Presence of Indicator Bacteria and Occurrence of Potentially Pathogenic Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Species in Packaged Ice Cubes in Central Mexico.

This study aimed to determine the bacteriological quality and presence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes (DEP) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species in 85 packaged ice samples from 12 different states of central Mexico. Three samples had a pH of 9.8 and therefore fell outside of the acceptable range for pH. All samples were positive for aerobic-mesophilic bacteria, with limits ranging from 1 to 3.47 log CFU/mL. In total, 35, 11, and 3 ice samples were positive for total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), and E. coli, respectively. In the samples, the TC concentration ranged from <1.1 to >23 MPN/100 mL and from <1.1 to 23 MPN/100 mL for FC and E. coli. In total, 38 (44.7%) ice samples were outside of Mexico's official guidelines. None of the 12 E. coli strains isolated from the three ice samples belonged to DEP. NTM were recovered from 20 ice samples and included M. neoaurum (n = 7), M. porcinum (n = 2), M. flavescens (n = 2), M. fortuitum (n = 1), M. abscessus (n = 1), M. senegalense (n = 1), M. conceptionense (n = 1), and M. sp. (n = 1). In the remaining four samples, two NTM were isolated simultaneously. Thus, we recommend that producers should evaluate the microbiological quality of purified water used as a raw material as well as that of the final product, the ice should be packed in thick bags to avoid stretching and tearing during transportation or storage to prevent environmental contamination of ice, personnel involved in the production, and handling of ice should be trained in relative hygiene matters and how ice-machines should be cleaned and disinfected and the implementation of hazard analysis and critical control points must be applied throughout the chain of production. Finally, regular inspection by the authorities is also of great importance. These recommendations can be applied in different countries with low microbiological quality packaged ice.

Effect of saline stress on the metabolic profile and antidiabetic potential of Physalis peruviana.

Goldenberry is a fruit widely utilised for treating diabetes. Its nutraceutical properties can be enhanced by subjecting it to saline stress during cultivation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of applying NaCl (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mM) to goldenberry plants on the metabolite profile and hypoglycaemic potential of both fruit and leaf decoctions. The findings demonstrated that NaCl increases the phenolic content, flavonoids, and hydrolysable polyphenols in leaf decoctions. Additionally, four alkaloids previously unreported in Physalis peruviana were identified. Saline stress improved the profile of extractable and non-extractable phenolic compounds in both leaves and fruits. Furthermore, incubation with decoctions of stressed leaves at a concentration of 0.50 mg/mL reduced extracellular glucose levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Moreover, extracts of leaves subjected to 40 mM NaCl stress slightly diminished the postprandial hyperglycaemic peak in healthy rats, potentially attributable to increased glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Improved Phenolic Profile, Sensory Acceptability, and Storage Stability of Strawberry Decoction Beverages Added with Blueberry Decoctions.

Blueberries are rich in polyphenols, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins; however, they are expensive. In contrast, strawberries have a lower cost and are rich in ellagitannins. Therefore, a strawberry-blueberry blend decoction could produce a low-cost beverage with a rich and diverse phytochemical profile. In this study, we developed three berry-based beverages: blend strawberry-blueberry (SBB), strawberry (SB), and blueberry (BB). The polyphenol profile of the beverages was characterized by UPLC-ESI-Q-ToF MSE, an acceptability test was carried out with potential consumers, and a stability analysis was performed under commercial storage conditions (4, 25, and 34 °C). The SBB exhibited a good sensorial preference (score of 81.3) and showed high contents and a diverse composition of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, which were up to 3.0- and 1.2-fold higher compared to the SB, respectively. Regarding the storage stability, the SBB showed better retention of lightness (97.9%) and red color (66.7%) at the end of the storage under refrigerated conditions (4 °C) compared to the SB. Therefore, these results demonstrate that using blended berry fruits leads to the creation of a functional beverage that has higher nutraceutical potential than single-berry-based beverages.