Peanuts are among the most clinically important food allergens and may cause severe reactions even at very low exposure levels. This study investigated the presence of peanut residues in packaged baby biscuits marketed on the European side of Istanbul without peanut-containing ingredient declarations. A total of 100 packaged baby biscuit samples labelled as not containing peanut ingredients were collected from retail outlets in Basaksehir (n = 35), Eyup (n = 33), and Avcılar (n = 32) between January and June 2022 and analysed using a commercial ELISA kit (RIDASCREEN® FAST Peanut; analytical range 3.3-20 mg/kg, with a limit of detection of 3.3 mg/kg). The products consisted of plain, whole grain, goat's milk-based, vegetable-based, butter-based, apple-flavoured, and gluten-free baby biscuits. Peanut residues above the kit threshold (3.30 mg/kg) were detected in 15 samples (15%), with quantified values ranging from 3.94 to 4.93 mg/kg, while the remaining 85 samples (85%) were below the detection limit. No statistically significant association was found between product type and the presence of peanut residues. These findings demonstrate a potential risk of unintentional peanut presence in baby biscuits and highlight the need for strengthened allergen management, validated cleaning procedures, and accurate allergen labelling to protect sensitive consumer groups, particularly infants and young children.

Breakfast cereals, attributed to low microbiological risk due to their low water activity, are not very innocent due to their components such as cereal, dried fruit and cocoa. Secondary fungal metabolites called mycotoxins are one of the most important risks that these foods can carry. The multimycotoxin level of 140 breakfast cereal samples sold in local markets in Istanbul, Turkiye, was analysed . Samples were tested using the LC-MS/MS technique. Contamination levels of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, ochratoxin (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1, B2, citrinin, HT-2 and T-2 toxins were determined in breakfast cereal. As a result, 71% (n = 100) of the samples were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin. Aflatoxin B1 levels in 17% of the samples and total aflatoxin levels in 31% were determined to exceed the limits defined in the "Turkish Food Codex Contaminants Regulation". The sample rate containing all toxins (except CIT) above the detection limit was 24%. ZEN + DON + OTA was found in 24% of the samples, total aflatoxins (TAF) + OTA + ZEN in 25%, fumonisins (FUM) + OTA + DON in 29%, and TAF + FUM + OTA + DON + ZEN + HT-2+T-2 in 24% of the samples. Our findings indicate that breakfast cereal samples are susceptible to mycotoxin contamination and necessitate consistent monitoring to ensure safety. The presence of other mycotoxins not included in the legal regulation is noteworthy. Action is needed to prepare a legal regulation on the co-occurrence of mycotoxins.

This study evaluated heavy metal levels (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cu) and the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in mussels and commonly consumed fishery products from the Marmara region of Türkiye. Health risks were evaluated using total hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) values, while microbial risks in fresh and ready-to-eat (RTE) products were estimated via the Risk Ranger tool. Among 625 samples, Hg (36.96%; CI95 = 33.27–48.81), Pb (9.76%; CI95 = 7.67–12.34), and Cd (19.36%; CI95 = 16.45–22.64) exceeded permissible limits, except in crabs, which remained compliant. Anchovy, sardines, bluefish, shrimps, and octopus met EU Cd limits. Shrimps exhibited higher Asin levels than crabs (p < 0.05), while squids had significantly higher Asin than octopus but lower Pb (p < 0.05). Microbiological analysis detected Salmonella spp. in 4.00% of samples (CI95 = 2.50–6.30) and L. monocytogenes in 4.24% (CI95 = 2.70–6.59). Surmullet, bluefish, red mullet, crabs, mussels, and octopus tested negative for both, while anchovy was negative for Salmonella spp. only. THQ and HI assessments emphasized the need for environmental monitoring to mitigate heavy metal contamination. The detection of pathogens highlights the importance of stringent surveillance measures to ensure the safety of fishery products and bivalves.

The objective of this study was to determine the presence of C. difficile in seafood, to identify the ribotype of isolates, to reveal the distribution of their toxinogenic genes and to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of C. difficile strains. For this purpose, a total of 755 seafood samples were analysed. Sixteen isolates were verified as C. difficile [14 (5.28%) bivalve molluscs and 2 (2.0%) shrimp] whereas none of the ribotypes detected were human pathogenic ribotypes. Among C. difficile isolates only one of the bivalve mollusc (RT003) was found to be toxigenic (A+B+CDT+) that had also toxin-producing ability. All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and resistant to cefotaxime. Results of this study indicate that the rate of C. difficile in seafood is much lower than in meat or poultry products. However, consumption of raw or undercooked contaminated bivalve molluscs could be a potential source of C. difficile that may pose a risk to human health.

The effects of microwave heating at different processing time and power levels (360 W, 600 W and 900 W) on Salmonella Typhimurium , Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in Turkish type meatballs were evaluated. Besides, the changes in the textural and sensorial properties of meatballs were determined to reveal the cooking time and temperatures that would make the product safety without affecting the consumer preferences. In this direction, the experimentally contaminated meatballs were subjected to microwave heating at low, medium and high power levels for different processing times and analysed for the survival of the relevant pathogenic bacteria. The total aerobic bacteria count in meatballs could be reduced approximately 3 - 4 log CFU/g by medium and high microwave powers, whereas 5 - 7 log CFU/g inhibition was obtained in meatballs inoculated with pathogens. The increase in power level together with the increasing process time resulted in a decrease in the counts of bacteria and an undesirable effect on the textural and sensorial qualities of meatballs. Microwave heating at medium and high power levels as from 3 min, caused excessive drying and blackening of the product, making it difficult to consume due to crust formation. Consequently, to achieve optimal acceptability of the product by consumers, meatballs should be heated with a microwave power of 600 W and 900 W for 3 min.

Carcass discrimination is a very important issue in the evaluation of different sheep breeds as lamb meat for the red meat sector and the study aims to determine the carcass differences of Romanov and Kıvırcık lambs up to 6 months old by 2D geometric analysis. In this study was carried out with six months old 13 Kıvırcık and 16 Romanov lamb cold carcasses. Principal components (PC) that describe the most variation in shape were determined for all samples. A discriminant analysis was performed for the mean shapes of two different breeds. In terms of size (centroid size), Romanov"s results were higher. The difference in shape (procrustes distance) was statistically significant for the whole carcass. The shape variations were pretty close for the top view of the whole carcass. It was observed that this analysis was not effective in the differentiation of breeds. The most significant analysis between the two feedings was in the side view of the whole carcass. A total of 26 PCs were obtained from the side view of the whole carcass, 25 PCs from the inside view of half carcass, and 12 PCs from the shape analysis made from the top view of the whole carcass as a result of PCA analysis. PC1 was found to describe for more than 40% shape variation for each view. The lower border of Romanov"s rib cage was more ventral according to the results. Also, Kıvırcık had a straighter thoracal and lumbar vertebrae arrangement, while Romanov"s was curved. Geometric morphometry can be a useful method for carcass separation.

Microplastics are small polymeric particles formed after the degradation and environmental erosion of plastic waste. They pose a significant threat to the environment, animal, and human health. For humans, food is an important route for the transmission of microplastics. In this study, the presence of microplastics in raw milk is investigated. Samples from various milk-producing animals were collected in Turkey’s Marmara Region, a prominent industrial and agricultural area (n:588). Rigorous quality control measures were applied to prevent contamination during sampling and analysis. Microplastics were identified, classified, and measured through microscopic analysis, and their surface morphology and chemical composition were assessed using advanced techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscope Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Results reveal that microplastics were present in 89

: Chips made from maize semolina are rarely mycotoxin analysed because they are classified as low-risk foods in routine legal control plans. It is essential to foresee the health risks these snack foods may pose in the medium and long term, whose consumption frequency and quantity have increased with the changing consumer behaviours during the pandemic. The most outstanding development in mycotoxin analysis in recent years has been the use of high-pressure liquid chromatography together with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS ) as a detector. For aflatoxin (AF) B 1 , B 2 , G 1 , G 2 , ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ), fumonisin B 2 (FB 2 ), citrinin (CIT), HT-2 toxin, and T-2 toxin determination in our samples, the LC-MS/MS analysis method with electrospray ionisation interfaces was utilised. Aflatoxin B 1 levels in 22.7% of the samples (2.01–17.49 μg·kg –1 ) and total aflatoxins (TAF) in 26.7% of the samples (6.71–24.67 μg·kg –1 ) were determined to exceed the limits defined in the Turkish Food Codex Contaminants Regulation. CIT could not be detected in any of the samples. ZEN + DON + OTA was found in 21.3% of the samples, DON + TAF + total fumonisins (FUM) in 19.3%, and TAF + ZEN + FUM in 18.7%.

In this study, a total of 140 cereal-based foods sold in temporary open-air markets were analyzed by LC-MS/MS for aflatoxin B-1, B-2, G(1), G(2), ochratoxin (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B-1, fumonisin B-2, citrinin (CIT), HT-2, and T-2 toxins. Breakfast cereals (n:27), cornmeal (n:41), extruded maize (n:32), and oatmeal (n:40) purchased from these alternative shopping areas created to meet the food needs of low-income people in the suburbs formed the sample set of the study. These foods, which are sold in areas that are out of legal control and greatly affected by external environmental conditions, are more open to health risks. Mycotoxins, chemicals of a biological origin, are some of the most important of these risks. In terms of public health, it is important to investigate the presence of mycotoxins in foods, which can cause acute and chronic diseases such as immunosuppression, genotoxic, estrogenic, teratogenic effect, cancer, and liver and kidney dysfunctions. Grain-based foods are often contaminated with a large number of mycotoxins, but legal regulations have not been prepared that consider the health risks associated with the co-existence of mycotoxins. Many of the studies have focused on the presence of a single mycotoxin and the risks it poses. As a result, aflatoxin B-1 levels in 28.57% of the samples and total aflatoxin (B-1 + B-2 + G(1) + G(2)) levels in 26.43% of the samples were determined to exceed the limits defined in the "Turkish Food Codex Contaminants Regulation". Citrinin could not be detected in any of the samples. The rate of mycotoxin occurrences above the limit of detection (LOD) in grain-based food samples ranged from 22.86% to 99.29%. Total aflatoxin (TAF) + Total Fumonisin (FUM) were found in 83.57% of the samples; TAF + FUM + OTA in 82.14%; TAF + FUM + OTA + T-2 in 44.29%; TAF + FUM + OTA + DON + HT-2, TAF + FUM + OTA + DON + T-2, and TAF + FUM + OTA + DON + ZEN in 22.86% of the samples.

Ingestion of microplastic particles (MP) through food has been associated with a multitude of health problems in humans. Although ayran is a traditional and nutritious Turkish beverage, the impact of microplastic pollution is unknown. This study examined the incidence of microplastic pollution on ayran by collecting samples throughout the production processes and the ingredients used to make ayran, including water, salt, cream, starting culture, cups, and lastly, the ayran. Optical and scanning electron microscope was applied for MP visualisation and measurement, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for polymer identification. Microplastics were detected in all examined filters except for the starter culture samples. The samples with the highest MP number were salty water (43 MP number/100 mL), salt (33 MP number/100 g), and milk samples taken from homogenization and pasteurization phases (26 MP number/100 mL). Additionally, 18 MP number/100 mL contamination was detected in the last product ayran. MP with a size range of 1–150 µm prevailed (37.38%). Ethylene propylene was the most frequently identified polymer in samples (39.30%). The findings of this study can help provide an overview of microplastic contamination in dairy production facilities and the potential human health risks associated with this microplastic exposure.

This study was conducted to identify microplastics (MPs) in drinking water from various sources in İstanbul that are known to pose potential health risks. One hundred drinking water samples were analysed. Samples were filtered with a glass filter (Ø: 1.0 μm). After filtration, microscopy was used, followed by SEM-EDS and ATR-FTIR identification to characterise MPs. Two shapes (fibers and fragments) and eight polymer types of MPs (ethylene propylene, neoprene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, vinyl chloride vinyl acetate copolymer) with sizes of 12-4892 µm (548 ± 777 µm) were detected. These MPs abundances ranged from 10 to 390 MP L-1 (134 ± 93 MP L-1). In the identification of MPs detected in filters by FTIR spectroscopy, bisphenol A, which is used in the production of various plastics and described as an important public health problem, was detected in 9.74% of MPs. Within the scope of the Sustainable Development Goals, UNEP has a specific objective of ensuring access to safe, affordable drinking water (SDG 6). With a clear statement, it should be emphasised that MPs are a significant barrier to the provision of safe drinking water, and a comprehensive plan for overcoming this barrier should be developed.

Lactic acid and silver nanoparticle compositions’ effects as antimicrobial to reduce Shiga Toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) contamination were studied in vitro conditions. Four silver nanoparticle sizes, 20, 40, 100, 150 nm with lactic acid (LA) solutions of 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, were applied and heated in a water bath to 20°C, 40°C and 50°C. Shiga toxigenic E. coli O26, O103, O111, O145 and O157 were used as control microorganism. Microbial counts were analyzed using a general linear model univariate test. According to our results, 20, 100, and 150 nm Ag Nanoparticles (AgNPs) in 2% and 2.5% LA density at 40 °C and 50 °C have a decrease of 3 log10 CFU/ml and more. The highest antimicrobial effect was seen at 150 nm AgNP, 2.5% LA at 50°C. Our findings show that AgNP combined with lactic acid can be a low-cost reduction method and promise a novel antimicrobial agent.

Plastics, which have made our lives easier since their invention and have found a wide range of applications because they offer numerous solution alternatives, are currently being investigated as a potential food safety risk. Microplastics (MPs) are defined as plastic waste particles smaller than 5 mm in size. Microplastics are commonly consumed orally, and their presence in various foods has been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of MPs in yogurt production steps. The study's samples were drawn from a medium-sized national yogurt producing facility in Istanbul. Initially, samples were subjected to artificial digestion. They were subsequently filtered by a vacuum pump. Suspicious MP in the filters were examined with a binocular microscope and classified based on their size, color, and shape. Finally, SEM and ATR-FTIR techniques were utilized to characterize MPs. According to the results, the filters of twelve process steps/sampling locations contained a total of 171 microplastic particles. MPs were prevalent within the range of 20 to 580 particles L-1. The concentration of MPs in raw milk and yogurt containers were found extremely high. To evaluate the level of risk associated with MP and to reduce MP contamination at plants of varying sizes, interdisciplinary research is required.

Plastics, which have made our lives easier since their invention and have found a wide range of applications because they offer numerous solution alternatives, are currently being investigated as a potential food safety risk.Microplastics (MPs) are defined as plastic waste particles smaller than 5 mm in size.Microplastics are commonly consumed orally, and their presence in various foods has been reported.The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of MPs in yogurt production steps.The study's samples were drawn from a medium-sized national yogurt producing facility in İstanbul.Initially, samples were subjected to artificial digestion.They were subsequently filtered by a vacuum pump.Suspicious MP in the filters were examined with a binocular microscope and classified based on their size, color, and shape.Finally, SEM and ATR-FTIR techniques were utilized to characterize MPs.According to the results, the filters of twelve process steps/sampling locations contained a total of 171 microplastic particles.MPs were prevalent within the range of 20 to 580 particles L -1 .The concentration of MPs in raw milk and yogurt containers were found extremely high.To evaluate the level of risk associated with MP and to reduce MP contamination at plants of varying sizes, interdisciplinary research is required.

Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is an excellent surface disinfectant and classified as nonhazardous but maintaining a steady HClO solution is extremely difficult. This study aimed to mix HClO with various metal nanoparticles (NPs) to improve stability. The efficiency of the prepared solutions against Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Dublin, and Salmonella Infantis was assessed using the culture method in five distinct experimental groups at varying temperatures (4 °C, 10 °C, 25 °C, 40 °C, and 50 °C). The type of metal NPs, HClO, and application temperatures utilized in the combined solutions for bacterial decontamination did not result in a significant difference between the investigated Salmonella serogroups (p > 0.05). At 50 °C, the highest effective antibacterial activity was detected. There was no statistically significant difference across metal NPs effectiveness ratings (p > 0.05). The antibacterial activity was highest in the 200 ppm HClO + 100 nm AgONP application. According to our findings, we propose mixing these metal NPs with HClO. Using these particles in conjunction with HClO may be an innovative and cost-effective strategy for increasing antimicrobial activity and combating antibacterial resistance in Salmonella.

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is a Gram (+), anaerobic, spore forming, rod shaped bacterium that can produce toxin. The objective of this study is to reveal the presence of C. difficile in meat products, to analyze the ribotype diversity by PCR and to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of isolated strains. The organism was isolated in 22 out of 319 (6.9%) examined meat product samples and 9 out of 22 (40.9%) isolates were identified as RT027 and all isolates had the ability of toxin production. In terms of antibiotic susceptibility, all isolates were susceptive to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, tetracycline and vancomycin and 21 (95.4%) isolates to metronidazole. On the other hand, imipenem and cefotaxim resistance was observed in all. In conclusion, the results of this comprehensive study conducted in Turkey deduced the presence of C. difficile in different meat products. Therefore, these products can be evaluated as a potential contamination source of C. difficile from animals to humans especially for elders, youngsters, long terms wide spectrum antibiotic used and immuno-suppressed individuals.

Introduction: Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is a Gram+, anaerobic, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium that can produce toxins, and it is mainly because its virulence is attributed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of C. difficile and hyper virulent ribotypes in chicken carcasses and the antibiotic susceptibility of isolated strains. Material and Methods: C. difficile was isolated from chicken carcasses by microbiological methods, its ribotypes were identified by means of PCR, the toxin production ability was defined by ELISA, and the susceptibility of the isolates to selected antibiotics was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration evaluator strips. Results: The bacterium was isolated from 69 out of 185 (37.3%) examined chicken carcass samples, and six out of the 69 (8.7%) isolates were identified as ribotype 027. All isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (100.0%), vancomycin (97.1%), metronidazole (88.4%), and tetracycline (95.7%), whereas they were resistant to cefotaxime (97.1%) and imipenem (89.9%). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate the presence of toxigenic C. difficile isolates such as ribotype 027 (one of the most common causes of C. difficile infection in humans) in chicken carcasses. Although there is no case for stating that C. difficile is a food-borne pathogen, the presence of C. difficile in chicken may be considered to be a potential risk to consumers.

This study examined the presence of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw milk, cheese, and cheese halva samples collected from the Çanakkale province of Turkey. Raw milk, Ezine cheese, and cheese halva samples (n 120 for each group, total 360) were collected from bazaars, local manufacturers, and supermarkets in the Çanakkale province of Turkey during 2014 and 2015. ELISA was used to detect AFM1 in these products. AFM1 mean values were 5.14–78.69, 19.43–158.30, and 50.25–213.50 ng/kg in raw milk, Ezine cheese, and cheese halva samples, respectively. The levels of AFM1 in four raw milk samples (3.3%) were above the legal limits, whereas AFM1 levels in Ezine cheese and cheese halva samples were within the legal limits according to the requirements of the Turkish Food Codex and the European Commission. Turkey has a wealth of cultures and local delicacies. Over previous decades, gastronomic tourism in Turkey has become popular owing to an increase in visitor demand, and traditional foods are being exported abroad. Our research investigated the presence of AFM1 in these types of food products. Çanakkale is one of the best representative cities in the Marmara Region in Turkey as a source of these unique products.

Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic, spore forming, rod shaped bacterium frequently isolated from butchery animals in recent years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of C. difficile (especially ribotype 027 and 078) in cattle and sheep carcasses and to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility of isolates. The bacterium was isolated in 83 out of 247 (33.6%) cattle and 78 out of 308 (25.3%) sheep carcass samples. 15/83 (18.1%) cattle and 6/78 (7.7%) sheep isolates were identified as ribotype 027, whereas the other hypervirulent isolate ribotype 078 could not be detected among the analysed samples. Almost all isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (98.8%), vancomycin (96.9%) and tetracycline (97.5%), whereas resistant to cefotaxim (97.5%) and imipenem (87.0%). In conclusion, the results demonstrate the presence of toxigenic C. difficile isolates in cattle and sheep carcasses on the slaughter line. As a result, the results of this study demonstrate the presence of toxigenic C. difficile isolates in cattle and sheep carcasses on the slaughter line.

Genetic modification (GM) techniques have been an important research area of food and feed industry since the 19th century. There is a strong consumer concern over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) because of their potential risks on health and environment. For this purpose, various countries including Turkey have released labelling regulations for products derived from GMOs. These legal enforcements brought the necessity for reliable detection methods. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of processing on the detection possibility of GMOs by using a commercial Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. For this, flour mixtures containing 0.5%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 100% were prepared by mixing the appropriate amount of RUR-GM and non GM standard soy flour and main processing techniques most used in the food industry (baking, autoclaving and freezing) were applied. According to our results, the detection of GMOs was possible at all concentrations of autoclaved and frozen samples. In dry heated samples, GMOs could not be detected containing below 5% GMOs. ELISA method cannot be recommended as a reference method for evaluation of the compliance with the regulations, but it can serve as a practical alternative to be used as an online monitoring tool in production lines for raw and mildly processed foods.