Determination of Heavy Metal Content (Cd, As) in Fish Widely Consumed in East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

South China Sea is an important source of marine fishes used as food to the population in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang). Recent fast pace of development contributed to the pollution to the marine ecosystem as well as marine fishes in this area. In this study, heavy metals (Cd and As) were analysed in the popular and widely consumed fish ( Selar boops, Rastrellinger branchysoma, Decapterus maruadsi and Sardinella sirm) by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The average metal concentration of Cd ranging from 0.05-6.93 mg/kg and highest concentration was found in the organ and lowest in the muscle. Concentration of As is in the range of 0.01-0.07 mg/kg and distributed evenly in muscle, bones and internal organ (livers). From this study, it might indicate that the fishes are still safe for consumption but caution must be adhered in order to reduce pollution in this sea

Patient Satisfaction With Hospital Foodservice and its Impact on Plate Waste in Public Hospitals in East Malaysia

Background: Foodservice is an important issue in hospital settings, and patients’ levels of satisfaction are often indicated by consumption and plate waste. Objective: The current study compared patient satisfaction in hospital areas and other factors and determined the relationship between patient satisfaction and plate waste. Methods: This quantitative research was performed in four East Malaysian public hospitals. Patients at these hospitals were asked to complete a questionnaire which had three parts: A) general information, B) patient satisfaction questionnaire (Acute Care Hospital Foodservice Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire), and C) plate waste scale (Comstock 6-point scale). Results: A total of 189 patients participated. The results indicated that overall, 53.3%, 29.3%, 14.1%, 2.7%, and 0.5% of respondents rated the hospital foodservice as okay, good, poor, very good, and very poor, respectively. Average plate waste was 35% for all hospitals, and only 11% of patients finished all the food served. Satisfaction with hospital food differed according to the catering system (in-house and outsourced). However, the results also indicated that satisfaction with hospital foodservice was not significantly related to food wastage (r=-0.018, n=189, P=0.809). Conclusion: Various factors in hospital foodservice, especially food quality, should be improved to motivate patients to consume hospital food

Development of food composition database of Kelantanese foods

This study was conducted to determine nutrient composition, based on foods, which are widely available and popular among the people of Kelantan. This study will be very important in establishing reliable data on the nutrient composition of foods consumed by the community. Hundred types of foods that are served in Kelantan had been chosen in this study. Food samples for analysis were purchased from three different places of production. Macronutrients such as calorie, carbohydrate, moisture, protein, fat and ash were analyzed using the standard methods of AOAC (1995). The results showed that the foods analyzed generally high in carbohydrate. Although these foods are high in carbohydrates, Kelantanese still able to consume them by controlling the amount of food intake. These results will be used in the estimation of nutrient intake in relation to study of diet and health relationship for Kelantan population

Fatty acid composition of selected street foods commonly available in Malaysia

Despite growing evidence of increased saturated and trans fat contents in street foods, little is known about their fatty acid (FA) compositions. This study aimed to analyse the saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and trans fatty acids (TFAs) content of 70 selected and most commonly available street foods in Malaysia. The street foods were categorised into main meals, snacks, and desserts. TFAs were not detected in any of the street foods. Descriptively, all three categories mainly contained SFAs, followed by MUFAs, and PUFAs. However, the one-way ANOVA testing showed that the differences between each category were insignificant (p > 0.05), and each FA was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from one to another. Nearly half of the deep-fried street foods contained medium to high SFAs content (1.7 g/100 g-24.3 g/100 g), while the MUFAs were also high (32.0-44.4%). The Chi-square test of association showed that the type of preparation methods (low or high fat) used was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with the number of SFAs. These findings provide valuable information about fat composition in local street foods for the Malaysian Food Composition Database and highlight the urgency to improve nutritional composition

The value of geochemical signatures marine by-products, with highlights from taxonomies sea cucumbers, macroalgae and crown of thorns starfish

Marine and aquaculture industry production and supplies is perpetually challenged, so as to ensure environmentally responsible growth and the creation of efficient exploitation of under-utilized marine raw biomasses materials. Recognition of health benefits associated with consumption of marine derived biomasses is one of the most promising developments in human nutrition and disease-prevention research. However, despite its declining wild stocks population, a major portion of the harvest of these marketable taxomised marine invertebrates is discarded [as wasted biomasses] or used for the production of low value fish meal and fish oil. Marine by-products, though, contain valuable bioactive compounds, protein and lipid fractions as well as vitamins and minerals compounds which are beneficial to human wellness and health. Devising strategies for the full utilization and sustainable of the catch and its biomasses and green approaches processing of discards for production of novel products is therefore a matter of importance for both the fishing industry and food processors in this milenia industrial revolution 4 era. Potential applications of proteins, lipids, chitin and minerals from these in marine flora and fauna as bioactive materials have increased the value of these marine by-products. As such maximizing the value of theses marine by-products provides a complete review of the characterization, recovery, processing and applications of local optimised commercial able geochemical marine-by products. i.e., in the valorization of marine by-products. This manuscript revises and highlights works related to enhancing the value of marine functional ingredients and by products as invaluable reference from marketable taxonomies marine biomasses and as alternative sources for biotechnological synthetic ingredients, as a part of neutraceuticals and functional foods. Highlights from works pertaining to geochemical signatures vouchered sea cucumbers, macroalgae and crown of thorns starfish will also be extrapolated

Medicinal bioactive compounds to functional foods from geochemical signatures marine biomasses: sea cucumbers, macroalgae and crown of thorns biomasses

Recognition of health benefits associated with consumption of marine derived biomasses is one of the most promising developments in human nutrition and disease-prevention research. This endeavor for bioactives and functional ingredients discovery from marine sources is “experience driven,” as such the search for therapeutically useful synthetic drugs, and functional components is like “looking for a needle in a haystack,” thus a daunting task. Zoonotic infection, adulteration, global warming and religious belief can be the star-gate barrier: - For example, the outsourcing for Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), a pharmacologically bioactive compound have emerged as novel biomarkers and molecular players both within tumor cells and their microenvironment, as they integrate signals from growth factors, chemokines, integrins, and cell-cell matrix adhesion. As such, worldwide initiatives in outsourcing from geochemical signatures marine biomasses are flourishing. Most of these scientific interests are related to marketable compounds optimised via biotechnology applications. Approximately 50% of the US FDA approved drugs during 1981–2002 consist of either marine metabolites or their synthetic analogs. These bioactive compounds acts as antioxidant, peptides, chitoligosaccharides derivatives, sulfated polysaccharides, phlorotannins and carotenoids. Highlights from works to harness and provide scientific support to folk medicine much claimed legacy, pertaining to geochemical signatures vouchered sea cucumbers, macroalgae and crown of thorns starfish will be extrapolated

Bioprospecting Cultivated Tropical Green Algae, Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskal) J. Agardh: A Perspective on Nutritional Properties, Antioxidative Capacity and Anti-Diabetic Potential

Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskal) J. Agardh is a green seaweed used as food and folk medicine since ancient times in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in southeast Asia. In this study, the proximate nutrient composition, phytochemical, anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic properties of sea grape C. racemosa collected from culture fishponds in Johor, Malaysia were analysed. The contents (dry weight basis) of carbohydrate, crude protein, crude lipids, ash and caloric value obtained were 33.42 &plusmn; 1.34%, 20.27 &plusmn; 0.14%, 4.20 &plusmn; 0.32%, 28.25 &plusmn; 0.27% and 2544.67 &plusmn; 7.04 cal g&minus;1, respectively. The amino acid score (AAs) and biological protein value (213.43 mg g&minus;1) indicated that C. racemosa presented a better protein quality. The most abundant fatty acids were C16:0 (palmitic acid: 63.27%), followed by C18:1 (oleic acid: 5.80%), and C18:2 ῳ6 (linoleic acid: 5.33%). The analysis of the ash content indicated that essential minerals and trace elements, such as Ca, Fe, and Mn, were present in the seaweed. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) observed in the ethyl acetate extract were 17.88 &plusmn; 0.78 mg GAE g&minus;1 and 59.43 &plusmn; 2.45 mg QE g&minus;1, respectively. The ethyl acetate extract of C. racemosa demonstrated notable anti-diabetic activity in diabetic induced rats. The low (100 mg kg&minus;1) and high (200 mg kg&minus;1) doses of cultivated C. racemosa extract exhibited a significant decrease (p &lt; 0.05) in blood glucose levels while preventing weight loss, reducing plasma AST, ALT levels as a sign of hepatoprotective effect and recording albumin levels similar to positive control in diabetic induced rats. The results support the usefulness of cultivated C. racemosa as a potential functional food

Value-added metabolites from agricultural waste and application of green extraction techniques

The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up to 50% comprising of raw material are discarded without treatment. Economic development and rising living standards have increased the quantity and complexity of waste generated resulting in environmental, health and economic issues. This calls for a greener waste management system such as valorization or recovery of waste into products. For successful implementation, social acceptance is an essential component with involvement of all local stakeholders including community to learn and understand the process and objective of the implementation. The agricultural waste product manufacturing industry is expected to increase with the growing demand for organic food. Thus, proper livestock and crop waste management is vital for environmental protection. It will be essential to successfully convert waste into a sustainable product that is reusable and circulated in the system in line with the green concept of circular economy. This review identifies the commercially produced crops by-product that have been considered for valorization and implemented green extraction for recovery. We highlight the importance of social acceptance and the economic value to agricultural waste recycling. Successful implementation of these technologies will overcome current waste management problems, reduce environmental impacts of landfills, and sustainability issue for farm owners