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Salmonellae represent one of the most common bacterial infection reagents in both humans and animals. For detection and epidemiological elucidation of Salmonella infections, determination of Salmonella serotypes and differentiation between different Salmonella isolates is crucial. In the first part of this study, Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-assisted Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to establish a method for subtyping Salmonella isolates according to their serogroups. For this, 290 Salmonella strains from 35 different serogroups were used to establish an ANN for differentiation between infrared spectra of 10 different Salmonella serogroups (B, C1, C2-C3, D1/D2, E1, E4, F, G, H, O:55) vs. the remaining serogroups. In the final ANN, sensitivity values ranged between 90 and 100% for most of the 10 serogroups under investigation. In the second part of this study, ANN-assisted FTIR spectroscopy was applied for epidemiological distinction of Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak isolates from fresh sprouts vs. isolates from other sources. Four Salmonella Bovismorbificans isolates from human and food origin in the context of a Southern German outbreak were successfully discriminated from other S. Bovismorbificans isolates from various sources. ANN-assisted FTIR spectroscopy is thus an effective tool for discrimination of Salmonella isolates at or even below serogroup level.

Diet is a modifiable factor associated with the risk of several cancers, with convincing evidence showing a link between diet and breast cancer. The role of bioactive compounds of food origin, including those found in cruciferous vegetables, is an active area of research in cancer chemoprevention. This review focuses on 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), the major bioactive indole in crucifers. Research of the cancer-preventive activity of DIM has yielded basic mechanistic, animal, and human trial data. Further, this body of evidence is largely supported by observational studies. Bioactive DIM has demonstrated chemopreventive activity in all stages of breast cancer carcinogenesis. This review describes current evidence related to the metabolism and mechanisms of DIM involved in the prevention of breast cancer. Importantly, this review also focuses on current evidence from human observational and intervention trials that have contributed to a greater understanding of exposure estimates that will inform recommendations for DIM intake.

Studies investigating food safety risk perception (FSRP) have substantially increased in recent years, particularly because of recent cases of food contamination. Most studies analysed the effects of FSRP antecedents and their consequences but reported heterogeneous effects. To consolidate these results and provide a more robust and parsimonious picture of FSRP, we conducted a meta-analysis of 128 empirical studies that investigated the key drivers and outcomes of FRSP and potential moderator variables. Our findings reveal the key drivers (trust, knowledge, subjective characteristics, and socio-demographic characteristics) of FSRP and a robust negative consequent effect on the willingness to buy (WTB). Also, we reveal the moderation role of the food origin, risk type, healthiness, shelf life and pleasure in the consequent effect. Our results contribute to the growing literature related to FSRP by consolidating previous results and help establish a foundation for further advancement in this topic. More importantly, our findings provide a more comprehensive picture of the FSRP phenomenon to help in the design of guidelines and rules that shape supplier behaviour to enhance food safety along the food supply chain.

Mycotoxins are low-molecular weight compounds produced by diverse genera of molds that may contaminate food and feed threatening the health of humans and animals. Recent findings underline the importance of studying the combined occurrence of multiple mycotoxins and the relevance of assessing the toxicity their simultaneous exposure may cause in living organisms. In this context, for the first time, this work has critically reviewed the most relevant data concerning the occurrence and toxicity of mycotoxins produced by Alternaria spp., which are among the most important emerging risks to be assessed in food safety, alone or in combination with other mycotoxins and bioactive food constituents. According to the literature covered, multiple Alternaria mycotoxins may often occur simultaneously in contaminated food, along with several other mycotoxins and food bioactives inherently present in the studied matrices. Although the toxicity of combinations naturally found in food has been rarely assessed experimentally, the data collected so far, clearly point out that chemical mixtures may differ in their toxicity compared to the effect of toxins tested individually. The data presented here may provide a solid foothold to better support the risk assessment of Alternaria mycotoxins highlighting the actual role of chemical mixtures on influencing their toxicity.

The main aim of the thesis was to create a educationational program for the first grade of elementary school- a workbook entitled.

Developing reliable tools to trace food origin represents a major goal for producers and control authorities. Here, we test the hypothesis whether NGS-generated data could provide a reliable tool to ensure seafood traceability. As a test case, we used the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum, a bivalve mollusk of high commercial interest with worldwide distribution, collected in the Venice lagoon sites subjected to prohibition of clam harvesting because of chemical contamination as well as in authorized clam harvesting areas. The results obtained demonstrated that the geographic origin of Manila clam may be more accurately determined basing on microbiome data than single nucleotide polymorphisms. In particular, combining microbiome data with machine-learning techniques, we provide the experimental evidence that it is possible to trace the clam place of origin at high spatial resolution. Considering its low cost and portability, NGS-analysis of microbiome data might represent a cost-effective, high-resolution tool for reliable food traceability.

293 p. La resistencia bacteriana a los antibióticos se ha convertido en un problema creciente de Salud Pública en el ámbito mundial. Por otro lado, las películas bacterianas o biofilms han adquirido un papel protagonista en la Industria Alimentaria, al incrementar el riesgo de contaminación de los alimentos con microorganismos patógenos y alterantes. Así, los biofilms se han relacionado con numerosos brotes de enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos y con importantes pérdidas económicas para el Sector Alimentario. En algunos estudios previos se ha demostrado que el uso de biocidas a concentraciones subinhibitorias puede incrementar la capacidad de las bacterias para formar biofilm, pero hasta el momento no se habían ensayado las cepas (Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina –MRSA- y Salmonella enterica serotipo Typhimurium) y desinfectantes (cloruro de benzalconio, fosfato trisódico e hipoclorito sódico) empleados en este trabajo. El primer objetivo de esta Tesis Doctoral ha sido conocer la calidad microbiológica de diferentes preparados de carne de ave crudos adquiridos en establecimientos de venta al público de la ciudad de León (España) y determinar el perfil de resistencia a antibióticos de las cepas de Staphylococcus aureus aisladas de dichos alimentos. El segundo objetivo de la Tesis consistió en determinar los patrones de resistencia a antibióticos de cepas de MRS aisladas de preparados cárnicos y evaluar el sistema Sensi Test Gram-positive para determinar la resistencia a antibióticos de dichas cepas, comparando los resultados del método de difusión por disco y del test miniaturizado. El tercer objetivo de la Tesis Doctoral fue investigar el efecto de concentraciones subinhibitorias de tres biocidas (cloruro de benzalconio -CB-, fosfato trisódico -FTS- e hipoclorito sódico -HIP-) sobre la arquitectura y viabilidad de los biofilms formados por una cepa de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA) de origen alimentario. El último objetivo de la Tesis Doctoral ha sido investigar el efecto de concentraciones inferiores a la Concentración Mínima Inhibitoria (CMI) de tres biocidas de uso en las industrias alimentarias (CB, FTS e HIP) en las biopelículas formadas por Salmonella. Los resultados de este trabajo enfatizan la importancia de mantener concentraciones de HIP superiores a la CMI durante los procesos de limpieza y desinfección en las industrias de alimentos para reducir el riesgo de salmonelosis de origen alimentario asociadas a biofilms.

Background Consumers’ perceptions of naturalness are important for the acceptance of foods and food technologies. Thus, several studies have examined the significance of naturalness among consumers. Nonetheless, the aspects that are considered essential in perceiving a food item as natural may vary across consumers and different stakeholder groups. Scope and approach This systematic review identified 72 studies conducted in 32 countries involving 85,348 consumers. We aimed to answer the following questions: 1) How has the perceived importance of naturalness for consumers been defined and measured? 2) To what extent is perceived naturalness important to consumers? 3) Are there individual differences regarding the importance given to food naturalness that can be explained by consumers' characteristics? 4) Do consumers’ attitudes toward food naturalness influence their intentions and behavior? Key findings and conclusions The review clearly shows that for the majority of consumers, food naturalness is crucial. This finding could be observed across countries and in the different years when the studies were conducted. Therefore, neglecting the aspect of naturalness in the food industry may be very costly in the end. Our review also reveals differences across studies in how naturalness has been defined and measured. Based on a content analysis of the measurement scales, the items used to measure the importance of naturalness can be classified into three categories: 1) the way the food has been grown (food origin), 2) how the food has been produced (what technology and ingredients have been used), and 3) the properties of the final product., Trends in Food Science & Technology, 67, ISSN:0924-2244, ISSN:0968-0020

Aim: To determine radical scavenging capacity and efficacy of Myristica fragrans metabolites on fungi of food origin. Study of Design: Pretreatment and processing of Myristica fragrans, solvent extraction technique, phytochemical screening, radical scavenging activity, total phenolic concentration assay, essential oil extraction and evaluation of antifungal activity. Place and Duration of Study: Microbiology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Fountain University Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria between October, 2015 and July, 2016. Methodology: Crude extract of Myristica fragrans seed was obtained using organic solvent (distilled water, ethyl acetate and ethanol) with solvent extraction technique and preliminary phytoconstituents was determined. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation technique and isolated with petroleum ether. Metabolites present in the essential oil were quantified using Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detection (GCFID). Antifungal activity of Myristica fragrans oil and crude extract were investigated using agar well diffusion method. Folin-Ciocalteu and 2,2, diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays were employed to determine total phenolic content and antioxidant activity respectively. Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening of Myristica fragrans seed revealed the existence of alkaloid, phenols, flavonoids, terpenes, saponins, glycosides, tannins, steroids and phenolic compounds. The percentage yield of Myristica fragrans oil extracted was 3.25%. Thirty-six metabolites were quantified in Myristica fragrans essential oil using GCFID among which are sabinene (26.58%), myristicin (13.55%), alpha-pinene (11.84%), terpinene-4-ol (9.35%), limonene (5.74%), safrole (5.40%), alpha-terpineol (4.51%), alpha-myrcena (3.82%), gama- terpinene (3.71%), alpha-terpinolene (3.19%), pinene-2-ol (1.84%), elimicin (1.27%) and isoeugenol (1.13%) respectively. Highest scavenging and antifungal activities were observed in ethyl acetate extract of Myristica fragrans compared to Beta-carotene and antifungal drug (Fluconazole) used as control at varying concentrations. Conclusion: Presence of thirty-six different phytoconstituents (metabolites) in Myristica fragrans essential oil poses the potential of providing useful drugs for treating food-borne infection and reduction of oxidative stress in the body other than its general uses as spices and flavoring agent.

This study surveyed the prevalence of mcr-1 in extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli strains of food origin in China and identified strains that carried mcr-1 , fosA3 , and ESBL genes, which were carried in various plasmids. The mcr-1 and ESBL genes could be cotransferred by one or more types of plasmids. The presence of these multidrug-resistant E. coli strains in food products might pose a huge threat to public health.

The topic of this paper is branding as a powerful tool for increasing the value of food products as well as the improvement of tourism in food origin regions. The branding is guarantee of quality for consumers and it provides a product differentiation for manufacturers. In today's market conditions, there is a lack of healthy, traditional, local agricultural products, which made demand and price increase due to their rarity and importance for consumers. Branded agricultural products guarantee to meet the sophisticated customer's needs, and they are often the reason for journey. This paper draws attention to the importance of products with added economic value for tourism, and the possibilities of designing tourist services related to these products.

Con el fin de estudiar las consecuencias de la conversión de ganadería convencional a los procedimientos productivos ecológicos, se han analizado la producción de leche y su calidad durante el periodo 2000-2011 de 11.543 muestras de leche de una explotación ovina de raza Castellana y dos de Churra, procedentes de 2.748 lactaciones (Castellana, n = 1.257; Churra, n = 1.491), cuando estas ganaderías se convirtieron de un sistema de producción convencional al ecológico. La producción total de leche por oveja y parto fue superior durante el periodo de producción convencional frente al periodo ecológico (385,6 ± 3,50 vs. 360,3 ± 2,80 g, respectivamente; P < 0,001), con un mayor contenido en grasa (7,2 ± 0,01 vs. 6,8 ± 0,10%; P < 0,001), similar contenido en proteína (5,8 ± 0,10 vs. 5,8 ± 0,01%; P < 0,10) y mayor contenido en sólidos totales (18,4 ± 0,10 vs. 18,3 ± 0,01%; P < 0,001). La conversión al sistema de producción ecológico dio lugar en una reducción del recuento de células somáticas en comparación con los valores obtenidos durante el periodo convencional (1.039 ± 34 vs. 861 ± 23 células x 1000/ml; P < 0,001). La prolificidad de los tres rebaños experimentó una reducción de sus valores al transformarse al sistema ecológico de producción (1,33 ± 0,01 vs. 1,25 ± 0,01 corderos nacidos/parto; P < 0,001). En conclusión, aunque la conversión a ganadería ecológica dio lugar a una evidente reducción de la producción lechera de las ovejas por parto, se observó un descenso del recuento de células somáticas tras el periodo de conversión. Serían necesarios trabajos que identificaran las posibles causas de este descenso en la producción con una mejora en la calidad, ligadas a la propia idiosincrasia de la ganadería ecológica, la densidad de los animales en los apriscos o cambios sustanciales en el manejo del rebaño. In order to study the consequences of the conversion from conventional to organic farming procedures from 2000 to 2011, 11,543 milk samples from a Castellana sheep farm and two Churra farms have been analysed, from 2,748 lactations (Castellana, n = 1,257; Churra, n = 1,491). Milk production was higher during the conventional period compared with the organic one (385.6 ± 3.50 vs. 360.3 ± 2.80 g, res pectively; P

[ES] En este TFM se pretende evaluar la huella de carbono asociada al consumo de alimentos en España. Para ello, en primer lugar se ha analizado el consumo de productos frescos (carne, pescado, fruta y verdura) de un consumidor español desde el año 2004 hasta el 2014. Después se ha calculado la huella de carbono asociada al consumo de frutas y verduras en fresco, donde se han tenido en cuenta factores como el origen de los alimentos o la generación de residuos en la fase de consumo. Los resultados obtenidos muestran la importancia del comportamiento de los consumidores en aspectos como la generación de residuos en el hogar o la selección del origen de los alimentos en la huella de carbono generada en el consumo de frutas y verduras en España., [EN] The aim of this work is to contribute to the evaluation of the carbon footprint associated with the food consumption in Spain. For that reason, first of all, the consumption of fresh products (meat, fish, fruits and vegetables) was analysed since 2004 until 2014. After that, carbon footprint from fresh fruit and vegetable consumptionwas calculated. The results show the importance of the consumer behaviour in aspects such as generation of residues at home or food origin in the carbon footprint from fruit and vegetables consumption in Spain., [CA] En aquest TFM es pretén avaluar l’empremta de carboni associada al consum d’aliments a Espanya. Per aquest motiu, en primer lloc s’analitzarà el consum de productes frescos (carn, peix, fruita i verdura) d’un consumidor espanyol des de l’any 2004 fins al 2014. Després es calculà l’empremta de carboni associada al consum de fruites i verdures en fresc. Es consideraren alguns factors com l’origen dels aliments o la generació de residus en la fase de consum. Els resultats obtinguts mostren la importància del comportament dels consumidors en aspectes com la generació de residus en la llar o la selecció de l’origen del aliments en l’empremta de carboni generada en el consum de fruites i verdures en Espanya.

Background: Mugua is a common Chinese herbal medicine. There are three main medicinal origin places in China, Xuancheng City Anhui Province, Qijiang District Chongqing City, Yichang City, Hubei Province, and suitable for food origin places Linyi City Shandong Province. Objective: To construct a qualitative analytical method to identify the origin of medicinal Mugua by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Materials and Methods: Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) model was established after the Mugua derived from five different origins were preprocessed by the original spectrum. Moreover, the hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. Results: The result showed that PLSDA model was established. According to the relationship of the origins-related important score and wavenumber, and K-mean cluster analysis, the Muguas derived from different origins were effectively identified. Conclusion: NIRS technology can quickly and accurately identify the origin of Mugua, provide a new method and technology for the identification of Chinese medicinal materials. SUMMARY After preprocessed by D1+autoscale, more peaks were increased in the preprocessed Mugua in the near infrared spectrumFive latent variable scores could reflect the information related to the origin place of MuguaOrigins of Mugua were well-distinguished according to K. mean value clustering analysis. Abbreviations used: TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine, NIRS: Near infrared spectroscopy, SG: Savitzky-Golay smoothness, D1: First derivative, D2: Second derivative, SNV: Standard normal variable transformation, MSC: Multiplicative scatter correction, PLSDA: Partial least squares discriminant analysis, LV: Latent variable, VIP scores: Important score.

Traceability concept that is often discussed together with foodborne problem has been developed rapidly with technology and it is key position of safety and quality of food. As a result of globalization, food pro­duction and consumption locations become distant. Therefore, the importance of traceability work is increasing. Origin of the food that the starting point of the food traceability is the first step of traceability. Determination of food origin are important in traceability as a key of food quality and safety. Food safety and traceability is impossible in food that could not be determined origin. The main aim of this study is investigate the method to determine the origin of the food. Origin detection means is considered as an important part of the food traceability. The methods used in order to determine the origin of the food is divided into as geographic-based and analytical methods. Geographic-based origin determination methods are evaluated in two subgroups as mineral isotope and GIS (Geographical Information System). Analytical and bio-based tools, DNA, enzymes, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, and based on electrokinetic and separation were examined by making detailed literature search.

In order to examine the genetic variation of clinical and food isolates of Listeria monocytogenes in Greece, a total of 61 L. monocytogenes non-duplicate isolates, recovered from clinical specimens (n=19) and food (n=42), were serotyped and genotyped using two different Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) protocols and Multiple Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA). Serotype group 4b, 4d, 4e prevailed (39.4%), among both clinical and food isolates, followed by serotype group 1/2a, 3a (23.0%), which nevertheless was detected only among food isolates. The most discriminatory typing protocol was MLVA, which grouped four isolates into two pairs, while the remaining isolates produced unique fingerprints. Similar results were obtained when taking into account the combination of the two RAPD protocols (Simpson index 0.999); six isolates were grouped into three pairs, two of which were the pairs that were identified also by MLVA. Single use of each RAPD protocol resulted in inferior discrimination (Simpson index 0.978 and 0.997, respectively). In conclusion, the two molecular procedures, MLVA, and the combined RAPD protocols, produced similar results, showing that L. monocytogenes isolates from clinical and food specimens were highly heterogenous and that clustering was very uncommon.

microRNAs (miRNAs), short RNAs of 21-25 nu- cleotides, are implied in gene expression and regulation, in biological processes and in human pathologies includ- ing cancer. Since miRNAs of plant origin can survive diges- tion and cooking and enter in animal (including human) sera and tissues, their intervention in mammalian gene expression and regulation might be expected. Mouse ex- perimental feeding, in fact, showed that a miRNA class (MI- R168a) is involved in accumulation of the low-density li- poprotein (LDL), the major cholesterol-carrying lipoprotein of human plasma. Considering LDL's role in atherosclerosis, a negative influence of miRNAs from food origin on our health may be expected. Here we concentrate on the miR- NAs' capability to cross inter-kingdom boundaries through the diet and acting as a "boundary crawler." The boundary between plant and human is presented under a new per- spective, where a new intimate relationship between two genomes - mammalian and plant - belonging to quite dif- ferent kingdoms is proposed. The food's role as molecule carrier in our health is also discussed. miRNAs, finally, are presented as an example of "bio-objects" with impact on both medical and cultural issues.

The origin of food is recognised to be an important trait for sedentary consumers that have little control over the source of their food. Elevated herbivory in sea urchins is often linked to poor gonad condition as provoked by reduced food availability, but there is little recognition of the possibility that the origin of food may contribute to their poor condition and elevated feeding. This study assesses the possibility that variation in food availability and origin may together affect urchin condition and feeding rates such that they account for more intensive grazing (by Heliocidaris erythrogramma ) on sheltered than exposed coasts (South Australia). We experimentally tested the hypothesis that reduced food availability from sheltered coasts would result in poor gonad condition and greater feeding rate; whilst enhanced food availability from exposed coasts would result in better condition and reduced feeding rates. We found that reduced food had negative effects on condition and positive effects on feeding rates independently of coastal source. Greater food availability did not equate to better condition, rather it was the delivery of more food from exposed than sheltered coasts that translated into the better gonad condition and lower feeding rates. These results suggest that plant origin and availability could help explain the greater impacts of these urchins on sheltered coasts. Whilst other factors such as water energy and sea urchin density may contribute to variation in herbivory our results suggest that origin of food may also play a role in sea urchin condition and behaviour. Understanding how such traits link to large scale features of the environment may improve models that account for variation in strength of consumer effects across landscapes.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) profiling is used for characterization of monocultivar binary wine mixtures. Classification and quantification of the relative amount of wine in the mixture are made in two steps. First, each sample is classified as a mixture of a determined type by solving the appropriate classification problem using NMR profiles. The relative amount of the two corresponding monovarietal wines is then evaluated by multilinear regression of a selected set of NMR variables. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA), used in the classification step, gives a very good separation among the different mixture classes. On the other hand, a single layer artificial neural network, used to solve the multilinear problem, gives the relative amount of wine type in the mixture with a precision of about 10%.

Introduction The wide application of natural and artificial antioxidants in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries as well as the recognition of the importance of food antioxidants for supporting human health have created a demand for reliable and industrially applicable methods of determining antioxidative activity. This requirement can be fulfilled with the recently proposed HPLC-post-column derivatisation approach, enabling rapid measurements of antioxidative potential along with profiling antioxidants in complex mixtures. Objective To employ the commercially available post-column derivatisation device for the on-line detection of antioxidants and to optimise analytical parameters enabling its application for routine profiling of antioxidants in complex mixtures such as those of plant or food origin. Methodology The mixtures of standards and fruit extracts were resolved using an optimised HPLC method followed by the on-line derivatisation of analytes in a PCX post-column derivatisation instrument. Such parameters as the type of indicator reagent (ABTS, DPPH, Folin-Ciocalteu), its concentration and the temperature of the derivatisation reaction were investigated. The determinations of the Trolox equivalents (TE) values were compared with those obtained by corresponding bulk spectrophotometric tests. Results The study confirms that the commercial HPLC-coupled post-column derivatisation instruments are suitable for routine on-line detection of antioxidants in complex mixtures and the determination of their TE values. The analytical parameters optimised here appear to represent a ready-to-use toolbox for the food and pharmaceutical industries, enabling the monitoring of bioactive substances along the production line and during storage, and the characterisation of plant material by creating chromatographic profiles supplemented with antioxidant fingerprints. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In many product categories is one of the factors influencing consumer behaviour also the country of origin what is the main goal of this article. Consumers are influenced by their own origin, by ex­pe­riences with domestic and foreign products and stereotyped ideas about quality and reliability of products from other countries. The results of many marketing studies have concluded that the eva­lua­tion of products is significantly influenced by knowledge of where the products were produced. However, when directly analysing the importance of country of origin in the purchase decision, ­buyers mostly minimize its impact. They want to look like logical or rational consumers who decide rather for more objective internal product attributes (taste, design and appearance) than the external factors, including the origin.

Diseases of food origin are considered one of the highest problems of public health of the world. The main cause relatesto the consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, microbial toxins or chemical substances. More than halfof cases of food poisoning are caused by bacteria and the most common are Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridiumperfringens. Most occurrences of product contamination happen due to unsuitable handling and incorrect storage. The present work hadas it aim to survey cases of food poisoning notified in the Sanitary Vigilance (VISA) facilities of Juiz de Fora, identified as GRS (RegionalManagement of the Health), in the years 2005 and 2006. Nine cases were studied and correlations of the main characteristics wereestablished. The employed method was a qualitative inquiry through documentary analysis of notifications. We observed that there aremany sub-notified or partially notified cases. That food be innocuous is relevant for the health of the population and for that reason it ismandatory to use systematic measures that could guarantee food security. There is a necessity of better notifications of food outbreaksaiming at a bigger uniformity of the service, an action able to contribute to the reduction of the chance of new infections.

The concepts, history and approaches of molecular gastronomy are discussed with an emphasis on the relation to food science and technology. A distinction is made between molecular gastronomy and science-based cooking, where the first relates to the scientific understanding of the cooking and eating processes and the latter refers to the application of the principles and tools from science for the development of new dishes, particularly in the context of haute cuisine. We argue that science-based cooking is closely associated with significant technological developments, as the realization of novel dishes frequently requires the use of non-traditional ingredients or preparation techniques, which are often derived from those used in industrial food production. Several approaches towards the scientific understanding of foods are highlighted, including the complex disperse system (CDS) formalism of This and the systematic compilation and interpretation of scientific and non-scientific information relating to foods, their ingredients and preparation methods as shaped into its modern form by McGee. We discuss how chefs are dealing with the available systematic knowledge on food and cooking, and how molecular gastronomy can facilitate the cumbersome, but much needed discussions among food scientists and chefs. Finally, we discuss the implications of molecular gastronomy for society. This includes the way the general public is considering food, and how molecular gastronomy could inspire food technologists to increasingly emphasize aspects relating to food origin, quality, and creativity in their product development efforts.

There has been a clear increase in imports of agricultural products into Chile in the last few years. A survey was made of 800 consumers in the cities of Temuco and Talca in the south of Chile to determine the importance of food origin in the purchase decision. It was concluded that the majority of those surveyed consume imported foods due to their lower price or good price/quality ratio. Using a conjoint analysis, it was demonstrated that the origin was more important than either the price or the packaging in the decision to purchase beef. For rice, however, the importance of these three cues was ranked similarly. In general, consumers preferred domestic alternatives, although there was a high rejection rate in the case of meat imported from Brazil in particular.

Certain properties relevant to probiotic action, e.g. resistance to acid, bile tolerance, adhesive properties, antibacterial activity, and antibiotic susceptibility were investigated of lactobacilli isolated from four kinds of Thai traditional fermented foods. Media of pH = 2.0–7.0 and bile salt concentrations of 0.3–1.0% were used as stress conditions. The adhesive properties were assessed by determination of bacterial hydrophobicity. Antibacterial activity of the probiotic lactobacilli was determined by means of the spot-on-lawn method. Among 563 isolates, only 3 strains (two from fermented pork and one from fermented tea leaves) showed extremely high survival rates under stress caused by acid or bile salts. The identification by PCR techniques revealed that these three strains were Lactobacillus fermentum. The strains from fermented pork showed higher adhesive potential than those from fermented tea leaves. The three strains inhibited test pathogenic bacteria to different extents. They were sensitive to chloramphenicol, quinupristin, erythromycin, kanamycin linezolid, rifampicin, streptomycin, and tetracycline but resistant to ciprofloxacin and vancomycin.

Recent genome sequencing of isolates of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b implicated in some major outbreaks of foodborne listeriosis has revealed unique genetic markers in these isolates. The isolates were grouped into two distinct epidemic clones, ECI and ECII. In the present study, selected ECI- and ECII-specific genetic markers were detected in 16 and 15 of 89 L. monocytogenes 4b isolates, respectively. The ECI markers were found in 6 of 34 clinical isolates, 9 of 50 food isolates, and 1 of 5 environmental isolates, and the ECII markers were detected in 7 of 34 clinical isolates, 7 of 50 food isolates, and 1 of 5 environmental isolates. Hence, of the isolates with the epidemic clonal genetic markers, 38% (13 of 34) were of clinical origin, 32% (16 of 50) were of food origin, and 40% (2 of 5) were of environmental origin. The predominance of the epidemic clonal markers among the clinical and environmental isolates supports the hypothesis that these markers are correlated with the pathogenic potential of strains and with their environmental persistence. Several isolates had only one epidemic clonal marker, either the ECI-specific marker 133 or the ECII-specific marker 4bSF18. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed higher genomic diversity among the strains with ECII-like characteristics than among those strains carrying the ECI-specific genetic markers.

This article seeks to contribute to food consumption literature by tackling certain shortcomings in the country of origin studies both qualitatively and quantitatively. As regards to the meanings consumers attach to food of various origins the findings show that Finnish consumers associate partly overlapping partly distinct cognitive, affective and normative meanings with Swedish, German and French food. In turn, the results of the real food choice experiment revealed that activating domestic origin cognitively actually results in favoring foreign food products while activating domestic origin affectively leads to favoring of domestic food products. Authors review and analyze several alternative explanations for the main effect. The article concludes with a discussion highlighting theoretical and managerial implications of the results of the two investigations.

Introduction Millions of U.S. residents become ill from foodborne pathogens each year. Most foodborne outbreaks occur among small groups of persons in a localized area. However, because many foods are distributed widely and rapidly, and because detection methods have improved, outbreaks that occur in multiple states and that even span the entire country are being recognized with increasing frequency. Methods This report analyzes data from CDC's Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System to describe multistate foodborne outbreaks that occurred in the United States during 2010-2014. Results During this 5-year period, 120 multistate foodborne disease outbreaks (with identified pathogen and food or common setting) were reported to CDC. These multistate outbreaks accounted for 3% (120 of 4,163) of all reported foodborne outbreaks, but were responsible for 11% (7,929 of 71,747) of illnesses, 34% (1,460 of 4,247) of hospitalizations, and 56% (66 of 118) of deaths associated with foodborne outbreaks. Salmonella (63 outbreaks), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (34), and Listeria monocytogenes (12) were the leading pathogens. Fruits (17), vegetable row crops (15), beef (13), sprouts (10), and seeded vegetables (nine) were the most commonly implicated foods. Traceback investigations to identify the food origin were conducted for 87 outbreaks, of which 55 led to a product recall. Imported foods were linked to 18 multistate outbreaks. Conclusions Multistate foodborne disease outbreaks account for a disproportionate number of outbreak-associated illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths relative to their occurrence. Working together, food industries and public health departments and agencies can develop and implement more effective ways to identify and to trace contaminated foods linked to multistate outbreaks. Lessons learned during outbreak investigations can help improve food safety practices and regulations, and might prevent future outbreaks.

258 p. Ante la continua disminución de la susceptibilidad a antibióticos y biocidas, esta tesis se ha propuesto una serie de objetivos de estudio. El primer objetivo ha sido determinar si la exposición de Escherichia coli ATCC 12806 a concentraciones subinhibitorias de biocidas de uso alimentario provoca la adaptación de la cepa y comprobar si esta adaptación se asocia con protección cruzada a otros biocidas, a la vez que conocer el papel de las bombas de expulsión y de los cambios de la hidrofobicidad de la superficie celular en la adaptación de la cepa a los compuestos. El segundo objetivo ha sido conocer la prevalencia de resistencia a antibióticos en cepas de Enterococcus spp. aisladas de carne de caza en el noroeste de España y determinar la frecuencia de genes de resistencia y de virulencia. Finalmente, se pretendió conocer la prevalencia y los patrones de resistencia a antibióticos de enterococos resistentes a la vancomicina (vancomycin-resistant enterococci, VRE) en preparados de carne de ave, cerdo y vacuno del noroeste de España, determinar la frecuencia de genes de resistencia y de virulencia en dichos aislamientos, conocer la capacidad de las cepas para formar biofilm y estudiar la diversidad genética de las cepas de VRE aisladas mediante su ribotipado.

The performance of four commercial media, polymyxin-acriflavine-LiCl-ceftazidime-aesculin-mannitol (PALCAM), Oxford, Rapid'L.mono (Bio-Rad, Marne la Coquette, France) and Agar Listeria according to Ottaviani and Agosti (ALOA: AES Laboratoire, Combourg, France; Biolife, Milan, Italy), used to detect and enumerate 176 Belgian strains of Listeria monocytogenes of human and food origin, was evaluated. Four strains showed a low recovery and/or atypical colonies on one or more media. These results showed that a combination of these media, especially alternative media (Rapid'L.mono and/or ALOA) with esculin-containing media (PALCAM and/or Oxford), should therefore be recommended to detect or enumerate atypical strains of L. monocytogenes. In outbreak case investigation for example, incubation of plates should be extended to at least 96 h if no colonies are typical or growth does not appear after 48 h. This is a cost/benefit calculation that should be done in the context of recent listeriosis risk assessments.

Aims: A rapid detection system specific for Listeria monocytogenes and based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed. Methods and Results: Primers annealing to the coding region of the actA gene, critically involved in virulence and capable of discrimination between two different alleles naturally occurring in L. monocytogenes, have been utilized. The procedure was applied to recover L. monocytogenes cells in artificially contaminated fresh Italian soft cheeses (mozzarella, crescenza and ricotta). Low levels of L. monocytogenes were detected in mozzarella and crescenza homogenates (0·04–0·4 and 4 CFU g−1, respectively) whereas in ricotta the detection limit was higher (40 CFU g−1). Conclusions: This PCR-based assay is highly specific as primers used recognize the DNA from different L. monocytogenes strains of clinical and food origin, while no amplification products result with any other Listeria spp. strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study highlighted a low-cost and rapid procedure that can be appropriated for the detection in real time of low L. monocytogenes levels in soft cheese.

Escherichia coli O145:H28 strain RM12581 was isolated from bagged romaine lettuce during a 2010 U.S. lettuce-associated outbreak. E. coli O145:H28 strain RM12761 was isolated from ice cream during a 2007 ice cream-associated outbreak in Belgium. Here we report the complete genome sequences and annotation of both strains.

The lack of interpretation methods capable of examining the aroma-profiles of spicy and medicinal plants and other samples of food origin (wines, honeys, fruits, fruit-distillates) makes necessary a thorough investigation of the relating evaluation procedures. By adding three appropriate hydrocarbon standards to all sample extracts, and measuring the programmed temperature retention indices of the components and normalizing the peak areas to that of the compound corresponding to the most intense chromatographic peak, a visualization of the aroma characteristics could be achieved. The relationship or identity of aroma patterns could be deduced from the presence or absence of similar polygons in the ihconstellation-mapsl. of the components.

Winter severity (temperature, duration, and photocycle), geographic origin, food availability, and initial body size likely influence growth, survival, and, therefore, recruitment of age-0 largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. We collected age-0 largemouth bass (70–160 mm total length) from low (33°N), intermediate (40°N), and high (45°N) latitudes throughout their natural range (origin), and we subjected all three groups of fish to three experimental winters that mimicked these latitudes (N = 9 largemouth bass per treatment). Within each winter and origin, one-half of the largemouth bass were fed fish prey, whereas the remaining one-half were starved. Winter strongly influenced survival; overall survival rates in the high-, intermediate-, and low-latitude winters were 34.9, 59.4, and 61.1%, respectively (χ2 test, P < 0.05). Largemouth bass from 33°N suffered high mortality in the high-latitude winter. Across all winters, more fed fish (64.5%) survived than did starved fish (38.1%) (χ2 test, P

The objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity of the Colilert® test for detection of different isolates of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 and other verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) serotypes from water for potential on-farm food safety application. E. coli isolates evaluated were of human, bovine, porcine, or food origin. The sensitivity of the Colilert® test was 92% overall for the verotoxin-producing serotypes of E. coli. However, none of the E. coli O157:H7 isolates were identified as E. coli. No false-positive results for E. coli were detected. The Colilert® test could be used to screen water supplies for E. coli on the farm, however, an important pathogenic E. coli sero-type is not detected by the Colilert® test.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from Ciauscolo salami produced in Marche Region of Central Italy, and LAB strains belonging to our laboratory collection were examined for their capability to survive at low pH and bile, to adhere to Caco-2 cells, and for antibiotic resistance. LAB from Ciauscolo were identified by ARDRA and RAPD-PCR. Our study showed that all LAB strains had good adaptation to gastric juice and moderate tolerance to bile. The adhesiveness was variable among strains but significantly lower in LAB from food. Antibiotic resistance was broadly spread among food strains, with level of resistance exceeding 15% for all the antibiotics tested. The resistance determinants erm(B) and tet(M) were found in nine strains of food origin (21.4%) while tet(L) in one strain of our collection (5%). Our work suggests that fermented foods are valuable sources of bacterial strains with functional traits of intestinal lactobacilli. These bacteria may be further studied for their use in probiotic applications.

A growing body of evidence supports the link between optimal health and diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods. Most areas of the United States experience significant seasonal variation in the availability of locally produced fresh fruits and vegetables. However, little is known about consumer attitudes toward locally grown produce that is available on a seasonal basis. A mail survey was used to explore differences in preference for local foods, concerns about food and health, environmental concerns, and dietary habits between food cooperative members and nonmembers in the greater Seattle area. In contrast to nonmembers, food cooperative members displayed a stronger preference for seasonal and local foods. They also evinced less doubt about the nutritional adequacy of regionally based diets and a stronger commitment to buying locally produced food as a way to conserve natural resources. In both groups, a preference for seasonal and local fruits and vegetables was significantly correlated with concern for the environment. For food cooperative members, a concern over the use of natural resources in food production was a significant explanatory variable for seasonal and local food preference. Implications for food and nutrition education, policy, and the food system are discussed.

The present investigation was undertaken to estimate the microbiological quality of marketed foods of animal origin in the city of Kolkata. A total 300 various categories of food samples comprising of retail raw beef (n=75), goat meat (n=75), chicken (n=75) and unpasteurized poultry eggs (n=75) were collected from different open domestic market of Kolkata. The aerobic bacterial contamination load were estimated in retail raw beef ranging from 1.2x105 to 4.1x107 cfu/g, goat meat 2.9x105 to 5.3x106 cfu/g, chicken 3.3x104 to 5x106 cfu/g and unpasteurized eggs

Vibrational spectroscopy (mid-infrared, near infrared and Raman) has been applied to the study of authentication problems in foods. This chapter outlines the principles of each, the main methods of their deployment and the philosophy of their application in authentication problems. A review of recently published material describing applications for each technique is included.

This chapter provides an introduction into why analytical methods and systems are needed to verify the origin of our food, in particular the drivers for the work, in terms of regulatory and more recently consumer and industry requirements. Some of the difficulties in satisfying regulatory aspects are described as well as a brief look at how some of the most recent scientific developments not included in the main body of this book will impact on the way consumers can be assured about the origin of the food they eat.