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Dioxins (PCDDs and PCDFs) and PCBs are a group of and toxic organo-chlorinated chemicals comprising hundreds of structurally related compounds (congeners) classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). It is acknowledged that 17 PCDD and PCDF congeners are of major concern due to their toxicity; 12 PCB congeners are also recognized to express dioxin-like toxicity and are thereby identified as DL-PCBs. Due to their high persistence and lipophilic nature, dioxins and PCBs tend to accumulate in fat and their bio-accumulation through the food chain may pose the risk of causing adverse effects to human health. For the general population, dietary intake is the most important pathway of exposure to the aforesaid environmental contaminants: meat, milk and dairy products, and fish and other seafood products contribute to total daily intake for more than 90 %. To prevent excessive human exposure to dioxins and DL-PCBs, the European Commission established maximum levels for dioxins and the sum of dioxins and DL-PCBs in an array of food components mainly of animal origin (Regulation EC 1881/2006). In this study, dioxins and DL-PCB concentrations were measured in buffalo milk collected from three impounded Campania farms producing milk with different contamination levels. The fate of contaminants in mozzarella cheese, whey, and whey cheese was also investigated. Analyses were carried out by HRGC-HRMS using US EPA Method 1613. The results of this study show the carry-over of the contamination from milk to its dairy products.

Ozone is a strong oxidant and disinfecting agent. The bactericidal effects of ozone have been documented on a wide range of organisms, including Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. In this study, the effect of treatment with gaseous ozone on microbial contamination (Total Aerobic Mesophilic and Psicrophilic Microrganism Count, Enterobacteriaceae, Total and Fecal Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes) and sensory characteristics of poultry carcasses were investigated. N.50 carcasses were divided into two parts. The first batch was used as control and stored in a coolroom at 0-1°C; the second one was kept in another cool room, with the same dimensions and at the same temperature, provided with an ozone generator, working for 60 minutes every 4 hours in order to reach an ozone concentration of 0.4 ppm. Significative differences were found between the control batch and the treated one for Total Aerobic Counts (at 32° and 20°C) and Enterobacteriaceae. Salmonella arizonae, Campylobacter fetus spp fetus and Listeria monocytogenes were sometimes found in both batches. Acceptable sensory qualities were observed until day 14 and 20 after slaughter for the control and the treated batch, respectively.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mainly formed by anthropogenic activities, are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Due to environmental contamination and their chemical properties they migrate through the human food chain, and can be transferred from mother to infant via breastfeeding. The presence of PAHs in breast milk collected from 16 lactating women living in urban and rural areas of Campania (Italy) was investigated. Results showed the presence of 14 hydrocabons. Carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene and potential carcinogenic dibenzo(ah)anthracene were found at concentrations rancing from 0.3 to 37.6 μg/kg and from 0.5 to 47.0, respectively.

Regulation EC 852/2004 lays down rules concerning hygiene requirements and the adoption of adequate measures for identification, prevention and control of contamination risks during milking in primary production. Aim of this research was to detect Listeria monocytogenes and to check the total viable count (TVC) at 30° in raw buffalo milk coming from ten dairy farms. On the whole 207 samples of raw buffalo milk were collected and analysed during one year, 189 samples were collected from single animals and 18 samples from tank-bulk milk. In raw bulk-tank milk Listeria monocytogenes was never detected. In two out five positive samples from single animals Listeria monocytogenes was detected by means of quantitative method at levels ≤1 cfu/ml.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mainly formed by anthropogenic activities, are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Due to environmental contamination and their chemical properties they migrate through the human food chain. Aim of this study was the evaluation of PAHs in ricotta and mozzarella di bufala cheese, produced by milk of buffalo collected in three farms, located in a high contaminated area in Campania because of a waste treatment plant and illegal waste incineration. 11 PAHs were identified both in milk and dairy products. Carcinogenic hydrocarbon benzo(a)pyrene were found in a range including 0.42- 12.96 μg/kg and dibenzo(ah)anthracene 0.21-10.08 μg/kg. Anthracene showed higher concentrations than the other PAHs (45.23-436.85 μg/kg).