Research Publications (Food Safety)

Food is closely related to human life. With the development of the times, the human demand for food has changed dramatically. People pay closer attention to the safety, health, composition, brand, origin, and processing method of food, which is precisely inseparable from food testing technology.

Natural aquatic environments have a heterogeneous composition; therefore, simultaneous exposure to multiple contaminants is relevant and more realistic when assessing exposure and toxicity.

Summary Wolfberry is a plant with medicinal and food values. However, its bioactive ingredients and the corresponding genetic bases have not been determined. Here, we de novo generated a chromosome‐level genome assembly for wolfberry, yielding a genome sequence of ~1.77 Gb with contig N50 of 50.55 Mb and 39 224 predicted gene models. A variation map, using 307 re‐sequenced accessions, was called based on this genome assembly.

In agriculture, there is a constant search for increased productivity, which leads to increased use of fungicides, insecticides, and inoculants, among other products to perform seed treatment before planting. After treatment, the machines and equipment are sanitized, generating a liquid residue with potentially negative environmental impacts.

Our research results have revealed the molecular mechanisms and processes of how the dominant bacterial community in paddy soils, represented by Sphingomonas sp. strain PAH02, responds to the co‐pollution of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through self‐adaptive cell surface hydrophobicity. We identified key responsive genes and proteins and emphasized that strain PAH02 is a shared core of the microbial community and participates in biogeochemical cycles in paddy soils.

Nanopolystyrene (NP) and cadmium (Cd) are ubiquitous contaminants in aquatic systems. The present study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of exposure to ambient concentrations of NP and/or Cd on the intestinal tract of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis).

Background An LC-MS/MS method was developed for determination and confirmation of tilmicosin in bovine, swine, chicken, and turkey tissues (liver, kidney, muscle, and skin/fat) and bovine milk. Objective The method was subjected to single-laboratory validation to establish method performance parameters.

Abstract Aims Salmonella enterica is a leading cause of acute enteritis in people, and dairy cattle are an important reservoir of this pathogen. The objective of this study was to analyse serotype and anti‐microbial resistance trends of Salmonella isolated from dairy cattle in the United States between 2007 and 2021. Methods and Results We collected data for bovine Salmonella isolates obtained from samples submitted to Cornell University's Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC).

Developing a straightforward method to remove pesticide residues from fruits is essential for food safety. In this study, ozone microbubble treatment was performed on three fruits (strawberry, cherry, and apricot) to remove four pesticide residues (emamectin benzoate, azoxystrobin, boscalid, and difenoconazole) while comparing removal efficiency.

Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, and Cd exposure harms human health, agriculture, and animal husbandry.

Paraquat dichloride is a widely used herbicide that poses a significant threat to human health. Its prohibition in several countries highlights the need for the development of a highly sensitive device capable of detecting minimum concentrations of this herbicide in food matrices. In this study, we developed a lateral flow test strip using gold nanoparticles conjugated to anti-paraquat antibodies for the visual and quantitative detection of paraquat in food samples.

Tricyclazole is a fungicide, widely used to control the blast disease of paddy. Parboiling, a step involved in the post-harvest processing of rice, releases fungicide residues, which enter water bodies and eventually reach aquatic organisms like fish. A preliminary analysis of the parboiled rice mill effluent showed the presence of the fungicide, Tricyclazole. In the present study, a 120-h bioassay was conducted to evaluate the effect of tricyclazole on A.

The present study is based on the application of H2S as an exogenous antidote in Spinacia oleracea (spinach) plants grown in Cd-contaminated (50 ppm) soil. The different doses of H2S in the form of NaHS (10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 μM) have been applied as a foliar spray to regulate the physiological attributes under Cd toxicity.

European oyster (Ostrea edulis) can be used for biological monitoring of water and sediment quality and serve as a conduit of trace elements to humans via consumption. Trace element concentrations in seawater, sediment, O. edulis edible tissues and shells from Boston Harbor were studied and found to be elevated relative to comparative studies in native ecosystems in the Adriatic Sea and Bay of Biscay.

Direct discharge of waste into water bodies and mining are two major sources of lead contamination in ecosystems. Water scarcity promoted the usage of industrial effluent-contaminated waters for crop production, mainly in peri-urban areas. These wastewaters may contain heavy metals and pollute crop ecosystems. These metals can reach the living cell via contaminated raw foodstuffs that grow under these conditions and cause various ill effects in metabolic activities.

Gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode is widely used for pesticide residue analysis.

Abstract Human consumption of sea turtles remains prevalent throughout Mexico even though laws restricting trade and take of threatened and endangered species have been in place for several decades. The illegal consumption of sea turtles represents a risk to animal conservation, and the pathogens in the meat can adversely affect human health.

Cadmium (Cd) is a dangerous heavy metal with high toxicity that is known to impair development. Astilbin (ASB) is a protective flavonoid compound. We aimed to explore whether ASB can antagonize the myocardial developmental toxicity of Cd exposure. Cd (2 µg) and/or ASB (0.002 µg) were injected into embryonized eggs that were 1 day old.

Background 

Studies demonstrated the associations of cadmium (Cd) with lipid levels and dyslipidemia risk, but the mechanisms involved need further exploration.

Objectives

Green and blue molds and sour rot, caused by Penicillium digitatum, P. italicum, and Geotrichum citri-aurantii, are postharvest diseases which represent an important economic issue in lemon production. Conventionally, their control involves the intensive use of synthetic fungicides, leading to the emergence of resistant strains and harmful residue accumulation on fruits.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance zoxamide.

In Ecuador, more than 50% of the milk produced was informally marketed, consequently, the mean of this study was to assess the quality of this milk specifically within the province of Pichincha, the largest milk producer. A total of 650 samples were gathered from the eight cantons within the province.

Imitation milks based on vegetables have become relevant in recent years as a substitute for cow´s milk. Total and inorganic content of arsenic (As) determination in food is of utmost importance due to toxicological concerns.

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the feed additive containing Enterococcus faecium DSM 21913, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp.

Context or problem

The second season of ratoon rice (ratoon crop, RC) exhibits a high risk of cadmium (Cd) contamination in grains, requiring effective irrigation management strategies to reduce its grain Cd concentration.

Objective or research question