[Evaluation of dairy production in the alpine regions of Valcamonica and Sondrio, and the adherence to hygienic practice guidelines]. / Valutazione igienico-sanitaria degli alpeggi della Valcamonica e della provincia di Sondrio. Applicabilità di un sistema di autocontrollo.

The Regional Veterinary Service of Lombardy (northern Italian region) developed guideline on good hygienic practices to improve the safety of milk production and transformation in the mountain pastures and to grant the European acknowledgment (EU seal). Therefore we carried out 26 inspections in Valcamonica (Province of Brescia) and 30 in the Sondrio's province (26% and 16% respectively) in mountain pastures that had required the acknowledgment. The data analysis has shown that in Valcamonica 26.9% of the mountains pastures was conform to the regulations, in Sondrio's province instead 6.6% was conform; the frequency of acceptable conformity level increases respectively to 46% and to 33%, if we also consider the mountains pastures in restructuring phase and with very low level of non conformity. Our study emphasizes the need of structural adjustments of these traditional setting and of education of workers in order to improve the food safety and operator's life quality, and also to promote the maintenance of mountain pastures in the Alpine region.

Tempe, a nutritious and healthy food from Indonesia.

Tempe is a fermented soy bean product originally made by Central Javanese people through fermentation with Rhizopus species. Although there is evidence of earlier fermentation of soy, tempe had appeared in the Central Javanese food pattern in the 1700s. Through its extensive use in main meals and snacks, it has led to people in the Jakarta prectinct having the highest known soy intake in the world and accordingly of the isoflavones contained. This provides an unique opportunity to consider the health effects of tempe (and soy), both beneficial and potentially toxic. Apparent health benefits are bowel health, protection against cardiovascular disease, certain cancers (e.g. breast and prostate) and menopausal health (including bone health). The long use of tempe at all stages of life, without recognised adverse effects, suggests it is relatively safe at the levels of intake seen in Central Java. However, further research on soy, both fermented and non-fermented, in Central Java should yield more insight into the mechanisms of action and the safe ranges of intake.

A community-based outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium associated with salami consumption in Northern Italy.

An outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium belonging to phage type (PT) 193 occurred in autumn 1995 and involved 83 individuals in a large area of Northern Italy (Lombardy Region). Epidemiological and microbiological investigations of strains isolated from clinical and food specimens revealed that the vehicle was a batch of salami, produced on 4 September 1995 by a local firm. The outbreak was contained when the batch was withdrawn from sale. Insufficient ripening of the salami had allowed the salmonella to survive, emphasizing the need to define criteria for the ripening process of foods such as salami.