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Purpose: To evaluate the masticatory efficiency of dentate and rehabilitated complete denture patients in various facial forms. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 subjects were selected for the study; 30 subjects belonged to the dentate group (D Group) and 30 subjects belonged to the completely edentulous group rehabilitated with conventional complete dentures (CECD Group). All patients were divided into a subgroup (brachyfacial, mesofacial, and dolichofacial facial forms) using facial index measurement and cephalometric analysis. After the subjects were divided into groups, masticatory efficiency testing was performed with spectrophotometric analysis using diluted expectorate of chewed natural beetroot test food (10, 15, and 20 strokes). The mean absorbance value was considered as the mean masticatory efficiency from which the average masticatory efficiency percentage was determined using a masticatory efficiency percentage equation and considered as the masticatory efficiency of that particular subject. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that in the D Group, brachyfacial subjects exhibited the highest masticatory efficiency (70.9 ± 12.64%), followed by mesofacial (60.6% ± 10.66%) and dolichofacial (34.3% ± 10.81%) subjects. In the CECD groups, the results for brachyfacial were highest (52.7% ± 8.11%), followed by the mesofacial (42.3% ± 6.52%), and dolichofacial (29.3% ± 7.76%) subjects. Conclusions: Along with other determinant factors, facial form plays an influential role on masticatory efficiency. Brachyfacial subjects exhibited the highest masticatory efficiency, followed by mesofacial and dolichofacial subjects in both study groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of certain antibiotics in food-producing animals is allowed in Europe following Regulation (EU) 2017/625. However, use could result in antibiotic residues in foodstuffs of animal origin. Maximum residue limits (MRLs) are in place to protect consumers. For monitoring purposes, animal matrices are tested to verify their compliance with these MRLs. Initially, matrices of (slaughtered) food animals are screened, often using a microbiological assay. Faster screening tests for antibiotics would be an advantage for control laboratories. Therefore, the present study describes, for the first time, the use of coated blade spray (CBS) followed by direct mass spectrometry (MS) analysis for the screening of tetracyclines, sulfonamides, quinolones, and macrolides residues from the renal area of intact bovine kidneys. An optimized workflow using two different desorption/ionization solutions per blade allowed screening of target compounds within 1 min per sample. The proof-of-principle of the CBS-MS method is validated according to (EU) 2021/808, presenting CCβ screening values of 0.1 × MRL for 43 analytes, 0.5 × MRL for 4 analytes, and 2.5 µg kg−1 for the prohibited substance dapsone, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to seven official control samples of bovine kidneys. One of these samples was found to be positive using the CBS-MS method, which was confirmed as a true positive by LC-MSMS analysis. The developed method demonstrates that CBS devices can directly extract and analyze kidney samples for food safety testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe2+ plays a crucial role in biological systems as an essential trace element in the body. Iron is absorbed by the body through food and Fe2+ is also an important component of living cells; therefore, quantitative testing of Fe2+ in food and in living cells is of great importance. This paper presents the development of a novel π-bridge EDOT-based N-oxide turn-on fluorescent probe, designated as FeE, for the detection of Fe2+. The probe has been shown to exhibit excellent sensitivity, a favorable linear relationship between fluorescence signal intensity and Fe2+ concentration, and an effective immunity to interference. The probe has low cytotoxicity and has been successfully used to detect Fe2+ in cells using laser confocal fluorescence microscopy. It is also possible to determine the presence of Fe2+ in animal blood, spinach, apple juice, red wine, mineral water and metal cans. The Fe2+ responsive probe FeE can be prepared as a Fe2+ responsive test strip that can detect Fe2+ in food samples and exogenous and endogenous Fe2+ in cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reviews the applications of big data (BD) and blockchain technology in modern food testing and explores their impact on educational reform. The first part highlights the critical role of BD in ensuring food safety across the supply chain, discussing various data collection methods, such as national and international food safety databases, while addressing the challenges related to data storage and real-time information retrieval. Additionally, blockchain technology has been explored for its ability to enhance transparency, traceability, and security in the food-testing process by creating immutable records of testing data, ensuring data integrity, and reducing the risk of tampering or fraud. The second part focuses on the influence of BD and blockchain on educational reform, particularly within food science curricula. BD enables data-driven curriculum design, supporting personalized learning and more effective educational outcomes, while blockchain ensures transparency in course management and credentials. This study advocates integrating these technologies into curriculum reform to enhance both the efficiency and quality of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detrimental impact of foodborne pathogens on human health makes food safety a major concern at all levels of production. Conventional methods to detect foodborne pathogens, such as live culture, high-performance liquid chromatography, and molecular techniques, are relatively tedious, time-consuming, laborious, and expensive, which hinders their use for on-site applications. Recurrent outbreaks of foodborne illness have heightened the demand for rapid and simple technologies for detection of foodborne pathogens. Recently, Lateral flow assays (LFA) have drawn attention because of their ability to detect pathogens rapidly, cheaply, and on-site. Here, we reviewed the latest developments in LFAs to detect various foodborne pathogens in food samples, giving special attention to how reporters and labels have improved LFA performance. We also discussed different approaches to improve LFA sensitivity and specificity. Most importantly, due to the lack of studies on LFAs for the detection of viral foodborne pathogens in food samples, we summarized our recent research on developing LFAs for the detection of viral foodborne pathogens. Finally, we highlighted the main challenges for further development of LFA platforms. In summary, with continuing improvements, LFAs may soon offer excellent performance at point-of-care that is competitive with laboratory techniques while retaining a rapid format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hysterothylacium aduncum is one of six pathogens responsible for human anisakiasis. Infection with H. aduncum can cause acute abdominal symptoms and allergic reactions and is prone to misdiagnosis in clinical practice. This study aims to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of detecting H. aduncum in food ingredients. We targeted the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) regions of Anisakis to develop a visual screening method for detecting H. aduncum using recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with the CRISPR/Cas12a system. By comparing the ITS 1 region sequences of eight nematode species, we designed specific primers and CRISPR RNA (crRNA). The specificity of RPA primers was screened and evaluated, and the CRISPR system was optimized. We assessed its specificity and sensitivity and performed testing on commercial samples. The results indicated that the alternative primer ADU 1 was the most effective. The final optimized concentrations were 250 nM for Cas12a, 500 nM for crRNA, and 500 nM for ssDNA. The complete test procedure was achievable within 45 min at 37 °C, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.27 pg/μL. The amplified product could be directly observed using a fluorescence microscope or ultraviolet lamp. Detection results for 15 Anisakis samples were entirely consistent with those obtained via Sanger sequencing, demonstrating the higher efficacy of this method for detecting and identifying H. aduncum. This visual detection method, characterized by simple operation, visual results, high sensitivity, and specificity, meets the requirements for food safety testing and enhances monitoring efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Six hundred million cases of disease and roughly 420,000 deaths occur globally each year due to foodborne pathogens. Current methods to screen and identify pathogens in swine, poultry, and cattle products include immuno-based techniques (e.g., immunoassay integrated biosensors), molecular methods (e.g., DNA hybridization and PCR assays), and traditional culturing. These methods are often used in tandem to screen, quantify, and characterize samples, prolonging real-time comprehensive analysis. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a relatively new technology that combines DNA-sequencing chemistry and bioinformatics to generate and analyze large amounts of short- or long-read DNA sequences and whole genomes. The goal of this project was to evaluate the quantitative capabilities of the real-time NGS Oxford Nanopore Technologies' MinION sequencer through a shotgun-based sequencing approach. This investigation explored the correlation between known amounts of the analyte (lambda DNA as a pathogenic bacterial surrogate) with data output, in both the presence and absence of a background matrix (Bos taurus DNA). A positive linear correlation was observed between the concentration of analyte and the amount of data produced, number of bases sequenced, and number of reads generated in both the presence and absence of a background matrix. In the presence of bovine DNA, the sequenced data were successfully mapped to the NCBI lambda reference genome. Furthermore, the workflow from pre-extracted DNA to target identification took less than 3 h, demonstrating the potential of long-read sequencing in food safety as a rapid method for screening, identification, and quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a major foodborne pathogen that poses a significant threat to food safety and human health. Rapid and sensitive detection of viable Escherichia coli O157:H7 can effectively prevent food poisoning. Here, we developed a microwell-confined and propidium monoazide-assisted digital CRISPR microfluidic platform for rapid and sensitive detection of viable Escherichia coli O157:H7 in food samples. The reaction time is significantly reduced by minimizing the microwell volume, yielding qualitative results in 5 min and absolute quantitative results in 15 min. With the assistance of propidium monoazide, this platform can eliminate the interference from 99% of dead Escherichia coli O157:H7. The direct lysis method obviates the need for a complex nucleic acid extraction process, offering a limit of detection of 3.6 × 101 CFU mL−1 within 30 min. Our results demonstrated that the platform provides a powerful tool for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and provides reliable guidance for food safety testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA analysis of the faeces of wild animals is a major step towards our understanding of the dietary requirements of cryptic and sometimes threatened species. The presence of digested and liquefied matter undetectable to the naked eye can be identified and used to detect the presence of plant resources. Validating the consumption of plant material is tricky and often controversial, as it may have been taken unintentionally while hunting prey. Here, we present the very first dietary DNA metabarcoding analysis of the gecko Euleptes europaea. We identified one class and three orders of Arthropoda, and two classes of plants. To validate the results of plant presence, we set up a novel feeding selectivity protocol, followed by video surveillance in the wild. We offered four plant resources, two of which were close relatives to the found metabacoded taxa. While a food selectivity protocol combined with DNA analysis validated the consumption of plant resources, they showed that these geckos had a preference for plant pollen but refused other sweet resources. These results raise the possibility of a pollinating role of this gecko, which can sometimes be the only vertebrate to inhabiting the smallest islets in the Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landscape theory of food web architecture (LTFWA) describes relationships among body size, trophic position, mobility, and energy channels that serve to couple heterogenous habitats, which in turn promotes long‐term system stability. However, empirical tests of the LTFWA are rare and support differs among terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems. Further, it is unclear whether the theory applies in highly altered ecosystems dominated by introduced species such as the Laurentian Great Lakes. Here, we provide an empirical test of the LTFWA by relating body size, trophic position, and the coupling of different energy channels using stable isotope data from species throughout the Lake Michigan food web. We found that body size was positively related to trophic position, but for a given trophic position, organisms predominately supported by pelagic energy had smaller body sizes than organisms predominately supported by nearshore benthic energy. We also found a hump‐shaped trophic relationship in the food web where there is a gradual increase in the coupling of pelagic and nearshore energy channels with larger body sizes as well as higher trophic positions. This highlights the important role of body size and connectivity among habitats in structuring food webs. However, important deviations from expectations are suggestive of how species introductions and other anthropogenic impacts can affect food web structure in large lakes. First, native top predators appear to be flexible couplers that may provide food web resilience, whereas introduced top predators may confer less stability when they specialize on a single energy pathway. Second, some smaller bodied prey fish and invertebrates, in addition to mobile predators, coupled energy from pelagic and nearshore energy channels, which suggests that some prey species may also be important integrators of energy pathways in the system. We conclude that patterns predicted by the LTFWA are present in the face of species introductions and other anthropogenic stressors to a degree, but time‐series evaluations are needed to fully understand the mechanisms that promote stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ternary I-III-VI quantum dots, unlike traditional binary counterparts, offer advantages like low toxicity, cadmium-free composition, tunable electronic properties, and near-infrared light emission, making them increasingly popular for their cost-effectiveness and versatile applications in light emission. In this study, monodispersive, water-soluble, highly emissive CuInS2@ZnS quantum dots were synthesized using cysteine and threonine as ligands by a simple one-pot solution method. By adjusting, the ratio of cysteine to threonine to 1:5 and the heating time during the synthesis process to 40 min, CuInS2@ZnS quantum dots achieved the highest fluorescence intensity. Then, CuInS2@ZnS quantum dots were applied for ciprofloxacin (CIP) detection in food sample, showing a linear range of 2–18 μg/ml and a lowest detection limit of 0.28 μg/ml. The fluorescent probe was successfully established by quenching process as CIP concentration increasing, due to photoinduced electron transfer. Experimental results demonstrated the detection method has high sensitivity and good selectivity. We, then utilized smartphones to visually distinguish CIP concentrations based on the colors emitted by the CuInS2@ZnS quantum dots under UV light. The method was finally effectively to detect residual CIP in porcine kidneys, with recoveries of 92%–98%. This approach has promising potential for enhancing food safety testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A precautionary specific migration limit of 40 µg/kg for styrene from food contact materials is currently under evaluation in Europe. In the ongoing discussion about applicable methods to demonstrate compliance, testing with food instead of simulants or total transfer calculations has been proposed. In this study, the residual styrene levels in high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) blended with general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS) were determined at several levels of the processing chain of yoghurt pots (from pellets to sheets, then to pots). The styrene migration from extruded sheets and thermoformed pots was analyzed in food simulants at 10 days/20 °C and 40 °C, as well as in yoghurt after storage at 8 °C after 50 days. The obtained results show that the residual styrene content in the PS materials correlates with migration. However, the migration of styrene was far below the total transfer assumption. Styrene migration from the sheets into food simulants and into yoghurt exceeded that migrating from the pots. Styrene migration into food simulants in 20% ethanol at 10 days/20 °C and 40 °C and, more clearly, in 50% ethanol at 10 days/40 °C, was higher than that into yoghurt tested on the best-before date. Styrene migration from PS pots into yoghurt after storage at 8 °C for 50 days reached up to 15 µg/kg (applying the EU cube model), which would be conservatively covered by testing the PS pots with 20% ethanol at 10 days/20 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Food safety is pivotal for public welfare and directly impacts consumer health. Food safety sampling inspections (FSSIs) are essential in detecting unqualified food products and non‐compliant manufacturers, which form an integral part of government regulatory frameworks. However, given the constraints on budgetary resources, improving the efficiency of food safety sampling inspections (EFSSIs) remains a considerable challenge in China's food quality and safety supervision. This study aims to apply Pareto's law, starting from the examination of food sample testing items and major hazard types, to theoretically analyze methods for improving the EFSSIs. Following the theoretical analysis, the research employs provincial food sampling data from China in 2022 to empirically validate the proposed improvement strategies. RESULTS: The research findings indicate that applying Pareto's law significantly reduces the number of items that should be tested for each food subcategory, effectively lowering testing costs for each batch of food samples. Theoretically, employing Pareto's law in sampling inspections can increase the EFSSIs to 2.78 times the current observed level. Furthermore, empirical validation using food sampling data confirms that EFSSIs can be improved to 2.12 times the existing level, consistent with theoretical predictions. CONCLUSION: Implementing Pareto's law in FSSIs facilitates the detection of more unqualified food products and non‐compliant manufacturers without additional financial burden, significantly enhancing the EFSSIs. This approach provides an innovative strategy for government to bolster their food safety management efforts. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coaxial electrospinning is a new technology for the preparation of multi-structure nanofibers, with the advantages of simple equipment operation, mild processing conditions and adjustable structure. This technology uses a direct current (DC) high voltage electrostatic field to continuously transform a variety of polymer solutions into multi-structure nanofibers, such as core-shell, hollow and porous ones. These special structures endow nanofibers with excellent encapsulation and controlled release properties, diverse interface structures, and a large number of reaction sites, which have potential applications in functional ingredient encapsulation, slow release of bioactive ingredients, and food detection. This article briefly introduces the basic principle of coaxial electrospinning technology and the major factors affecting nanofiber formation, such as spinning solution properties, process parameters, and environmental conditions. Moreover, it elaborates on the strategies for preparing multilevel structure nanofibers by using coaxial electrospinning and its structural advantages, focusing on the application of this technology in active food packaging, encapsulation and targeted delivery of bioactive ingredients, food detection, and juice filtration and concentration. It is our hope that this article will promote the wide application of coaxial electrospinning technology in the field of food.

In response to the growing need for effective food safety protocols in game meat, this study introduces a novel DNase I treatment and heat kill method to detect live bacterial pathogens in meat, particularly in game. Focusing on male wild boar shoulder meat, we tested the method’s efficacy under a stringent condition of 59°C for 60 minutes. The results demonstrate that DNase I remains active, enabling the accurate differentiation between viable and non-viable bacterial cells for precise pathogen quantification. This method’s simplicity and potential for high-throughput processing suggest it could be an invaluable tool for enhancing the safety and quality of game meat. These findings offer a practical approach to game meat safety, and can permit large-scale food safety testing across various meat types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Food is a vital human need, and the human visual system is finely tuned to detect and respond to food cues in the environment. The omnipresence of food cues across various settings has been linked to the prevalence of obesity in susceptible populations. However, the influence of the post-prandial state on visual attention to food stimuli remains poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate how a 12 hour fast affects visual attention to food and non-food stimuli in healthy, non-obese individuals. Methods: Visual attention was assessed by measuring the total duration of visual fixations on stimuli presented on a computer screen, using a screen-based eye tracker (Tobii X2-60). Participants were divided into two groups: those who had fasted for 12 hours and those tested within two hours after consuming breakfast (satiated state). Additionally, performance on the Food Stroop task and electrodermal activity (EDA) responses were measured to evaluate attentional interference and physiological arousal, respectively. Salivary samples were also collected to assess levels of alpha-amylase and cortisol. Results: Fasted participants exhibited a progressive decline in visual attention toward food stimuli compared to satiated individuals, reflecting a satiated state. This effect was independent of the palatability of the depicted food items and was not observed with stimuli representing non-food items. The Food Stroop task revealed no differences between fasting and satiated participants, indicating that the presence of food-related stimuli does not differentially impact attentional interference under varying hunger states. Moreover, no significant variations were observed in EDA responses across participant groups and stimulus types, suggesting that the modulation of visual attention to food cues by hunger is independent of physiological arousal. Interestingly, satiated subjects exhibited higher levels of salivary alpha-amylase, which was inversely related to their subjective hunger ratings. No differences in salivary cortisol levels were found between groups. Discussion: The findings indicate a novel influence of mild hunger on the processing of visual food cues, independent of physiological arousal. The decline in visual attention to food stimuli in fasted individuals suggests that satiety modulates visual processing. The lack of differences in attentional interference and physiological arousal between fasting and satiated states further supports the notion that visual attention to food cues is primarily driven by hunger-related mechanisms rather than stress. Additionally, the inverse relationship between salivary alpha-amylase levels and hunger ratings implies that alpha-amylase may serve as a marker of satiety rather than stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current research on single‐atom nanozymes has predominantly concentrated on 2D structures, with limited exploration into the influence of 3D biomimetic structures on their catalytic performance. In this work, a 3D nanostructure of Pt single‐atom nanozyme (Pt‐NC SAzyme) is fabricated by encapsulating platinum 2,4‐pentanedionate in each molecular cage of ZIF‐8 and then pyrolyzing. X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis confirmed the presence of Pt as single atoms, with each Pt atom exclusively coordinated with four nitrogen atoms, while the *O is identified as an intermediate in the catalytic reaction. Additionally, theoretical calculations demonstrated that Pt‐NC SAzyme exhibited a lower potential energy and a shorter pathway for catalyzing the production of O2 from H2O2 than that of 2D Pt‐NC due to the localization effect, confirming a superior catalase‐like activity of Pt‐NC SAzyme. Based on the efficient O2 production from Pt‐NC SAzyme, a dual‐mode pressure immunosensor is established to achieve sensitive detection of aminopyrine by converting gas‐induced pressure into visual and timing readouts. This work introduced a novel approach to enhance the catalytic activity of SAzymes through bionic structural design and coordination environment, while also proposing a new concept for point‐of‐care testing in food safety, environmental monitoring, and disease diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the impact of microalgal concentrations in diets on the settlement and metamorphosis stages of pediveliger larvae and spat of Crassostrea gigas oysters. Diets containing microalgal concentrations of 8, 12, and 16×104 cells mL-1 were administered for seven days during the larval settlement phase of pediveliger larvae. In the metamorphosis and postlarval cultivation phases, diets with microalgal concentrations of 8, 16, 24, and 32×104 cells mL-1 and a control group without food were tested for 14 and 21 days, respectively. Growth, yield, and survival were assessed every seven days. The diet comprised 30% Isochrysis galbana and 70% Chaetoceros muelleri microalgae. In the metamorphosis phase, the results revealed no significant differences in larval metamorphosis rate and survival across the tested diets. The concentrations exhibited similar survival in the spat with an initial average shell height of 0.657 ± 0.05 mm, with a significant difference only in growth. In the spat with an initial average shell height of 0.830 ± 0.12 mm, no differences in survival were observed among the tested concentrations. We concluded that diets of 12 and 16×104 cells mL-1 provide high rates of larval metamorphosis and spat yield during the larval settlement and metamorphosis phases. During the spat cultivation phases, diets of 32 and 24×104 cells mL-1 could optimize the cultivation time and yield of C. gigas spat in the laboratory. However, when considering survival alone, no advantage was found in providing a diet with a microalgal concentration above 8×104 cells mL-1 across all C. gigas oyster cultivation phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background PCR-based genetic testing of agricultural products and foods is widely used for detecting various analytical targets such as genetically modified organisms and food allergens. However, it is difficult to obtain accurate genetic testing results from processed foods because DNA is fragmented by heat and pressure during food processing. Thus, we previously developed an analytical method to quantitatively evaluate the degree of DNA fragmentation for the purpose of QC of genetic testing for processed foods. Objective Our previous analytical method requires four PCR primer sets, resulting in high reagent costs and heavy analytical workloads. Therefore, we attempted to develop an easy-to-use test kit for quantifying the degree of DNA fragmentation and to evaluate its analytical performance. Methods To simplify the analysis procedure, we used only two primer sets. In addition, no-fragmentation control templates were prepared to obtain stable measurement results. The precision of the simplified analysis was evaluated through blind tests between laboratories. Results It was confirmed that plant species and extracted DNA concentrations had little effect on analysis with the newly developed test kit. In addition, the analytical values indicating the degree of DNA fragmentation exhibited small variability between laboratories. Conclusion We confirmed the high practicality of the developed test kit. Because DNA fragmentation in cells is a universal phenomenon, we anticipate that the test kit will be used not only for QC of genetic testing but also for food testing, medical diagnostics, and other applications in a range of fields. Highlights The newly developed test kit enables quantitative evaluation of the degree of DNA fragmentation in a simple manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of the properties of soft materials are important from the point of view of medical diagnostics of soft tissues as well as testing the quality of food products and many technical materials. One of the frequently used techniques for testing such materials, attractive due to its non-invasive nature, is the indentation technique, which does not puncture the material. The difficulty of testing soft materials, which affects the objectivity of the results, is related to the problems of stable positioning of the studied material in relation to the indentation apparatus, especially with a device held by the operator. This work concerns the comparison of test results using an indentation apparatus mounted on mobile and stationary handles. The tested materials are cylindrical samples of polyurethane foams with three different stiffnesses and the same samples with a 0.5 or 1 mm thick silicone layer. The study presented uses an apparatus with a flat cylindrical indenter, with a surface area of 1 cm2, pressed to a depth of 10 mm (so-called deep tests). Based on the recorded force changes over time, five descriptors of the indentation test were determined and compared for both types of handles. The tests performed showed that the elastic properties of foam materials alone and with a silicone layer can be effectively characterized by the maximum forces during recessing and retraction and the slopes of the recessing and retraction curves. In the case of two-layer materials, these descriptors reflect both the characteristics of the foams and the silicone layer. The results show that the above property of the deep indentation method distinguishes it from the shallow indentation method. The repeatability of the tests performed in the mobile and stationary holders were determined to be comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Psidium fruits showed antioxidant activities, with a protective effect on DNA. • It may be related to phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins. • Its fruits had no cytotoxicity, except for the P. myrtoides highest concentrations. • Aqueous extracts of Psidium fruits showed no genotoxic effects. • Psidium fruits are potential sources for functional foods, with benefits for health. Psidium cattleianum Sabine and P. myrtoides O. Berg (Myrtaceae) fruits, known as yellow and purple araçá, respectively, are widely consumed fresh and are used in several applications, such as juices, syrups, and ice cream products. Moreover, their extracts and essential oils have been recognized for their biological properties. Here, we evaluated the potential of P. cattleianum and P. myrtoides fruits through antioxidant, cytogenotoxic, and antigenotoxic tests using their aqueous fruit extracts (1.56 to 50.0 mg/mL). Phenolic compounds and flavonoids were present in both Psidium fruit extracts, while tannins and anthocyanins were found only in P. myrtoides. The latter species exhibited higher antioxidant activity when compared to P. cattleianum according to the DPPH and ABTS tests. Psidium cattleianum extracts showed no cytotoxicity (MTT assay), while P. myrtoides was considered cytotoxic only at the highest concentrations (25 and 50 mg/mL). No genotoxic effects were observed for both extracts (3.12, 6.25, and 12.5 mg/mL) using micronucleus test with the fibroblast cell line L929. Additionally, P. cattleianum and P. myrtoides extracts (12.5 mg/mL) reduced nuclear changes induced by MMS in the antigenotoxic assay. Overall, our findings suggest that the analyzed Psidium fruits, particularly the P. myrtoides species, are sources of natural antioxidants, with no genotoxicity (≤ 12.5 mg/mL) and exhibit a protective effect against DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The existing literature on resistant starch analysis in Australian foods has predominantly relied on older testing methods. Thus, our study aimed to address this gap by assessing the resistant starch content of selected Australian foods using the validated Association of Analytical Chemists 2002.02 testing method. Forty commonly consumed and available foods were tested in duplicate. The resistant starch content of foods varied from 0 to 13.72 g/100 g. Foods with the highest resistant starch were Hi‐maize flour pancakes, red kidney beans, Lebanese bread, and Cornflakes cereal, which ranged from 2.30 to 13.72 g/100 g, respectively. The lowest resistant starch foods included beetroot, rice crackers, All Bran cereal, and Nutri‐grain cereal, which ranged from 0 to 0.04 g/100 g, respectively. This is the first known Australian study to evaluate the resistant starch content of foods using the AOAC 2002.02 method. This data can be used to assess resistant starch consumption in the Australian population, inform gut microbiome research, and guide clinical practice recommendations for fibre intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Current drug–drug interaction (DDI) detection methods often miss the aspect of temporal plausibility, leading to false-positive disproportionality signals in spontaneous reporting system (SRS) databases. Objective: This study aims to develop a method for detecting and prioritizing temporally plausible disproportionality signals of DDIs in SRS databases by incorporating co-exposure time in disproportionality analysis. Methods: The method was tested in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). The CRESCENDDI dataset of positive controls served as the primary source of true-positive DDIs. Disproportionality analysis was performed considering the time of co-exposure. Temporal plausibility was assessed using the flex point of cumulative reporting of disproportionality signals. Potential confounders were identified using a machine learning method (i.e. Lasso regression). Results: Disproportionality analysis was conducted on 122 triplets with more than three cases, resulting in the prioritization of 61 disproportionality signals (50.0%) involving 13 adverse events, with 61.5% of these included in the European Medicine Agency's (EMA's) Important Medical Event (IME) list. A total of 27 signals (44.3%) had at least ten cases reporting the triplet of interest, and most of them (n = 19; 70.4%) were temporally plausible. The retrieved confounders were mainly other concomitant drugs. Conclusions: Our method was able to prioritize disproportionality signals with temporal plausibility. This finding suggests a potential for our method in pinpointing signals that are more likely to be furtherly validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of machine vision and spectral detection technology, online sorting of fruit internal and external quality has been developed rapidly. However, for spherical fruits, it is difficult to obtain full surface images during sorting, so it is difficult to accurately calculate the size of the surface defects and the ratio of defects to the full surface. In this paper, a full surface line scanning image acquisition device for spherical fruit is proposed. Based on this device, the line scanning hyperspectral image of spherical fruit is collected, and the original image is extracted by feature extraction and background removal. Next, the isometric projection image and the equivalent projection image of the feature image is obtained through cartography projection transformation; The number of feature pixels in the original feature image, the isometric projection image, the equivalent projection image, and the width of the original feature image are used as input parameters to predict the actual defect area with the help of the shallow neural network. In this paper, the equipment and method are verified using three test balls with different diameters and pasting different sizes of identification blocks at different positions on their surfaces. The experimental results show that the prediction accuracy R of the test set of the model is 0.9937, and the RMSE is 0.3391 cm2. It can be seen that the method has good prediction accuracy, which can provide a reference for the hyperspectral on‐line sorting method of external quality of spherical fruit. Practical application: This method provides an effective solution for the quality sorting production line of spherical fruits. In addition to agricultural product quality testing and food quality testing, similar to the detection of industrial products such as ball balls, the scheme provided in this manuscript can also be used as one of the options. The method proposed in this manuscript is suitable for all kinds of line scanning equipment, including hyperspectral imager and laser profilometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Microfluidic Biochips (DMFBs) are rapidly replacing conventional biomedical analyzers by incorporating diverse bioassay operations with better throughput and precision at a negligible cost. In the last decade, these microfluidic devices have been well anticipated in miscellaneous healthcare applications such as DNA sequencing, drug discovery, drug screening, clinical diagnosis, etc., and other safety-critical fields like air quality monitoring, food safety testing, etc. In view of the application areas, these devices must incorporate the attributes like reliability, accuracy, and robustness. The correctness of a microfluidic device must be ensured through a superior testing technique before it is accepted for use in various applications. In this paper, an optimized fault modelling strategy to detect multiple faults in a digital microfluidic biochip has been introduced by embedding clockwise and anticlockwise movements of droplets using Pebble Traversal (based on Pebble Motion of Graph Theory). The suggested method also calculates traversal time for a fault-free biochip. In addition, this work presents an Advanced Module Sequence Graph-based reconfiguration technique to reinstate the microfluidic device for regular bioassays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most species studied, energy deficits inhibit female reproductive behavior, but the location and nature of energy sensors and how they affect behavior are unknown. Progress has been facilitated by using Drosophila melanogaster, a species in which reproduction and food availability are closely linked. Adult males and females were either fed or food deprived (FD) and then tested in an arena with a fed, opposite-sex conspecific with no food in the testing arena. Only FD females (not FD males) significantly decreased their copulation rate and increased their copulation latency, and the effects of FD were prevented in females fed either yeast alone or glucose alone, but not sucralose alone, cholesterol alone, or amino acids alone. It is well-known that high-fat diets inhibit copulation rate in this species, and the effects of FD on copulation rate were mimicked by treatment with an inhibitor of glucose but not free fatty acid oxidation. The availability of oxidizable glucose was a necessary condition for copulation rate in females fed either yeast alone or fed a nutritive fly medium, which suggests that the critical component of yeast for female copulation rate is oxidizable glucose. Thus, female copulation rate in D. melanogaster is sensitive to the availability of oxidizable metabolic fuels, particularly the availability of oxidizable glucose or substrates/byproducts of glycolysis. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Copulation rate was decreased in food-deprived female but not in male adults when tested without food in the testing arena. Copulation rate was 1) maintained by feeding glucose alone, yeast alone, nutritive medium lacking yeast, but not sucralose, amino acids, or cholesterol alone; 2) decreased by inhibition of glycolysis in females fed either nutritive medium or yeast alone; and 3) not affected by inhibition of fatty acid oxidation. Thus, female copulation rate was linked to glycolytic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic voltammetry coupled with machine learning (ML) was leveraged as a rapid analytical approach to evaluate antioxidant capacities in tea products. Characteristic voltammetric fingerprints were extracted from four tea types and transformed into ML-compatible datasets. The anodic peak currents showed excellent linear scan rate dependence indicating adsorption-controlled interfacial kinetics. Among supervised models, support vector machines demonstrated optimal accuracy of 93.5% and correlation coefficient of 0.96 to spectrophotometric assay values on validation samples. The approach reliably predicted antioxidant contents in commercial teas within 5% relative errors. Case studies on adulteration detection, shelf-life analysis and novel variant screening further proved practical utility. The salient input features were identified to be the oxidation peak regions, validating underlying electron-transfer phenomena. This work successfully demonstrated proof-of-concept for an inexpensive voltammetry-ML platform as an automated, high-throughput analytical tool for functional food testing. With appropriate re-training, it can enable rapid quality assurance to support rising nutraceutical consumer awareness. Prospects include extensive validation on diverse food commodities and field deployment. Overall, this rapid analytical strategy can facilitate point-of-use assessment of antioxidant capacity in functional foods and beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short time that people have to cook their own food has led industries to satisfy the need for ready-to-eat products. This has motivated a progressive increase in studies that can determine the time at which the product can be safely consumed (shelf life). There are several methods for determining the shelf life of products; but regardless of the method used, the key is to know the minimum and/or maximum values of the indicators that define their deterioration. These values of spoilage indicators can change according to the compositional conditions of the food or the conditions under which it is stored during its shelf life. This review provides values for indicators used in tests for the determination of food shelf life, according to their nature, and environmental conditions, as way to be used by researchers as a reference in their predictions. The results of this research show scientific evidence through published articles about indicator values, their changes, referring to food shelf life kinetics. These values can be used for the prediction of food shelf life, for comparison purposes with their respective studies. It will be of importance for consumers, who will be able to use these values as a reference in the storage of these products. Shelf life indicator values for foods not considered in this work should be evaluated or experimented with in future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effectiveness of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) coatings for the prevention of residues migrating through polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films was investigated. PLA films prepared in chloroform at concentrations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% were heat sealed to PVC film surfaces in a hot press (130 °C, 5 min, 5 tons). Physical, mechanical, FTIR and migration analyses were performed on these two-layer films. With PLA coating, the thickness of the films increased, mechanical properties decreased and some changes in color values occurred. It was determined by FTIR that there was no structural change on both surfaces of the films as a result of hot pressing. From the overall migration analysis, no migration was observed in the tests with aqueous food simulants, while migration was detected in fatty food simulants. In the specific migration analysis by GC-MS, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) migration decreased by 50% with PLA coating. It is concluded that PLA coating of PVC stretch films may be a promising application to reduce migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the types of problematic results that can arise during microbiological testing of food and food processing environments, which potentially undermine the effectiveness of food safety programs. It outlines steps for their resolution and offers readers a structured approach for evaluating the multiple contributing biological, technological, and human factors. To assist in troubleshooting and identifying the root causes of these problems it gives examples of 15 common root causes. It also presents measures to prevent the recurrence of discrepant and ambiguous results. These measures are rooted in a robust laboratory quality system incorporating validated methods, standard operating procedures, calibrated equipment, maintenance of meticulous records, proficiency testing programs, and continuing education opportunities for laboratory personnel. In conclusion, the article advocates for comprehensive risk assessment of problematic results and offers actions to strengthen the application of microbiological methods within food safety programs, in line with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s objective of preventing adulterated food products from entering commerce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyzed the microbial community of traditional fermented foods of Jeju Island to identify the distribution of useful microorganisms and confirm their anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenic effects to determine their potential use as cosmetic ingredients. Firstly, we examined the microbial communities of Omphalius rusticus Jeotgal (OR), Spratelloides gracilis Jeotgal (SG), Chromis notata Jeotgal (CN), Turbo cornutus Jeotgal (TC), Trichiurus lepturus intestine Jeotgal (TL), Branchiostegus japonicus Sweet Rice Punch (BJ), Salted Anchovy Sauce (SA), Jeju Soy Sauce (JSS), and Jeju Soybean Paste (JSP). We found that Latilactobacillus sakei (87.2%), Tetragenococcus halophilus (37.7%), T. halophilus (96.8%), Bacillus subtilis (23.4%), T. halophilus (71.3%), L. sakei (53.7%), Lentibacillus sp. (42.9%), Enterococcus durans (14.6%), and E. durans (32.8%) were the dominant species. Secondly, to study the nine Jeju fermented foods' anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenic effects, we employed RAW 264.7 and B16F10 cells, classic cell models for inflammation and melanogenesis studies. Ethyl acetate extracts of the nine Jeju fermented foods all inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and melanin production in a concentration-dependent manner. Thirdly, to test the applicability of the nine Jeju fermented foods to human skin, we used the MTT assay to assess their cytotoxic effects on human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). Finally, the topical applicability of the nine Jeju fermented foods was tested through primary skin irritation, and it was found that they did not cause any adverse effects. Therefore, extracts from the nine Jeju fermented foods have potential applications as ingredients in anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenic products and can be used in the cosmetic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a ubiquitous foodborne pathogens responsible for listeriosis, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Development of simple and fast methods for L. monocytogenes detection is of great needed. In this study, we present a simple method for L. monocytogenes detection combined aptamers decorated magnetic beads for selective capture and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) mediated signal amplication. A NH2 labeled aptamer specific to L. monocytogenes was decorated on magnetic beads for selective capture and isolation of L. monocytogenes from food sample. AuNPs was functionalized with sulfhydryl modified primers specific to hly gene of L. monocytogenes in acidic environments. The AuNP@primers could catalyze TMB-H2O2 to TMB2+ and generate a significant blue color, this reaction was found to be enhanced by DNA. AuNP@primers was used as a signal indicator for the presence of L. monocytogenes DNA by enhancing the catalytic reaction of TMB-H2O2. The colour change was observed by naked eye and the optical density of TMB2 + was analyzed to quantify the result. The developed assay was highly specific and the limit of detection was 101 CFU/mL of L. monocytogenes. For the detection of L. monocytogenes in spiked food samples, the recoveries were ranging from 73.63 to 84.21% with the coefficient of variation less than 2.41% in meat, and ranged from 94.13 to 100.71% with the coefficient of variation less than 2.82% in milk, respectively. Therefore, the developed colorimetric assay is suitable for food sample testing, the detection takes less than 1.5 h, which enables on-site screening. This study offers a promising approach for rapid, sensitive and accurate detection of L. monocytogenes in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with rising concerns over food quality and safety, computer vision technology has gradually attracted attention and begun to be widely used in the field of food quality evaluation. Machine learning technologies such as artificial neural networks (ANN), convolutional neural networks (CNN), and support vector machines (SVM) allow automatic assessment and monitoring of food quality by training on large amounts of food images and related data. Particularly, with the development of deep learning, the computer is now able to more accurately recognize food features such as appearance, shape, and color, thereby allowing food classification, prediction and quality monitoring. In addition to its conventional application in food quality assessment, learning technologies also find application in more complex tasks such as defect detection, foreign object detection, and freshness assessment. These technologies not only improve the efficiency of food production and processing but also reduce errors caused by human factors, thereby ensuring food quality and safety. However, despite the significant progress in the application of learning technologies in food quality assessment, there are still challenges that need to be overcome. For instance, the high cost of acquiring and annotating food image datasets, as well as insufficient data quality and quantity, may affect the performance and generalization ability of models. Furthermore, the interpretability and transparency of models are important issues, especially when explaining or making decisions on food quality assessment results. Therefore, further research is needed to explore how to improve the quality and scale of datasets, optimize the robustness and interpretability of models, and develop more efficient and sustainable food quality assessment systems.

The role of Real-Time PCR assays for surveillance and rapid screening for pathogens is garnering more and more attention because of its versatility and ease of adoption. The goal of this study was to design, test, and evaluate Real-Time TaqMan PCR assays for the detection of botulinum neurotoxin (bont/A-G) genes from currently recognized BoNT subtypes. Assays were computationally designed and then laboratory tested for sensitivity and specificity using DNA preparations containing bont genes from 82 target toxin subtypes, including nine bivalent toxin types; 31 strains representing other clostridial species; and an extensive panel that consisted of DNA from a diverse set of prokaryotic (bacterial) and eukaryotic (fungal, protozoan, plant, and animal) species. In addition to laboratory testing, the assays were computationally evaluated using in silico analysis for their ability to detect bont gene sequences from recently identified toxin subtypes. Seventeen specific assays (two for each of the bont/C, bont/D, bont/E, and bont/G subtypes and three for each of the bont/A, bont/B, and bont/F subtypes) were designed and evaluated for their ability to detect bont genes encoding multiple subtypes from all seven serotypes. These assays could provide an additional tool for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins in clinical, environmental and food samples that can complement other existing methods used in clinical diagnostics, regulatory, public health, and research laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study focuses on the relative importance of different facets of efficacy beliefs in explaining the purchasing of products with environmentally friendly attributes. These facets differed based on whether they addressed individual versus collective action, in addition to whether they focused on behavioural execution versus goal attainment. Separate explanatory models were tested for organic food, refillable products, and bio-degradable food, each including goal attractiveness as a covariate. Behavioural self-efficacy was significantly associated with all types of purchases, but behavioural collective efficacy and goal self-efficacy showed only significant associations with purchases of bio-degradable food. Goal collective efficacy and goal attractiveness did not explain additional variance in any of the purchases considered. These findings align with past literature suggesting that efficacy beliefs can have a part in explaining purchasing behaviour, though stressing that the predictive value of specific facets may not generalize across different product types. Future research could investigate these beliefs for other forms of exerting influence as a consumer and/or in respect to social and economic issues related to sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Research / Pizhūhish Hā-yi Sanāyi̒-i Ghaz̠āyī is the property of University of Tabriz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mycotoxin contamination has become a challenge in the field of food safety testing, given the increasing emphasis on food safety in recent years. Mycotoxins are widely distributed, in heavily polluted areas. Food contamination with these toxins is difficult to prevent and control. Mycotoxins, as are small-molecule toxic metabolites produced by several species belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium growing in food. They are considered teratogenic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic to humans and animals. Food systems are often simultaneously contaminated with multiple mycotoxins. Due to the additive or synergistic toxicological effects caused by the co-existence of multiple mycotoxins, their individual detection requires reliable, accurate, and high-throughput techniques. Currently available, methods for the detection of multiple mycotoxins are mainly based on chromatography, spectroscopy (colorimetry, fluorescence, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering), and electrochemistry. This review provides a comprehensive overview of advances in the multiple detection methods of mycotoxins during the recent 5 years. The principles and features of these techniques are described. The practical applications and challenges associated with assays for multiple detection methods of mycotoxins are summarized. The potential for future development and application is discussed in an effort, to provide standards of references for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid identification of pathogens with higher sensitivity and specificity plays a significant role in maintaining public health, environmental monitoring, controlling food quality, and clinical diagnostics. Different methods have been widely used in food testing laboratories, quality control departments in food companies, hospitals, and clinical settings to identify pathogens. Some limitations in current pathogens detection methods are time-consuming, expensive, and laborious sample preparation, making it unsuitable for rapid detection. Microfluidics has emerged as a promising technology for biosensing applications due to its ability to precisely manipulate small volumes of fluids. Microfluidics platforms combined with spectroscopic techniques are capable of developing miniaturized devices that can detect and quantify pathogenic samples. The review focuses on the advancements in microfluidic devices integrated with spectroscopic methods for detecting bacterial microbes over the past five years. The review is based on several spectroscopic techniques, including fluorescence detection, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and dynamic light scattering methods coupled with microfluidic platforms. The key detection principles of different approaches were discussed and summarized. Finally, the future possible directions and challenges in microfluidic-based spectroscopy for isolating and detecting pathogens using the latest innovations were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the establishment of procedures for the safety assessment of food products that use re-combinant DNA technology, the manufacture, import, and sale of genetically modified (GM) foods that have not undergone safety assessment are prohibited under the Food Sanitation Act. Therefore, a performance study to confirm the GM food testing operations of each laboratory is very important to ensure the reliability of the GM food monitoring system. In 2022, GM papaya line PRSV-YK--which has not yet been authorized in Japan--was selected for testing, and a papaya paste and a DNA solution were used as the test samples. With these samples, a laboratory performance study of the DNA extraction and real-time PCR operations was conducted. This confirmed that the 18 participating laboratories were generally performing the DNA extraction and real-time PCR operations correctly. However, some laboratories using certain DNA amplification reagent with some real-time PCR instruments were not able to determine the PRSV-YK detection test. This suggests that the PRSV-YK detection test may not be able to correctly detect samples containing GM papaya when performed with these combinations of instruments and reagent. In order to ensure the reliability of the PRSV-YK detection test, it is necessary to examine in detail how the combination of DNA polymerase reagents and real-time PCR instruments affects the detection limit, and to implement an appropriate solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Food/environmental allergens have been associated with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE); however, the correlation between allergy profiles and disease responsiveness to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy remains unclear. We aimed to assess the association between food/environmental allergies identified on allergen testing and histologic response to PPI in patients with treatment‐naive EoE. Methods: Adults with newly diagnosed EoE who underwent formal testing for food/environmental allergies at a tertiary center were included. All patients underwent twice‐daily PPI for 8 weeks with subsequent repeat endoscopy and biopsy to assess histologic response. Patients with <15 eosinophils/hpf on post‐PPI mucosal biopsies were classified as responders (PPI‐r‐EoE), while those with ≥15 eosinophils/hpf were nonresponders (PPI‐nr‐EoE). Results: Sixty‐one patients met inclusion criteria (21 PPI‐r‐EoE vs 40 PPI‐nr‐EoE). Demographic, clinical, and endoscopic finding variables were similar between groups. Positive food allergen test was more prevalent among PPI‐nr‐EoE patients (82.5% vs 42.9%, P = 0.003). On multivariable analysis, positive food allergen testing remained an independent predictor for PPI nonresponse (aOR 0.15, CI: 0.04–0.58, P = 0.0006). Positive environmental allergen testing was highly prevalent, with no significant differences between groups (77.5% vs 95.2%, P = 0.14). However, higher number of positive environmental allergens (23.3% [≥5 allergens] vs 73.3% [<5 allergens], P = 0.003) and specific aeroallergens correlated with PPI‐nr‐EoE. Conclusion: Positive food allergy testing and increased environmental allergens predicted lower likelihood of histologic response to PPI in EoE. Our findings support an allergic phenotype of EoE that may less likely respond to PPI therapy. Formal allergen testing may play a role in therapy selection and tailored management in EoE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermo-oxidative stability testing plays a critical role in accurately predicting shelf life. These tests are performed in real time and under stress conditions, where degradation processes are accelerated by increasing storage conditions. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses were performed to evaluate the degradation of resveratrol in nutraceutical tablets as a function of time under different storage conditions in terms of temperature and relative humidity (RH), namely 25 °C/60% RH, 30 °C/65% RH, and 40 °C/75% RH. The latter is an accelerated test and is used to estimate shelf life for long-term storage. Resveratrol is present in both pure form and as a solid dispersion on magnesium dihydroxide microparticles (Resv@MDH). Degradation kinetic constants were determined at 25 °C, 30 °C, and 40 °C, and the Arrhenius behavior of the kinetic constants as a function of temperature was verified. The main results of this work are as follows: (i) the stability of resveratrol in nutraceutical tablets is affected by temperature; (ii) the dependence of the kinetic constants on temperature does not follow the Arrhenius equation, determining an overestimation of the degradation rate at 25 °C; in this regard a modified version of the Arrhenius equation that takes into account the deviation from linearity has been used to estimate the dependence of the kinetic constant on the temperature. These results suggest that accelerated testing does not provide a general model for predicting the shelf life of foods and dietary supplements. The reason may be due to possible matrix effects that result in different degradation mechanisms depending on the temperature. In this regard, symmetry relationships in the kinetics of chemical reactions resulting from microscopic reversibility and their relationship to the deviation from the Arrhenius equation are discussed. However, further research is needed to characterize the degradation mechanisms at different temperatures. The results of these studies would allow accurate prediction of food degradation to improve food safety and risk management and reduce food waste. In addition, knowledge of stability processes is necessary to ensure the maintenance of physiological processes by dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of swelling and plasticizer content of a plastic, as well as the ethanol content of the food simulant on the migration kinetics of three stabilizer-type additives from polylactic acid (PLA)-based food contact plastics has been investigated. The results proved that the parameters that affect the diffusion of substances inside the polymer matrix, i.e., swelling, plasticization, and the size of migrants, are the decisive factors in the migration from PLA to ethanolic food simulants. Both swelling and migration were negligible when ethanol 10% (v/v) was used. Contrarily, the specific migration limits of Commission Regulation (European Union, EU) No. 10/2011 were exceeded in ethanol 50% (v/v) for all investigated stabilizers. Migration was promoted by plasticization, but this effect could only be observed when the applied food simulant swelled the plastic (at least 20% (v/v) ethanol content). The dependence of the plasticizer’s migration-enhancing effect on the swelling has not been shown before. When the plasticization caused increased migration, it also led to specific migration limit exceeding within a shorter period of time. It happens even if PLA-based plastics are dedicated to the storage of hydrophilic food, which is the most common application area of these products. These results can support the improvement of both consumer safety and active packaging development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the framework of China's food safety standards and provides a brief overview of the problems and developmental characteristics of food safety in China. The composition and characteristics of China's food safety standards are revealed by an analysis of the changes in China's general food standards, an overview of the characteristics of the hygiene requirements in the production and operation process, and an introduction to food product and test method standards. In conclusion, Chinese food safety standards are still being improved, but they must also be effectively implemented and followed up in real time in order to continuously improve the quality of food and reduce food safety incidents. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Food webs are essential for understanding how ecosystems function, but empirical data on the interactions that make up these ecological networks are lacking for most taxa in most ecosystems. Trait‐based models can fill these data gaps, but their ability to do so has not been widely tested. We test how well these models can extrapolate to new ecological communities both in terms of pairwise predator–prey interactions and higher level food web attributes (i.e. species position, food web‐level properties). Location: Canada, Europe, Tanzania. Time Period: Current. Major Taxa Studied: Terrestrial vertebrates. Methods: We train trait‐based models of pairwise trophic interactions on four independent vertebrate food webs (Canadian tundra, Serengeti, alpine south‐eastern Pyrenees and Europe) and evaluate how well these models predict pairwise interactions and network properties of each food web. Results: We find that, overall, trait‐based models predict most interactions and their absence correctly. Performance was best for training and testing on the same food web (AUC > 0.90) and declined with environmental and phylogenetic distances with the strongest loss of performance for the tundra‐Serengeti ecosystems (AUC > 0.75). Network metrics were less well‐predicted than single interactions by our models with predicted food webs being more connected, less modular, and with higher mean trophic levels than observed. Main Conclusions: Theory predicts that the variability observed in food webs can be explained by differences in trait distributions and trait‐matching relationships. Our finding that trait‐based models can predict many trophic interactions, even in contrasting environments, adds to the growing body of evidence that there are general constraints on interactions and that trait‐based methods can serve as a useful first approximation of food webs in unknown areas. However, food webs are more than the sum of their parts, and predicting network attributes will likely require models that simultaneously predict individual interactions and community constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]