Journal of Food Quality and Hazards Control
Volume:1 Issue: 2, Jun 2014

Detection of food adulteration is an important issue from aspects of food control and food regulation. This study aimed to detect adulteration of chicken meat in raw hamburger using species specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Raw hamburgers including 42 handmade and 48 industrial samples were collected from 90 restaurants and supermarkets. Following genomic DNA extraction from raw hamburgers which were claimed to be made of beef meat, PCR was performed to detect chicken (Gallus gallus) meat as an adulterant. The oligonucleotide primers amplified mitochondrial DNA sequences under selected conditions and revealed specific 183 and 300 base pair fragment for chicken and cattle, respectively. Results showed that 94.4% of all hamburgers, including 100% of handmade and 89.6% of industrial samples, contained undeclared chicken meat. This high rate of undeclared chicken meat in hamburger samples may be related to mixing beef with cheaper parts of chicken. The outcomes of this study suggest that this method of detection can be applied by quality control laboratories and inspection services to determine adulteration in different kinds of meat products.

Lactic acid bacteria play a key role in sourdough fermentation. Lactobacilli are the most important group of lactic acid bacteria in sourdough. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to identify Lactobacillus strains in Iranian traditional wheat sourdoughs as a basis for further studies on the technological applications in the production of typical breads. Fourteen traditional sourdough samples were collected from the Southern regions in East-Azarbaijan province of Iran. In all sourdough samples, pH and Total Titratable Acidity (TTA) values were determined, and then isolation and identification of Lactobacillus isolates were carried out. Most sourdough samples had the pH value of 3.64 to 3.90 and the TTA varied from 16.8 to 19.2 ml of 0.1 N NaOH/10 g sourdough. Isolates were divided into two main groups (group A and group B) using phenotypic characteristics, group B subdivided into eight groups. Overall, 38% of the isolates, which clustered together in group A, were closely related to Lactobacillus paralimentarius, while 27% and 20% of the isolates were closely related to Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus curvatus, respectively. A few isolates were also identified as Lactobacillus agilis and Lactobacillus hilgardii. Lactobacillus paralimentarius, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus curvatus, and the rare presence of Lactobacillus agilis and Lactobacillus hilgardii were identified in Iranian traditional sourdough. These lactobacilli may have potential to be used as starter cultures in the manufacture of sourdough breads with perfect and good quality.

Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable systems that can be kinetically stable by adding substances known as emulsifiers and/or thickening agents. By respect to the functional properties of gum tragacanth (GT), and its breakage probability during irradiation treatment, the major aim of this study was to investigate the stability of oil in water emulsion in the presence of different doses irradiated GT by respect to its viscosity and viscoelastic properties at constant temperature. The effect of irradiation treatment was studied on the rheological properties of 10% w/w oil in water emulsions systems containing 0.5% w/w GT that is irradiated at doses of 0, 3, 5 and 10 kGy that are called NIGT, GT 3, GT 5, GT 5 and GT 10, respectively. In order to monitor the effect of irradiation treatment on rheological properties, rheometer has been used. All treatments were performed three times and the data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0. Values were considered to be significantly different if p<0.05. Irradiation treatment affects on rheological properties of GT containing oil in water emulsion both in steady state and oscillatory one. Increasing the irradiation dose up to 10 kGy decreases the consistency index from 1.88 to 0.076 and increases the flow behavior index from 0.42 to 0.764. Irradiation treatment also makes the systems behaves more sol like. It should be noted that these differents are dose dependant. Rheological properties of irradiated GT containing emulsion are dose dependant. These changes may be due to the gums structural rearrangement due to irradiation. It is necessary to apply appropriate dose by considering its desirable function.

Food borne pathogens are of the main concerns of food producers and consumers and Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus create a lot of problems worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate antibacterial effects of monolaurin, sorbic acid and potassium sorbate on S. aureus and E. coli at different pH values and NaCl concentrations. Micro-well dilution assay was used to determine antimicrobial potency of monolaurin, sorbic acid and potassium sorbate. First, stock solutions of each antimicrobial compounds were prepared and then two-fold dilution method was used to obtain final con-centrations of tested antimicrobials. A 96 well microplate was inoculated with different concentrations of antimicrobials and bacterial inoculums (final inoculums was approximately 5×105 CFU/ml). After incubation, growth of E. coli and S. aureus were evaluated. Statistical analysis was made by the analysis of variance using SPSS software, version 16.0. The MICs of monolaurin, sorbic acid and potassium sorbate were respectively >4000, >5000, >10000 μg/ml for E. coli, and 128, 1250 and 2500 μg/ml for S. aureus. The results showed that all of these compounds had considerable effect on S. aureus while E. coli was less sensitive. It should be noted that, monolaurin had strong antimicrobial effect on E. coli when used in combination with ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid. According to the results of this study, monolaurin and sorbates can be used effectively as food preservative and growth inhibitor of these food borne pathogens. Using NaCl and/or lower pH values may fortify their bacteriostatic effects.

Sohan is a traditional Iranian confectionery product prepared mainly by mixing and cooking of wheat flour, sugar, malt, oil, natural flavoring additives and coloring materials. Regarding to high consumption and popularity of Sohan as well as importance of its safety and hygienic status, we investigated microbial and chemical profiles of Sohan in retailers throughout Qom province of Iran during 2013. Hundred Sohan samples were collected from Qom retail markets over a 6-month period in 2013. American Public Health Association (APHA) and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) methods were used to determine Sohan’s microbial and chemical profiles, respectively. Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS statistical software version 16.0. The obtained mean count of Enterobacteriaceae, s, molds and Staphylococcus aureus, yeasts were 2.14×102±623.6, 5.38×102±593.5, 1.56×102±221.5 and 2.51×102±164.9 CFU/g, respectively. Also, Escherichia coli was found in 10% of Sohan samples. The mean of peroxide and acidity values was 2.59±1.2 mEq/Kg and 0.33±0.2%, respectively. The present research represented that microbial and fungal contamination was significantly higher (p<0.01) during the warm months (July, August and September). According to this study, all Sohan samples had peroxide values and acidity in normal range, but the large number of food borne pathogens was detected in Sohan samples especially during warm months, represented potential health hazard to consumers.

Sohan is a traditional Iranian confectionery product prepared mainly by mixing and cooking of wheat flour, sugar, malt, oil, natural flavoring additives and coloring materials. Regarding to high consumption and popularity of Sohan as well as importance of its safety and hygienic status, we investigated microbial and chemical profiles of Sohan in retailers throughout Qom province of Iran during 2013. Hundred Sohan samples were collected from Qom retail markets over a 6-month period in 2013. American Public Health Association (APHA) and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) methods were used to determine Sohan’s microbial and chemical profiles, respectively. Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS statistical software version 16.0. The obtained mean count of Enterobacteriaceae, s, molds and Staphylococcus aureus, yeasts were 2.14×102±623.6, 5.38×102±593.5, 1.56×102±221.5 and 2.51×102±164.9 CFU/g, respectively. Also, Escherichia coli was found in 10% of Sohan samples. The mean of peroxide and acidity values was 2.59±1.2 mEq/Kg and 0.33±0.2%, respectively. The present research represented that microbial and fungal contamination was significantly higher (p<0.01) during the warm months (July, August and September). According to this study, all Sohan samples had peroxide values and acidity in normal range, but the large number of food borne pathogens was detected in Sohan samples especially during warm months, represented potential health hazard to consumers.

Elsevier has a long history of producing encyclopedias in different aspects of science and medicine, but this four-volume work is the first of its kind in the field of food safety. Such an encyclopedia is meant to cover many related topics within this field, but each cannot be totally comprehensive. I believe the editors, the expert editorial advisory board, and the publisher have got it right when they created this encyclopedia. The fact that it takes four volumes means that the field of food safety is vast and it required many experts from around the world to put together this work. With 280 chapters, the encyclopedia provides the latest scientific information as concise overviews on a broad range of topics, such as: history and basic sciences that support food safety; prevalence, surveillance, and investigation of food borne diseases in six world regions; microbiological and chemical food borne agents; risk analysis; 16 types of traditional and newer food technologies; and food safety management systems to control potential hazards in different commodities by industry and government. Where there is overlap between food safety and other disciples, there is some coverage of those aspects such as nutrition, food science and the environment. The publisher indicates that this encyclopedia should interest a wide range of professionals in industry, government and academia. I believe this is valid.Although the whole encyclopedia is relatively expensive for individuals at over $1000, various chapters can be purchased separately. For instance, for those with a particular concern for possible pathogens or other hazards in one food commodity, they can check the comprehensive index which chapters would be the most useful to them. Most potential purchasers will opt for the electronic-line version. Libraries may obtain the whole set for their readers. As the oversight for the prevention and control of food borne diseases is expanded, especially in international trade, this encyclopedia will become invaluable to quickly explore specific topics and then follow up on the further reading list at the end of each chapter to obtain more information. In the microbiological area, there are over 33 bacterial, 27 parasitic, 10 viral agents and prions covered.There are chapters on natural toxicants (11), environmental contaminants including toxic metals (9), contaminants associated with processing (13), food additives (7), pesticides (7), and veterinary drug residues (7). There are also chapters on nutritional hazards and allergies. There are 30 chapters on the safety of foods and beverages which include discussions on organic food, kosher and halal requirements, and deliberate food adulteration. There are 20 chapters on public health measures of prevention and control, and another 23 chapters on food safety assurance systems for industry. The last section describes institutions involved in food safety, primarily at the international level, such as World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Interestingly, the International Commission for the Microbiological Specification of Foods (ICMSF) does not have a specific chapter but some of its members have contributed to various chapters throughout the encyclopedia. In summary, some of the chapter topics can be accessed in other text books or on-line sources, but there is nothing like this encyclopedia for its comprehensiveness in combining as many food safety related topics as possible less than one source. Some examples of the more unusual chapter topics are: History of food borne disease the Renaissance and Enlightenment; Food safety training and health education; Cost of food borne diseases; Food borne disease in travelers; Toxigenic corynebacteria; African Swine Fever Virus; Biogenic amines; Phthalates; Ectoparasiticides; Food-related choking; Nanotechnology and food safety; Safety of food in vending machines; Safety of Korean fermented foods; Risk governance; Management of biofilm risk; Food safety and ethics; and Global Harmonization Initiative. If you want to expand your knowledge over the whole field of food safety you can look no further than dipping into this encyclopedia.

In a recent article published in the Journal of Food Quality and Hazards Control (1: 15-20), a huge occurrence of zoonotic species of Sarcocystis was found in hamburger samples from Iran. As indicated in the mentioned article, more than half of Iranian hamburgers (both traditional and industrial ones) were contaminated by S. hominis. This rate of infection in such meat product is surprising and also warning, opening issues on public health emergency. However, there are several questions that should be at-tended, as the evaluation of prevalence of this parasite in native people. It’s well known that investigations on public health concern are fundamental duties of national health authorities of any country. On the other hand, it seems to be necessary to evaluate regional food habits and the associated risk factor in consuming undercooked hamburgers. By the way, training of hamburger consumers to prevent consuming undercooked hamburgers is a necessity. It should be noted that since prevalence of some coccidian parasites may be in correlation, there is also likely the risk of infection due to the other coccidian parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, rekindling the need to increment surveys on prevalence of such parasites.