Wheat debranning: effects on mycotoxins, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity.

The debranning process, at an industrial scale, was applied to grains of two wheat cultivars to determine its effect on Fusarium mycotoxin content and antioxidant activity. Grain samples from the BRS Marcante and BRS Reponte wheat cultivars, naturally contaminated by Fusarium, were used in the study. The dry wheat samples were processed on the polisher once or twice and evaluated by hardness index, chemical composition (moisture, protein, and ash), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) levels, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. In the BRS Marcante cultivar, the debranning process only slightly reduced the DON and ZON contents in whole-wheat flours compared with the previous cleaning treatment (no-debranned). In the BRS Reponte cultivar, the DON concentration decreased by 36% at a debranning ratio of 5%, obtained by polishing, compared with prior cleaning treatment (no-debranned). In addition, the polishing reduced the ZON level by 56% compared with the cleaned wheat. The debranning process did not reduce the antioxidant capacity. Therefore, debranning is a suitable technology to obtain safer and healthier food by minimizing the mycotoxin content and retaining antioxidant capacity.

Economically Motivated Food Fraud and Adulteration in Brazil: Incidents and Alternatives to Minimize Occurrence.

Brazil is one of the world's largest food producers. Adulteration of foods is often reported and represent an important potential threat to food safety. Because of this, reduction of the vulnerability of foods to adulteration is of high priority to Brazil. This study analyzes economically motivated food fraud and adulterations in Brazil between 2007 and 2017, based on academic journal reports. In addition, alternatives are proposed to minimize these incidents through good practices, traceability systems and the development of methods to detect food fraud and adulteration. Complex supply chains for foods of animal origin, such as milk and dairy products, were the main targets of food fraud and adulterations. Other products prone to fraudulent activities were vegetable oils, especially olive oil, which are high value products. Meat and fish, as well as their respective by-products, were also involved in some food fraud and adulteration, especially substitution. Cases of extraneous ingredient addition were also reported in the coffee and tea sectors. Comprehensive food fraud and adulteration prevention requires the enforcement of regulatory systems, increased sampling and monitoring, training of food producers and handlers, and development of precise, rapid, and cost-effective methods of fraud detection. The availability of robust methods to identify the chemical constituents of foods could be a decisive step, both to detect and prevent fraud in producer countries and to open up new markets to these products. The results of this study can be used to analyze food safety risks and prioritize target areas for food research and policy-making in order to enforce food safety regulations in Brazil. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A food fraud and adulteration review was conducted based on scientific literature in Brazil. Milk and its products were the main targets of food fraud and adulterations. Food fraud and adulteration causes and suggestions for good practice are presented. The results can be used to analyze food safety and protect consumer rights.

Survey of mycotoxins in Southern Brazilian wheat and evaluation of immunoassay methods

One hundred commercial wheat grain samples were collected during the 2015 sea-son across 78 municipalities in the states of Paraná (PR), Rio Grande do Sul (RS), and São Paulo (SP), Brazil. Separate subsamples were analyzed for the concentration of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenona (ZEA) and ochratoxin A (OTA) mycotoxins using two methods: UHPLC-MS/MS (reference method) and a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (AgraQuant®). The OTA mycotoxin was not found in the samples by both methods. DON and ZEA were detected in 55 % and 39 % of the samples by the reference method, with overall mean levels of 795.2 g kg1 and 79.78 g kg1, respectively. There was a significant and positive correlation (Spearman rank) between DON and ZEA estimates by the reference method (r = 0.77, p 0.001). The DON levels estimated by the immunoassay agreed poorly with the reference, being largely overestimated. Based on a cut-off level of 1000 g kg1, the immunoassay correctly classified 57 samples as true negatives and 15 as true positives. Only 28 were classified as false positives. For ZEA, the levels estimated by the two methods were in better agreement than for DON. Using the cut-off level of 200 g kg1, 96 % of the samples were classified correctly as true positives and only one sample was classified as false positive. The levels for both mycotoxins were mostly acceptable for human consumption. Further studies should focus on multi-toxin methods compared with immunoassays to understand the reasons of overestimation and the role of immunoassays as a cost-effective solution for fast screening of mycotoxins in the food chain.

Survey of mycotoxins in Southern Brazilian wheat and evaluation of immunoassay methods

One hundred commercial wheat grain samples were collected during the 2015 sea-son across 78 municipalities in the states of Paraná (PR), Rio Grande do Sul (RS), and São Paulo (SP), Brazil. Separate subsamples were analyzed for the concentration of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenona (ZEA) and ochratoxin A (OTA) mycotoxins using two methods: UHPLC-MS/MS (reference method) and a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (AgraQuant®). The OTA mycotoxin was not found in the samples by both methods. DON and ZEA were detected in 55 % and 39 % of the samples by the reference method, with overall mean levels of 795.2 g kg1 and 79.78 g kg1, respectively. There was a significant and positive correlation (Spearman rank) between DON and ZEA estimates by the reference method (r = 0.77, p 0.001). The DON levels estimated by the immunoassay agreed poorly with the reference, being largely overestimated. Based on a cut-off level of 1000 g kg1, the immunoassay correctly classified 57 samples as true negatives and 15 as true positives. Only 28 were classified as false positives. For ZEA, the levels estimated by the two methods were in better agreement than for DON. Using the cut-off level of 200 g kg1, 96 % of the samples were classified correctly as true positives and only one sample was classified as false positive. The levels for both mycotoxins were mostly acceptable for human consumption. Further studies should focus on multi-toxin methods compared with immunoassays to understand the reasons of overestimation and the role of immunoassays as a cost-effective solution for fast screening of mycotoxins in the food chain.(AU)

Boron and calcium sprayed on 'Fuyu' persimmon tree prevent skin cracks, groove and browning of fruit during cold storage / Boro e cálcio pulverizado em árvores de caqui "Fuyu" previnem fissuras, estrias e escurecimento do fruto durante o armazenamento refrigerado

Flesh softening, skin browning and rotting are chief problems during cold storage (CS) of 'Fuyu' Persimmon. We studied the effects of boron (B) and calcium (Ca) sprayed on the trees during three consecutive years, on the development of skin cracks, grooves and browning in persimmon fruit under CS in Farroupilha, RS, Brazil (29º31' south, 51º21' west, about 750 m altitude). A homogeneous orchard area of 0.5 ha was delimitated and three sets of five plants for each treatment were randomly selected. The persimmon trees were sprayed at a 20 day interval, from 15th January until harvest, for three consecutive years, with: T1) water; T2) calcium nitrate at 0.5 percent (m/v); T3) calcium chloride at 0.5 percent (m/v); and T4) boron at 0.3 percent (m/v). The fruit were harvest with orange-reddish colour; 18-20ºBrix, pulp firmness of 45 to 60N, and kept under CS at 0±1ºC for 45 days. The fruits were evaluated immediately before CS, after six hours at 23±2ºC after removal from CS, and after four days at 23±2ºC after removal from CS. Equally boron and calcium sprayed on the trees prevented skin cracks, skin grooves and skin browning. Besides, when boron was sprayed on the trees, the mentioned effects were additive in the following year.

As principais alterações indesejáveis observadas no período pós-colheita de caquis em armazenamento refrigerado (AR) são a perda de firmeza de polpa, e a ocorrência de escurecimento epidérmico e de podridões. Este trabalho teve por objetivo principal estudar as respostas da aplicação de boro (B) e cálcio (Ca), em três safras sucessivas, na prevenção da ocorrência de fissuras, estrias e escurecimento epidérmico de caquis "Fuyu". No pomar (Farroupilha-RS-Brasil, 29º31' Sul, 51º21' Oeste, aproximadamente 750m altitude) delimitou-se uma área homogênea de 0,5ha., marcando-se, ao acaso, três repetições de cinco plantas para cada tratamento: T1 - controle, caquizeiros não-pulverizados com B e Ca; T2 - pulverizações com Nitrato de Ca 0,5 por cento (m/v); T3 - pulverizações com Cloreto de Ca 0,5 por cento (m/v); e T4 - pulverizações com B 0,3 por cento (m/v). As aplicações foram realizadas em três anos sucessivos a partir de 15 de janeiro a intervalos de 20 dias. Foram colhidos os caquis na coloração alaranjado-avermelhada, com 18-20ºBrix e 45 a 60N, que posteriormente foram armazenados em AR a 0±1ºC por 45 dias. As avaliações foram realizadas no dia do armazenamento, após seis horas a 23±2ºC a partir da retirada AR, e após quatro dias a 23±2ºC a partir da retirada do AR. Foi avaliada a ocorrência de frutas com fissuras, estrias e escurecimento epidérmico. Comprovou-se o efeito benéfico da aplicação de B ou Ca na prevenção de fissuras, estrias e escurecimento epidérmico. Adicionalmente, foi detectado o incremento da resposta à aplicação de B, que, além de prevenir (à semelhança das aplicações com Ca), apresentou efeito aditivo no segundo ano. O resultado sugere que as respostas às aplicações com B são progressivas.

Análise da conformidade na adoção das normas de produção integrada de pêssego / Analysis of the conformity in the adoption of the norms of integrated production of peach

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o grau de conformidade dos pomares de pêssego às Normas de Produção Integrada de Pêssego (PIP), a fim de assegurar a qualidade e a segurança dos produtos obtidos, para tornar a cadeia produtiva mais competitiva no mercado. A implementação da PIP e da rastreabilidade na produção foi realizada através de visitas mensais, a partir do início do ciclo vegetativo até a pós-colheita. Paralelamente à implementação da PIP e do sistema de rastreabilidade, foram realizadas auditorias internas, para avaliar as condições de produção, transporte e armazenamento, através das listas de verificação para auditoria de adesão e de acompanhamento. O percentual de fruticultores que estão em conformidade com as exigências da PIP é de 30 por cento. Dentre os tratos culturais preconizados pela PIP que estão sendo adotados, destacam-se: poda verde, manutenção da cobertura no solo, adubação equilibrada, utilização de agrotóxicos permitidos e devolução de embalagens vazias. Para a consolidação da produção integrada, há a necessidade de ampliar a orientação quanto ao manejo integrado de pragas e doenças, bem como quanto à tecnologia de aplicação de agrotóxicos.

This research was aimed at evaluating the conformity degree of the peach orchards to the Norms of Integrated Peach Production (IPP), in order to assure quality and safety of the products obtained and to turn the productive chain more competitive in the market. The implementation of IPP and traceability in the production was accomplished through monthly visits, starting from the beginning of the vegetative cycle to after harvest. Parallel to the implementation of IPP and traceability system, internal auditings were accomplished to evaluate the conditions of productions, transport and storage, through verification lists for adhesion and attendance auditing. The percentage of producers that are in accordance with the demands of IPP is 30 percent. The cultural treatments extolled by IPP which are being adopted are: green pruning, maintenance of the covering in the soil, balanced fertilization, use of allowed pesticides and devolution of empty packings. For the consolidating of the integrated production, it is needed to enlarge the orientation for the integrated handling of curses and diseases, as well as the technology of pesticides application.