Food Quality Research Articles

Increasing water nutrient reduces the availability of high-quality food resources for aquatic consumers and consequently simplifies river food webs

While eutrophication has led to serious habitat degradation and biotic shifts in freshwater ecosystems, most current studies have focused on changes in community assemblages, with few considering the effect of eutrophication on food webs. We conducted a field study in subtropical headwater streams with a gradient of water nutrient levels to examine the effect of increasing water nutrients on food webs by using the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as a measure of the nutritional quality of food. Basal food resources (macrophytes, submerged leaf litter, and periphyton), and aquatic consumers (macroinvertebrates and fish) were collected, and their fatty acid (FA) profiles were analyzed. Our results showed that periphyton was the dominant source of EPA for macroinvertebrates and fish, and a high-quality resource for consumers. As water nutrient concentrations increased, nutritional quality of periphyton significantly decreased and, in turn, the correlation between FA profiles of periphyton and macroinvertebrates declined. However, periphyton FA profiles did not account for the variability of fish FA, which may be induced by the increasing proportions of omnivorous fish in eutrophic streams that derived EPA from other sources. Further, the reduced periphyton EPA was associated with decreased trophic links and simplified stream food webs. Our study highlights the importance of high-quality food resources for aquatic food webs as water nutrients increased in stream ecosystems and provides a nutritional perspective to understand the mechanisms how eutrophication affects aquatic ecosystems.

Microbial contamination pathways in a poultry abattoir provided clues on the distribution and persistence of Arcobacter spp.

The consumption of contaminated poultry meat is a significant threat for public health, as it implicates in foodborne pathogen infections, such as those caused by Arcobacter. The mitigation of clinical cases requires the understanding of contamination pathways in each food process and the characterization of resident microbiota in the productive environments, so that targeted sanitizing procedures can be effectively implemented. Nowadays these investigations can benefit from the complementary and thoughtful use of culture- and omics-based analyses, although their application in situ is still limited. Therefore, the 16S-rRNA gene-based sequencing of total DNA and the targeted isolation of Arcobacter spp. through enrichment were performed to reconstruct the environmental contamination pathways within a poultry abattoir, as well as the dynamics and distribution of this emerging pathogen. To that scope, broiler's neck skin and caeca have been sampled during processing, while environmental swabs were collected from surfaces after cleaning and sanitizing. Metataxonomic survey highlighted a negligible impact of fecal contamination and a major role of broiler's skin in determining the composition of the resident abattoir microbiota. The introduction of Arcobacter spp. in the environment was mainly conveyed by this source rather than the intestinal content. Arcobacter butzleri represented one of the most abundant species and was extensively detected in the abattoir by both metataxonomic and enrichment methods, showing higher prevalence than other more thermophilic Campylobacterota. In particular, Arcobacter spp. was recovered viable in the plucking sector with high frequency, despite the adequacy of the sanitizing procedure.IMPORTANCEOur findings have emphasized the persistence of Arcobacter spp. in a modern poultry abattoir and its establishment as part of the resident microbiota in specific environmental niches. Although the responses provided here are not conclusive for the identification of the primary source of contamination, this biogeographic assessment underscores the importance of monitoring Arcobacter spp. from the early stages of the production chain with the integrative support of metataxonomic analysis. Through such combined detection approaches, the presence of this pathogen could be soon regarded as hallmark indicator of food safety and quality in poultry slaughtering.

Novel food processing technologies for retaining nutrition of horticultural food products

AbstractWith growing health awareness among consumers, the food industry faces the challenge of developing processing methods that ensure not only safety but also preservation of essential nutrients and attractive appearances. Due to intense competition in response to the rising market demand, innovative food processing technologies have been developed, particularly for horticultural food products. In this review, we present an overview of four recently established processing technologies, including high‐pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric fields (PEF), ultrasound‐assisted extraction, and ohmic heating. The pros and cons of each method are discussed in the context of detailed examples, connecting their design principles to real‐life applications. Collectively, these novel food processing technologies highlight the potential of improving food quality, reliability, and functionality in an era of the modern food industry.

Machine learning based technique to predict the water adulterant in milk using portable near infrared spectroscopy

Milk adulteration is a significant problem globally, as it is the most widely consumed and essential food product. Due to this, monitoring milk quality is necessary for sustaining human health. A Machine Learning (ML) based non-destructive system was developed to identify water adulteration in milk using Near Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy. A database was created by mixing water in milk in varying proportions (0–40 %) and capturing spectra using compact TI DLP NIR scan Nano spectroscopy in the 900–1700 nm range. The captured spectra were pre-processed with the Savitzky-Golay (SG) filter, Multiplicative Scatter Correction (MSC), and Standard Normal Variate (SNV) method. The most informative wavelength points were selected using the wavelength/feature selection technique, and the dimensions of these wavelengths were reduced using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Various ML models were employed to predict the water concentration in milk. Both classification and regression methods were applied to check the system's performance. In the regression analysis, the k-Nearest Neighbour (KNN) achieved the best R2, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Standard Error of Prediction (SEP), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Ratio of Performance to Deviation (RPD), Leave One Out Cross-Validation (LOOCV)-R2, and LOOCV-RMSE of 0.999, 0.399 mL ( % v/v), 0.096 mL ( % v/v), 0.227 mL ( % v/v), 33.005, 0.999, and 0.353 mL ( % v/v), respectively, while for classification analysis, the Random Forest (RF) achieved 100 % accuracy and Matthew's Correlation Coefficient (MCC). The impact of the proposed portable system, which has the potential to reshape practices and set new standards for food quality assurance, transformative, and offers solutions to critical challenges in the dairy industry.

Food Quality Monitoring for Vegetables and Fruits through IoT using Methane Gas Sensor, DHT11

Food Quality Monitoring for Vegetables and Fruits through IoT using Methane Gas Sensor, DHT11

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) improvement: Challenges and prospects—A review

AbstractFinger millet is a climate‐resilient and highly nutritious small grain crop widely grown in the semi‐arid tropics. It has multiple uses, including for food, feed and beverage preparations. However, finger millet is an under‐utilized and under‐researched crop with a mean yield of <1.0 t/ha despite a potential productivity of up to 8 t/ha. The yield gap is attributed to several production constraints, such as biotic and abiotic stresses, a lack of access to improved seeds and production inputs and poor agronomic management practices. There are valuable genetic resources and genetic variability of finger millet in its centres of diversity and global gene banks for variety design, product development and commercialization. The genetic variability can be harnessed further to integrate essential traits into candidate varieties through conventional and modern breeding methods. Breeding and genetic innovations such as genomics‐assisted breeding, mutation breeding and genome editing would accelerate finger millet breeding and new variety design and deployment. The objective of this review was to document the opportunities, challenges and prospects of finger millet improvement as a guide for variety development and deployment with enhanced grain yield and nutritional contents. The first section describes global production status and yield gains, major production and productivity challenges in finger millet. This is followed by an in‐depth presentation on breeding and genetic progress on variety development with improved agronomic and nutritional quality traits, drought and salinity tolerance, and fungal diseases, weeds and insect pest resistance. Further, the review summarized finger millet's genetic and genomic resources, reference genomes, whole genome re‐sequencing and transcriptomics of finger millet technologies, genetic engineering and genome editing and their integration with conventional breeding methods for variety design with desired end‐use traits. The review provides foundational information to expedite the development of new‐generation finger millet cultivars with desirable product profiles, including high grain yield potential, early maturity, desirable seed colour, compact head type, food and feed nutrients quality and high marketability through modern breeding approaches.

Changes in chemical characteristics and dynamics population of microorganisms in pre-fermentation treatment of lamtoro seed (Leucaena leucocephala) during mlanding tempeh’s production

Mlanding tempeh is an indigenous fermented food from lamtoro (Leucaena leucocephala) seed that uses usar as the inoculum in its production. Lamtoro seed contains antinutritional compounds namely phytic acid and tannin, and toxin compounds namely mimosine. Antinutritional compounds decrease the quality of nutrients in mlanding tempeh. The purpose of the research was to investigate the changes in nutritional compounds, antinutritional and toxin compounds, total phenols, antioxidants activity, dietary fiber and dynamics population of microorganisms in pre-fermentation treatment in lamtoro seed during mlanding tempeh’s production. The analysis was carried out at the pre-fermentation stage, namely before the inoculation process. The result showed the change of nutrient compounds, antinutritional and toxin compounds, total phenols, antioxidants activity, dietary fiber, and dynamics population of microorganisms in prefermentation treatment in lamtoro seed during mlanding tempeh’s production. Moisture, protein, and fat content increased, whereas ash, carbohydrate, phytic acid, tannin, and mimosine decreased. The total phenols content, antioxidant activity, and dietary fiber content of lamtoro seed also decreased. Meanwhile, the population of microorganisms (yeast and lactic acid bacteria) increased in pre-fermentation treatment in lamtoro seed during mlanding tempeh’s production.

Impact of species and strain variability on non-thermal plasma decontamination efficacy

Microwave non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a promising preservation technology for surface decontamination, alternative to conventional methods such as heat treatments and chemical additives. This study explores the impact of plasma processed air (PPA) exposure on 50 strains from five diverse microbial species relevant to food quality and safety. Bacterial vegetative cells were effectively inactivated in an agar plate model system. The average reduction after 60 s of treatment was 4.9 log10, 5.8 log10, and 5.9 log10 for Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum respectively, with limited strain variability. Saccharomyces cerevisiae reached an average of 5.3 log10 reduction after 30 s of treatment, with one resistant strain (AD1890). Bacillus subtilis spores were inactivated by 2.0 log10 on average after 30 min, with two distinct strain groups. These results showed that PPA can be used as a mild decontamination treatment applicable to dry and heat-sensitive surfaces, suitable for various food applications.

Safety, Processing, and Utilization of Fishery Products

Global marine fish harvests have reached a plateau over the last decade, and efforts to increase aquaculture tend to face limitations in terms of water resources and contamination problems. Of the current fish harvest, at least 50% is discarded as waste. The current situation requires efforts to process, preserve, and utilize the fish capture to minimize waste. Chemical and microbiological contamination limit the utilization of harvested fish. There is a need to improve fish preservation to minimize spoilage and to process them into more appealing products. Instead of resorting to individual food-processing methods, the efficiency of processing could best be increased by a combination of conventional and modern processing methods or by combinations of modern processing methods. Fish waste is a rich source of oils containing essential fatty acids, polypeptides, and amino polysaccharides that could be utilized through the upscaling of current scientifically proven methods to new processing technologies. The separation of collagens, gelatins, bioactive peptides, edible fish oils, and chitosan form the primary stages in the utilization of fish waste. The products need purification to meet food quality and safety standards and to have desirable industrial characteristics. The diversity of information and products generated through new methods require advanced data handling and prediction systems, such as artificial intelligence, to address food safety and to derive the best out of fish processing and utilization.

Advancing Food Industry with Quantum Dot Technology

Since people consume different varieties of food, they are more conscious of their health nowadays. Food analysis, which is a major element, helps to monitor the food quality for risk assessment regarding public health. As Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) are the least toxic, they are in great demand. They help to optimize food packaging, detect as well as monitor foodborne pathogens, and assess food quality utilizing imaging and sensing. Owing to their nontoxicity and eco- friendliness, CQDs stand unique although there are different kinds of Quantum Dots (QDs). To enhance food safety, quality assessment, and packaging, CQDs also deliver exciting possibilities. CQD applications can detect insecticide residues, antibiotics, nutrients, heavy metals, pathogens, and food additives. Furthermore, CQDs find use in food packaging materials in which their Ultraviolet (UV) barrier, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties increase product shelf life and decrease food waste. Hence, explaining CQDs’ industrial applications in the food sector is the study’s objective. In this paper, CQDs' role in food processing and its industrial applications in food sectors, including food detection and packaging are explored.

A dynamic, multilevel process evaluation of a produce prescription program at a federally qualified health center: 2017-2021 description, implementation, and infrastructure.

The "Food as Medicine" (FAM) movement encourages public health and medical professionals to recognize the importance of dietary patterns and food access. The purpose of this work was to describe patient and physician engagement with a produce prescription (PRx) program to improve access to fresh vegetables in a healthcare setting. A Federally Qualified Health Center, regenerative farm, and academic institution partnered for the PRx program (2017-21). During harvest seasons, patients redeemed "prescriptions" for initial and "refill" produce boxes. Baseline food insecurity surveys were embedded in electronic medical records. Refill surveys assessed satisfaction and confidence. Electronic surveys to prescribing physicians assessed program knowledge, expectations, and motivations. Across 8 biannual harvests generating 9986 produce boxes, 8046 patients received prescriptions, 6227 redeemed prescriptions for ≥1 box, and 720 redeemed for ≥2 boxes. Seasonally, initial redemption rates ranged from 64.5% to 82.7%; refill rates ranged from 6.8% to 16.7%. Among participants, 70.8% sometimes/often worried food would run out and 66.7% sometimes/often ran out of food. Among those with refills, there was high satisfaction with food quality (95.8%) and variety (97.2%), and 94.2% were confident preparing meals from produce. Among physicians (n = 22), 100% self-reported adequate knowledge about PRx for patient recommendations, and 100% believed PRx had benefit for patients. Chronic conditions (77%), low socioeconomic status (64%), and food insecurity (59%) were common motivating factors for prescriptions. We demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a cross-sector, seasonal PRx program within a multisite healthcare system. More research is needed to refine implementation toward greater patient refill rates.

A sensitive paper-based vapor-test kit for instant formalin detection in food products

A colorimetric sensing method based on a paper-based vapor-test kit was successfully developed for the selective and sensitive real-time monitoring of formalin in food samples. The device was specifically designed to efficiently extract and detect formalin simultaneously. A microcentrifuge tube was used as the sample solution container, with the inner cap serving as the reaction and detection zone. Formalin was converted into gaseous formaldehyde through controlled heating, which was then extracted and collected on a filter paper coated with Nash's reagent. The color change on paper was used for formalin quantification using a smartphone for detection and image analysis. Under optimal conditions, our method provided a linear range of 0.5–75 mg L−1 with a detection limit of 0.11 mg L−1. This method effectively determined formalin in fresh food and vegetable samples, with recoveries ranging from 92 to 111%, demonstrating comparable accuracy to the standard method for practical food quality control and safety.

Effect of Seaweed Application on the Growth, Yield and Physiological Parameters in the Intercropping Farming System.

The present study demonstrates the application of biostimulants during the cultivation of wheat and chickpeas in intercropping farming. This study examined the effect of seaweed on the increasing amount of nitrogen, yield, and nutrient quality of wheat and chickpeas. In north India, rabi crops were grown for three seasons from 2019 to 2021 in the intercropping farming system. The main crop (wheat) was sown with chickpea (legumes) to enhance the yield of two crops in one season as chickpea also helps in nitrogen fixation in soil. There was a total of 36 rows each of 6 m, of which nine rows each were for wheat and chickpea and the other nine were for one row of wheat and another of chickpea. Results of the study, exhibit the significant effect of the amount of nitrogen which was a maximum of 4.33 mg/kg in intercropping treated with seaweed as compared to intercropping with control 4.23 mg/kg. AE (Agronomic Efficiency) in the intercropping with seaweed treatment was 3.27 kg/kg as compared to 3.23 kg/kg in the control. The yield and harvest index of seaweed with intercropping was higher than intercropping in control with chemical fertilizers like urea. Hence, biostimulants along with intercropping were found to be effective in increasing the yield and nutritional value of crops.

WO3 Nanoplates Decorated with Au and SnO2 Nanoparticles for Real-Time Detection of Foodborne Pathogens.

Nowadays, metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors have diverse applications ranging from human health to smart agriculture with the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. However, high operating temperatures and an unsatisfactory detection capability (high sensitivity, fast response/recovery speed, etc.) hinder their integration into the IoT. Herein, a ternary heterostructure was prepared by decorating WO3 nanoplates with Au and SnO2 nanoparticles through a facial photochemical deposition method. This was employed as a sensing material for 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (3H-2B), a biomarker of Listeria monocytogenes. These Au/SnO2-WO3 nanoplate-based sensors exhibited an excellent response (Ra/Rg = 662) to 25 ppm 3H-2B, which was 24 times higher than that of pure WO3 nanoplates at 140 °C. Moreover, the 3H-2B sensor showed an ultrafast response and recovery speed to 25 ppm 3H-2B as well as high selectivity. These excellent sensing performances could be attributed to the rich Au/SnO2-WO3 active interfaces and the excellent transport of carriers in nanoplates. Furthermore, a wireless portable gas sensor equipped with the Au/SnO2-WO3 nanoplates was assembled, which was tested using 3H-2B with known concentrations to study the possibilities of real-time gas monitoring in food quality and safety.

Changes in the Quality and Microbial Communities of Precooked Seasoned Crayfish Tail Treated with Microwave and Biological Preservatives during Room Temperature Storage.

The qualities of precooked foods can be significantly changed by the microorganisms produced during room temperature storage. This work assessed the effects of different antibacterial treatments (CK, without any treatment; microwave treatment, MS; microwave treatment and biological preservatives, MSBP) on the physicochemical properties and microbial communities of precooked crayfish tails during room temperature storage. Only the combination of microwave sterilization and biological preservatives significantly inhibited spoilage, as evidenced by the total viable count (4.15 log CFU/g) after 3 days of room temperature storage, which satisfied the transit time of most logistics companies in China. Changes in pH and TVB-N were also significantly inhibited in the MSBP group compared with those in the CK and MS groups. More than 30 new volatile compounds were produced in the CK groups during room temperature storage. However, in the MSBP groups, the volatile compounds were almost unchanged. The correlations between the microbial composition and volatile compounds suggested that specific bacterial species with metabolic activities related to amino acid, energy, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism, as well as xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, were responsible for the changes in volatile compounds. These bacteria included Psychrobacter, Arthrobacter, Facklamia, Leucobacter, Corynebacterium, Erysipelothrix, Devosia, Dietzia, and Acidovorax. Overall, our findings provide a foundation for the development of strategies to inhibit spoilage in precooked crayfish tails stored at room temperature.

Minimum acceptable diet and associated factors among 6–23 months children in rural households with irrigated users and non-irrigated users in Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

IntroductionPoor quality of complementary foods is a key contributor to undernutrition even with optimal breastfeeding. Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) has tremendous health and nutrition benefits but only 12% of Ethiopian children’s feeding practices meet its standards. The Ethiopian government has recently increased efforts to expand nutrition-sensitive irrigation to improve child nutrition. However, the impact that irrigation has brought on the minimum acceptable diet practice of children below two years has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to compare the magnitude of MAD practice and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in households with irrigated users and non-users of North Mecha district, Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based comparative cross-sectional study was employed among 824 mother-child pairs. For infant and young child feeding practices, the data collection tools were adapted from the World Health Organization’s standardized questionnaire developed in 2010. X2 test was used to compare the MAD practices of irrigated users’ and non-irrigated users. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to see the predictor variables. p-value < 0.05 was taken to declare statistical significance.ResultsThe present study showed that the MAD practice of under two children in irrigated users is significantly higher than non-users (X2 = 13.91, P <.001). Maternal involvement in decision-making [AOR = 4.37, 95% CI: (2.05,9.33)], initiation of breastfeeding [AOR = 5.29, 95% CI: (2.393,11.672)], and history of illness [AOR = 4.10, 95%CI: (1.48,11.38)] were independent predictors for MAD practice among irrigated users. Whereas, maternal involvement in decision making [AOR = 4.71, 95% CI: ( 2.28, 9.75)], place of delivery [AOR = 2.51, 95% CI: ( 1.14, 5.55)], postnatal care (PNC) follow-up [AOR = 3.01, 95%CI: (1.57, 5.77)] and growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) service utilization [AOR = 4.64, 95% CI: (2.40, 8.95)] were the independent predictors among the non-users.ConclusionMAD practice was much higher in irrigated users than in non-irrigated users. Involvement in a decision, place of delivery, PNC, and GMP are independent predictors of MAD in children from non-irrigated households. The study suggested that expanding access to irrigation to households may be the best approach to improve child nutrition.

Impact of nutrients in food quality and safety by machine learning classifier using internet of things

Impact of nutrients in food quality and safety by machine learning classifier using internet of things

Growth and Instability Analysis of Minor Pulses in Bangladesh

Providing a balanced diet to ensure food and nutritional security is the primary worldwide challenge. Food production efficiency and sustainability must be enhanced to address hunger and malnutrition, while food quantity and quality must grow. Pulses are an important food for the people of Bangladesh. Besides major pulses, we have to look at minor pulses as well. On the other hand, growth and instability are the two crucial aspects of agriculture. Since agriculture depends on weather conditions, the crop area, production, and yield are subject to significant variations over time. This study examined growth and instability in the area, production and yield of minor pulses using secondary data for the past 40 years (1981-2020). The entire period was divided into four sub-periods: 1981-1990, 1991-2000, 2001-2010 &amp; 2011-2020 for analysis through different statistical tools. A suitable exponential growth function was used to calculate growth rates, and the Cuddy-Della Valle Index (CDI) was created to examine instability. The investigation showed that over the time period, both the area and production of minor pulses significantly decreased. However, the yield growth rate was modest and fell short of the demand in our nation. The investigation also revealed that there was no stability in the area, production, or yield of minor pulses during the course of the study.

Exogenous application of bio-stimulants and growth retardants improve nutrient absorption and fiber quality in upland cotton

BackgroundNatural and synthetic plant growth regulators are essential for plant health, likewise these regulators also play a role in increasing organic production productivity and improving quality and yield stability. In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of foliar applied plant growth regulators, i.e., moringa leaf extract (MLE) and mepiquat chloride (MC) alone and in combination MC and MLE on the conventional cotton cultivar (CIM 573) and transgenic one (CIM 598). The growth regulators were applied at the start of bloom, 45 and 90 days after blooming.ResultsThe application of MC and MLE at 90 days after blooming significantly improved the relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, the number of bolls per plant, and seed cotton yield. Likewise, the combined application of MLE and MC at 90 days after blooming significantly boosted the nitrogen uptake in locules, as well as the phosphorus and potassium uptake in the leaves of both cotton cultivars. The application of MLE alone has considerably improved the nitrogen uptake in leaves, and phosphorus and potassium contents in locules of Bt and conventional cotton cultivars. Similarly, Bt cotton treated with MLE at 90 days after blooming produced significantly higher ginning out turn and oil contents. Treatment in combination (MLE + MC) at 90 days after blooming produced considerably higher micronaire value, fiber strength, and staple length in conventional cultivar.ConclusionThe natural growth enhancer, MLE is a rich source of minerals and zeatin, improving the nutrient absorption and quality of cotton fiber in both conventional and Bt cotton cultivars.

Effect of solid-state fermentation on the nutritional composition and physicochemical properties of whole-grain highland barley and the application in digestive cookies

This research investigated the enhancement of nutritional composition and physicochemical characteristics of highland barley through solid-state fermentation employing three bacterial strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAC), Lactobacillus reuteri and Enterococcus faecalis. The results showed that solid-state fermentation significantly increased the contents of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and total polyphenol, while decreased the contents of fat, starch and total dietary fiber (TDF) compared to the control (p < 0.05). Additionally, the fermented barley flour exhibited improved water and oil holding capacities. Solid-state fermentation altered the structural integrity of highland barley's whole grain and flour, resulting in finer particles. The physicochemical properties of the whole highland barley grain fermented with LAC showed marked improvement. Homemade highland barley cookies prepared with barley flour fermented by LAC, and enriched with ingredients homologous to both food and medicine, were favored by consumers. They also contained higher levels of protein, TDF and SDF compared to commercial cookies. The study indicated solid-state fermentation as a promising approach to enhance the nutritional value and overall quality of whole-grain foods, facilitating the development of products that were both nutritious and appealing to consumers.