Ochratoxin A and aflatoxin B1 in breakfast cereals marketed in Serbia - occurrence and health risk characterisation.

The present paper reports data on the occurrence of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in breakfast cereals marketed in Serbia and interprets consequent dietary exposure. A total of 136 samples was collected in 2012 and 2015 and analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. OTA was detected in 20.7% of the samples in 2012 and 13.0% in 2015, with 3.6% and 0% of the samples above the EU maximum level, respectively. AFB1 was found in low concentrations in 11.1% of the samples collected in 2015, mainly corn based. Comparison of estimated exposure of Serbian adult population with respective toxicological reference values showed no concern for public health.

Analysis of salt content in meals in kindergarten facilities in Novi Sad.

INTRODUCTION: Investigations have brought evidence that salt intake is positively related to systolic blood pressure and that children with higher blood pressure are more susceptible to hypertension in adulthood. In developed countries the main source of salt is processed food. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to determine total sodium chloride (NaCl) in average daily meal (breakfast, snack and dinner) and in each of three meals children receive in kindergarten. METHODS: From kindergarten, in the meal time, 88 samples of daily meals (breakfast, snacks and dinner) offered to children aged 4-6 years were taken. Standardized laboratory methods were applied to determine proteins, fats, ash and water in order to calculate energy value of meal. The titrimetric method with AgNO3, and K2CrO4 as indicator, was applied in order to determine chloride ion. Content of NaCl was calculated as %NaCl = mlAgNO3 x 0.05844 x 5 x 100/g tested portion. NaCl content in total daily meal and each meal and in 100 kcal of each meal was calculated using descriptive statistical method. Student's t-test was applied to determine statistical differences of NaCl amount among meals. RESULTS: NaCl content in average daily meal was 5.2 +/- 1.7 g (CV 31.7%), in breakfast 1.5 +/- 0.6 g (CV 37.5%), in dinner 3.5 +/- 1.6 g (CV 46.1%) and in snack 0.3 +/- 0.4 g (CV 163.3%). NaCl content per 100 kcal of breakfast was 0.4 +/- 0.1 g (CV 29.5%), dinner 0.7 +/- 0.2 g (CV 27.8%) and snack 0.13 +/- 0.19 g (CV 145.8%). The difference of NaCl content among meals was statistically significant (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Children in kindergarten, through three meals, received NaCl in a quantity that exceeded internationally established population nutrient goal for daily salt intake. The main source of NaCl was dinner, a meal that is cooked at place.

How a routine checking of Escherichia coli in retailed food of animal origin can protect consumers against exposition to Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocytogenes?

BACKGROUND/AIM: According to the literature that has been published over the last two decades Campylobacter spp i Listeria monocitogens can be identified as causes of numerous diseases derived by consuming food of animal origin. The purpose of this paper was to find out how established national microbiological criteria of the Republic of Serbia on food safety in retailed food of animal origin could contribute to consumer's protection against exposition to foodborne pathogens such as Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. METHODS: During a routine microbiological safety control of randomly selected 60 samples of fresh poultry meat, 30 samples of other fresh meat readymade for grilling, 30 samples of sausage products, 37 samples of heat-treated meat, 39 samples of toppings for fast food of animal origin and 31 samples of dairy products a national food safety criteria (Escherichia coli, aerobic plate count, Salmonella spp., coagulasa positive Staphylococcus, Proteus spp., sulphito-reducting Clostridia) were applied and, as well as, testing to Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocitogens. In determination of Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocytogenes, food quality control methods of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) were applied, while in determination of the other above motioned bacteria, national provisions on microbiological methods were applied who are adjusted to the FAO ones. RESULTS: Related to the national criteria on microbiological food safety, 88 (38.8%) samples, out of the total 227 tested, were rejected. When to these results, the results of laboratory tests on Listeria monocytogens were added, a terminal number of rejected samples were not changed. When to these results, the results of Campylobacter spp. testing were added, 91 (40.1%) out of the 227 samples were unsatisfied. Results of logistic regression model with occurrence of Escherichia coli as dependent variable indicated that Escherichia coli was 4.5 times likely to occur among samples with Campylobacter spp. than among samples without Campylobacter spp. (OR = 4.515, 95% CI: 1.019-20.002). Sensitivity of the fitted model (Hosmer-Lemeshowp = 0.268) was 76.8% and its specificity was 75.0%. At the same time Escherichia coli was confound in all (100%) food samples that were contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes. CONCLUSION: Statistical analysis indicated that Escherichia coli was completely sensitive to identify all samples contaminated with Listeria monocytogenas and highly sensitive to identify samples contaminated with Campylobacter spp. Nevertheless, 3 (1.3%) of the tested samples were not covered with Escherichia coli.

[Medical nutrition prevention and medical nutrition therapy of lipid metabolism disorder].

High energetic density of nutrition, insufficient physical activity and smoking are the most common causes of obesity and lipid metabolism disorders (hyperlipoproteinemia and dyslipoproteinemia). Hyperlipoproteinemia and dislipoproteinemia are mass noncommunicable diseases and at the same time they are main causes of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, hepatic diseases and some localization of malignant diseases. Cardiovascular diseases and malignant diseases are the leading causes of mortality in the world. Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health Nutrition and The Second European Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy represent the World Health Organisation approach in prevention of risks of development, and treatment of mass noncommunicable diseases, first of all for hyperlipoproteinemia, cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. According to the previously mentioned health programmes, medical nutrition therapy of hyperlipoproteinemia and dislipoproteinemia should be applied on whole population and individual level as well. Medical nutrition therapy is managed on individual level. Eminent international organizations, such as the European Society of Atherosclerosis and the American Heart Association, give priority to medical nutrition prevention and medical nutrition therapy in their guides for prevention and therapy of hyperlipoproteinemia, cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular diseases.

[Health and environment].

INTRODUCTION: The Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, is responsible for undergraduate and graduate courses in the field of preventive medicine. The principal task of physicians in the 21st century is to provide health promotion and desease prevention. In the future, evaluation of physician knowledge and competence will be predominantly based on patients' health conditions. HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT: Human health is a result of long-term interaction between human genome and the environment. Good human health requires permanent control of health conditions as well as control of environmental health hazards. Various environmental factors, such as physical, chemical, biological, social and economic, affect the population health. Air, drinking water and food are fundamental to the existence of life of all living beings on Earth, and therefore they have enormous influence on the health of individuals and populations. CONCLUSION: The significance of the above mentioned requirements, essential for human health, is the reason why the Department of Hygiene conducted an investigation on the quality of air, food and water (water is a foodstuff as well) in Vojvodina.

Occurrence of Campylobacter, Salmonella, Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes in some retail food products in Novi Sad.

The official reporting system in the Province of Vojvodina (PV) indicates that cases of human salmonellosis were partly covered by complete epidemiological investigation including laboratory analysis of the suspected food. Intestinal campylobacteriosis and yersiniosis and four cases of septicemias caused by Listeria monocytogenes were not fully epidemiologically investigated. Actual country legislation on food safety does not include provisions for a routine control of the above mentioned pathogens except for Salmonella. In the PV, there are no other sources of data that contribute to risk assessment of the above food-borne diseases. A pilot investigation, performed in Novi Sad, indicated that 8.17% out of the total number of 257 retail food samples (90 of fresh meat and 167 of ready-to-eat food) had been contaminated with one of the tested bacteria Campylobacter or Salmonella or Listeria monocytogenes. Yersinia enterocolitica was not detected in any of the tested samples. Fresh poultry meat and other fresh meats were the dominant sources of the detected pathogens compared to samples of ready-to-eat food (p < 0.05). Campylobacter was detected in 18.8% and 10.0% samples of fresh poultry and other fresh meat respectively, which was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Salmonella was detected in 3.3% samples of fresh poultry meat. Listeria monocytogenes was detected in 5.0% samples of fresh poultry and in 3.3% samples of other fresh meat, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). One sample (0.6%) of ready to eat food was contaminated with Campylobacter and one (0.6%) with Salmonella.