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.

Objective To understand the drug resistance phenotypes,, carriage of drug resistance genes and virulence genes, serotypes and sequence type (ST) classification of Campylobacter jejuni in Xuzhou from 2023 to 2024. Methods Whole genome sequencing was conducted on Campylobacter jejuni isolated from Xuzhou City in 2023—2024 to understand the molecular characteristics such as virulence genes, drug resistance genes, and multilocus sequence typing. The serotypes related to Guillain-Barré syndrome were identified by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the drug resistance phenotypes were determined by agar dilution method. Results Forty-eight strains of Campylobacter jejuni were classified into 24 ST types. ST137 was the most numerous, accounted for 18.75% (9/48). Fifteen strains were found to have serotypes related to Guillain-Barré syndrome. A total of 24 drug resistance genes and 121 virulence genes were detected. The top 3 antibiotics with the highest resistance rates were nalidixic acid (100.00%), ciprofloxacin (100.00%), and tetracycline (97.92%). They were 100.0% sensitive to erythromycin, and the multi-drug resistance rate reached 62.50% (30/48). Conclusion Campylobacter jejuni in Xuzhou area is characterized by a high rate of multi-drug resistance, a relatively high carrying rate of some drug resistance genes, a high carrying rate of virulence genes, a large number of sequence types (ST types), and shows relatively high genetic diversity.

Objective To analyze the content characteristics of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in the dorsal and abdominal muscles of wild and farmed Larimichthys crocea, and carry out the food health threat and risk assessment. Methods The content of 6 kinds of heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry in the dorsal and abdominal parts of wild [(35.16±4.62) cm in length and (510.68±33.74) g in weight] and farmed [(32.90±1.11) cm in length and (454.19±20.03) g in weight] Larimichthys crocea. The pollution index method and health risk assessment were used for analysis. Results The average content of Hg, As, Cu and Zn in the dorsal and abdominal of wild and farmed Larimichthys crocea were 0.128, 0.032, 4.179 and 5.526 mg/kg, and 0.023, 0.195, 4.106 and 5.389 mg/kg, respectively. Pb and Cd were not detected. Based on the single heavy metal pollution index, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd in the dorsal and abdominal of wild and farmed Larimichthys crocea and Hg in the dorsal and abdominal of farmed Larimichthys crocea were pollution-free levels. There was slight pollution of Hg and As in the abdomen part of wild Larimichthys crocea, and mild pollution of Hg in the dorsal of wild Larimichthys crocea. Serious pollution level of As was found in the dorsal and abdominal of the farmed Larimichthys crocea. The comprehensive pollution index value of 6 kinds of heavy metals in the muscle of wild Larimichthys crocea was less than 1, which were pollution-free. And comprehensive pollution index value in the muscle tissue of farmed Larimichthys crocea was between 1.0<PI≤2.0, which were mildly polluted. Conclusion The content of heavy metals in the dorsal and abdominal muscles of wild Larimichthy crocea don’t exceed the detection standard, and the As element in the dorsal and abdominal muscles of farmed Larimichthys crocea exceeds the standard. There is no obvious health risk for the wild and farmed Larimichthys crocea muscles. This study systematically reveals the problem of As enrichment in farmed Larimichthys crocea, and early warning of feed or environmental risks; through the two-dimensional assessment of pollution index and health risk, the safety evaluation model of aquatic products is constructed. The research results have practical guiding significance for improving China’s aquaculture standards and improving the quality and safety supervision level of aquatic products.

Objective To determine the residual levels of fish sedatives and quinolones residues in commercially freshwater fish and evaluate their dietary exposure risk. Methods A total of 77 batches of freshwater fish were collected in 8 administrative regions of Wuhan City. High performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to determine the content of fishing anesthetics (MS-222, benzocaine, eugenol) and quinolone antibiotics (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin), and the dietary exposure risk of each compound was analyzed using a quantitative analysis method. Results MS-222 and benzocaine were not detected in all samples, and 48 batches of eugenol were detected with a content range of 2.59-1927.30 μg/kg, with a failure rate of 29.8%. The dietary exposure risk values for all age groups were less than 0.4%, indicating low dietary risk. All samples did not detect peofloxacin and norfloxacin. Enrofloxacin was detected in 34 batches with a content range of 1.74-5585.00 μg/kg, and ofloxacin was detected in 2 batches with a content range of 36.30-65.60 μg/kg, the overall failure rate was 18.2%, and the dietary exposure risk of all age groups was less than 8.00%. According to species analysis, the content range of enrofloxacin in loaches and yellow catfish was as follows: 2.74-5585.00 μg/kg and 6.82-1014.00 μg/kg, with dietary risks of 55.4% and 9.0%, respectively. Conclusion The fishery anesthetic used in this region is eugenol, which is characterized by high detection rate and large residual amount, and requires the development of normative documents to guide its use. Enrofloxacin, as the main quinolone antibiotic used in the region, has two high-risk species: Loach and yellow catfish. Market regulatory authorities should focus on the supervision of these two species.

Objective To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of 16 kinds of anesthetics and metabolites residual amount in aquatic products by multi-plug filtration cleanup (m-PFC)-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Methods Samples were extracted with acetonitrile containing 1% formic acid, separated by salting-out, and the upper acetonitrile was purified by m-PFC column packed with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, primary secondary amine (PSA), and enhanced matrix removal-lipid (EMR-Lipid). The targets were separated by C₁₈ column using methanol-2 mmol/L ammonium formate containing 0.1% formic acid as mobile phase for gradient elution, detected by positive or negative electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry under multiple reaction monitoring mode, and quantified with matrix external standard method. Results The 16 kinds of anesthetcs and metabolites showed good linear relationships in their respective concentration ranges (r²>0.996). The limits of detection (S/N=3) and limits of quantitation (S/N=10) were 0.03-0.30 μg/kg and 0.10-1.00 μg/kg. The average recoveries at low, medium and high concentration levels in the blank sample matrix were 79.3%-113.8%, and the relative standard deviations were 1.3%-7.2% (n=6). Conclusion This method is simple to operate, sensitive and good in stability, which can be applied to the rapid detection of 16 kinds of anesthetics and metabolites in aquatic products.

Objective To evaluate the nutritional composition and quality of Apostichopus japonicus body walls under different breeding models. Methods The nutritional components of Apostichopus japonicus body walls under natural growth, industrial cultivation, pond cultivation, bottom-sowing proliferation, enclosure cultivation, and cage cultivation in the Yantai Region were analyzed and compared. These components included moisture, protein, fat, polysaccharides, saponins, taurine, amino acids, fatty acids and mineral elements. Results Under 6 kinds of breeding methods, the natural growth protein and saturated fatty acid content were the highest, the taurine content was higher, and there were also high levels of essential amino acids and amino acid ratios; bottom propagation had higher levels of calcium, zinc and selenium in terms of mineral elements, with the lowest levels of potassium and magnesium. It had a better flavor and the highest levels of medicinal and flavor amino acids; the fat content, taurine content, total amino acid content, essential amino acid proportion, and unsaturated fatty acid content were the highest in cofferdam aquaculture; the content of Apostichopus japonicus in net cage aquaculture was the highest; pond aquaculture had the highest content of water, calcium and sea cucumber polysaccharides, but the lowest content of various components such as Apostichopus japonicus; the overall composition of factory farming was relatively low, with the lowest content of various components such as polyunsaturated fatty acids. Conclusion In the Yantai Region, under different breeding methods, there are obvious differences in the nutritional and functional components of the body wall of Apostichopus japonicus. The quality of natural growth, bottom-sowing proliferation, enclosure cultivation and cage cultivation is superior to that of industrial cultivation. The results of this study partially improve the evaluation of the nutritional quality of Apostichopus japonicus in the Yantai Region, provide data support for the processing and purchase of Apostichopus japonicus, and serve as a reference for the development of the Apostichopus japonicus industry.

Food thermal processing is a crucial method for transforming raw materials into edible products suitable for long-term storage. However, while this process enhances the taste and extends the shelf life of food, it can also generate a range of chemical contaminants, including acrylamide, heterocyclic amines, furan, advanced glycation end-products, chloropropanols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines. These contaminants are believed to have carcinogenic, mutagenic and other toxic effects on human health. Metabolomics, as an emerging field of omics science, analyzes alterations in small molecules within cells and organisms to identify key metabolites and their associated pathways, thus providing valuable insights into the toxic mechanisms of food processing contaminants. This review first summarized the major contaminants produced during food thermal processing and their toxicological characteristics. It then discussed in detail the progress made in metabolomics in investigating the effects of these contaminants on the metabolic profiles of organisms and their associated toxic mechanisms. Additionally, the review addressed current challenges in metabolomics research, such as the complexity of metabolic products from food processing contaminants, difficulties in data analysis, and the lack of standardized experimental and analytical methods. Finally, the review highlights the future prospects of metabolomics in enhancing food safety assessments and identifying potential health risks, particularly through technological innovations and artificial intelligence to advance this field.

Fungal toxins are a class of toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi under specific environmental conditions, with nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, teratogenicity, carcinogenesis, and mutagenicity. These toxins can enter the food chain by contaminating agricultural products such as grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and their processed products, posing a serious threat to human health. Therefore, developing efficient and sensitive detection techniques for fungal toxins in food is particularly important. This article provided a systematic review of common fungal toxin detection technologies in food, focusing on the technical characteristics of different detection technologies in sensitivity, specificity, multi-component synchronous detection, and on-site rapid screening, analyzed the key technical bottlenecks such as complex food matrix interference elimination, precise quantification of trace toxins, and development of detection standard substances, providing reference for in-depth research in this field and the updating and optimization of national and other levels of detection standards, in order to further improve the accuracy and efficiency of fungal toxin detection in food and provide strong support for food safety assurance.

Objective To establish a method for the identification of morpholine in morpholine fatty acid salt fruit wax by gas chromatography. Methods Morpholine fatty acid salt was hydrolyzed to morpholine using hydrochloric acid solution, and the pH of the solution was adjusted with sodium hydroxide acid solution. Detection was performed using gas chromatography-hydrogen flame ionization detector. Results The matrix effect of the method was 96.67%; there was no interference from sample blanks, reagent blanks, and standard solution blanks on the qualitative analysis of the target substance; the deviation of peak area for samples of different concentrations within 48 hours was within ±5%. The method was used to analyze the actual commercial samples, and 12 batches of samples were detected morpholine. Conclusion This method has the advantages of minimal interference, strong specificity, and good repeatability. The pretreatment process is simple and environmentally friendly, providing technical support for the identification of morpholine in morpholine fatty acid salt fruit wax.

Objective To study the residual behavior and dietary risk assessment of oxine-copper in Prunus persica. Methods The samples were extracted by homogenate with acetonitrile-10% acetic solution, centrifuged after salting out, detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and quantified by external standard method. Results There was a good linear relationship in the range of 0.0025 to 0.2500 mg/L, and the correlation coefficients was 0.999; in the range of 0.01 to 1.00 mg/kg; the average recoveries of oxine-copper in Prunus persica ranged from 86% to 102%, with the relative standard deviation was 1.4% to 6.0%, and the limit of quantification was 0.01 mg/kg. The dissipation process of oxine-copper in Prunus persica followed a first-order kinetic model. The dissipation half-lives of oxine-copper in Prunus persica from Ningxia, Beijing, Shandong and Sichuan were 13.9, 9.9, 7.7 and 23.1 days, respectively, and the correlation coefficients ranged from 0.635 to 0.948, after 14 days of application, the maximum residual amount of oxine-copper in Prunus persica samples was 0.920 mg/kg. The dietary risk assessment showed that after 14 d of application, the probability of dietary intake risk in the general population was far less than 100%. Conclusion This method is simple, accurate, and highly sensitive, and is suitable for the residual detection oxine-copper in Prunus persica. The final residue tests show that the amount of copper quinoline residue does not exceed the established maximum residue limits, and does not pose an unacceptable risk to the health of the general population.