International Conference on Food Safety and Regulatory Measures August 17-19, 2015 Birmingham, UK

Magda Aniołowska has completed her master studies in Biotechnology at the age of 26 years from Wrocław University of Technology. In 2011 she has started PhD in Food Technology at the Department of Food Storage and Technology. She was also an exchange student in Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) from June to September 2014 and Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) from February to May 2015. Conducts research on the influence of technological parameters of frying on the content of glycidyl esters in oils and fried foods.

The aim of the research was to compare the therooxidative stability of rapeseed and palm oils used as frying media in cyclic French fries deep-frying. The material used for study were refined palm and rapeseed oils and prefries frozen French fries. The experiment was of five days’ duration and entailed the following: French fries were fried for 8h/day in oils heated to 180˚C in 30 minutes cycles. In fresh and after every 8 hours of frying, the oils were analyzed for acid and anisidine values, colour, refractive index, fatty acid composition, content and composition of polar fraction. Hydrolysis occurred most intensively in palm oil, while oxidation was reported for rapeseed oil. The color of all oils underwent darkening, with the largest changes in rapeseed oil. The degradation of oil caused increased change in the RI of frying oils, which occurred to the same extent in both frying media. The losses of linoleic fatty acid were observed in all samples, with the largest share (22%) in degraded palm oil. The content of total polar compounds increased and the pace of formation depended on frying medium.The total polar content during frying in rapeseed oil was 21.5% and in palm oil 22.9% at the end of frying time.The predominant fraction in fresh palm oil was oxidized triacylglycerols, with the presence of diacylglycerols and free fatty acids, while in rapeseed oil significantly prevailed diacylglycerols. During frying, new polar compounds were formed, including oligomers, which were at the highest level in palm oil after 40h.

Helen Zhang has her education and training in Food Hygiene. She has joined the CFIA as a microbiology specialist and worked on food safety surveillance since 2010.

Targeted surveys are one of the tools used by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to identify and prioritize potential food safety hazards in the Canadian market. Microbiological targeted surveys were conducted to collect information on the occurrence of bacterial pathogens in cantaloupes and tomatoes in the Canadian market between 2009 and 2014. Survey samples were collected from retail in 11 cities across Canada. The analyses were conducted in ISO17025 accredited laboratories, using validated methods published in Health Canada’s Compendium of Analytical Methods. In these surveys, a total of 3428 cantaloupe samples and 4,416 tomato samples were tested for Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes (for fresh-cut only) and other bacterial pathogens (i.e., E.coli O157, Shigella). The prevalence for Salmonella was found to be 0.08% (95% CI: 0.02-0.30%) in whole cantaloupe samples and 0% (95% CI: 0-0.09%) in tomatoes. The prevalence for Listeria monocytogenes was found to be 0.3% (95% CI: 0.05-1.56%) in fresh-cut cantaloupe samples. Other bacterial pathogens were not found in any of the samples tested in these surveys. The prevalence appears to be generally similar or lower when compared to other surveillance data found in the literature. The results of bacterial pathogens in the cantaloupe (whole and fresh cut) surveys are compared with the results of the tomato surveys and the other fresh-cut melon surveys that were conducted during the same period of time by the CFIA. Risk profiles and trends of contamination of these fruits are evaluated and discussed.

Sibu Padmanabhan has completed his PhD in 2005 from Cochin University of Science and Technology and postdoctoral studies from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He is currently working as Reseach Fellow at University College Cork, Ireland. He has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as referee for a number of RSC and Elsevier Journals.

Prolonging the shelf life of food is one of the biggest challenges the food industry is facing, which when improved could decrease food decomposition, add value and also help ease food sustainability concerns. This contribution presents a novel method using pattern forming templates to facilitate maximum antimicrobial functionality loading onto PVA substrates. The antimicrobial activity of a modified natural biopolymer chitosan and silver nanoparticles that have been integrated into the PVA substrates by the said mehod was investigated and compared with respect to their activity against pure cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas fluorescens. As evidenced by these results it is proposed that silver nanoparticles in combination with modified chitosan have potential in improving the antimicrobial activity of packaging materials.

Andrés Ramírez Restrepo is a Colombian chemist. He received several awards for academic excellence at his undergraduate studies (from Universidad Industrial de Santander) which he focused on the fragrance of tuberose flowers from Antioquia. His magister studies included accreditation of analytical methods to monitor pesticide residues in different local commodities. Since 2011 he is subscribed as researcher of contamination at trace levels of environmental compartments in the research group Grupo Diagnóstico y Control de la Contaminación of the Universidad de Antioquia, one of the most important public universities in the country.

Colombia is the 4th worldwide producer of coffee and this commodity is the most important in the country, however there is a need to ensure its safety. The present study proposes a validated method (SANCO/12571/2013 and NTC-ISO/IEC 17025) for the quick analysis of Ochratoxin A in coffee using solid-liquid extraction, immunoaffinity column clean-up and UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Sample preparation was mainly taken from R-Biopharm Ochraprep® application note and modified as needed: 5 g of coffee (grounded and homogenized) were extracted with 25 mL of 1% (w/v) NaHCO3 in deionized water (pH: 7.4). The extract was filtrated, prepared and eluted in an immunoaffinity column. Binding of OTA in the column was eliminated using 1.5 mL of 2% (v/v) of acetic acid in MeOH and 1.5 mL of deionized water. Final extract was analyzed in a UPLC-MS/MS instrument using MRM mode. Different presentations of coffee were validated (soluble and roasted) including specificity (transitions ratio), linearity (residuals ≤ 20%), bias (%RSD ≤ 20%), trueness (%R 70-120%), LOQ and uncertainty assessment (≤ 50%) in a range from 2 to 20 μg/kg. A monitoring in different samples of several brands available in local stores was carried out to assess a possible risk of contamination and test the performance of the method for real samples, using quality controls to monitor compliance of identity, trueness and precision.

Magdalena Kupska is PhD student in Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdańsk University of Technology.

Food industry is in continuous development. In particular it is looking for and applying new, tasty and healthy products based mainly on natural ingredients like fruits. These facts are extremely encouraging to make a research in terms of the content of health-oriented compounds in unpopular fruits. For the determination the terpenes and their derivatives in food matrix the most commonly is used one-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer or flame ionization detector (GC-MS, GC-FID). However due to complex composition of food samples and the ability to co-elution for compounds of similar chemical properties is important to use techniques which provides complete separation of the components. For this reason to determine terpenes in fruits comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with proper sample preparation technique was used. Literature data analysis indicates, that the determination of terpenes in food is under special investigation for over a decade. The analytical procedures applied for terpene determination in complex matrices as fruits and wines produced from fruits are dominated by sorptive-based and solventless sample preparation techniques.

Hector Eduardo Martinez-Flores completed his PhD at the age of 31 years (1997) in the CINVESTAV-IPN Institution, Mexico. He undertook postdoctoral studies in the Universidade Estadual of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil from 1997 to 2000. He was visiting professor at Washington State University from 2013 to 2014. He has published more than 37 papers in reputed scientific journals, and has been and is serving as reviewer of 18 JCR journals

During the present investigation, an amperometric biosensor for the detection of phenol compounds was developed. Said work was based on the immobilization of the enzyme laccase enzyme in a composite of titania and Nafion nanoparticles. The immobilization stage was carried out conducted by means of a mixture of titania-nafion (v / v) nanoparticles in a ratio 1:1 in which the enzyme was added and subsequently doping realized on the surface of a graphite electrode. Biosensor response was determined by direct reduction of the o-quinone (the product of the enzymatic reaction), at 100 mV in Ag/AgCl (3M KCl) solution. The biosensor was tested by cyclical electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and voltammetry. It was found that the biosensor demonstrated promising analytical results, in terms of both sensitivity and linear range for catechol - yielding values of 384mA L mol-1, and 4-8 mmol / L, respectively. The detection limit for catechol was 2 mmol / L. The nanoparticles of titania generated a biocompatible microenvironment for the enzyme - producing a compact film with high thermal stability together with extensive superficiial area - reflected in good catalytic activity for the detection of phenol compounds.

Wen Shen Chu has completed his PhD at the age of 36 years from University of Minnesota. He is the deputy director of Bioresource Collection and Research Center, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, a non-profit research organization. He has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals.

Most major countries establish GM technology management policy with national characteristics according to its domestic politics, economics and social environments, and public opinions. Taiwan has adopted an interagency approach for GM technology management through the existing regulatory systems as follows.
A. Basic researches
The National Science Council (NSC), Executive Yuan, oversees laboratory works on GM technology according to "The Rules for Conduct in Respect to Genetic Recombination Experiment”. The Rules, designed to ensure GM laboratory safety, is only an administrative rule with no legal power. To address the rather limited application scope and the legal status of the Rules, NSC is going to set appropriate legal authority in the “Fundamental Science and Technology Act”. Then, a “GM Technology Research and Development Management Regulation” will be drafted based on the Act.
B. Field trials
Taiwan has no general management regulation on field trials of GMO, but there are various regulations set that target for specific types of GMO. For GM plants, Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) of the Council of Agriculture (COA), Executive Yuan, sets explicit regulations on the management of field trials according to "The Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act” and its derived regulations. For GM animals, Department of Animal Industry (DAI) of COA sets regulations on the management of field trials based on the "Animal Industry Act” and its derived regulations. For GM aquatic animals and plants, Fisheries Agency (FA) of COA sets regulations on the management of field trials according to the "The Fishery Law” and its derived regulations.
For GM microorganisms, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), Executive Yuan, currently sets regulation in the “Environmental Agents Control Act” and the “Genetic Engineering Environmental Agent Microbial Preparations Development Management Regulation”. On the other hand, COA is revising the “Agro-pesticides Management Act” and the “Veterinary Drugs Control Act” to adopt the applications of GM technology on pesticides and veterinary drugs to reinforce the existing GM microorganisms management mechanism.
C. Marketing Approval
Regarding GM foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants and microorganisms, the Department of Health and Welfare (DOHW), Executive Yuan, is responsible for marketing approval pursuant to "The Act Governing Food Sanitation” and its derived regulations. "The Act Governing Food Sanitation” was amended and promulgated on 5 Feb., 2014 as "The Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation” to enhance the management of GM foods and other food safety issues. There are 7 articles (out of 60) regarding GM foods in the Act. DOHW continues deliberating "Guideline for Food Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals" (draft). In the future, DOHW will take concerted action in accordance with national policy to expand gradually the management items of GM products.
To fulfill GM feed management mechanism, COA has amended the “Feed Control Act” as the legal basis for management. Legislative Yuan passed the amendment on 23 Jan., 2015. GM feeds and feed additives shall file product registration with a gracious period of two years after the Act is promulgated. GM feed management will probably follow the precedent of GM food to ensure the safety of the food chain.
D. Import and Export of GMO
There are currently rather limited regulations for the import and export of GMO and have yet to be consolidated. The government ministries will review the relevant legal systems based on the necessity and urgency of management and adjust the regulatory systems accordingly.

Kalliopi Mylona works at the Joint Research Centre, the European Commission’s in-house science service as a Scientific/Technical Project Officer. She provides scientifically based policy assessment and recommendations with the aim of ensuring food safety. She completed her PhD on the contamination of cereal grains with mycotoxins and the assessment of relevant control strategies at Cranfield University, while she holds a first degree in chemistry and an MSc in Food Technology and Quality Assurance. She has extensive experience in the implementation of food legislation, working as a consultant and directly in the food industry

The central objective of the EU food policy and legislative framework is the provision of safe, nutritious, high quality and affordable food to Europe's citizens and consumers. A series of challenges (climate change, resource scarcity, technological developments, demographic and societal aspects, global economy and trade) to the food chain system could put the current legislative framework under significant stress and it may be necessary to take measures in order to ensure its future resilience. After a first study that identified certain challenges within the context of nine scenarios and gave first indications towards impacted food safety and nutrition policy areas, the Directorate General Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) commissioned the further consolidation of these scenarios and assessment of their impacts to the JRC. The JRC study aims to identify critical challenges to the food system, assess whether the current policy framework may deal successfully with these and identify appropriate policy responses towards a future resilient EU food regulatory framework. Using foresight, a medium-to-long-term vision-building process that engages stakeholders and experts in a systematic and creative process, we aim for a joint vision of the possible and probable futures and definition of actions to be taken today. In a first workshop with invited experts and stakeholders, we consolidated the previous scenarios into four holistic scenarios, descriptive of the food chain system towards 2050 and identified challenges in each scenario. In a second workshop, suitable policy preparedness options will be sought in order to ensure a resilient future legislative framework.

Nicole Angelique Lit Sanchez has completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology major in Microbiology at the age of 21 from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. She was also an exchange student in Michigan State University (MSU) last January to April 2013 and the University of Tsukuba last March to September 2014. She has been active in research since her high school years and won first place in the INTEL Philippine Science Fair held at Subic on February 2009. She plans to pursue her graduate studies in the University of the Philippines.

Physalis angulata is widely distributed in the agricultural farms and fruit orchards in the Philippines and commercially grown in other countries like Brazil. Commonly known as wild gooseberries, it is popularly used in traditional medicine as anticoagulant, antileucemic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and as food. The plant was studied to determine if Physalis angulata can be an herbal oral ProVac for infectious diseases caused by food-borne pathogens. The phytochemical profile of the plant extract was determined using the method of Samy et. al (2008). Antimicrobial assay using the Tube Dilution and Filter Paper Disc Assay methods were done after Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPS) and Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) clean-up and concentration procedures. Fractionated extracts from Physalis angulata showed that the alkaloids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and sterols present inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. Results of Ames test showed that the combined fractionated extracts exhibited no mutagenic effect against Salmonella typhimurium TA 98. Testing of partially purified herbal extract of Physalis angulata confirmed its antimicrobial activity against all food pathogens tested. In vitro and in vivo studies have to be undertaken to elaborate its medicinal properties prior to development of Physalis angulata for drug and vaccine

S. typhimuriumis one of the most frequently occurring pathogens in food that affects people’s health and it is widely distributed in nature. The classical culture methods, as well as recently developed PCR and ELISA methods have their own drawbacks which limit the further application. Here, an aptasensor was built for the detection of S. typhimurium based on the gold nanoparticles enhanced Raman scattering property. First, the sandwich structure combined with the capture probe, the signal probe, and the target bacterium was investigated. The magnetic gold nanoparticles immobilized with the aptamer of S. typhimurium were used as the capture probes which make it easier for the preconcentration and separation of S. typhimurium. In addition, gold nanoparticles modified with Raman signal molecules (MBA) and the aptamer of S. typhimurium were utilized as the Raman signal probe for the signal collection and quantitative analysis of S. typhimurium. MBA exhibited a characteristic scattering peak at 1582cm-1 which was chosen as the basis for quantitative analysis. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the Raman scattering spectra were recorded upon the addition of gradient dilutions of S. typhimurium. Results showed that there was a good linear correlation between the Raman intensity and S. typhimurium in the range of 10 cfu/mL~107 cfu/mL (y=395.920+823.711x, R2=0.9968) with a low detection limit of 5 cfu/mL. This method is simple, rapid, and of high sensitivity and specificity. In comparison with the result of the traditional plate counting method and the SERS test, the spiked recovery experiment indicated that the Raman aptasensor could be used in pork sample.

Most fruits provide low energy with high volume and are therefore categorized as low caloric food. Watermelon is one of the low caloric foods and has several health benefits, however it is underutilized. The juice or pulp from water melon is used for human consumption while the rind and seeds are seen as waste and usually thrown away. Most people avoid eating water melon rind due to its unpleasant flavor and fear of being toxic. Sub chronic toxicity study was carried out on the rind of water melon to investigate if it is safe for consumption as well as evaluate its effect on the liver of albino rats. Twenty rats were divided into four groups with five animals in each group. Group 1 animals served as the control, groups 2, 3 and 4 animals were orally administered 500mg/kg, 1500mg/kg and 3500mg/kg extract of water melon rind respectively for 28 days. Serum obtained from the blood samples of the rats was used for the assessment of Alanine aminotransferase and Aspartate aminotransferase activity. Markers of oxidative stress were determined in the post mitochondrial fraction of the Liver. From the results there was no significant difference in Alanine aminotransferase and Aspartate aminotransferase activity in the serum of rats administered the extract when compared with control. Also there was no induction of lipid peroxidation and no significant change in Glutathione concentration and activities of Superoxide dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione-S-Transferase in rats administered the extract compared with control. This results show that water melon rind extract is not hepatotoxic and may therefore be safe for consumption. However there is need for further study on the rind of water melon to exploit its health benefits as well as to investigate its effect on other organs apart from the liver.

Wacoo Paul Alex has just completed his MSc. in Biochemistry from Makerere University and now preparing to enroll in a PhD program. Wacoo developed an electrochemical aflatoxin B1 testing kit that attracted a Young Innovator Award 2014 for East, Central and Southern Africa Organized by UN Women, FAO, ICRA, WFP among others. He is working at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Section of Microbiology and Biotechnology as a Biochemist.

Fecal coliforms are the most important indicator of hygienic quality of water. Frequently used methods for detection of fecal coliforms such as Multiple-tube fermentation technique, membrane filtration technique, and enzymatic methods are extremely time-consuming and require at least 18 hours to detect them. A rapid and very sensitive thin layer chromatography (TLC) techniques based on the detection of ortho-nitophenol a byproduct of enzymatic breakdown of ortho-Nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside by galactosidase secreted by the fecal coliforms at 44.5oC was developed. Water (100 mL) samples spiked with fecal coliform (1 to 109 CFU) were uniformly mixed with 3.6 g of Lauryl Sulfate mixed with o-Nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (1.0 g/L) and incubated at 44.5 oC for 2 hours. ortho-Nitrophenol was extracted from each sample with 10 mL of hexane. Aliquots of 5 µL each of sample extracts were spotted on Silica Gel and plates developed in a mobile phase composed of a mixture of SDS, Water, heptane and butanol. After the chromatography ascended to the 10 cm mark, the plates were then dried with a stream of hot air (110 oC). The dried plates were exposed to ammonia vapour to ease detection of o-nitrophenol spots. The TLC technique detected fecal Coliforms just after 2 hours of incubation with a detection limit of 1 CFU/100 mL. This method is very sensitive, specific, and can be used for rapid screening of water sources for fecal coliforms. The method can be used as a tool for quick decision making since the regulatory standards for potable water in many countries requires less than 1 colony/100 mL.

Bacillus cereus (sensu stricto) is one of the food pathogens commonly isolated from various food products. This Gram positive bacillus was reported to form biofilms on stainless steel surfaces. Biofilms are difficult to eradicate due to their dynamic biological characteristics. On the other hand, the species of Pestalotiopsis were reported to produce a wide range of novel bioactive compounds that have medicinal, agricultural, and industrial applications. Thus, the current study aims to reduce B. cereus (sensu stricto) biofilms on stainless steel surfaces using Pestalotiopsis sp. culture extract. The B. cereus (sensu stricto) biofilms were grown on milk pre-soiled sterile stainless steel coupons (20 x 5 mm) for 48 hrs at 30°C. After incubation, the biofilms on coupons were immersed in 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL concentrations of Pestalotiopsis sp. culture extract at temperatures of 25°C and 50°C with contact time of 15 mins. Results showed that there were significant (p < 0.05) reduction of B. cereus (sensu stricto) biofilm cells in all concentrations at both temperature within 15 mins contact time. In TLC, bioactive compounds were present in Pestalotiopsis sp. culture extract suggesting that these compounds might have an effect on the B. cereus (sensu stricto) biofilms. Fluorescence micrographs showed reduction of B. cereus (sensu stricto) biofilm components based on the emitted light intensities by the fluorescent dye ethidium bromide at 605 nm. This study concluded that of the bioactive compounds extracted from the Pestalotiopsis sp. has anti-biofilm activity against the B. cereus (sensu stricto) biofilms and therefore a possible alternative to chemical cleaners.