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A QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe)-based multi-mycotoxin method was developed, analyzing 24 (17 free and 7 modified) Alternaria and Fusarium toxins in cereals via ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). A modified QuEChERS approach was optimized for sample preparation. Quantification was conducted using a combination of stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA) for nine toxins and matrix-matched calibration for ten toxins. Quantification via a structurally similar internal standard was conducted for four analytes. Alternariol-9-sulfate (AOH-9-S) was measured qualitatively. Limits of detection (LODs) were between 0.004 µg/kg for enniatin A1 (ENN A1) and 3.16 µg/kg for nivalenol (NIV), while the limits of quantification were between 0.013 and 11.8 µg/kg, respectively. The method was successfully applied to analyze 136 cereals and cereal-based foods, including 28 cereal-based infant food products. The analyzed samples were frequently contaminated with Alternaria toxins, proving their ubiquitous occurrence. Interestingly, in many of those samples, some modified Alternaria toxins occurred, mainly alternariol-3-sulfate (AOH-3-S) and alternariol monomethyl ether-3-sulfate (AME-3-S), thus highlighting the importance of including modified mycotoxins in the routine analysis as they may significantly add to the total exposure of their parent toxins. Over 95% of the analyzed samples were contaminated with at least one toxin. Despite the general contamination, no maximum or indicative levels were exceeded., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The direct-infusion of 130 coffee samples into a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometer (FT-ICR-MS) provided an ultra-high resolution perspective on the molecular complexity of coffee: The exceptional resolving power and mass accuracy (± 0.2 ppm) facilitated the annotation of unambiguous molecular formulas to 11,500 mass signals. Utilizing this molecular diversity, we extracted hundreds of compound signals linked to the roasting process through guided Orthogonal Partial Least Squares (OPLS) analysis. Visualizations such as van Krevelen diagrams and Kendrick mass defect analysis provided deeper insights into the intrinsic compositional nature of these compounds and the complex chemistry underlying coffee roasting. Predictive OPLS-DA models established universal molecular profiles for rapid authentication of Coffea arabica versus Coffea canephora (Robusta) coffees. Compositional analysis revealed Robusta specific signals, indicative of tryptophan-conjugates of hydroxycinnamic acids. Complementary LC-ToF-MS 2 confirmed their compound class, building blocks and structures. Their water-soluble nature allows for application across raw and roasted beans, as well as in ready-made coffee products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The removal of husks before the mashing process, also known as the Kubessa method, is an established brewing practice often positively associated with smoothness and better flavor-stability of beer. Empirical evidence on the effect of the Kubessa method on beer, however, has been lacking. Similarly, our study's comprehensive analysis of established brewing attributes revealed that traditional methods do not fully capture the impact of husk separation in beer brewing. Conclusive evidence of the Kubessa method's impact on beer aging chemistry was obtained through ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), revealing intricate molecular details inaccessible to conventional analytical techniques. The compositional information on thousands of molecules in Kubessa beer was resolved and compared to whole malt mashing. Machine learning algorithms applied to aging experiments identified over 500 aging-related compounds inhibited by husk separation. Complementary Time of flight mass spectrometry (ToF-MS) coupled with chromatography further confirmed that the mashing of husks introduces sulfur-containing lipid compounds. These significant differences in the beer composition provide valuable insights for further investigation into the staling protective effect of husk-separation (Kubessa process) during beer production, as empirically demonstrated in this work.

We recently proposed a two-stage Power-to-Protein technology to produce microbial protein from renewable electric power and CO 2 . Two stages were operated in series: Clostridium ljungdahlii in Stage A to reduce CO 2 with H 2 into acetate, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Stage B to utilize O 2 and produce microbial protein from acetate. Renewable energy can be used to power water electrolysis to produce H 2 and O 2 . A drawback of Stage A was the need for continuous vitamin supplementation. In this study, by using the more robust thermophilic acetogen Thermoanaerobacter kivui instead of C. ljungdahlii, vitamin supplementation was no longer needed. Additionally, S. cerevisiae produced folate when grown with acetate as a sole carbon source, achieving a total folate concentration of 6.7 mg per 100 g biomass with an average biomass concentration of 3 g l -1 . The developed Power-to-Vitamin system enables folate production from renewable power and CO 2 with zero or negative net-carbon emissions., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Folate, a vital water-soluble vitamin (B 9 ), requires specific attention as its recommended daily intake frequently is not reached in countries without mandatory fortification. In this regard, biofortification with microorganisms like Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus offers a compelling approach for enhancing food with natural folates. A randomized, nonblinded, and monocentric human pilot study is conducted to assess the bioavailability of a folate-biofortified fermented whey beverage, comprising 3 intervention days and a controlled replenishment phase before and during the assay. Folate plasma concentration (5-CH 3 -H 4 folate) is determined using a stable isotope dilution assay and LC-MS/MS detection. Biokinetic parameters (c max and t max ) are determined, and areas under the curve (AUC) normalized to the basal folate plasma concentration are calculated. An average bioavailability of 17.1% in relation to the 5-CH 3 -H 4 folate supplement, ranging from 0% to 39.8%, is obtained. These results reiterate the significance of additional research into folate bioavailability in general and dairy products. Further investigations are warranted into folate-binding proteins (FBP) and other potential limiting factors within the food and individual factors. In summary, biofortification via fermentation emerges as a promising avenue for enhancing the natural folate content in dairy and other food products., (© 2024 The Author(s). Molecular Nutrition & Food Research published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

This article presents research results regarding the development of a new manufacturing technology for an element assigned to belt conveyor flights in the extractive industry through hot die forging (of a forging with a double-sided flange) instead of the currently realized process of producing such an element by welding two flanges onto a sleeve or one flange onto a flange forging. The studies were conducted to design an innovative and low-waste technology, mainly with the use of numerical modelling and simulations, partially based on the current technology of producing a flange forging. Additionally, during the development of the forging process, the aspect of robotization was considered, both in respect of the forging tools and the process of transportation and relocation of forging between the impressions and the forging aggregates. A thermo-mechanical model of the process of producing a belt conveyor flight forging with deformable tools was elaborated by means of the Forge 3NxT program. The results of the conducted numerical modelling made it possible, among other things, to develop models of forging tools ensuring the proper manner of material flow and filling of the impressions, as well as temperature and plastic deformation distributions in the forging and also the detection of possible forging defects. For the technology elaborated this way, the tools were built together with a special instrument for flanging in the metal, and technological tests were performed under industrial conditions. The produced forgings were verified through a measurement of the geometry, by way of 3D scanning, as well as the hardness, which definitively confirmed the properness of the developed technology. The obtained technological test results made it possible to confirm that the elaborated construction, as well as the tool impressions, ensure the possibility of implementing the designed technology with the use of robotization and automatization of the forging process.

1,2-Dehydro-pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), their corresponding N -oxides (PANO) and tropane alkaloids (TA), are toxic plant metabolites. If plant material, containing these toxins, is present in the feed of dairy cows these toxins can be transferred into milk. Here, milk was sampled directly from dairy farms in the German federal states of Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein in 2020-2022 in order to investigate a possible contamination of milk at the production stage. In total, 228 milk samples were analysed for 54 PA/PANO and two TA by a sensitive LC-ESI-MS/MS method. In addition, a subset of milk samples ( n  = 85) was independently analysed for TA by a cooperating laboratory for verification. PA/PANO were found in 26 samples (11%) with a low median sum content of the contaminated samples of 0.024 µg/L. The highest level of contamination was 5.6 µg/L. Senecionine-, lycopsamine- and heliotrine-type PA/PANO were detected. In four samples (1.8%), atropine was determined up to 0.066 µg/L. The toxin levels in the milk samples hardly contributed to the total daily exposure. These data are first-time results on contamination rates and levels occurring in milk from individual dairy farms, based on a large sample number.