Monitoring of Edible Oils Quality in Restaurants and Fast Food Centers Using Peroxide and Acid Values

Continuous surveillance and monitoring of used materials in food processing is a tool for achieving to food safety assurance. Peroxide and Acid values are common indicators to detect fat oxidation, frequent and longtime heating and usage of edible oils in cooking or frying of food. This study aimed to quality assessment of used edible oils in restaurants and fast food centers (Sandwich centers) of Zanjan, Iran by determination peroxide value (PV) and acid value (AV). A total 60 oil samples were collected randomly from restaurants (27 samples) and fast food centers (33 samples) based on cluster sampling plan of the Zanjan city. Titration methods were used to determine Peroxide and Acid values according to Iran national standards protocols No. 4179 and 4178. Peroxide value in 22 (81.48%) and 24 (80%) of oil samples and Acid value in 22 (81.48%) and 30 (90.9%) of samples taken from restaurants and fast food centers were higher than standard limit, respectively. Present investigation has shown that High PV and AV in used edible oils of many restaurants and fast food centers in Zanjan, Iran. High range of Peroxide and Acid values indicate an improper use of oils in food preparing centers and presence toxic compounds in used oils and foodstuffs which threaten food consumers' health. Therefore, continuous surveillance and monitoring of restaurants and food preparing centers and training of chefs, food operators in order to apply proper methods of cooking and frying food is very important and necessary

Epinecidin‐1 (an active marine antimicrobial peptide): Effects on the survival of inoculated Escherichia Coli O157:H7 And Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, antioxidant, and sensory attributes in raw milk

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Epinecidin‐1 (Epi‐1) on total viable count (TVC), total psychrotrophic count (TPC), sensory attributes, and the survival of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria inoculated in pasteurized milk samples during cold storage (4°C). Four treatments of milk samples were prepared including milk samples containing three concentrations of Epi‐1 (0.0025, 0.005, and 0.01%) and control (without Epi‐1). The treated milk samples were evaluated in vitro (minimum inhibitory concentration, Minimum bactericidal concentration, disk diffusion test, DPPH, reducing power assays) and in vivo (TVC, TPC, sensory properties, and enumeration of inoculated E. coli and S. aureus) during 9 days at cold storage. The best antibacterial and antioxidant power of Epi‐1 was observed at a concentration of 0.01%. Based on the MICs and MBCs, the most susceptible and resistant bacteria to Epi‐1 were B. cereus and S. aureus strains, respectively. The DPPH scavenging potential of Epi‐1 was in the range of 77%–80%. Treated samples containing 0.01% Epi‐1 had the lowest TVC and TPC and reached 3.9 and 2.96 CFU log/mL at the end day of storage. A decrease of 6 and 1.4 logs CFU/g of E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus was seen in all treatments containing Epi‐1, respectively, on the last day of storage period. There are no unpleasant sensory properties in treated samples with Epi‐1. Our results indicate that Epi‐1 has good potential as a bio‐preservative to prevent raw milk spoilage and reduction of milk‐borne pathogens

An analysis of common foodborne parasitic zoonoses in slaughtered sheep and cattle in Tehran, Iran, during 2015-2018

Background and Aim: Cystic echinococcosis, Echinococcus granulosus, and liver flukes, such as Fasciola spp. and Dicrocoelium dendriticum, are important parasitic zoonoses, where they able to cause significant veterinary, medical, and economic problems. The present study was carried out to obtain the updated knowledge on the frequency of hydatidosis, fasciolosis, and dicrocoeliosis in the slaughtered sheep and cattle. Materials and Methods: Information were collected from meat inspection records using systematically visual inspection, palpation, and incision of the visceral organs in the industrial abattoir in Tehran, the capital of Iran, between February 1, 2015, and January 31, 2018. For an analysis of the data, SPSS version 16 was applied. Results: The hydatidosis infection in sheep and cattle was 2.48% and 2.25%, respectively. With respect to liver flukes, 0.62% and 0.25% sheep and cattle were infected by Fasciola spp., respectively; furthermore, 2.86% sheep and 0.79% cattle were positive for D. dendriticum. Conclusion: The findings will provide considerable awareness for the future monitoring and control of these potentially important infections

Investigating the stability of vitamin D3 and Bifidobacterium lactis nanoparticles coated with polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone triblock copolymer in Iranian white cheese and determining its physicochemical and sensory properties

Objective: To investigate the stability and efficacy of vitamin D3 and Bifidobacterium lactis nanoparticles coated with polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone (PCL-PEG-PCL) in enhancing the nutritional value of Iranian white cheese and to assess their impact on the cheese's physicochemical and sensory properties. Methods: Bifidobacterium lactis and vitamin D3 were encapsulated using PCL-PEG-PCL. The particle size was analyzed using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Five different cheese groups were produced and analyzed over two months. This included assessing microbial viability in simulated gastric and intestinal environments, quantifying vitamin D3 content, and evaluating physicochemical and sensory characteristics using a 9-point hedonic scale. Results: The Cheese with Bifidobacterium lactis coated with PCL-PEG-PCL and vitamin D3 nanoparticles (BCND3), showed a marked improvement in the stability of both Bifidobacterium lactis and vitamin D3. Specifically, the coated bacteria maintained a concentration of 106 cfu/g until day 45 in the intestinal model, demonstrating effective protection against the acidic gastric environment. The vitamin D3 nanoparticles displayed enhanced stability within the cheese matrix, contributing to the nutritional value and potentially extending the shelf life. Physicochemically, initial pH reduction due to lactic acid production stabilized by day 60, aligning with other groups. Sensory evaluation revealed a preference for the softer texture of cheese with vitamin D3 nanoparticles, suggesting a positive impact on consumer acceptability. Conclusion: The application of PCL-PEG-PCL coating significantly improved the stability of probiotics and vitamin D3 in cheese. This method proved effective in protecting Bifidobacterium lactis from harsh gastrointestinal conditions and in sustaining vitamin D3 content, with a notable impact on the cheese's sensory qualities. These findings highlight the potential of this coating technique in food fortification strategies

Evaluation of antioxidant and antibacterial interactions between resveratrol and eugenol in carboxymethyl cellulose biodegradable film

The aim of present study was to compare the in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial properties of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) films containing resveratrol (RES) and eugenol (EUG), alone and in combination, and to calculate the dose interactions between them. At first, the total phenolic content of CMC films was evaluated. Then, their antioxidant and antibacterial effects of films were determined using DPPH, reducing power, disk diffusion, and broth dilution methods. Finally, concentrations of RES and EUG which showed better results in the CMC films were added in combination forms to calculate their antioxidant and antibacterial interactions. The results showed that addition of RES and/or EUG to CMC films increased the total phenolic content, free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power, and antibacterial activities of the films (p ≤ .05). Gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-negatives. In addition, the combined use of RES and EUG in CMC films had synergistic antioxidant and antagonistic antibacterial effects. The best results belonged to the film containing RES (8 µg/ml) + EUG (8 mg/ml) (p ≤ .05). Considering the results of the present research, we can utilize CMC biodegradable film containing RES and EUG as a natural active packaging in food industry