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Copyright of ESTUDAM Public Health Journal is the property of ESTUDAM Public Health Journal 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.)

Nowadays acrylamide is known not only as synthetic material used in industry, but also as carcinogenic, cyto- and genotoxic compound which forms during heat-induced process (due to Maillard reaction) mostly in foodstuff such as potato, bakery, plant derivatives products and coffee. The International Agency for Research on Cancer in 1994 declared acrylamide as a probable carcinogenic agent in humans. After metabolic process, acrylamide is distributed to all organs and tissues in human body. Acrylamide is classified as human neurotoxin, because this effect was observed in humans occupationally exposed to this compound. Acrylamide was found to cause apoptosis by mitochondrial dysfunction. Methods of acrylamide inactivation by microorganisms and bioactive diet compounds have also been reviewed. Moreover, there is still deficit of the European Union legal regulation concerning acrylamide mitigation strategies in food. Regulation 2017/2158 from 20 November 2017 is a step in the right direction when it comes to ensuring food safety and maximum levels of acrylamide in foodstuffs, however when exceeding those, it should result in elimination of such food from the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current legislation governing monitoring of drug residues in foodstuff of animal origin is being revised at the European level. This study provides a qualitative comparison of the legislation, public and private standards in the European Union, the United States of America (USA) and the Eurasian Customs Union/Russia. We made a quantitative comparison of Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) applied in each region for pork kidneys for tetracycline (with a focus on doxycycline), penicillin and chloramphenicol. The Customs Union generally applied lower levels than the other regions, with MRLs for tetracyclines in pig kidneys being 1200 times lower than those applied in the USA. Growing consumer interest and concern about chemicals in their food could be leveraged to support and enhance the implementation of new initiatives to improve veterinary public health. Farmers and veterinarians could help reduce findings of drug residues in meat through the judicious use of preventive actions when using veterinary medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global prevalence of nutraceuticals is noticeably high. The American market is flooded with nutraceuticals claiming to be of natural origin and sold with a therapeutic claim by major online retail stores such as Amazon and eBay. The objective of this commentary is to highlight the possible problems of online-sold nutraceuticals in the United States with respect to claim, adulterants, and safety. Furthermore, there is a lack of strict regulatory laws governing the sales, manufacturing, marketing, and label claims of nutraceutical formulations currently sold in the U.S. market. Major online retail stores and Internet pharmacies aid the widespread sale of nutraceuticals. Finally, according to the literature, many of these products were found to be either counterfeit or adulterated with active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and mislabeled as being safe and natural. Therefore, regulatory authorities along with the research community should intervene to draw attention to these products and their possible effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology has seen exponential growth in last decade due to its unique physicochemical properties; however, the risk associated with this emerging technology has withdrawn ample attention in the past decade. Nanotoxicity is majorly contributed to the small size and large surface area of nanomaterials, which allow easy dispersion and invasion of anatomical barriers in human body. Unique physio-chemical properties of nanoparticles make the investigation of their toxic consequences intricate and challenging. This makes it important to have an in-depth knowledge of different mechanisms involved in nanomaterials's action and toxicity. Nano-toxicity has various effects on human health and diseases as they can easily enter into the humans via different routes, mainly respiratory, dermal, and gastrointestinal routes. This also limits the use of nanomaterials as therapeutic and diagnostic tools. This review focuses on the nanomaterial-cell interactions leading to toxicological responses. Different mechanisms involved in nanoparticle-mediated toxicity with the main focus on oxidative stress, genotoxic, and carcinogenic potential has also been discussed. Different methods and techniques used for the characterization of nanomaterials in food and other biological matrices have also been discussed in detail. Nano-toxicity on different organs-with the major focus on the cardiac and respiratory system-have been discussed. Conclusively, the risk management of nanotoxicity is also summarized. This review provides a better understanding of the current scenario of the nanotoxicology, disease progression due to nanomaterials, and their use in the food industry and medical therapeutics. Briefly, the required rules, regulations, and the need of policy makers has been discussed critically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discuses the U.S Food and Drug Administration, their problems regarding using the power of publicity to minimize and maximize the safety of regulated products and the solution to it.

The article offers information on the updated legislation in the European Union (EU). Topics discussed include the Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/199 of February 9, 2018 on health claims; the Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/192 of February 8, 2018 concerning reference laboratories in the field of contaminants in feed and food; and the Council Regulation (EU) 2018/147 of January 29, 2018 related to quantitative limitation for buying-in skimmed milk powder.

The article presents several notifications to the European Commission under Directive 98/34/Commission Regulation (EC) of the European Council and Parliament, which tackle issues concerning food regulation in Europe as of 2014. Topics include the decree on maximum levels for foodstuff contaminants in Bulgaria, the technical regulation for the production, commercial presentation, and description of alcoholic cocktails in Lithuania, and the Producer Responsibility Obligations in Great Britain.

The article focuses on the England and Wales High Court decision in R. v. Staines Magistrates' Court, regarding abuse of process and decision to prosecute. In the case, an environmental health technician carried out a food inspection at Barons Pub Co. Ltd. and reported that the firm's owners were not registered as food business operators and were serving contaminated food. It informs that a magistrates' court cannot review a prosecutorial decision apart from an abuse of process application.

Copyright of Revue d'Etudes en Agriculture et Environnement is the property of Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) 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.)

The article examines whether a U.S.-based labeling legislation takes on a role in protecting consumers from contaminated food. It provides an overview of the statutory and regulatory authority governing requirements for food products in the U.S. including the implementation of the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) legislation. It outlines the details of the COOL regulatory regime and its role in the mitigation of food safety risk. It looks at the extent to which COOL could be used to help safeguard consumers from adulterated and contaminated food since it can only play a limited role in tracing a contaminated product to its source.

Due to the consumption of chicken and chicken products in Turkey at high ratio, trace metal content of chicken and chicken products from Turkey were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by analysis of standard reference material (NIST SRM 1577b Bovine liver). Trace element content in various parts of chicken samples and chicken products were to be in the range of 0.10–114μg/g for copper, 0.25–6.09μg/kg for cadmium, 0.01–0.40μg/g for lead, 0.10–0.91μg/g for selenium, 0.05–3.91μg/g for manganese, 0.06–0.10μg/g for arsenic, 0.01–0.72μg/g for chromium, 0.01–2.08μg/g for nickel, 0.01–0.02μg/g for cobalt, 0.10–1.90μg/g for aluminium, 1.21–24.3μg/g for zinc, 2.91–155μg/g for iron. The levels of lead in some analyzed chicken products were higher than the recommended legal limits for human consumption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Food safety is a strategic topic entailing not only national public health aspects but also competitiveness in international trade. An important component of any food safety program is the control and monitoring of residues posed by certain substances involved in food production. In turn, a National Residue Control Plan (NRCP) relies on an appropriate laboratory network, not only to generate analytical results, but also more broadly to verify and co-validate the controls built along the food production chain. Therefore laboratories operating under a NRCP should work in close cooperation with inspection bodies, fostering the critical alignment of the whole system with the principles of risk analysis. Beyond producing technically valid results, these laboratories should arguably be able to assist in the prediction and establishment of targets for official control. In pursuit of analytical excellence, the Brazilian government has developed a strategic plan for Official Agricultural Laboratories. Inserted in a national agenda for agricultural risk analysis, the plan has succeeded in raising laboratory budget by approximately 200%, it has started a rigorous program for personnel capacity-building, it has initiated strategic cooperation with international reference centres, and finally, it has completely renewed instrumental resources and rapidly triggered a program aimed at full laboratory compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Quinolones are a group of chemotherapeutic agents with an excellent efficiency against poultry pathogens. Two commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests have been applied in parallel for the qualitative screening analysis of several quinolones in eggs, poultry muscle and feeds at the required levels. During the validation study, carried out according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria, two different sample treatments were compared in foods: the simple and fast procedure suggested by the kit producer (Euro-Diagnostica) and a more complex solid-phase extraction (SPE) sample preparation. The results demonstrated that the method based on SPE clean up exhibited better characteristic performances, particularly in eggs for which lower detection levels are required. Despite the fact that screening methods should be rapid and cheap, the use of non-chromatographic techniques such as ELISA for multiresidual detection of a class of substances involves some additional attention to sample preparation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A rapid, high-throughput antimicrobial screening assay for the detection of fluoroquinolone and 4-quinolone residues in foods of animal origin has been developed in ampoule format. The assay employs a single Escherichia coli species sensitive to those Gram-negative inhibitiory antimicrobial compounds and is presented in a comparable format to the existing commercially available Premi®Test and Delvotest® ampoule-based microbial inhibition tests (DSM, Delft, The Netherlands). In the novel E. coli assay the microorganism, in vegetative state, is inoculated into a nutrient agar pellet containing a pH sensitive acid–base indicator dye. A simple extraction protocol that is selective for fluoroquinolone and quinolone compounds was developed to recover, cleanup and concentrate the target analyte(s) from a variety of tissue types and matrices prior to screening analysis. The method detected 16 target compounds at concentrations equal to or below the maximum residue limits (where applicable). The method has been validated using the prototype assay in accordance with the 2002/657/EC guidelines for the validation of qualitative screening assays. False positive and false negative responses rates for the procedure have been determined as less than 5%. The stability of a selection of representative target analytes has been demonstrated for a 20-week period under a variety of storage conditions both in tissue and in extract. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Within the EU the use of dapsone (4,4-diaminodiphenylsulfone) is prohibited in food-producing animals and consequently it''s included in the Annex IV of the Directive 90/2377/EC. A quantitative confirmatory method has been developed and validated according to the criteria defined in the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, for the determination of dapsone in meat and milk. Samples, after homogenization in alkaline conditions and organic solvent extraction, were purified on silica gel solid phase extraction cartridges. The eluate was evaporated and redissolved in mobile phase and was analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in positive electrospray ionisation (ESI) using deuterium labelled Sulphadimidine-d7 as internal standard. The calculated value for, decision limit, CCα is 0.12μgkg−1, and the detection capability; CCβ value is 0.16μgkg−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A fast and simple liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for detection and confirmation of tranquilizers (chlorpromazine, propionylpromazine, acepromazine, triflupromazine, promazine, azaperone and its metabolite, azaperol) and beta-blocker (carazolol) in porcine and bovine kidney has been presented. The method relies on the extraction with acetonitrile followed by centrifugation. After evaporation of acetonitrile, the residue was reconstituted in a mobile phase and filtrated. The separation of analytes was performed on a C18 column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile and ammonium formate buffer (0.05M, pH 4.5) with gradient elution. The electrospray ionization was used to obtain the protonated molecules [M+H]+ and two product ions were monitored for each compound. For quantification deutered internal standards were used. The whole method has been validated according to the European Union requirements. Specificity, decision limit (CCα), detection capability (CCβ), trueness and precision were determined. The results showed good trueness ranged from 73.2% to 110.6% with a good R.S.D., less than 13.0% under within-laboratory reproducibility conditions. The calculated critical concentrations of CCα for phenothiazines were between 5.8 and 6.6μgkg−1 while for azaperone CCα was 105.5μgkg−1 and for azaperol was 121.4μgkg−1. CCα for carazolol was 16.7μgkg−1 in bovine and 21.9μgkg−1 in porcine kidney. CCβ for phenothiazines were between 6.3 and 7.6μgkg−1, for azaperone was 119.0μgkg−1 and for azaperol was 140.0μgkg−1. For carazolol in bovine kidney CCβ was 18.6μgkg−1 whereas in porcine kidney was 24.4μgkg−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Anabolic steroids are banned from use in food-producing animals in the EU (Council Directive 96/22/EC). To control the zero-tolerance concept a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for the screening and confirmation of most of the relevant natural and synthetic estrogenic and androgenic steroids in bovine muscle was developed and validated. The method permits to confirm and quantify almost all steroids below 1μgkg−1. The validation was carried out according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, chapter 3.1.3 “alternative validation”, by applying a matrix-comprehensive in-house validation concept. Decision limit CCα, detection capability CCβ, recovery, repeatability, within-laboratory reproducibility and the uncertainty of measurement were calculated. Furthermore, a factorial effect analysis was carried out to identify factors that have a significant influence on the method. Factors considered to be relevant for the method in routine analysis (e.g., operator, storage duration of the extracts before measurement, different cartridge lots) were systematically varied on two levels. The factorial analysis showed that different cartridge lots and different storage durations of the extracts before measurement can exert a relevant influence on the method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper describes problems and possibly solutions encountered when validating a multiresidue method used for analyzing some 100 different veterinary drugs at trace levels in a number of matrices. The validation concept as proposed by the commission decision 2002/657/EC (CD) has been utilized. Slightly deviating approaches had to be developed in order to produce and access the data generated by a multiresidue method. This included concepts, which permit the common validation of banned and regulated substance within the same analytical method. In addition, an alternative calculation of performance parameters (e.g., CCα) was developed. This was done in order to ensure correct results even in the absence of measurable bank noise, as typically observed when using high resolution mass spectrometry techniques. The economical aspect of validation (number of required assays) as well as the relative importance of some performance criteria (e.g., CCβ) have been critically discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carbadox (CBX) and olaquindox (OLQ) are used in swine feed for growth promotion, to improve feed efficiency, increase the rate of weight gain, control swine dysentery and bacterial enteritis in young swine. In 1991, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) recommended maximum residue limits (MRLs) of 30 and 5μgkg−1 in liver and muscle tissues of pigs, respectively, based on the concentration of, and expressed as, quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (QCA) as marker residue. In 1998, the European Commission (EC) banned the use of CBX and OLQ in food animal production together with four other feed additives, following reports that CBX and desoxycarbadox (DCBX) are suspect carcinogens and mutagens. In 2001, the sale of CBX was halted in Canada. In 2003, JECFA recommended the withdrawal of the previously recommended acceptable daily intake (ADI) and MRLs and concluded that QCA was not a suitable marker residue for CBX, based on new sponsor studies reporting that DCBX, the suspect carcinogen, persisted in animal tissues much longer than had previously been thought. This paper presents a very sensitive LC–MS/MS method that was developed by CFIA scientists for the simultaneous determination and confirmation of DCBX residues at concentrations ≥0.050ngkg−1 and QCA and mQCA residues at concentrations ≥0.50ngkg−1in bovine muscle, pork liver and muscle tissues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous identification, confirmation and quantitation of thirteen synthetic growth promoters in bovine muscle. The method was validated in accordance with the criteria defined in Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. A value of 1μgkg−1 was chosen as the required performance level (RPL) for all analytes. The growth promoters investigated were α and β trenbolone, 16-β-OH stanozolol, methylboldenone, fluoxymesterone, methyltestosterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol acetate, melengestrol acetate, dexamethasone, flumethasone, dienestrol and hexestrol. The method involved enzymatic hydrolysis, purification by solid phase extraction followed by analysis by UPLC–MS/MS using electrospray ionization operated in both positive and negative polarities with a total run time of 14min. The decision limit (CCα) values obtained, ranged from 0.09 to 0.19μgkg−1 and the detection capability (CCβ) values obtained, ranged from 0.15 to 0.32μgkg−1. The results of the inter-assay study, which was performed by fortifying bovine muscle samples (n =18) on three separate days, show the accuracy calculated for the various analytes to range between 98% and 102%. The precision of the method, expressed as R.S.D. values for the inter-assay variation of each analyte at the three levels of fortification (1, 1.5 and 2.0μgkg−1), ranged between 3.1% and 5.8%. A Day 4 assay was carried out to examine variations due to different animals and different muscle types. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A previously developed growth-no growth model for Listeria monocytogenes, based on nutrient broth data and describing the influence of water activity (aw), pH, and acetic acid concentrations, was validated (i) for a variety of L. monocytogenes strains and (ii) in a laboratory-made, mayonnaise-based surimi salad (as an example of a mayonnaise-based salad). In these challenge tests, the influence of the inoculation level was tested as well. Also, the influence of chemical preservatives on the growth probability of L. monocytogenes in mayonnaise-based salads was determined. To evaluate the growth-no growth model performance on the validation data, four quantitative criteria are determined: concordance index, % correct predictions, % fail-dangerous, and % fail-safe. First, the growth probability of 11 L. monocytogenes strains, not used for model development, was assessed in nutrient broth under conditions within the interpolation region. Experimental results were compared with model predictions. Second, the growth-no growth model was assessed in a laboratory-made, sterile, mayonnaise-based surimi salad to identify a possible model completeness error related to the food matrix, making use of the above-mentioned validation criteria. Finally, the effect on L. monocytogenes of common chemical preservatives (sorbic and benzoic acid) at different concentrations under conditions typical of mayonnaise-based salads was determined. The study showed that the growth-no growth zone was properly predicted and consistent for all L. monocytogenes strains. A larger prediction error was observed under conditions within the transition zone between growth-no growth. However, in all cases, the classification between no growth (P = 0) and any growth (P > 0) occurred properly, which is most important for the food industry, where outgrowth needs to be prevented in all instances. The results in the sterile mayonnaise-based salad showed again that the growth-no growth zone was well predicted but that also, in real food systems, a transition zone between growth and no growth exists. This became even more obvious for lower inoculation levels. The maximum-allowed concentration of benzoic and sorbic acid in mayonnaise-based salads, according to the European Union legislation, eliminated the growth of L. monocytogenes. Concentrations of 600 and 300 ppm were already sufficient to inhibit growth at 7 and 4°C, respectively, under conditions associated with mayonnaise-based salads (pH 5.6; aw, 0.985). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]