The objectives of this study were to develop and validate a method for the identification of toxic organic chemicals, including groups of controlled substances, alkaloids and pesticides that are highly toxic and considered threats to public health. This project aims to ensure our laboratory's readiness to respond to emergencies involving our food supply in cooperation with the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) program. The food matrices were homogenized in a blender or food processor prior to extraction with an acetonitrile-water mixture using a QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) procedure. The extracts were then analyzed by either gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS). Method validation was performed on a variety of food matrices including lettuce, grapes, milk, chicken, pork and beef. MDLs for the toxic compounds ranged from 0.01 to 0.66 mg/kg (ppm). The findings in this study will provide a valuable resource for the determination of toxic chemicals in food matrices for emergency response situations.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2018.05.043 | DOI Listing |
J Food Prot
January 2025
Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR, USA. Electronic address:
Pathogen contamination and harborage in low-moisture food (LMF) processing environments have resulted in outbreaks and recalls, but researchers are limited in their abilities to investigate solutions. Methods used in most laboratory studies do not accurately reflect the route of contamination or harborage of pathogens in LMF environments, which complicates studying of sanitation methods. Inoculation methods were compared to establish low-moisture food persistent bacterial populations (LMF PBPs) that realistically reflect populations found in LMF environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCan J Microbiol
January 2025
Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada;
Agricultural practices, specifically the use of antibiotics and other biocides, have repercussions on human, animal and plant health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus, as antibiotic resistant marker bacteria, in various matrices across the agro-ecosystem of an antibiotic-free swine farm in Quebec (Canada), namely pig feed, feces, manure, agricultural soil, water and sediment from a crossing stream, and soil from nearby forests. Samples were collected in fall 2022, spring and fall 2023 and spring 2024.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDatabase (Oxford)
January 2025
Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON CA K1A 0C6, Canada.
It is well-known that the use of vocabulary in phenotype treatments is often inconsistent. An earlier survey of biologists who create or use phenotypic characters revealed that this lack of standardization leads to ambiguities, frustrating both the consumers and producers of phenotypic data. Such ambiguities are challenging for biologists, and more so for Artificial Intelligence, to resolve.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Agric Food Chem
January 2025
Institute of Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitzstraße 20, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
Visually appealing foods are often associated by consumers with subjective quality features, such as freshness, palatability, and shelf life. In the past, there have been repeated violations in which regulations on the use of pigments in food were ignored and/or unauthorized or toxic dyes (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
January 2025
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China. Electronic address:
Microplastic contamination of low-density polyethylene mulch and nutrient loss from fertilizers present significant challenges in the crop-growing. In this study, the focus was on creating a biodegradable film that combines the advantages of plastic film, thermal insulation and water retention, as well as the controlled release of fertilizer. A key innovation was the efficient introduction of low molecular weight and low dispersibility of poplar lignin into chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol matrices.
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