Adequacy of human milk viscosity to respond to infants with dysphagia: experimental study

Neonatal nutrition is an important subject in health in the short, medium and long term. In preterm newborns, nutrition assumes a predominant role for the child's overall development. Babies with uncoordinated swallowing or respiration may not have the necessary oral abilities to suck the mother's breast and will need to implement different feeding practices; one of them is changing the consistency of the milk offered. Objectives: Determine viscosity variations of untreated human and pasteurized milk without and with thickening to adapt the diet to the needs of dysphagic infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Cara Unit (NICU). Material and Methods: The authors altered the viscosity of natural infant powdered milk and, after thickening, determined and adopted a thickening standard for human milk. Untreated human and pasteurized milk was thickened in concentrations of 2 percent, 3 percent, 5 percent and 7 percent and the viscosity were determined every 20 minutes for a period of 60 minutes at a temperature of 37ºC. Results: The infant lactose formula thickened at concentrations of 2 percent and 3 percent produced viscosities of 8.97cP and 27.73 cP, respectively. The increases were significantly different after 1 hour. Inversely, untreated human milk at 2 percent, 3 percent, 5 percent and 7 percent produced diminished viscosity over time; the changes were more accentuated in the first 20 minutes. In pasteurized human milk, the 2 percent concentration had no variation in viscosity, but with the 3 percent, 5 percent and 7 percent concentrations, there was a significant decrease in the first 20 minutes with stability observed in the subsequent times. Conclusion: In powdered milk, the viscosity increases over time; the viscosity in human milk diminishes. The results point out the importance not only of considering the concentration of the thickener but also the time being administered after its addition to effectively treat dysphagic infants.

Aspectos legais do uso de aditivos químicos em alimentos / Legal aspects of the use of chemical additives in food

Os produtos industrializados ocupam uma parcela cada vez maior do mercado de alimentos haja vista, principalmente, a mudança dos hábitos alimentares nos últimos anos. Sem o uso de aditivos químicos, a variedade destes alimentos disponíveis e seu tempo de vida em manter-se em condições de consumo seriam muito reduzidos. Contudo, o uso de aditivos é um tema controverso, com alegações de que estes são tóxicos e que podem desencadear reações adversas nos consumidores. Entretanto, todos os aditivos permitidos no Brasil são considerados seguros, de acordo com as normas da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária se utilizados nas quantidades estabelecidas pela mesma. Não obstante ao cumprimento das recomendações da legislação, ressalta-se que a indústria de alimentos deve estar sempre atenta ás constantes investigações e descobertas nesta área, de forma a fornecer ao mercado alimentos sempre seguros. Este trabalho teve o intuito de abordar os aspectos legais vigentes no Brasil quanto á regulamentação do uso de aditivos químicos em alimentos.

Qualidade físico-química de corned beef produzido por um estabelecimento situado em Barretos, SP / Phisical-chemical quality of corned beef produced in an establishment in Barretos, SP

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade do corned beef comercializado no Brasil e exportado para outros países. O teorde proteínas, a umidade e a relação entre estes parâmetros e o teor de nitrito residual foram analisados usando-se técnicasoficiais. Cinqüenta e duas amostras provenientes de um estabelecimento aprovado para comércio local e internacional,situado em Barretos, estado de São Paulo, foram estudadas. O teor de proteínas variou de 23,75 a 29,35 por cento (26,49±1,11) e aumidade de 52,31 a 59,98 por cento (56,70±1,48) atendendo às exigências tecnológicas para produtos cárneos industrializados. Oteor de nitrito residual variou de 0,88 a 8,74 ppm (5,34±1,83). Conclui-se que o produto está de acordo com os padrões físico-químicos da legislação brasileira.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of corned beef that is commercialized in Brazil and exported to othercountries. The protein, humidity and the relation between these parameters and residual nitrite levels were analyzed accordingto official techniques. Fifty-two samples from an approved establishment to local and international commerce, located inBarretos, São Paulo State, were analyzed. The protein content range of 23.75 to 29.35 percent (26.49±1.11) and the humidity from52.31 to 59.98 percent (56.70±1.48). Relation between these parameters attended to the technological parameters requirements forindustrialized meat products. The residual nitrite levels varied from 0.88 to 8.74 ppm (5.34±1.83). It can be concluded that theproduct is according to the Brazilian physical-chemical standards legislation.