Journal of Food Safety and Hygiene
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Winter 2020

Emulsions with a nanoparticle diameter are called nanoemulsions. Nanoemulsions actually refer to dispersed systems of different liquids. Nanoemulsions contain oil, water, and an emulsifier. Nanoemulsions have more prominent properties (they are more stable against droplet aggregation and biphasic) than emulsions. Due to these properties, it is more appropriate to use them in some foods and supplements. Also, the advantages of this method and the use of food-grade compounds in their preparation is a safe and appropriate method for the production of encapsulated food compounds and supplements. Nanoemulsions can be used in different fields of food technology and food supplements by increasing bioavailability, release control and preservation of compounds. The activity of some food ingredients and supplements such as vitamins, enzymes, synthetic and natural antioxidants, colors, synthetic and natural antibacterial, etc. can be maintained by using nanoemulsions for a longer period of time. Therefore, in this article, we have tried to examine various aspects of nanoemulsions, including existing preparation techniques and their various applications in food industry technology and food supplements.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have not approved any genetically modified (GM) food products to be manufactured, distributed, sold/or imported in the country. Many countries across the globe are legally approved to cultivate GM crops like soybean, maize, canola, cotton seeds, etc. Many people living in urban India nowadays prefer to purchase imported food products. As a result, an increasing number of food items (without GM labels) are being imported in India. Nevertheless, these products are also easily available for buyers online. Thus, it is important to understand whether these imported food items available in the Indian market are GMO-free. The objective of this study is to check the availability of GM food products in raw and processed forms in the Indian local market through the use of conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The study is designed to screen for the presence of regulatory genes (35S promoter and NOS terminator) which are the most common sequences found in transgenic food products. Using the cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) method, DNA was extracted from 12 food samples commercially available in the Indian market (locally and online) followed by PCR to detect the presence of GM DNA using HIMEDIA’S MBPCR055 GMO detection kit. Overall, 16.66% of the total samples were tested positive for GM DNA. Of the imported food items, 33.33% were tested positive. Products that were manufactured in the US and Netherlands were tested positive for GMOs. Their main ingredients were soy and corn. Samples manufactured in India were GMO negative.

This study was designed to measure and compare the total phenols, flavonoids and vitamin C contents in four orange juice brands which are commercially available in Iran. Total phenols, flavonoids and ascorbic acid content of 100 samples from four different commercial brands were evaluated by the spectrometric method. The concentration of total phenol in commercial orange juice samples was between 28.39 and 114.20 mg gallic acid equivalent per liter (mg GAE/L). The measured range of total flavonoids was from 12.53 to 32.62 mg quercetin equivalent per liter (mg QE/L) and the content of ascorbic acid in the samples was between 29.95 and 93.08 mg/L. The results showed a significant difference between the four brand`s total phenols, flavonoids and vitamin C level (P< 0.05). According to the found variation among different studied brands, setting a determined amount for the measured parameters is suggested.

Outbreaks of foodborne diseases globally still exist and continue to generate public health concerns. This raises possible concerns that the extent of food safety regulation is not taken seriously among the regulation authorities, food handlers and even the consumers of food in markets and streets. Evidence of the impact of these food-borne illnesses exists and they pose not only health but also economic challenges on global health and national growth. This study aimed to examine the compliance with safe food hygiene practices and factors hindering compliance with food safety practices among food handlers in Benin-City, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted in conducting this study. A total of 269 participants were recruited after ethical clearance from the health authority in Benin-city. Data collection was with the use of structured questionnaires and observational checklists. Retrieved data were coded and recorded in a secured system, analyzed using SPSS 21. More than half (57.7%) of the respondents had poor compliance with (21.9%) having good compliance, while the rest (20.4%) had fair compliance. Also, the majority of the respondents identified lack of potable water in cooking areas, lack of financial support and training as factors hindering their food safety compliance. Lack of compliance with food safety exists among food vendors in the markets. The relationship between the years of handling food, level of education of food handlers, and compliance with food hygiene practices was statistically significant. Non-compliance with food safety exist among food vendors in the markets despite self-reported positive practices.

Edwardsiellosis caused by Edwardsiella tarda is a septicemic bacterial disease responsible for 5-70% mortalities and prevalence up-to 70% in freshwater fishes. Although rarely associated with human infections, Edwardsiella tarda has been found to cause gastroenteritis, soft tissue infection, liver abscess, tubo-ovarian abscess, and mycotic aneurysm mostly in immunocompromised humans. This study investigated the prevalence and antibiogram of E. tarda isolated from Oreochromis niloticus obtained from selected farms in Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 156 samples consisting: gills, intestines and skins were collected from 52 O. niloticus from Egbeda-(A), Ido-(B), Ibadan: North-East-(C) and North-West-(D) for bacteriological analysis. E. tarda Isolation, identification, and antibiogram were performed using standard methods. Data were analyzed using Chi-Square. An overall prevalence of 62.5% was observed for E. tarda with 87.5%, 62.5% and 50.0% for gills, intestine and skin samples, respectively, whilst overall location prevalence was observed as 100.0%-(A), 50.0%-(B), 66.6%-(C) and 50.0%-(D). Isolates exhibited resistance patterns comprising; 100.0%-(Ceftazidime-(CPZ), Cefuroxime-(CRX) and Meropenem-(MEM)), 91.7%-Cefotaxime-(CTX), 83.3%-(Tetracycline-(TET)), 50.0%-(Cotrimoxazole-(COT)), 33.3% (Ceftriaxone-(CTR) and Gentamicin-(GEN)), 25.0%-(Chloramphenicol-(CHL)), 16.7%-Amikacin-(AMK) and 8.3%-(Ciprofloxacin-(CIP)). Multi-drug resistance pattern: CRX-CFZ-MEM-(100%), CRX-CTR-CTX-CFZ-MEM-(83.3%), CRX-CTR-CTX-CFZ-MEM-TET-(66.7%), CRX-CTR-CTX-CFZ-MEM-TET-COT-(58.3%) and CRX-CTR-CTX-CFZ-MEM-TET-COT-GEN-(8.3%) was observed. Isolation and identification of E. tarda from O. niloticus confirm its presence in Ibadan and affirms that O. niloticus harbors, and could serve as a source of infection to humans. The antimicrobial resistance patterns of isolates to antibiotics indicate misuse in aquaculture and indiscriminate disposal of antibiotics into aquatic environments. This suggests risks of transmission of infectious agents to humans and the probable spread of resistant pathogens to humans from the environment.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the total viable microbial count of selected street foods i.e Samosa, Pakoda, Tikki, Momo, Spring rolls and Veggie burger in Palampur city of Himachal Pradesh, India. Samples of each street food were collected from 3 different locations and named as street vended samples. The samples prepared in the food laboratory by using traditional recipes were named as control samples and the samples prepared by using locally available healthy and more nutritious ingredients were named as value added samples. The samples were prepared for microbial analysis as per standard protocol. During the comparison, a significant (p≤0.05) difference existed in the viable count of street vended samples when compared to control and value-added samples. Poor hygienic conditions during processing and handling might be responsible for the higher microbial load. Common Indian street foods namely Samosa, Pakoda and Tikki had less colony count in comparison to the Moms, Spring rolls and burgers.