Leda Conceição Antonia Lamardo

Ochratoxin A in brazilian instant coffee

The aim of this study was to determine the ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination of instant coffee samples collected in the market of the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil from August to December, 2004. The EN 14133/2003 method, originally developed to quantify OTA in wine, grape juice and beer samples, was evaluated and approved for analyzing OTA in instant coffee samples. OTA was isolated in an immunoaffinity column and quantified by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The established detection and quantification limits were 0.16 and 0.52 ng/g, respectively. The recoveries from spiked samples were 92.6 ± 1.7, 83.7 ± 0.8, and 91.0 ± 1.2 % at levels of 3.0, 5.0, and 8.0 ng/g, respectively. Of a total of 82 samples analised, 81 (98.8%) contained OTA at levels ranging from 0.17 to 6.29 ng/g. The high frequency of OTA occurrence in the instant coffee samples demonstrates the importance of an effective control of this product by governmental authorities and industries. The rapid methodology for OTA analysis in instant coffee used in this study was defined and validated, permitting it´s use for quality control of this product.

Ochratoxin A in wines and grape juices commercialized in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

During the summer of 2005, a total of 101 samples of wines and grape juices purchased from supermarkets and retail stores in Sao Paulo city were analysed for the presence of Ochratoxin A (OTA). OTA was evaluated in 29 red wines and 38 grape juices produced in Brazil and in 34 imported red wines (from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and South Africa). OTA was extracted in an immunoaffinity column and detected by HPLC with fluorescence detection, according to EN 14133/2003. The detection and quantification limits established were 0.01 and 0.03 ng/mL, respectively. The recoveries for wine samples were 94.1, 82.5, 86.1% and the relative standard deviation were 6.10, 1.03, 4.11% at levels of 0.03, 2.0, 5.0 ng/mL, respectively. For grape juice, the recovery was 86.2% and the RSD was 2.01% at a level of 0.4 ng/mL. OTA contamination was found in nine of the 29 Brazilian red wines with levels ranging from 0.10 to 1.33 ng/mL and in 18 of the 34 imported red wines with levels ranging from 0.03 to 0.32 ng/mL. OTA was not detected in any of the grape juice samples analysed. Although the results from the wine samples analysed for the presence of OTA were below to the limits established by EC 123/2005 (2.0 ng/mL), low and continuous exposure to this mycotoxin could be a risk to human health.

Características físicas e químicas dos frutos do cambucizeiro (Campomanesia phaea)

Fruits of Campomanesia phaea (Myrtaceae) are used by rural population to make juice, ice cream and in alcoholic drinks to accentuate the flavor. To evaluate the physical characteristics, the nutritional potential and the use in food industry, fruits samples in several ripe steps were collected in April 2003 in Serra do Mar State Park, Nucleo Caraguatatuba, SP. The data of longitudinal (DL) and traverse (DT) diameter and the relationship among them showed that the fruits present oval and flattened shape (DL/DT <1); the pulp was succulent, with pungent flavor and citric scent, with high level of humidity (88, 80%) and pH 2, 91, high levels of alimentary fibers were detected (4, 00%), when compared to other species of the same botanical family. Low contents of protein (0, 44%), total carbohydrates (5, 00%), lipids (1, 53%) and reasonable level of ascorbic acid (33,37 mg 100 g-1) were presented. Among the inorganic elements (13) the nutrients sodium (171, 50 mg kg-1), potassium (622, 65 mg kg-1), phosphorous (123, 69 mg kg-1), magnesium (42, 08 mg kg-1) and calcium (61, 26 mg kg-1) can be pointed out. Although the chemical composition is similar to others species from the Myrtaceae family the in natura intake of this fruit is difficult due to the low level of carbohydrates and high acid content.

Occurrence of deoxynivalenol in wheat flour, instant noodle and biscuits commercialised in Brazil

ABSTRACT A total of 134 samples, consisting of 58 wheat flour, 40 instant noodle and 36 biscuits, were analysed for the presence of deoxynivalenol (DON). The samples were obtained from retail markets of the city of São Paulo during the period 2010–2014. DON was determined by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and immunoaffinity sample clean-up. Method validation followed international guidelines. The LOD and LOQ were 60 and 200 µg kg−1, respectively, considering the three different types of samples analysed. The lowest recovery found in this study was 91.8% with RSD 4.5% for instant noodles. DON was detected in 91.4%, 97.5% and 97.2% of samples wheat flour, instant noodles and biscuits, respectively, resulting in a total of 94.8% with levels ranging from LOD to 1720.0 µg kg−1.

Mineral and vitamin content of beef, chicken, and turkey hydrolysates mineral and vitamin content of protein hydrolysates

The purpose of this study was to assess the concentration of vitamins and minerals in meat protein hydrolysates. Calcium, phosphorus and iron were analyzed by inductively coupled-plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry; vitamin C was analyzed by the reduction of cupric ions and vitamins B1 and B2 by fluorescence. Regarding minerals, the beef hydrolysate (BH) had more iron than the turkey hydrolysate (TH) and the chicken hydrolysate (CH); TH had a little more phosphorus. BH had the largest amount of vitamin C, and similar amounts of vitamins B1 and B2. The amount of these nutrients found in the hydrolysates suggests that it is possible to use them to enrich special dietary formulations.