Tracing the Geographical Origin of Onions by Strontium Isotope Ratio and Strontium Content.

The strontium (Sr) isotope ratio ((87)Sr/(86)Sr) and Sr content were used to trace the geographical origin of onions from Japan and other countries, including China, the United States of America, New Zealand, Australia, and Thailand. The mean (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratio and Sr content (dry weight basis) for onions from Japan were 0.70751 and 4.

Modified use of a commercial ELISA kit for deoxynivalenol determination in rice and corn silage.

The analysis of deoxynivalenol (DON) in silage samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) often leads to an overestimation. To better analyze DON in rice and corn silages using a commercially available ELISA kit, a cleanup method using a MultiSep #226 column was developed. As a result, overestimation of DON by the influence of specific cross-reaction with acetyldeoxynivalenol (AcDON) was confirmed.

Improvement and validation of the method to determine neutral detergent fiber in feed.

To improve the performance of the analytical method for neutral detergent fiber in feed with heat-stable α-amylase treatment (aNDFom), the process of adding heat-stable α-amylase, as well as other analytical conditions, were examined. In this new process, the starch in the samples was removed by adding amylase to neutral detergent (ND) solution twice, just after the start of heating and immediately after refluxing. We also examined the effects of the use of sodium sulfite, and drying and ashing conditions for aNDFom analysis by this modified amylase addition method.

Interlaboratory study of LC-UV and LC-MS methods for the simultaneous determination of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol in wheat.

To evaluate LC methods with UV or MS detection for simultaneous analysis of deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) in wheat, an interlaboratory study was conducted in 11 laboratories. DON and NIV were purified using a multifunctional column, and their concentrations were determined using LC-UV or LC-MS(/MS). No internal standards were used.

Aflatoxin M1 contamination in raw bulk milk and the presence of aflatoxin B1 in corn supplied to dairy cattle in Japan.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which has been found in the milk of dairy cattle fed AFB1-contaminated feeds. Since AFM1 has been evaluated as a possible human carcinogen, the cancer risk arising from AFM1 contamination in milk is a serious problem in food safety. To evaluate the risk of AFM1 contamination in milk, it is necessary to analyze the risk factors of AFB1 contamination in corn provided for concentrated feed in Japan.