Nutrients content and in vitro digestibility of ex-food as feed ingredient for pig diets

Ex-food or Former Food Products (FFPs) represent a way by which losses from the food industry are converted into ingredients for the feed industry, thereby keeping food losses in the food chain. FFPs have been proposed as promising alternative feed ingredients. However, FFPs nutritional potential is not yet fully exploited. The aim of the present study was to perform a nutritional evaluation of selected FFPs. Six samples of mixed FFPs, all based on bakery products, were analysed for Dry matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Ether Extract (EE), Crude Fibre (CF), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), starch and ash. Nitrogen-Free Extractives (NFE) and Non-Structural Carbohydrate (NSC) were also calculated. Based on FFPs proximate analysis, Digestible Energy (DE) and Metabolizable Energy (ME) values for pigs were calculated. In vitro digestibility (IVD) of FFPs were evaluated using a multi-step enzymatic technique to predict the apparent total tract digestibility in pig. A wheat sample was included as control feed ingredient in the study. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21 software (SPSS Inc.). In vitro digestibility values for FFPs samples were analysed using one-way analysis of variance in order to compare means. FFPs have shown a nutrient composition comparable to that of cereal grains. In the tested FFPs dry matter concentrations ranged from 912.8 g kg-1 to 937.6 g kg-1. The overall mean of CP content was 100 g kg-1 DM. Compared to wheat, FFPs were characterised by a relative high fat content (average EE 101.2 g kg-1 DM). The average starch content was 523.6 g kg-1 DM. Nitrogen-free extractives ranged from 611.7 g kg-1 DM to 746.8 g kg-1 DM, whereas NSC ranged from 585.4 g kg-1 DM to 792.7 g kg-1 DM. The relatively high NFE, NSC, starch and fat concentrations designated FFPs as valuable energy sources for pig. FFPs tested were characterized by valuable DE (17.2 MJ/kg) and ME (16.9 MJ/kg) values for pigs. However, DE and ME systems used may under/overestimate energy values due to the high lipid and starch content of FFPs. The average IVD value of FFPs samples (88.1 % \ub1 5.77) was comparable to IVD of wheat (90.6 % \ub1 1.62). In conclusion, FFPs can be considered a fat-fortified version of common cereals grains. The high-energy content and digestibility values elect FFPs as promising non-traditional ingredients for target animals as pig

Former food products safety: stereomicroscopy and computer vision for evaluation of packaging remnants contamination

Valorisation of former foodstuffs products (FFP) as feed ingredients is part of a long-term strategy for sustainability. Processing methods to convert FFP in to feed ingredients do not usually include packaging materials pre-removal. Feed processors routinely remove the packaging from surplus food mechanically. Although, the treatment in the plant removes most of the packaging, small amounts of wrapping materials can remain in the resulting feed. In this respect, the aim of this study was to investigate the safety features of selected FFP intended for animal nutrition produced from different confectionery products.In six FFP samples, both mash and pelleted, the presence of undesired ingredients which can be identified as remnants of packaging materials has been evaluated by two different methods. The first analysis has been done by stereomicroscopy, according to published methods, based on separation of every particle that is not native to the matrix by bare eye examination. In the second one, stereomicroscopy coupled with a computer vision system (IRIS Visual Analyzer VA400), has been tested in order to evaluate the presence/absence of packaging remnants in feed materials. Results obtained have been presented as percentage of packaging material in feed, expressed as w/w in the case of the stereomicroscopic method and as a colour spectrum representing the proportion of each colour on the FFP surface, within a fixed scale of 4096 colours, in the case of computer vision system (CVS). The visual pattern recorded for each sample with CVS was processed using Statistical Quality Control (SQC) model. The stereomicroscopy approach revealed that the contamination level was below to 0.08% (w/w), within the tolerance level established by BMELV. Of note, the packaging remnants were observed mainly from the 1-millimeter sieve mesh fractions. Computer vision system, through the SQC model, revealed the possibility to rapidly detect the presence of packaging remnants in FFPs when combined with stereo-microscope. Concluding, even though the validated method (RIKILT) remain the most assured for detection and quantification of packaging materials in FFPs, it results laborious and ineffective regarding the smallest packaging remnants. In comparison, the use of CVS coupled with stereomicroscopy has shown a big potential in a rapid qualitative analysis also in low contaminated ex-food and could be considered effective in defining further analysis or investigations in FFP

Ochratoxin A cytotoxicity on Madin-Darby canine kidney cells in the presence of alpha-tocopherol: Effects on cell viability and tight junctions

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a potent nephrotoxic fungi metabolite that affects animal and human health. At the cellular level, OTA is able to alter functions and viability by several mechanisms of action. Several strategies to counteract its toxicity have been studied. We investigated the role of \u3b1-tocopherol in counteracting OTA oxidative damage in Madin\u2013Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells by pre-incubating the cells for 3 hr with the antioxidant (1 nm, 10 \u3bcm) and then adding OTA (0\u20131.2 \u3bcg/ml) for the following 24 hr. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, TUNEL staining and occludin and Zo1 localization by immunofluorescence were determined. Here, 1 nm \u3b1-tocopherol was shown to significantly reduce (p < .05) the cytotoxicity, LDH release and apoptotic rate induced by OTA. The presence of the antioxidant at the same concentration maintained the localization of occludin and Zo1 in the rim of the MDCK cells after the 24-hr OTA exposure. These results indicate that a low concentration of \u3b1-tocopherol could block OTA toxicity, supporting its defensive role in the cellular membrane

Nutritional evaluation of former food products (ex-food) intended for pig nutrition

Ex-food or former food products (FFPs) have been proposed as one of the categories with great promise as alternative feed ingredients. FFPs' nutritional potential is not yet fully exploited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a nutritional evaluation of selected FFPs. In particular, six samples of mixed FFPs, all based on bakery products, were analysed for moisture, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, starch and ash. Nitrogen-free extractives and non-structural carbohydrate were also determined. Based on FFPs' composition data, estimation of digestible energy and metabolisable energy values for pigs were calculated. Further, the in vitro digestibility values of FFPs were investigated using a multi-step enzymatic technique. A wheat sample was included as a control feed ingredient in the study. All data were reported on dry matter basis. FFPs have shown a nutrient composition comparable with cereal grains. In the tested FFPs, the average protein content was 10.0% and the average starch content was 52.4%. Nitrogen-free extractive ranged from 61.2% to 74.7%, whereas non-structural carbohydrate ranged from 58.5% to 79.3%. Compared with wheat, FFPs were characterised by a relative high fat content, averaging about 10.1%. The relatively high nitrogen-free extractive/non-structural carbohydrate/starch and fat concentration designated FFPs as valuable energy sources. Digestible energy and metabolisable energy averages were 17.2 and 16.9\ua0MJ\ua0kg(-1), respectively. The average in vitro digestibility value of FFPs samples was 88.2%\ua0\ub1\ua05.8%, comparable with that of wheat (90.6%\ua0\ub1\ua01.6%). FFPs are a fat-fortified version of common cereals grains. The high energy content and digestibility values elect FFPs as promising non-traditional ingredients for swine