Coffee By-Products as Sustainable Novel Foods: Report of the 2nd International Electronic Conference on Foods-"Future Foods and Food Technologies for a Sustainable World"

New Perspectives to Enhance Wastes and By-Products from Agro-Food Processing

The exploitation of by-products and waste from the agri-food industry represents a sustainable approach within the frame of the circular economy, the basis of the European Green Deal and ecological transition [...].

Risk Assessment of Chlorogenic and Isochlorogenic Acids in Coffee By-Products

Chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids are naturally occurring antioxidant dietary polyphenolic compounds found in high concentrations in plants, fruits, vegetables, coffee, and coffee by-products. The objective of this review was to assess the potential health risks associated with the oral consumption of coffee by-products containing chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids, considering both acute and chronic exposure. An electronic literature search was conducted, revealing that 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DCQA) are the major chlorogenic acids found in coffee by-products. Toxicological, pharmacokinetic, and clinical data from animal and human studies were available for the assessment, which indicated no significant evidence of toxic or adverse effects following acute oral exposure. The current state of knowledge suggests that long-term exposure to chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids by daily consumption does not appear to pose a risk to human health when observed at doses within the normal range of dietary exposure. As a result, the intake of CQAs from coffee by-products can be considered reasonably safe.

Risk Assessment of Trigonelline in Coffee and Coffee By-Products

Trigonelline is a bioactive pyridine alkaloid that occurs naturally in high concentrations in coffee (up to 7.2 g/kg) and coffee by-products (up to 62.6 g/kg) such as coffee leaves, flowers, cherry husks or pulp, parchment, silver skin, and spent grounds. In the past, coffee by-products were mostly considered waste and discarded. In recent years, however, the use of coffee by-products as food has attracted interest because of their economic and nutritional value and the environmental benefits of sustainable resource use. Their authorization as so-called novel foods in the European Union may lead to increased oral exposure of the general population to trigonelline. Therefore, the aim of this review was to assess the risk to human health of acute and chronic exposure to trigonelline from coffee and coffee by-products. An electronic literature search was performed. Current toxicological knowledge is limited, with few human data available and a lack of epidemiological and clinical studies. There was no evidence of adverse effects after acute exposure. No conclusion can be drawn on chronic exposure to isolated trigonelline due to the lack of data. However, trigonelline ingested as a component of coffee and coffee by-products appears to be safe for human health, based on the safe traditional use of these products.

Food Toxicology and Food Safety: Report of the 3rd International Electronic Conference on Foods: Food, Microbiome, and Health-A Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Foods' Impact on Our Wellbeing

The purpose of the conference session summarized in this article was to bring together international experts on food toxicology and food safety and share the current scientific knowledge on these topics. The presentations covered a wide range of interdisciplinary issues, including (i) the impact of diet on body weight and health outcomes including results from animal models of carcinogenesis, (ii) methods for microbial oil extraction, (iii) food processing and its impact on food safety and health, (iv) novel compounds to avoid mycotoxin contamination of agricultural products, and (v) the safety of cannabidiol in food supplements based on Cannabis sativa extracts. Some of the conclusions of the presentations included that correct food choices may impact on the risk of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, that food processing may have an influence on health, by either reducing or increasing risks, and that research regarding novel compounds is important, which may have preventive but also detrimental effects on health.

Can coffee silverskin be a useful tool to fight metabolic syndrome?

Coffee is one of the most consumed products in the world, and its by-products are mainly discarded as waste. In order to solve this problem and in the context of a sustainable industrial attitude, coffee by-products have been studied concerning their chemical and nutritional features for a potential application in foodstuffs or dietary supplements. Under this perspective, coffee silverskin, the main by-product of coffee roasting, stands out as a noteworthy source of nutrients and remarkable bioactive compounds, such as chlorogenic acids, caffeine, and melanoidins, among others. Such compounds have been demonstrating beneficial health properties in the context of metabolic disorders. This mini-review compiles and discusses the potential health benefits of coffee silverskin and its main bioactive components on metabolic syndrome, highlighting the main biochemical mechanisms involved, namely their effects upon intestinal sugar uptake, glucose and lipids metabolism, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota. Even though additional research on this coffee by-product is needed, silverskin can be highlighted as an interesting source of compounds that could be used in the prevention or co-treatment of metabolic syndrome. Simultaneously, the valorization of this by-product also responds to the sustainability and circular economy needs of the coffee chain.

Coffee Silverskin: Chemical and Biological Risk Assessment and Health Profile for Its Potential Use in Functional Foods

The coffee supply chain is characterized by a complex network with many critical and unsustainable points producing a huge amount of waste products. Among these, coffee silverskin (CS), the only by-product of the coffee roasting phase, has an interesting chemical profile that suggests potential use as a food ingredient. However, few data on its safety are available. For this reason, the purpose of the study was to assess the occurrence of chemical and biological contaminants in CS, and the resulting risk due to its potential consumption. Essential, toxic, and rare earth elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), process contaminants, ochratoxin A (OTA), and pesticides residues were analyzed in three classes of samples (Coffea arabica CS, Coffea robusta CS, and their blend). Furthermore, total mesophilic bacteria count (TMBC) at 30 °C, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts, and molds was evaluated. The risk assessment was based upon the hazard index (HI) and lifetime cancer risk (LTCR). In all varieties and blends, rare earth elements, pesticides, process contaminants, OTA, and PAHs were not detected except for chrysene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene, which were reported at low concentrations only in the arabica CS sample. Among essential and toxic elements, As was usually the most representative in all samples. Microorganisms reported a low load, although arabica and robusta CS showed lower contamination than mixed CS. Instead, the risk assessment based on the potential consumption of CS as a food ingredient did not show either non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risk. Overall, this study provides adequate evidence to support the safety of this by-product for its potential use in functional foods.

Coffee-Derived Phenolic Compounds Activate Nrf2 Antioxidant Pathway in I/R Injury In Vitro Model: A Nutritional Approach Preventing Age Related-Damages

Age-related injuries are often connected to alterations in redox homeostasis. The imbalance between free radical oxygen species and endogenous antioxidants defenses could be associated with a growing risk of transient ischemic attack and stroke. In this context, a daily supply of dietary antioxidants could counteract oxidative stress occurring during ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R), preventing brain damage. Here we investigated the potential antioxidant properties of coffee-derived circulating metabolites and a coffee pulp phytoextract, testing their efficacy as ROS scavengers in an in vitro model of ischemia. Indeed, the coffee fruit is an important source of phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acids, present both in the brewed seed and in the discarded pulp. Therefore, rat brain endothelial cells, subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) and recovery (ogR) to mimic reperfusion, were pretreated or not with coffee by-products. The results indicate that, under OGD/ogR, the ROS accumulation was reduced by coffee by-product. Additionally, the coffee extract activated the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway via Erk and Akt kinases phosphorylation, as shown by increased Nrf2 and HO-1 protein levels. The data indicate that the daily intake of coffee by-products as a dietary food supplement represents a potential nutritional strategy to counteract aging.

Risk Assessment of Caffeine and Epigallocatechin Gallate in Coffee Leaf Tea

Coffee leaf tea is prepared as an infusion of dried leaves of Coffea spp. in hot water. It is a traditional beverage in some coffee-producing countries and has been authorized in 2020 within the European Union (EU) according to its novel food regulation. This article reviews current knowledge on the safety of coffee leaf tea. From the various ingredients contained in coffee leaves, only two were highlighted as possibly hazardous to human health, namely, caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), with maximum limits implemented in EU legislation, which is why this article focuses on these two substances. While the caffeine content is comparable to that of roasted coffee beans and subject to strong fluctuations in relation to the age of the leaves, climate, coffee species, and variety, a maximum of 1–3 cups per day may be recommended. The EGCG content is typically absent or below the intake of 800 mg/day classified as hepatotoxic by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), so this compound is suggested as toxicologically uncritical. Depending on selection and processing (age of the leaves, drying, fermentation, roasting, etc.), coffee leaf tea may exhibit a wide variety of flavors, and its full potential is currently almost unexplored. As a coffee by-product, it is certainly interesting to increase the income of coffee farmers. Our review has shown that coffee leaf tea is not assumed to exhibit risks for the consumer, apart from the well-known risk of caffeine inherent to all coffee-related beverages. This conclusion is corroborated by the history of its safe use in several countries around the world.