seeds were obtained from a confectionery company. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) was applied as the analytical method of choice together with multivariate statistical data analysis. Metabolic fingerprinting was applied as a bioprocess control tool to monitor rancidity with the trajectory of change and brewing progressions. Low molecular weight compounds were found to be statistically significant biomarkers of these bioprocesses. Changes in concentrations of chemical compounds were explained relative to the biochemical processes and external conditions. The obtained results provide valuable and comprehensive information to gain a better understanding of the biology of rancidity and brewing processes, while demonstrating the potential for applying NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis tools for quality control in food industries involved in the processing of oilseeds. This precious and versatile information gives a better understanding of the biology of these processes.

Direct and Sequential Determination of Six Metal Elements in Cooking Wine by HR-CS GFAAS

The aim of this work was to develop a sensitive, simple and direct procedure for the determination of Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn and Al in the cooking wine by HR-CS GFAAS with a minimum sample pre-treatment. The analyses of the six metal elements were conducted using a high resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometer. The cooking wine as sample was just diluted in ultrapure water with 1.0% (v/v) HNO3and the analytical lines of the six metal elements were selected scientifically. The correlation coefficients better than 0.99 were obtained and the limits of detection were 0.86, 0.08, 0.28, 0.81, 0.61 and 1.54 μg/L for Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn and Al, respectively. Recoveries varied form 96.1% to 105.7%. The proposed method was applied to the determination of the six metal elements in the cooking wine and the results showed that the mass concentrations of Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn and Al were 2.10, 0.177, 7.98, 1.86, 22.3 and 217.2 μg/L, respectively. There was a good agreement between the proposed method and the microwave digestion-HR-CS GFAAS method, and F-test and t-test at 95% of confidence had no significant difference. Therefore, the proposed method was accurate and stable with a high practical value. It provided scientific basis for quality control in food industries.

Probing of ascorbic acid by CdS/Dendrimer nanocomposites: A spectroscopic investigation

Gamma irradiation method has provided a route for synthesis of highly water-soluble, good quality luminescent CdS/Dendrimer nanocomposites with amino- or carboxyl-terminated PAMAM dendrimer. An attempt has been made to probe ascorbic acid with the as-synthesized CdS/Dendrimer nanocomposites (DNC). Ascorbic acid (AA) is an important biological antioxidant and also marker for different diseases in clinical chemistry as well as in quality control in food industry. Micromolar concentrations of AA significantly quenched the photoluminescence (PL) of both amino (NH2) and carboxylic (COOH) functionalized semiconductor nanocomposites. The quenching followed a linear Stern–Volmer equation and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy confirmed its static nature. A strong size dependence of quenching pattern was observed. The binding constants, and the corresponding thermodynamic parameters ΔGθ, ΔHθ, ΔSθ at different temperatures were calculated. CdS DNC showed selectivity towards ascorbic acid even in the presence of possible interfering molecules, such as uric acid, tartaric acid and citric acid. Nanocomposites based assay technique could override the complications involved in multitudes of assay procedures, providing a, simple and fast new strategy for the quantification of AA in the range of 16.6–100μM (R=0.998, n=9). The proposed method was applied for the detection of ascorbic acid in vitamin C tablet with satisfactory results.

Real-time PCR and enrichment culture for sensitive detection and enumeration of Escherichia coli

Rapid enumeration of Escherichia coli strains by quantitative real-time PCR targeting the uidA gene was developed and confirmed for minced beef, tuna and raw oyster. Higher sensitivity (1 CFU/g of E. coli in all three food samples) was obtained by incubating for 7 h in TSB. Colony-directed E. coli specific TaqMan PCR assay could effectively distinguish colonies grown on various selective media within 1.5-h. Inspection of E. coli in food testing laboratories is important, and our rapid E. coli detection strategy will contribute to quality control in food industries.

Factor-based comparison of groups of curves

A method able to detect a possible common structure between two (or more than two) groups of curves is considered. This technique is part of the recent developments within the field of Functional Data Analysis. It is discussed how the standard approach based on factorial analysis for comparing groups of multivariate data can be used in this infinite-dimensional framework. The potentiality of such a functional method in terms of application is illustrated through a spectrometric functional data set coming from food industry quality control.

Current Trends in Immunoassay-Based Kits for Pesticide Analysis

Detection of pesticides and their metabolites in food and environmental samples in real time is the goal of many industries. Immunoassay technology has several attributes that make it a useful tool for screening purposes (e.g., selectivity, sensitivity, portability, and rapid turnaround time). Approximately 90% of the developed immunoassays for the pesticide residue analysis use the ELISA technique. Commercial kits are tailored to target different analytes, thus eliminating in some cases the need for clean-up steps. The manageability of the immunoassay test kit, together with its accuracy and speed of analysis, allows the rapid determination in situ of many samples simultaneously. This article gives an overview on the applications of the immunokits for pesticide analysis in drinking water and foods, as well as examples of different immunoassay formats commonly used. Special attention is given to sample extraction and clean-up procedures. Application to the determination of common pesticides and their detection limit are summarized. Immunoassay kits offer many practical advantages, and the acceptance of these methods depends on several factors, including the demonstration of quality and validity compared with reference methods. Although the advantages of the technique and their applications to food industry quality control are scarcely referred to in the literature.

Development of a chemiluminescence detector with photodiode detection for flow-injection analysis and its application to l-lactate analysis

A low cost chemiluminescence detector with a photodiode for flow-injection analysis (FIA) of l-lactate in food was developed for quality control in food industry. In this system, l-lactate is oxidized by the enzymatic reaction with l-lactate oxidase immobilized on the column to produce hydrogen peroxide. Then chemiluminescence caused by mixing hydrogen peroxide with the chemiluminescence reagent was detected by the photodiode. This light intensity was proportional to l-lactate concentration. For detecting weak chemiluminescence efficiently a flow-through cell of the detector was specially designed. A photodiode was used for the purpose of reducing the costs of FIA systems instead of a photomultiplier tube. As a result, a linear working curve was obtained from 10 −7to 10 −3 mol l −1 l-lactate concentration. We applied the present system with a photodiode detector for food samples and compared the results with those obtained by the conventional HPLC method. The data obtained by the present FIA method were fairly in good agreement with those obtained by the conventional HPLC method. The correlation factor and regression line between both methods were 0.992 and Y = 1.07 X-0.15, respectively. The present FIA system with the photodiode detector is available as a simple, easy-handling instrument for quality control in food industry.

A biattribute quality analysis of the food industry

A biattribute model of quality control in the food industry is developed and used as a management tool. Here quality control is of utmost importance because of the public health consequences, and the necessity to follow national and international regulations. Furthermore, as vividly illustrated by the recent case of mineral water quality failure, market consequences can be extreme. At the same time, production scheduling problems should be addressed to match shelf life. Other criteria include cost, public health and the image of the firm. Two conflicting attributes are considered in the present case study: an internal attribute, production and storage cost of quality control, and a bidimensionnal external attribute that includes the following components of risk of hygiene protection failure and advertising investment The example of transforming milk into reduced fat cream is used to illustrate the approach: two single attribute utility functions representing the decision maker preferences on the external and internal attribute are derived, and then the corner coefficients of a multiplicative biattribute utility function are assessed. The theoretical assumptions and uncertainties are discussed, and a possible use for food industry quality control management is proposed.