Teor de ácidos gordos trans em bolachas e produtos de pastelaria/panificação: comparação com as metas do EIPAS

Introdução: A Estratégia Integrada para a Promoção da Alimentação Saudável (EIPAS) recomenda a monitorização do teor de ácidos gordos trans (AGT) em bolachas, produtos de pastelaria, batatas fritas, cereais de pequeno-almoço, cremes de chocolate para barrar e margarinas. As bolachas e produtos de pastelaria são amplamente consumidos pela população de todas as faixas etárias, quer seja como um snack, lanche ou parte do pequeno-almoço. No entanto, estes alimentos são reconhecidos como uma fonte de açúcar e gordura (saturada e trans). Objetivos: Avaliar o teor de AGT em bolachas e produtos de pastelaria comercializados em Portugal e comparar os resultados com as metas definidas pelo EIPAS. Métodos: O teor de AGT foi determinado analiticamente (cromatografia gasosa com deteção por ionização de chama) em 91 produtos de pastelaria/panificação e bolachas, distribuídos em 11 categorias: bolachas doces simples, biscoitos, wafers, bolachas cobertas, bolachas recheadas, produtos de pastelaria fina, tortas, pães doces, croissants, bolachas salgadas simples e pães salgados. Resultados e Discussão: De acordo com o EIPAS é desejável que o teor de AGT nos alimentos não seja superior a 2 g/100 g de gordura. O grupo com os menores teores de AGT foi o das bolachas cobertas (média = 0,331 g/100 g de gordura). Verificou-se que 98% (n=89) dos produtos analisados apresentam teores de AGT <2 g/100 g de gordura. As bolachas do tipo belgas foram as que apresentaram os teores mais elevados de AGT (5,25 e 4,78 g/100 g de gordura). Conclusão: A maioria dos produtos analisados apresenta teores de AGT inferiores às metas fixadas no EIPAS. Em parte, estes resultados, podem estar relacionados com o facto de a indústria utilizar, cada vez mais, gorduras de origem vegetal. Dado o impacto que o consumo excessivo de alimentos ricos em AGT pode ter na Saúde Pública, é de todo o interesse, identificar estratégias para reformular os produtos que ultrapassam os limites preconizados, e serem disponibilizados alimentos nutricionalmente mais equilibrados.Este trabalho foi financiado pelo INSA, no âmbito do projeto PTranSALT (2012DAN828). Tânia Gonçalves Albuquerque agradece a Bolsa de Doutoramento (SFRH/BD/99718/2014) financiada pela FCT, FSE e MEC.N/

4-Hydroxynonenal: a parameter of quality and safety of vegetable oils

EC Nutrition Editor’s Column - 2017Due to several factors, namely social, economic and technical, people have less time to spend in food preparation. Consequently, the consumption of fried and pre-fried foods has been increasing due to its easy preparation. This behaviour has been linked to an increase in the intake of fats and oils subjected to high temperatures. Oils and fats are previously processed (refining) to improve their quality, stability and safety. Despite the removal of a large amount of impurities from the oil that influence negatively their quality, some processing conditions can often originate new compounds with additional health hazards.This work was funded by National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, I.P., under the project “PTranSALT (2012DAN828)” and by the project “Operação NORTE01-0145-FEDER-000011 - denominada Qualidade e Segurança Alimentar - uma abordagem (nano)tecnológica” and the project UID/QUI/50006/2013 - POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265 with financial support from FCT/MEC through national funds and co-financed by FEDER. Tânia Gonçalves Albuquerque is grateful for the PhD fellowship (SFRH/ BD/99718/2014) funded by the FCT, FSE and MEC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

3-MCPD Occurrence in Vegetable Oils: Impact on Human Nutrition and Future Challenges

Review ArticleOver the last years, the global production of vegetable oils increased, and palm oil is still the most produced vegetable oil, followed by soybean, rapeseed and sunflower oils. Processing of vegetable oils is essential to remove impurities from the oil and to assure their quality and safety. Nonetheless, some of the applied conditions, namely during deodorization, can lead to the formation of contaminants, such as chloropropanols. In this review, an overview of the occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol in vegetable oils, as well as its potential impact on human nutrition, based on exposure assessment to this contaminant, and future challenges are discussed. According to this literature review, notable differences are found for the occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol in the different vegetable oils, but also among the same type of oil, which is possibly due to the geographical origin of samples, their composition, but also due to the processing conditions applied. It has been observed that unprocessed oils/fats have non-detectable or very low amounts of 3-monochloropropane-1,2 diol, while the refined oils have high amounts. Amongst the reviewed data, the highest values reported were for rice bran oil (1449 - 2564 mg/kg) and edible blending oil (1367 mg/kg). For instance, for palm oil, which is the most widely consumed vegetable oil, the values for 3 monochloropropane-1,2-diol ranged from not detected to 540 mg/kg. With respect to mitigation strategies, the use of radical scavengers, such as phenolic compounds, is efficient, but there is still a lot of work to be done in this area of research. Regarding exposure assessment to this contaminant, few studies have focused on this subject, but the reported results indicate that the mean exposure value is lower than the tolerable daily intake (2 µg/kg of body weight/day). Nonetheless, among the different food groups evaluated for exposure assessment, vegetable oils/fats were identified as the major contributor for children. In the near future, it is crucial to evaluate other processing conditions, namely cooking methods (e.g. frying and baking), since it can have a significant impact on the occurrence of this hazardous compound. Also, it is necessary to monitor the occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol in other foodstuffs, to accurately estimate the exposure assessment.This work has been funded by National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, I.P., under the project PTranSALT (Reference number 2012DAN828) and by the project UID/QUI/50006/2013 - POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265 with financial support from FCT/MEC through national funds and co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020. Tânia Gonçalves Albuquerque acknowledges the PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/99718/2014) funded by the FCT, FSE and MEC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bolachas sem glúten: avaliação da qualidade nutricional com base na declaração nutricional

Introdução: Verifica-se, atualmente, uma tendência crescente no consumo de alimentos sem glúten, quer por questões de saúde quer por opção. As alterações necessárias à formulação dos alimentos sem glúten, podem ter um impacto significativo na sua qualidade nutricional. Nesta matéria, as bolachas e os produtos de panificação são dos grupos de maior interesse. Objetivos: Avaliar a qualidade nutricional de bolachas sem glúten com base na informação dos rótulos. Métodos: Foram recolhidas as declarações nutricionais de 119 bolachas sem glúten, a partir dos dados disponibilizados pelos produtores e/ou de plataformas online. Estas foram agrupadas em 9 categorias (recheadas, com pepitas, cobertas, tipo crackers, wafers, manteiga, tortitas, artesanais e simples). Para a avaliação da qualidade nutricional foram selecionados os valores declarados de lípidos, ácidos gordos saturados (AGS) e sal. A análise da conformidade da rotulagem foi realizada de acordo com o Regulamento (UE) n.º 1169/2011 e a avaliação da adequação nutricional teve por base as metas definidas na Estratégia Integrada para a Promoção da Alimentação Saudável (EIPAS). Resultados e Discussão: Das 119 bolachas sem glúten: 8 não tinham informação relativa à declaração nutricional para todos os parâmetros em estudo; 16 não tinham valores para o sal e 8 não declaravam valores para os lípidos e AGS. As wafers têm o maior teor de lípidos (30,0 g/100 g) e de AGS (18,2 g/100 g). Em relação ao sal, as crackers apresentam o teor mais elevado (1,80 g/100 g), seguidas das bolachas simples (0,798 g/100 g) e das bolachas cobertas (0,737 g/100 g). De acordo com o EIPAS, é desejável que os produtos alimentares não contenham mais de 0,3 g de sal/100 g. Em todos os grupos, o teor de sal médio foi superior a este valor, exceto para as wafers (0,158 g/100 g). Conclusão: As bolachas sem glúten apresentam teores elevados de gordura e sal, sendo que a ingestão exagerada destes nutrientes pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento de doenças crónicas. Assim, a definição de estratégias para a reformulação destes alimentos, visando a promoção de uma alimentação mais saudável, revela-se da maior importância, sobretudo porque muitas vezes estes alimentos por serem sem glúten, são considerados como saudáveis pelo consumidor.Este trabalho foi financiado pelo INSA, no âmbito do projeto PTranSALT (2012DAN828). Tânia Gonçalves Albuquerque agradece a Bolsa de Doutoramento (SFRH/BD/99718/2014) financiada pela FCT, FSE e MEC.N/

Application of an HPLC method for the quality control of vitamin C content in foods for infants

Vitamin C is an important water-soluble vitamin that humans are not able to synthesize, so it needs to be provided by the diet. Babies less than 1 year usually do not eat foods naturally rich in vitamin C, so the main sources are breast milk and/or infant formulas. Regulation (EU) No. 609/2013, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 2016/127 and Ministério da Agricultura, do Desenvolvimento Rural e das Pescas (2008) establishes compositional and information requirements for food intended for infants and young children [1-3]. Adequate intake of vitamin C is very important to assure children’s good health and development, so it is crucial to evaluate vitamin C content in this type of foods. The aim of this study was to validate a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quality control of vitamin C content in infant foods (2 infant formulae (IF), 2 follow-on formulae (FF), 2 processed cereal-based foods (PCF) and 2 baby foods (BF)). In 2016, the infant foods were collected from major supermarket chains and parapharmacies in the region of Lisbon (Portugal). Two of the acquired samples were already ready-to-use, while the remaining samples were prepared according to manufacturer’s instructions. Separation and quantification of vitamin C was carried out on an Alliance 2695 HPLC system, with diode array detection (DAD), using a SynergiTM Hydro-RP analytical column (150 x 4.6 mm I.D., 4.0 μm particle size). Samples were monitored at 245 nm. The HPLC-DAD analytical method was validated for selectivity, linearity, LOD, LOQ, precision and accuracy, using an infant formula. Calibration curves were linear over the range 1-100 µg/mL. The achieved LOD and LOQ were 0.026 and 0.086 µg/mL, respectively. Vitamin C content in the analysed samples ranged from 1.5 ± 0.01 to 178 ± 1.01 mg/100 g for BF1 and PCF2, respectively. The developed method is rapid, specific, precise and accurate, for the quantification of vitamin C in different categories of foods for infants and young children, showing satisfactory data for all the tested parameters. Since this type of food products are very important for such young and vulnerable consumers, regulation and assurance of an adequate intake of essential nutrients, like vitamin C, is extremely important for a healthy development. References: [1] European Parliament/Council of the European Union. (2013). Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control. Official Journal of the European Union, L181, 35-56. [2] European Commission. (2016). Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 of 25 September 2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the specific compositional and information requirements for infant formula and follow-on formula. Official Journal of the European Union, L25, 1-29. [3] Ministério da Agricultura, do Desenvolvimento Rural e das Pescas (2008). Decreto-Lei n.º 53/2008 de 25 de Março. Diário da República, 1ª série - Nº 59, 1667-1674.This work was funded by INSA under the project “BIOCOMP” (2012DAN730). Tânia Gonçalves Albuquerque acknowledges the PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/99718/2014) funded by the FCT, FSE and MEC.N/

Cream crackers vs. “Maria” cookies: Which are the main differences?

Introduction: Cookies are widely consumed especially by young people. Nowadays there is a wide range of this type of products, and every day new options are available in the market. These foodstuffs are generally recognized as a source of unhealthy nutrients, such as salt and fat, namely saturated and trans fatty acids. The excessive intake of those nutrients is linked with an enhanced risk for the development of several chronic diseases. Aim: To determine salt, total fat and fatty acids composition of “Maria” cookies and cream crackers, as well as to estimate the benefit/risk associated with their consumption. Materials and methods: In 2016, 8 brands of cream crackers and 7 brands of “Maria” cookies widely distributed in the Portuguese market were selected to analyse the salt and fat contents and fatty acids composition. Sampling includes the main representative cookie brands, but also commercial and supermarket brands. Results and conclusions: For cream crackers the total fat content varied between 10.3 and 23.0 g/100 g, while for “Maria” cookies it ranged from 8.73 to 19.5 g/100 g. Concerning salt content, cream crackers have the highest value (1.82 g/100 g). The saturated fatty acids were the major in 6 cream cracker brands and in 4 “Maria” cookies brands. Trans fatty acids ranged from 29.2 to 82.4 mg/100 g (cream crackers) and from 24.5 to 73.2 mg/100 g (“Maria” cookies). The main difference between the studied groups was the salt content. Therefore, the reformulation of these foodstuffs is very important in order to produce healthier foods.This work was funded by INSA under the project “PTranSALT” (2012DAN828). Tânia Gonçalves Albuquerque acknowledges the PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/99718/2014) funded by the FCT, FSE and MEC.N/

Relevância da informação nutricional para avaliação de risco em saúde pública: o caso do fast-food

Introdução: Com a entrada em vigor do Regulamento (UE) n.º 1169/2011, a declaração nutricional passou a ser obrigatória a partir de 13 de dezembro de 2016 para alimentos pré-embalados. Muitas vezes os fast-food não são pré-embalados e a declaração nutricional não é obrigatória. Em Portugal, de acordo com os resultados do INSEF, a prevalência estimada de hipertensão arterial é 36,0% e de obesidade e excesso de peso de 28,9% e 28,7%, respetivamente. Objetivos: Determinar o teor de sal, gordura total e ácidos gordos saturados (AGS). Analisar a relevância da informação nutricional na avaliação de risco em saúde pública, avaliando o contributo de uma unidade destes alimentos para as doses diárias de referência (DDR) de sal, gordura total e AGS. Materiais e métodos: Entre 2015 e 2016 foram adquiridos em restaurantes fast-food, 20 tipos de alimentos que incluíram pizzas (n=8), hambúrgueres (n=8) e baguetes (n=4). O teor de sal foi determinado pelo método de Charpentier-Volhard e o teor de gordura total foi determinado por um método de hidrólise ácida seguido de extração em Soxhlet. Para a análise do perfil de ácidos gordos individual foi aplicada uma transesterificação a frio seguida da análise por cromatografia gasosa acoplada a deteção por ionização de chama. Resultados e discussão: Verificou-se que uma fatia de pizza (amostra G) pode contribuir com 81% da ingestão diária recomendada de sal (5 g/dia para adultos). No caso das crianças a DDR é de 2,5 g de sal/dia o que significa que a ingestão de uma unidade deste produto ultrapassa o valor recomendado. Relativamente ao teor de gordura total, uma unidade de hambúrguer (amostra F) pode contribuir com 74% da DDR para um adulto (70 g/dia para adultos). Conclusões: Alguns dos fast-food analisados apresentam teores preocupantes de determinados nutrientes, podendo representar um risco acrescido para a saúde. Desta forma conclui-se que é muito importante incluir a declaração nutricional, de forma obrigatória, mesmo nos alimentos que não são pré-embalados para possibilitar ao consumidor uma escolha informada e consciente; e também é necessário desenvolver medidas no sentido de reformular estes produtos para melhorar a sua qualidade nutricional e diminuir o impacto negativo na saúde pública.Este trabalho foi financiado pelo INSA, no âmbito do projeto PTranSALT (2012DAN828). Tânia Gonçalves Albuquerque agradece a Bolsa de Doutoramento (SFRH/BD/99718/2014) financiada pela FCT, FSE e MEC.N/

Gas chromatography: a useful tool for bakery products differentiation.

Bakery products (cookies, biscuits, cakes, crackers, bread and savoury snacks) are highly appreciated and frequently consumed by all age consumers, usually as part of breakfast, mid-morning and afternoon snacks. The main ingredients of bakery products are: wheat flour, sugar, fat, water and salt. With respect to fat, besides the total amount, it is very important to evaluate its quality, namely the fatty acid profile. One of the most suitable techniques to evaluate the fatty acids composition of a food is gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detection. The aim of this study was to evaluate if gas chromatography is a useful tool for bakery products differentiation, with respect to their fatty acids profile and impact on human nutrition. Therefore, 30 bakery products from six categories (“Maria” cookies, plain salty cookies, coated chocolate cookies, brioche filled with chocolate, brioche without filling and with chocolate chips, and French croissants) and from different brands, were acquired in supermarkets from Lisbon region. Total fat content was determined by acid hydrolysis and Soxhlet extraction with petroleum ether. Fatty acids methyl esters were obtained by cold transesterification and analysed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Most of the analysed foods (83%) have a higher content of saturated than monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. For all the studied categories considerable differences were observed in the fatty acid profile, except for brioche with chocolate chips. In “Maria” cookies, plain salty cookies and coated chocolate cookies, at least one sample had as major fatty acids the monounsaturated instead of saturated. In the brioche filled with chocolate category, for two of the analysed samples the major fatty acids were saturated, while for the other sample predominated the polyunsaturated fatty acids. In conclusion, gas chromatography is a useful technique to differentiate the nutritional quality of bakery products, as well as to estimate the potential impact of these foods on public health. Furthermore, it was possible to conclude that food industry should address new strategies to reformulate their products. According to the obtained results, it is possible to produce similar foods with healthier nutritional features.National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, for financial support to Project “PTranSALT” (2012DAN828). FCT, FSE and MEC, for the financial support of Tânia Gonçalves Albuquerque PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/99718/2014)N/