Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety最新文献

Tightly sealed driver's cabs can effectively protect the user from exposure when applying crop protection products. Therefore, under certain conditions, users in such cabins can avoid wearing personal protective equipment for skin and eyes. The protective effect depends on the technical design and handling of the different cabin types and can be divided into categories with different levels of protection. Since the level of protection of the different types of cabins and the associated possibility of not wearing personal protective equipment has not been sufficiently scientifically verified in the past, the present study was carried out to close this gap. Field and laboratory test methods were developed and used to assess exposure levels. External contamination of the cabin was measured using various dosimeters. Exposure inside the cabins was measured on coveralls and gloves to measure dermal exposure and with aerosol sampling pumps to determine inhalation exposure. Tests were conducted on tractors with different cab categories using an air-assisted orchard sprayer as a worst-case scenario for exposure to spray drift. Additionally, an alternative laboratory test method was developed and conducted to evaluate filter efficiency under controlled conditions and compare it with the field tests. The results showed that exposure inside closed cabins was generally low and was not notably correlated with the cabin category. All types of cabins tested were found to provide significant protection from dermal and inhalation exposure.

Blockchain-based traceability systems offer significant potential for enhancing food safety. This study investigated consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for a blockchain-based traceability system for fresh pork, and examined preferences for certification agencies. Data were gathered through an online choice experiment conducted in 5 Chinese cities. The results show favorable preferences and higher WTP for a blockchain-based traceability system, with the information intervention group demonstrating a higher mean WTP than the control group. The highest WTP is observed for a blockchain food traceability system combined with government certification. These findings provide valuable insights for promoting blockchain-based food traceability in developing countries and hold important policy implications for food safety regulation and consumer protection.

Species substitution in meat products is a common form of food fraud that raises ethical, religious, dietary, and conservation issues. Measures to monitor meat substitution are being implemented in many parts of the world. However, information on similar efforts in Tanzania is scarce. This study aimed to assess species authenticity in kebabs sold in the Kilosa District. During 4 months (November 2023 to March 2024), 100 processed kebabs were purchased from fast food outlets across 3 wards: Dumila (n = 49), Kimamba (n = 24), and Mikumi (n = 27). Species authentication was conducted using High-resolution melting analysis and DNA barcoding, targeting two mitochondrial markers: cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI) and 16 S rRNA. Out of 100 kebabs, 64 were misidentified. Notably, goat-based kebabs were the most substituted, with 36 out of 43 (83.7%) containing different species: cattle (30), chicken (2), impala (1), and warthog (3). Out of 40 cattle kebabs, 18 (45%) consisted of meat from different species: chicken (7), goat (8), 2 impala (2), and 1 warthog (1). Chicken kebabs had only 7 undeclared cattle species, and all 3 samples sold as mutton kebabs were substituted with cattle (2) and goat (1). The findings indicate a high prevalence of species substitution in meat products within the Kilosa District. Undeclared wildlife species might represent illegal bushmeat harvests in the conserved ecosystems. Extensive meat inspections and educational interventions are recommended to ensure the integrity of the meat market, consumer trust, and the conservation of wildlife.

The pervasive contamination of the environment with microplastics (MPs) poses a significant threat to food safety as MPs enter and move up the food chain. Understanding the exposure route via foodstuffs is essential. In this study, we analyzed MP contamination in commonly available brands of crystal and iodized powder salts from India and Sri Lanka. MPs were isolated and identified using digestion, filtration, microscopy, and Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. MPs were more abundant in Indian salt (17.16 ± 8.81 MPs/kg) than in Sri Lankan salt (7.9 ± 6.2 MPs/kg), with crystal salt showing higher MP levels than iodized salt in both countries. Fiber-shaped black and white MPs (< 1 mm) were the most common. ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed the polymer composition, predominantly polypropylene and polyethylene, in both Indian (56%, 24%) and Sri Lankan (42%, 28%) samples. Based on polymer hazard scores, the chemical risk of salts was categorized as level II (Sri Lanka) and IV (India). If a person consumes 5 g of salt per day (World Health Organization), Indians would ingest 0.085 MPs/day (31.025 MPs/year), and Sri Lankans would consume 0.0395 MPs/day (14.4175 MPs/year). The presence of MPs in salts is likely due to the use of contaminated water in production and specific manufacturing processes. Ingesting MPs through daily salt consumption poses a risk to human health, highlighting the need for measures to protect salt sources and improve production processes.

Human exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) can occur through contaminated food contact materials (FCMs), which may pose significant health risks. This study investigated the presence and migration characteristics of 26 OPEs in 60 plastic and paper-based food contact materials sourced from markets and online retailers. Migration experiments were conducted using three food simulants: 4% acetic acid, 10% ethanol, and 95% ethanol. Thirteen OPEs were identified in the packaging samples, with triphenyl phosphate and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate being the most frequently detected, averaging 95.8 ng/g and 73.3 ng/g, respectively. During migration simulations, 11 OPEs were found to migrate into the food simulants, with migration concentrations ranging from 9.22 to 150 ng/cm². The health impact was assessed using hazard index and maximum cumulative ratio methods. Triphenylphosphine oxide, triisobutyl phosphate, and butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate contributed the most to the overall hazard among the 11 compounds. However, the overall risk of OPE exposure to humans was determined to be low.

Lithium is a natural, ubiquitously-occurring alkali metal found in varying amounts in foods like honey. Recently, lithium chloride (LiCl) was described to be effective against varroosis, a parasitic disease leading to loss of honey bee colonies with limited therapy options. However, LiCl treatment is not currently authorized for use in honey bee colonies. Such treatment might result in elevated lithium amounts in honey. To address this, a robust method for quantifying lithium in honey was validated using a microwave-assisted digestion technique combined with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), achieving detection levels as low as 0.151 mg/kg. The method was applied to 65 commercially available, randomly chosen honey samples, all of which had lithium levels below the limit of quantitation (LOQ). Furthermore, the method was successfully adapted for use with more complex bee matrices, including royal jelly, bee bread, propolis, and whole bees.

Genetically modified (GM) crops and their products are regulated in many countries. To meet increasing regulatory requirements for a growing number of GM soybean events, high-throughput and cost-effective detection methods are indispensable. In this study, 14 widely commercialized GM soybean events, including GTS40-3-2, MON89788, CV127, A2704-12, A5547-127, 305423, 356043, MON87701, MON87705, MON87708, MON87769, SYHT0H2, FG72, and DAS-444Ø6-6 were utilized as targets for event-specific identification. A high-throughput detection method was established by integrating a single universal primer multiplex PCR (SUP-M-PCR) with capillary electrophoresis technique. This method enables the identification of 14 soybean events in a single PCR reaction, addressing the limitations of conventional multiplex PCR such as self-inhibition and amplification variations between different primers. Furthermore, it significantly enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of previous multiple detection methods, achieving a detection sensitivity of 0.05% (w/w). Overall, this approach greatly improves detection efficiency and holds promising potential for the identification and detection of 14 types of GM soybean events and their derivatives.

Chloropropanols such as 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) can be present in wet-resistant paper food contact articles and migrate into aqueous food. Due to their potential carcinogenicity, residual levels in food are a target of consumer protection. Assessment of compliance of paper food contact articles regarding chloropropanols is commonly done using cold water extraction according to EN 645. However, this gives limited information on actual consumer exposure. To support risk assessment, migration of chloropropanols from paper straws into food simulants was compared to cold water extraction. Established methods using silylation with MSTFA and GC-MS/MS were adapted for food simulants B and D1. While absolute concentrations were higher in cold water extracts, released amounts were similar when accounting for sample weight and simulant volume. For uncoated paper under foreseeable use conditions, cold water extraction results can estimate exposure. Paper straws compliant with BfR recommendation XXXVI limits do not considerably contribute to total 3-MCPD intake. Thus, enforcing these limits is suitable to protect consumers from harmful chloropropanol exposure from food contact materials.