Objective To establish an analytical method for the determination of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) content in variety of health food by liquid chromatography. Methods Tablets and capsules were extracted with acetonitrile:water (60:40, V:V); oral liquid was extracted with acetonitrile and added sodium chloride to salt out the targets from water; gel candy was dissolved in warm water first, and extracted with acetonitrile, after that ammonium sulfate was used to precipitate gelatin and made acetonitrile water stratification simultaneously. Finally, DHEA in health product was effectively extracted, then determined by liquid chromatography with diode array detection or liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and quantified by external standard method. Results The established methods were effective in extracting DHEA from health foods, with limit of detection for solid or powder sample was 0.15 g/kg and for liquid was 1.5 mg/L and limit of quantification was 0.5 g/kg for solid or powder samples and 5 mg/L for liquid, respectively. The recovery of this method was 95.7%-104.0%, and the relative standard deviation was 1.10%-3.76%. It was found that the content of DHEA in imported dietary supplements was mostly consistent with the label, with a few samples not matching the label in real sample. Conclusion This method is sensitive, simple and convenient, and can be used not only to monitor the illegal addition of DHEA in domestic health foods, but also to evaluate the content of DHEA in cross-border dietary supplements.

Objective To optimize the fermentation process of pine pollen rice wine by Box-Behnken response surface design and entropy weight technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) method. Methods With pine pollen and glutinous rice as the main raw materials, sensory score, alcohol content and antioxidant capacity as evaluation indexes, a 3-factor and 3-level response surface test was designed based on the single factor test, and the addition of pine pollen, koji and fermentation time as investigation factors, according to the Box-Benhnken central combination test principle. The fermentation process of pine pollen rice wine was optimized by entropy weight TOPSIS method. Results The optimum fermentation process of pine pollen rice wine addition was 8%, koji addition 0.8% and fermentation time 72 h. Under these conditions, the texture of pine pollen rice wine was uniform, the taste was soft, and the color was light brown and yellow. After 3 batches of process verification experiments, the sensory score of rice wine was 89.5 points, the alcohol content was 17.2%vol, and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical clearance rate was 87.43%. Conclusion The method of entropy weight TOPSIS combined with response surface design to optimize the fermentation process of pine pollen rice wine is stable and predictable, which lays a theoretical foundation for the production of high quality pine pollen rice wine.

Objective To systematically analyze the characteristics of volatile compounds in the crude fat of Trachinotus ovatus by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) combined with electronic-nose. Methods GC-IMS was used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the volatile compounds in the crude fat of different parts (head, abdomen and viscera) of Trachinotus ovatus, focusing on the identification of differences in key flavor components such as alcohols, ketones, acids and aldehydes. Combined with electronic-nose technology, the overall flavor profile of crude fat in each part was characterized to further evaluate the contribution of major volatile compounds to flavor formation. Results The crude fat in different parts of Trachinotus ovatus belonged to high-quality lipids, but there were significant differences in the composition of volatile components. The fish head group was mainly composed of alcohols and ketones. The abdominal group was dominated by alcohols, alkanes and acids; the visceral group contained higher volatile acids. Conclusion This study reveals the differences in volatile compounds in different parts of Trachinotus ovatus, provides theoretical support for its flavor regulation, and also provides guidance for the high-value utilization of by-products such as viscera.

Objective To reveal an intuitive understanding of the academic context and evolutionary trends of the pungent studies based on Chili peppers and Sichuan peppers, as well as their key pungent components. Methods Over 10000 articles in the core database of the Web of Science over the past decade had been taken as the research object, and the current status and hotspots of pungent research had been compared and analyzed using the bibliometric analysis methods. Results The pungent study presents a continuous trend of the interdisciplinary integration, where many fields were involved such as plant science, food science and technology, biochemistry and molecular biology, pharmacology and pharmacy, neuroscience and chemistry, and the focuses of the pungent studies were quite different. The number of the publications on the pungent (Là) research was much higher than that on pungent (Má) research. China was the country that had the highest number of publications in the field of both pungent researches, especially in the pungent (Má) research, where China occupied a leading position in the aspects like international cooperation and the influence of the author and research institution. The hot topics and burst keywords in pungent studies had been further revealed through the co-occurrence, clustering and burst occurrence analysis of keywords. Conclusion Currently, the commonality lies in the research on the pungency and biological activity of Sichuan peppers or Chili pepper and their main components. The difference is that the pungent (Là) research mainly focuses on the health and quality of Chili peppers and related foods, while the pungent (Má) research focuses more on the pungency, quality and health effects of Sichuan peppers and its key components. The theoretical basis can be provided for the experts and scholars in the fields of plant science, food science and technology, pharmacy and medicine to grasp the current situation, laws and directions of the pungent research.

Objective To develop Maillard reaction flavors combined with caramelized syrup using natural plants as raw materials. Methods Using tamarind as a raw material, it was treated with composite enzymes and mixed with caramelized syrup for Maillard reaction. The optimal preparation process was determined according to the comprehensive sensory score standard for Maillard flavors. The aroma differences between the Maillard reaction flavors with and without caramelized syrup were analyzed, and volatile aroma compounds were detected using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The reasons for the aroma differences were analyzed, and its antioxidant activity was studied using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Results The optimal conditions for tamarind enzymatic hydrolysis were: Temperature 45 ℃, time 4.0 hours, and a composite enzyme ratio of 1:1:1 (m:m:m) for pectinase, cellulase, and papain, with an enzyme dosage of 0.5% of the tamarind amount. At a temperature of 120 ℃, reaction time of 80 minutes, initial pH 8.0, and a material-to-liquid ratio of 5:1 (m:V), the Maillard reaction flavor mixed with caramelized syrup showed the highest sensory score. Under these conditions, 68 volatile compounds were detected in the flavor, with ester, heterocyclic, and ketone volatile compounds accounting for a higher proportion compared to the Maillard flavor without caramelized syrup, imparting a sweet-caramel, roasted-sweet, and rich aroma. Adding caramelized syrup enhanced the antioxidant activity of the flavor, and at a concentration of 10 mg/mL, the DPPH scavenging rate reached 70.8%. Conclusion This study provides a new method for preparing edible flavors through the Maillard reaction with tamarind as the raw material combined with caramelized syrup.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), characterized by their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation potential, hydrophobic and oleophobic properties, and chemical stability, have been extensively applied in industrial production and daily life. However, the widespread presence of these compounds poses significant threats to both ecological systems and human health. Dietary intake, particularly through animal-derived foods (e.g., fish, shellfish, poultry, and their processed products), represents a primary pathway of human exposure to PFASs. To effectively assess their health risks and formulate relevant regulatory policies, it is crucial to establish rapid, efficient, and sensitive detection methods for monitoring PFAS contamination levels in animal-derived foods. This review systematically summarized sample preparation techniques for PFAS analysis in animal-derived foods and highlights advancements in chromatographic and chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods for detection. Furthermore, it provided an overview of current research on PFAS contamination levels across various food matrices, offering critical insights for environmental pollution assessment, food safety regulation, and optimization of analytical technologies.

Objective To investigate the contamination situations and exposure risks of deoxynivalenol (DON) and their derivatives in grains and their products in Hebei Province. Methods Totally 1594 grains and their products in Hebei Province from 2016 to 2023 were investigated. DON and its derivatives were determined by isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Their concentrations were analyzed, and the exposure risk of DON to grains and their products among residents in Hebei Province was evaluated based on adult dietary consumption. Results The detection rates of DON were the highest in wheat and their products, ranging from 61.40% to 97.78%. The detection rates of DON in corn and its products were ranging from 36.13% to 86.75%. The detection rate of DON in rice was relatively low, with a detection rate of 0% in rice and 20.31% in Job’s tears. Risk assessment showed that the chronic exposure range for adults was 0.02-0.62 μg/(kg·bw·d), which was lower than the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake guidance value of 1.0 μg/(kg·bw·d). Conclusion DON contamination is relatively common in grains and their products. Among these, wheat and their products exhibit the highest detection rate and contamination levels of DON, followed by corn-based products, while rice-based products show relatively lower contamination levels. For adults, the dietary exposure to DON through the consumption of wheat-based foods, corn, and rice does not pose a significant chronic intake risk. Wheat-based foods are the primary source of DON exposure in the population. Continuous monitoring of DON contamination in grains and their products is necessary to reduce dietary exposure risks.

Objective To understand the pollution situation of new risk factors such as 3-chloropropanol ester (3-MCPDE), glycidyl ester (GE), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in Camellia oleifera seed oil of Jiangxi Province, and make risk assessment. Methods The content of 3-MCPDE, GE, DBP and DEHP in 29 batches of Camellia oleifera seed oil were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the exposure risk was analyzed by dietary exposure assessment method. Results The content of 3-MCPDE in Camellia oleifera seed oil ranged from 0.11 mg/kg to 4.52 mg/kg, the detection rate was 75.86%, and the problem rate was 10.34%. GE content ranged from 0.13 mg/kg to 11.76 mg/kg, the detection rate was 72.41%, and the problem rate was 44.83%. The content of DBP ranged from 0.43 mg/kg to 12.90 mg/kg, and the problem rate was 34.48%. The range of DEHP content was 0.57-9.69 mg/kg, the detection rate was 55.17%, and the problem rate was 20.69%. The average exposure of residents to DBP, DEHP, 3-MCPDE and GE through edible oil tea seed oil ranged from 0.56 μg/(kg·BW) to 0.75 μg/(kg·BW), and the exposure risk of DBP, DEHP and 3-MCPDE ranged from 1.12% to 37.37%. The exposure risk of margin of exposure (MOE) of GE was 3948.94 for men and 3347.52 for women, with both MOE values being below 10000. Conclusion Camellia oleifera seed oil poses a certain risk of contamination with 3-MCPDE, GE, DBP and DEHP. The likelihood of human health hazards from DBP, DEHP, and 3-MCPDE intake through Camellia seed oil is very low for residents. However, greater attention shall be paid to the health risks associated with GE exposure.

Objective To investigate the distribution, sources, and gene cassette contents of integrative and conjugative elements in microorganisms contaminating cooked poultry meat products. Methods Cooked duck meat was purchased, and DNA extraction, sequencing, assembly, binning, and metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) acquisition were performed. These MAGs were then compared with an integron database. Results A total of 110 integrative and conjugative elements belonging to 65 distinct types were detected in the contaminating microbiota of cooked duck meat, primarily originating from 31 host microorganisms, including Mesorhizobium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Among these integrative and conjugative elements, there were 9 kinds of transposases, 1 kinds of virulence factor gene, and 19 resistance-related genes, including 10 tetracycline resistance genes. Additionally, 11 defense genes, all of which were phage-defense genes, were identified. Conclusion The discovery of various integrative and conjugative elements, virulence factors, resistance-related genes, and defense genes reveals the complex genetic diversity of microorganisms in food. This provides important clues for studying horizontal gene transfer and has significant implications for assessing food safety and preventing and controlling foodborne pathogens. The effective application of metagenomic technology in integron research also demonstrates its potential in the fields of food safety and public health.

Objective To investigate the levels of 8 kinds of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) in insect tea produced in Chishui City, Guizhou Province, and assess their potential health risks. Methods The 88 insect tea samples from Chishui City were soaked in ultrapure water at 80 ℃ for 40 min, and the supernatant was shaken and filtered, and then determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The pollution degree of heavy metals was evaluated by using the single-factor pollution index and Nemero’s comprehensive pollution index, and the estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and target carcinogenic risk (TCR) were used for dietary health risk assessment. Results The average content of 8 kinds of heavy metals in the insect tea samples were 1.558, 3.344, 3.366, 27.020, 1.774, 0.858, 0.011 and 1.385 mg/kg, respectively. The evaluation of the contamination degree of the heavy metals showed that the P_i and the P_n value of those samples were less than 1.0, and the contamination level was clean and safe. The EDI values were ranked in the order of Zn>Cu=Ni>As>Cr> Pb>Cd>Hg, and all of them were lower than their corresponding R_FD values. THQ values ranked in the order of 1>As>Cd>Pb>Cu>Ni>Cr>Zn>Hg, and the risks were all low. The TCR values for Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Hg and Pb were evaluated, and their values were all below the acceptable range. Conclusion The samples of insect tea produced in Chishui City, Guizhou Province, shows a low level of heavy metal contamination, and the dietary health risk and carcinogenic risk to consumers are low.