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Food handlers play an important role in the transmission of foodborne diseases. 108 asymptomatic food handlers work in RSU canteens and have never been checked for intestinal bacteria and parasites, which might be a potential source of infection for customers. This study is aimed at estimating the prevalence of enteropathogenic bacterial and intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in Rangsit University canteens, central Thailand. A total of 79 food handlers were enrolled, and each provided one stool sample (response rate of 73.2%). Females comprised 93.7% of study participants, and the largest age group was 41–50 years (34.2%). The prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria in stool cultures was 2.5%, and only Aeromonas spp. were detected. The pathogenic protozoa Giardia duodenalis was detected in 1.3% of samples, and nonpathogenic protozoa was found in 11.4%. No helminths were found in any samples. Approximately 80% of food handlers demonstrated good hygiene practices, including regular hand washing after visiting the toilet, regular hand washing when preparing food, using soap when washing hands, wearing uniforms/gowns, practicing correct hand washing techniques, and having short fingernails. However, the results showed a lack of personal hygiene training and routine medical care (>50% of samples). Stronger intervention would help to eliminate future infections.

Background: Salad vegetables are good sources of dietary fiber and are becoming increasingly popular among consumers. Therefore, these plants have the potential to be developed as functional foods. Objective: Using an in vitro model, this study investigated the physical properties and intestinal glucose and lipid absorption capacities of dry dietary fiber from vegetables typically consumed in salads (types of lettuce, including red oak, red coral, green oak, butterhead, and cos). Method: Fiber was prepared from each type of lettuce using an enzymatic method and then characterized. Physical properties, including solubility and water-binding, swelling, cation-exchange, and oil-binding capacities, and antihyperglycemic and antihypercholesterolemic effects of fiber were investigated. Results: The hydration capacity of total dietary fiber and insoluble fiber from the majority of sources was significantly different from that of cellulose. Adsorption and diffusion of glucose were directly proportional to incubation time, and the diffusion rate was significantly lower in the treatments containing fiber compared to the cellulose control. Fiber from these vegetables also inhibited amylase and alpha-glucosidase activities. Moreover, fiber from all sources exhibited significantly higher sodium cholate and cholesterol-binding capacity compared to cellulose, and also retarded pancreatic cholesterol esterase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that natural dietary fiber from salad vegetables can reduce glucose and lipid absorption and breakdown rates, thus preventing increases in postprandial blood glucose and cholesterol levels, which can be beneficial to human health.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate the in vitro biological effect of the methanolic crude extract received from edible mushrooms; Flammulina velutipes on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity, anti-lipid peroxidation (LPO), antimicrobial activity, and anticancer activity. The scientific result obtained here was possibility of developing this variety as an ingredient in health/medical food purposes as well as a functional food.Methods: In this study, the methanol crude extract of F. velutipes has been performed and in vitro pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity, anti-LPO, antimicrobial activity, and anticancer activity were evaluated.Results: The results revealed that anti-inflammatory activity of crude extract was very significant with 79.81±0.87% of the dose-dependent manner. Antioxidant and anti-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation activity of the extract showed its capacity of free radical scavenging with high-level antioxidant compounds and lipid preventive effects (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl: 79.81±0.01%, total phenol: 991.10±0.01 μg gallic acid equivalents/0.1 g dry matter, H2O2: 93.27±0.05%, LPO: 33.33±0.00%, and LDL: 57±0.03%, respectively). Analysis has also demonstrated that the methanolic extract of F. velutipes provided an antimicrobial activity to ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. Moreover, F. velutipes extract showed a growth inhibitory effect in HepG2 cells with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value IC50=8.25±7.59 μg/ml.Conclusion: This indicated that crude extract from F. velutipes was scientifically proved as a potential source of therapeutic agent and be able to utilize as a functional ingredient for healthy or supplement food.