Analytical approach, dissipation pattern and risk assessment of pesticide residue in green leafy vegetables: A comprehensive review

Dissipation and persistence behaviour of fipronil and its metabolites in chilli fruits using GC-ECD, confirmed by GC-MS, under semi-arid conditions

Chilli, one of the most popular vegetables in the world is infested by many insect-pests and diseases. Fipronil, a phenylpyrazole class insecticide is used to manage insect-pests on chilli. The present study aimed to analyze the dissipation patterns and residual concentrations of the fipronil and its metabolites in chilli fruits during the Kharif season of 2020-21, in semi-arid environment. In the study, fipronil was applied to the plants twice, with a 10-day gap between treatments, using a 5 % suspension concentrate. The applications were undertaken using two separate concentrations i.e. the lower dosage of 40 g a.i. ha-1 and higher dosage of 80 g a.i. ha-1. There were four sets of data for each concentration. The chilli crop was systematically sampled at predetermined intervals after the application of the second spray. The procedure encompassed utilizing the modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) technique for extraction and purification, followed by analyzing the resulting residues using Gas Chromatography Electron Capture Detector. Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry was subsequently conducted for the confirmation of the findings. The research revealed that the mean initial deposit of fipronil and its metabolites (desulfinyl, sulphide, and sulfone) at the authorized dosage was determined to be 0.574, 0.123, 0.031, and 0.180 mg kg-1, respectively. In contrast, when administered at twice the prescribed dosage, the mean first deposit was 1.204, 0.230, 0.067, and 0.382 mg kg-1. The half-life values of these residues exhibited a range of 1.2-4.1 days for both dosages. A prudent waiting duration was determined for the doses, leading to the conclusion that an average interval of 7 days is deemed safe for harvesting chilli peppers. The significance of this discovery is related to the maximum residue limits of 0.001 mg kg-1 for fipronil in green chilli, as established by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. This study provides significant insights into fipronil's persistence and proper management in chilli plant cultivation, emphasizing the importance of following prescribed dosages and designated waiting intervals to ensure the safety of food products.

Insecticidal potential and risk assessment of diamide pesticides against Spodoptera frugiperda in maize crops

The effectiveness, tolerance, and safety of pesticides must be established before their scientific or rational. This study evaluates the field control efficacy of broflanilide, tetraniliprole, and chlorantraniliprole in combating Spodoptera frugiperda in maize crops, as well as the resistance of S. frugiperda to these three diamide pesticides after exposure. By assessing field control efficiency, toxicity, effects on development and reproduction, and detoxification enzyme activity of these diamide pesticides on S. frugiperda, highlights broflanilide's significant insecticidal potential. A highly sensitive and efficient method using QuEChERS/HPLCMS/MS was developed to simultaneously detect residues of these three pesticides on maize. Initial concentrations of broflanilide, tetraniliprole, and chlorantraniliprole ranged from 2.13 to 4.02 mg/kg, with their respective half-lives varying between 1.23 and 1.51 days. Following foliar application, by the time of harvest, the terminal residue concentrations of these pesticides were all under 0.01 mg/kg. Chronic dietary intake risk assessments and cumulative chronic dietary exposure for three pesticides indicated that the general population's terminal residue concentration was within acceptable limits. Not only does this research provide valuable insights into field control efficiency, insecticidal effects, resistance, residues, and risk assessment results of broflanilide, tetraniliprole, and chlorantraniliprole on maize, but additionally, it also paves the way for setting suitable Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) values based on pre-harvest interval values, rational dosage, and application frequency.

Evaluating the effectiveness of different household washing techniques for removal of insecticides from spinach and chickpea leaves by micellar liquid chromatography

In the past few decades, the employment of green analytical approaches in chromatographic method development has attracted the analytical separation community. The greenness of the developed method depends upon the toxicity of solvents and the amount of generated post-analysis waste generated. In this concern, micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) is a simple and rapid technique that generates very low toxic waste compared to traditional chromatographic pesticide detection methods. Here, MLC method has been validated and applied for the determination of monocrotofos (MCF), imidacloprid (ICP), dimethoate (DM) and profenofos (PFF) in spinach and chickpea leaves. The optimized mobile phase was 0.065 M SDS-2 % 1-propanol, 0.01 M NaH2PO4 buffered to pH 7. A C18 column was used for separation with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The developed method has been validated following the guidelines of SANTE/11,312/2021 and ICH guidelines for; limit of quantification (0.05-0.20 mg/kg), linearity (r2> 0.997-0.999), precision (<6.3 %), accuracy (96.3 %-99.8 %) and robustness (<6) in real samples. ICP and MCF, apart from DM and PFF, were detected in the present work. After detecting insecticides in spinach and chickpea leaves both were washed with different household chemicals i.e. normal, lukewarm, common salt, lemon juice water and commercial ozonizer. Based on five washing techniques with insecticide concentration time intervals reduction rates were calculated for each washing treatment. The results show that lemon juice, common salt water, and ozonizer can be used as washing techniques for the reduction of superficial and systematic residues of ICP and MCF. Common salt and lemon juice water were better for washing over vinegar and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) as they enhance the colour of the green leafy vegetables and are available in every Indian kitchen. They can be easily used by lower socioeconomic classes who cannot afford KMnO4 and vinegar.

From field to table: Ensuring food safety by reducing pesticide residues in food

The present review addresses the significance of lowering pesticide residue levels in food items because of their harmful impacts on human health, wildlife populations, and the environment. It draws attention to the possible health risks-acute and chronic poisoning, cancer, unfavorable effects on reproduction, and harm to the brain or immunological systems-that come with pesticide exposure. Numerous traditional and cutting-edge methods, such as washing, blanching, peeling, thermal treatments, alkaline electrolyzed water washing, cold plasma, ultrasonic cleaning, ozone treatment, and enzymatic treatment, have been proposed to reduce pesticide residues in food products. It highlights the necessity of a paradigm change in crop protection and agri-food production on a global scale. It offers opportunities to guarantee food safety through the mitigation of pesticide residues in food. The review concludes that the first step in reducing worries about the negative effects of pesticides is to implement regulatory measures to regulate their use. In order to lower the exposure to dietary pesticides, the present review also emphasizes the significance of precision agricultural practices and integrated pest management techniques. The advanced approaches covered in this review present viable options along with traditional methods and possess the potential to lower pesticide residues in food items without sacrificing quality. It can be concluded from the present review that a paradigm shift towards sustainable agriculture and food production is essential to minimize pesticide residues in food, safeguarding human health, wildlife populations, and the environment. Furthermore, there is a need to refine the conventional methods of pesticide removal from food items along with the development of modern techniques.

Thiamethoxam dynamics in pepper plants: Deciphering deposition and dissipation pattern across diverse planting modes and regions

To reduce the application dosage of thiamethoxam (TMX), we investigated the deposition and dissipation patterns in a pepper-planted ecosystem under different planting modes across four regions in China, namely Hainan (HN), Zhejiang (ZJ), Anhui (AH) and Hebei (HB). This study focused on the deposition and dissipation of TMX at concentrations of 63.00, 47.25, 31.50, 23.63 and 15.75 g a.i.hm-2. As the application dose increased, the deposition amount of TMX initially increased in the plants and cultivated soil, showing obvious geographic differences in four cultivation areas. Surprisingly, the initial amount of TMX deposited the pepper-cultivated greenhouse of ZJ and AH was 1.1-2.1-fold and 1.0-3.6-fold higher than that in the open field system at the same application dose, respectively. In pepper leaves, stems, fruits and soil, the dissipation exhibited rapid growth and then slowed. However, the residual concentration showed an increasing trend, followed by a subsequent decrease in the pepper roots. In different planting regions, the dissipation rate of TMX followed the order HN > ZJ > AH > HB in pepper plants and cultivated soil. In comparison to the open field, the total TMX retention rate in greenhouse was higher, indicating overall greater persistence in the greenhouse conditions. These findings reveal the deposition and dissipation characteristics of TMX within the pepper-field ecosystem, offering a significant contribution to the risk assessment of pesticides.

Carbendazim residue in plant-based foods in China: Consecutive surveys from 2011 to 2020

Carbendazim, a widely used fungicide in China, has been found to have reproductive toxicity and mutagenic effects. However, information on the spatial-temporal variations of carbendazim residues in food in China is limited. Here, we investigated the presence of carbendazim in China's plant-based foods from 2011 to 2020, evaluated the spatial-temporal characteristics, and assessed the associated exposure risks in the Chinese diet. The results revealed a high detection frequency of carbendazim in fruits (26.4%) and high concentrations in vegetables (∼110 mg kg-1), indicating widespread misuse of the fungicide. The acute risks of consuming certain vegetables and cereals exceeded the recommended limits by up to 12 and 5 times, respectively. Although there has been a decline in carbendazim residue levels in food since the implementation of the Chinese government's action plan for zero growth of pesticide use in 2015, some provinces still exhibited high levels of carbendazim in multiple food categories, which were positively correlated with annual pesticide application. We highlight that carbendazim contamination reflects the broader issue of pesticide use in China. It emphasizes the need for committed and targeted national policies to reduce carbendazim residues in food and suggests that such measures could also regulate the use of other pesticides, given that pesticide abuse in China is not limited to specific types. We call for the re-evaluation of maximum residue limits of carbendazim, particularly in highly consumed foods such as cereals.

Investigation of pesticide residues level on commonly consumed leafy vegetables picked from the central market in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to investigate the presence of pesticide residues in a variety of commonly consumed leafy vegetables, including Grape leaves, Lettuce, Arugula, Spinach, Purslane, Ocimum, Parsley, Jew's mallow, Celery, Coriander, and Mint. A total of 100 samples were collected from the Central Market of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our methodology involved employing the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction method in combination with Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to analyze a comprehensive database of 237 distinct pesticides. The range for limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method were 0.0001 to 0.0014 mg. Kg-1 and 0.0010 to 0.0064 mg. Kg-1 for tested pesticides, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 70-172.9%, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 19.0% for all tested pesticides. The results revealed that 60% of the analyzed samples were free from pesticide residues, while 40% exhibited contamination with 17 different pesticide residues. Notably, the most prevalent pesticide detected was Triallate in the Ocimum samples, followed by Metalaxyl in Grape leaves, Mint, and Spinach, and Methomyl in Celery. Approximately 45% of the samples contained pesticide residues that fell below or were equal to the European Union Maximum Residue Levels (EU MRLs), while the remaining 55% exceeded these MRLs. Remarkably, high pesticide concentrations were observed in all Ocimum samples (Triallate, Pyridaben, Hexythiazox, Imidacloprid), 67% of Grape leaves (Metalaxyl, Azoxystrobin, Difenoconazole Isomer), and 40% of Celery (Azoxystrobin, Methomyl). In conclusion, this study sheds light on the contamination levels of commonly consumed domestically produced and purchased leafy vegetables in the Central Market of Jeddah. To ensure food safety and the well-being of consumers, we strongly recommend enhanced scientific assessments and continued monitoring of pesticide usage in agricultural practices.

Persistence and dissipation kinetics of novaluron 9.45% + lambda-cyhalothrin 1.9% ZC insecticides in tomato crop under semi-arid region

In recent decades, fate studies of pesticides have been a topic of interest worldwide due to human health concerns tomato, contain abundant nutritional phytochemicals and lycopene which is known for antioxidant. Tomato is susceptible to many pest, so to overcome from these pests many insecticides are used, leaving residual effects on the crop. So to find out the persistence, the present study was carried out to investigate the residual levels and dissipation behaviour of novaluron 9.45% + lambda-cyhalothrin 1.9% ZC in tomato crop during Rabi session of 2017-18 in randomized block design. The first spray of insecticide was done at fruit formation stage and second spray at 10-day interval at recommended dose @43.31 g a.i. ha-1 and double of recommended dose @86.62 g a.i. ha-1. The residue of novaluron determined by HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) on 0 day (two hours after spraying) was 0.154 ppm at lower dose and 0.234 ppm at higher dose. The residue of lambda-cyhalothrin determined by GC ECD (gas chromatography electron capture detector) at 0 day (two hours after spraying) was 0.451 ppm at lower dose and 0.849 ppm at higher dose. The deposition of novaluron 9.45% +  lambda-cyhalothrin 1.9% ZC was gradually decreased with increasing days after spraying (DAS). The mean initial deposition of the pesticide novaluron and lambda-cyhalothrin was recorded as 0.154 mg/kg, 0.451 mg/kg, respectively, at the recommended dose @43.31 g a.i. ha-1 while at double of recommended dose @86.62 g a.i. ha-1 novaluron and lambda-cyhalothrin, the mean initial deposition of 0.234 mg/kg and 0.849 mg/kg was recorded, respectively. The residue of the novaluron and lambda-cyhalothrin was at BDL (below determination level) (0.01 and 0.05 ppm) on 5th and 7th day, respectively, at lower dose (x), whereas at higher dose (2x) it was below determination level on 7th and 10th day, respectively. In soil samples, the residue levels were at below the determination level (0.01 mg/kg) for novaluron and (0.05 mg/kg) for lambda-cyhalothrin at both doses. The half-life DT50 of novaluron and lambda-cyhalothrin in the tomato fruit was found to be 2 days at recommended dose (X) @43.31 g a.i. ha-1 for both the pesticide and at double of the recommended dose @86.62 g a.i. ha-1 it was 3 and 2 days, respectively.

Pesticide residues on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in Cundinamarca-Colombia

Lettuce is Colombia's most widely cultivated leafy vegetable, but in the absence of good agricultural practices, there is the risk of some pesticide residues that affect its safety and quality. This work aimed to identify the pesticides used by farmers for the lettuce crop, the iceberg variety (Lactuca sativa var. capitata), in some municipalities of Cundinamarca (Colombia) and to investigate their residues by sampling and analysis. The farmers reported in the survey 44 active ingredients, most fungicides (54%), while the laboratory analysis showed 23 chemical compounds (52% insecticides, 39% fungicides and 9% herbicides). In addition, dithiocarbamates, procymidone and some organophosphates were among the active ingredients that exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs). About 80% of the identified pesticides were not registered with the regulatory entity Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA) for their use in lettuce, but some were in commercial products legally registered in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Dissipation patterns, residue analysis, and risk evaluation of hexaflumuron in turnip and cauliflower under Chinese growth conditions

Hexaflumuron has been globally registered over 2 decades to control the pests in brassicaceous vegetables, while data on its dissipation and residues in turnip and cauliflower is scarce. Herein, field trials were carried out at six representative experimental sites to study the dissipation behaviors and terminal residues of hexaflumuron in turnip and cauliflower. The residual amounts of hexaflumuron were extracted using a modified QuEChERS and analyzed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), the chronic dietary risk to Chinese populations was evaluated, and the maximum residue limit (MRL) in cauliflower, turnip tubers, and turnip leaves was calculated by the OECD MRL calculator. The single first-order kinetics model was the best-fitted kinetics model for hexaflumuron dissipation in cauliflower. The indeterminate order rate equation and first-order multi-compartment kinetic model were the best formulae for hexaflumuron dissipation in turnip leaves. The half-lives of hexaflumuron ranged from 0.686 to 1.35 and 2.41 to 6.71 days in cauliflower and turnip leaves, respectively. The terminal residues of hexaflumuron in turnip leaves of 0.321-9.59 mg/kg were much higher than in turnip tubers of < 0.01-0.708 mg/kg and cauliflower of < 0.01-1.49 mg/kg at sampling intervals of 0, 5, 7, and 10 days. The chronic dietary risk of hexaflumuron in the preharvest interval of 7 days was lower than 100% and much higher than 0.01%, indicating acceptable but nonnegligible health hazards for Chinese consumers. Therefore, MRL values of hexaflumuron were proposed as 2, 0.8, and 10 mg/kg in cauliflower, turnip tubers, and turnip leaves, respectively.

The Effect of Washing, Blanching and Frozen Storage on Pesticide Residue in Spinach

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is a representative green leafy vegetable commonly consumed fresh or as a ready-to-cook frozen product, with increasing consumption because of its many health-related properties. Among leafy vegetables, spinach poses a major concern in terms of pesticide residue detection due to common phytotechnical practices. In this study, spinach leaves were treated in the open field with three commercial pesticide formulations containing propamocarb, lambda-cyhalothrin, fluopicolide and chlorantraniliprole at the highest concentration. The effects of the successive processing steps of washing, blanching, freezing and frozen storage were evaluated on the levels of the four pesticide residues and the degradation product (propamocarb n-desmethyl). The washing step caused a reduction of fluopicolide and chlorantraniliprole of -47% and -43%, respectively, while having a mild effect on lambda-cyhalothrin content (+5%). A two-minute blanching step allowed for the reduction of pesticides content ranging from -41% to -4% with respect to the washed sample. Different behaviors were depicted for longer blanching times, mainly for propamocarb, reaching -56% after 10 min of treatment. Processing factors higher than 1 were reported mainly for lambda-cyhalothrin and fluopicolide. Frozen storage led to a slight increase in the pesticide content in samples treated for 6 and 10 min. The optimal blanching treatment for spinach, submitted to freezing and frozen storage, seems to be 2 min at 80 °C.

Visualization of azoxystrobin penetration in wheat leaves using mass microscopy imaging

Fungicides must penetrate the internal tissues of plants to kill pathogenic fungi. Mass spectrometers have been used to confirm this penetration, but conventional mass spectrometric methods cannot distinguish the fungicides in different internal tissues owing to the extraction steps. However, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) can detect the penetration of fungicides into leaf sections through direct analysis of the sample surfaces. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish a method for visualizing fungicide penetration in wheat leaf cross sections using MALDI-MSI. The penetration of azoxystrobin from the epidermal to the internal tissue of the leaves was observed. Moreover, azoxystrobin accumulates in the cells around the vascular bundle. This study suggests that MSI can be useful for the evaluation of fungicide penetration in plant leaves.

Deposition and dissipation of difenoconazole in pepper and soil and its reduced application to control pepper anthracnose

The initial deposition amount, dissipation dynamics, retention rate, and field control efficacy of difenoconazole in pepper-soil system were studied with different application dosages, planting regions and patterns. The initial deposition amount of difenoconazole under the same application dosage showed the following order: fruits < cultivated soils < lower stems < upper stems < lower leaves < upper leaves, open field < greenhouse, and Changjiang < Cixi < Hefei < Langfang, respectively, which increased with increasing application dosage. The dissipation rates in leaves, stems, fruits and cultivated soils exhibited an initially fast and then slow trend, while the retention rates displayed a tendency of first increasing and then stabilizing with increasing application dosages. After 7 d of difenoconazole application, the retention rates at five concentrations were 10.3%- 39.1%, and the field efficacy mostly reached the minimum effective dose. These results suggested that difenoconazole could be reduced by 25% based on the minimum recommended dose meeting the requirements of field control efficacy for controlling pepper anthracnose.

Analysis of the fungicidal efficacy, environmental fate, and safety of the application of a mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin mixture to control mango anthracnose

BACKGROUND

Mango anthracnose is among the most severe diseases impacting mango yields and quality. While this disease can be effectively controlled through chemical means, it is vital that appropriate field efficacy and fate determination studies be conducted when applying pesticides to crops in order to appropriately gauge the ecological and health risks associated with the use of these agents.

RESULTS

GAP field trials were conducted to explore the efficacy, dissipation, and terminal residues associated with the application of mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin to mango crops in six locations throughout China. These analyses revealed that three applications of mefentrifluconazole [160 mg active ingredient (a.i.) kg^-1 ] in combination with pyraclostrobin mixture achieved satisfactory disease control efficacy. To simultaneously detect mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin residues on mangoes, a 'quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe' (QuEChERS) high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)-based approach was established. The initial mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin concentrations ranged from 0.18 to 0.34 mg kg^-1 , and these two compounds exhibited respective half-lives of 5.6 to 10.8 days and 5.5 to 9.0 days. At 21 days following foliage application, the terminal mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin residue concentrations were 0.02-0.04 and 0.01-0.04 mg kg^-1 , with these concentrations being below the maximum residue limit (MRL) established for pyraclostrobin. Both short-term [acute reference dose percent (ARfD%) 0.78-2.36% and 2.0-6.08%] and chronic [acceptable daily intake percent (ADI%) 0.08-0.47% and 0.09-0.55%] dietary intake risk assessments for mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin indicated that these terminal residue concentrations are acceptable for the general population.

CONCLUSION

Mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin in mango was rapidly degraded following first-order kinetics models. The dietary risk of mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin through mango was negligible to consumers. The application of a 400 g L^-1 mefentrifluconazole-pyraclostrobin suspension concentrate mixture represents a highly efficacious fungicidal approach to controlling mango anthracnose that exhibits significant potential for development as it is easily degraded and associated with low residual concentrations after application. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effectiveness of Different Washing Strategies on Pesticide Residue Removal: The First Comparative Study on Leafy Vegetables

Leafy vegetables are used in various cuisines worldwide; however, as they cannot be peeled and their leaf surface area is large, the risk of retaining pesticide residues on these vegetables is relatively higher than on others. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative study to reveal the effect of removing pesticide residues from five artificially contaminated leafy vegetables (lettuce, perilla leaves, spinach, crown daisy, and ssamchoo (Brassica lee ssp. namai)) using different removal methods. The percent reduction range for each method was 43.7−77.0%, and the reduction range for the five leafy vegetables was 40.6−67.4%. Lettuce had the highest reduction (67.4 ± 7.3%), whereas ssamchoo had the lowest reduction (40.6 ± 12.9%). Spinach and crown daisy showed no significant difference in their reductions. Based on reduction by method, running water (77.0 ± 18.0%) and boiling (59.5 ± 31.2%) led to the highest reduction, whereas detergent (43.7 ± 14.5%) led to the lowest reduction. The reductions of chlorfenapyr, diniconazole, indoxacarb, fludioxonil, pyraclostrobin, and lufenuron in the leafy vegetables were lower with blanching and boiling than with other methods (p < 0.05). These results highlight the importance of thoroughly washing leafy vegetables to lower the intake of pesticide residues before cooking.

Analysis of low-volatility pesticides in cabbage by high temperature comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

High-temperature comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (HTGC × GC) using a longitudinally modulated cryogenic system (LMCS) was developed for the analysis of low-volatility pesticides in cabbage. The method applied DB-17HT and DB-5HT as the first and second dimensional (¹D and ²D) columns, respectively. Twelve pesticides, namely 6 organochlorines (4,4'-DDT, β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, endrin, heptachlor, and dicofol), 4 carbamates (metolcarb, isoprocarb, methiocarb, and carbofuran), 1 organophosphate (chlorpyrifos), and 1 pyrethroid (permethrin), were spiked into cabbage samples and prepared using QuEChERS. The applied oven temperature was up to 340 °C, enabling the elution of all the target pesticides and the matrix. The effects of initial oven temperature program, temperature ramp rate, LMCS trap temperature, and modulation period (P_M) on the separation results were investigated, leading to the suitable conditions of 80 °C, 15 °C min^-1, 10 °C, and 12 s, respectively. The method detection limits, signal-to-noise ratio, and recoveries of the compounds were within the ranges of 0.01-0.09 mg kg^-1, 4.26-32.7, and 78-104%, respectively. Good linearity ranges within the concentration range of 0.1-1 ppm with R² > 0.9134 were also obtained with the intra and interday precisions of the peak areas of 0.4-9.8% and 1.0-10.2%, respectively.

Alternative proteins for meat and dairy replacers: Food safety and future trends

Traditionally, meat and dairy products have been important protein sources in the human diet. Consumers are eating more plant-based proteins, which is reflected in current market trends. Assessing how alternative proteins are processed and their impact on food safety helps realize market opportunities while ensuring food safety. In this review, an analysis of the food safety hazards, along with current industry trends and processing methods associated with alternative proteins for meat and dairy products for the European Union market is described. Understanding the effects of processing and safety alternative proteins is paramount to ensuring food safety and understanding the risks to consumers. However, the data here is limited. With the expected further increase in protein alternatives in consumers' diets, the risk of food allergens is apparent. The occurrence of processing contaminants in plant-based alternatives may occur, along with anti-nutritional compounds, which interfere with the absorption of nutrients. Further, typical food safety hazards related to the plant, the product itself, or processing are relevant. Although hazards in insects and seaweed are being addressed, other protein alternatives like cultured meat and SCPs warrant attention. Our findings can aid industry and governmental authorities in understanding current trends and prioritizing hazards for future monitoring.

Enhanced Bio-Barcode Immunoassay Using Droplet Digital PCR for Multiplex Detection of Organophosphate Pesticides

A bio-barcode immunoassay based on droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) was developed to simultaneously quantify triazophos, parathion, and chlorpyrifos in apple, cucumber, cabbage, and pear. Three gold nanoparticle (AuNP) probes and magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) probes were prepared, binding through their antibodies with the three pesticides in the same tube. Three groups of primers, probes, templates, and three antibodies were designed to ensure the specificity of the method. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limits (expressed as IC₁₀) of triazophos, parathion, and chlorpyrifos were 0.22, 0.45, and 4.49 ng mL^-1, respectively. The linear ranges were 0.01-20, 0.1-100, and 0.1-500 ng mL^-1, and the correlation coefficients (R²) were 0.9661, 0.9834, and 0.9612, respectively. The recoveries and relative standard deviations (RSDs) were in the ranges of 75.5-98.9 and 8.3-16.7%. This study provides the first insights into the ddPCR for the determination of organophosphate pesticides. It also laid the foundation for high-throughput detection of other small molecules.

Dissipation and Distribution of Picarbutrazox Residue Following Spraying with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle on Chinese Cabbage (Brassica campestris var. pekinensis)

We assessed the residual distribution and temporal trend of picarbutrazox sprayed by agricultural multicopters on Chinese cabbage and considered fortification levels and flying speeds. In plot 2, 14 days after the last spraying, the residues decreased by ~91.3% compared with those in the samples on day 0. The residues in the crops decreased by ~40.8% of the initial concentration owing to growth (dilution effect) and by ~50.6% after excluding the dilution effect. As the flight speed increased, picarbutrazox residues decreased (p < 0.05, least significant deviation [LSD]). At 2 m s-1 flight speed, the residual distribution differed from the dilution rate of the spraying solution. The average range of picarbutrazox residues at all sampling points was 0.007 to 0.486, below the limit of quantitation -0.395, 0.005-0.316, and 0.005-0.289 mg kg-1 in plots 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, showing significant differences (p < 0.05, LSD). These results indicated that the residual distribution of picarbutrazox sprayed by using a multicopter on the Chinese cabbages was not uniform. However, the residues were less than the maximum residue limit in all plots. Accordingly, picarbutrazox was considered to have a low risk to human health if it was sprayed on cabbage according to the recommended spraying conditions.

Environment-Based Impairment in Mineral Nutrient Status and Heavy Metal Contents of Commonly Consumed Leafy Vegetables Marketed in Kyrgyzstan: a Case Study for Health Risk Assessment

Leafy vegetables are important components of the human diet for providing mineral nutrients. However, due to the tendency of metal accumulation, metal contents of leafy vegetables need not only to be determined but also estimated health risk for revealing possible health effects on humans. The aims of this study are (I) to examine comprehensive concentrations of trace/heavy metals along with some macroelements including Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Zn in selected leafy vegetables from Kyrgyzstan; (II) to assess recommended dietary allowances (RDA); and (III) to evaluate hazard quotient (HQ) and carcinogenic risk estimation with associated vegetable consumption. For this purpose, B, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Zn elements were quantified, utilizing an ICP-OES instrument, in 18 samples belonging to 12 different groups of leafy vegetables including celery, Chinese parsley, dill, garden sorrel, lettuce, parsley, purple basil, spinach, and white-red-napa cabbage collected from different bazaars of Kyrgyzstan. Average elemental contents of the analyzed vegetables were determined (in mg kg^-1) as follows: B (3.21-64.79), Ca (852.51-17,183.20), Cd (0.015-0.09), Cu (6.08-63.47), Fe (116.52-768.66), K (2347.04-17,305.42), Mg (136.34-1261.11), Na (54.75-526.42), Ni (0.09-1.3), Pb (1.91-9.54), and Zn (29.49-314.93). Estimated daily intake, recommended daily allowance, hazard quotients, and carcinogenic risk values of the vegetables were calculated with the help of these results. In considering HQ values, Chinese cabbage was determined to be safe for the consumption of both genders whereas parsley to be safe for only males. Based on the carcinogenic risk calculation, most of the vegetables examined in this study were categorized as moderately risky. It was inferred from the given results that airborne pollution has impaired/increased the mineral contents of vegetables for both genders. The findings obtained from this study were compared with international standards and will contribute to the data available on a global scale.

Pesticide Residues and Risk Assessment from Monitoring Programs in the Largest Production Area of Leafy Vegetables in South Korea: A 15-Year Study

Leafy vegetables are widely consumed in South Korea, especially in the form of kimchi and namul (seasoned vegetables) and are used for wrapping meat. Therefore, the management of pesticide residues in leafy vegetables is very important. A total of 17,977 samples (49 leafy vegetables) were mainly collected in the largest production area of leafy vegetables (Gwangju Metropolitan City and Chonnam Province) in South Korea. They were analyzed within the government's monitoring programs (Gwangju Metropolitan City) of pesticide residues between 2005 and 2019. Pesticide residues were found in 2815 samples (15.7%), and 426 samples (2.4%) from among these exceeded the specified maximum residue limits (MRLs). Samples exceeding the MRLs were mostly detected in spinach, ssamchoo (brassica lee ssp. namai), crown daisy, lettuce, and perilla leaves. Azoxystrobin, dimethomorph, and procymidone were the most frequently detected pesticides. However, procymidone, diniconazole, and lufenuron were found to most frequently exceed the MRLs. The rate of MRLs exceeding has been managed below the average (2.4%) more recently than in the past in this area. Further, leafy vegetables with the most violations of the MRLs in our study in South Korea were not harmful to health by a risk assessment (the range of the hazard index was 0.001-7.6%).

Photolysis and TiO2 Photocatalytic Treatment under UVC/VUV Irradiation for Simultaneous Degradation of Pesticides and Microorganisms

Efficiencies of various treatments for UVC photolysis (ultraviolet light-C at 254 nm), VUV photolysis (vacuum ultraviolet light at 254 nm and 185 nm), UVC-assisted titanium dioxide photocatalysis (UVC-TiO2), and VUV-assisted titanium dioxide photocatalysis (VUV-TiO2) were investigated for the degradation of pesticides including pyraclostrobin, boscalid, fludioxonil, and azoxystrobin and inactivation of microorganisms Escherichia coli K12 as a surrogate for E. coli O157:H7 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in aqueous solutions and on the surface of fresh cut carrots. The degradation efficiencies of VUV were higher than for UVC on pesticides in aqueous solutions. However, there was no significant difference between degradation efficiencies for UVC and UVC-TiO2 treatments, and between VUV and VUV-TiO2 treatments. UVC, VUV, UVC-TiO2, and VUV-TiO2 showed similar inactivation effects against E. coli K12 and S. cerevisiae in aqueous solutions. The combined use of UVC and VUV treatments (combined UV) and combined use of UVC-TiO2 and VUV-TiO2 treatments (combined UV-TiO2) showed higher efficiencies (72–94% removal) for the removal of residual pesticides on fresh cut carrots than bubble water washing (53–73% removal). However, there was no significant difference in removal efficiency between combined UV and combined UV-TiO2 treatments. For E. coli K12 and S. cerevisiae on fresh cut carrots, the combined UV-TiO2 treatment (1.5 log and 1.6 log reduction, respectively) showed slightly higher inactivation effects than combined UV (1.3 log and 1.2 log reduction, respectively). Photolysis and TiO2 photocatalytic treatments under UV irradiation, including VUV as a light source, showed potential for the simultaneous degradation of pesticides and microorganisms as a non-chemical and residue-free technique for surface disinfection of fresh produce.

Determination, residue analysis, risk assessment and processing factor of pymetrozine and its metabolites in Chinese kale under field conditions

A simple determination method for pymetrozine and its metabolites in Chinese kale was developed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The method had good linearity (R² > 0.99), accuracy (recoveries of 73.2-94.1%) and precision (relative standard deviation of 2.5-9.8%). Field results showed that half-lives of pymetrozine were 3.0-4.1 d in Chinese kale, and terminal residue concentrations were all below the United States Environmental Protection Agency's maximum residue limit (250 μg/kg) at harvest. Owing to risk quotient <100%, pymetrozine is unlikely to give rise to vital health concerns to humans following the recommended application guidelines. Moreover, effects of home processing on pymetrozine residues in Chinese kale were monitored. The processing factor values of four processes were between 0.19 and 0.60, which indicated that the used processes could remove pymetrozine residues from Chinese kale, especially pickling after washing process. The data could provide guidance to safe and reasonable use of pymetrozine and help Chinese governments establish a maximum residue limit for pymetrozine in Chinese kale.