Market survey of Caryophylli Flos specifications / 中国中药杂志

The present study aimed to regulate the market circulation of Caryophylli Flos and formulate standards for commodity specifications and grades of Caryophylli Flos. Market survey was carried out in four major medicinal material markets with 48 samples of Caryophylli Flos collected. The property, 100-seed weight, impurity percentage, moisture, and eugenol content in Caryophylli Flos of different specifications from different producing areas were determined and analyzed. The results showed that 27.1% of the samples surveyed on the markets did not meet the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition). The 100-seed weight and the property are important factors for the classification of Caryophylli Flos specifications. There were significant differences in the property, 100-seed weight, impurity percentage, and eugenol content in Caryophylli Flos samples of different specifications from different producing areas, and also differences in the proportions of different specifications in Caryophylli Flos samples from different producing areas. The African-originated Xiaohong(medium grade) and Guangxi-originated Xiaohong(medium grade) accounted for 70% and 66.7% respectively, the Indonesian-originated Dahong(top grade) for 56.2%. In conclusion, there are many problems in the circulation of Caryophylli Flos at present, mainly including the loss of origin information, no standards for specifications, non-implementation of grade standards, excessive impurities, and no evidence for authenticity identification. According to the classification of Caryophylli Flos specifications in this study, the average eugenol content of Xiaohong is significantly higher than the Dahong by 4.74%.

Detección de gluten en alimentos etiquetados como libres de gluten disponibles en el mercado costarricense / Gluten detection in foods labeled as gluten-free available in the Costa Rican marke

La presencia de gluten en alimentos etiquetados como libres de gluten (LG) representa una preocupación para la salud de pacientes celíacos, y personas intolerantes y sensibles a este conjunto de proteínas. Sin embargo, esto no ha sido estudiado aún en países centroamericanos. Por tanto, se investigó la presencia de gluten en alimentos etiquetados LG, manufacturados en Costa Rica y disponibles en el mercado entre los años 2016 y 2017 para determinar así el cumplimiento de las regulaciones nacionales e internacionales. Se ha estipulado que dichos alimentos deben contener <20 ppm de gluten. Un total de 173 productos fueron analizados por inmunoensayo (tres muestras por producto; cada una de un lote diferente) utilizando el kit ELISA RIDASCREEN®. 60 marcas de productos, de 32 compañías diferentes, fueron evaluadas identificando 15 categorías de alimentos LG: productos horneados, premezclas y harinas, snacks, granos y cereales, salsas, productos cárnicos, productos de origen marino, bebidas, productos lácteos, pastas, chocolates, aceites, tortillas y arepas, jaleas y mermeladas y otros. Una muestra de uno de los productos analizados presentó >20 ppm de gluten. No obstante, al menos una muestra de 49 productos diferentes (28% de los productos analizados) presentó una concentración cuantificable de gluten (>5 ppm) evidenciando una alta variabilidad en los resultados. Esta investigación evidencia el fuerte compromiso de la industria alimentaria costarricense para cumplir la norma que regula la producción de alimentos LG durante el período de estudio, aunque se alerta acerca de la necesidad de implementar mejoras en los sistemas de producción y vigilancia de estos alimentos(AU)

The presence of gluten in gluten free (GF) labelled foods represents a serious health concern to celiac patients and persons intolerant or sensitive to this set of proteins. However, this has not yet been studied in Central American countries. Therefore, the presence of gluten in foods labeled LG, manufactured in Costa Rica and available in the market, between 2016 and 2017, was investigated to determine compliance with national and international regulations. It has been stipulated that such foods must contain <20 ppm of gluten. A total of 173 products were analyzed by immunoassay (three samples per product; each from an independent batch), using the ELISA RIDASCREEN® kit. 60 product brands, from 32 different companies, were evaluated and 15 GF food categories were identified: baked products, baking mixes and flours, snacks, grains and cereals, sauces, meat products, seafood, beverages, dairy products, pasta, chocolates, oils, tortillas and arepas, jams and jellies, and others. Only one sample from one of the tested products presented >20 ppm of gluten. However, at least one sample of 49 different products (28% of products tested) presented a quantifiable concentration of gluten (>5 ppm), showing a high variability of results. This research evidences the strong commitment of the Costa Rican food industry to comply with the norm that regulates the production of LG foods during the study period, even though it warns about the need to implement improvements in the production and surveillance systems of these foods(AU)

Zoological origin survey of commercial hippocampus in Chinese herbal markets by morphological and DNA sequencing identification / 中国中药杂志

Hippocampus is a precious animal medicine in Chinese herbal medicines. Numerous seahorse species possessing similar morphology were used as commercial hippocampus in herbal markets. Clarifing the zoological of commercial hippocampus in herbal markets is a crucial issue, which contributed to establish authentication and quality control standard. This study investigated 1 156 dried seahorse samples collected from eight main herbal markets using CO Ⅰ fragment DNA sequencing coupling with morphological identification. The results showed that 23 seahorse species were present in the China TCM market. Among them, five species were officially listed in China Pharmacopoeia, seven species namely winged seahorse (Hippocampus alatus), giraffe seahorse (H. camelopardalis), knysna seahorse (H. capensis), beibuwan seahorse (H. casscsio), half-spiny seahorse (H. semispinosus), Europe seahorse (H. hippocampus), zebra seahorse (H. zebra) were found in herbal markets for the first time. The present DNA sequences analysis coupling with morphological identification method could also use to survey the species origin of other Chinese herbal medicines in herbal markets.

Tendência do perfil dos consumidores de azeite de oliva / Tendency of the olive oil consumers profile

O presente estudo avaliou a tendência do perfil de 167 consumidores de azeite de oliva por meio de uma pesquisa de mercado, realizada em abril de 2013 em supermercados de Muriaé (MG), Brasil. Foi conduzida uma pesquisa descritiva, quantitativa por meio de questionário estruturado em que visava investigar os seguintes parâmetros: sexo, idade, escolaridade, renda familiar, história pessoal de doenças crônicas(hipertensão arterial, diabetes mellitus, dislipidemias, entre outras), bem como o tipo, a marca e a quantidade de azeite consumida e a motivação para o seu consumo. Dos 171 entrevistados, 167 (98 %) relataram o consumo deste produto. Ao traçar o perfil dos consumidores foi verificado que a maioria (61 %) era do sexo feminino, com idade entre 21 e 40 anos, com renda de 1 a 3 salários mínimos, nível médio de escolaridade,ausência de histórico de doenças crônicas, consumo diário de 7,89 mL de azeite puro e 3,54 mL do composto e tendo a motivação “gostar de azeite” para o consumo. Com base nos resultados obtidos, se faz importante direcionar estratégias para estimular o aumento e adequação do consumo de azeite, considerando que este produto pode contribuir na prevenção e/ou redução de doenças crônicas.

The present study evaluated the tendency of the profile of 167 olive oil consumers by means of a marketsurvey, which was carried out at supermarkets of Muriaé – MG, Brazil, in April 2013. A descriptiveand quantitative survey was performed using a structured questionnaire. In this context, the followingparameters were investigated: sex, age, education, household income, personal history of chronic diseases(hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemias, among others); type, brand and quantity of olive oil consumedand motivation for consumption. Fom among 171 consumers, 167 (98 %) reported that they consume theproduct. In outlining the consumer profile, the majority was female (61 %), aged between 21 and 40 years,income between one and three minimum wages, secondary education, no history of chronic diseases,daily consumption of 7.89 mL of pure olive oil and 3.54 mL of olive oil/soybean oil blend, and “appreciatesolive oil” was the motivation for consumption. Based on the obtained data, it is important to establish thestrategies to stimulate the increase and the adequacy in consuming olive oil, considering the attributes ofthis product for preventing and/or reducing the chronic diseases.

Comportamento de compra dos consumidores de frutas, legumes e verduras na região central do Rio Grande do Sul / Purchase behaviour of fruit and vegetable consumers in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul

O objetivo deste artigo é identificar as preferências dos consumidores de frutas, legumes e verduras (FLV) em termos de estabelecimentos de varejo por eles escolhidos, hábitos de consumo e principais critérios considerados em suas decisões de compra. Do ponto de vista metodológico, a pesquisa conduzida trata-se de um survey (levantamento), realizado em 11 municípios da região central do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram entrevistados 266 consumidores acima de 18 anos, que compuseram uma amostra sistemática e estratificada por região, sexo, idade e renda. Concluiu-se que a maioria dos consumidores adquire os produtos em supermercados ou hipermercados, sendo que a freqüência de compra de maior incidência identificada foi entre duas e três vezes por semana. Para a escolha do estabelecimento a ser utilizado, os consumidores levam em conta, preferencialmente, qualidade, variedade de produto e a agilidade no check-out. Este resultado indica a importância primordial de dois aspectos quando da escolha de FLV, do ponto de vista dos consumidores: qualidade de produto e tempo dedicado para a compra. Da mesma forma, os dados indicam que, dos cinco principais aspectos considerados pelos consumidores para a escolha de FLV, quatro referem-se à qualidade (aparência, sabor, aspectos nutricionais e durabilidade), aparecendo o preço apenas em terceiro lugar. Por fim, a pesquisa identificou três grupos de produtos segundo a regularidade de consumo, dos quais o conjunto de produtos consumidos de forma mais regular é composto por: cebola, laranja, tempero verde, tomate, alho e alface.

This article is aimed at identifying the preferences of fruit and vegetable (FLV) consumers concerning the place of purchase, eating habits and main criteria used during purchase. The study was carried out through a survey made in 11 counties in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. Two hundred sixty six consumers aged over 18 years-old were interviewed and constituted a systematic sampling stratified according to region, sex, age and income. It was concluded that most of the consumers acquire these products in supermarkets, about two or three times a week, in most cases. When choosing the place of purchasing the consumers consider, mainly, quality, variety and speed at the check-out. This result indicates that there are two main aspects when choosing FLV, from the consumers’ point-of-view: quality of the product and time dedicated in making the purchase. In the same way, the data indicates that out of the five main aspects considered by the consumers when choosing FLV, four refer to the quality (appearance, flavour, nutritional aspects and durability), being that the price appears only in third place. Finally, this study identified three groups of products according to purchase frequency, out of which, the group with the highest frequency is composed by: onions, oranges, parsley, tomatoes, garlic and lettuce.