Objective To explore a preparation method for low-cariogenic soft candy by adopting a dual-intervention strategy combining sugar replacement and dental plaque biofilm regulation. Methods Various gelatinous candies were prepared by substituting xylitol for partial maltose and incorporating food additives including arginine and dextranase. Texture profile analysis was employed to characterize the effects of functional components on candy texture. Dextran decomposition experiments assessed samples’ capacity to degrade dental plaque matrix, while Streptococcus mutans antibacterial tests evaluated the anti-cariogenic efficacy. Results Partial substitution of maltose with xylitol effectively reduced candy viscosity. Food-grade β-dextranase retained its dextran-degrading capability at 75 ℃. Food-grade L-arginine was identified as the primary growth-inhibiting factor against Streptococcus mutans. Compared to sucrose-induced bacterial growth (set as 100%), the optimal compound candy promoted Streptococcus mutans growth at 50.10% of sucrose’s level and 29.19% of control candy’s level. Conclusion The developed soft candy in this study aids in preventing dental caries, thereby contributing to the creation of children’s food products designed to address oral health issues.

Objective To enhance the bioavailability of longan kernels, investigate the bioactive properties of their polyphenols from different cultivars. Methods In this study, polyphenolic compounds were extracted and purified from longan kernels of 8 cultivars (Chuliang, Daguangyan, Shuangzimu, Shuizhang, Fenglisui, Thai, Shixia and Fuyan). The antioxidant and antibacterial functions were analyzed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging capacity test, 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and inhibition zone experiment, and the differences among different varieties were compared Results Polyphenols from all longan kernels exhibited substantial antioxidant activity, with DPPH and ABTS highest scavenging rates reaching 98.70% and 91.88%, respectively. Moreover, these polyphenols effectively inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus subtilis, with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 17.0 to 22.6 mm. The results of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of polyphenols extracted from longan kernels of different cultivars indicated that Shuangzimu longan exhibited the highest inhibition rate against Staphylococcus aureus, at 82.50%. Similarly, Shixia longan showed the highest inhibition rate against Listeria monocytogenes, at 84.60%. Thai longan had the highest inhibition rate of Bacillus subtilis, which was 83.8%. Correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between total phenol content and DPPH free radical and ABTS cation free radical were higher than 0.9, indicating that 8 varieties of longan kernel polyphenols had good antioxidant capacity. The total phenol content of Fuyan longan showed medium correlation to its resistance to Bacillus subtilis and Listeria monocytogenes (correlation coefficient 0.8-0.9). Specifically, Shuangzimu and Shixia longans demonstrated inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus, while Thai longan showed strong inhibitory ability against Bacillus subtilis, and Shuliang longan effectively inhibited Listeria monocytogenes. Conclusion This study investigates the variation in total phenolic content as well as the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of longan kernel polyphenols across different cultivars. These observed differences may provide targeted selection of longan kernel polyphenols for specific applications and serve as a reference for understanding their biological activities across cultivars.

Objective To evaluate the acute toxicity and genetic toxicity of γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA). Methods Acute toxicity was evaluated by oral gavage of γ-PGA at 10000 mg/(kg·bw) to rats and mice using the limit test method, with observations of toxic signs and mortality; the 30 hour double gavage method followed by microscopic examination to quantify the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mouse bone marrow was employed to detect the micronucleus induction of γ-PGA; the plate incorporation method was utilized to enumerate revertant colonies of Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535) to assess the mutagenic potential of γ-PGA; a continuous 5 day gavage followed by microscopic analysis was conducted to analyze the number and frequency of chromosomal structural aberrations in mouse spermatocytes to evaluate the chromosomal aberration induction of γ-PGA. Results The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of γ-PGA via acute oral administration to both male and female mice and rats was greater than 10000 mg/(kg·bw). At a dose of 5000 mg/(kg·bw), γ-PGA did not significantly increase micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow of either male or female mice (P>0.05), nor did it induce chromosomal aberrations in primary spermatocytes of mice (P>0.05). Additionally, at a dose of 5000 μg per plate, no significant mutagenic activity was detected in the standard tested strains (TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535), regardless of S₉ activation. Conclusion Under the experimental conditions of this study, γ-PGA is classified as practically non-toxic and non-genotoxic, providing a toxicological basis for its development and application in the food industry.

Objective To establish a non-derivatized extraction method for the simultaneous determination of chlorthal-diacid, dalapon and trysben in tea by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) combined with hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) clean-up. Methods Tea samples were extracted by 20 mL of 1% acetic acid in water and 10 mL of methylene chloride; clean-up by HLB (300 mg/3 mL) filtration. Separation of the target analytes was achieved on an octadecylsilane (C₁₈) chromatographic column, and quantitation was performed by LC-MS/MS in negative ion mode. Results The 3 kinds of herbicides were effectively separated on the C₁₈ column with good linearity in the range of 0.01-2.00 μg/mL (r²>0.997). At 4 spiked levels of 0.05, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mg/kg, the average recoveries of the 3 kinds of pesticides in the blank matrix of tea ranged from 71.1% to 119.2%, with the relative standard deviations between 3.3% and 18.3%. The limits of detection were ranged from 0.002-0.009 mg/kg, and the limits of quantitation were ranged from 0.008-0.029 mg/kg of the 3 kinds of herbicides. Conclusion The developed method offers a simple and rapid pretreatment procedure, eliminating the need for derivatization. It is friendly to the inspectors and the environment, and can be used as a method for large-scale detection of chlorthal-diacid, dalapon and trysben residues in tea.

As widely used veterinary antimicrobials, sulfonamides are essential to detect in dairy products to protect public health and food safety. Chromatography-mass spectrometry is the main technique for detecting sulfonamides in dairy products because of its high sensitivity and excellent selectivity. This paper reviewed the development of this technique in sulfonamide detection, focused on improvements in sample pretreatment methods, chromatographic condition optimization and advancements in mass spectrometry techniques. It also examined the roles of emerging technologies like microfluidics, molecularly imprinted polymers and 3D printing in improving detection efficiency, cutting costs and streamlining operations. Future research in drug residue detection will be centered on quick and economical methods, and this review offered useful information for that research field.

Objective To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of 26 kinds of veterinary drug residues in 3 categories including sulfonamide, quinolones and tetracyclines based on duck meat by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Methods The 0.1% formic acid acetonitrile extraction was used, QuEChERS purification agent was used to remove impurities. After nitrogen blowing in a 45 ℃ water bath to near dryness, the mixture was diluted with 0.1% formic acid water acetonitrile (1:1, V:V) and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Results The 26 kinds of veterinary drugs showed good linearity in the range of 2.0-300.0 ng/mL (r²≥0.9996), the limits of detection were 0.28-6.02 μg/kg, the limits of quantification were 11.28-15.03 μg/kg. The average recovery rates of 26 kinds of veterinary drugs at different concentration levels (5.0, 50.0, 300.0 μg/kg) were 75.08%-112.35% (n=15), and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 1.25%-7.88% (n=15). Conclusion This method features simple pretreatment operations, high efficiency, and low consumption of reagents and materials. It is suitable for the preliminary screening and detection of 26 kinds of veterinary drug residues in 3 categories for large quantities of duck meat samples.

The traceability of grain origins and authenticity identification have garnered increasing attention from consumers. In recent years, significant progress has been made in research on Oryza sativa origin traceability and authenticity identification, encompassing technologies such as stable isotope analysis, mineral element profiling, spectroscopy, volatile compound analysis, DNA-based methods and metabolomics. This paper reviewed the research progress on the integration of various technologies with multivariate analytical methods in the traceability of origin tracing and authenticity identification of Oryza sativa, while discussed the principles, application scope, effectiveness and advantages/disadvantages of different techniques. By incorporating the geographical, varietal and organic characteristics of Oryza sativa, it summarized the latest developments in Oryza sativa origin traceability systems. The study aimed to provide reference foundations for Oryza sativa quality control and food safety, promote the establishment of traceability databases, and highlights its critical implications for safety regulation, rights protection and brand safeguarding in the Oryza sativa industry.

Objective To analyze the differences in volatile organic compounds in black wheat flour, whole wheat flour and seeds in different regions of Xinjiang. Methods The volatile components of flour, whole wheat flour and seeds of 6 kinds of black wheats from 4 different regions in Xinjiang were detected using headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry, and the volatile components were classified and feature selected using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) method. Results A total of 134 kinds of volatiles were detected in black wheat, and 97 kinds of volatile organic compounds were characterized, mainly including 23 kinds of aldehydes, 21 kinds of esters, 19 kinds of alcohols, 12 kinds of ketones and 6 kinds of acids. Relative odor activity value (ROAV) showed that 1-octen-3-one, (E)-2-octenal, 1-propanethiol, 2-formyl-5-methylthiophene, 2-methylbutyraldehyde, 4-methylbenzaldehyde, isovaleric acid, 1-oct-1-ene-3-ol and proto-guaiacol were the major volatile odorants and played a dominant role in black wheat. OPLS-DA analysis showed that there were differences between the volatiles of black wheat flour, whole wheat flour and seeds, with (E)-2-octenal mainly present in seeds, 2-methylbutyraldehyde higher in flour and 4-methylbenzaldehyde higher in whole wheat flour. Conclusion Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry can be used as a technical tool to distinguish the differences in volatile compounds between different treatments of black wheat, and the results of this study provide data support for optimizing the milling process of black wheat, as well as a new direction for the identification of adulteration of black wheat whole wheat flour.

Patulin is a secondary metabolite produced by fungi such as Penicillium and Aspergillus species, widely present in fruits and their products. Due to its multiple toxicities, it poses a severe threat to food safety. The thiol group in sulfhydryl compounds exhibits chemical reactivity and demonstrates a significant role in the detection and removal of patulin. Through Michael addition reactions, thiol compounds specifically bind to the β-lactone ring of patulin, substantially reducing its toxicity and concentration. Furthermore, functionalized thiol materials, such as thiol-modified nanoparticles and aerogels, demonstrate excellent adsorption performance and separation efficiency, providing efficient, economical and environmentally friendly solutions for ensuring food safety. This paper reviewed the research progress and underlying mechanisms of thiol compounds in the detection and removal of patulin, aiming to provide theoretical references for future research and applications in food safety.

Objective To establish a method for rapid determination of bongkrekic acid content in Hanzhong Mianpi by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) combined with QuEChERS purification. Methods Hanzhong Mianpi samples were extracted by acetonitrile-water (8:2, V:V) ultrasonic extraction, purified by QuEChERS, concentrated, constant volume, separated by Thermo (100 mm× 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) chromatographic column, gradient eluted by acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution, quantified by standard curve method with electric spray ion source (ESI), multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Results The linear relationship of bongkrekic acid was good within the range of 1-100 ng/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r²) greater than 0.999. At 3 spiked levels of 2, 10 and 50 μg/kg, the spiked recovery rate was 86.7%-90.0%, the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 2.3%-2.9%, the limit of detection was 0.5 μg/kg, and the limit of quantitation was 1.5 μg/kg. All actual samples did not detect any citric acid. Conclusion This method has simple pre-treatment, fast analysis, high recovery rate, and high sensitivity, which can provide reference for the quality control of bongkrekic acid in Hanzhong Mianpi.