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At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Assessment of alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation, addition of salt and packaging on the oxidative stability of raw turkey meat.

1. One-day-old turkey poults (n = 14) were randomised into 2 groups (n = 7) and fed diets containing 20 (E20) and 600 (E600) mg all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg food for 21 weeks prior to slaughter. Two batches were formed from E20 meat (E20) and E20 plus 10 g salt/kg (E20S). Two similar batches were formed from E600 meat (E600) and E600 plus 10 g salt/kg (E600S). 2. The effects of alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation and salt addition on the oxidative stability of raw turkey patties was investigated during aerobic and vacuum-packaged refrigerated (4 degrees C) storage. 3. Dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation reduced TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reacting substances) numbers for raw overwrapped and vacuum-packaged turkey leg and breast patties. 4. Dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate had the greatest influence on TBARS numbers for raw overwrapped turkey leg patties. 5. The addition of 10 g salt/kg increased TBARS numbers for overwrapped and vacuum-packaged turkey leg and breast patties. 6. Vacuum-packaged patties remained more oxidatively stable than similarly treated overwrapped patties throughout the experimental period.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

Improving packaged food quality and safety. Part 1: synchrotron X-ray analysis.

The objective was to demonstrate, as an example of an application, the potential of synchrotron X-ray analysis to detect morphological alterations that can occur in barrier packaging materials and structures. These changes can affect the packaging barrier characteristics when conventional food preservation treatments are applied to packaged food. The paper presents the results of a number of experiments where time-resolved combined wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering analysis as a function of temperature and humidity were applied to ethylene-vinyl alcohol co-polymers (EVOH), polypropylene (PP)/EVOH/PP structures, aliphatic polyketone terpolymer (PK) and amorphous polyamide (aPA) materials. A comparison between conventional retorting and high-pressure processing treatments in terms of morphologic alterations are also presented for EVOH. The impact of retorting on the EVOH structure contrasts with the good behaviour of the PK during this treatment and with that of aPA. However, no significant structural changes were observed by wide-angle X-ray scattering in the EVOH structures after high-pressure processing treatment. These structural observations have also been correlated with oxygen permeability measurements that are of importance when guaranteeing the intended levels of safety and quality of packaged food.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed2007

Estimation of exposure to food packaging materials. 3: Development of consumption factors and food-type distribution factors from data collected on Irish children.

There are many initiatives in Europe trying to refine the exposure assessment for food packaging migrants. In the USA, the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) uses food consumption and food-type distribution factors to aid the exposure assessment process and generate more realistic estimates of exposure. The present study developed food-consumption factors and food-type distribution factors for Irish children aged 5-12 years from data collected as part of a National Children's Food Survey (NCFS) completed in Ireland in 2003-04, combined with data from the 2003-05 Irish Food Packaging Database and from literature data on surface area-to-weight ratios for food packaging. Consumption factors are defined as the fraction of a person's diet likely to contact a specific food-contact material, while food-type distribution factors reflect the fraction of all food contacting each material that is aqueous, acidic, alcoholic or fatty. In this study, it was found that 'total plastics' had the highest consumption factor of 0.83, while 'total paper and board' had a factor of 0.13 and 'total metal and alloys' had a factor of 0.06. Although it is tentative to compare the US FDA factors with the factors derived in the current study, as the US FDA data are for the total US population, the consumption factor for 'total plastics' in the present study (0.83) was similar to that used by the US FDA (0.79). However, a large difference existed for the consumption factor for 'total metal and alloys' in the Irish data (0.06) and the US FDA data (0.2). In terms of the type of materials used for foods, glass was used mainly for acidic foods (0.67), while plastic was uniformly used for all food types. The food-contact area for plastic packaging for all foods consumed by children was 10.67 dm2/child day(-1), which is slightly lower than the proposed value for the average European consumer of 12.4 dm2/person day(-1). However, this should be expected, as children do not consume as much food as adults. When scenario exposure estimates were made, it was found that when using European Union assumptions, estimates were much larger than when using consumption factors and food-type distribution factors in the exposure assessment, even when conservative assumptions were employed for the consumption factor. This study highlights the potential use of consumption factors and food-type distribution factors in the refinement of the exposure assessment process and how these factors can be calculated using data collected as part of a national food survey.

Child↗
PubMed2007

Contamination of packaged food by substances migrating from a direct-contact plastic layer: Assessment using a generic quantitative household scale methodology.

The contamination risk in 12 packaged foods by substances released from the plastic contact layer has been evaluated using a novel modeling technique, which predicts the migration that accounts for (i) possible variations in the time of contact between foodstuffs and packaging and (ii) uncertainty in physico-chemical parameters used to predict migration. Contamination data, which are subject to variability and uncertainty, are derived through a stochastic resolution of transport equations, which control the migration into food. Distributions of contact times between packaging materials and foodstuffs were reconstructed from the volumes and frequencies of purchases of a given panel of 6422 households, making assumptions about household storage behaviour. The risk of contamination of the packaged foods was estimated for styrene (a monomer found in polystyrene yogurt pots) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (a representative of the widely used phenolic antioxidants). The results are analysed and discussed regarding sensitivity of the model to the set parameters and chosen assumptions.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1997

Migration studies from paper and board food packaging materials. Part 2. Survey for residues of dialkylamino benzophenone UV-cure ink photoinitiators.

A survey of retail samples was conducted in two phases with 50 general paper and board food contact materials and articles analysed in 1992, and 121 samples, specifically of printed cartonboard, analysed in 1995. Packaging samples were extracted with ethanol containing 0.4% triethylamine. The extracts were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the presence of 4,4'-bis (dimethylamino) benzophenone (Michler's ketone, MK) and 4,4'-bis (diethylamino)-benzophenone (DEAB) confirmed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The limits of detection for MK and DEAB in packaging were 0.05 mg/kg and 0.1-0.2 mg/kg respectively. In the first phase, MK was detected in 24% of the 50 samples at concentrations of 0.06-3.9 mg/kg paper. DEAB was detected in 12% of samples (0.1-0.2 mg/kg). In the second phase, 26% of the 121 cartonboard samples contained detectable MK (0.1-1.6 mg/kg) and 4% contained DEAB (0.2-0.7 mg/kg). Residues of the monoamine 4-(dimethylamino)benzophenone (DMAB) were found in 10% of the 1992 samples (0.1-0.6 mg/ kg). DMAB was not surveyed in 1995. These levels are too low to indicate the use of these cure agents for printing the packages. Rather, the most likely origin is from the use of recycled fibres. For three samples where the highest concentration of MK was detected, the food was analysed by GC-MS after extraction and clean-up. There was no measurable migration of MK at a detection limit of 2 micrograms/kg food. It is concluded, therefore, that the concentrations of MK present in the packaging samples analysed are unlikely to pose a risk to human health.

Benzophenones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Active and smart packaging for meeting consumer demands for quality and safety.

Over the past few decades, many new packaging techniques have been introduced in the quest for natural preservation of foods and on-time quality monitoring of packaged food to ensure good product quality and safety for the consumer. This paper discusses scientific, technological, commercial and legislative development, as well as consumer aspects and acceptance of the active and smart food packaging techniques with current or potential commercial value, and the elements that both the manufacturers of these packaging systems and the food industry should take into account before launching products using these techniques.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Minimizing the residual oxygen in modified atmosphere packaging of bakery products.

The total elimination of air represents a serious hurdle in modified atmosphere packaging of bakery products, due both to the high spin-rates of the packaging lines and, particularly, to the typical texture of bakery products which retain large quantities of air inside their porous structure. Simulating the gas-flushing modified atmosphere packaging with laboratory equipment and measuring the oxygen concentration directly inside bread rolls, by means of a gas analyser connected with the internal portion, it was possible to follow the rate of atmosphere substitution, evaluating the effects of different baking treatments (7, 12 and 23 min at 230 degrees C) and the role played by different gases (nitrogen, argon, helium, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide). The oxygen content inside the products, plotted versus time, led to typical logistic 'dose-response' curves which made it possible to forecast the time needed to reach established values of residual oxygen concentration and to emphasize the effects of the different conditions used. The gas properties particularly affected the rate of oxygen substitution and the less water-soluble was the gas, the faster was the oxygen reduction; the larger was the gas molecule, the slower was the process. Also baking time was shown to have, to a different extent, some measurable effects on the rate of oxygen substitution and hence, its optimization as well as the choice of gas mixture can contribute to improve modified atmosphere packaging of bakery products.

Argon↗
PubMed2004

Active food packaging technologies.

Active packaging technologies offer new opportunities for the food industry, in the preservation of foods. Important active packaging systems currently known to date, including oxygen scavengers, carbon dioxide emitters/absorbers, moisture absorbers, ethylene absorbers, ethanol emitters, flavor releasing/absorbing systems, time-temperature indicators, and antimicrobial containing films, are reviewed. The principle of operation of each active system is briefly explained. Recent technological advances in active packaging are discussed, and food related applications are presented. The effects of active packaging systems on food quality and safety are cited.

Food Contamination↗
PubMed2000

Revised USP standards for product dating, packaging, and temperature monitoring.

Revisions in the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) related to product dating, packaging, and temperature monitoring are discussed. USP has revised product dating specifications as they relate to pharmacy practice. Pharmacists are required to affix beyond-use dates and not expiration dates to the prescription or repackaged vial. With respect to beyond-use dates for nonsterile products that are repackaged into unit dose or single-unit containers, the requirement has been changed from the previous period of six months from the date of repackaging or 25% of the time remaining until the expiration date, whichever is less, to one year. The type of packaging container, the material used in packaging, and the permeability of the container to moisture are important issues for pharmacists to consider. USP requires that the pharmacy facility where dispensing or repackaging occurs be maintained at controlled room temperature such that the calculated mean kinetic temperature does not exceed 25 degrees C. USP standards for product dating, packaging, and temperature monitoring have changed, and pharmacists must educate themselves about these revisions.

Drug Labeling↗
PubMed2005

Surface contamination of cyclophosphamide packaging and surface contamination with antineoplastic drugs in a hospital pharmacy in Sweden.

Workplaces, e.g. hospital pharmacies and hospital departments, where antineoplastic drugs are handled might be contaminated with these drugs, and pharmacy personnel and health care workers may be exposed. In this study potential sources for exposure of antineoplastic drugs were investigated. Unbroken drug vials and tablet blister packages, both containing cyclophosphamide (CP) and their outer packaging were wipe sampled. Analysis was performed by liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The result showed that almost every part of the primary packaging was contaminated with CP and ifosfamide (IF). However, the amounts of CP and IF were low, and most likely not harmful for the personnel handling these packaging in association with drug preparation. The contamination must originate from the pharmaceutical manufacturer. Different surfaces in the preparation unit of a Swedish hospital pharmacy were also investigated at two different occasions by wipe sampling. In the preparation unit CP and IF were found as contaminants on the majority of the investigated surfaces. After the first measurement the hospital pharmacy improved its routines. Lower amounts of CP and IF were detected at the second measurement. A low degree of contamination with CP and IF was also detected on the floor outside the preparation unit and this indicated a small distribution of antineoplastic drugs to the surroundings.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2001

Egg marketing in national supermarkets: products, packaging, and prices--part 3.

As part of a national retail egg quality study, the variety of shell eggs and egg products offered for sale, type of packaging, and price relationships were compared in five major metropolitan regions. A total of 81 stores in 28 cities were sampled in California (CA), Illinois (IL), North Carolina (NC), Texas (TX), and New England (NE). Data were recorded for the variety of brands, sizes, white or brown shell eggs, specialty eggs, liquid or frozen eggs, carton sizes, package labeling and coding, and price relationships of shell eggs, liquid, and frozen egg products displayed for sale. The total variety of shell eggs displayed per store was the greatest for CA and NE stores. Stores in CA and TX offered more (P < 0.05) variety of white shell eggs than did stores in the other states, whereas stores in NE displayed the greatest variety (P < 0.05) of brown shell eggs. The average number of liquid and frozen egg products was highest (P < 0.05) for NC stores. Packaging type, USDA labeling, and carton coding differed somewhat among states. The price per one dozen cartons of all white shell egg sizes was highest (P < 0.05) in CA stores, and the average liquid plus frozen egg product prices were higher in CA and NE stores compared to the other states. However, the ratio of liquid and frozen product prices to all large shell egg prices was among the lowest for CA and NC stores. These data indicate that product selection, packaging, and consumer prices for shell eggs and egg products varied considerably across five separate regions of the country.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Lipid oxidation in frozen, mechanically deboned turkey meat as affected by packaging parameters and storage conditions.

Mechanically deboned turkey meat (MDTM) was stored in different packaging materials (film produced with natural antioxidant (alpha-tocopherol) or synthetic antioxidant) at -20 degrees C for 12 mo in a vacuum, modified atmosphere, or air. One-half of the samples were thawed at 4 degrees C for 24 h after 1 mo of storage and then refrozen. Oxidative rancidity was evaluated during storage by measuring the development of 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and hexanal, a volatile oxidation product. Vacuum- and modified atmosphere-packaged samples had lower TBARS values and hexanal content than air-packaged samples with corresponding treatments. Hexanal content and TBARS values increased with storage time, and the highest levels were obtained after 6 mo of storage. The largest increase was obtained with presence of oxygen. Mechanically deboned turkey meat stored in packages where a natural antioxidant (alpha-tocopherol) was used in production of one of the PE layers, had, in almost every instance, the lowest TBARS values and hexanal content when stored in vacuum or modified atmosphere. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Neither TBARS values nor hexanal content showed dependency of the temperature profile (frozen or frozen/thawed/refrozen) during storage.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed2005

Effect of Lactobacillus-protective cultures with bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances' producing ability on microbiological, chemical and sensory changes during storage of refrigerated vacuum-packaged sliced beef.

AIMS: To investigate the effect of applying two different Lactobacillus-protective cultures, with bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances' (BLIS) producing ability, individually or in combination, on microbiological, chemical and sensory changes during storage of refrigerated vacuum-packaged sliced beef meat. METHODS AND RESULTS: Lactobacillus sakei CECT 4808 and Lactobacillus curvatus CECT 904(T), which were shown to be producers of BLIS, were inoculated individually or in combination on slices of beef M. semitendinosus. The samples were vacuum packaged and stored at 4 +/- 1 degrees C and were assessed during a 28-day storage period for microbiological [Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Brochothrix thermosphacta and yeasts and moulds], chemical (pH, protein hydrolysis degree, lipid oxidation), sensory (abnormal odour) parameters and instrumental colour. Samples inoculated with the Lact. sakei strain and samples inoculated with the combination of the two strains had significantly (P < 0.05) lower spoilage microbial counts than those inoculated with the Lact. curvatus strain alone or the controls, while both chemical parameters (including lipid oxidation) and abnormal odour scores were also significantly (P < 0.05) improved by the former. Moreover, Lact. sakei alone showed a better preserving effect (P < 0.05) than the combination of both strains in the majority of the parameters tested. Instrumental colour measurements changed with storage time, but no treatment effects (P >or= 0.05) were observed during the whole 28-day storage period. CONCLUSIONS: The BLIS producer Lact. sakei CECT 4808 strain may be used for improving preservation of vacuum-packaged beef slices, as regards spoilage microbial counts and the chemical parameters tested in this study. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Inoculation with the BLIS producer Lact. sakei CECT 4808 strain would provide an additional hurdle to improve storage life of refrigerated vacuum-packaged sliced beef. Furthermore, this strain demonstrated limited antioxidative ability, which could make a contribution to the prevention of lipid oxidation in meat and meat products.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Changes in the spoilage-related microbiota of beef during refrigerated storage under different packaging conditions.

The microbial spoilage of beef was monitored during storage at 5 degrees C under three different conditions of modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP): (i) air (MAP1), (ii) 60% O2 and 40% CO2 (MAP2), and (iii) 20% O2 and 40% CO2 (MAP3). Pseudomonas, Enterobacteriaceae, Brochothrix thermosphacta, and lactic acid bacteria were monitored by viable counts and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis during 14 days of storage. Moreover, headspace gas composition, weight loss, and beef color change were also determined at each sampling time. Overall, MAP2 was shown to have the best protective effect, keeping the microbial loads and color change to acceptable levels in the first 7 days of refrigerated storage. The microbial colonies from the plate counts of each microbial group were identified by PCR-DGGE of the variable V6-V8 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Thirteen different genera and at least 17 different species were identified after sequencing of DGGE fragments that showed a wide diversity of spoilage-related bacteria taking turns during beef storage in the function of the packaging conditions. The countable species for each spoilage-related microbial group were different according to packaging conditions and times of storage. In fact, the DGGE profiles displayed significant changes during time and depending on the initial atmosphere used. The spoilage occurred between 7 and 14 days of storage, and the microbial species found in the spoiled meat varied according to the packaging conditions. Rahnella aquatilis, Rahnella spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Carnobacterium divergens were identified as acting during beef storage in air (MAP1). Pseudomonas spp. and Lactobacillus sakei were found in beef stored under MAP conditions with high oxygen content (MAP2), while Rahnella spp. and L. sakei were the main species found during storage using MAP3. The identification of the spoilage-related microbiota by molecular methods can help in the effective establishment of storage conditions for fresh meat.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Applicability of an Arrhenius model for the combined effect of temperature and CO(2) packaging on the spoilage microflora of fish.

The temperature behavior of the natural microflora on the Mediterranean fish red mullet (Mullus barbatus) was examined as a case study. The growth of the spoilage bacteria Pseudomonas spp., Shewanella putrefaciens, Brochothrix thermosphacta, and lactic acid bacteria was modeled as a function of temperature and the concentration of carbon dioxide in modified atmosphere packaging. Combined models were developed and comparatively assessed based on polynomial, Belehradek, and Arrhenius equations. The activation energy parameter of the Arrhenius model, E(A), was independent of the packaging atmosphere and ranged from 75 to 85 kJ/mol for the different bacteria, whereas the preexponential constant decreased exponentially with the packaging CO(2) concentration. We evaluated the applicability of the models developed by using experimental bacterial growth rates obtained from 42 independent experiments performed with three Mediterranean fish species and growth rates predicted from the models under the same temperature and packaging conditions. The accuracy factor and bias factor were used as statistical tools for evaluation, and the developed Arrhenius model and the Belehradek model were judged satisfactory overall.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A new rate index for environmental monitoring of combined reuse/recycle packaging systems.

It is shown that the conventional recycling rate fails to reflect environmental performance for packaging flows with both recycle and reuse. The reuse rate, the total number of reuse trips and the reuse- lifetime are also shown to be inadequate. A new rate index defined in terms of the total amount of packaging material reaching the consumer is proposed. It reflects immediate improvements in environmental impact according to specific criteria and it reduces to the conventional rate for systems with only recycle. Albeit this shortcut environmental assessment is not entirely comprehensive and does not unveil a full sustainability profile, it may be useful for immediate packaging flow evaluation and policy implementation. For given packaging production technology it reveals a specific maximum level on recycling, below which environmental impacts from processing are limited or reduced, even if production level grows. Cleaner technologies in reprocessing of recycled materials may elevate this maximum level while still limiting or reducing environmental impacts.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1987

Accidental poisoning in childhood: a multicentre survey. 2. The role of packaging in accidents involving medications.

To assess the effectiveness of child-resistant closures (CRCs) and unit dose packaging in preventing childhood poisoning with medications, a survey by 14 hospitals of accidental suspected poisoning in children under 5-years-old, was compared with a survey of a representative sample of households with children under 5 living in the catchment areas of the hospitals. Nine hundred and thirty-eight medications thought to have been ingested by 877 children were compared with 5827 medications found in households with children. The relationship between availability of packs or medications in the home and their involvement in accidents was quantified by means of an Accident Association Index (AAI). A low AAI indicated that the involvement of a pack or medication was less than expected from availability and therefore safe. A high AAI indicated that involvement was greater than expected and therefore unsafe. Medications involved in suspected poisoning were most frequently packed in containers without CRCs (63%) or transparent blisters (20%); both had high AAIs. CRCs, strips, sachets and opaque blisters had low AAIs. Analgesics, expectorants and gastrointestinal medications, had low AAIs, while oral contraceptives, hypnotics, sedative/tranquillizers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anti-emetics, and anti-infectives had high AAIs. Prescription medications were more frequently involved in accidents than over-the-counter (OTC) medications and had a higher AAI. Comparison of the AAIs of different kinds of medication in each of their various pack types showed that safe packaging reduced the risk from medications which had a high average AAI. Only 40% of medications were in their normal storage place at the time of the accident. Medicine and bathroom cabinets, and kitchen cupboards and drawers were the safest places to store medications. Handbags, fridges, and shelves or ledges in the bathroom were the most unsafe places. No pack had a low AAI when stored on open shelves indicating that safe packaging cannot compensate for unsafe storage. Other factors which influenced the involvement of medications in accidents were the intended user and the duration of storage. The results of the study have important implications for design of packaging for medications and for education of the public.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed2006

Adherence of community caretakers of children to pre-packaged antimalarial medicines (HOMAPAK) among internally displaced people in Gulu district, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: In 2002, home-based management of fever (HBMF) was introduced in Uganda, to improve access to prompt, effective antimalarial treatment of all fevers in children under 5 years. Implementation is through community drug distributors (CDDs) who distribute pre-packaged chloroquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (HOMAPAK) free of charge to caretakers of febrile children. Adherence of caretakers to this regimen has not been studied. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey combined with inspection of blister packaging was conducted to investigate caretakers' adherence to HOMAPAK. The population surveyed consisted of internally displaced people (IDPs) from eight camps. RESULTS: A total of 241 caretakers were interviewed. 95.0% (CI: 93.3% - 98.4%) of their children had received the correct dose for their age and 52.3% of caretakers had retained the blister pack. Assuming correct self-reporting, the overall adherence was 96.3% (CI: 93.9% - 98.7%). The nine caretakers who had not adhered had done so because the child had improved, had vomited, did not like the taste of the tablets, or because they forgot to administer the treatment. For 85.5% of cases treatment had been sought within 24 hours. Blister packaging was considered useful by virtually all respondents, mainly because it kept the drugs clean and dry. Information provided on, and inside, the package was of limited use, because most respondents were illiterate. However, CDDs had often told caretakers how to administer the treatment. For 39.4% of respondents consultation with the CDD was their reported first action when their child has fever and 52.7% stated that they consult her/him if the child does not get better. CONCLUSION: In IDP camps, the HBMF strategy forms an important component of medical care for young children. In case of febrile illness, most caretakers obtain prompt and adequate antimalarial treatment, and adhere to it. A large proportion of malaria episodes are thus likely to be treated before complications can arise. Implementation in the IDP camps now needs to focus on improving monitoring, supervision and general support to CDDs, as well as on targeting them and caretakers with educational messages. The national treatment policy for uncomplicated malaria has recently been changed to artemether-lumefantrine. Discussions on a suitable replacement combination for HBMF are well advanced, and have raised new questions about adherence.

Adult↗