EFSA Panel on Food Enzymes (FEZ), Holger Zorn, José Manuel Barat Baviera
et al.
Abstract The food enzyme trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) is produced with the genetically modified Fusarium venenatum strain NZYM‐FG by Novozymes A/S. The genetic modifications do not give rise to safety concerns. The food enzyme was considered free from viable cells of the production organism and its DNA. The food enzyme is intended to be used in the processing of dairy products for the production of modified milk proteins. Dietary exposure to the food enzyme–total organic solids (TOS) was estimated to be up to 5.792 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. Genotoxicity tests did not indicate a safety concern. The systemic toxicity was assessed by means of a repeated dose 90‐day oral toxicity study in rats. The Panel identified a no observed adverse effect level of 4462 mg TOS/kg bw per day, the highest dose tested, which when compared with the estimated dietary exposure, resulted in a margin of exposure of at least 770. A search for the homology of the amino acid sequence of the trypsin to known allergens was made and matches with 11 respiratory and four injected allergens were found. The Panel considered that a risk of allergic reactions upon dietary exposure to the food enzyme cannot be excluded, but that the likelihood is low. Based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns, under the intended conditions of use.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Chemical technology
Food wastes are produced by a variety of sources, ranging from agricultural operations to household consumption. About 38% occurs during food processing. At present, the European Union legislation encourages the exploitation of co-products. This valorisation can be achieved through the extraction of high-value components such as proteins, polysaccharides, fibres, flavour compounds, and phytochemicals, which can be re-used as nutritionally and pharmacologically functional ingredients. Extraction can proceed according to solid-liquid extraction, Soxhlet extraction, pressurized fluid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pulsed electric field extraction, and enzyme-assisted extraction. Nevertheless, these techniques cannot be used indiscriminately and their choice depends on the type of biomolecules and matrix, the scale processing (laboratory or industrial), the ratio between production costs and economic values of the compounds to be extracted. The vegetable wastes include trimmings, peelings, stems, seeds, shells, bran, residues remaining after extraction of oil, starch, sugar, and juice. The animal-derived wastes include wastes from bred animals, wastes from seafood, wastes from dairy processing. The recovered biomolecules and by-products can be used to produce functional foods or as adjuvants in food processing or in medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations. This work is an overview of the type and amounts of food wastes; food waste legislation; conventional and novel techniques suitable for extracting biomolecules; food, medicinal and pharmaceutical uses of the recovered biomolecules and by-products, and future trends in these areas.
Ermioni Meleti, Michalis Koureas, Athanasios Manouras
et al.
Bioactive peptides (BAPs) from dairy products have garnered increasing attention as natural agents with health-promoting properties, including antihypertensive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, opioid, and antidiabetic activities. This systematic review synthesizes research published between 2014 and 2024, retrieved from Scopus and PubMed, and selected according to PRISMA guidelines. A total of 192 studies met the inclusion criteria, collectively reporting over 3200 distinct peptides, with antihypertensive sequences, predominantly angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, constituting the largest category (n = 1237). β-casein was the principal precursor across bioactivities, followed by αs1-casein, β-lactoglobulin, and α-lactalbumin. Peptides were primarily produced via enzymatic hydrolysis, microbial fermentation, and gastrointestinal digestion, with peptide profiles influenced by the type of milk, microbial strains, and processing conditions. While cow’s milk remained the dominant source, investigations into goat, sheep, camel, buffalo, and donkey milk revealed species-specific biopeptides. Recent advances in proteomics have enhanced peptide identification and bioactivity prediction, enabling the discovery of novel sequences. These findings underscore the significant potential of dairy-derived BAPs as functional food components and nutraceutical ingredients, while highlighting the need for further in vivo validation, bioavailability studies, and broader exploration of underrepresented milk sources.
ABSTRACT: The study investigates the economics of sensor-assisted dairy health management and indicates a certain economic potential in the use of a commercial rumen bolus capable of tracking activity and core body temperature. The economic evaluation was performed applying a stochastic model with the net return (NR) of investment of the sensor system as the target variable. The calculated NR considers the gross margin (GM) for both sensor-assisted and visual health monitoring, time savings through sensor-assisted monitoring, additional time spent addressing false positive messages from the sensor system, labor costs, and all costs associated with the investment in the sensor system. The analysis relies on a dataset acquired from a dairy research and demonstration farm on which 65 dairy cows were equipped with the sensor system. A comparison of health-related messages issued by the rumen bolus with disease diagnoses shows that the sensor system issued a message in 7 of 11 cases of retained placenta (sensitivity = 64%), in 19 of 31 cases of clinical hypocalcemia (sensitivity = 61%), in 30 of 70 cases of mastitis (sensitivity = 43%), in 6 of 24 cases of metritis (sensitivity = 25%), and in 2 of 42 cases of diseases of the locomotor system (sensitivity = 5%) in a defined observation period, in many cases several days before the visual diagnosis. SimHerd (A/S Viborg, Denmark) was applied to determine the GM as a function of incidence, SCC, risk of a mild case of disease, and days of milk withdrawal. In a workshop, veterinarians (n = 9) used the dataset to assess the effect of using the sensor system on these parameters. The empirical distributions given by the veterinarians' individual assessments were used to model the parameters considered in the calculation of the “sensor-assisted” GM. For the modeled Holstein herds with a milk yield of 9,000 kg, simulation results show that average NR of investment ranges from +€23 to +€119/cow per year for a herd of poor health, from −€12 to +€84/cow per year for a herd of average health, and from −€33 to +€63/cow per year for a herd of good health, depending on the scenario. The assumptions made regarding changes in labor had a strong influence on the calculated NR of investment. For a full economic evaluation of the sensor system, other functions (estrus detection, calving detection) and functional extensions (e.g., monitoring rumination) have to be considered.
ABSTRACT: Blood profile testing is a valuable tool for monitoring the metabolism, health, and nutritional status of lactating dairy animals, including buffaloes. However, conducting extensive analyses on a large scale is not feasible due to high costs, labor, the need for invasive procedures, and consequent animals' stress. The utilization of the Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy to predict hematic traits from milk spectral information may represent an effective opportunity for the dairy sector, given that buffaloes are under official testing in various countries. This study aims to test the ability of milk FT-MIR spectra to predict the most relevant buffaloes' hematic components. Blood and milk samples were collected once in 9 Italian farms from 308 buffaloes (98 primiparous and 210 pluriparous) at different stages of lactation. The hematic concentrations of urea, creatinine, glucose, total bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and creatine kinase were measured using reference analysis to evaluate the predictive ability of FT-MIR. Spectral data (n = 308) were divided into a calibration set (70%) and a validation set (30%). In external validation, R2 of 0.72, 0.60, 0.56, and 0.69 were achieved for urea, triglycerides, creatinine, and total bilirubin concentrations, respectively, whereas the R2 of other hematic traits was <0.50. The spectral regions important for the prediction of triglycerides, creatinine, and total bilirubin fell in those associated with milk protein structures (1,570–1,550 cm−1). Although our models were not accurate enough for precise determination of the blood parameters concentration, the predictions of some traits such as urea can be effectively used for herd-level screening (e.g., for nutritional status evaluation). Our results, although preliminary, provide the basis for future large-scale investigations on buffalo health status and metabolism.
Gilberto Vinícius de Melo Pereira, D. P. de Carvalho Neto, A. C. D. O. Junqueira
et al.
ABSTRACT Starter cultures are defined as selected microbial preparations used to increase the efficiency of fermentation processes. In the food industry, numerous microbial cultures are used to ensure the production of safe and high-quality commodities. This review provides a comprehensive theoretical guide for selecting microbial cultures for use in the manufacturing of industrially important food commodities, including dairy, meat, vegetables, alcoholic beverages, cocoa, coffee, vinegar, and soy-based products. Related topics on fermented food classification, microbial domestication, and regulatory requirements are addressed. The strategies reported in this review are useful to help researchers choose methods and criteria selection.
Cucumbers produce by-products such as cucumber pomace during processing and most of them are discarded without being utilized. To effectively utilize the waste, cucumber pomace is used to extract both insoluble and soluble dietary fibers (DFs) using compound enzyme method (ME), High pressure processing assisted ME (HPP-ME), and dynamic high-pressure microfluidization-assisted ME (DHPM-ME). The results showed that DHPM-ME improved the extraction rate of soluble DFs most effectively, increasing it from 1.74 % to 4.08 %. The modified DFs exhibited enhanced hydration properties and functional properties after HPP-ME- and DHPM-ME-mediated auxiliary treatment. Additionally, the modified DFs exhibited improved thermal stability, increased absorption peaks in the infrared spectra, decreased crystallinity, improved glucose and cholesterol adsorption ability, and delayed glucose adsorption. The cucumber pomace-derived modified DFs can be used as a functional food additive in bakery, meat, dairy products, and beverages, and their effective use can further enhance the economic benefits.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Food processing and manufacture
ABSTRACT: The single-step genomic model has become the golden standard for routine evaluation in livestock species, such as Holstein dairy cattle. The single-step genomic model with direct estimation of marker effects has been proven to be efficient in accurately accounting for millions of genotype records. For diverse applications including frequent genomic evaluation updates on a weekly basis, estimates of the marker effects from the single-step evaluations play a central role in genomic prediction. In this study we focused on exploring the marker effect estimates from the single-step evaluation. Phenotypic, genotypic, and pedigree data were taken from the official evaluation for German dairy breeds in April 2021. A multilactation random regression test-day model was applied to more than 242 million test-day records separately for 4 traits: milk, fat, and protein yields, and somatic cell scores (SCS). Approximately one million genotyped Holstein animals were considered in the single-step genomic evaluations including ∼21 million animals in pedigree. Deregressed multiple across-country breeding values of Holstein bulls having daughters outside Germany were integrated into the national test-day data to increase the reliability of genomic breeding values. To assess the stability and bias of the marker effects of the single-step model, test-day records of the last 4 yr were deleted, and the integrated bulls born in the last 4 yr were truncated from the complete phenotypic dataset. Estimates of the marker effects were shown to be highly correlated, with correlations ∼0.9, between the full and truncated evaluations. Regression slope values of the marker-effect estimates from the full on the truncated evaluations were all close to their expected value, being ∼1.03. Calculated using random regression coefficients of the marker effect estimates, drastically different shapes of the genetic lactation curve were seen for 2 markers on chromosome 14 for the 4 test-day traits. The contribution of individual chromosomes to the total additive genetic variances seemed to follow the polygenic inheritance mode for protein yield and SCS. However, chromosome 14 was found to make an exceptionally large contribution to the total additive genetic variance for milk and fat yields because of markers near the major gene DGAT1. For the first lactation test-day traits, we obtained ∼0 correlations of chromosomal direct genomic values between any pair of the chromosomes; no spurious correlations were found in our analysis, thanks to the large reference population. For trait milk yield, chromosomal direct genomic values appeared to have a large variation in the between-lactation correlations among the chromosomes, especially between first and second or third lactations. The optimal features of the random regression test-day model and the single-step marker model allowed us to track the differences in the shapes of genetic lactation curves down to the individual markers. Furthermore, the single-step random regression test-day model enabled us to better understand the inheritance mode of the yield traits and SCS (e.g., variable chromosomal contributions to the total additive genetic variance and to the genetic correlations between lactations).
Anaïs Chancy, Débora E. Santschi, Éric R. Paquet
et al.
ABSTRACT: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to standardize a reliable and repeatable swabbing technique using ATP luminometry (light emission proportional to the amount of ATP with result provided in relative light units [RLU]) to describe the cleanliness of various feeding equipment used for preweaning calves in dairy farms. A total of 7 Québec commercial dairy herds were selected conveniently. Following visual hygiene scoring, the cleanliness of every available piece of feeding equipment was assessed using direct surface swabbing for buckets and nipples with Hygiena UltraSnap swabs. A liquid rinsing technique was used for esophageal feeders, bottles, and automatic milk feeders (AMF) with UltraSnap, AquaSnap, and MicroSnap swabs. To validate direct swabbing technique of buckets, a stage within and between operators was realized, as well as a conventional bacterial culture. A total of 519 swab samples were obtained from 201 pieces of equipment. The median (interquartile range) contamination in RLU for a bottle, esophageal feeder, AMF, bucket and nipple was 2 (1;6), 2 (0;12), 52 (19;269), 886 (128;7,230) and 899 (142;6,928), respectively. The direct swabbing technique, which consists in swabbing directly the surface of an equipment, showed excellent correlation for intrarater reliability (intraclass correlation (ICC) = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88–0.96). The interoperator (2 sessions with 3 different operators) reliability also showed high correlation (ICC = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.78–0.94 for the first session, and ICC = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79–0.95 for the second session). Luminometer values were positively associated with the visual score of esophageal feeders, AMF and buckets. A positive correlation between bacterial culture and direct swabbing of buckets was also found for the UltraSnap (rs = 0.653; 95% CI: 0.283–0.873; P = 0.0003) and MicroSnap (rs = 0.569, 95% CI: 0.309–0.765; P = 0.002). This study describes a standardized and practical on-farm swabbing technique for assessing the hygienic status of feeding equipment by luminometry, which can be integrated in the investigation of preweaning dairy calves problems.
Harman B. Goeller, Blair C. Downey, Cassandra B. Tucker
ABSTRACT: Limit feeding is a practice that is used to improve feed efficiency and control growth in dairy heifers, but also has negative consequences associated with hunger and restriction of feeding behavior. One such consequence could be intersucking (i.e., the licking or sucking of another animal's teats or udder). This behavior is reported to varying degrees in heifers, and thus, our first objective was to evaluate whether intersucking increased in response to short-term (48 h) feed restriction. Intersucking interventions, such as nose rings, are often applied to specific animals, and so our second objective was to describe intersucking performance in individual heifers, including those that represent outliers in this population. We studied 42 heifers (9 Jerseys, 33 Holsteins) aged 12.8 ± 1.1 mo (mean ± SD). They were housed in 21 pairs, the experimental unit for our first objective. We used a switchback design with 3 periods of 2 d each where heifers were fed ad libitum total mixed ration in the first and third periods (Baseline and Return, respectively), and limit fed to 50% of ad libitum intake in the second period (Restriction). We scored time spent intersucking continuously and eating at 5-min intervals from video recordings from 0800 to 2000 h on 4 d (baseline d 2, restriction d 2, return d 1, and return d 2). Heifer pairs spent less time eating (16 ± 0.4% mean percentage of 12-h observations ± SE), more time intersucking (27 ± 7 s/12 h), and engaged in longer bouts of intersucking (23 ± 5 s/bout) on Restriction d 2 compared with all other days (eating: 34.7 ± 1.1%, 44.2 ± 0.9%, 35.8 ± 1.1% of 12-h; intersucking time: 7 ± 2, 7 ± 3, 10 ± 5 s/12 h; intersucking bout length: 3 ± 1, 2 ± 1, 3 ± 1 s/bout; Baseline d 2, Return d 1, Return d 2, respectively). There was no difference in the number of bouts of intersucking across days (1.3 ± 0.2 bouts/12 h). The drop in eating during feed restriction was followed by a rebound on Return d 1 before returning to baseline levels. Time spent intersucking did not differ among ad libitum periods. Overall, 90% of the heifers performed intersucking on at least 1 of the 4 d, and did this for 1 to 127 s/12 h (range) in 1 to 13 bouts/12 h. Of the heifers that intersucked, 55% did this at extreme levels relative to the rest of the experimental population (outliers). Solid feed restriction exacerbated intersucking in year-old heifers, but this behavior was widespread.
Teresa María López-Díaz, Ángel Alegría, Jose María Rodríguez-Calleja
et al.
Blue cheeses are those whose matrix is veined with a blue, blue-grey, or blue-green colour due to the development of <i>Penicillium roqueforti</i>. There are more than 45 varieties of blue cheese produced worldwide, with some distinct features, although the manufacture process is similar. In addition to <i>P. roqueforti</i>, complex microbial populations interact and succeed throughout the manufacturing and ripening at the cheese’s surface (the rind) and interior (matrix). The microbiota of blue cheeses is made up of a vast array of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Acidification of the curd relies on the action of lactococci and other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species. The ripened cheeses’ final quality and shelf-life properties largely depend on the enzymatic systems of the components of the microbiota, particularly on those of LAB, <i>P. roqueforti</i>, and yeast species. Proteolysis is the most complex and important primary biochemical process involved in blue-veined cheeses during ripening, with <i>P. roqueforti</i> being considered the main proteolytic agent. Lipolysis is also strong, originating, among other compounds, ketones, which are the main aroma compounds in blue-veined cheeses. In addition, several bioactive compounds are produced during ripening. The biochemical activities, mainly of microbial origin, are responsible for the sensory characteristics of these very appreciated cheese varieties worldwide.
Hannah E. Olsen, Karly N. Anderson, Katherine C. Creutzinger
et al.
Dairy cows are regularly handled when moved to the milking parlor and during other routine procedures. Low-stress handling methods are important in avoiding negative welfare states for dairy cattle. Tail twisting is used by some handlers to prompt cattle movement. However, when used inappropriately with excessive force, tail twisting can lead to a broken tail. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine cow-level factors that may be associated with the prevalence of broken tails in dairy cattle. A subset of 229 Holstein dairy cows (68 primiparous and 161 multiparous) at a single dairy were assessed for broken tails from the larger herd (N = 1,356). Tails were visually assessed for the presence of fractures by a single trained observer. A tail was classified as unfractured if it laid straight when at rest and as fractured if there were deviations in the tail when at rest. Poisson regression models were used to identify associations between cow-level characteristics and broken tails and compute adjusted prevalence ratios (PR). The prevalence of broken tails was 45.8% (105/229) at the time of assessment. Multiparous cows had a greater prevalence of broken tails than primiparous cows [PR = 1.70; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–2.59]. The prevalence of broken tails was also greater for cows treated for mastitis ≥2 times than cows treated once for mastitis (PR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.08–3.13) and cows never treated for mastitis (PR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.02–1.82). Results from this study indicated that the longer a cow was present on the farm and the more times she was treated for mastitis, the more likely she was to experience a broken tail. These findings suggest that the relationship between dairy cow handling, health, and welfare is a multifactorial issue.
Vaginitis is the most common disease in gynecology. Vaginal dysbiosis is a main reason of bacteria vaginitis (BV), as the disrupted microecological environment facilitates the growth of various vaginal pathogens. The most dominant bacteria in the vaginal microbiota are lactic acid bacteria, which are important for maintaining vaginal health. At present, antibiotics and other drugs are often used in clinical treatment, but there are many adverse reactions and easy to relapse, and the intervention of probiotics can help restore vaginal microbiota and alleviate BV. This study is a human clinical trial of 50 patients with bacterial vaginitis (BV). The alleviation effect of applying a postbiotic gel for one week in BV was evaluated. Changes in patients’ clinical indicators of BV (properties of vaginal secretion) and the vaginal microbiota after using the postbiotic gel were monitored. Our results showed that apply the postbiotic gel improved the symptoms of BV, indicated by improvement in the abnormalities of patients’ vaginal secretions. After applying the gel, the relative abundance of vaginal lactobacilli increased compared to baseline. Significant negative correlations were found between lactobacilli and potential vaginal pathogens (including Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Atopobium), as well as the abnormalities of the vaginal secretion. Overall, our results showed that applying the postbiotic gel ameliorated BV, and the symptom improvement was accompanied by significant changes in the bacterial vaginal microbiota. Our study provides valuable clinical data in managing BV.
Anandu Chandra Khanashyam, M. Shanker, A. Kothakota
et al.
ABSTRACT Ozone is a GRAS certified cost-effective and eco-friendly technology whose application in food industry is gaining momentum in recent years. It is a powerful oxidizing agent and has a broad spectrum of anti-microbial property. The free radical generation of ozone treatment destroys bacterial cells and is responsible for its antimicrobial activity. This review provides an understanding of the underlying mechanism of microbial inactivation by ozone and its application in meat and dairy products. The impact of ozone on the physicochemical properties such as color, texture, lipid oxidation, protein functionality, and sensory attributes are reviewed along with its inactivation potential on microbes such as Staphylococcus sp., Listeria monocytogenes, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella sp. and yeasts and molds in food matrix. It is evident that ozone can improve the functionalities of food products while ensuring food safety. There are several researchers that have focused on the application of ozone technology in meat and dairy products. This review is a compilation of those works and can be used as a tool to select appropriate processing conditions for milk and dairy products for its improved safety and quality.
Background Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are commonly detected in a variety of foods and food packaging materials. However, few studies have examined diet as a potential source of PFAS exposure during pregnancy. In the present cross-sectional study, we examined prenatal PFAS levels in relation to self-reported consumption of meats, dairy products, and processed foods during pregnancy. Methods Participants were enrolled in the Chemicals in Our Bodies study, a demographically diverse pregnancy cohort in San Francisco, CA ( N = 509). Diet was assessed using a self-reported interview questionnaire administered during the second trimester. Participants were asked on average how many times a day, week, or month they ate 11 different foods since becoming pregnant. Responses were categorized as at least once a week or less than once a week and foods were grouped into three categories: processed foods, dairy products, and meats. Twelve PFAS (ng/mL) were measured in second trimester serum samples. We investigated relationships between consumption of individual dairy products, meats, and processed foods and natural log-transformed PFAS using separate linear regression models adjusted for maternal age, education, race/ethnicity, and nativity. Results Seven PFAS were detected in ≥65% of participants. Consumption of dairy milk and cheese at least once per week was moderately associated with elevated levels of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA) relative to those who ate dairy products less than once week. The strongest associations observed were with PFDeA for dairy milk ( β = 0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02, 0.39) and PFNA for cheese ( β = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.41). Eating fish, poultry, and red meat at least once per week was associated with higher levels of perfluoroundecanoic acid, PFDeA, PFNA, and perflucorooctane sulfonic acid. Conclusions Results indicate that consumption of animal products may contribute to elevated prenatal PFAS levels.