As the cornerstone of the global food system, wheat flour, a derivative product of limited wheat in various countries, is not only an important component of human daily diet, but also a key element in maintaining global food security. However, in recent years, the frequent contamination of fungal toxins in wheat flour has become a major challenge in the field of food safety, posing a significant threat to food safety and human health. The main types of fungal toxins in wheat flour include deoxynivalenol, aflatoxin, zearalenone, etc. The contamination of deoxynivalenol is the most prominent, but there are certain differences in the relevant limit standards at home and abroad. This study aimed to comprehensively review the types and contamination status of major fungal toxins in wheat flour. By comparing relevant limit standards at home and abroad, it could be found that different countries and regions had different assessment and management strategies for food safety risks. Based on the analysis and discussion of the above content, a comprehensive prevention and control strategy is proposed, aiming to provide scientific guidance and technical support for the safe production, processing, and consumption of wheat flour.

With the rapid development of the global health food market, the management of health claims for functional foods has become an essential part of food regulatory systems in various countries. The scientific basis, accuracy, and compliance of health claims not only affect consumer trust but also have a direct impact on the sustainable development of the functional food market. As a pioneer in the Asian functional food market, Japan has established a systematic and comprehensive framework for managing health claims. Through the implementation of systems such as the Foods for specified health uses, Foods with functional claims, and Nutrient function claims, Japan enforces a tiered management approach for health claims of functional foods. This tiered system not only includes clear legal frameworks but also emphasizes rigorous scientific evaluation to ensure the authenticity and reliability of the claims. This paper took Japan’s health claim management system for functional foods as the research object, systematically summarized its regulations in terms of legal frameworks, classification management and scientific evidence, provided insights into the regulatory experience and effectiveness of Japan’s system. It aims to offer valuable references for improving the health claim management system for functional foods in China.

Objective To establish a new non-targeted screening approach for multi-class veterinary drugs in fish based on metabolomics analysis. Methods High performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer in full scan mode was adopted for the determination of fish to obtain the metabolomics data, which were uploaded onto Workflow4Metabolomics platform. The data underwent chromatographic peak treatment to obtain a data matrix containing 867 variables. The data matrix was further analyzed by principal component analysis, cluster analysis, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, pairwise t-test and fold change of concentration to screen eligible variables. These variables were confirmed as the characteristic ones of marker compounds to represent residual veterinary drugs via comparison within a compound database. Results The 88 in 102 kinds of veterinary drugs were screened by proposed metabolomics approach under the help of high performance liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS/MS) positive mode, with the limits of detection ranging from 0.3 to 2.6 µg/kg, achieving a screening rate of 86%. Conclusion Metabolomics analytical strategy can effectively realize the non-targeted screening of veterinary drugs in fish, and provides a new idea for non-targeted screening of contaminants.

Objective To establish a qualitative and quantitative analytical method for determination of short-chain fatty acids in table salt using headspace solid phase microextraction arrow-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Methods A phosphoric acid solution was added to the salt samples, and the headspace solid phase microextraction arrow technique was employed to extract and enrich the short-chain fatty acids. The effects of extraction fiber, extraction temperature, extraction time, and incubation time on the extraction efficiency were investigated. The target compounds were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantified using the external standard method. Results The 100 μm Polyacrylate extraction fiber demonstrated good selectivity for short-chain fatty acids. Under optimal conditions (extraction temperature of 40 °C, extraction time of 30 min, desorption time of 5 min and incubation time of 20 min), the method showed excellent linearity for 9 kinds of short-chain fatty acids, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.995. The limits of detection ranged from 0.25 to 25.00 μg/kg, the recovery rates were between 92.2% and 100.1%, and the relative standard deviations ranged from 1.4% to 9.4%. Conclusion The established method for analyzing short-chain fatty acids in table salt is characterized by simple sample preparation, high sensitivity, good recovery rates and stability, making it suitable for the detection of short-chain fatty acids in table salt.

Objective To develop a rapid method for the determination of nitrofuran metabolites in aquatic products based on chitosan purification combined with ultra performance liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole/composite linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Methods The samples were hydrolyzed by hydrochloric acid, derived by 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, extracted by ethyl acetate, rapidly purified by chitosan, and then concentrated and redissolved. Rapid separation was achieved by ultra performance liquid chromatography, measured by triple quadrupole/composite linear ion trap mass spectrometer, and quantified by internal standard method to achieve the rapid and accurate determination of nitrofuran metabolites residues in aquatic products. Results The 4 kinds of nitrofuran metabolites had a good linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.5-10.0 μg/L, the correlation coefficients were all more than 0.998, and the limit of quantification was 0.5 μg/kg. Taking carp, Scophthalmus maximus and Litopenaeus vannamei as samples, the average recovery of 4 kinds of nitrofuran metabolites at 3 different addition levels was 96.5%-116.5%, the intra-day relative standard deviation was 2.2%-9.3%, and the intra-day relative standard deviation was 2.7%-9.7%. Conclusion The method is economical, simple, efficient, sensitive and reproducible, and can be used as a routine method for the determination of 4 kinds of nitrofuran metabolites in aquatic products.

Objective To optimize a compound desulfurizer of pickled pepper raw material by principal component analysis and response surface method. Methods The limit of detection was based on GB 2760—2014 National standard for food safety-Standards for the use of food additives, selected 3 kinds of desulfurizers with good desulfurization effect and little influences on raw material quality from 9 kinds of common desulfurizers by single factor experiments, designed a 3-factor, 3-level experiment by response surface method, through principal component analysis and response surface analysis, the optimum compound ratio and the optimum operating conditions were obtained. Results When the mass fraction of calcium hydroxide was 44.05%, sodium bicarbonate was 35.57%, chlorine dioxide was 20.38%, and the concentration was 0.10%, the desulfurization rate could reach 94.55%, which was about 36.50% higher than that of no use. At the same time, the color and hardness of pickled pepper materials had no obvious changes. Conclusion The study obtains a kind of compound desulfurizer with good desulfurization effect and little influences on raw material quality, and has high application value.

Objective To establish a method for determination of 7 kinds of antioxidant residues, including tert-butylhydroquinone, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, 3,5-di-tert-butylphenol, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, and 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, in edible oils by QuEChERS combined with gas chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Methods Edible oil samples were extracted with acetonitrile, and the supernatant was purified using the QuEChERS method, followed by filtration through an organic membrane for direct analysis. Separation was achieved using a HP-5MS chromatographic column, and quantification was performed using the external standard method under electron ionization and multiple reaction monitoring modes. Results The method effectively distinguished the 7 kinds of antioxidants, including their corresponding isomers. The target compounds exhibited good linearity and peak shapes within the range of 1-300 µg/L (r²≥0.99). The limits of detection ranged from 0.11 to 2.77 µg/kg, and the limits of quantification ranged from 0.36 to 9.23 µg/kg. The spiked recovery rates ranged from 72.51% to 116.33%, with relative standard deviations of 0.36% to 5.82% (n=8). Among the actual samples, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol had a relatively high detection rate. Conclusion This method is simple, accurate, and capable of effectively distinguishing tert-butylphenol antioxidants, making it suitable for high-throughput detection of multiple antioxidants in edible oils.

Objective To establish a quantitative detection method for the quantitative determination of the viable bacteria number of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ST-III in fermented milk, by combining propidium monoazide (PMA) with real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Methods Firstly, the specific primer probe of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ST-III was designed and verified, the standard curve was established using standard strains, and the reaction conditions of the PMA were optimized. Secondly, the quantities of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ST-III in the fermented milk samples were quantitatively detected. Results The optimal mass concentration of damaged bacteria of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ST-III was 10 μg/mL, and the optimal exposure time was 10 min. The PMA-qPCR detection method could accurately detect Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ST-III in fermented milk. Conclusion In this study, a rapid and accurate PMA-qPCR detection method is established for the detection of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ST-III in fermented milk system, which provides certain reference significance for the quantitative detection of probiotics in fermented milk products.

Objective To study of the quality, safety and authenticity analysis of beef jerky in Inner Mongolia region. Methods This study used 114 beef jerky samples from 7 categories of food supervision and sampling inspection and enterprise entrusted inspection in Inner Mongolia region 2017 to 2024 as experimental samples, and used 23 national food safety standards to comprehensively analyze their nutritional components, heavy, food additives, veterinary drug residues, microorganisms, animal source and other 23 quality and safety parameters. Results The protein content and energy of 114 samples of Inner Mongolia beef jerky were (44.26±7.19) kJ/100 g and (1450.13±536.11) kJ/100 g, respectively, but the content of fat and moisture varied greatly, the fat content of Y-2 fried beef jerky and Y-5 fat and lean beefky was significantly higher than other samples, and the moisture content of Y-2 fried beef jerky was significantly lower than other samples lead (detected in 6/25 samples), chromium (detected in 22/25 samples), cadmium (detected in 2/25), nitrite (detected in 5/18 samples), benzoic acid (not in all 37 samples), sorbic acid (detected in 2/37 samples), sodium diacetate (detected in 4/37 samples), carmine (not detected in all 18 samples), sodium saccharin (not detected in all 20 samples), clenbuterol (not in all 19 samples), ractopamine (not detected in all 19 samples), salbutamol (not detected in all 10), total bacterial count (50 samples, 9 of which were less than 10 CFU/g, and 3 were greater than 10⁴ CFU/g), and coliform group (all 50 samples were <10 CFU/g) were all in compliance with the limit requirements of the National Food Safety Standards; 12 samples tested were found to be of bovine origin, and no porcine origin detected. Conclusion The beef jerky in Inner Mongolia has the characteristics of high protein and high energy, and the heavy metal, food additives, veterinary drug residues, microbial indicators all meet the national food safety standards and there is no pork adulteration, showing a high level of quality safety. The moisture and fat content vary greatly which may be related to the processing technology of frying, roasting and air-drying of Inner Mongolia beef jerky and the raw materials.

Objective To study the distribution characteristics and health risk exposure levels of 6 kinds of common quinolone antibiotics in poultry eggs and chicken meat in Inner Mongolia. Methods The content of norfloxacin, enrofloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin and lomefloxacin in poultry eggs and chicken samples randomly collected from some cities in the region. In 2021, 2022 and 2024 were determined by isotope internal standard, solid phase extraction, ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, the data of quinolone residues in poultry eggs and chicken in the whole region were statistically analyzed, according to the reference value of different age groups dietary intake and detected data, the hazard quotient of each age group was calculated and the health risk to the population was analyzed. Results In 2021, the detection rate of poultry eggs was 5.00% (3/60), the exposure levels was 0.09-0.52 μg/(kg·d), and the hazard quotient was 0.004-0.021; the detection rate of chicken was 16.70% (10/60), the exposure levels was 0.23-12.39 μg/(kg·d), and the hazard quotient was 0.009-0.492. In 2022, the detection rate of poultry eggs was 6.25% (5/80), the exposure levels was 0.09-0.49 μg/(kg·d), and the hazard quotient was 0.004-0.019; the detection rate of of chicken was 3.75% (3/80), the exposure levels was 0.01-0.68 μg/(kg·d), and the hazard quotient was 0.0004-0.0270. In 2024, the detection rate of poultry eggs was 3.33% (4/120), the exposure levels was 0.13-0.70 μg/(kg·d), and the hazard quotient was 0.005-0.028; the detection rate of chicken was 6.36% (7/110), the exposure levels was 0.03-1.58 μg/(kg·d), and the hazard quotient was 0.001-0.063. Conclusion The 3 years of analysis data shows that quinolone antibiotics are detected in poultry eggs or chicken almost all cities, the average detected in chicken is higher than that in poultry eggs. The exposure risk of quinolone antibiotics in poultry eggs and chicken in 4 age groups is less than 1 and the health risk is small.