Journal of Food Quality and Hazards Control
Volume:10 Issue: 4, Dec 2023

Baduy is an Indonesian native tribe which still holds ancestral heritage, including food processing. Palm sugar is considered as an authentic local sweetener that is produced naturally by the Baduy individually and is frequently used as a souvenir for tourists. However, the data describing the safety of palm sugar in terms of microbial and heavy metal content have not been widely reported. This study aimed to analyze palm sugar’s safety on the basis of microbial and heavy metal content.

Palm sugars were obtained from 5 of 25 sugar makers in Kanekes village, Baduy using a purposive random sampling in April 2021. The analysis of Total Plate Count, Total Yeast and Mold Count, coliform, and heavy metal were conducted and their results were compared to the requirements of the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis. Bacterial identification was conducted microscopically and molecularly using a conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction. The collected data were analyzed with the descriptive method.

The results demonstrated that the bacterial count of Baduy palm sugar was less than 30 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/g; no yeast and mold were observed; negative results for the coliform test; and detected heavy metals were under the limitation of the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis standards except for copper. The two found bacteria are non-pathogenic, namely Bacillus megaterium and Kocuria koreensis.

The results of the research showed that Baduy palm sugar is safe in terms of microbiological and heavy metals. This research is expected to consist of useful information to the public based on the safety and quality of Baduy palm sugar, and consequently it can attract the attention of Indonesian tourists and even foreign tourists to visit Baduy.

Toxic Heavy Metals (THMs) threaten food safety and result in human poisonings. It seems to be few studies on THMs contamination in food chain in developing countries. Current investigation determine the concentration and health risk of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), as well as mercury (Hg) in fish and water at Nsukka, Metropolis, Enugu state, Nigeria.

Forty eight samples; 24 (catfish and tilapia) fish and 24 (borehole, sachet, and bottled) water were randomly collected from two major markets and districts in Nsukka Metropolis and were evaluated for THMs using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The Estimated Daily Intake, Target Hazard Quotient, Hazard Index, and Cancer Risk (CR) were assessed as well.

THMs analaysis showed that As, Cd, and Hg were at 100% and Pb being at 16% in all the fish samples while 12.5% of fish of exceeded the Hg Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) of 0.050 mg/kg, that not statistically significant (p>0.05).On the other hand, based on the analysis of all water samples, Hg and As were detected at 100% rate, Cd at 58.3% while Pb was not identified. The values above the MPL appeared to be 9 (37.5%), 2 (8.3%), and 3(12.5%) for Hg, As, and Cd, respectively in water while not statistically significant (p>0.05). The mean value of Hg (0.06425 mg/kg) in roasted fish as well as Cd (0.0065 and 0.0105) mg/ml in tap and bottled water respectively surpassed the MPL although not statistically significant (p>0.05). The Estimated Daily Intake of THMs except Cd in fish were proved to be within the Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake in contrast with As and Cd in water. CR is present both in children and adults with CR value >1.

The finding of THMs in fish and water above the MPL is regarded as potential health risk for the consumers of such contaminated water and fish in the investigation scope.

Backgraound: 

Polysaccharides, particularly Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) and Ammoniacum Gum (AMG), are considered valuable due to their thermal stability and non-toxicity. CMC has good film-forming ability but weak mechanical properties, while AMG shows promise with its unique chemical composition. Additionally, essential oils, such as Clove Essential Oil (CEO), are being used to enhance the antimicrobial properties of edible films, offering a natural way to extend the shelf life of food products.

This study investigated the combined effect of CMC: 0.5-1.5 wt %, AMG: 1-5 wt %, as well as CEO: 0-30 v/v % on the physical characteristics of the CMC-AMG films by Response Surface Methodology. The optimization was performed with the aim of maximizing Whiteness Index, Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), and Strain at Break (SB) and minimizing total color difference (ΔE) values. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, film microstructure, Differential Scanning Calorimeter analysis, and antibacterial activity were investigated. The analysis was conducted using Design Expert software version 10.00 (STAT-EASE Inc., Minneapolis, USA).

The films with the highest UTS have been obtained through a composition of 5 g CMC, 1.5 g AMG, and 15% CEO. On the contrary, using a composition of 5 g CMC, 1 g AMG, and 30% CEO revealed the highest SB (115.41%). The highest UTS value of 13.17 MPa was obtained with a formulation consisting of 5% AMG, 1.5% CMC, and 15% CEO. Nevertheless, the maximum SB value of 115.41% was achieved with a formulation containing 5% AMG, 1% CMC, and 30% CEO. Moreover, heterogeneous microstructure and more opaque films were obtained as identified by the higher ΔE. The Differential Scanning Calorimeter results demonstrated that incorporating a CEO did not impinge on thermal stability. Furthermore, the addition of CEO led to a rise in antimicrobial activity against Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes.

In conclusion, combination of CMC and AMG in optimum levels, led to the production of a film with acceptable mechanical properties. Also, these films showed significant antimicrobial activity.

Halawet eljibn is a popular Ready-to-Eat sweet in the Levant region. However, its non-machinery preparation and lack of final heating increase the risk of contamination by microorganisms that can cause food-borne illnesses. The study aimed to investigate the numbers of microorganisms present in commercially produced halawet eljibn in Jordan.

Sixty samples of halawet eljibn were collected from 15 sweet shops in Amman, Jordan at two intervals. Two sample units were taken from each sweet shop, and two reference samples were prepared under hygienic conditions for comparison purposes. The study evaluated the chemical properties of the samples, including moisture content, pH, and titratable acidity, and also assessed their microbiological quality through Aerobic Plate Count, Coliform Count, Lactic Acid Bacteria count, Staphylococcus aureus count, and yeast and mold count analyses.

In this study, the samples exhibited a moisture content ranging from 40.9 to 49.8%, a pH range of 5.7 to 6.7, and acidity levels varying between 0.14 and 0.45%. The average Aerobic Plate Count and the counts of coliforms, Lactic Acid Bacteria, yeast and mold and S. aureus for halawet eljibn market samples were 6.6, 4.1, 6.8, 3.2, and 2.0 log Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/g, respectively. Counts of interval I (10th October-12th December) samples were significantly higher than those of interval II (19th December-10th January). The same average counts of the reference samples were significantly lower (2.3, <10, 1.6, 1.4, and <10 log CFU/g, respectively).

The study findings indicate that halawet eljibn provides an appropriate environment for microbial growth. The observed non-adherence to optimal hygienic practices during the production and handling of halawet eljibn underscores the need for more rigorous regulations to ensure its microbiological quality and safety.

The issue of milk quality appears to be vital due to its nutritional value and since raw milk can be regarded as an appropriate environment for the growth of several pathogens by producing an enterotoxin. The aim of present study is to investigate enterotoxin-producing genes (sea, seb, sec, and sed) from Staphylococcus aureus isolated from raw traditional and pasteurized milk in Tehran, Iran.

One hundred and fifty samples of raw traditional milk supplied in five districts of Tehran were collected and simultaneously15 pasteurized milk samples from various brands were prepared and examined phenotypically and bio-chemically for the existence of S. aureus. The presence of sea, seb, sec, sed genes was assessed by Polymerase Chain Reaction and ultimately the antibiotic residue was measured with a commercial kit.

In this study, 32 (21.3%) samples of raw traditional milk and one sample (6.7%) of pasteurized milk samples were infected with S. aureus. The frequency of presence of sea, seb, sec, and sed genes regarded to be: 9 (28.12%), 14 (43.75%), 6 (18.75%), 2 (6.25%), respectively however sec gene failed to identify. Basically 38 (33.25%) of raw traditional milk samples as well as 5 (33.33%) of pasteurized milk included antibiotic residue.

 The high prevalence of S. aureus comprising enterotoxin genes in raw traditional milk is considered as a severe warning to the community and highlights the need for a high quality product.

Milk is regarded as one of the most sources of nutrition in the world and has a high value for individual's health. Milk is consumed by sensitive groups including pregnant women, older adults, and children. Therefore, the significance of antibiotic on human health makes it crucial to monitor their existence in food. This investigation aims to evaluate enrofloxacin and tetracycline in the raw and pasteurized milk in Tehran.

In this cross-sectional study, 112 raw and 112 pasteurized milks were accumulated in spring and winter from six reputable brands and traditional dairy stores in Tehran from December 2021 until May 2022 for six months, and antibiotic residues were examined by Immunosorbent Assay and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography techniques.

The findings indicated that the prevalence of tetracycline in raw and pasteurized milk was 41.07 and 26.78% in spring and 85.71 and 35.71% in winter, respectively. The median concentration of tetracycline was 33.27 and 22.65 ppb in spring and 55.81 and 21.91 ppb in winter, respectively. The prevalence of enrofloxacin in raw milk and pasteurized milk samples were 33.92 and 14.28% in spring and 64.28 and 32.14% in winter, respectively. The median concentrations of enrofloxacin were 9.13 and 9.38 ppb in spring and 10.57 and 11.23 ppb in winter, respectively. The raw and pasteurized milk samples collected in winter had higher percentage of antibiotic residue in terms of enrofloxacin than samples collected in spring (p<0.05). Furthermore, the quantity of tetracycline antibiotic in raw milk was significantly higher in winter than in spring (p=0.002). However, the pasteurized milk fails to have significant difference between two seasons. The finding showed the tetracycline and enrofloxacin in all samples were less than 100 ppb (standard limit), and there is no significant difference with the standard limit.

Based on the obtained results, monitoring the antibiotic residues in milk, controlling and minimizing these residues for human health are regarded crucial.