Food Commodities (food + commodity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Essential Oil of,Aegle marmelos,as a Safe Plant-Based Antimicrobial Against Postharvest Microbial Infestations and Aflatoxin Contamination of Food Commodities

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009
Priyanka Singh
ABSTRACT:, The essential oil of,Aegle marmelos,L. Correa (Rutaceae) showed strong fungitoxicity against some storage fungi-causing contamination of foodstuffs. The oil also showed efficacy as aflatoxin suppressor at 500 ,L/L as it completely arrested the aflatoxin B1 production by the toxigenic strains (Navjot 4NSt and Saktiman 3NSt) of,Aspergillus flavus,Link. Keeping in view the side effects of synthetic fungicides,,A. marmelos,oil may be recommended as an antimicrobial of plant origin to enhance the shelf life of stored food commodities by controlling the fungal growth as well as aflatoxin secretion. This is the 1st report on aflatoxin B1 inhibitory nature of this oil.,A. marmelos,oil may be recommended as a novel plant-based antimicrobial in food protection over synthetic preservatives, most of which are reported to incite environmental problems because of their nonbiodegradable nature and side effects on mammals. The LD50 of,Aegle,oil was found to be 23659.93 mg/kg body weight in mice (Mus musculus,L.) when administered for acute oral toxicity showing nonmammalian toxicity of the oil. GC-MS analysis of the oil found DL-Limonene to be major component. [source]


Analyses of consumers' dietary behavior: An application of the AIDS model to supermarket scanner data

AGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2003
Eugene Jones
Nationwide food consumption surveys often find no difference in the diets of lower and higher income Americans, while studies of particular food commodities find major differences. These contrasting results represent a consumption paradox. We attempt to gain an understanding of this paradox by using supermarket scanner data to examine food purchases and, by extension, consumption patterns for consumers in two, geographically distinct, income areas. These areas are part of the larger Columbus, OH, metropolitan area (CMA) and six stores are selected for purchase and consumption analyses,three from the lowest income areas of the CMA and three from the highest income areas. Seven product categories are analyzed in this study and these categories are subdivided into meaningful nutritional classes. An Almost Ideal Demand System is employed and the empirical results reveal major differences in consumption behavior for the two groups. [EconLit citations: D120 and D190.] © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 19: 203,221, 2003. [source]


Essential Oil of,Aegle marmelos,as a Safe Plant-Based Antimicrobial Against Postharvest Microbial Infestations and Aflatoxin Contamination of Food Commodities

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009
Priyanka Singh
ABSTRACT:, The essential oil of,Aegle marmelos,L. Correa (Rutaceae) showed strong fungitoxicity against some storage fungi-causing contamination of foodstuffs. The oil also showed efficacy as aflatoxin suppressor at 500 ,L/L as it completely arrested the aflatoxin B1 production by the toxigenic strains (Navjot 4NSt and Saktiman 3NSt) of,Aspergillus flavus,Link. Keeping in view the side effects of synthetic fungicides,,A. marmelos,oil may be recommended as an antimicrobial of plant origin to enhance the shelf life of stored food commodities by controlling the fungal growth as well as aflatoxin secretion. This is the 1st report on aflatoxin B1 inhibitory nature of this oil.,A. marmelos,oil may be recommended as a novel plant-based antimicrobial in food protection over synthetic preservatives, most of which are reported to incite environmental problems because of their nonbiodegradable nature and side effects on mammals. The LD50 of,Aegle,oil was found to be 23659.93 mg/kg body weight in mice (Mus musculus,L.) when administered for acute oral toxicity showing nonmammalian toxicity of the oil. GC-MS analysis of the oil found DL-Limonene to be major component. [source]


Aflatoxin Inactivation Using Aqueous Extract of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) Seeds

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005
Shruti S. Hajare
ABSTRACT: Aqueous extract of ajowan seeds was found to contain an aflatoxin inactivation factor (IF). Thin layer chromatography analysis of the toxins after treatment with IF showed relative reduction of aflatoxin G1 > G2 > B1 > B2. Quantification of toxin using a fluorotoxin meter as well as the Enzyme Linked Immuno s orb ent Assay (ELISA) confirmed these findings. An approximate 80% reduction in total aflatoxin content over the controls was observed. This observed phenomenon of reduction in total toxin was referred to as toxin inactivation. Temperature was found to influence the rate of toxin inactivation. At 45 °C, it was found to be rapid during the initial 5 h and slowed later. The IF was found to retain considerable activity even after boiling and autoclaving, indicating partial heat stability. The activity was lost below pH 4.0. Above pH 4.0, it increased gradually, reaching the maximum at pH 10.0. IF was found to be stable to gamma irradiation. Toxin decontamination in spiked corn samples could be achieved using IF. This study emphasizes the potential of ajowan IF in aflatoxin removal from contaminated food commodities. However, the biological toxicity, if any, of the IF inactivated aflatoxins needs to be confirmed, and the work in this direction is in progress. [source]


An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for monitoring of Aspergillus ochraceus growth in coffee powder, chilli powder and poultry feed

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
S. Anand
Abstract Aims:, The work was carried out to develop an immunoassay for estimation of Aspergillus ochraceus biomass on solid substrate. Methods and Results:, An indirect noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for determination of fungal biomass in food commodities using antibody raised against A. ochraceus mycelial antigen. The sensitivity of the assay was linear in the range of 10,160 ,g fungal biomass per millilitre extract of coffee (R2 = 0·989), poultry feed (R2 = 0·987) and chilli (R2 = 0·989). The growth of A. ochraceus in the food commodities like chilli, coffee beans and poultry feed, under the influence of two levels of moisture (20% and 30%) were monitored by the ELISA. The maximum fungal colonization was observed in poultry feed (9·8 and 11·8 mg g,1) followed by coffee beans (6·8 and 11·3 mg g,1) and chilli (5·1 and 6·3 mg g,1) at 20% and 30% moisture after 20 days of incubation. Similarly the fungus produced maximum ochratoxin A in poultry feed (25 and 120 ,g g,1) followed by coffee beans (8 and 24 ,g g,1) and chilli (0·2 and 0·45 ,g g,1) at 20% and 30% moisture after 20 days of incubation. Conclusions:, The method can be used for quantitative estimation of fungal biomass and comparison of fungal colonization in food substrates varying in composition. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The method can be adapted for studying the fungal colonization in different solid substrates under different culture condition. The method is sensitive to mould colonization of ,0·02% (w/w) and can be used for early detection of specific fungal infestation in food commodities. [source]


Prediction of agrochemical residue data on fruit using an informatic system (PARDIS model)

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 10 2008
Maura Calliera
Abstract A ,step-by-step' method was used to develop a simplified procedure for calculating pesticide residue levels on fruit at harvest by considering the application of the compound and the relevant routes of loss. The model is applicable to cases where the most important exposure route is by direct spray to the canopy of the crop and where uptake into the plant by the roots can be disregarded. The exposure dose is calculated by considering the proportion of total crop cover represented by the fruits. The loss processes considered are photodegradation, uptake, volatilization and washoff. The outputs of the model were compared with measured residues of pesticides on pear. Analysis of the model fit demonstrates that the model predicted the measured data with a good level of accuracy for four of seven investigated pesticides. The predicted/observed quotients are close to 1, as is the modelling efficiency, and there are no great differences between the predicted and observed values. Taking into account the extreme simplicity of the model and the complexity of the environmental processes considered, these results encourage further research into the modelling of residue behaviour in food commodities. The objectives of this work were to produce a tool to predict pesticide residues in products of plant origin, to complement monitoring of pesticide levels and to be useful in evaluating the effect of government policies on food safety. All predicted values were below the maximum levels fixed for pesticide residues in pear, as amended in Council Directives 86/362/EEC and 90/642/EEC. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Sorption of sulfuryl fluoride by food commodities

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 8 2008
Venkata-rao Sriranjini
Abstract BACKGROUND: The use of sulfuryl fluoride, a structural fumigant for termite and woodborer control, has recently been expanded to treating stored food commodities and food facilities. There is, however, a lack of data on the sorption of sulfuryl fluoride by food commodities. Knowledge about sorption is important in the context of effective treatment and residues. RESULTS: When sulfuryl fluoride was applied at a dose of 50 g m,3 to various food commodities (total 68) with 300 g per replicate in 0.75 L gas wash bottles (fumigation chambers) at 25 ± 1 °C, in most cases (81%) the gas concentrations in the free space of the commodities exceeded 50 g m,3 (range 51,80 g m,3) at the end of 24 h exposure. In chambers without the substrate, an average concentration of 49.7 g m,3 was recorded. About 54% of the commodities showed low-level ( , 25%) sorption of sulfuryl fluoride, 34% showed medium-level (26,50%) sorption and only 12% were highly sorptive (>50%). The latter include white oats (terminal gas concentration 17.8 g m,3), some of the decorticated split pulses (24.0,29.3 g m,3), chickpea flour (26.3 g m,3), dried ginger (29.0 g m,3), refined wheat flour (30.3 g m,3) and coriander powder (40.5 g m,3). In unfumigated control commodities, owing to interfering volatiles, Fumiscope® readings in the range 0,13 were noted. CONCLUSION: Sulfuryl fluoride has the advantage of a low or moderate level of sorption with the majority of the food commodities. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Bound xenobiotic residues in food commodities of plant and animal origin

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 3 2002
W Skidmore
The following are extended summaries of Technical Reports which are produced at intervals by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). They are entirely the responsibility of IUPAC/the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board of Pest Management Science. Copyright © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Towards harmonized approaches for mycotoxin analyses: an assessment

QUALITY ASSURANCE & SAFETY OF CROPS & FOOD, Issue 2 2009
Anton J. Alldrick
Abstract Mycotoxins (the poisonous metabolites of certain filamentous fungi) are potential contaminants of staple food commodities and, if uncontrolled, may present a significant public health hazard. In many jurisdictions, questions relating to mycotoxin contamination are addressed at both generic and specific levels by food-safety legislation. Key to the successful management of the mycotoxin question, both in terms of verifying food-safety measures by the agri-food businesses and ensuring compliance with statutory limits by enforcement agencies, is the use of reliable sampling and analytical methodology. Evidence from European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed data suggest that harmonization of methodologies used to determine the mycotoxin content of foods would contribute to improved compliance at both regulatory and commercial levels. [source]


Responding to High Commodity Prices

ASIAN-PACIFIC ECONOMIC LITERATURE, Issue 1 2009
Craig Sugden
The recent commodity price boom resulted from rising demand in the face of a long period of low supply growth and market distortions. Structural factors are expected to return international commodity prices to relatively high levels as the global economy recovers. The Asian and Pacific economies and the region's poor will be among the most exposed to a rebound in prices. The recent response to high commodity prices can be improved upon. At the global level, the priority for Asian and Pacific governments is to seek a commitment to lessening distortions favouring bio-fuels. At the regional level, there is a need to address the use of trade restrictions on food commodities in Asia, notably rice. At a national level, the long-term neglect of the rural economy warrants correction; and efforts to expand and make social safety nets more ,market friendly' are called for. [source]


Spanish Household Demand for Seafood

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2001
Justo Manrique
Seafood is an important food commodity in Spain, the second largest consuming nation of seafood in the world. Today, several changes in demographics, socioeconomic factors, and lifestyle changes have affected demand for seafood products. Double-hurdle models allow an examination of Spanish household expenditures on these products and explicitly account for the value of women's time. The empirical evidence shows that the set of statistically significant factors in the participation and expenditure equations is not the same for fresh and processed seafood goods. Income and household demographic variables are important determinants of both participation and expenditures on seafood products. In addition, the value of women's time affects expenditures on processed products, which include frozen, cured, and canned seafood goods. [source]


Predicting food safety losses in turkey processing and the economic incentives of hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) intervention

AGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2006
William E. Nganje
Turkey is an important food commodity whose total value of U.S. production amounted to $2.72 billion in 2003. Empirical evidence suggests that among broilers, eggs, turkeys, and chickens, Salmonella contamination of ground turkey is highest at 49.9% prior to hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) implementation and 26.6% after HACCP implementation. Salmonella and other microbial outbreaks have greatly contributed to the large number of food recalls in the meat and poultry industry; therefore, processed turkey constitutes a prime commodity for HACCP intervention analysis. Value-at-risk provides a framework for assisting firm management to assess food safety risks in monetary terms, and to evaluate the economic incentives of control measures like HACCP. Results show that food safety losses as measured by downside risk significantly declined following HACCP implementation. Medium- and large-scale turkey processors are more likely to derive more benefit from implementing an augmented HACCP plan than a generic HACCP plan. [EconLit citations: C150, Q180] © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 22: 475,489, 2006. [source]