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Low molecular weight components of polymers used in packaging.

The increasing use of polymers in packaging of foods and drugs focuses attention on the possible chronic toxicity relations of migrants from these polymers to the contents. Such migrants can arise from residues and additives in the polymers from manufacturing processes used in fabrication of packages. The origin and chemical nature of potential migrants, the methods of transfer, and principles involved in development of safety criteria for their regulation are discussed.

Carcinogens↗

Quantitative food frequency questionnaire and assessment of dietary intake.

India is a land of varied foods and food habits. This makes the task of collecting dietary and nutrient intake data difficult. Methods need to be devised to improve the accuracy in reporting intakes by various population subgroups. There is an urgent need to develop a questionnaire that is simple enough to be administered on a large sample and whose validity and reproducibility has been quantified. Regional differences in food habits and availability will have to be taken into account in the questionnaire design. Packaging of food items with definite portion sizes is not a common practice in Indian markets and labels on food products are neither very informative nor descriptive. Epidemiologists addressing the effects of diet have generally used questionnaires that inquire about the frequency of specified foods consumed and sometimes also attempt to quantify usual portion sizes. A number of investigators have conveyed, apparently independently, that the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) as a method of dietary assessment is best suited for most epidemiological applications. A food frequency list can form the basis for nutrition education and allows the dietician and the patient to relate individual eating patterns to specific foods. Other advantages of the FFQ are that it is independent of the ability or inclination of an individual to maintain a diary and also provides immediate feedback to patients, physicians and counsellors.

Diet↗

Stability of ascorbic acid in commercially available orange juices.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the vitamin C content of reconstituted frozen orange juice concentrates at preparation to that of ready-to-drink orange juices purchased 4 to 5 weeks from expiration. DESIGN: Juices were unsealed and analyzed for reduced and oxidized vitamin C content at the time of purchase and reanalyzed 3 times weekly for 4 to 5 weeks. Same-lot samples of the ready-to-drink juices remained sealed after purchase and were opened for analyses at 3, 2, 1, or 0 weeks before expiration. SAMPLES/SETTING: Orange juices were reconstituted frozen concentrates, ready-to-drink juice packaged in resealable, screw-top containers, or ready-to-drink juice packaged in nonresealable containers. Juices were obtained from local retailers and stored at 4 degrees C in their original containers when appropriate. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: The reduced vitamin C content of juices analyzed repeatedly, 3 times weekly for 4 weeks, were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance. Linear regression lines were computed for reduced vitamin C in each juice over time, and differences between slopes were analyzed by oneway analysis of variance. RESULTS: The orange juices from frozen concentrates contained 86 mg reduced vitamin C per fluid cup at initial preparation and 39 to 46 mg/c after 4 weeks of storage. Ready-to-drink juices averaged significantly lower reduced vitamin C: 27 to 65 mg/c at opening and 0 to 25 mg/c at expiration 4 weeks later. Ready-to-drink orange juices had twofold to threefold higher concentrations of oxidized vitamin C vs the orange juices reconstituted from frozen, and the decomposition rate of reduced vitamin C was similar for all juices, about 2% per day once opened. APPLICATIONS: Ready-to-drink orange juices should be purchased 3 to 4 weeks before expiration date and consumed within 1 week of opening.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Food and Drug Administration--Prescription drug products; patient package inserts requirements. Final rule.

The Food and Drug Administration [FDA] adopts final regulations establishing requirements and procedures for the preparation and distribution of patient package inserts for prescription drugs for human use. The package inserts will inform the patient about the drug product. This action is intended to promote the safe and effective use of prescription drug products by patients and to ensure that patients have the opportunity to be informed of the benefits and risks involved in the use of prescription drug products. The agency intends to apply the regulations to 10 drugs or drug classes during an initial implementation program. Further evaluation of the costs and benefits of the program will guide the agency in deciding whether to extend, revise, or defer these requirements.

Drug Labeling↗

Streptococcus parauberis associated with modified atmosphere packaged broiler meat products and air samples from a poultry meat processing plant.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from marinated or non-marinated, modified atmosphere packaged (MAP) broiler leg products and air samples of a large-scale broiler meat processing plant were identified and analyzed for their phenotypic properties. Previously, these strains had been found to be coccal LAB. However, the use of a 16 and 23S rRNA gene RFLP database had not resulted in species identification because none of the typically meat-associated LAB type strains had clustered together with these strains in the numerical analysis of the RFLP patterns. To establish the taxonomic position of these isolates, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, numerical analysis of ribopatterns, and DNA-DNA hybridization experiments were done. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of three isolates possessed the highest similarities (over 99%) with the sequence of S. parauberis type strain. However, in the numerical analysis of HindIII ribopatterns, the type strain did not cluster together with these isolates. Reassociation values between S. parauberis type or reference strain and the strains studied varied from 82 to 97%, confirming that these strains belong to S. parauberis. Unexpectedly, most of the broiler meat-originating strains studied for their phenotypical properties did not utilize lactose at all and the same strains fermented also galactose very weakly, properties considered atypical for S. parauberis. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of lactose negative S. parauberis strains and also the first report associating S. parauberis with broiler slaughter and meat products.

Air Microbiology↗

Survival and recovery of Listeria monocytogenes on ready-to-eat meats inoculated with a desiccated and nutritionally depleted dustlike vector.

Dust from construction was theorized to serve as a vector for L. monocytogenes transmission to ready-to-eat (RTE) meats after heat processing but before packaging. A five-strain Listeria monocytogenes culture including serotype 4b was continually stressed on a sand vector under four sets of nutritionally depleted and dry conditions to simulate postprocessing contamination by dustlike particulates. The stresses included that associated with sand stored at different temperatures (10 and 22 degrees C) and levels of humidity (40% relative humidity [RH], 88% RH, or complete desiccation). Irradiated RTE meats, including frankfurters, bologna, chopped ham, and deli-style roast beef, were inoculated with the L. monocytogenes-contaminated sand every 2 to 3 days over a period of 1 1/2 months. After inoculation, the RTE meats were vacuum packed and stored at 4 degrees C for 24 h. Populations of L. monocytogenes were enumerated by surface plating on nonselective and selective media to recover cells on the basis of the different stresses presented (osmotic or antibiotic). L. monocytogenes was demonstrated to be capable of surviving on the sand vector for > 151 days at 10 degrees C and 88% RH, 136 days at 10 degrees C and 0% RH, 73 days at 22 degrees C and 40% RH, and 82 days at 22 degrees C and 0% RH. These results show that under the most conservative scenario, the 73-day-old L. monocytogenes-contaminated sand was able to attach to and be recovered from the RTE meats. This study illustrated that dust contaminated with L. monocytogenes, once in contact with meat surfaces, can survive and grow, posing a health hazard to consumers.

Animals↗

What are the key food groups to target for preventing obesity and improving nutrition in schools?

OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in the contribution of foods and beverages to energy consumed in and out of school, and to compare consumption patterns between school canteen users and noncanteen users. DESIGN: Cross-sectional National Nutrition Survey, 1995. SETTING: Australia. SUBJECTS ON SCHOOL DAYS: A total of 1656 children aged 5-15 y who had weekday 24-h dietary recall data. RESULTS: An average of 37% of total energy intake was consumed at school. Energy-dense foods and beverages such as fat spreads, packaged snacks, biscuits and fruit/cordial drinks made a greater contribution to energy intake at school compared to out of school (P< or =0.01). Fast foods and soft drinks contributed 11 and 3% of total energy intake; however, these food groups were mostly consumed out of school. Fruit intake was low and consumption was greater in school. In all, 14% of children purchased food from the canteen and they obtained more energy from fast food, packaged snacks, desserts, milk and confectionary (P< or =0.05) than noncanteen users. CONCLUSIONS: : Energy-dense foods and beverages are over-represented in the Australian school environment. To help prevent obesity and improve nutrition in schools, biscuits, snack bars and fruit/cordial drinks brought from home and fast food, packaged snacks, and confectionary sold at canteens should be replaced with fruit and water.

Adolescent↗

Preparation and mechanical properties of edible pectin-soy flour films obtained in the absence or presence of transglutaminase.

Whole soy flour and apple pectin were used as raw materials for producing hydrocolloid edible films. The best ratio between the two components (2:1 mg cm(-2), pectin-soy flour) was determined in order to obtain films which could be perfectly handled for their consistence. Films were also prepared in the presence of transglutaminase, an enzyme able to produce isopeptide bonds among the soy polypeptide chains. The latter films showed a smoother surface and higher homogeneity, as demonstrated by microstructural analyses, whereas studies on the mechanical properties indicated that transglutaminase increased their strength and reduced their flexibility. Our results suggest a possible use of the transglutaminase polymerized pectin-soy protein films as edible food or drug coatings.

Biocompatible Materials↗

[Assessment of the probability of encountering staphylococcal enterotoxins in lactic acid cheese packaged in laminates].

Immunoassay methods were used to identify the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxins in lactic acid cheese vacuum and non-vacuum packed. There was assessed the probability of encountering staphylococcal enterotoxin in cheese dependent on different systems of packaging, count of staphylococcal cells, intensiveness of coagulase synthesis and tightness of packaging. The presence of enterotoxin was identified in 5% of researched samples of products stored for 14 days. The influence of packaging system and tightness on presence of enterotoxin was observed. The probability of presence of staphylococcal and enterotoxin in relation to researched factors was presented by the mathematical models.

Animals↗

Occurrence of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in foods packed in glass jars.

After simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) of commercial baby foods (n = 20) and fruit juices (n = 15) (among them 15 and eight products labelled 'organic', respectively) from 11 different suppliers, analyses performed by coupled capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA), a known teratogenic compound. 2-EHA was found in 80 and 73% of the baby foods and fruit juices, respectively. Amounts ranged from 0.25 to 3.2 mg kg(-1)(average, 0.55 mg kg(-1)) and from 0.01 to 0.59 mg l(-1) (average, 0.18 mg l(-1)) in baby foods and fruit juices, respectively. GC-MS analysis of the SDE extracts obtained from the plastic gaskets inside the metal lids of the samples under study revealed the gaskets to be the origin of 2-EHA. As shown from the non-contaminated samples under study, obviously technology is available to avoid 2-EHA contamination of glass jar-packed food.

Beverages↗

Influence of trace metals, acids and ethanol in food-simulating liquids on the retention of alpha-tocopherol in low-density polyethylene film.

The retention of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film was investigated when in contact with different food-simulating liquids. Variations of the aqueous food simulants approved by the EU for testing of interactions between packaging materials and food, and an alternative fatty food simulant (95% aqueous ethanol) were used to study the influence of trace metals and acids, as well as variation in pH and ethanol concentration, on the stability of alpha-tocopherol in the LDPE film. The presence of trace metals in aqueous media accelerated loss of alpha-tocopherol from the film, while the addition of citric or ascorbic acid counteracted this loss. In contact with aqueous ethanol at a concentration of 50% or higher, the loss of alpha-tocopherol from the film was total. However, with solutions containing less than 50% ethanol, the antioxidant was almost completely retained in the film, unless the temperature was increased from 6 to 40 degrees C. For contact with solutions containing ethanol or trace metals, an increase in temperature resulted in a greater loss of alpha-tocopherol from the LDPE film.

Acids↗

Phosphite additives and their transformation products in polyethylene packaging for gamma-irradiation.

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy has been used to identify and quantify the phosphite antioxidant, tris(2,4-di-tert.butylphenyl) phosphite, and its corresponding phosphate in high density polyethylene (HDPE) food trays, both in the original, commercial trays and also as a function of gamma-irradiation and post-irradiation, storage conditions. This direct method of inhibitor analysis complements time-consuming (some times non-quantitative) extraction methods, which for organo-phosphites are complicated by their facile conversion to phosphates by peroxidic impurities in the solvent. Because of the complete destruction of phosphite to give mainly phosphate at quite low gamma-irradiation doses (approximately 5 kGy) and phosphate formation during melt processing and radiation sterilization of these HDPE trays must take into account products from the irradiation of phosphate. Any residual phosphite is lost progressively in post-irradiation reactions, which are complex, producing a less than-quantitative yield of phosphate.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Gas chromatographic determination of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in vinyl chloride polymers and in foods.

A gas chromatographic method is described for the quantification of levels of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in vinyl chloride polymer resins and in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) bottles used in the packaging of foods. By application of electron-capture detection the method can be extended to foods which have been stored in PVC bottles and 1,1,1-trichloroethane can be estimated with a limit of detection in the foodstuff of between 0.002 and 0.01 ppm depending on the food. The results of a small survey of the amounts of this compound in PVC bottles and foodstuffs purchased from retail outlets are reported.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Color stability of semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris steaks packaged in a high-oxygen modified atmosphere.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate visual and chemical attributes of beefsteaks from various USDA quality grades and muscles packaged in high-oxygen (80% O2/20% CO2) modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP). A total of nine carcasses were selected to represent Select (n = 3), low Choice (n = 3), and high Choice (n = 3) USDA quality grades. The semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST), and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were removed from each carcass and allotted to two packaging types (MAP or polyvinyl chloride over-wrap) and were displayed for up to 10 d, with evaluation on d 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10. Fifty-four steaks were evaluated on each day by a five-member trained panel for visual color (lean color and discoloration) and were also analyzed with a Minolta Chroma Meter CR-310 for L* and a* values (lightness and redness, respectively). Chemical properties measured included percentage of metmyoglobin formation and fat content. Visual color scores did not differ (P > 0.05) at d 1 and 3 with respect to all quality grades, but decreased after d 3, with a greater reduction (P < 0.05) in high Choice steaks for both lean color and discoloration. The low Choice steaks packaged in MAP displayedhigher (P < 0.05) lean color scores and less (P < 0.05) discoloration at d 7 and 10 than did Select and high Choice steaks. Redness (a*) values also decreased (P < 0.05) after d 3, whereas (lightness) L* values declined (P < 0.05) from d 1 to 5. The high Choice steaks had higher (P < 0.05) metmyoglobin content than low Choice and Select steaks, but packaging had no effect (P > 0.05) on metmyoglobin content. Muscle type did affect metmyoglobin content; however, the metmyoglobin content of the SM was greatest (P < 0.05), followed by the BF, with the ST having the lowest (P < 0.05) metmyoglobin formation. Results indicate that low Choice steaks react the best in MAP, and the ST maintained greater storage characteristics regardless of quality grade or packaging.

Animals↗

Survey of lead and cadmium in adult canned foods eaten by young children.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration survey of lead and cadmium in 10 adult canned foods commonly eaten by children less than 5 years old was conducted between October 1981 and September 1985. The survey, which included foods preserved by a commercial canning process and packaged in metal containers, found the highest mean levels of lead (0.32 micrograms/g) in tuna and of cadmium (0.02 micrograms/g) in tuna and tomatoes. Lead levels in foods packaged in lead-soldered cans were about 5 times as high as those in foods packaged in nonlead-soldered cans. Mean lead levels appeared to decline over the 4 years of the study. Cadmium levels were usually below the data reporting limit (0.01 micrograms/g).

Adult↗