Aflatoxins in milk and dairy products: Occurrence and exposure assessment for the serbian population

The main objective of this study was to assess the exposure associated with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) of the adult population in Serbia from consumption of milk and dairy products. This assessment was performed using concentration values of AFM1 in raw milk (385 samples) and dairy products (556 samples) based on the analyses conducted in the period between 2015 and 2018. In parallel, a dairy products consumption survey was completed during 2018 based on ‘one-day’ and ‘seven-day’ recall methods. In order to estimate the intake of AFM1 from the consumption of dairy products for both recall methods, a Monte Carlo simulation was conducted. The study revealed that pasteurized milk and yogurt are dairy products mostly consumed by the Serbian adult population. Estimated daily intake of AFM1 was in the range of 62-74 × 10-3 ng/kg bw/day, depending on the recall methods and scenarios employed. Although the results show moderate exposure risks compared to similar studies worldwide, climatic conditions and weather extremes that have occurred recently may have negatively influenced the contamination of feed and, consequently, AFM1 contamination of milk. As a result, it is justifiable to promote continuous monitoring in feed and dairy supply chains in Serbia and provide an update of exposure assessment

Urban honey - the aspects of its safety

To contribute to the development of urban beekeeping, we designed this study to obtain more information about the contamination of urban bee products with toxic metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and pesticides. The samples of honey (N=23), pollen (N=13), and floral nectar (N=6) were collected from the experimental stationary apiary of the Belgrade University Faculty of Agriculture located in centre of Zemun (a municipality of the Belgrade metropolitan area) in 2015 and 2016. Metals (Pb, Cd, As, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Hg) were determined with inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed with high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Pesticides were analysed with gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The honey samples were generally within the European and Serbian regulatory limits. The levels of all the 123 analysed pesticides were below the limit of quantification (LOQ). Regarding PAH levels in honey, the highest content was found for naphthalene. The elevated levels of Hg and Cr and of PAHs in the pollen samples indicated air pollution. Pesticide residues in pollen, however, were below the LOQ. In nectar, metal levels were relatively similar to those in honey. Our results suggest that the investigated urban honey meets the regulatory requirements for metals, PAHs, and pesticides and is therefore safe for consumption

Comparison of nutritional properties and in-vitro antioxidant activity of organically grown garlic and its fermented product

Over the past few years, fermented garlic and its extracts have been increasingly used in cooking and in the daily diet due to their specific taste, nutritional composition and health benefits. The fermentation process is performed by heat treatment of garlic with controlled humidity for a longer period of time. During fermentation, chemical reactions and transformations such as Maillard reactions and caramelization reactions cause the changes in taste, nutritional composition, content of macro- and microelements as well as the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of garlic. In this paper, samples of garlic and fermented garlic were analyzed and the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, macro- and microelements as well as nutritional composition were compared. The content of Ca, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn, and W increased, while the content of Fe, Al, Cr, Ni, Mo, Hg and Pb decreased during fermentation. The water content decreased during the fermentation process, while the sugar and carbohydrate content increased significantly as a result of thermal decomposition of the poly- and oligosaccharides (fructan and other complex polysaccharides). Accordingly, the energy value of fermented garlic is higher than that of fresh garlic. The content of total phenolic compounds is higher in the fermented sample compared to fresh one, indicating different chemical transformations of secondary metabolites during the fermentation process. As a measure of antioxidant activity, two assays were performed: DPPH and FIC and both showed higher activity of fermented garlic, which is positively correlated with the higher content of phenolic compounds in the sample.Abstract: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5231

Comparison of nutritional properties and in-vitro antioxidant activity of organically grown garlic and its fermented product

Over the past few years, fermented garlic and its extracts have been increasingly used in cooking and in the daily diet due to their specific taste, nutritional composition and health benefits. The fermentation process is performed by heat treatment of garlic with controlled humidity for a longer period of time. During fermentation, chemical reactions and transformations such as Maillard reactions and caramelization reactions cause the changes in taste, nutritional composition, content of macro- and microelements as well as the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of garlic. In this paper, samples of garlic and fermented garlic were analyzed and the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, macro- and microelements as well as nutritional composition were compared. The content of Ca, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn, and W increased, while the content of Fe, Al, Cr, Ni, Mo, Hg and Pb decreased during fermentation. The water content decreased during the fermentation process, while the sugar and carbohydrate content increased significantly as a result of thermal decomposition of the poly- and oligosaccharides (fructan and other complex polysaccharides). Accordingly, the energy value of fermented garlic is higher than that of fresh garlic. The content of total phenolic compounds is higher in the fermented sample compared to fresh one, indicating different chemical transformations of secondary metabolites during the fermentation process. As a measure of antioxidant activity, two assays were performed: DPPH and FIC and both showed higher activity of fermented garlic, which is positively correlated with the higher content of phenolic compounds in the sample.Poster: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5246

Comparison of nutritional properties and antioxidant activity of garlic and its fermented product

Over the past few years, fermented garlic and its extracts have been increasingly used in cookingand in the daily diet due to their specific taste, nutritional composition and health benefits. Thefermentation process is performed by heat treatment of garlic with controlled humidity for alonger period of time. During fermentation, chemical reactions and transformations such asMaillard reactions and caramelization reactions cause the changes in taste, nutritionalcomposition, content of macro- and microelements as well as the content of phenolic compoundsand antioxidant activity of garlic. In this paper, samples of garlic and fermented garlic wereanalyzed and the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, macro- and microelementsas well as nutritional composition were compared. The content of Ca, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn,and W increased, while the content of Fe, Al, Cr, Ni, Mo, Hg and Pb decreased duringfermentation. The water content decreased during the fermentation process, while the sugar andcarbohydrate content increased significantly as a result of thermal decomposition of the polyandoligosaccharides (fructan and other complex polysaccharides). Accordingly, the energyvalue of fermented garlic is higher than that of fresh garlic. The content of total phenoliccompounds is higher in the fermented sample compared to fresh one, indicating differentchemical transformations of secondary metabolites during the fermentation process. As ameasure of antioxidant activity, two assays were performed: DPPH and FIC and both showedhigher activity of fermented garlic, which is positively correlated with the higher content ofphenolic compounds in the sample.Poster: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5230

Comparison of nutritional properties and antioxidant activity of garlic and its fermented product

Over the past few years, fermented garlic and its extracts have been increasingly used in cooking and in the daily diet due to their specific taste, nutritional composition and health benefits. The fermentation process is performed by heat treatment of garlic with controlled humidity for a longer period of time. During fermentation, chemical reactions and transformations such as Maillard reactions and caramelization reactions cause the changes in taste, nutritional composition, content of macro- and microelements as well as the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of garlic. In this paper, samples of garlic and fermented garlic were analyzed and the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, macro- and microelements as well as nutritional composition were compared. The content of Ca, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn, and W increased, while the content of Fe, Al, Cr, Ni, Mo, Hg and Pb decreased during fermentation. The water content decreased during the fermentation process, while the sugar and carbohydrate content increased significantly as a result of thermal decomposition of the polyand oligosaccharides (fructan and other complex polysaccharides). Accordingly, the energy value of fermented garlic is higher than that of fresh garlic. The content of total phenolic compounds is higher in the fermented sample compared to fresh one, indicating different chemical transformations of secondary metabolites during the fermentation process. As a measure of antioxidant activity, two assays were performed: DPPH and FIC and both showed higher activity of fermented garlic, which is positively correlated with the higher content of phenolic compounds in the sample.Abstract: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5232

Exposure assessment in the Serbian population and occurrence ofhistamine and heavy metals in fish and seafood

The aim of this study was to conduct a quantitative exposure assessment of fish-borne histamine, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in the Serbian adult population. The consumption survey of fish/fishery products was administered to 1 000 respondents during 2018. Determination of histamine content was performed on 974 fish; cadmium on 1 909, mercury on 1 911 and arsenic on 1 891 fish and seafood samples during five years (2014–2018). Monte Carlo analysis was used to estimate the intake of histamine/heavy metals from consumption of fish. The mean estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of fish-borne histamine, cadmium, mercury and arsenic by the Serbian adult population were 0.0274 mg kg−1 bw/day, 0.0347 μg kg−1 bw/day, 0.2426 μg kg−1 bw/day and 0.5576 μg kg−1 bw/day, respectively. Due to consumption of fish/seafood, 0.04% of the Serbian population are exposed to histamine, 0.05% to cadmium, 15.42% to mercury and 1.24% to arsenic levels over their respective thresholds