food safety – Page 3

Impact of bottom ash addition on Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation on coffee ground substrate

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Researchers studied how to grow oyster mushrooms using leftover coffee grounds mixed with coal ash as a growing medium. They found that adding small amounts of coal ash (1-5%) to coffee grounds actually improved the mushroom quality by reducing harmful heavy metals while keeping beneficial nutrients like phosphorus and zinc. This discovery suggests a promising way to recycle both industrial waste and food waste while producing safer, more nutritious mushrooms.

Fruit-Based Fermented Beverages: Contamination Sources and Emerging Technologies Applied to Assure Their Safety

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This review examines safety concerns in popular fermented fruit drinks like wine and cider. It identifies major contamination risks including toxic compounds produced by molds (mycotoxins), harmful byproducts from fermentation (biogenic amines), pesticide residues, heavy metals, and plastic particles. The authors recommend combining traditional safety practices with modern technologies like electric fields and high-pressure treatments to ensure these beverages remain safe to drink while maintaining their health benefits.

From hive to laboratory – biotechnological potential of microorganisms from honey

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Honey contains many beneficial microorganisms that can survive its harsh environment of high sugar and low pH. These microorganisms have the ability to produce useful compounds like lactic acid, citric acid, and other valuable substances used in food, medicine, and industry. Scientists believe these honey-derived microbes have significant potential for industrial applications but need more research to fully unlock their benefits.

The Co-Evolution of Markets and Regulation in the Japanese Functional Food Industry: Balancing Risk and Benefit

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This research examines how Japan regulates functional foods – products designed to promote health beyond basic nutrition. The study shows that food regulations have evolved alongside industry growth, trying to balance protecting consumers from unsafe products while allowing companies to innovate and make health claims. Using a framework that examines both safety concerns and consumer benefit information, the authors trace how Japan’s regulatory system changed from the 1960s to today, showing how regulations respond to industry needs and safety incidents.

Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Boletus edulis, Imleria badia, Leccinum scabrum in the Context of Environmental Conditions and Heavy Metals Bioaccumulation

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This study examined three popular edible mushroom species from Poland to understand their nutritional benefits and safety. While all three mushrooms are rich in beneficial compounds like antioxidants and immune-boosting polysaccharides, Boletus edulis (porcini) accumulates concerning levels of cadmium from soil. The research shows these mushrooms are safe in normal amounts, but eating excessive quantities of porcini mushrooms could exceed safe limits for toxic metals, especially for people in polluted areas.

Current state of the heavy metal pollution, microbial diversity, and bioremediation experiments around the Qixia Mountain lead–zinc mine in Nanjing, China

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A lead-zinc mine in Nanjing, China has contaminated surrounding soils with dangerous heavy metals like lead, zinc, and cadmium over 70 years of operation. Researchers discovered that combining amaranth plants with a beneficial bacterium called Bacillus velezensis dramatically reduced heavy metal pollution in soil, lowering pollution levels from severely contaminated to acceptable levels. This plant-microorganism approach also improved plant growth while reducing heavy metal uptake in the edible parts of crops, offering a practical solution to make farmland around mines safer for growing food.

A comprehensive review of mycotoxins, their toxicity, and innovative detoxification methods

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Mycotoxins are poisons produced by molds that commonly contaminate foods like grains, nuts, and spices, causing serious health problems in people and animals. This comprehensive review examines how these toxins affect our health, how to detect them in food, and various methods to remove or destroy them. Traditional approaches using biological agents and chemicals work well but are only partially effective, while newer innovative methods using nanoparticles and plant extracts show greater promise for more complete protection of our food supply.

Novel, Edible Melanin-Protein-Based Bioactive Films for Cheeses: Antimicrobial, Mechanical and Chemical Characteristics

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Researchers developed a natural, edible coating for cheese made from whey protein and melanin pigment that prevents spoilage better than commercial coatings. The coating contains melanin, which gives the cheese a natural brown color that consumers prefer, along with natural antimicrobial agents nisin and natamycin. After 40 days of cheese aging, the new melanin coating showed superior protection against harmful bacteria compared to synthetic commercial coatings while being completely edible and requiring no peeling.

Pleurotus eryngii Culture Filtrate and Aqueous Extracts Alleviate Aflatoxin B1 Synthesis

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This research demonstrates that extracts from oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii) can effectively prevent the production of aflatoxin B1, a highly toxic and cancer-causing substance produced by certain molds that contaminate crops like corn and wheat. The mushroom extracts work by inhibiting the toxin production by up to 94%, offering a natural, environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. The study suggests that compounds in mushrooms, including special sugars and enzymes, may help protect food supplies from this dangerous contamination, which is becoming increasingly important as climate change creates more favorable conditions for mold growth.

Patulin Biodegradation by Rhodosporidiobolus ruineniae and Meyerozyma guilliermondii Isolated From Fruits

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Patulin is a dangerous toxin produced by molds that grow on apples and peaches, posing serious health risks to consumers. Researchers isolated two yeast species from fruits that can effectively break down patulin into a less toxic compound called (E)-ascladiol. The yeasts work by using enzymes inside their cells to degrade the toxin, and this biological approach could be used to safely remove patulin from contaminated fruits and fruit products.

Research Keyword: food safety