Evaluation of nitrite contamination in baby foods and infant formulas marketed in Turkey

Nitrites are responsible for methemoglobinemia, to which infants younger than 6 months are thought to be the most susceptible population. This study aimed to detect whether there was any nitrite contamination in infant formulas and baby foods marketed in Turkey and to estimate possible toxicological risks in this sensitive physiological period. For this purpose, the samples were randomly collected and divided into four groups: milk-based, cereal-based, vegetable-based, and fruit-based. An easy and reliable spectrophotometric method was used by modifying the Griess method. The average nitrite contamination was found to be 204.07±65.80 µg/g in 42 samples, with 1,073 µg/g maximum. According to the results, baby and infant formulas include various nitrite levels; nitrite contamination might come from several sources during manufacturing, and so extreme attention must be given throughout the manufacturing process of food for infants.     

The bacteriological quality of bottled natural mineral waters

Fifty-eight bottles of natural mineral water, taken from the point of sale, were bacteriologically examined. No coliforms or Aeromonas sp. were isolated from any sample. High total bacterial counts were found particularly in the still waters. Most of the organisms isolated in the total counts were Gram-negative rods, but Gram-positive organisms were also isolated. Gram-positive cocci were further identified, some of which were known human commensals suggesting contamination of the waters prior to bottling.     

Nitrate and fluoride levels in ground waters of Davanagere Taluka in Karnataka

The quality of ground water supplies in Davanagere Taluk, situated in central part of Karnataka has been investigated with respect to pH, dissolved solids, chlorides, nitrates and fluorides. The levels of pH, dissolved solids and chlorides were found within the safe limits as prescribed by BIS, for more than 95% of the samples. Out of the 61 different borewell samples analysed, selected from different areas of Davanagere taluk, 26% of the samples are found to contain fluorides less than 0.50 PPM (lower safe limit prescribed by BIS) and 11.5% of the samples are found to contain more than 1.5 PPM of fluorides (higher safe limit prescribed by BIS). Further, it was also found during study that, 16.00% of the borewell samples analyzed, were found to contain more than 100.00 PPM of nitrates (measured as NO3 mg/L, safe limit prescribed by BIS). The values of fluorides and nitrates observed in different samples were in the range of 0.19 - 2.06 PPM and 0.08 - 308 PPM, respectively.     

Nitrate, nitrite and N-nitrosamines

The major part of nitrate ingested by normal individuals from vegetables, water supplies, etc., is excreted unchanged. Where the stomach is colonised by bacteria however, as in achlorhydria, reduction to nitrite can occur with consequent methaemoglobinaemia. This problem is particularly marked in infants during the first few months of life if water supplies are rich in nitrate. Of greater potential importance to the majority of adults, however, is the formation within the body of N-nitroso compounds, the great majority of which are carcinogenic in experimental animals. A proportion of ingested nitrate is reduced microbiologically within the mouth to nitrite which then enters the acidic milieu of the normal stomach. Bacterial colonisation of the stomach occurs increasingly in old age, and is accompanied by the formation of increased levels of nitrite and N-nitroso compounds. Ascorbic acid is also ingested from many vegetables and is an inhibitor of the nitrosation process. Nevertheless, it is suggested that individuals with hypochlorhydria who may be particularly at risk from the formation of N-nitroso compounds in vivo should supplement their intake of this potentially protective agent.     

Some properties of margarines and shortenings marketed in Turkey

Fifteen margarines and 10 shortenings marketed in Turkey were analyzed for their fatty acid composition including trans fatty acids (TFA), solid fat content (SFC), and slip melting point (SMP). Margarines and shortenings are major sources TFA in the diet. All margarines and shortenings were high in palmitic acid. Seven margarine samples had low TFA contents (range 0.4–8.5%). TFA content of margarines and shortenings were within the range of 0.4–39.4% and 2.0–16.5%, respectively. TFA content of the samples affect both SFC and SMP. Compared to the American margarines and shortenings, Turkish samples have higher SFC (except sample M10).     

Natural radioactivity of potassium 40K in curative and natural mineral waters and dose estimation

Natural mineral and curative waters often characterize elevated level of mineral components. If the mineralization grows, the concentration natural radionuclides, which are one population's exposure sources on ionizing radiation, also grows. The main purposes work were: (1) determine the concentration isotope potassium 40K in samples of water, (2) calculate effective doses caused by intake of water with potassium 40K, (3)- explore correlation between potassium 40K concentration and total dissolved solids (TDS). The concentration radioisotope 40K in analysed samples determined by means of gamma spectrometry. Received concentrations have values from the interval 0.65 to 28.42 Bq/dm3. Measured values compared to values calculated from physico-chemical analyses composition of water, which amounted from 0.07 to 22.87 Bq/dm3. The calculated effective dose resulting from intake water with potassium 40K, concentration 2.26 Bq/dm3 equaled 294 nSv by treatment and caused by inhalation water with concentration 40K 1.45 Bq/dm3 reached value 9 nSv by treatment.     

高氮施肥区蔬菜硝酸盐及亚硝酸盐调查

目的了解高氮施肥区蔬菜硝酸盐及亚硝酸盐污染情况。方法于2011年7—10月选择沙颍河上游地区每月采样,共采集27种、136个蔬菜样品检测硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐含量并进行初步的健康风险评估。结果 8—9月蔬菜硝酸盐含量较高,10月最低;9月蔬菜亚硝酸盐含量最高,7—8月较低,10月最低;7—10月份6类蔬菜亚硝酸盐含量超标(4.00mg/kg)率为41.67%,10月均达标。蔬菜硝酸盐健康风险指数除10月外均1;亚硝酸盐健康风险指数均1。结论该区域蔬菜硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐蓄积水平较高,且硝酸盐存在一定的健康风险。     

A microbiological study of bottled mineral water marketed in Ludhiana

The microbiological quality of bottled mineral water marketed in Ludhiana was examined, Twenty three brands were analyzed for presumptive coliform count by multiple tube tests, and E. coli count was confirmed by Eijkman test. Bacterial and fungal loads were tested by membrane filtration test. Out of 23 only one sample (4.4%) showed the presumptive coliform count to be 460 most probable number (MPN)l 1 00ml,and 1 was found to be positive when tested by Eijkman test for Ecoli. In the membrane filtration test three samples (13%) showed more than two types of bacteria. Different types of bacteria isolated included Bacillus sp (19/23). Pseudomonas spp (13123), Ecoli, Klebsiella sp and S.albus one each Fungi was isolated from five of twenty three. (22%) samples. Only one brand of mineral water was unfit for human consumption. The rest of the samples were contaminated with non pathogenic flora.     

Chloropropanols levels in foodstuffs marketed in Hong Kong

Chloropropanols, 3-monochloropropan-1,3-diol (3-MCPD) and 1,3-dichloropropanol (1,3-DCP), have been interested globally in recent years. 3-MCPD was also reported in food as a result of heat processing, as well as other processing or storage conditions. As such, 318 samples from different indigenous food items were collected from the retail market in Hong Kong and determined the content of the chloropropanols. Chloropropanols were not detected in most of the commonly consumed food items. 3-MCPD was found in 101 food samples (32%) with levels ranged from 3 to 66 μg/kg. Among others, the highest content of 3-MCPD was found in a snack sample, ready-to-eat seaweed, which has not been reported in other similar findings. Only 15 food samples (5%) were found to contain 1,3-DCP ranged from 1.0 to 9.5 μg/kg. An indigenous food, roasted pork, sample got the highest level of 1,3-DCP. This study also showed that cooking process of frying would produce higher levels of chloropropanols than steaming.     

Nitrate and nitrite levels in daily food rations of children from the rural Pu?awy regions]

In the region of Pu?awy where the operation of the Nitrogen-Compound Manufacturing Plant has lead to an increase in nitrogen compound emission to the environment, nitrate and nitrite contents in daily food rations of children were determined. Daily food rations of children aged 8-9 and 12-13 years were collected from individual farms in four villages situated in the vicinity of the Nitrogen Plant, as well as--for control--from individual farms in Janowiec, a village distant from this Plant. Nitrate and nitrite contents were assayed in 300 daily food rations taken in spring and autumn. Nitrate was reduced to nitrite on a cadmium column whereupon it was determined colorimetrically using sulphanilic acid and N-1-napthyl-ethylenediamine. It was found that in the group of younger children as many as 70%, on the average, of the examined food rations displayed nitrate contents exceeding the admissible levels. In the group of the 12-13 years old children, the percentage of daily food rations whose nitrate content exceeded the admissible level was lower, averaging ca. 30% of all rations examined. The percentage of the daily food rations in which the nitrite content was higher than admissible level was closely similar in both groups of children, averaging ca. 30% of all rations examined. Food rations collected in spring, as compared with those taken in autumn, contained significantly greater amount of nitrate. In both periods of studies, nitrate contents were greater in the food rations from the farms situated near the Nitrogen Plant than in the food rations from farms in Janowiec.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ochratoxin A levels in foodstuffs marketed in Hong Kong

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic and potentially carcinogenic fungal toxin found in a variety of food commodities. This study aims to assess the levels of OTA in foods in Hong Kong. About 300 food samples were taken from the local retail market for OTA analysis. Majority of food samples, including local staple food of steamed rice, noodles and congee, were not found to contain measurable amounts of OTA. A sensitive method using immunoaffinity column (IAC) cleanup and HPLC–MS/MS detection was developed to analyze the OTA in these samples. Ochratoxin B (OTB) was used as internal standard. Method validation was performed according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The OTA levels in the more commonly consumed food items were generally below the maximum limits established by EC legislation. The presence of measurable amount of OTA was reported in 101 food items (32% of all samples), with levels ranging from 0.01 to 2.09 μg/kg (ppb), all of which were well below the legal limits for the respective commodities in the European Union. The low OTA results also suggested that food commodities available in the retail market in Hong Kong are unlikely to pose an adverse health risk to the consumers with respect to OTA toxicity.     

Water, mineral waters and health

The authors focus on water resources and the use of mineral waters in human nutrition, especially in the different stages of life, in physical activity and in the presence of some morbid conditions. Mineral water is characterized by its purity at source, its content in minerals, trace elements and other constituents, its conservation and its healing properties recognized by the Ministry of Health after clinical and pharmacological trials. Based on total salt content in grams after evaporation of 1l mineral water dried at 180 degrees C (dry residues), mineral waters can be classified as: waters with a very low mineral content, waters low in mineral content, waters with a medium mineral content, and strongly mineralized waters. Based on ion composition mineral waters can be classified as: bicarbonate waters, sulfate waters, sodium chloride or saltwater, sulfuric waters. Based on biological activity mineral waters can be classified as: diuretic waters, cathartic waters, waters with antiphlogistic properties. Instructions for use, doses, and current regulations are included.     

Absorbability and utility of calcium in mineral waters

BACKGROUND: Calcium intake in North America remains substantially below recommended amounts. Bottled waters high in calcium could help close that gap. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to summarize and integrate published absorbability and biodynamic data concerning high-calcium mineral waters and to combine these data with hitherto unpublished analyses from my laboratory. DESIGN: The usual library database was searched. The absorbability of calcium from a high-mineral water labeled with tracer quantities of (45)Ca was measured in human volunteers as a part of an otherwise low-calcium test meal. Published reports that used differing load sizes and meal conditions were harmonized by making corrections based on published calcium absorbability data. RESULTS: All the high-calcium mineral waters had absorbabilities equal to milk calcium or slightly better. When tested, all produced biodynamic responses indicative of absorption of appreciable quantities of calcium (ie, increased urinary calcium, decreased serum parathyroid hormone, decreased bone resorption biomarkers, and protection of bone mass). CONCLUSION: High-calcium mineral waters could provide useful quantities of bioavailable calcium.