Massimo Mozzon

Insight into the proximate composition and microbial diversity of edible insects marketed in the European Union

In recent years, the idea of exploiting edible insects for their industrial production has attracted the attention of media, research institutions and food industry operators, because of the numerous positive factors associated with this food source. Notwithstanding, insects are still underutilized in Western countries. Moreover, edible insects are carriers of natural microorganisms; hence, safety issues may arise from their industrial production. This study was aimed at providing insight into the proximate composition, with a focus in the fatty acid and amino acid composition, and microbial diversity of some processed edible insects marketed in the European Union. A high content of protein and fat was seen, with values ranging from 59.46 to 46.78 and 35.32 to 15.18%, respectively, with nutritionally valuable characteristics in both the lipid fractions and amino acid profiles. Furthermore, a great variation in microbial counts was seen. Both commensal and potential pathogenic microorganisms ascribed to the genera Pediococcus, Weissella, Streptomyces, Acinetobacter, Agrococcus, Arthrobacter, Naxibacter, Planomicrobium, Rufibacter, Bacillus, Clostridium, Vibrio, Desulfovibrio, Loktanella, Escherichia, Tetrapisispora, Aspergillus, Eurotium, Debaryomyces, and Wallemia, were identified by PCR-DGGE. The high diversity in the chemical composition and microbial profile of the marketed edible insects analyzed suggest a role of both the rearing and processing procedures on these variables. The results overall collected encourage the exploitation of edible insects as a valuable large-scale, animal-based commodity.

Crude palm oil from interspecific hybrid Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis: Fatty acid regiodistribution and molecular species of glycerides

The composition and structure of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and partial glycerides of crude palm oil obtained from interspecific hybrid Elaeis oleifera×Elaeis guineensis, grown in Colombia, were fully characterised and compared to data obtained by analysing crude African palm oil. Hybridisation appears to substantially modify the biosynthesis of fatty acids (FAs) rather than their assembly in TAGs. In fact, total FAs analysis showed significant differences between these two types of oil, with hybrid palm oil having a higher percentage of oleic acid (54.6 ± 1.0 vs 41.4 ± 0.3), together with a lower saturated fatty acid content (33.5 ± 0.5 vs 47.3 ± 0.1), while the percentage of essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, does not undergo significant changes. Furthermore, 34 TAG types were identified, with no qualitative differences between African and E. guineensis×E. oleifera hybrid palm oil samples. Short and medium chain FAs (8:0, 10:0, 12:0, 14:0) were utilised, together, to build a restricted number of TAG molecular species. Oil samples from the E. guineensis×E. oleifera hybrid showed higher contents of monosaturated TAGs (47.5-51.0% vs 36.7-37.1%) and triunsaturated TAGs (15.5-15.6% vs 5.2-5.4%). The sn-2 position of TAGs in hybrid palm oil was shown to be predominantly esterified with oleic acid (64.7-66.0 mol% vs 55.1-58.2 mol% in African palm oil) with only 10-15% of total palmitic acid and 6-20% of stearic acid acylated in the secondary position. The total amount of diacylglycerols (DAGs) was in agreement with the values of free acidity; DAG types found were in agreement with the representativeness of different TAG species.

Trends in fatty acids positional distribution in human colostrum, transitional, and mature milk

This study investigates the stereospecific distribution of fatty acids across the triacylglycerol molecules in breast milk obtained at three different periods of lactation. Fatty acids were distributed within the three sn-positions of the glycerol backbone in a highly specific pattern; the shorter fatty acids tend toward the sn-2 and sn-3 positions of the glycerol molecule, whereas the longer chain fatty acids are more in the sn-1 and sn-3 position. Significant differences in fatty acid composition occurred between lactation times, but factors affecting the fatty acids content do not alter their regiospecific fatty acyl profile, although the quantities in each position can be changed. This suggests that the fatty acids regiodistribution profile in human milk related to the optimal infant growth should be used as a standard for the preparation of infant formulas.

Simultaneous quantitation of nicotinamide riboside, nicotinamide mononucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in milk by a novel enzyme-coupled assay

Nicotinamide riboside, the most recently discovered form of vitamin B3, and its phosphorylated form nicotinamide mononucleotide, have been shown to be potent supplements boosting intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) levels, thus preventing or ameliorating metabolic and mitochondrial diseases in mouse models. Here we report for the first time on the simultaneous quantitation of nicotinamide riboside, nicotinamide mononucleotide and NAD in milk by means of a fluorometric, enzyme-coupled assay. Application of this assay to milk from different species revealed that the three vitamers were present in human and donkey milk, while being selectively distributed in the other milks. Human milk was the richest source of nicotinamide mononucleotide. Overall, the three vitamers accounted for a significant fraction of total vitamin B3 content. Pasteurization did not affect the bovine milk content of nicotinamide riboside, whereas UHT processing fully destroyed the vitamin. In human milk, NAD levels were significantly affected by the lactation time.

High resolution mass approach to characterize refrigerated black truffles stored under different storage atmospheres

Freshly harvested Tuber melanosporum samples were packed and stored at 4°C under reduced atmospheric pressure or modified atmosphere for four weeks. Multivariate analysis was employed to correlate the antioxidant power of the ethanolic extracts of the samples with the chemical composition determined by high resolution mass spectrometry. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with a coularray detector was applied to select the chemical species associated with the antioxidant power. Four classes of chemical compounds were investigated in more detail by a targeted approach: derivatives of glutathione, adenine (such as S-adenosyl-homocysteine), oxidized linoleic acid and ergosterol. Adducts containing glutathione and adenine with oxidized linoleic acid were observed in TM for the first time and can be considered markers of freshness of the product. S-adenosyl-homocysteine, the acetyl-carnitine adduct with cysteinyl-glycine and several oxidized linoleic acid derivatives were among the markers of degradation.

Occurrence of biogenic amines in beers produced with malted organic Emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum)

Because several groups of microorganisms are able to decarboxylate amino acids, the presence of biogenic amines (BA) can be seen as an index of the microbiological quality of the brewing process. BAs were quantified for the first time in the intermediate products and craft beers produced with malted organic Emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum) in a small size brewery in order to assess the possible presence of critical control points related to biological hazard in the brewing process. BA levels in beers produced exclusively from malted organic Emmer wheat were between 15.4 and 25.2 mg l–1 in the samples of light beer (Lt) and between 8.9 and 15.3 mg l–1 in double malt beers (DM) ready for consumption (the beers stored for 90 days at 1–2°C). Cadaverine and tyramine were the main BAs in the Lt and DM beers, respectively. Increased concentrations of BAs seemed to be more related to the heat treatment of the processing product during mashing and wort boiling, rather than to the fermentation process. Much lower concentrations were found in finished beers obtained from 50% malted organic Emmer wheat and 50% malted barley (up to 3.2 mg l–1) or from 30% malted Emmer wheat (up to 8.3 mg l–1). Thus, Emmer wheat malt can be a useful alternative to wheat and spelt for the production of beer with a limited content of BA, if the processing technology is kept under control.

Authentication of Coffee Blends

Abstract The world trade of coffee is growing every year. The coffee market involves a large amount of money. The two most important varieties of coffee, arabica and robusta, are separated by a really different economic value. The difference in price can lead to some illegal activity with total or partial substitution of the most expensive variety (arabica) with the cheaper (robusta), especially as regards ground coffee. However, through analytical techniques we are able to detect this possible illicit activity. Chromatography, spectroscopy, and genetic engineering provide reliable techniques that are able to identify and quantify the pureness or percentage of the two principal varieties. All these techniques are strongly supported by a multivariate approach. This kind of chemometric procedure is able to provide a highly accurate and reliable prediction model.