MDS Analytical Technologies, the United States, has announced the validation of Abraxis Melamine Detection Kit for use on its SpectraMax® absorbance microplate readers with SoftMax® Pro 5 GxP analytical software, an industry-standard analysis software for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance. The detection kit was developed by from Abraxis, a biotechnology company in the United States.

The MDS-Abrax solution is claimed to offer a cost-effective, high-throughput, quality-assurance method to detect melamine contamination in such food products as milk, infant formula, pet food and confectionery. This enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) solution will enable quality assurance technicians in food-safety laboratories to easily detect the presence of melamine down to 10 ppb. SoftMax Pro 5 GxP software runs on all microplate readers offered by MDS Analytical Technologies. It offers five parameter logistic (5PL) curve fitting, parallel line analysis (PLA) with observation weighting, more than 120 ready-torun assay protocols for instant results generation, etc. Contact: MDS Analytical Technologies, 1311 Orleans Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1136, United States of America. Tel: +1 (408) 747 1700; Fax: +1 (408) 747 3601; E-mail: info@moldev.com.

Source: www.moleculardevices.com

Scientists from Spain and the United Kingdom have developed a test that could speed up identification of gluten, a trigger for people with celiac disease. Although gluten-free foods are already on the market, gluten can lurk in products that people might not expect. The new test, which flags a gluten protein called gliadin, is faster and said to be as sensitive as any currently available test.

The scientists, who included graduate student Mr. Hossam Nassef from Spain’s Universitat Rovirai Virgili, assessed the new gliadin test on foods that contain gluten and gluten-free foods. The new test was found to be “highly sensitive” and only took 90 minutes, compared with a currently available test of similar sensitivity that takes eight hours, Mr. Nassaf and colleagues report. The scientists are working to make the new gliadin test even faster.

Source: www.webmd.com

China’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced a new testing method to determine the actual protein in milk products. The method – recommended for food producers and regulators across the country – will separate melamine and other crude compounds that contain nitrogen from the real protein before analysing the content, said Prof. Hou Caiyun, a China Agricultural University food testing expert who led the research team.

The commonly used Kjeldahl method does not distinguish melamine and other false nitrogen compounds from real protein. The white, talc-like chemical melamine can be mixed with animal feed, milk and other food products to raise the protein content. The new test uses a chemical to distinguish real protein from other nitrogencontaining compounds and can be conducted using common laboratory equipment, Prof. Hou said. It costs far less than the high performance liquid chromatography method, used to detect melamine in milk.

Source : www.chinadaily.com.cn

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, the United States, have developed a simple and quick method for detecting mercury in fish and dental samples, two substances at the centre of public concern about mercury contamination. The technique involves a fluorescent substance that glows bright green when in contact with oxidized mercury.

The intensity of the glow indicates the amount of mercury present. Developed by Prof. Kazunori Koide, a chemistry professor in University of Pittsburgh School of Arts and Sciences, the new method can be used on site and can detect mercury in 30-60 minutes for dental fillings (or amalgams) or 10-30 minutes for fish. The fluorescence results from the reaction of mercury ions with a hydrocarbon called alkyne, which gets converted into a ketone, thus creating a fluorescent molecule. Prof. Koide’s method differs from other mercury indicators in that it accommodates the oxidation process that mercury samples must undergo prior to testing.

In testing fish, Prof. Koide and his team oxidized a piece of salmon (about the size of a fingertip) in water mixed with a chlorine solution similar to household bleach. Afterwards, they added the alkyne solution and the mixture glowed bright green. They also submerged two amalgam-filled teeth in the amino acid cysteine to mimic sulphurrich foods thought to increase mercury seepage from amalgam. Again, the cysteine solution turned bright green when the indicator was added, suggesting that Prof. Koide’s method can also be used to monitor mercury leaching brought about by sulphur-rich food.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Researchers are using electron beam emitters to find ways of replacing thermal and chemical processes for cleaner, more efficient, lower-cost manufacturing and greener packaging. The United States-based Advanced Electron Beams (AEB) has recently announced a collaboration with the University of Reims in France, under which the latter will use AEB’s Application Development Emitter Unit to study the effects of accelerated electrons on a broad range of chemical compounds with a focus on electron beam-induced polymerization and polymer modification. This research has several potential applications, such as creating more environment-friendly and sustainable packaging, improving product safety, as well as helping companies transform inefficient and wasteful manufacturing processes.

More and more beverage and food manufacturers are choosing the technology for surface decontamination of PET bottle pre-forms, caps, cans, packaging film, gable tops and packs, and aseptic pouches, said Mr. Dave Icke, AEB Vice President of Marketing. The technology enables polymer sterilization to be conducted in milliseconds at room temperature, thereby helping companies to reduce energy consumption by 60-90 per cent. AEB’s emitters use a stream of electrons that can sterilize the inside of the bottle prior to filling by applying energy directly to the inside surface of the bottle. This eliminates the need for chemical sterilants and, consequently, rinse water. Mr. Icke says that electron beam technology enables a rapid, six log reduction of surface microbes. The technology can also improve the heat and creep resistance, tensile strength, and oxygen or carbon dioxide barrier properties of polymers.

The technology allows a reduction in overall resin, as the low temperatures employed means heatwithstanding heavy weight bottles are not needed, according to Mr. Icke. It can be used for curing of inks, coatings and laminate adhesives for indirect and direct food contact surfaces. It is used increasingly in place of traditional solvent-based techniques.

Source: www.foodproductiondaily.com

Scientists led by Mr. Bosoon Park, an engineer at the Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), have developed a microscopic biological sensor that detects Salmonella bacteria. The sensor could be adapted to detect other food-borne pathogens as well.

Mr. Park, and co-researchers from the University of Georgia, used nanotechnology to develop the biosensor. These biosensors include fluorescent organic dye particles attached to Salmonella antibodies. The antibodies hook on to Salmonella bacteria and the dye lights up like a beacon, thus making the bacteria easier to see.

Source: www.ars.usda.gov