Food additives are compounds used in order to improve food palatability, texture, and shelf life. Despite a significant effort to assure safety of use, toxicological analysis of these substances, generally, rely on their direct toxicity to target organs (liver and kidney) or their genotoxic effects. Much less attention is paid to the effects of these compounds on cells of the immune system. Thi...

Microbial biosurfactants with high ability to reduce surface and interfacial surface tension and conferring important properties such as emulsification, detergency, solubilization, lubrication and phase dispersion have a wide range of potential applications in many industries. Significant interest in these compounds has been demonstrated by environmental, bioremediation, oil, petroleum, food, b...

Contents of minerals (Mg, Ca, Na and K), anions (SO4(2-), Br- and Cl) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Hg and As) were determined in 17 commercial samples of Nigari, 15 samples of crude magnesium chloride (sea water) products as a food additive and 2 magnesium-containing foods. Obtained values were compared with the specifications proposed in a draft of the eighth edition of Japan's Specifications...

Synthetic food additives pose serious threat to the consumers regarding food safety (which is a prime demand of the consumers). Herbs and spices as natural foodstuffs are the replacers synthetically formulated additives, leaving safety concern and providing prime quality food products. These naturally occurring additives have been traditionally used as medicine, flavoring agents and for the foo...

There are a number of ways in which food can influence behaviour, including malnutrition, types of diet, eating habits, pharmacological effects, food allergy, fatty acid deficiency and possibly food additives. The range of behaviour affected is also wide, and includes attention, conduct disorder and mood. A particular focus of interest has been the effects of food on hyperactivity in children. ...

A new study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease finds a strong link between some food preservatives and an increased risk of death from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes. These food additives have previously been linked with several different types of cancer, including prostate, colon and rectum. Sodium and potassium nitrates are used in the processes of salting, pickling and curing foods...

Seronegative spondilo-arthropathies are characterized by particular clinical features such as sacroileitis, spondylitis and asymmetric peripheral arthritis mainly involving the lower limbs and negative rheumatoid factor. In most cases, they are associated with the HLA class I antigen B 27 (1). We have recently reported that in few selected cases of seronegative arthritis, articular symptoms may...

This review discusses the latest advances in the composition of gelatin-based edible films and coatings, including nanoparticle addition, and their properties are reviewed along their potential for application in the food packaging industry. Gelatin is an important biopolymer derived from collagen and is extensively used by various industries because of its technological and functional properti...