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PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of migrants from nylon 6 packaging films into boiling water.

Ultra-violet spectrophotometry (UV), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) were used to identify and quantify oligomers extracted with boiling water from two different nylon 6 films used in boil-in-bag food packaging. The results indicated the loss of up to 1.5% of the original nylon film weight, into the boiling water, as caprolactam and cyclic oligomers up to the nonamer. Extraction time, thickness and type of film used, were found to be parameters which affected the levels of these migrants. These results will be relevant to situations in which food is cooked in the water used to heat the pouch contents.

Caprolactam↗
PubMed2000

A qualitative study of participants' experiences with dietary assessment.

OBJECTIVE: This article reports on the use of focus groups and an experimental participatory activity to investigate factors influencing participants' decisions about what to eat and what to report on food records and food frequency questionnaires. DESIGN: Four focus groups examined participants' experience with diet records and 3 focus groups explored the topic of food portions using a group consensus activity. Twenty-two women participated in the diet record focus groups, and 15 participated in portion estimation groups. SUBJECTS: Focus group participants were equally distributed by age and body mass index values. Each woman completed a 10-day doubly labeled water protocol to measure total energy expenditure, 7 days of diet records (before and during total energy expenditure), and a food frequency questionnaire after the total energy expenditure. ANALYSIS: Transcripts of the focus groups were coded to index categories of responses and to identify themes within and across those responses. Themes discussed in this article are those that were discussed most often and at greatest length by all groups. RESULTS: The diet record focus groups revealed that 2 major factors influenced reporting on diet records: honesty vs social acceptability, and simplifying food intake. The portion estimation focus groups revealed 5 factors that influenced perceptions of portion size: the role of food in the meal, the type of food, personal preferences, product serving sizes, and comparison of personal servings with those of others. APPLICATIONS: The validity and reliability of self-reported food consumption is greatly influenced by the ways people interpret and respond to dietary assessment instruments. These findings indicate that dietetics professionals need to take extra steps to address issues of accurately recording "bad" foods when training patients to complete diet records. Extra probing is needed when dietary records do not include snacks and include simple meals and a large amount of prepared and packaged food because this may indicate that changes in normal dietary patterns were made in order to more easily complete a dietary record.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Overall migartion testing with alternative fatty food simulants].

Overall migration from commercial samples of food plastics packaging into 95% ethanol and isooctane--the alternative fatty food simulants--was determined. Testing conditions--time and temperature of the contact of food packaging material with food simulants reflected real or predicted use of given packaging. The analytical methods according to European Standard EN 1186 were used. Test methods by filling the artiecles, total immersion, forming a pouch or using the cell were used for migration as appropriate to allow contact with liquid food simulant only this surface which will come into the contact with food during normal use of the product. The overall migration from the samples of the tested products into both food simulants (95% ethanol and iso-octane) was well below the limit (10 mg/dm2), except of the migration from plasticized PVC films which markedly exceeded above limit, showing that these films must not be used for packaging of food containing fat. Application of food simulants as a alternative to olive oil markedly shortens analytical procedure and reduces workload, both important in routine testing.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2006

Contamination of dry foods with trimethyldiphenylmethanes by migration from recycled paper and board packaging.

Contamination of foods with trimethyldiphenylmethanes is reported and the origin is shown to be migration from food packaging materials of which the use of recycled carbonless copy paper was found to be the major source. This chemical is one of the solvents used in the carbonless copy paper and its presence in food and the environment has not been previously identified. In this paper we have pursued previous studies on diisopropylnaphthalenes and hydrogenated terphenyls contamination from packaging and now report the identification of this new food contaminant and present evidence of its source. Solid foods such as egg pasta, barley coffee and rice were analysed by GC/MS and a mean concentration of 18 microg/kg of trimethyldiphenylmethanes was found. Extracts from carbonless copy paper were analysed by proton NMR to characterize the trimethyldiphenylmethanes. Since trimethyldiphenylmethanes are found in solid food together with diisopropylnaphthalenes, and considering their similar chemical character, they may follow the same migration pathway as one another.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1991

Soft plastic bread packaging: lead content and reuse by families.

The presence of lead in labels painted on soft plastic bread packaging was evaluated. Lead was detected on the outside of 17 of 18 soft plastic bread bags that were analyzed, with an average of 26 +/- 6 mg per bag with lead. Of 106 families questioned, 16 percent of respondents reported turning the bags inside out before reusing for food storage, thus putting food in contact with the lead paint. We estimate that a weak acid, such as vinegar, could readily leach 100 micrograms of lead from a painted plastic bag within 10 minutes. Further, lead and other metals painted on food packaging of any type becomes part of the municipal waste stream subject to incineration and to land-filling. The use of lead in packaging presents an unnecessary risk to public health.

Bread↗
PubMed2006

The extent and nature of food promotion directed to children in Australian supermarkets.

The aim of this study was to describe the nature and amount of sales promotion use on food packaging in selected Australian supermarkets, specifically those directed at children through the use of premium offers, such as giveaways and competitions, and cartoon and movie character promotions. The study also examined the promotion of healthy versus unhealthy foods. Nine supermarkets located across the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia were surveyed to assess the extent and nature of food promotion directed at children. The number and types of promotions were measured within seven food categories: sweet biscuits, snack foods, confectionery, chips/savoury snacks, cereals, dairy snacks and ice cream. Any foods that utilized promotional tactics were categorized as either healthy or unhealthy, according to set criteria. The study found that within the seven food categories between 9 and 35% of food products used promotional tactics. The use of television, movie celebrities and cartoon characters for promotion was most common, making up 75% of all promotions. Giveaways accounted for 13% of all promotions. When used, giveaways were commonly used in conjunction with another promotional method. Data from this study also confirmed that 82% of all food promotions were for unhealthy foods and only 18% were used to promote healthy foods. However, for dairy snacks and ice cream the majority of promotions, 99 and 65%, respectively, were healthier choices. This was the first study to describe the extent and nature of food promotions used in supermarkets. The promotion of unhealthy foods in supermarkets is common and is one of the many factors contributing to today's obesity promoting environment. Further research is required to determine the impact of food promotions on children's dietary intake, and to determine the most effective ways to restrict the promotion of unhealthy foods.

Cartoons as Topic↗
PubMed2003

Determining how low-income food shoppers perceive, understand, and use food labels.

A facilitated group discussion approach was used to explore how a group of eight low-income consumers perceive, understand, and use the current food label for food-shopping decisions. Meeting for one hour on three consecutive weeks in a community facility, the group discussed the total food package, the ingredient list alone and in combination with the nutrition-information panel, and nutrition claims. All sessions were recorded and later transcribed verbatim. Through inductive analysis, three broad categories (brand name, package feature, and nutrition-related information) and numerous underlying themes emerged from the data; a theoretical framework was proposed to explain the data and provide future direction. A number of barriers to effective use of the food label were identified, and some actionable tips for dietetic practice were suggested.

Awareness↗
PubMed1996

Bacterial contaminants in liquid packaging boards: assessment of potential for food spoilage.

Liquid packaging boards and blanks were examined for microbial contaminants. A total of 218 strains were identified and representatives of the most frequent species were characterized for their potential for food spoilage. Contaminants found were aerobic spore-forming bacteria, mostly Bacillus megaterium, B. licheniformis, B. cereus group, B. pumilus, Paenibacillus macerans, P. polymyxa, P. pabuli and B. flexus. Production of amylolytic, proteolytic, lipolytic and phospholipolytic enzymes was common. Approximately 50% of the B. cereus group strains were positive in the diarrhoeal enterotoxin immunoassay test or in the enterotoxin reversed passive latex agglutination test. Strains capable of growth at 6 degrees C were found among B. cereus group, P. pabuli, P. validus, B. megaterium and P. polymyxa. All b. licheniformis strains grew at 55 degrees C. The spores of B. licheniformis were most resistant to hydrogen peroxide. The B. cereus group strains were recognizable by fatty acid components not present in any of the other paperboard strains, 11-methyldodecanoic acid (13:0 iso) and trans-9-hexadecenoic acid (16:1 omega 7 trans), each contributing 7% or more to the total cellular fatty acids.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2006

Nanomaterial health effects--Part 2: Uncertainties and recommendations for the future.

In this paper, we summarize some of the key data gaps, uncertainties, and unknowns that need to be addressed to develop adequate risk assessments for nanomaterials. We make recommendations to take timely and appropriate public health precautions. We also briefly discuss nanotechnology applications for food and food packaging, and describe the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Nanotechnology in Society Project.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Lower breastfeeding rates persist among the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children participants, 1978-2003.

OBJECTIVE: We set out to compare rates of breastfeeding between women who participated in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) with those of non-WIC mothers from 1978 to 2003. METHODS: The Ross Laboratories Mothers Survey is a national survey designed to determine patterns of milk feeding during infancy. Mothers were asked to recall the type of milk fed to their infant in the hospital and during each month of age. Rates of breastfeeding in the hospital and at 6 months of age were evaluated. Logistic regression analyses identified significant predictors of breastfeeding in 2003. RESULTS: From 1978 through 2003, rates for the initiation of breastfeeding among WIC participants lagged behind those of non-WIC mothers by an average of 23.6 +/- 4.4 percentage points. At 6 months of age, the gap between WIC participants and non-WIC mothers (mean: 16.3 +/- 3.1 percentage points) steadily increased from 1978 through 2003 and exceeded 20% by 1999. Demographic factors that were significant and positive predictors of breastfeeding initiation in 2003 included some college education, living in the western region of the United States, not participating in the WIC program, having an infant of normal birth weight, primipary, and not working outside the home. For mothers of infants 6 months of age, WIC status was the strongest determinant of breastfeeding: mothers who were not enrolled in the WIC program were more than twice as likely to breastfeed at 6 months of age than mothers who participated in the WIC program. CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding rates among WIC participants have lagged behind those of non-WIC mothers for the last 25 years. The Healthy People 2010 goals for breastfeeding will not be reached without intervention. Food package and programmatic changes are needed to make the incentives for breastfeeding greater for WIC participants.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Importance of surface tension characterization for food, pharmaceutical and packaging products: a review.

This article reviews the various theoretical approaches that have been developed for determination of the surface tension of solids, and the applications to food industrial products. The surface tension of a solid is a characteristic of surface properties and interfacial interactions such as adsorption, wetting or adhesion. The knowledge of surface tension is thus of great interest for every domain involved in understanding these mechanisms, which recover a lot of industrial investigations. Indeed, it is the case for the packaging industry, the food materials science, the biomedical applications and the pharmaceutical products, cleaning, adhesive technology, painting, coating and more generally all fields in relation with wettability of their systems. There is however no direct method for measurements of surface tension of solids, except the contact angle measurements combined with an appropriate theoretical approach are indirect methods for estimation of surface tension of solids. Moreover, since the publication by Young (1805) who developed the basis of the theory of contact angle some two hundred years ago, measurements and interpretations are still discussed in scientific literature, pointing out the need to better understand the fundamental mechanisms of solid-liquid interfacial interactions. Applications of surface tension characterization in the field of food materials science are detailed, especially for packaging and coating applications, which recover different actual orientations in order to improve process and quality.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2005

Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of epoxidized soybean oil in food products.

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) is widely used as a plasticizer and stabilizer in such polymers [poly(vinyl chloride) in particular] commonly adopted for manufacturing of gaskets of the lids for glass jars and plastic films for food packaging. Human exposure to ESBO and its derivatives is likely to occur over a lifetime with a significant variation according to life stage. A reversed phase liquid chromatography interfaced with electrospray ion trap tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of ESBO in foods was developed. A simple sample treatment procedure entailing the use of an extraction step with dichloromethane without any further cleanup was proved. Chromatographic separation was performed using two C18 columns with an aqueous acetic acid-acetone-acetonitrile mixture as the mobile phase under gradient conditions. The method was validated in terms of detection limits (4 mg kg(-1)), quantitation limits, linearity (established over 2 orders of magnitude), recovery (good mean recoveries, higher than 90% for all of the signals detected), precision (RSD% < 8), and trueness. The applicability of the method to the determination of ESBO in different food matrices (in particular those rich in edible oil) was demonstrated, and the performances were compared to those reachable by the commonly well-known gas chromatography-mass spectrometry procedure.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2002

Potential food contaminants and associated health risks.

The potential toxicants in food are derived from natural or industrial sources. Compounds like lectins and glycoalkaloids that are toxic to man are naturally present in some vegetables like potatoes or legumes. A wide variety of marine toxins mostly produced by dinoflagellates occurring secondarily in molluscs and mussels are usually ingested by human beings causing poisoning. On the other hand, toxic compounds find their way into food during manufacture, storage, or transportation. These include largely the industrial contaminants, persistent organic pollutants (POP), pesticides, heavy metals, and toxins of fungal and bacterial origin. Further, toxic compounds like higher alcohols may be produced as byproducts during processing. Migration of compounds from packaging materials into packaged food like contamination with lead from solder in certain metal cans is well known. Additives (emulsifiers, preservatives, and antioxidants) could also influence the quality of foods. Solvent residues may find their way into food as a result of their use in extraction processes like the use of trichloroethylene and methylene chloride in decaffeination of coffee. In addition, poor hygiene, storage, and preparation may also lead to food contamination by various microbes and ova or cysts of nematodes. The problem of food contamination can be overcome to a great extent by regular surveillance and monitoring programmes and strict implementation of food and adulteration act. In the present review some of these aspects of food contamination have been discussed in detail.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Future European Community directives and petition procedures.

The underlying principles of current European Community legislation in the area of food contact materials and articles are reviewed, and the prospects for extension to new areas are assessed. Future Directives are broadly described although it is not possible to timetable the programme for ultimate agreement and implementation. To assist in understanding Directives and for the practical purposes of enforcement Commission documents are outlined covering a 'Compendium of Methods of Analysis', a 'Practical Guide for users of EEC Directives on Food Packaging' and a 'Framework Document for Research Requirements in Support of Regulations'. Finally procedures for authorization of new substances at Community and national levels are described.

European Union↗
PubMed1978

[Introduction in mycotoxin problems (author's transl)].

In Part I the occurrence of mycotoxins is discussed in general terms with emphasis on how they originate in the food, taking full account of presence as secondary contaminants. Further discussions emphasize the occurrence of aflatoxin in foods with a detailed table containing 106 references. Finally, the discussion goes into the factors which influence the formation of mycotoxins and the consequences for the consumer. Part II is concerned with problems in sampling foods with aflatoxin. Difficulties in sampling arise from the different levels of aflatoxins present and from their instability in foods. Based on proposals of different investigators, sample quantities of more than 1 kg are recommended. Regulatory agencies expect concrete plans for statistical evaluation similar to those used for determination of salmonellae. It is particularly important that a solution should be found for the sampling of packaged foods so that a fair and reliable control is possible.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed2006

Tahini, a little known sesame-containing food, as an unexpected cause of severe allergic reaction.

We describe the case of a young woman with asthma and confirmed food allergy to sesame who had 2 severe systemic reactions after the inadvertent ingestion of tahini, a paste made with ground sesame seeds that is not generally known by physicians and patients as a sesame-containing food. A double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge confirmed the allergy to tahini in our patient. As new products and recipes are being introduced from around the world on a regular basis, it is essential that at-risk patients are able to obtain information about allergens used as ingredients and as potential contaminants. This should be applied not only to packaged food but also to freshly made foods, such as those served in restaurants.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Xenoestrogens released from lacquer coatings in food cans.

We present data showing that some foods preserved in lacquer-coated cans and the liquid in them may acquire estrogenic activity. Hormonal activity was measured using the E-screen bioassay. The biological activity of vegetables packed in cans was a result of plastic monomers used in manufacturing the containers. The plastic monomer bisphenol-A, identified by mass spectrometry, was found as a contaminant not only in the liquid of the preserved vegetables but also in water autoclaved in the cans. The amount of bisphenol-A in the extracts accounted for all the hormonal activity measured. Although the presence of other xenoestrogens cannot be ruled out, it is apparent that all estrogenic activity in these cans was due to bisphenol-A leached from the lacquer coating. The use of plastic in food-packaging materials may require closer scrutiny to determine whether epoxy resins and polycarbonates contribute to human exposure to xenoestrogens.

Biological Assay↗