3-Mono-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) is a contaminant that occurs in food in its free (diol) form as well as in an esterified (with fatty acids) form. Using a simple intestinal model, it was demonstrated that 3-MCPD monoesters and 3-MCPD diesters are accepted by intestinal lipase as substrates in vitro. Under the chosen conditions, the yield of 3-MCPD from a 3-MCPD monoester was greater than 95% in approximately 1 min. Release from the diesters was slower, reaching about 45, 65 and 95% of 3-MCPD after 1, 5 and 90 min of incubation, respectively. However, in human, the hydrolysis of 3-MCPD esters is unlikely to release 100% as 3-MCPD, as triglycerides and phospholipids are hydrolysed in the intestine liberating 2-monoglycerides. Assuming a similar metabolism for 3-MCPD esters as that known for acylglycerols in humans in vivo, the de-esterification in positions 1 and 3 would thus be favoured by pancreatic lipases. Therefore, 3-MCPD, and 3-MCPD-2 monoesters would be released, respectively, from the 1-/3-monoesters, and the diesters potentially present in food. Hence, information on the exact amounts of the partial fatty acid chloroesters, i.e. 3-MCPD mono- and diesters, is important to assess the contribution of foods to the bioavailability of 3-MCPD. Therefore, a rapid method for the determination of the ratio of 3-MCPD monoesters to diesters in fats and oils was developed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and isotopically labelled 3-MCPD esters as internal standards. The analysis of 11 different samples of fat mixes typically employed in food manufacturing demonstrated that a maximum of about 15% of the total amount of 3-MCPD bound in esters is present in the monoesterified form. The potentially slower release of 3-MCPD from 3-MCPD diesters, and the mono- to diesters ratio suggest that 3-MCPD esters may in fact contribute only marginally to the overall dietary exposure to 3-MCPD. Further work on the bioavailability, metabolism and possible toxicity of chloroesters per se is warranted.

An analytical method is reported to determine trace amounts of furan in several different commercial foodstuffs that are subjected to thermal treatment. The SPME-GC-MS method is rapid and robust, and entails the following steps: addition of deuterated furan to the sample, sodium chloride-assisted extraction into the headspace, cryofocussing, and finally fibre desorption and GC-MS analysis. Furan is quantified by the use of an external calibration curve, achieving a decision limit (CC alpha) and detection capability (CC beta) of 17 pg and 43 pg, respectively, as absolute furan concentration in a 10 ml headspace vial. The method is applicable to a wide variety of foods, including fruits juices, baby foods in jars, canned foods, pet food, coffee and coffee substitutes. Typical amounts of furan found in selected foodstuffs range from about 1 microg kg(-1) (fruit juice) to 110 microg kg(-1) (baby food containing cooked vegetables). In-house validation data show good precision and accuracy of the method, with a typical repeatability of between 5 and 16% in different food matrices, and trueness determined in orange juice and coffee as 87 and 93%, respectively. Moreover, the measurement uncertainty has been evaluated for two matrices (fruit juice and coffee). Studies on short-term stability of furan in certain foods are also presented, and show that the furan content decreases in food while heating for preparation or reconstitution.

Cheddar cheese has previously been shown to be an effective vehicle for delivery of viable cells of a probiotic Enterococcus faecium strain to the gastrointestinal tract. The particular strain, E. faecium PR88, has proven efficacy in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, and in this study it was evaluated for suitability as a starter adjunct for Cheddar cheese manufacture. When added to cheesemilk at an inoculum of 2 x 10(7) cfu/mL, the enterococcal adjunct maintained viability in Cheddar cheese at levels of up to 3 x 10(8) cfu/g during 9 months of ripening. Increased proteolysis and higher levels of some odor-active volatile compounds were observed in Cheddar cheeses containing the PR88 adjunct compared with the control throughout the ripening period. In addition, the enterococcal adjunct strain did not affect cheese composition. Although sensory evaluation showed no significant difference in flavor/aroma and body/texture scores between control and experimental cheeses, repeated comments by the commercial grader consistently described the cheeses containing PR88 as 'more advanced than the control' and as having 'better flavor'. These findings indicate that the presence of the PR88 adjunct strain in Cheddar cheese at levels of >/=10(8) cfu/g may positively influence Cheddar flavor.

ln 2 0 3 -Sn02 films were produced by thermal decomposition of a deposit which was dip coated on borosilicate glass substrates from an acetylacetone solution of indium and tin acetoacetonate. Thermal analysis showed complete pyrolysis of the organics by 400 °C. The thermal decomposition reaction generated acetylacetone gas and was found to be first order with an activation energy of 13.6 Kcal/mole. Differences in thermal decomposition between the film and bulk materials were noted. As measured by differential scanning calorimetry using a 40 °C/min temperature ramp, the glass transition temperature of the deposited oxide film was found to be -462 °C, and the film crystallization temperature was found to be -518 °C. For film fabrication, thermal decomposition of the films was performed at 500 °C in air for 1 h followed by reduction for various times at 500 °C in a reducing atmosphere. Crystalline films resulted for these conditions. A resistivity of -1.01 X 10" 3 O • cm, at 8 wt. % tin oxide with a transparency of -95% at 400 nm, has been achieved for a 273 nm thick film.