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Showing papers in "Journal of AOAC International in 2018"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A number of classical and modern technologies for synthetic dye removal from industry-originated wastewater were summarized and discussed and there is an increasing interest in the application of waste organic materials as effective, low-cost, and ecologically friendly sorbents.
Abstract: Synthetic dyes or colorants are key chemicals for various industries producing textiles, food, cosmetics, pharmaceutics, printer inks, leather, and plastics. Nowadays, the textile industry is the major consumer of dyes. The mass of synthetic colorants used by this industry is estimated at the level of 1 ÷ 3 × 105 tons, in comparison with the total annual consumption of around 7 × 105 tons worldwide. Synthetic dyes are relatively easy to detect but difficult to eliminate from wastewater and surface water ecosystems because of their aromatic chemical structure. It should be highlighted that the relatively high stability of synthetic dyes leads to health and ecological concerns due to their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic nature. Currently, removal of such chemicals from wastewater involves various techniques, including flocculation/coagulation, precipitation, photocatalytic degradation, biological oxidation, ion exchange, adsorption, and membrane filtration. In this review, a number of classical and modern technologies for synthetic dye removal from industry-originated wastewater were summarized and discussed. There is an increasing interest in the application of waste organic materials (e.g., compounds extracted from orange bagasse, fungus biosorbent, or green algal biomasses) as effective, low-cost, and ecologically friendly sorbents. Moreover, a number of dye removal processes are based on newly discovered carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes and graphene as well as their derivatives).

158 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Convergences and differences in the regulatory framework of food control agencies in different regions of the world are revealed and the spread of antibiotic resistance in the food chain and the environment is discussed, as well as the rise of new antibiotic-resistant pathogenic strains with broader tolerance to environmental factors.
Abstract: Globalization has created a dynamic market, which has dramatically intensified interchanges of goods and information as well as the flow of people among nations. This international phenomenon offers the consumer a choice between a wide variety of foods from diverse locations. However, there are challenges to improving food security and safety on a global scale; the major question is how food safety can be guaranteed while increasing the complexity of food supply chains. A food produced in a certain location usually contains ingredients, additives, and preservatives from different and distant origins. Although countries take several food control measures, their institutional and regulatory frameworks diverge widely, as do the definitions of food crisis, food incidents, and risk management approaches. The present review discusses some past food safety issues and lessons learned. Convergences and differences in the regulatory framework of food control agencies in different regions of the world are herein revealed. Emerging risks are also discussed, particularly the spread of antibiotic resistance in the food chain and the environment, as well as the rise of new antibiotic-resistant pathogenic strains with broader tolerance to environmental factors.

49 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results support adoption of the Folin & Ciocalteu's phenol reagent (Folin-C reagent) as First Action Official MethodSM 2017.13 and further evaluation in a collaborative study.
Abstract: A single-laboratory validation of a method using Folin & Ciocalteu's phenol reagent (Folin-C reagent) for determination of total phenolic content of selected dietary supplement extracts was performed. The method is composed of a water extraction of dried extracts with sonication followed by reaction with the Folin-C reagent. The resulting colorimetric reaction is measured at 765 nm and compared with a standard curve generated with gallic acid standard solutions. The validation results were compared with Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) 2015.009, developed by the Stakeholder Panel on Dietary Supplements. The method demonstrated acceptable within-day RSDr of 1.96-7.47% for the five matrixes studied (grape seed extract, grape skin extract, black tea extract, green coffee extract, and cocoa extract). When gallic acid was spiked into maltodextrin (a surrogate dietary supplement carrier) at 30 or 70%, the recovery ranged from 91 to 104%, within the acceptable range established by SMPR 2015.009. Selectivity testing with glucose, fructose, and sucrose demonstrated no positive interference by these compounds. Finally, ruggedness studies demonstrated no significant effects due to changes in the heating apparatus, test material weight, read time after reaction, amount of Folin-C reagent, reaction time, reaction temperature, and amount of Na2CO3. The single-laboratory validation results support adoption of the method as First Action Official MethodSM 2017.13 and further evaluation in a collaborative study.

48 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An LC-tandem MS method that is able to simultaneously screen or quantify the signature tryptic peptides of multiple allergen commodities and was able to meet the minimum performance requirements of the SMPR.
Abstract: There is currently no cure for food allergies, and sufferers can only rely on the correct labeling of foods to avoid allergens. Hence, it is important that analytical methods are sensitive and accurate enough to screen for the presence of multiple allergens in food products. In this study, we developed an LC-tandem MS method that is able to simultaneously screen or quantify the signature tryptic peptides of multiple allergen commodities. This method is capable of screening and identifying egg white, skim milk, peanut, soy, and tree nuts (almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, and walnut) at a detection limit of 10 ppm in incurred bread and cookies. It was further tested for the quantitative analysis of whole-egg, whole-milk, peanut butter, and hazelnut commodities, which are incurred or spiked into selected food matrixes as defined in AOAC INTERNATIONAL Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) 2016.002. The method demonstrated excellent sensitivity with a Method quantitative limit of 3 ppm for whole egg and 10 ppm for the remaining three allergen commodities. It also demonstrated good recovery (60-119%) and repeatability (RSDr <20%), with an analytical range of 10-1000 ppm for each allergen commodity and was able to meet the minimum performance requirements of the SMPR.

42 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry multiple-reaction monitoring method for multiallergen detection and quantitation of egg, milk, and peanut allergens in sugar cookies was developed and evaluated in an allergen-incurred baked sugar cookie matrix.
Abstract: Food allergy is a growing public health concern, with many individuals reporting allergies to multiple food sources. Compliance with food labeling regulations and prevention of inadvertent cross-contact in manufacturing requires the use of reliable methods for the detection and quantitation of allergens in processed foods. In this work, a novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry multiple-reaction monitoring method for multiallergen detection and quantitation of egg, milk, and peanut was developed and evaluated in an allergen-incurred baked sugar cookie matrix. A systematic evaluation of method parameters, including sample extraction, concentration, and digestion, were optimized for candidate allergen peptide markers. The optimized method enabled the reliable detection and quantitation of egg, milk, and peanut allergens in sugar cookies, with allergen concentrations as low as 5 ppm allergen-incurred ingredient.

40 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Japanese food allergen labeling regulation has been enforced for more than 15 years and seems to be working effectively, so now would be an opportune time to review the regulation for its next level of development.
Abstract: The Japanese food allergen labeling regulation was designed to match real Japanese food allergy circumstances and also to be enforced effectively; thus, (1) regulated food allergens were selected by prevalence and seriousness according to food allergy surveys in Japan; (2) the detection criterion for ELISA monitoring, 10 μg food allergen protein/g (or mL) food, was set up as the threshold value to regulate commercial prepackaged foods; and (3) official food allergen analytical methods, which can determine the threshold value accurately, were developed. These three points are distinctive from other countries. Furthermore, as an on-going project, the regulation has been amended according to food allergy circumstances and requirements of society. This paper presents recent changes regarding the Japanese food allergen labeling regulation. To date, the Japanese food allergen labeling regulation has been enforced for more than 15 years and seems to be working effectively. Now would be an opportune time to review the regulation for its next level of development.

38 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The main aim of this review is to summarize the most relevant information about the structural and compositional features of the main polysaccharides found in the A. vera gel as well as the mostrelevant analytical techniques used for their identification and their influence on the technological, functional, and beneficial properties related to the aloe vera plant.
Abstract: Aloe vera (A. barbadensis Miller) is probably one of the most popular plants, widely studied because of numerous properties associated with the polysaccharides present in its gel. In particular, two main types of bioactive polysaccharides can be distinguished in the A. vera gel: an acetylated mannose-rich polymer that functions as storage polysaccharide, and a galacturonic acid-rich polymer as the main component comprising the cell walls of the parenchymatous tissue. Interestingly, most of the beneficial properties related to the aloe plant have been associated with the acetylated mannose-rich polysaccharide, also known as acemannan. However, the composition and structural features of these polysaccharides, as well as the beneficial properties associated with them, may be altered by different factors, such as the climate, soil, postharvest treatments, and processing. Further, different analytical methods have been used not only to identify but also to characterize the main polysaccharides found in parenchyma of A. vera leaf. Within this context, the main aim of this review is to summarize the most relevant information about the structural and compositional features of the main polysaccharides found in the A. vera gel as well as the most relevant analytical techniques used for their identification and their influence on the technological, functional, and beneficial properties related to the A. vera plant.

31 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is recommended that senior management make science-based thresholds a priority for both regulatory authorities and the food industry; VITAL 2.0 be adopted as a risk assessment and risk management tool for precautionary allergen labeling (PAL); a standardized message for PAL be used to make it easily understandable to allergic consumers so they can make informed food choices.
Abstract: For food manufacturers, the label on a food package is a tool meant to alert consumers to the presence of specific allergens, allowing consumers to make informed decisions and not unnecessarily limit their food choices. Mandatory allergen labeling is used when the allergen is an intentionally added ingredient, whereas voluntary allergen labeling is used when the presence of the allergen is unintentional and may be in the finished product as a result of cross-contact. In a globalized economy, ensuring food safety is a growing challenge for manufacturers. When ingredients and technologies are sourced worldwide from multiple business partners, complexity rises, which can increase the chance for errors, leading to potential harm. Threshold science, Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling (VITAL) reference doses, fit-for-purpose analytical technology, and common sense enable us to optimize allergen management for the benefit of allergic consumers. This is a good strategy because all stakeholders share the common goal of making foods safe and wholesome for all. Herein, we recommend that (1) senior management make science-based thresholds a priority for both regulatory authorities and the food industry; (2) VITAL 2.0 be adopted as a risk assessment and risk management tool for precautionary allergen labeling (PAL); (3) a standardized message for PAL, i.e., "may contain x," be used to make it easily understandable to allergic consumers so they can make informed food choices; and (4) validated fit-for-purpose allergen methods be used to meet analytical needs. This is an opportunity for us to speak with one voice and demonstrate that food safety is not a competitive issue, but a shared responsibility. This approach could significantly improve allergic consumers' lives.

30 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There are some food categories that may be at higher risk for containing undeclared allergen(s) and factors, such as food survey product selection, geography, awareness ofallergen/gluten issues, and/or the choice of ELISA method, may be responsible for such differences.
Abstract: Undeclared allergen(s) in commercial food products are responsible for many food recalls, as reported by regulatory agencies in various countries, including the United States. Correct allergen labeling practices are essential for the safety of food-allergic consumers. However, this practice may be hindered by the introduction of allergens all along the food supply chain, including unintentionally through cross-contact. To understand the pervasiveness of undeclared allergen(s) in commercial food products, the objective of this review is to summarize the prevalence of undeclared milk, egg, hazelnut, peanut, soy, and gluten as detected by ELISA from previously published surveys. The prevalence of undeclared allergen(s) in products with or without an advisory statement was also summarized and compared. As compiled by this review, there are some food categories that may be at higher risk for containing undeclared allergen(s). However, the data on prevalence and amount of allergen present may vary widely within any particular allergen or food category. Factors, such as food survey product selection, geography, awareness of allergen/gluten issues, and/or the choice of ELISA method, may be responsible for such differences.

29 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present paper describes the development of European directives and regulations for the labeling of food allergens and intolerances to substances like gluten over the past decades and provides an outlook of what can reasonably be expected to change in the coming years.
Abstract: Food allergens and intolerances have been diagnosed by doctors for decades, but have received heightened attention in the last two decades because diagnosis and awareness have increased. Consequently, regulators in many jurisdictions have addressed this topic by introducing labeling requirements for substances causing allergies and intolerance reactions in affected individuals. Mandatory labeling of food allergens allows persons suffering from these to make informed choices. However, regulations in some geographic areas have resulted in significant problems for manufacturers as well as consumers. This has been mainly due to frequent changes and amendments, and it has been difficult for all stakeholders to follow and understand the status quo of legislation. The present paper describes the development of European directives and regulations for the labeling of food allergens and intolerances to substances like gluten over the past decades and provides an outlook of what can reasonably be expected to change in the coming years. It also identifies existing gaps, like a lack of threshold levels for adventitious contamination and consequently a proliferation of precautionary allergen labeling, which neither benefits the consumer nor the food industry in its current form.

28 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a simultaneous UV-Vis combined solid-phase extraction method, based on the adsorption onto Amberlite XAD-8 resin, for determination of Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow dyes.
Abstract: Background: Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow, two highly water-soluble synthetic food dyes, are the most popular food dyes used and consumed. Although they are not highly toxic, some health problems can be observed when excessive amounts of food products containing these dyes are consumed. Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop a simultaneous UV-Vis combined solid-phase extraction method, based on the adsorption onto Amberlite XAD-8 resin, for determination of Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow dyes. Methods: Sample solution was poured into the reservoir of the column and permitted to gravitationally pass through the column at 2 mL/min flow rate. Adsorbed dyes were eluted to 5 mL of final volume with 1 mol/L HNO₃ in ethanol solution by applying a 2 mL/min flow rate. Dye concentrations of the solution were determined at 483 and 630 nm for Sunset Yellow and Brilliant Blue, respectively. Results: The detection limits of the method for Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow were determined as 0.13 and 0.66 ng/mL, respectively. Preconcentration factor was 80. Brilliant Blue contents of real food samples were found to be between 11 and 240 μg/g. Sunset Yellow concentrations of foodstuffs were determined to be between 19 and 331 μg/g. Conclusions: Economical, effective, and simple simultaneous determination of Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow was achieved by using a solid-phase extraction combined UV-Vis spectrometry method. Highlights: The method is applicable and suitable for routine analysis in quality control laboratories without the need for expert personnel and high operational costs because the instrumentation is simple and inexpensive.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The proposed method still needs improvement in terms of accuracy and precision, but was successfully tested with four proficiency tests in buckwheat, corn, rice, and feed, giving acceptable z-scores for 97% (34 out of 35) of results.
Abstract: Twelve different approaches commonly used for the simultaneous LC tandem MS (MS/MS) determination of mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, fumonisins, and zearalenone) were tested in cereals and feed materials. They comprised different extraction solvents, types of cleanup [solid-phase extraction, QuEChERS, and immunoaffinity (IMA)], and calibration approaches (external or matrix-matched). The percentage of mycotoxins with acceptable recovery, according to Regulation (EC) No. 401/2006, ranged from 9 to 100%. The approach giving the highest percentage of acceptable results was selected and further tested for corn, rice, and feed spiked at three different mycotoxin levels (low, medium, and high). The method is based on extraction with MeOH-water (70 + 30, v/v) and cleanup with two multiantibody IMA columns. For corn and rice spiked at low mycotoxin levels, a significant matrix effect was observed and was compensated by using 13C calibration. At higher mycotoxin levels (medium and high), matrix effects were negligible as no significant differences were observed for the majority of recovery results calculated by 13C calibration and external calibration. Although the proposed method still needs improvement in terms of accuracy and, to a lesser extent, precision, it was successfully tested with four proficiency tests in buckwheat, corn, rice, and feed, giving acceptable z-scores for 97% (34 out of 35) of results.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Three related analytical methods were developed and validated for the determination of pesticides in cannabis leaves, dried cannabis flowers, and cannabis oil, and unannounced inspections of Canadian licensed producers of cannabis revealed that 26 samples showed the presence of unauthorized pest control products.
Abstract: Three related analytical methods were developed and validated for the determination of pesticides in cannabis leaves, dried cannabis flowers, and cannabis oil. The methods follow the generic sequence of an acetonitrile extraction, followed by solid-phase extraction cleanup and analysis by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), GC-MS/MS, and GC-MS. These methods were developed to accommodate sample quantity and lipid content of the different matrices. Validation at a spiking level of 0.01 μg/g was successful for 39 pesticides in cannabis leaves and 40 pesticides in cannabis oil, and at 0.02 μg/g for 32 pesticides in cannabis flowers, with the majority of analytes showing recoveries within the acceptable range of 70-130%. With these methods established, unannounced inspections of Canadian licensed producers of cannabis revealed that out of 144 samples collected, 26 showed the presence of unauthorized pest control products.

Journal ArticleDOI
John Szpylka, Nancy Thiex, Belisario Acevedo, Asier Albizu, Parul Angrish1, Sean Austin2, Knuk Erik Bach Knudsen3, Charles A Barber4, Daniel Berg, Sneh Bhandari, Annie Bienvenue, Kaitlin Cahill, Jane Caldwell, Christian Campargue, Mark W. Collison5, Claudio Cornaggia, Hans Cruijsen6, Manisha Das, Marcel De Vreeze, Inge Deutz7, Jennifer Donelson, Aurelie Dubois, Gustaaf S Duchateau, Lucien Duchateau7, David Ellingson8, Jay Gandhi, Frank Gottsleben, Jonathan Hache9, Gale Hagood10, Mohamed Hamad, Philip Andrew Haselberger, Thomas Hektor, Ryan Edward Hoefling11, SE Holroyd12, Douglas Lloyd Holt, Jeff G Horst, Ruth Ivory, Arrate Jaureguibeitia, Martha Jennens8, Diana C Kavolis13, Lindsay Kock, Erik J M Konings2, Scott Krepich, Dana A Krueger, Markus Lacorn, Cheryl L Lassitter14, Sookwang Lee15, Han Li, Alex Liu, Kai Liu, Bozena D Lusiak2, Eva Lynch, Katerina Mastovska8, Barry V. McCleary, Gaston M Mercier, Pierre L Metra, Lucia Monti16, Carlos Jhonatan Moscoso, Hari Narayanan, Salvatore Parisi, Giampaolo Perinello, Melissa M. Phillips4, Susan Pyatt, Miachael Raessler, Lars M Reimann17, Catherine A. Rimmer4, Alejandra Rodriguez, Joe Romano18, Sandra Salleres, Mariusz Sliwinski, Georgina Smyth, Kathryn Stanley5, Monique Steegmans19, Hiroko Suzuki, Kathy Swartout, Naim Tahiri, Richard Ten Eyck, Marina Graciela Torres Rodriguez, James Van Slate, Peter J. Van Soest20, Tom Vennard8, Roberta Vidal21, Rikke Susanne Vinbord Hedegaard, Ioannis Vrasidas, Yannis Vrasidas, Stephen Walford, Paul Wehling22, Paul Winkler, Ronald Winter15, Bryan Wirthwine, Doug Wolfe, Laura J. Wood4, David C Woollard, Sudhakar Yadlapalli, Xun Yan23, Jinchuan Yang18, Zheng Yang, Guhong Zhao 

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In isolation, separation, and quantification methods of natural and synthetic textile dyes from various matrices (ancient and modern fabrics, water, biota, etc.) are presented.
Abstract: The textile industry uses many raw materials (natural and synthetic dyes and fibers) and different dyeing techniques that can be considered important pollutants with a negative impact on the environment (toxic working conditions, discharged wastewater, and contamination). Although synthetic dyes are intensively used, offer a wide range of colors and hues and properties of adhesion, longevity, and resistance to sunshine and chemical processes, and are cost-effective, they have begun to be restricted by many textile producers because they are nonbiodegradable and have toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects that generate some imbalances in plant, animal, and human life. Natural dyes of plant and animal origin exhibit very good tolerance to washing, rubbing, and light and are biodegradable and nontoxic; these properties have led to a call for the renewed use of these dyes. Modern analytical techniques (solid-phase extraction, spectrophotometry, HPLC, HPTLC, capillary electrophoresis) with different spectroscopy (UV-Vis, diode-array detection, pulsed amperometric detection) and/or MS/tandem mass spectrometry detectors have an important role in the textile industry in obtaining essential information about dyeing techniques, material origin, historical trade routes of ancient textiles, and environmental pollution. For this purpose, isolation, separation, and quantification methods of natural and synthetic textile dyes from various matrices (ancient and modern fabrics, water, biota, etc.) are presented.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The proposed method is capable of determining 10 biogenic amines, including tyramine, which is reported to cause food intoxication commonly associated with cheeses, and can be used for routine determination of biogenicAmines in different types of cheeses as well other food matrices.
Abstract: A new method for determination of underivatized biogenic amines in cheese based on ion exchange chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric detection was proposed. The method was applied to the analysis of 10 biogenic amines (trimethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, 2-phenylethylamine, spermine, spermidine, tryptamine, agmatine, and tyramine) in different types of cheese. The amines were extracted only with water without any additional derivatization step or sample cleanup. This is a great advantage in terms of simplicity of sample pretreatment procedure compared with other currently existing methods in the literature. Biogenic amines were separated using cation exchange column, under gradient elution conditions by mixing formic acid (1.00 M) and deionized water. Detection was achieved using tandem MS/MS, with the instrument set into multiple reaction monitoring mode to ensure high specificity. The detection and quantification limits were in the ranges of 12-46 μg/L and 40-153 μg/L, respectively. The exceptions were spermidine and spermine, with detection limits of 0.8 and 5.4 mg/L, respectively. The linearity for most of the biogenic amines was from 10 μg/L up to 10 mg/L. The best recoveries were observed for trimethylamine, tyramine, and cadaverine, and were 89, 94, and 102%, respectively. The results showed that this method can be used for routine determination of biogenic amines in different types of cheeses as well other food matrices. It must be stressed that the proposed method is capable of determining 10 biogenic amines, including tyramine, which is reported to cause food intoxication commonly associated with cheeses.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper uses the LC-quadrupole-time-of-flight MS technique to evaluate the behavioral characteristics of MS of 485 pesticides under different conditions and has developed an accurate mass database and spectra library.
Abstract: This paper uses the LC-quadrupole-time-of-flight MS technique to evaluate the behavioral characteristics of MS of 485 pesticides under different conditions and has developed an accurate mass database and spectra library. A high-throughput screening and confirmation method has been developed for the 485 pesticides in fruits and vegetables. Through the optimization of parameters such as accurate mass number, time of retention window, ionization forms, etc., the method has improved the accuracy of pesticide screening, thus avoiding the occurrence of false-positive and false-negative results. The method features a full scan of fragments, with 80% of pesticide qualitative points over 10, which helps increase pesticide qualitative accuracy. The abundant differences of fragment categories help realize the effective separation and qualitative identification of isomer pesticides. Four different fruits and vegetables-apples, grapes, celery, and tomatoes-were chosen to evaluate the efficiency of the method at three fortification levels of 5, 10, and 20 μg/kg, and satisfactory results were obtained. With this method, a national survey of pesticide residues was conducted between 2012 and 2015 for 12 551 samples of 146 different fruits and vegetables collected from 638 sampling points in 284 counties across 31 provincial capitals/cities directly under the central government, which provided scientific data backup for ensuring pesticide residue safety of the fruits and vegetables consumed daily by the public. Meanwhile, the big data statistical analysis of the new technique also further proves it to be of high speed, high throughput, high accuracy, high reliability, and high informatization.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this review, a comprehensive list of the most widely used testing methods is addressed and great attention should be paid to the accurate detection of resistance by conventional and molecular methods.
Abstract: The indiscriminate use of antibiotics for the treatment of human and animal infections has led to the rise of resistance in pathogens and in commensal bacteria. In particular, farm animals may act as vectors for the dissemination of drug-resistant genes because of the intensive use of antibiotics in animal production, enabling resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents, including those normally used in human medicine. Escherichia coli, being a widespread commensal, is considered a good indicator of antibiotic use. Ultimately, it is emerging as a global threat, developing dramatically high levels of antibiotic resistance to multiple classes of drugs. Its prevalence in food animals is hence alarming, and more studies are needed in order to ascertain the spread dynamics between the food chain and humans. In this context, great attention should be paid to the accurate detection of resistance by conventional and molecular methods. In this review, a comprehensive list of the most widely used testing methods is also addressed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The difficulty of evaluating whether certain foods contain cobalamin or inactive corrinoids (or both) may be easily resolved by the use of bioautography with a cobalamination-dependent Escherichia coli after separation of the sample by silica gel TLC.
Abstract: Cobalamin, also known as the red-colored vitamin B12, is found in animal-based foods such as meat, milk, and fish. Various cobalamin compounds are extracted from foods and converted into cyanocobalamin, which is most stable, to be analyzed by various methods. Traditionally, the cobalamin content of foods is determined by microbiological assay with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis American Type Culture Collection 7830. However, this lactic acid bacterium can substitute deoxyribosides or deoxynucleotides (known as an alkali-resistant factor) for cobalamin. Therefore, cobalamin contents determined by this microbiological assay are often incorrect in some foods. The difficulty of evaluating whether certain foods contain cobalamin or inactive corrinoids (or both) may be easily resolved by the use of bioautography with a cobalamin-dependent Escherichia coli after separation of the sample by silica gel TLC. LC/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry is also used to analyze corrinoid compounds, and various inactive corrinoid compounds have been identified in foods.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A pragmatic approach was chosen considering the current situation for European food information legislation and when a positive result is obtained for an unlabeled allergen, it is not necessarily an irregularity if it can be demonstrated that the result was caused by cross-contamination.
Abstract: Official food control laboratories in Germany have established internal action values for the assessment of analytical results of food allergens especially obtained from samples without declaration of the specified allergen. A pragmatic approach was chosen considering the current situation for European food information legislation. Accordingly, when a positive result is obtained for an unlabeled allergen, it is not necessarily an irregularity if it can be demonstrated that the result was caused by cross-contamination. Action values take into account current analytical experiences as well as published allergologic reference doses. They are considered as internal de minimis thresholds by food control authorities that are used to support laboratories in the decision-making process and when a written expert opinion is requested by an enforcement authority. If only minor traces are detected at concentrations below the action values, further investigation of the issue and inspections at the location of manufacture can be abandoned. The present report includes a collection of results from official food control laboratories in Germany that have been evaluated in line with the aforementioned system of action levels.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review mapped out the previous studies and current trends as well as provided a prospective outlook for advances in various membrane-combining technologies with an electric field, especially with the electric advanced oxidation processes.
Abstract: The increasing environmental awareness and stricter regulations have prompted the developments of various treatment technologies for dye wastewater. Membrane separation receives extensive attention as a promising technology because of many advantages. However, higher removal performance requirements and membrane fouling issues make a single separation method inadequate for the removal of dyes from industrial wastewater. Exerting an electric field on membrane separation system for dye wastewater treatment has already been proposed and newly developed in recent years because each technology complements the advantages and overcomes the challenges of the other. Although the amount of literature in this field is limited, this integrated technology has exhibited good performance on dye removal and is believed to have a bright prospect. This review mapped out the previous studies and current trends as well as provided a prospective outlook for advances in various membrane-combining technologies with an electric field, especially with the electric advanced oxidation processes. The different combination patterns, performance evaluations, removal mechanisms, and treatment parameters are gathered and discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The aim of the VITAL program is to provide a consistent process, a standardized approach, and a relevant cross-contact statement to allow the allergic consumer to make an informed decision regarding consumption of food.
Abstract: This paper sets out the role of the Allergen Bureau and the Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling (VITAL) Program from its origin in 2007 to its current iteration, VITAL 2. Herewith are outlined the scientific principles that support the program; the program's application in the food chain; and the benefits of the program's use to the food industry, clinicians, and the allergic consumer. VITAL was developed by the Australian and New Zealand food industry in consultation with multiple stakeholders, including consumer organizations, industry bodies, regulators, and retailers, to provide a standardized, science-based risk assessment process for the investigation of the potential presence of food allergens due to cross-contact and to determine whether, for cases in which the allergen is unable to be removed or controlled consistently, precautionary statements are required. The aim of the program is to provide a consistent process, a standardized approach, and a relevant cross-contact statement to allow the allergic consumer to make an informed decision regarding consumption of food.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Compared with the reported methods, the proposed method is greener, more economical, and faster; therefore, it can be used as a green alternative to the existing conventional methods for routine analysis of the studied analytes without harming the environment.
Abstract: Background: Green analytical chemistry (GAC) aims to eliminate or minimize the amount of hazardous solvents consumed and generated daily worldwide. Considering the environmental impact of all analytical procedures and replacing the polluting methodologies with clean ones is of a paramount interest. Objective: This work aims to develop and validate a sustainable, fast, and economic ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous determination of methylxanthines in commercial tea samples as well as to evaluate the greenness profile of the proposed method using two greenness assessment tools: National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) and analytical Eco-scale. Methods: The method was designed based on applying GAC principles in method development. The green chromatography approach was applied by using benign mobile phases. The chromatographic separation was optimized to minimize sample preparation, achieve short analysis time with low solvent consumption, and minimize waste generation. Results: All the studied analytes were separated in only 1.7 min. The detection limits of the studied analytes ranged from 0.015 to 0.03 mg/L, while LOQs were in the range of 0.05 to 0.1 μg/L with UV detection. The proposed method neither uses nor generates harmful chemicals, it passes the four quadrants of the NEMI greenness profile, and it has a high Eco-scale score. Conclusions: Compared with the reported methods, the proposed method is greener, more economical, and faster; therefore, it can be used as a green alternative to the existing conventional methods for routine analysis of the studied analytes without harming the environment.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The overall chemical profiles were found to be consistent, except for the MW and content of polysaccharides in the commercial aloe samples analyzed, which were largely dependent on the types of manufacturing processes employed.
Abstract: Background: There are a substantial number of papers in the scientific literature reporting on the chemical composition of the Aloe vera plant. None of these investigations are truly comprehensive nor address the differences in composition that occur through processing variations in fresh leaves and commercially available product forms. Objectives: This work was to analytically examine a range of these forms and compile the findings. Methods: Fresh A. vera leaves and a number of commercial aloe juice powders were investigated for their major chemical constituents. Samples included fresh leaves from China and Mexico, plus commercial powders from different manufacturers made from different plant parts and/or manufacturing processes. The test results include moisture, ash, fiber, protein, lipids, minerals, organic acids, free sugars, and polysaccharides. The analytical methods employed comprise inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy for minerals, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography equipped with pulsed amperometric detection for free sugars, HPLC for organic acids, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC)-multi-angle laser light scattering (MALS)-differential refractive index (dRI) for polysaccharide analyses. The absolute MW and MW distribution were determined using MALS measurement. Results: The major constituents of A. vera fresh leaf are fibers, proteins, organic acids, minerals, monosaccharides, and polysaccharides, which accounted for 85-95% of the total composition determined. In the commercial powdered aloe juice samples, four major components-organic acids, minerals, monosaccharides, and polysaccharides-accounted for 78-84% of the total composition. Apart from the four major components, products manufactured by ethanol precipitation contained high amounts of fiber and protein, while the free sugars were removed. In ethanol-precipitated products, the polysaccharide MW was less affected by manufacturing conditions and the concentration of aloe polysaccharides was higher than in products made in the nonethanol manufacturing processes. The overall chemical profiles were found to be consistent, except for the MW and content of polysaccharides in the commercial aloe samples analyzed, which were largely dependent on the types of manufacturing processes employed. Conclusions: This present study provides a comprehensive investigation of the major chemical composition of A. vera leaf and commercially derived products. The use of the SEC combined with MALS and differential RI detectors has proved to be an improved tool for the accurate determination of polysaccharide MW and contents of the various commercially available A. vera products in this study.

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TL;DR: The results demonstrated that the immunochromatographic strip has excellent potential for wide applicability and verified that the strip methods for the optimized conditions are applicable to a variety of micropollutants.
Abstract: Lateral flow immunochromatographic strips based on colorants of aptamer-functionalized nanogold particles were developed for the detection of micropollutants aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and chloramphenicol (CAP). The lateral flow immunochromatographic strip was based on a competitive reaction of thiolated-aptamer between micropollutants and bio-DNA probe-streptavidin as capture material immobilized at the test line. General crucial parameters that might influence the sensitivity have been systematically investigated. To test the effectiveness and applicability of the optimized conditions, two structurally unrelated micropollutants, that is, AFB1 and CAP, were chosen for detection. In the present study, lateral flow immunochromatographic strips for AFB1 and CAP analysis by combining the high selectivity and affinity of aptamers with the unique optical properties of nanogold in municipal water samples were reported for the first time. With the optimized conditions, the immunochromatographic strip showed a visual LOD of 10 ppb and a quantitative LOD of 1.05 ppb using an immunochromatographic reader for AFB1 detection and a quantitative LOD of 63.4 ppb using an immunochromatographic reader for CAP detection. Furthermore, the sensitive strip provided a good linear detection range of approximately 0-50 ppm for AFB1 detection and a wider liner detection range of approximately 0-160 ppm for CAP detection. Moreover, the immunochromatographic strip provided recovery rates for water samples of 90-110% in the AFB1 analysis and 84-108% in the CAP analysis. The results demonstrated that the immunochromatographic strip has excellent potential for wide applicability and verified that the strip methods for the optimized conditions are applicable to a variety of micropollutants. The lateral flow immunochromatographic strip could be used as a simple, rapid, and efficient screening tool for rapid on-site detection of a variety of micropollutants.

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TL;DR: The iFAAM approach has highlighted the need for methods to report test results in allergenic protein to allow food business operators to use them in risk assessments that are founded on clinical study data in which protein has been used as a measure of allergen potency.
Abstract: Allergen analysis is central to implementing and monitoring food allergen risk assessment and management processes by the food industry, but current methods for the determination of allergens in foods give highly variable results. The European Union-funded "Integrated Approaches to Food Allergen and Allergy Risk Management" (iFAAM) project has been working to address gaps in knowledge regarding food allergen management and analysis, including the development of novel MS and immuno-based allergen determination methods. Common allergenic food ingredients (peanut, hazelnut, walnut, cow's milk [Bos domesticus], and hen's egg [Gallus domesticus]) and common food matrixes (chocolate dessert and cookie) have been used for both clinical studies and analytical method development to ensure that the new methods are clinically relevant. Allergen molecules have been used as analytical targets and allergenic ingredients incurred into matrixes at levels close to reference doses that may trigger the use of precautionary allergen labeling. An interlaboratory method comparison has been undertaken for the determination of peanut in chocolate dessert using MS and immuno-based methods. The iFAAM approach has highlighted the need for methods to report test results in allergenic protein. This will allow food business operators to use them in risk assessments that are founded on clinical study data in which protein has been used as a measure of allergenic potency.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Until true polysaccharide standards become available MW and MWD's will be simply relative to the standards employed and the technologies used, as indicated by the results clearly indicated.
Abstract: Background: Size exclusion chromatography (SEC)/refractive index (RI) were used to determine molecular weight (MW) and molecular weight distributions (MWD) of polysaccharides. In aloe product research and quality control, commercially available pullulan and dextran are most commonly employed as calibration standards. Significant difference in the MW and MWD were found in literature when different methods were used. Objectives: This study was to investigate the traditional methods and more recent technologies used to determine the MW and MWD of Aloe vera polysaccharides. Methods: In this study, multi-angle laser light scattering (MALS) detection was studied on three polysaccharides, 1, 2, and 3, that were isolated and purified from A. vera leaf. The chemical structures of 1-3 were characterized as 1, 4-β-linked glucomannans by monosaccharide composition and glycosidic linkage analysis. Absolute MW and root-mean-square radius were determined by MALS on the isolated aloe polysaccharides. The conditions to obtain reliable results from MALS measurement were examined. Results: MALS analysis demonstrates that the 1, 4-β-linked glucomannan adopt the conformation of random coils or hard spheres in the analytical environment of a 0.1 M NaCl solution. Non-size exclusion effects and interactions between polysaccharide molecules were also observed in some aloe polysaccharides in the current analysis. The weight-average MW obtained by MALS measurement for 1, 2, and 3 are 55, 129, and 962 kDa, respectively. Comparing the results with SEC/RI calibrated by pullulan and dextran standards, marked differences in the MWD are found. Both overestimated the MW of 1 and 2 by factors of 4.4 and 4.2, and 2.4 and 1.6, when using dextran and pullulan calibration, respectively. Using pullulan calibration underestimated the MW of 3 by a factor of 3.1, but a similar result was obtained from dextran calibration compared to MALS measurement. The two isolated aloe polysaccharides were employed to be broad calibration standards or to be combined with narrow polydispersity pullulan calibration standards. Several aloe samples were tested using the different calibration curves, and the determined MWs were compared with the results obtained by MALS measurement. Conclusions: The results clearly indicated that until true polysaccharide standards become available MW and MWD's will be simply relative to the standards employed and the technologies used.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Preliminary data suggest that the polysaccharides vary between species and that true species of Aloe may differ from segregate genera, and a clear difference in thepolysaccharide compositions of the mesophyll tissues was seen.
Abstract: Background: As the popularity of Aloe vera extracts continues to rise, a desire to fully understand the individual polymer components of the leaf mesophyll, their relation to one another, and the effects they have on the human body are increasing. Polysaccharides present in the leaf mesophyll have been identified as the components responsible for the biological activities of A. vera, and they have been widely studied in the past decades. However, the commonly used methods do not provide the desired platform to conduct large comparative studies of polysaccharide compositions, as most of them require a complete or near-complete fractionation of the polymers. Objective: The objective for this study was to assess whether carbohydrate microarrays could be used for the high-throughput analysis of cell wall polysaccharides in aloe leaf mesophyll. Methods: The method we chose is known as comprehensive microarray polymer profiling (CoMPP) and combines the high-throughput capacity of microarray technology with the specificity of molecular probes. Results: Preliminary findings showed that CoMPP can successfully be used for high-throughput screening of aloe leaf mesophyll tissue. Seventeen species of Aloe and closely related genera were analyzed, and a clear difference in the polysaccharide compositions of the mesophyll tissues was seen. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that the polysaccharides vary between species and that true species of Aloe may differ from segregate genera.

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TL;DR: The workflows that have been used to select peptide targets for food allergen detection are reviewed and the use and limitations of both in silico-based analyses and experimental methods relying on high-resolution MS are described.
Abstract: The detection and quantitation of allergens as contaminants in foods using MS is challenging largely due to the requirement to detect proteins in complex, mixed, and often processed matrixes. Such methods necessarily rely on the use of proteotypic peptides as indicators of the presence and amount of allergenic foods. These peptides should represent the allergenic food in question in such a way that their use is both sensitive (no false-negatives) and specific (no false-positives). Choosing such peptides to represent food allergens is beset with issues, including, but not limited to, separated ingredients (e.g., casein and whey), extraction difficulties (particularly from thermally processed foods), and incomplete sequence information, as well as the more common issues associated with protein quantitation in biological samples. Here, we review the workflows that have been used to select peptide targets for food allergen detection. We describe the use and limitations of both in silico-based analyses and experimental methods relying on high-resolution MS. The variation in the way in which target selection is performed highlights a lack of standardization, even around the principles describing what the detection method should achieve. A lack of focus on the food matrixes to which the method will be applied is also apparent during the peptide target selection process. It is hoped that highlighting some of these issues will assist in the generation of MS-based allergen detection methods that will encourage uptake and use by the analytical community at large.