Cereal bar enriched with ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Miller): physicochemical and sensory characterization.

Ora-pro-nobis (OPN) is an unconventional food plant with high nutritional value, and its nutritional composition can be altered according to cultivation. Cereal bars are a popular nutrient-poor foods, and OPN could be incorporated to improve the nutritional quality. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and sensory acceptability of cereal bars enriched with OPN flour (OpnF) from different forms of cultivation. OpnF was obtained by dehydrating and grinding OPN leaves collected in rural (ROpnF) and urban (UOpnF) municipalities. Two formulations of cereal bars, peanut flavor (Bpn) and mango flavor (Bmg), each with 10% OpnF, were prepared. The macronutrients and mineral composition, oxalate content, water activity, texture, color profile, and acceptability were evaluated. ROpnF had the highest protein, iron, and manganese content, whereas UOpnF had the highest ash and magnesium content. The oxalic acid/calcium ratio was 1.43 and did not imply calcium bioavailability. In addition to nutritional and protein values, Bpn and Bmg presented a good sensory acceptability index of > 77.5% with market potential. Bmg has the highest mineral content and is a source of iron, manganese, and magnesium. OpnF can be used in cereal bars and potentially improve nutritional attributes and used in other foods in a similar way.

The prevalence of wheezing and its association with serum zinc concentration in children and adolescents in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of zinc serum status on the prevalence of wheezing in a sample of children and adolescents in Northeastern Brazil. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This is a cross-sectional study which included 592 students of 6-12 years old, from the public elementary schools of São Francisco do Conde, Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Report of wheezing in the past 12 months was collected using a questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Program (ISAAC) phase III, adapted to Portuguese. The determination of serum Zn levels was performed using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Data on anthropometric status, level of physical activity, pubertal development and socioeconomic information, for each participant were obtained. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations of interest. RESULTS: Of the students, 8.6% (95% CI 6.30-10.9) reported having wheezing. The mean (SD) serum zinc level was 114 (22.9 µg/dL). The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis showed, after adjustments, positive and significant association between low serum zinc levels and wheezing. Students categorized as being below the median for serum Zn concentration presented an almost 1.9-fold increase in the wheezing prevalence ratio (OR=1.9; 95% CI 1.03-3.53). CONCLUSION: The main findings of this study suggest that the level of zinc may influence the risk of wheezing in late childhood on the study population.

Avaliação do frescor do pescado congelado comercializado no mercado municipal de São Francisco do Conde - BA / Evaluation of freshness of frozen sea food sold at the municipal market of São Francisco do Conde - BA

Avaliou-se o frescor do pescado congelado comercializado no Mercado Municipal de São Francisco do Conde-BA. Foram coletadas 72 amostras de pescado, compreendendo 12 amostras de cada uma das seguintes espécies: robalo (Centropomus undecimalis), tainha (Mugilbrasiliensis), camarão (Penaeus brasiliensis), sururu (Mytella guyanensis), ostra (Crassostrea rhizophorae) e siri (Callinectes sapidus).As análises realizadas compreenderam determinação de pH e de bases voláteis totais (BVT) e provas de Éber para gás sulfídrico e para amônia, seguindo metodologias estabelecidas pelo Instituto Adolfo Lutz e pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). Os resultados evidenciaram que 62,5% das amostras estavam fora do limite permitido pela legislação para pH, 27,8% para bases voláteis totais e 70,8% para gás sulfídrico. Em relação à prova de Éber para amônia, evidenciou-se que 40,3% das amostras apresentaram-se positivas, estando em desacordo com recomendações técnicas. Em face à legislação, registrou-se 90,3% de não conformidade para o conjunto de amostras. Os crustáceos compreenderam o grupo de pescado com maior índice de não atendimento aos padrões. Avalia-se que as “não conformidades” observadas decorreram, provavelmente, de inadequações, tanto no que se refere às condições de higiene quanto à insuficiência de métodos de conservação dos produtos, desde a captura até a comercialização. O estudo sinaliza riscos potenciais à saúde dos consumidores destes produtos e a necessidade de medidas estruturantes, com vistas a fortalecer esta cadeia produtiva, em nível local.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the frozen seafood commercialized at the Municipal Market of São Francisco do Conde-BA. Seventy-two samples of seafood were collected, comprised of twelve samples for each one of the following species: sea bass (Centropomus undecimalis), mullet (Mugil brasiliensis), shrimp (Penaeus brasiliensis), mussel (Mytella guyanensis), oyster (Crassostrea rhizophorae), and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Analyses were carried out to determine pH and total volatile bases (TVB) and Éber test for sulfidric gas and ammonia, following methodologies established by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. Results showed that 62.5% of the samples were above the limit allowed by the legislation for pH, 27.8% for total volatile bases, and 70.8% for sulfudric gas. Regarding Éber test for ammonia, 40.3% of the samples were positive, being failing to comply with technical recommendations. A percentage of 90.3% of non-compliance with the legislation was observed for the whole set of samples. Crustaceans were the group that showed the highest rate for not achieving standards. The study analyzes these non-conformities as being probably resulting from inadequate hygiene conditions, as well as from insufficient of the conservation methods, from the catching to the selling. It points out potential risks for consumers health of this products and the need for structuring measures, with the objective of strenghtening this production chain at a local level.(AU)

Evaluation of freshness of frozen seafood sold at the Municipal Market of São Francisco do Conde - BA / Avaliação do frescor do pescado congelado comercializado no mercado municipal de São Francisco do Conde-BA

Avaliou-se o frescor do pescado congelado comercializado no Mercado Municipal de São Francisco do Conde-BA. Foram coletadas 72 amostras de pescado, compreendendo 12 amostras de cada uma das seguintes espécies: robalo (Centropomus undecimalis), tainha (Mugilbrasiliensis), camarão (Penaeus brasiliensis), sururu (Mytella guyanensis), ostra (Crassostrea rhizophorae) e siri (Callinectes sapidus).As análises realizadas compreenderam determinação de pH e de bases voláteis totais (BVT) e provas de Éber para gás sulfídrico e para amônia, seguindo metodologias estabelecidas pelo Instituto Adolfo Lutz e pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). Os resultados evidenciaram que 62,5% das amostras estavam fora do limite permitido pela legislação para pH, 27,8% para bases voláteis totais e 70,8% para gás sulfídrico. Em relação à prova de Éber para amônia, evidenciou-se que 40,3% das amostras apresentaram-se positivas, estando em desacordo com recomendações técnicas. Em face à legislação, registrou-se 90,3% de não conformidade para o conjunto de amostras. Os crustáceos compreenderam o grupo de pescado com maior índice de não atendimento aos padrões. Avalia-se que as "não conformidades"observadas decorreram, provavelmente, de inadequações, tanto no que se refere às condições de higiene quanto à insuficiência de métodos de conservação dos produtos, desde a captura até a comercialização. O estudo sinaliza riscos potenciais à saúde dos consumidores destes produtos e a necessidade de medidas estruturantes, com vistas a fortalecer esta cadeia produtiva, em nível local.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the frozen seafoodcommercialized at the Municipal Market of São Francisco do Conde-BA.Seventy-two samples of seafoodwere collected, comprised of twelve samples for each one of the following species: sea bass (Centropomus undecimalis), mullet (Mugil brasiliensis), shrimp (Penaeus brasiliensis), mussel (Mytella guyanensis), oyster (Crassostrea rhizophorae), and blue crab(Callinectes sapidus). Analyses were carried out to determine pH and total volatile bases (TVB) and Éber test for sulfidric gas and ammonia, following methodologies established by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. Results showed that 62.5% of the samples were above the limit allowed by the legislation for pH, 27.8% for total volatile bases, and 70.8% for sulfudric gas. Regarding Éber test for ammonia, 40.3% of the samples were positive, being failing to comply with technical recommendations. A percentage of 90.3% of non-compliance with the legislation was observed for the whole set of samples. Crustaceans were the group that showed the highest rate for not achieving standards. The study analyzes these non-conformities as being probably resulting from inadequate hygiene conditions, as well as from insufficient of the conservation methods, from the catching to the selling. It points out potential risks for consumer'shealth of this products and the need for structuringmeasures, with the objective of strenghtening this production chain at a local level.(AU)