Showing papers in "International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health in 2008"
TL;DR: The study showed the predominant consumption of two colours such as tartrazine and sunset yellow mainly from sweetmeats, beverages and fast foods while colours like carmoisine, ponceau 4R and erythrosine were consumed by the intake of confectioneries, jams, jellies showing that the preference of colours is based on the type of foods consumed.
Abstract: The present study was an attempt to assess the risk of selected population to synthetic food colours. Children had high intakes of coloured solid (2?465 g day−1) and liquid foods (25?840 ml day−1). The study showed the predominant consumption of two colours such as tartrazine and sunset yellow mainly from sweetmeats, beverages and fast foods while colours like carmoisine, ponceau 4R and erythrosine were consumed by the intake of confectioneries, jams, jellies showing that the preference of colours is based on the type of foods consumed. The intakes of colours like tartrazine, erythrosine and sunset yellow were high among children due to ingestion of foods containing high concentrations of colours (9.45 and 4.0 mg). The study emphasised the need to evaluate the risk of the population to colours on a long-term basis.
31 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the need for new surveillance studies into the presence and ecology of aflatoxins in food commodities originating from, and traded by and within Southern Africa's rural agricultural sector.
Abstract: Malnutrition accounts for more than 5 million deaths of under-5s in the developing world annually. There is mounting evidence implicating aflatoxin contamination as an important factor in infant under-nutrition. Aflatoxins have in the past been associated with the development of primary liver cancer. More recent studies link chronic aflatoxicosis to infant growth stunting and increased morbidity and mortality due to negative impact on immune function and micro-nutrient absorption. Southern Africa is largely subtropical and experiences erratic rainfall, poverty, and high burden of disease (especially HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis). The geography, climate and socioeconomic factors in Southern Africa make the region conducive to the growth of aflatoxigenic fungi. However, studies on the natural occurrence of aflatoxins are outdated. This review discusses the need for new surveillance studies into the presence and ecology of aflatoxins in food commodities originating from, and traded by and within Southern Africa's rural agricultural sector.
28 citations
TL;DR: Age, Body Mass Index and HbA1c were significantly associated with MeS after adjustment for a number relevant variables including; gender, marital status, educational level, exercise, smoking, etc.
Abstract: Metabolic Syndrome (MeS) is a cluster of abnormalities including impaired glucose metabolism, central obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension. The MeS has not been widely studied among the Arab populations, but the data available suggests that it is an increasingly common problem. Prevalence of MeS and its associated components are not available in Qatar. To estimate the prevalence of MeS and its associated components among the Qatari population and to determine its associated risk factors, a cross-sectional study was carried out among Qatari adults aged 20 years and above. Face to face interviewing using a structured questionnaire followed by laboratory tests were conducted. MeS was defined using the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria as well as the International Diabetes Federation criteria (IDF). The crude prevalence rate of MeS according to ATP III criteria and IDF criteria were 26.4 and 34.0%, respectively. The age-standardised prevalence of the MeS according to ATP III was 27.7% (95% CI 23.3?32.0%), (23.6% among men (95% CI 19.5?27.7%) and 32.6% among women (95% CI 28.0?37.2%)) and according to IDF criteria, the age standardised prevalence was 35.4% (95% CI 30.7?40.0%), 38.7% (95% CI 34.0?43.5%) for women and 35.8% (95% CI 31.2?40.5%) for men. Age, Body Mass Index and HbA1c were significantly associated with MeS after adjustment for a number relevant variables including; gender, marital status, educational level, exercise, smoking, etc. Prevalence of the MeS in Qatar is considerably higher than anticipated. A well-designed health education programmes to increase the awareness of the public as well as healthcare providers are highly recommended. The programme should focus on the risk factors and the health consequences of MeS.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of mercury on human health and environment was reviewed and demonstrated, and the main concern of the paper was the effect on the central nervous system of multiple sclerosis.
Abstract: This article aims to review and to demonstrate the effect of mercury on the human health and environment. Mercury is one of the 12 toxic pollutants identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency and can be toxic at low levels in the environment. Mercury can stay in the atmosphere for up to a year. When released to the air, mercury is transported and deposited globally. Mercury ultimately accumulates in lake's bottom sediments, where it is transformed into its more toxic organic form, methyl mercury, which accumulates in fish tissue. Mercury is expected to have serious risks for human health, because it bio accumulates and persists in the environment. There are several ways to expose to mercury, such as breathing contaminated air, drinking contaminated water, consuming contaminated fishes, touching polluted subjects in home and job medias and other ways. Acute and chronic exposures have different effects on the human health. The polluting effect of mercury on the environment and human as a result of agricultural, medical, dental and industrial operations, is the main concern of this paper. Multiple sclerosis is a condition of the central nervous system that usually starts in early adult life. Mercury pollution must be considered globally but controlled locally. The polluting effect of mercury on the environment and humans as a result of agricultural, medical, dental, and industrial operations, is the main concern of this paper.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the antioxidant activity of green and oolong teas from Rwanda with those from China by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydryzyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method.
Abstract: Antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract of black tea from Rwandan highlands was compared with that of green and oolong teas from China and was determined by use of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydryzyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. The higher the concentration of the extract, the higher was free radical scavenging activity. Antioxidant activity of the teas extracts decreased in the order: green > oolong > black. The extraction methods were hot water method, methanolic method and ethyl acetate method. The hot water method gave the highest yield in all teas extraction methods. The phenolic content of all teas extracts were analysed according to the Folin?ciocalteu method and were expressed as mg gallic acid equivalents/g of dry extract. Green tea, oolong tea and black tea extracts showed the highest phenolic content of 162, 144 and 124 mg GAE/g dry extract, respectively.
8 citations
TL;DR: The finding of amyloid fibrils in edible avian and mammalian food animal tissues has led to concerns that products such as pate de foie gras may activate a reactive systemic amyloidsosis in susceptible consumers, and the speculative etiologic role of dietaryAmyloid in other disease processes involving amyloidal formation such as Alzheimer's disease and Type II Diabetes is discussed.
Abstract: The demonstration of oral Amyloid-A (AA) fibril transmissibility has raised food safety questions about the consumption of amyloidotic viscera. In a presumed prion-like mechanism, amyloid fibrils have been shown to trigger and accelerate the development of AA amyloidosis in rodent models. The finding of amyloid fibrils in edible avian and mammalian food animal tissues, combined with the inability of cooking temperatures to eliminate their amyloidogenic potential, has led to concerns that products such as pate de foie gras may activate a reactive systemic amyloidosis in susceptible consumers. Given the ability of amyloid fibrils to cross-seed the formation of chemically heterologous fibrils, the speculative etiologic role of dietary amyloid in other disease processes involving amyloid formation such as Alzheimer's disease and Type II Diabetes is also discussed.
8 citations
TL;DR: Ready-to-Eat (RTE, street) foods sold at Bodija market, Ibadan, Nigeria were examined and water used by butchers and some food producers at the Bodija Market were contaminated with E. coli and Staph.
Abstract: Ready-to-Eat (RTE, street) foods sold at Bodija market, Ibadan, Nigeria were examined. Methods used for the preparation of RTE foods were followed in establishing relevant Critical Control Points (CCPs). Hazard analyses were carried out on all foods examined from the raw material up to the finished product levels. Two cereal-based products (kokoro and kunu tsamiya) had high microbial counts (>104 cfu g−1) and coliforms, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus spp. were isolated from the samples examined. From akara ? a cowpea paste, Staphylocccus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus spp. were isolated. The samples of ice cream examined had pH values of 6.2?6.8 and Staph. aureus, E. coli and Psendomonas aeruginosa were isolated from the samples. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and E. coli were isolated from gari ? a cassava?based products. Staphylocccus aureus. A. niger and Bacillus spp. were isolated from the buckets, knives and floor of the abattoir examined. Water used by butchers and some food producers at the Bodija Market were contaminated with E. coli and Staph. aureus.
6 citations
TL;DR: A conceptual framework for an intervention programme over three year period that can be easily adapted to prevent childhood obesity is outlined, based on behaviour modification model without giving foods.
Abstract: The prevalence and severity of people suffering from obesity has increased markedly worldwide. The WHO declared obesity a 'crisis of epidemic proportion'. This article outlines a conceptual framework for an intervention programme over three year period that can be easily adapted to prevent childhood obesity. The presented approach is based on behaviour modification model without giving foods. Family, school and children are essential counterparts to achieve meaningful improvement. Advocated by policies makers and embraced with favourite environmental factors, CHOP programme could be the conceptual framework for nutrition intervention that can be effectively integrated within the national health framework to attain public health goals.
5 citations
TL;DR: The results show RAPD-PCR to be reliable, specific and sensitive method for differentiating meat species that may be of great value for monitoring meat substitution/adulteration by food regulatory agencies/authorities.
Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the efficiency of random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) technique in differentiating meat species viz cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig and chicken Different random primers were screened with DNA extracted from meat samples of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig and chicken Characteristic species-specific bands of (1,661 and 1,268 bp) in buffalo and (1,201 and 407 bp) in pig were obtained by amplification of primer B13 These bands were not present in any of the other meat species used in present investigation The buffalo and pig meat was clearly differentiated from other meat species by these species-specific bands The results show RAPD-PCR to be reliable, specific and sensitive method for differentiating meat species that may be of great value for monitoring meat substitution/adulteration by food regulatory agencies/authorities
5 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the putative chlorpyrifos residues were extracted by homogenising and sonicating the samples with acetonitrile and cleaned up extract was subjected to high performance liquid chromatography.
Abstract: Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphorous compound, is widely used to improve the yield of agricultural produce in India. Public concern over pesticide residues in foods has been increasing such that it has become a significant food safety issue. The present study was conducted to screen 254 buffalo meat samples collected from different slaughter houses for chlorpyrifos residues. The putative chlorpyrifos residues were extracted by homogenising and sonicating the samples with acetonitrile. The extract was cleaned up by performing alumina column chromatography. The cleaned up extract was subjected to high performance liquid chromatography. The residues were eluted in isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:water (67:33) at the flow rate of 1 mlitre min−1 and run time of 18 min. The wavelength of detection was set at 202 nm with 360 nm as the reference wavelength. Chlorpyrifos residues were detected in 18 (7.08% of the total samples) samples. Of these positive samples, only 2 (0.78% of the total samples) exceeded codex maximum residue limit of chlorpyrifos in meat.
3 citations
TL;DR: The highest OTC residue concentration in egg white (0.5944 µg g−1) was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that in entire yolk.
Abstract: Twenty five-week old hens (n = 6) were administered with an oral dose of 75 mg of Oxytetracycline (OTC) hydrochloride per day per head for five consecutive days and its residues in eggs as well as breast, leg and liver tissues were analysed by a high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet visible detection (HPLC-UV) technique. The highest OTC residue concentration in egg white (0.5944 µg g−1) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that in yolk (0.6587 µg g−1), but the highest total OTC residue (18.8610 µg) as well as total OTC residue on any of the days from 2 to 10, in the entire white portion was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that in entire yolk. Ratio of residue concentrations or total residue contents between white and yolk indicated partitioning of OTC residue in egg components. Mean cumulative residue and grand mean residue concentration were greater in egg white than those in yolk.
TL;DR: Results suggest that several factors may be associated with soft drink intake in school-aged girls, most notably taste preferences, soft drink consumption habits of parents and soft drink availability in the home.
Abstract: This study aimed to identify factors associated with soft drink consumption in school-aged girls in Saudi Arabia. The data for this cross-sectional study were collected by a team from the girls' school health services as a part of the health campaign that was organised by Ministry of Education. The survey included questions about the frequency of soft drink consumption and factors related to soft drink consumption. The total number of school children responded was 1,408 students, their age ranged from 12 up to 16 years. Children from intermediate girls' schools in Jeddah City (including north, east, south and west) were selected to represent the different social settings of the city. Preference for the taste of soft drinks was the strongest predictor in the analysis, with those who reported the strongest taste preference 32.9 times more likely (95% confidence interval, 12.50-86.50). School children whose parents drank soft drinks were 1.45 times more likely (95% confidence interval, 0.96-2.20). The availability of soft drink at home was significantly associated with its consumption, relative risk 2.66 (95% CI = 2.3-3.05) and parents' soft drink intake was also associated with school children's soft drink consumption, relative risk 2.3 (95% CI, 1.79-2.99). Results suggest that several factors may be associated with soft drink intake in school-aged girls, most notably taste preferences, soft drink consumption habits of parents and soft drink availability in the home. Additional research is needed to verify these findings in a representative sample of children.
TL;DR: The study was aimed to determine median lethal dose (LD50) of potassium iodate and to assess its toxicity in albino rats and to determine itsoxicity in al bino rats.
Abstract: The study was aimed to determine median lethal dose (LD50) of potassium iodate and to assess its toxicity in albino rats. The oral LD50 was found to be 752 mg kg−1 body weight. A dose of 1/5 LD50 potassium iodate was then given to animals (n = 36). Control animals (n = 36) received distilled water. Means were compared by independent-samples t-test. Growth rates of experimental animals were decreased, particularly at the first two weeks (27.5 and 24.2%, p = 0.009 and 0.000, respectively). Significant increase in serum thyroxin was observed at the second and third weeks (p = 0.007 and 0.046, respectively). Mean glucose levels were significantly decreased with maximum difference of 26.3% at the fifth week (106.1 ± 4.9 ν 78.2 ± 4.2, p = 0.002). Urea was decreased (max difference = 23.6%, mean = 35.6 ± 1.8 ν 27.2 ± 1.7, p = 0.007) whereas uric acid and creatinine were increased (max difference = 25.4%, mean = 1.77 ± 0.08 ν 2.22 ± 0.12, p = 0.011 and 19.6%, 0.56 ± 0.03 ν 0.67 ± 0.03, p = 0.022, respectively).
TL;DR: Tissue fatty acid compositions should be viewed with caution in terms of their appropriateness as a surrogate for measuring Δ6-desaturase activity, and the effects of social isolation stress and cholesterol supplementation in a rodent model are investigated.
Abstract: Δ6-desaturase is a membrane bound enzyme located in a pivotal position within the Essential Fatty Acid metabolic pathway. Changes in the activity of Δ6-desaturase affect the cellular provision of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and therefore factors that influence this enzyme are considered relevant to disease processes. This study investigated the effects of social isolation stress and cholesterol supplementation in a rodent model using two methods to estimate Δ6-desaturase activity, namely, a direct method measuring liver microsomal Δ6-desaturase activity and an indirect method measuring product–precursor ratio from tissue fatty acid compositions. Liver Δ6-desaturase activity was significantly decreased by isolation (-14%) and increased by cholesterol feeding (+9%). Liver microsomal phospholipid fatty acid composition and the associated product–precursor ratios for Δ6-desaturase did not relate to the changes observed in Δ6 desaturase activity. These results indicate that tissue fatty acid compositions should be viewed with caution in terms of their appropriateness as a surrogate for measuring Δ6-desaturase activity.
TL;DR: The effects of adding different concentrations of Aframomum danielli (powder and ethanoic extracts) on nutritional, physico-chemical and sensory properties of wheat flour bread were examined as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The effects of adding different concentrations of Aframomum danielli (powder and ethanoic extracts) on nutritional, physico-chemical and sensory properties of wheat flour bread were examined. A. danielli powder – 2, 4 and 6%, and ethanolic extract (0.1 and 0.2%) were added, respectively, to flour. Using alveograph and consistograph, the physical properties of the dough-water absorption capacity, tenacity, extensibility, strength of flour and peak time were evaluated. As the concentration of A. danielli in the dough increased from 0 to 4%, alveograph tenacity increased from 96 to 193 mm H2O, extensibility decreased from 92 to 27 mm, gluten decreased from 12.21 to 10.56 mm, flour strength decreased from 365 to 255 while consistograph water absorption capacity increased from 56.8 to 58.9%. A 24-member panel familiar with spiced bread found that bread with A. daniell flavour and having no quality impairment can be made with 2% A. danielli powder and 0.1-0.2% ethanolic extract. The lower the level of A. danielli powder addition, the more acceptable the loaf to the taste panellists as the golden brown colour of the crust, texture and uniform crumb grain of spiced bread were similar to those of the control bread sample.
TL;DR: It was found that people from rural region had a higher preference for eating raw cookie dough, compared to people from southern and northern regions, respectively, where future educational strategies will be targeted.
Abstract: We assessed the food safety practices of supervisors in Nevada childcare facilities. Although caregivers have a basic understanding of food safety, specific concerns exist, e.g. 32% of facilities indicated that they prepare food for others when experiencing diarrhoea and 51% indicated a little to no knowledge of hazard analysis and critical control point system guidelines. We found that people from rural region had a higher preference, by 11 and 16%, for eating raw cookie dough, compared to people from southern and northern regions, respectively. Thus, some gaps in food safety knowledge for childcare facilities in Nevada, where future educational strategies will be targeted.