Effect of disinfectants on preventing the cross-contamination of pathogens in fresh produce washing water

The potential cross-contamination of pathogens between clean and contaminated produce in the washing tank is highly dependent on the water quality. Process wash water disinfectants are applied to maintain the water quality during processing. The review examines the efficacy of process wash water disinfectants during produce processing with the aim to prevent cross-contamination of pathogens. Process wash water disinfection requires short contact times so microorganisms are rapidly inactivated. Free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and peracetic acid were considered suitable disinfectants. A disinfectant's reactivity with the organic matter will determine the disinfectant residual, which is of paramount importance for microbial inactivation and should be monitored in situ. Furthermore, the chemical and worker safety, and the legislative framework will determine the suitability of a disinfection technique. Current research often focuses on produce decontamination and to a lesser extent on preventing cross-contamination. Further research on a sanitizer's efficacy in the washing water is recommended at the laboratory scale, in particular with experimental designs reflecting industrial conditions. Validation on the industrial scale is warranted to better understand the overall effects of a sanitizer

Effective sampling strategy to detect food and feed contamination : Herbs and spices case

Sampling plans for food safety hazards are aimed to be used to determine whether a lot of food is contaminated (with microbiological or chemical hazards) or not. One of the components of sampling plans is the sampling strategy. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of three different sampling strategies, being simple random sampling (SRS), stratified random sampling (STRS), and systematic sampling (SS), with each other for their probability of detecting a heterogeneously distributed contamination in a lot of herbs or spices (i.e., a dry food product). To this end, a simulation model was developed, and applied to different scenarios for contamination level and numbers of samples collected. In addition, as a case study, the sampling plan of a company processing herbs and spices was evaluated using the simulation model. Results showed that the effectiveness of the sampling plan is influenced by the sampling strategy. With expected low contamination levels the SS strategy performs better than the two other strategies. At higher expected contaminated levels, the STRS strategy is preferred

Acrylamide and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural formation during biscuit baking. Part II : Effect of the ratio of reducing sugars and asparagine

This study investigated acrylamide and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) formation during biscuit baking. Four types of wheat flour with different molar ratios of total fructose and glucose to asparagine were investigated. Nevertheless, the molar ratio in all four biscuit doughs exceeded one after proofing due to enzyme action. Data obtained after baking were used to develop a mechanistic model, based on the asparagine-related pathway, for acrylamide and HMF formation in the four baked biscuit types. Asparagine reacted with fructose to form a Schiff base before decarboxylation to produce acrylamide without Amadori rearrangement product and sugar fragmentation. Fructose contributed considerably to acrylamide formation and to HMF formation via caramelization in all four biscuit types. No clear correlation was found between acrylamide and HMF in baked biscuits, nor between asparagine and the sum of glucose and fructose concentrations in the wheat flour

Cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic in animal feed and feed materials – trend analysis of monitoring results

This study aimed to obtain insights into the presence of cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic in feed materials and feed over time for the purpose of guiding national monitoring. Data from the Dutch feed monitoring programme and from representatives of the feed industry during the period 2007–13 were used. Data covered a variety of feed materials and compound feeds in the Netherlands. Trends in the percentage of samples that exceeded the maximum limit (ML) set by the European Commission, and trends in average, median and 90th percentile concentrations of each of these elements were investigated. Based on the results, monitoring should focus on feed material of mineral origin, feed material of marine origin, especially fish meal, seaweed and algae, as well as feed additives belonging to the functional groups of (1) trace elements (notably cupric sulphate, zinc oxide and manganese oxide for arsenic) and (2) binders and anti-caking agents. Mycotoxin binders are a new group of feed additives that also need attention. For complementary feed it is important to make a proper distinction between mineral and non-mineral feed (lower ML). Forage crops in general do not need high priority in monitoring programmes, although for arsenic grass meal still needs attention

Uptake of cadmium, lead and arsenic by Tenebrio molitor and Hermetia illucens from contaminated substrates

Insects have potential as a novel source of protein in feed and food production in Europe, provided they can be used safely. To date, limited information is available on the safety of insects, and toxic elements are one of the potential hazards of concern. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential accumulation of cadmium, lead and arsenic in larvae of two insect species, Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) and Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly), which seem to hold potential as a source of food or feed. An experiment was designed with 14 treatments, each in triplicate, per insect species. Twelve treatments used feed that was spiked with cadmium, lead or arsenic at 0.5, 1 and 2 times the respective maximum allowable levels (ML) in complete feed, as established by the European Commission (EC). Two of the 14 treatments consisted of controls, using non-spiked feed. All insects per container (replicate) were harvested when the first larva in that container had completed its larval stage. Development time, survival rates and fresh weights were similar over all treatments, except for development time and total live weight of the half of the maximum limit treatment for cadmium of the black soldier fly. Bioaccumulation (bioaccumulation factor > 1) was seen in all treatments (including two controls) for lead and cadmium in black soldier fly larvae, and for the three arsenic treatments in the yellow mealworm larvae. In the three cadmium treatments, concentrations of cadmium in black soldier fly larvae are higher than the current EC maximum limit for feed materials. The same was seen for the 1.0 and 2.0 ML treatments of arsenic in the yellow mealworm larvae. From this study, it can be concluded that if insects are used as feed materials, the maximum limits of these elements in complete feed should be revised per insect species.</p

Assessment of food fraud vulnerability in the spices chain : An explorative study

Recent scandals have increased the need to strengthen companies’ ability to combat fraud within their own organizations and across their supply chain. Vulnerability assessments are a first step towards the inventory of fraud vulnerability and fraud mitigation plans. Spices are reported frequently in the international food fraud databases. In the current study the fraud vulnerabilities of various actors in the spices supply chain were examined. The SSAFE food fraud vulnerability assessment tool, which comprises of 50 indicators categorized in opportunities, motivations, and control measures was applied for getting insight into these fraud vulnerabilities. Eight companies participated in the study: a trader, two importers, two business to business companies, and three business-to- business/business-to-consumer enterprises. The ease to adulterate spices combined with the complexity of fraud detection create considerable opportunities to commit fraud (high vulnerability), whereas opportunities associated with supply chain transparency and fraudulent incidences in the past were judged as medium vulnerable. The high competition level in the sector together with the high added value of spices are perceived as important economic drivers to commit fraud (high vulnerability). Cultural/behavioural factors such as ethical business culture were considered to contribute to the actual fraud vulnerability to a lesser extent. The implementation of both the hard and soft control measures varied widely among the actors. Hard fraud specific measures are merely lacking or are at a very basic level. For soft control measures of the own company, the scores were higher. From the results of the full assessments can be concluded that the various actors perceived the level of food fraud vulnerability in the spices chain as medium vulnerable.</p

Farm innovation and technical efficiency of Dutch arable farms: An innovation index and DEA approach

In this article, we analysed the relationship between farm innovation and farm efficiency. We computed an innovation index based on Dutch Innovation Monitor data and ratings from an expert elicitation. The innovation index is an adaptation and extension of an existing innovation index for Irish dairy farms. We computed technical efficiency scores with a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The DEA scores are computed with Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data. We investigated the relationship with pre-registered ordinary least square (OLS) regression analyses in quadratic form and additional Chi-square tests. Unanimously, we reject the first hypothesis that farm innovation and farm efficiency can be described by an inverse parabolic relationship. Early adopters and innovators are not necessarily less efficient than the early and late majority of innovation adopters. We also reject the second hypothesis that innovation front-runners become more efficient. These are preliminary findings