Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety最新文献

Recent studies have indicated the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in food of animal origin. To address the concerns regarding human dietary plastic uptake, extensive monitoring using validated analytical methods is required. However, a major challenge in analysis lies in the high complexity of preparing food samples rich in macromolecular content (e.g., proteins, complex lipids), such as seafood. Consequently, this study aimed to optimise sample preparation methods for seafood, meat, milk, honey, and eggs, ensuring negligible impact on plastic integrity. Sample matrices were digested using combinations of alkaline, oxidative, and enzymatic approaches, with incubation periods ranging from 6 to 16 h. Particles were rapidly isolated by pressure-assisted filtration, which retained particles in the lower micron range. This method, used for isolating microplastic from food, was compared to the commonly employed vacuum filtration technique. Pressure-assisted filtration improved filtration rates and matrix removal while demonstrating comparable impact on procedural contamination and polymer integrity to vacuum filtration. The feasibility of microplastic analysis was demonstrated using fluorescence imaging. In contrast to microplastics, nanoplastics (< 1 µm) have greater potential for negative biological effects due to their small size, warranting detailed analysis. However, their low particle mass, susceptibility for agglomeration, and the detection limits of conventional spectroscopic techniques pose unique analytical challenges. Addressing these challenges is essential for developing standardised methodologies, including certified food reference material, to enable safety assessments of micro- and nanoplastic in food.

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The detection of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is crucial for regulatory compliance and market control. Therefore, detection methods are constantly being developed and improved. New genomic techniques (NGT) present unique challenges for detection due to the minimal genetic changes they introduce. The ‘International Conference on GMO Analysis and New Genomic Techniques’ held in March 2023 in Berlin, explored advances in detection methods, such as Next-Generation Sequencing and digital PCR, and highlighted the need for global cooperation and capacity-building initiatives. The conference emphasized international collaboration and addressed the challenges of establishing robust methods for identifying NGT-derived organisms.

Colchicine, a plant toxin with aneugenic and potentially genotoxic properties, is predominately derived from the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale). Although it has been used as a drug since ancient times, severe poisoning or even death may occur in humans and animals when colchicine is ingested in larger amounts. If consumed by food-producing animals, the transfer of colchicine to animal-based food products, as observed with other plant toxins, seems likely, posing a potential health risk to consumers. In the late flowering period of C. autumnale, honey bees may have limited alternatives and may collect its nectar and pollen, potentially transferring colchicine to honey. A literature research on the relevance of colchicine as food contaminant was conducted, followed by experiments to examine its stability in stored honey and milk fermented into yoghurt. The literature review revealed that colchicine is rarely detected as a food contaminant. However, it has been shown to transfer into milk of ruminants following the ingestion of C. autumnale. Experiments with artificially contaminated samples demonstrated, for the first time, the persistence of colchicine in honey stored for 4 weeks under dark conditions and during the fermentation of milk into yoghurt. Although the overall risk to consumers currently appears low, further research is needed to determine whether the continued spread of C. autumnale poses a higher risk to livestock and consumers than previously assumed.

Since the commercialization of the first genetically modified (GM) crops, their relevance in agricultural applications has increased. Soybean (Glycine max) ranks as the most widely cultivated GM crop globally. With the advancements in site-specific genome-editing tools, the development of GM organisms (GMO) using new genomic techniques has accelerated, particularly in agriculture. In the US, a genome-edited soybean variety, Calyno, was developed with altered fatty acid composition by inactivating two members of the fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) gene family, FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B, using TALEN technology. Although deregulated in the US, Calyno soybeans are not authorized for cultivation or import in the European Union and therefore cannot be placed on the European market. To address the need for reliable detection methods in routine analysis for GMO by public authorities, two event-specific qPCR methods were developed to detect the FAD2-1A-Δ63bp and FAD2-1B-Δ23bp gene variants in the Calyno soybeans. In the absence of reference material, methods were validated in-house using synthetic plasmids carrying the target regions’ sequences, following European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL) guidelines. Both assays meet the minimum performance requirements for GMO testing, demonstrating high sensitivity, qPCR efficiency, specificity and robustness. An interlaboratory comparison study further confirmed the reliability of these methods. These qPCR assays provide an effective tool for detecting the FAD2-1A-Δ63bp and FAD2-1B-Δ23bp gene variants in Calyno soybeans, supporting GMO testing requirements in the European Union and ensuring accurate monitoring of GM crops.

Inadequate food handling throughout the food supply chain can result in food loss and waste, leading to significant environmental, economic and social impacts. Identifying the causes of food loss and waste across the food supply chain, including the role of packaging, is critical for developing reduction and prevention strategies. This review examines 54 scientific studies to identify packaging-related causes of food loss and waste, evaluate whether and how packaging contributes to or mitigates these issues, and propose measures to address them. The findings highlight the need for standardized terminology and methodologies to improve comparability among studies. Key packaging-related issues identified include difficulty emptying, damage and oversized packaging, which could be addressed through improved packaging design and machinery, customized packaging sizes, and consumer education. The packaging design must be adapted to address these key issues and simultaneously consider geographical areas, specific food products and types of packaging. Further research is needed to explore these connections more comprehensively and improve data comparability across methodologies and nomenclature.

Food authenticity is a global issue and has caused growing concerns in recent decades. Immunochromatography-based methods are more favored over conventional sophisticated techniques for species identification and meat fraud detection. There is a growing need for an on-spot, minimally pre- processing detection tool for identifying donkey meat in beef within the routine meat inspection procedures by the food safety and quality inspectors during daily consumer meat purchases. The newly developed kit has a limit of detection as low as 10% donkey meat in beef meat and detects 1% (w/w%) of donkey meat with reduced visualization intensity, demonstrating the assay’s stability under different adulteration conditions. The kit was validated using 26 meat samples from different butcher shops in the Greater Cairo Area of Egypt, and compared with PCR analysis. Both methods confirmed that 4 samples (15.4%) were adulterated with donkey meat. The sensitivity of the developed lateral flow kit test reached 100%. This study introduces a powerful, rapid tool for detecting donkey meat adulteration in beef within 2 min, offering promising potential for real-world applications.