M. S. García Falcón

Enrichment of benzo[a]pyrene in vegetable oils and determination by HPLC-FL

We have developed a simple method for the determination of the carcinogen Benzo[a]pyrene (BP) in vegetable oils. The method consists of extraction of the vegetable oil in acetonitrile, concentration to dryness in rotary evaporator and redissolution of the residue in hexane. The purification of the hexane extract was on Sep-Pack Silica Plus cartridges, and the determination of the BP in the isolated extract was by HPLC-FL. Detection and quantification limits were 0.23 and 0.32 mug kg(-1) of olive oil, respectively. Recovery (>93%) and RSD (<4%) were satisfactory. When applied to 18 oil samples, BP levels varied from not detected to 1.99 mug kg(-1).

Quantitative analysis of colistin and tiamulin in liquid and solid medicated premixes by HPLC with diode-array detection

SummaryColistin (COL) and tiamulin (TML) are antibiotics used in veterinary practice. Diseases in animals are usually treated by adding the drug (liquid and/or solid medicated premix) to animal feed. Two simple, inexpensive, and rapid methods have been developed for quantification of COL and TML in liquid and solid medicated premixes by HPLC with diode-array detection, on the basis of scanning in the UV range 200–380 nm. The wavelengths 206 and 208 nm were used for quantification of COL and TML, respectively. The total elution time was less than 15 min. When the applicability of the optimized method was tested by analysis of commercial feed premixes there was no interference from the matrix.

EL USO DE LOS ANTIBIÓTICOS EN LA ALIMENTACIÓN ANIMAL: PERSPECTIVA ACTUAL THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN ANIMAL FEEDS: AN ACTUAL PERSPECTIVE O USO DOS ANTIBIÓTICOS NA ALIMENTACIÓN ANIMAL: PERSPECTIVA ACTUAL

Abstract The main objective in animal farms is to achieve a high birth rate and to maximise productive performance in terms of average daily gains and feed efficiency at less cost. Another objective is to decrease the incidence and the persistence of infections. The use of antibiotics has a double function. As a first function, antibiotics are used with therapeutic purposes, being the medicated feeds the most common mode of administration of the drug. As a second function, antibiotics can be used as feed additives in order to operate as growth promoters. However, there is a growing public concern on the negative effects of the use of antibiotics, especially because of the possibility of resistance development by gut microorganism that can be transferred to humans. Resumen Conseguir una tasa de natalidad elevada así como una mayor rapidez en la capacidad de engorde y en el crecimiento de la producción animal son actualmente los principales objetivos en las grandes explotaciones. Al mismo tiempo, la mezcla de animales destinados al consumo con diferentes procedencias en lugares reducidos de estas explotaciones, favorece el contacto y la persistencia con agentes parasitarios e infecciosos. Ante estas dos situaciones, el uso de los antibióticos presenta un doble papel. En primer lugar, éstos pueden utilizarse con fines terapéuticos siendo los piensos medicamentosos una de las vías más usadas para administrar el fármaco. En segundo lugar, pueden emplearse como promotores de crecimiento animal f avoreciendo el control de la flora bacteriana, lo que conlleva un mayor aprovechamiento de los nutrientes y un aumento considerable de peso. Investigaciones realizadas en los últimos años demuestran la posible relación entre el consumo de antibióticos por animales y la aparición de bacterias resistentes, tanto en estos animales como en los consumidores de alimentos procedentes de los primeros. Palabras clave: antibióticos, piensos medicamentosos, premezclas medicamentosas, promotores de crecimiento. Resumo Conseguir unha tasa de natalidade elevada así como unha maior rapidez na capacidade de engorde e no crecemento da producción animal son actualmente os principais obxetivos nas grandes explotacións. Ó mesmo tempo, a mistura de animais destinados ó consumo con diferentes procedencias en lugares reducidos destas explotacións, favorece o contacto e a persistencia con axentes parasitarios e infecciosos. Ante estas duas situacións, o uso dos antibióticos presenta un doble papel. En primeiro lugar, éstes poden utilizarse con fins terapéuticos sendo os pensos medicamentosos unha das vías máis usadas para administra-lo fármaco. En segundo lugar, pódense emplear como promotores do crecemento animal favorecendo o control da flora bacteriana do tubo dixestivo, o que conleva un maior aproveitamento dos nutrintes e un aumento considerable do peso. Pesquisas realizadas nos últimos anos demostran a posible relación entre o consumo de antibióticos por animais e a aparición de bacterias resistentes, tanto nestes animais como nos consumidores de alimentos procedentes dos primeiros. Palabras chave: antibióticos, pensos medicamentosos, premisturas medicamentosas, promotores do crecemento.

ADECUACIÓN DEL ETIQUETADO DE ALIMENTOS ECOLÓGICOS A LA NORMATIVA VIGENTE EN ESPAÑA LEGISLATION COMPLIANCE STUDY OF ORGANIC FOOD LABELLING AT SPAIN ADECUACIÓN DO ETIQUETADO DE ALIMENTOS ECOLÓXICOS Á NORMATIVA VIXENTE EN ESPAÑA

Abstract Legislation on labelling of organic food products sold in Spain was compiled and clasified. The compliance with the current legislation related to the whole information presented on 109 labels of organic packed foods from Spanish market, sampled in detailed food shops settled in Galicia, was studied. It was shown that 60% of the studied labels presented one or more legal irregularity. 36% of the samples contained nutritional information and 28% of them were incorrect. Regarding to general requirements of labelling (Real Decreto 1334/1999), 30% did not comply the law, nevertheless regarding to the information related exclusively for organic foods, a low percentage (8%) was not in agreement with legislation. Many and different types of quality stamps were found in these labels reporting its organic origin, and some of the certifying organisations were not authorized by UE. The high percentage of disagreement with legislation is incomprehensible, because these products are provided with a quality distintion and its organic production is certified by EU authorized certifying organisms.

BEBIDAS ENRIQUECIDAS CON VITAMINAS ANTIOXIDANTES: ASPECTOSLEGALESY ESTUDIO DE SU ETIQUETADO NUTRICIONAL ENRICHED BEVERAGE WITH ANTIOXIDANT VITAMINS: LEGAL ASPECTS AND A STUDY OF THE NUTRITIONAL LABELING BEBIDAS ENRIQUECIDAS CON VITAMINAS ANTIOXIDANTES: ASPECTOS LEGAIS Y ESTUDIO DO SEU ETIQUETADO NUTRICIONAL

Abstract Due to the benefits of antioxidant vitamins A, E and C, in the protection of the organism against free radicals, they are being increasingly used by the food industry to enrich foodstuffs, including a large variety of beverages. On the contrary than in USA or Japan, in Europe there are no specific regulations to control these products. This legal gap is contributing to the confusion of the consumers, producing problematic situations in some sectors of the population, such as in the case of pregnant women. According to nutritional labeling, this type of enriched products must reflect the nutritional properties. To verify whether these products fulfil the regulation in this study we checked labels in 16 samples, observing irregularities in the about 81% of the products. These irregularities are mainly: incorrect expressions of vitamin contents, omission of vitamin A proportions regarding RDAs, and deficiencies in the lowest level of vitamin C for enrichment.