Assessment of hygienic conditions of ground pepper (Piper nigrum L.) on the market in São Paulo city, by means of two methodologies for detecting the light filth

Pepper should to be collected, processed, and packed under optimum conditions to avoid the presence of foreign matter. The hygienic conditions of ground pepper marketted in São Paulo city were assessed in determining the presence of foreign matter by means of two extraction methodologies. This study was carried out during a six-month time period from May to September 2006. The occurrence of light impurities was determined either by the flotation technique following the methodology recommended by AOAC or by enzyme – linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It was observed that 100% of the examined samples contained insect fragments, and many samples were housing more than one type of foreign matter. Twentytwo percent of samples were unqualified for consumption owing to the occurrence of rodent hairs. For the calibration of ELISA test for quantification of insect contamination level in pepper samples, a range of standard-infested samples was prepared in adding 1, 2, 4, 8 and 10 insects in a control sample to estimate the number of insects in the analyzed samples by measuring optical densities (OD) values with a spectrophotometer. Among the 22 samples, 36.4% of samples presented OD values close to that corresponding to the standard infested with eight insects, 40.9% of samples were comparable to OD of the standard infested with four insects, 18.2% comparable to standard with 10 insects, and 4.5% to the standard with two insects. According to the results observed in the present study, the technique described in AOAC official methods manual was found more suitable for detecting not only the insects but also the additional impurities in analyzed samples, while ELISA is specific to detect myosin from the insect muscle, which undergoes serious degradation with time. Keywords: Pepper, ELISA test , Light filth, AOAC official method

Evaluation of contamination for extraneous materials in “sun meat” sold in the “houses of the north” in the municipality of Diadema (SP, Brazil)

The “sun meat” is a handmade product, combining surface techniques of salting and dehydration, commonly used by people from the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. The sun meat cooking process lacks in sophisticated technology and official standards of procedure and quality. Thus, production, sale and distribution under unsatisfactory sanitary conditions are risky to the consumers’ health. This paper is aimed at evaluating the sanitary conditions of “sun meat” sold at the “houses of the north” for the presence of extraneous materials. Analysis of 44 samples of “sun meat” from 22 “houses of the north” located in “Diadema District” (SP, Brazil) had been carried out. The product conditions of exposure and sale in the “houses of the north” were evaluated and provided additional information to assess the degree of food safety of this product. In 44 samples were found various types of extraneous materials such as whole insects and debris, larvae, exuvia, mites, rodent hairs, bird feather pieces, fungi, and sharp  objects. Mechanical vectors were observed at 11 locations of the sale area. The results indicated that 90.9% of the “sun meat” has unsatisfactory sanitary conditions, caused by the presence of physical hazards of contamination. These results, associated with conditions found in the “houses of the north”, indicated that these products can put the health of consumers at risk. Keywords: Sun meat, Sanitary Conditions, Food security

Human occupation and paleoenvironments in South America: expanding the notion of an “Archaic Gap”

Uma revisão das informações arqueológicas produzidas no Brasil e países vizinhos durante as últimas décadas, aliada a uma análise de estudos paleoambientais recentes, sugerem que durante o Holoceno Médio amplas áreas da América do Sul deixaram de ser ocupadas por grupos humanos. Dados independentes, como datações de esqueletos humanos, estratigrafia de abrigos rochosos e cronologia de sítios arqueológicos a céu aberto convergem para a idéia de que tais áreas foram, no mínimo, fortemente depopuladas. Dados paleoambientais sugerem que eventos de seca constituíram a principal causa por trás das tendências observadas. Nossas conclusões expandem a noção já existente de que estresses climáticos têm um papel importante na conformação de assentamentos humanos em ambientes marginais, como desertos e altitudes elevadas, mostrando que o mesmo pode ocorrer nas terras baixas tropicais e subtropicais.An overview of the archaeological data produced in the last decades for Brazil and neighbouring countries, coupled with a background of recent studies on paleoenvironments, suggests that during the mid-Holocene vast areas of South America ceased to be occupied by human groups. Independent data coming from dated human skeletons, rockshelter stratigraphy, and chronology of open-air sites converge to the idea that these areas were, at least, strongly depopulated. Paleoenvironmental data suggest that dryness events constitute the major cause behind the observed trends. Our conclusions expand the already perceived notion that climatic stresses had a major role in the shaping of human settlement patterns in marginal environments, such as deserts and high-altitude settings, showing that the same can occur in tropical and subtropical lowlands

Aspects of the methodology validation for light filth in fruit pulp

Methodology validation is an important tool to support the activities of metrology in the quantification analysis. Extraneous materials may be present in the pulps due to the conditions or the practices of production, storage and distribution. Since there is no specific methodology for fruit pulp light filth quantification a research has been carried out to test two methods for isolation of light filth in mango, strawberry, tomato and guava pulps. For guava, mango and tomato pulps the AOAC Official Method 964.23 was used, and for strawberry pulp AOAC Official Method 950.89, with adaptations. The micro-analytic standard for insect fragment and rodent hair was prepared in the laboratory. The study has been conducted on 63 samples of 100 g of pulp analyzed in duplicate after contamination with 5, 15, 30 insect fragments (IF) per 100 g and 5, 10, 15 rodent hair (RH) per 100 g, with blank samples as a control. The validation parameters used were precision and accuracy. Recovery of insect fragment was considered stisfactory in mango, tomato, guava pulps, and the average recovery ranged from 87 to 96%. For strawberry pulp, the recovery rate ranged from 68 to 80%. For rodent hairs, the best recovery rate was observed in mango pulp ranging from 73 to 81%, followed by guava pulp ranging from 65 to 76%, tomato pulp ranging from 50 to 67%, and strawberry pulp ranging from 33 to 35%. It was concluded that the methodologies used to detect light filth in guava, mango, tomato and strawberry pulps can be adopted in the monitoring routine of fruit pulp extraneous material contamination even though they were found not very efficient for rodent hairs. Keywords: Insect fragment, Rodent hair, AOAC determination method, Recovery rate, Fruit pulp

FILTH AND FRAUDS IN STARCH

110 samples of starch sold in the city of São Paulo were analyzed for purity and sanitary qualities. For the filth detection was utilized the method of Official Methods of Analysis of the A.O.A.C. For the identification of starch it was developed a method. It was concluded that 2,7% of samples had more than 10 insect fragments, 4,6% had rodent hairs and 0,9%, mites. Sand and soil were detected in 11,8% of samples. It was suggested that the Alimentary Codex be modified to tolerating until to 10 insect fragments per 100 g of sample. It was concluded that 29,1% of the samples were adulterated, 10% of which were substituted in their totality by another starch and 19,1% contained one or more types of starches.Foram analisadas 110 amostras de amidos e féculas colhidos pela Vigilância Sanitária e adquiridos em supermerc dos da cidade de são Paulo, com a finalidade de verificar a genuinidade e a sanidade desses produtos. Para a pesquisa de sujidades foi utilizado o método da A.O.A.C. e para a identificação de amidos foi desenvolvido um método na Seção de Microscopia Alimentar. Na pesquisa de sujidades verificou-se que 2,7% das amostras continham mais de 10 fragmentos de insetos, 4,6% continham pêlos de roedor e 0,9%, ácaros. Foi detectada matéria arenosa em 11,8% das amostras. Propos-se que sejam tolerados até 10 fragmentos de insetos em 100 g de amostra. Através da análise microscópica constatou-se que 29,1% das amostras estavam fraudadas, sendo que 10% foram integralmente substituídas por outro amido e 19,1% continham um ou mais tipos de amidos, além daquele característico do produto