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Notes difficulties related to devising specific functional tests of vitamin C status. Looks at approaches used in the study of the mechanisms of vitamin C absorption and their limitations. Outlines the goals of a MAFF project to begin in 1997; these being, for example, to improve current analytical procedures in this area.

This study aims to examine the effects of various physical and chemical pre-treatments on antioxidant properties of tree bean (Parkia roxburghii G. Don) in combination with storage conditions.

The whole pods and seeds of tree bean were treated with gamma rays (γ-rays), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and stored at room temperature (RT, 25°C) for 30 days. The physical and chemical pre-treated seeds and pods were compared with the same stored at RT and refrigerated storage at 4°C and −20°C. During storage, physical (moisture content) and antioxidants like total phenolics, ascorbate content, reduced glutathione, total flavonoids, along with free radical scavenging activities (FRSA) were measured.

Chemical pre-treatments with NaOCl, ClO₂ and H₂O₂ significantly accelerated (p = 0.05) the total phenolics (1.9 mg/g FW in seeds and 2.4 mg/g FW in pods), flavonoids content (0.3 mg/g FW each in seeds and pods) and ABTS activities (73.3 per cent in seeds and 92.3 per cent in pods) at 30 days of storage. A significant decrease (p = 0.05) in ascorbate content (6.1 mg/g FW in seeds and 3.5 mg/g FW in pods), reduced glutathione (5.1 mg/g FW in seeds and 3.7 mg/g FW in pods), FRAP (0.3 mg equi Fe/g FW in seeds and 0.4 mg equi Fe/g FW in pods) and reducing power (1.8 mg/g FW in seeds and 3.7 mg/g FW in pods) was observed under all the treatments at 30 days of storage. However, DPPH increased under γ-irradiation and decreased under chemical pre-treatments, storage at RT and refrigerated storage. The overall result showed that pre-treatment of H₂O₂ at 10-20 mM maintains antioxidants and radical scavenging activities in tree bean during storage.

The application of H₂O₂ at 10-20 mM prior to storage of tree bean maintains the physical, antioxidant properties and FRSA in tree bean seeds and pods as compared to natural ambient conditions. Hence, this technique will help in improving the keeping quality of this legume and avoid spoilage after harvest for an extended period.

Modern food processing methods and the widespread ownership of both domestic and catering microwave ovens have permitted rapid growth in the production of a wide range of frozen and cook‐chill foods for retail and catering use.

The purpose of this study is to develop a chicken product that could supply calcium, vitamin E and vitamin C together with high sensory acceptability. The present study was envisaged to develop low-fat chicken patties fortified with calcium, vitamin E and vitamin C without any adverse effects on sensory attributes.

Three different levels of calcium lactate as a source of calcium viz. 1.5, 1.75 and 2.0 per cent, α-tocopherol acetate for vitamin E at 0.019, 0.023 and 0.029 per cent and ascorbic acid for vitamin C at 0.09, 0.12 and 0.15 per cent in low-fat chicken meat patties were tried and the optimum level was standardized based on physico-chemical, proximate and sensory parameters.

The calcium lactate at 1.75 per cent, α-tocopherol acetate at 0.029 per cent and ascorbic acid at 0.15 per cent were found to be optimum on the basis of proximate, physico-chemical and sensory parameters. The textural attributes of the standardized product was comparable to that of the control. The a*, b* and Chroma values for the low-fat chicken patties fortified with calcium, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that of the control. The calcium and ascorbic acid concentration of the standardized product was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that of the control.

The levels in the fortified product were found to be suitable to achieve a 20 per cent RDA of calcium and almost a complete RDA for vitamin C. The research findings demonstrated the development of a single-designer chicken product rich in calcium, vitamin C and vitamin E.

Vitamin C is well known in a nutritional context for being one vital component of the mixed diet we all need for survival. But vitamin C also has value in influencing the organoleptic qualities of foods.

Iron deficiency anaemia is a relatively common problem, even in the well‐fed countries of the western world. It is not only due to a low dietary intake of iron; even when the food appears to provide an adequate amount, absorption may be hampered by other dietary components.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Kara) was grown in Open‐Top Chambers (OTCs) in Northern Egypt at ambient (ca 350 ppm) or doubled CO₂ (ca 690 ppm) either in charcoal‐filtered air (15 nl l‐1) or in non‐filtered ambient air (78 nll‐1 O₃) to investigate the changes in physiology and yield under long‐term elevated CO₂ and/or O₃ throughout 100 days. Ambient O₃ level reduced net photosynthetic rates, number and weight of tubers by 18 per cent, 41 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively, whereas elevated CO₂ caused the opposite effect where it increased the same parameters by 44 per cent, 37 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. Significant O₃ x CO₂ interactions were detected. However, O₃ caused an increase in GR and POD by 18 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively, while CO₂ caused an increase in POD only by 46 per cent, and there was no effect of O₃ and/or CO₂ on other enzymes. The results of this study are discussed in relation to predicted atmospheric changes.

The body has an elaborate antioxidant defence system to protect against excessive free radical attack. Such attack has been implicated in the development process of several degenerative diseases.

The pattern of prosecutions forfood offences has changed very little in the past decade. Compositional offences have rarely exceeded 5 per cent and, since the 1967 batch of regulations for meat products, are mostly in respect of deficient meat content. Food hygiene offences have also remained steady, with no improvement to show for all the effort to change the monotony of repulsive detail. The two major causes of all legal proceedings, constituting about 90 per cent of all cases—the presence of foreign matter and sale of mouldy food—continue unchanged; and at about the same levels, viz. an average of 55 per cent of the total for foreign matter and 35 per cent for mouldy food. What is highly significant about this changed concept of food and drugs administration is that almost all prosecutions now arise from consumer complaint. The number for adulteration as revealed by official sampling and analysis and from direct inspectorial action is small in relation to the whole. A few mouldy food offences are included in prosecutions for infringements of the food hygiene regulations, but for most of the years for which statistics have been gathered by the BFJ and published annually, all prosecutions for the presence of foreign matter have come from consumer complaint. The extent to which food law administration is dependent upon this source is shown by the fact that 97 per cent of all prosecutions in 1971 for foreign bodies and mouldy food—579 and 340 respectively—resulted from complaints; and in 1972, 98 per cent of prosecutions resulted from the same source in respect of 597 for foreign matter and 341 for mouldy food. Dirty milk bottle cases in both years all arose from consumer complaint; 41 and 37 respectively.

The present study aims to use goat (Bhakarwali spp.) meat and its edible offal (heart and liver) in preparation of goat pickle and to enhance its shelf-life using food-grade glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) as the preservative.

The goat meat was used at 50 per cent and edible offals were used at 50 per cent, whereas liver and heart were used at 25 per cent each in the preparation of goat pickle. This formulation of goat meat pickle was prepared in two different oils, namely, mustard oil and olive oil. These designer goat meat pickles were evaluated based on physicochemical and sensory evaluation. Further, GDL was added to these designer pickles prepared in both mustard and olive oil, as preservatives and studied for its storage quality for 90 days at room temperature (30 ± 2°C). The prepared goat meat pickle was evaluated for physico-chemical, sensory and microbiological profiles on 0th, 15th, 30th, 45th, 60th, 75th and 90th day.

The pH was recorded significant (p < 0.05) decrease on successive days irrespective of oils (mustard and olive oil) and GDL as acidifying agent and preservative used, respectively, but the rate of decrease in pH was comparatively lower in goat pickle with added GDL. The protein, fats and ash levels significantly (p < 0.05) increased, and the moisture level significantly (p < 0.05) decreased from 0th day to 90th day of storage irrespective of oils and preservatives used. The overall acceptability score of goat pickle made in olive oil and with added GDL was significantly (p < 0.05) higher during storage. The designer goat pickle with addition of GDL was safe for human consumption even after 90 days, whereas designer goat pickle without addition of GDL, was safe till 60th day of storage.

The shelf-life of the product was evaluated till only 90 days, which should have been extended. However, the study was committed towards assessing the problem for only 90 days.

GDL can be used to preserve the goat pickle made of meat, and edible offal can be preserved for more than 90 days.

Because of utilization of edible offal, even low-income groups of population can consume animal protein at a lower cost.

Thus, the used food grade GDL at 0.02 per cent enhanced the shelf-life of the prepared designer goat pickle stored at room temperature (30 ± 20°C) by lowering its pH and acted as an excellent preservative.