Validation of New ELISA Technique for Detection of Aflatoxin B1 Contamination in Food Products versus HPLC and VICAM.
Toxin-contaminated foods and beverages are a major source of illness, may cause death, and have a significant negative economic impact worldwide. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent toxin that may induce cancer after chronic low-level exposure. This study developed a quantitative recombinant AflR gene antiserum ELISA technique for aflatoxin B1 detection in contaminated food products. Aflatoxin B1 residuals from 36 food samples were analyzed with HPLC and VICAM. DNA was extracted from aflatoxin-contaminated samples and the AflR gene amplified using PCR. PCR products were purified and ligated into the pGEM-T vector. Recombinant plasmids were sequenced and transformed into competent E. coli (BL21). Molecular size and B-cell epitope prediction for the recombinant protein were assessed. The purified protein was used to induce the production of IgG antibodies in rabbits. Serum IgG was purified and labeled with alkaline phosphatase. Finally, indirect-ELISA was used to test the effectiveness of polyclonal antibodies for detection of aflatoxin B1 in food samples. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13110747
Characterisation of novel endogenous geminiviral elements in macadamia.
Background: The presence of geminivirus sequences in a preliminary analysis of sRNA sequences from the leaves of macadamia trees with abnormal vertical growth (AVG) syndrome was investigated. Results: A locus of endogenous geminiviral elements (EGE) in the macadamia genome was analysed, and the sequences revealed a high level of deletions and/or partial integrations, thus rendering the EGE transcriptionally inactive. The replication defective EGE in the macadamia genome indicates its inability to be the source of new viral infections and thus cause AVG or any other disease in macadamia. The EGE sequences were detected in two edible Macadamia species that constitute commercial cultivars and the wild germplasm of edible and inedible species of Macadamia. This strongly suggests that the integration preceded speciation of the genus Macadamia. A draft genome of a locus of EGE in Macadamia was developed. The findings of this study provide evidence to suggest the endogenization of the geminiviral sequences in the macadamia genome and the ancestral relationship of EGE with Macadamia in the Proteaceae family. Random mutations accumulating in the EGE inform that the sequence is evolving. Conclusions: The EGE in Macadamia is inactive and thus not a direct cause of any diseases or syndromes including AVG in macadamia. The insertion of the EGE in the macadamia genome preceded speciation of the genus Macadamia. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-021-08174-0
Shipping Prices Fall Slightly, but Congestion and Delays Remain
Late last week, the Los Angeles Times reported that the number of ships off the coast of Los Angeles and Long Beach had dwindled down to 46 boats, nearly half of its peak of more than 80 in late October. However, some officials are warning that this does not mean that the total number of ships waiting has decreased, since starting mid-November, new policy mandated that vessels coming across the Pacific Ocean need to wait at least 150 miles offshore as they wait to unload their cargo. It is estimated that around 50 ships are waiting further offshore, which would bring the backlog to a new high.
A recent article from Llyods List stated that Chinese Ports are expected to raise prices for handling containers for the upcoming year. This increase in price is partly in part due to the elevated ocean freight rates. However, higher handling costs would further burden shippers. Ningbo-Zhoushan, the third-largest port in the world announced they would increase their handling fees 10% at the beginning of 2022.
Throughout the supply chain crisis, shipping container companies continue to bring in record profits. According to an article from Fortune, Drewry forecasts that container shipping profits for 2021 and 2022 could reach as much as $300 billion. For 2021, the industry is projected to bring in $150 billion. Compare that to 2020 which saw profits of just $25.4 billion.
Dried Fruit Consumption and Weight Management
Researchers conducted two different studies, the first phase, examining dried fruit consumption as a snack on appetite, and phase two, a randomized controlled trial to determine if prune consumption undermined weight loss during a structured weight loss program. For phase one, participants were either given prunes and raisins or jelly babies for the control group. It was found that a significantly lower weight of food was consumed in the prune group compared to the control group, and on Area Under the Curve (AUC) fullness. In phase two, participants were given prunes to replace usual snacks while following a structured weight loss program. The results showed that prune consumption did not provide any detrimental effect on mean weight loss over the control group, nor on decrease in waist circumference.
In conclusion, the studies show that dried fruit consumption could aid in appetite control and consumption of prunes as a snack during a structured weight loss program did not undermine weight management.
The research was funded by Market Access Program funds provided by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and contributions from the California Prune Board and the Californian Raisin Administrative Committee.
Harrold, J. A., Sadler, M., Hughes, G. M., Boyland, E. J., Williams, N. J., McGill, R., ... & Halford, J. C. (2021). Experimental studies and randomised controlled trial investigating the impact of traditional dried fruits consumed as snacks on food intake, experience of appetite and bodyweight. Nutrition Bulletin
Prunes and Bone Strength in Men
To conduct the randomized controlled trial, the researchers separated 60 men into two groups, one with 100 grams of prunes daily, and the other with zero grams of prunes daily. The study aimed to test if daily inclusion of prunes positively affected bone mineral density, bone strength, and bone biomarkers. Blood samples were studied at the start, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The results showed that those consuming 100 grams of prunes daily saw a significant reduction in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRAP5b) and C-terminal collagen cross link (CTX) at 3, 6, and 12 months compared to the control group. Moreover, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase levels decreased at 6 and 12 months in both groups. The bone mineral density for total body, spine (L1-L4), hip, and ulna did not show a significant difference.
Together, all of these results suggest that consuming 100 grams of prunes daily may have modest bone-protective effects for men.
Hooshmand, S., Gaffen, D., Eisner, A., Fajardo, J., Payton, M., & Kern, M. (2021). Effects of 12 Months Consumption of 100 g Dried Plum (Prunes) on Bone Biomarkers, Density, and Strength in Men. Journal of Medicinal Food.
Effects of Pecan Nuts on Glycemic Profile and Diet Quality
The clinical trial lasted 12 weeks, 204 participants were divided into three groups. The first group was given a healthy diet, the second group, a healthy diet plus 30 grams per day of pecan nuts, and lastly the third group, a healthy diet pls 30 mL per day of extra-virgin olive oil. The researchers assessed the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, among other glycemic profile markers. Moreover, the diet quality was analyzed according to the Alternate Health Eating Index (mAHEI). Results showed that there were no differences in both the glycemic and anthropometric profiles between any of the three groups, however, it was noted that the pecan nut group significantly improved the quality of the diet compared to the other two groups.
In conclusion, while the results suggest that there was no difference regarding the glycemic and anthropometric parameters according to the three groups in patients with coronary artery disease, the results do show that adding pecan nuts to a healthy diet may improve its quality.
Dos Santos, J. L., Portal, V. L., Markoski, M. M., de Quadros, A. S., Bersch-Ferreira, Â., & Marcadenti, A. (2021). Effect of pecan nuts and extra-virgin olive oil on glycemic profile and nontraditional anthropometric indexes in patients with coronary artery disease: a randomized clinical trial. European journal of clinical nutrition, 1-8.
Recap of INC's Latest Webinar on Shipping Challenges and Inflation
The session was moderated by Emiko Terazono, Commodities Correspondent for the Financial Times, and INC Executive Committee Members Pino Calcagni and Giles Hacking joined in for the group discussion.
For INC Members who weren't able to view the live session, the webinar is now available to stream on the INC TV Channel.
State of the Shipping Industry
booming demand of consumers was partly a result of people not being able to spend on leisure and travel, while various supply restraints effectively reduced the capacity for ocean shipping. The rate increases can be linked to these imbalances in supply and demand. Looking to what CMA CGM is actively doing, Indika discussed the purchase of more vessels, and the efforts to increase CMA CGM’s hardware to offset the supply shortages. CMA CGM also decided to freeze spot rates, attempting to give the industry some stable predictable prices.
The second speaker of the webinar, Bill Rooney, VP of Strategic Development for Kuehne + Nagel in the USA provided more of a background in and explanation for how the current shipping situation has come to happen. His presentation highlighted the shipping industry's margins, their alliances, the rates compared to historical rates, global trade outlook, container ship fleet growth, and contract labor tensions on the West Coast of the US. Bill reiterated many points that were touched on by Indika such as the strong demand paired with lower supply. Looking forward to 2022, the expected container ship fleet growth is just 3% of the existing fleet, meaning rates may not drop as much for the coming year. Lastly, Bill highlighted the potential disruption of contract negotiations between the labor union and employers at the West Coast ports.
Impact of Shipping on Agriculture Sector
Later on, Prince Phonphaisan, the Executive Vice President of Heritage Group in Thailand's added to the discussion, sharing the perspective of the Pacific rim. He shared that many regions in Asia are starting to ease
restrictions from some of the world’s harshest lockdowns, however fear and uncertainty from new COVID-19 variants may suppress the process of reopening, as some countries like Japan have already implemented new restrictions. Prince mentioned that while China has no problems with exporting their products, they too are suffering when empty containers come back to port, as they can have trouble getting raw materials which later turn into Chinese exports. Prince pleaded for both sides and the governments to work together to find solutions and bring back some sort of normality.
INC representatives Pino Calcagni and Giles Hacking from the INC Executive Committee then joined in the discussion to give their perspectives. Pino Calcagni highlighted that this shipping crisis with high prices and delays was the result of an already strained supply chain. He also discussed that it is not only logistics that is putting pressure on the nut and dried fruit industry, but also the rising energy costs. Following up on Pino’s points, Giles Hacking brought up that eventually retailers will not be able to escape the rising freight costs, and they will be forced to build these extra costs into their prices, leading to increased prices on shelves. He also added that this is not solely a problem caused by freight rates, but rather a combination of all production costs, and inflation could be expected throughout the world.