Selected topics from Food Micro '99: 17th International Conference of the International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene, September 13-17, 1999, Veldhoven, The Netherlands

Control of bioflavour and safety in fermented sausages: First results of a European project

Four types of fermented sausages were prepared: two using Northern technology (Norway and Belgium) and two using Mediterranean technology (Belgium and Italy). Mediterranean sausages showed higher pH values and highest residual amounts of myosin and actin. Free fatty acid concentrations reflected the nature of the raw material, rather than the...

An analysis of the possibility for health implications of joint actions and interactions between food additives

The possibility that structurally unrelated food additives could show either joint actions or interactions has been assessed based on their potential to share common sites and mechanisms of action or common pathways of elimination. All food additives approved in the European Union and allocated numerical acceptable daily intake values were...

Evaluation of a subchronic (13-week) oral toxicity study, preceded by an in utero exposure phase, with arachidonic acid oil derived from Mortierella alpina in rats

Arachidonic acid oil (ARA-oil) derived from the fungus Mortierella alpina for use in infant nutrition was tested in a subchronic (13-week) oral toxicity study in rats, preceded by an in utero exposure phase. The ARA-oil was administered as admixture to the rodent diet at dose levels of 3000 ppm, 15,000 ppm and 75,000 ppm. An additional high-dose...

Dependence of dietary intake estimates on the time frame of assessment

Food chemical risk management needs, among other things, assessment of exposure. For dietary intake food consumption surveys are the data source to be used. One complicating factor in the usage of these data is the dependence of dietary intake estimates on the time frame of assessment. Central to this time dependence is the within-subject...

The application of in vitro data in the derivation of the acceptable daily intake of food additives

The acceptable daily intake (ADI) for food additives is commonly derived from the NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect level) in long-term animal in vivo studies. To derive an ADI a safety or uncertainty factor (commonly 100) is applied to the NOAEL in the most sensitive test species. The 100-fold safety factor is considered to be the product of...

Genotoxicity evaluation of wood-derived and vegetable oil-derived stanol esters

Plant stanol esters from wood and vegetable oil sources were tested for genotoxicity in bacterial (Salmonella typhimurium) and mammalian cell (L5178Y) gene mutation assays and in a mammalian cell chromosome aberration assay (CHO cells). The two stanol ester formulations were tested separately at doses up to the limit of solubility, with and...

Stability of the Secondary Antioxidant Bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)pentaerythritol Diphosphite in Food Simulants

To establish the stability of Ultranox 626 (an antioxidant added to plastics) in food simulants under migration conditions, migrations tests have been performed. A method has been developed for the determination of Ultranox 626 in the aqueous food simulants distilled water, 3% (w/v) acetic acid, and 15% (v/v) ethanol and in the fatty food...

HACCP approach to ensure the safety and quality of food packaging

EC Directive 93/43/EEC of 14 June 1993 on the hygiene of food stuffs has been implemented in the Netherlands through the Food and Commodity Act (Warenwet) of 14 December 1995. This Directive requires food companies to identify steps in their activities that are critical to ensuring food safety, and to ensure that adequate safety procedures are...