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Aims:  The aim of this study was to compare the performance of four TaqMan RT‐PCR assays with a commonly used nested RT‐PCR and to include the Feline calicivirus (FCV) as an internal control. Methods and Results:  RNA extracted from 87 swine faecal samples and 103 swine blood samples was subjected to different detection systems. Faecal samples naturally contaminated with Hepatitis E virus (HEV) and negative samples were artificially inoculated with 3·2 × 103 PFU of FCV. Detection results obtained on faecal and plasma samples were 35·6% and 4·9% with the nested RT‐PCR assay, 8·0% and 0%, 0% and 0%, 13·8% and 0% and 36·8% and 3·9% with TaqMan systems A, B, C and D respectively. The Ct means obtained with the multiplex TaqMan assay were 30·11 and 30·43 for the detection of FCV with HEV contaminated samples and negative samples. Conclusions:  The TaqMan system D was more suitable for the detection of swine HEV strains than the three others and FCV was integrated successfully as an internal control. Significance and Impact of the Study:  FCV was demonstrated as an efficient control to monitor the RNA extraction process and HEV amplification procedure in a multiplex HEV/FCV TaqMan assay. This control would be helpful in limiting false negative results.

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To replace benzoyl peroxide as a bread dough‐bleaching agent, pure and commercial oxido‐reductases (peroxidases, catalases, glucose oxidases, lipoxygenase, and laccase) were screened based on degradation of β‐carotene in a liquid system (5 μg of β‐carotene/mL of 0.1M citrate phosphate buffer at pH 5.5 or 6.5) or dough. Peroxidases had the best bleaching activity; some catalases also showed bleaching potential in a liquid system but not in bread dough, suggesting that screening enzymes in liquid media has limited application for dough. In 100 g of flour, combinations of peroxidase (3,000 U), lipase (815–1,630 U), and linoleic acid (0–300 mg) completely bleached bread dough.