Quality Characterization of Honeys from Iraqi Kurdistan and Comparison with Central European Honeys.

The main objective of this work was to determine the significant physicochemical and bioactive parameters of honeys originating from Iraqi Kurdistan. For this purpose, honey samples (n = 16) were taken directly from Kurdish beekeepers from different places of Dohuk and Erbil Governorate in 2018 and 2022. The following parameters were analyzed: moisture content, electrical conductivity, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, pH, free acidity, content of saccharides, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, color, color intensity and DPPH, FRAP. Another objective of this work was to compare the properties of Kurdistan honeys with the requirements of European Union law and with the honeys of Central Europe. A total of 48 honey samples were included in the comparison. It was detected that the honeys produced in Iraqi Kurdistan met the strict quality criteria set by European law, which is important information for local beekeepers and experts in relation to honey production and an opportunity to set local limits of honey quality. Despite the different climatic and topographical conditions, the available flora, and the different species of bees, the properties of Iraqi Kurdistan honeys were similar to the properties of honeys from the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Effect of Cephalosporin Antibiotics on the Activity of Yoghurt Cultures.

The presence of antibiotics in milk is a significant problem affecting the technological safety of dairy products. The aim of the study was to determine the sensitivity of yoghurt cultures to residual levels of selected cephalosporin antibiotics (cephalexin, cefoperazone, cefquinome, cefazolin, and ceftiofur). Five yoghurt cultures were selected containing strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Artificially fortified milk samples (whole pasteurized milk; 85 °C; 3−5 s) with cephalosporins at a concentration of the maximum residue limit were used to evaluate the sensitivity of the yoghurt cultures by monitoring the pH, titratable acidity, and the concentration of selected organic acids (lactic, pyruvic, citric, acetic, orotic, oxalic, formic, uric, and succinic acids) at the end of fermentation (43 °C; 4−5.5 h; pH ≤ 4.6). The titratable acidity was determined by the Soxhlet−Henkel method and the organic acid concentration was monitored by reversed-phase HPLC. Ceftiofur had the greatest effect on the yoghurt culture activity, with a statistically highly significant effect (p < 0.05) on the pH, titratable acidity, and the content of lactic, pyruvic, and acetic acids in all cultures. Other cephalosporins also showed an inhibitory effect on yoghurt metabolism as seen by the evaluation of the lactic and pyruvic acid concentrations.

Effect on Benzoic Acid Production of Yoghurt Culture and the Temperatures of Storage and Milk Heat Treatment in Yoghurts from Cow, Goat and Sheep Milk.

Yoghurts from cow, goat and sheep milk were produced and stored under defined conditions to monitor the influence of various factors on the benzoic acid content as determined by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC). The highest level of benzoic acid was found in sheep yoghurt (43.26 ± 5.11 mg kg-1) and the lowest in cow yoghurt (13.38 ± 3.56 mg kg-1), with goat yoghurt (21.31 ± 5.66 mg kg-1) falling in between. Benzoic acid content did not show statistically significant variation until the second and third weeks of storage, and the dynamics of this variation varied depending on the type of yoghurt. The yoghurt culture containing different strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus also affected the contents of benzoic acid. Further, the different storage temperatures (2 and 8 °C) as well as the temperatures used to milk heat treatment before yoghurt production (80, 85 and 90 °C) affected the amount of benzoic acid in different types of yoghurts.

Effect of preservatives on the shelf-life and sensory characteristics of pasteurized liquid whole egg stored at 4°C.

The study focused on the effects of traditional (benzoate-sorbate and triphosphates) and alternative (nisin, Laktocid, Defence JB, and Galimax Flavor) food preservatives on the microbiological quality and sensory properties of pasteurized liquid whole eggs (LWE). The LWE samples with the addition of a test preservative and a control were stored at 4°C for 45 D. The selected microbiological parameters, sensory attributes, and color space parameters were determined. The results were statistically analyzed by means of factorial ANOVA, followed by the Tukey post hoc test. The multivariate method of principal component analysis based on the correlation matrix was employed to assess the relationships between pH and sensory characteristics of LWE. Total plate counts at the end of storage differed significantly, being the lowest in samples with benzoate-sorbate (1.69 ± 0.12 log cfu.g-1) and Laktocid (2.12 ± 0.12 log cfu.g-1). The final counts of lactic acid bacteria on day 45 were lower in the samples with benzoate-sorbate, triphosphates, nisin, and Laktocid (maximum 1.01 ± 1.44 log cfu.g-1). The amounts of yeasts at the end of storage did not differ among samples with different preservatives; none were detected in any samples with the exception of Defence JB (1.28 ± 1.90 log cfu.g-1). The lowest final mold count was observed in LWE with Laktocid (0.92 ± 1.29 log cfu.g-1). In conclusion, Laktocid showed great potential as a preservative; it had however a negative impact on pH value and the sensory properties of LWE.

Detection of Fluoroquinolone Residues in Milk using Yersinia Spp. Strains: Towards Better Sensitivity for Flumequine Determination.

INTRODUCTION: Plate diffusion methods play an important role in the monitoring system for antimicrobial agents in raw materials and foodstuffs of animal origin. The aim of this work was to select a Yersinia spp. strain for the plate diffusion method based on sensitivity to a fluoroquinolone, namely flumequine. Another aim was to determine the optimal conditions of the method with the selected strain of Yersinia ruckeri CCM 8467 and to determine the detection capability (CCß) of this method for residues of selected fluoroquinolones in milk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Optimum method conditions were set: cell concentration in the test agar at the level of 9.105-106 CFU/mL, discs with a diameter of 12.7 mm, Antimicrobial Inhibitor Test Agar with a pH of 6.0, and incubation at 30°C for at least 18 h and up to 24 h. RESULTS: With respect to the maximum residue limit (MRL), the Y. ruckeri plate method demonstrated the lowest sensitivity to flumequine. The CCß of the method for flumequine was in the concentration of 100 µg/L-1 (twice the MRL). The study also confirmed that the method exhibits very good sensitivity to the other tested fluoroquinolones, which were marbofloxacin (30 µg/L, 0.4 MRL), ciprofloxacin (10 µg/L, 0.1 MRL), and enrofloxacin (20 µg/L, 0.2 MRL), but lower sensitivity to danofloxacin (42 µg/L, 1.4 MRL). CONCLUSION: The method with the CCM 8467 strain of Y. ruckeri showed a higher sensitivity to flumequine than the method with the ATCC 11303 strain of E. coli.

Heavy metals in hair samples: a pilot study of anaemic children in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals with their potential haematotoxic effect can contribute to the risks of anaemia in children in the Central Asian Republics (CAR), where burden and exposure to these metals is still not sufficiently known and reported. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was performed in Central Asian countries in hospitals in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan with the aim to investigate the potential contribution of heavy metals to anaemia in children. In each country, 20 children were recruited, all were hospitalised with diagnosed anaemia. A sample of hair was taken from each child to assess the hair concentration of lead, cadmium and mercury. RESULTS: Relatively high levels of hair lead were observed, particularly in Kyrgyzstan. While lead and cadmium concentrations did not differ significantly among countries, mercury was lower in Kazakhstan than in Kyrgyzstan (p < 0.05) and Uzbekistan (p < 0.001). Hair lead and cadmium levels were significantly positively correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.51, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed higher than expected levels of hair lead, cadmium and mercury in anaemic children. Because iron deficiency anaemia is a major public health problem in CAR, further investigation of the extent of exposure to heavy metal and its contribution in iron deficiency anaemia in the region would be recommended.