Molecular and aflatoxigenicity analyses of Aspergillus flavus isolates indigenous to grain corn in Malaysia; potentials for biological control.

Aims: The present work aimed to distinguish the indigenous Aspergillus flavus isolates obtained from the first (pioneer) grain corn farms in Terengganu, Malaysia, into aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic by molecular and aflatoxigenicity analyses, and determine the antagonistic capability of the non-aflatoxigenic isolates against aflatoxigenic counterparts and their aflatoxin production in vitro.

Methods And Results: Seven A. flavus isolates previously obtained from the farms were characterized molecularly and chemically.

Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines in Processed Meat, Cooked Meat and Fish-Based Products Using the Margin of Exposure Approach.

Background: The objective of this study is to assess the risk of exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) in meat and fish-based products marketed in Malaysia using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach.

Methods: Benchmark Dose (BMD) software was used to model the BMD at a lower end of a one-sided 95% confidence interval with a 10% incremental risk (BMDL) of PAHs and HCAs from different target organ toxicities. The MOEs of PAHs and HCAs in meat and fish-based products were determined by utilising the calculated BMDL values and estimated daily intake of meat and fish-based products from published data.

Mycotoxigenic fungal growth inhibition and multi-mycotoxin reduction of potential biological control agents indigenous to grain maize.

The present work investigated the potential of fungal species from grain maize farms in Malaysia as antagonists against the indigenous mycotoxigenic fungal species and their subsequent mycotoxin production. Dual-culture assay was conducted on grain maize agar (GMA) with 12 strains of potential fungal antagonists namely Bjerkandra adusta, Penicillium janthinellum, Schizophyllum commune, Trametes cubensis, Trichoderma asperelloides, Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma yunnanense against seven mycotoxigenic strains namely Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium verticillioides, and Fusarium proliferatum producing aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and fumonisins, respectively. Based on fungal growth inhibition, Trichoderma spp.

Assessment of multi-mycotoxin contamination throughout the supply chain of maize-based poultry feed from selected regions of Malaysia by LC-MS/MS.

The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence of multi-mycotoxin contamination throughout the supply chain of maize-based poultry feed. Different sampling points throughout the feed supply chain were selected from two companies that manufactured the poultry feed. A total of 51 samples, consisting of grain maize and maize-based poultry feeds, were collected.

Assessing the Performance of Food Safety Management System Using Food Safety Management System Diagnostic Tools and Microbial Assessment Scheme: A Case of Powdered Beverage Manufacturers.

Background: The objective of the study is to assess the performance of the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) among powdered beverage manufacturers using Food Safety Management System Diagnostic Tools (FSMS-DI) and Microbial Assessment Scheme (MAS).

Methods: FSMS-DI was used to evaluate the context factors, core control and core assurance activities of five powdered beverage manufacturers with different types of FSMS certification. Manufacturer A is not certified with any FSMS, while manufacturers B, C, D and E are complied with MeSTI, GMP, HACCP and ISO 22000, respectively.

Vitamin A and E Homologues Impacting the Fate of Acrylamide in Equimolar Asparagine-Glucose Model System.

This study aims to evaluate the influence of Vitamin A and E homologues toward acrylamide in equimolar asparagine-glucose model system. Vitamin A homologue as β-carotene (BC) and five Vitamin E homologues, i.e.

Morphological, Structural, Thermal, Permeability, and Antimicrobial Activity of PBS and PBS/TPS Films Incorporated with Biomaster-Silver for Food Packaging Application.

The development of antimicrobial film for food packaging application had become the focus for researchers and scientists. This research aims to study the characteristics and antimicrobial activity of novel biofilms made of poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and tapioca starch (TPS) added with 1.5% or 3% of Biomaster-silver (BM) particle.

Prevalence of mycotoxigenic fungi and assessment of aflatoxin contamination: a multiple case study along the integrated corn-based poultry feed supply chain in Malaysia.

Background: Corn, a main feed ingredient in the livestock industry, is one of the most susceptible crops to fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination. Livestock feeding on aflatoxin (AF)-contaminated feed have been shown to experience feed refusal, and decreased growth rate, milk production, and feed efficiency. In poultry, AF poisoning causes weight loss, poor feed efficiency, and reduced egg production and egg weight.

The Inhibitory Effects of Honey Marinades on the Formation of Carcinogenic Heterocyclic Amines in Grilled Beef Satay.

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are carcinogenic food toxicants formed in cooked meats, which may increase the risk of cancer development in humans. Therefore, in this study, the effect of stingless bee honey from different botanical origins on the formation of HCAs in grilled beef satay was investigated. HCAs concentration in grilled beef satay was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

A Comparative Characterization of Physicochemical and Antioxidants Properties of Processed Honey from Different Origins and Classification by Chemometrics Analysis.

Stingless bee honey produced by from different botanical origins was characterised and discriminated. Three types of stingless bee honey collected from acacia, gelam, and starfruit nectars were analyzed and compared with honey. The results showed that stingless bee honey samples from the three different botanical origins were significantly different in terms of their moisture content, pH, free acidity, total soluble solids, colour characteristics, sugar content, amino acid content and antioxidant properties.

Verification and evaluation of monochloropropanediol (MCPD) esters and glycidyl esters in palm oil products of different regions in Malaysia.

This study was conducted to investigate on the effect of different sampling regions of palm-refined oils and fats on the 2- and 3-monochloropropanediol fatty acid esters (MCPDE) and glycidol fatty acid esters (GE) levels. The American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) Official Method Cd 29a-13 on the determination of MCPDE and GE in edible oils and fats by acid transesterification was successfully verified and optimised, with slight modification using 7890A Agilent GC system equipped with 5975C quadrupole detector. The determined limits of detection (LOD) for MCPDE were 0.

Effect of Fat-Soluble Anti-oxidants in Vegetable Oils on Acrylamide Concentrations During Deep-Fat Frying of French Fries.

Background: This study attempted to evaluate the effect of fat-soluble anti-oxidants in vegetable oils on acrylamide during the deep-fat frying of French fries.

Methods: Three vegetable oils with different fat-soluble anti-oxidant contents were selected and par-fried potato strips were fried in these oils. Acrylamide in the French fries at different frying times (at 180 °C) and over 10 consecutive frying sessions were measured.

Effects of different types of soy sauce on the formation of heterocyclic amines in roasted chicken.

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of different types of soy sauce and marinating time on the formation of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) in roasted chicken. Chicken breast samples were marinated with sweet, salty, light and dark soy sauce at 0, 3, 6 and 12 h (control treatment was the chicken without marinade). The concentrations of free amino acids, sugars and creatinine were determined before roasting while HCA concentrations were determined after roasting.

Simultaneous formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) in gas-grilled beef satay at different temperatures.

This study investigated the simultaneous formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) in gas-grilled beef satay at different temperatures (150, 200, 250, 300, and 350°C). Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used for sample clean-up. Fifteen PAHs were determined using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) and nine HCAs were quantified using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a gradient programme.