Estimates of dietary exposure of children to artificial food colours in Kuwait.

To assess the intake of artificial food colour additives by 5-14-year-old children in the State of Kuwait, a 24-h dietary recall was conducted twice on 3141 male and female Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti children from 58 schools. The determination of colour additives in 344 foods items consumed was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector. A comparison with the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) was undertaken to evaluate the potential risk associated with the consumption of artificial colour additives by children in Kuwait. The results indicated that out of nine permitted colours, four exceeded their ADIs by factors of 2-8: tartrazine, sunset yellow, carmoisine and allura red. Further, follow-up studies to provide insight into potential adverse health effects associated with the high intakes of these artificial colour additives on the test population are warranted.

Assessment of the levels of chlorinated pesticides in breast milk in Kuwait.

Breast milk samples, randomly collected from 32 Kuwaiti donors were analysed for chlorinated pesticides. DDE residues ranged from 127 to 3333 micrograms/kg, averaging, 833 micrograms/kg, expressed on a fat weight basis. DDT levels ranged from 0.6 to 67 micrograms/kg fat and averaged 12.4 micrograms/kg, fat. High DDE/DDT ratios were found, which indicated that the exposure to DDT, in most cases, happened quite some time ago. In addition many of the samples also contained isomers of HCH, heptachlor-epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin and endrin. Residue levels of non-DDT pesticides were generally low. Overall levels of DDT-pesticides in Kuwaiti milk samples were lower than levels reported from other Middle Eastern countries, although methodologies may not be directly comparable.

Kuwait's total diet study: dietary intake of organochlorine, carbamate, benzimidazole and phenylurea pesticide residues.

The State of Kuwait in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a Total Diet Study (TDS) to estimate intakes of pesticide residues by the population. The levels of organochlorine (OC) pesticides, carbamates, benzimidazoles, and phenylureas in the TDS core list are reported here. The TDS core list was established through a national food consumption survey. All food items (140 for the Kuwaiti adult) were prepared as eaten and analyzed for the pesticides mentioned above. The FDA's multiresidue methods in Volume I of the Pesticide Analytical Manual were used in gas, liquid, and gel permeation chromatographic analyses. Only vegetable and fruit samples contained pesticide residues (mg/kg), including the carbamates 1-naphthol (1.4) and 3H-carbofuran (0.94) in carrots; the OC pesticide vinclozolin (0.47), 3H-carbofuran (0.66), and fenuron (0.6) in kiwi fruit; the OC pesticide procymidone (0.32) and carbendazim (0.5) in grapes; 3H-carbofuran (5.0) in apricots; the OC pesticides captan (0.013) and thiabendazole (0.63) in pears; captan (0.035) in plums; and carbendazim (0.4) in mandarin oranges. The levels of 3H-carbofuran found in both apricots and kiwi fruit exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) of the United Nations. The daily intakes of pesticides by the different population groups are discussed in light of the FAO/WHO acceptable daily intakes.

Dietary intake of pesticides: State of Kuwait total diet study.

The State of Kuwait conducted a total diet study (TDS) to determine the dietary intakes of selected pesticides. This paper reports the results of this study. A national food consumption survey was performed and core food lists for different population groups were established representing the total diet of the Kuwaiti population. Food items (table-ready) were purchased/prepared and analysed for their contents of organophosphate/organochlorine carbamate, benzimidazole and phenylurea pesticides according to the US FDA Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM I). Dietary intakes of these pesticides are presented for 19 population groups, which range from infants to elderly adults. The intakes of selected population groups are compared with representative findings from the US FDA/TDS and data published from other countries. In general, the average daily intakes were well below acceptable limits, but higher than those reported from developed countries.

Application of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for screening of sheep urine and animal tissue for the androgenic steroid trenbolone acetate in the State of Kuwait.

This study was undertaken to determine the presence of any residue-positive meat and urine samples from live sheep in the State of Kuwait market by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and to examine the accuracy and precision of the method. A total of 350 samples, including 230 sheep urine, 30 beef meat and 90 chicken, were subjected, after extraction, to an ELISA for the determination of their contents of the androgenic hormone, trenbolone acetate. The results obtained showed that the trenbolone acetate levels in the urine ranged from 0.1 to 0.9 ng/ml and in the muscle tissue from 0.02 to 0.05 ng/g all of which are below the maximum residue levels accepted (2.0 ng/g) by FAO/WHO. The mean recovery and CV, respectively, ranged from 36.7% and 5.8 (spiking level to 0.2 ng/g) to 49.6% and 10.4 (spiking level 1.5 ng/g). These results were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). Based on the data obtained, it was concluded that ELISA can be used safely for screening purposes, however, any suspect sample must also be analysed by GC-MS to exclude any false positive identifications.

Microbiological Quality of Broilers During Processing in a Modern Commercial Slaughterhouse in Kuwait.

The effect of processing procedures and overall environmental and hygienic conditions on the microbiological quality and safety of chicken carcasses was studied in a modern processing plant on two separate days. The level of microorganisms on chicken carcasses was assessed by a neck-skin "maceration" method. Carcasses were heavily contaminated by different types of organisms, including indicator organisms (total aerobics, Enterobacteriaceae , coliforms and Escherichia coli ) and pathogens (e.g., Salmonella , Campylobacter and Staphylococcus aureus ). Microbial levels varied during processing, but the highest levels were detected after scalding and defeathering. Microbial levels did not change during vent opening or evisceration. Spray washing after evisceration did not reduce levels of bacteria. No substantial change occurred in bacteria levels during air-chilling, packaging and cold-storage; however, the finished product was heavily contaminated. In the freshly processed carcasses, mean counts (log colony forming units [CFU]/g neck-skin) of aerobic bacteria Enterobacteriaceae , coliforms, E. coli , Campylobacter and S. aureus were 6.6, 4.5, 4.1, 3.6, 5.2 and 2.7 on the first sampling day, and 6.5, 4.6, 4.9, 3.6,4.7 and 4.1 on the second day. Salmonella was present in all birds examined, including those coming directly from the farm. Major serotypes detected on dressed carcasses were Salmonella ohio , Salmonella enteritidis , Salmonella paratyphi and Salmonella krefeld .

Detection of pork and lard as adulterants in processed meat: liquid chromatographic analysis of derivatized triglycerides.

A new method is described for detection of pork and lard as adulterants in processed beef and mutton mixtures. The unsaturated triglycerides in the fat are ozonized and then derivatized. The mixture of derivatized and saturated triglycerides is analyzed by liquid chromatography using a reverse-phase column and a UV detector. Pork fat has larger amounts of triglyceride containing saturated fatty acid at the C-2 position than does the fat of other meat. The ratio of triglyceride containing saturated fatty acid vs triglyceride containing unsaturated fatty acid at the same (C-2) position (SSU/SUS) in a sample is compared with those of pure meats. The presence of pork in the sample causes the ratio to increase compared with ratios for pure beef or mutton. The increase in the SSU/SUS ratio is significant for the addition of 1% pork in beef. In the case of mutton, the addition of 3% pork causes a noticeable change. The method is reliable and is also applicable to samples containing only fat. Processing (heating or cooking) does not affect the ratios.

Microbiological Quality of Tehineh Manufactured in Saudi Arabia.

Tehineh is a product obtained by the milling of dehulled and roasted white sesame seeds. A total of 50 tehineh samples was collected from ten processing plants in Saudi Arabia. These samples were examined by standard procedures for aerobic plate counts (APC) and counts of coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus cereus , Clostridium perfringens , molds and yeasts and detection of salmonellae. APC of tehineh ranged from 20 to 170,000 CFU/g. The counts for coliforms, S. aureus , B. cereus , C. perfringens , and molds and yeasts ranged from <10 to 300, <10 to 400, <10 to 250, <10 to 100, <10 to 120 and <10 to 50 CFU/g, respectively. Two out of ten tehineh plants (20%) were positive for four Salmonella serotypes. Four Salmonella serotypes recovered were Salmonella hadar , Salmonella agona , Salmonella einsbuettel and Salmonella ubrecht , with S. hadar being the most predominant. The results of this investigation indicate that foodborne pathogens present in tehineh may constitute a potential public health hazard.

Microbiological Quality of Shawarma in Saudi Arabia.

A total of 108 shawarma (cooked meat) samples were aseptically collected from various fast-food restaurants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These samples were examined by standard procedures for determination of aerobic plate count (APC), and counts of coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus , Clostridium perfringens , and the detection of salmonellae. The APC ranged from 102 to 3.0 × 108 CFU/g. The counts for coliforms, S. aureus and C. perfringens ranged from <10 to 106, <10 to 105 and <10 to 106 CFU/g, respectively. Twelve percent of the shawarma samples was positive for Salmonella . The results of this investigation indicate that foodborne pathogens present in shawarmas constitute a potential public health hazard.

Mineral and vitamin content of goat's milk.

Nine vitamin and mineral elements were determined in goat's milk of two breeds, Aardi and Masri, in Saudi Arabia. The concentrations of various vitamins in the milk of the Aardi and Masri goats, respectively, were: vitamin A, 77 and 203 IU/100 gm; thiamin, 0.047 and 0.030 mg/100 gm; riboflavin, 0.122 and 0.170 mg/100 gm; vitamin B-6, 0.045 and 0.046 mg/100 gm; niacin, 0.280 and 0.248 mg/100 gm; pantothenic acid, 0.247 and 0.191 mg/100 gm; ascorbic acid, 0.890 and 0.898 mg/100 gm; vitamin B-12, 0.07 and 0.06 microgram/100 gm; and folacin, 0.2 and 0.7 microgram/100 gm. Among the minerals, the concentrations (mg/100 gm) in the milk of Aardi and Masri goats, respectively, were: sodium, 58 and 53; potassium, 158 and 155; calcium, 88 and 116; magnesium, 13 and 13; phosphorus, 65 and 88; iron, 0.14 and 0.14; copper, 0.07 and 0.07; zinc, 0.15 and 0.15; and manganese, 0.02 and 0.02. The concentrations of vitamin B-12 and folacin in goat's milk were lower than those in cow's milk. The mineral profile of goat's milk compared better with that of cow's milk than with that of human milk.