Nowadays, the significance of food analysis could be emphasized in consequence of growing world population besides the increased consumer demands for the safe food. The reliability and accuracy of analysis are highly affected by sample preparation, extraction, enrichment, and isolation of the analytes. Traditional sample preparation techniques are not only costly but also time-consuming and generally labor-intensive, and furthermore, these techniques required high solvent content, which generates waste, pollutes sample, and enriches the analyte for the food analysis. In recent years, new extraction techniques have been discovered as an alternative to the conventional sampling procedure. Simple, fast, cost-effective and green (environmentally friendly) techniques can be preferred gradually instead of traditional methodologies in order to the extraction of the sample. The aim of the chapter will be to compile and discuss the advantages, pro and cons, and use of some sample preparation techniques that are relevant to the green chemistry.

In this study, a total of 80 peanut butter, hazelnut butter, and chocolate samples were obtained from local markets in Ankara, Turkey. These foods were analyzed for twelve toxicological important mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), and aflatoxin G2 (AFG2); fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fumonisin B2 (FB2); ochratoxin A (OTA); sterigmatocystin (STE); deoxynivalenol (DON); zearalenone (ZON); T-2 toxin (T2); and HT-2 toxin (HT2) by the LC–MS/MS multi-mycotoxin method. In addition to this analysis, the presence of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria was investigated in the samples. The samples were analyzed microbiologically using standard procedures. Finally, the minimum and maximum levels of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, FB2, OTA, STE, DON, ZON, T2, and HT2 in the samples were found to be 0.04–27.37 µg/kg, 0.06–6.19 µg/kg, 0.14–0.40 µg/kg, 2.73–2.93 µg/kg, 0.01–37.26 µg/kg, 0.19–2.25 µg/kg, 11.81–42.09 µg/kg, 0.03–7.57 µg/kg, 1.41–2.54 µg/kg, and 6.94–7.43 µg/kg, respectively. AFG2 and FB1 were not detected in any of the samples. The most frequently detected mycotoxins in analyzed samples were OTA (78.75%) and AFB1 (75%). In addition, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria were isolated from 53.75% of samples. Some of the tested food samples contained mycotoxins above the Turkish Food Codex maximum limit.

In this survey monosodium glutamate (MSG) levels in chicken and beef stock cube samples were determined. A total number of 122 stock cube samples (from brands A, B, C, D) were collected from local markets in Ankara, Turkey. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was used for quantitative MSG determination. Mean MSG levels (±SE) in samples of A, B, C and D brands were 14.6 ± 0.2 g kg⁻¹, 11.9 ± 0.3 g kg⁻¹, 9.7 ± 0.1 g kg⁻¹ and 7.2 ± 0.1 g kg⁻¹, respectively. Differences between mean levels of brands were significant. Also, mean levels of chicken stock cube samples were lower than in beef stock cubes. Maximum limits for MSG in stock cubes are not specified in the Turkish Food Codex (TFC). Generally the limit for MSG in foods (except some foods) is established as 10 g kg⁻¹ (individually or in combination).

In the present study, a total of 80 commercial blossom honey samples were obtained from local markets in Ankara, Turkey. These honeys were analyzed for 35 important and risky antibiotics (sulfonamide, tetracycline, macrolide, cephalosporin, aminoglycoside, quinolone, nitrofuran, chloramphenicol, and anthelmintic groups) by the LC-MS/MS multi-antibiotic method. In addition to these analyses, pH measure, moisture, and electrical conductivity were determined in these honey samples. Finally, seven out of 35 antibiotic residues investigated in the honeys were positive. The most frequently detected antibiotics in the analyzed samples were dihydrostreptomycin, streptomycin, erythromycin, sulfadimidine (sulfamethazine), and enrofloxacin as 58.75%, 22.5%, 13.75%, 10%, and 2.5%, respectively. Tetracycline and doxycycline were detected in only one sample. The pH, moisture, and electrical conductivity values of the honey samples were determined as between pH 3.78 and 5.41, 17.48 and 18.03%, and 0.25 and 0.47 mS/cm, respectively. In terms of food safety and human health, it is very important to monitor the residues of these pharmacologically active substances with analytical methods.

No abstract

The aim of present study was to determine the levels of potential 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) and 2-furaldehyde (F) in 109 baby food samples (60 follow-on milks, 49 cereal- and milk-based infant formulas) obtained from different markets in Ankara (Turkey). Potential HMF and F compounds were determined by HPLC. Mean levels (± standard error) of HMF and F of follow-on milk samples were found to be 237.85±18.25 and 9.44±0.39 µg/100mL, respectively. Regarding the infant formulas, mean levels of HMF and F were found to be 905.41±91.94 and 13.22±1.21 µg/100g. As a result, potential HMF was determined in all of the samples; potential F was determined in all the samples except 1. The mean levels of potential HMF and F of infant formulas were higher than mean levels of potential HMF and F of follow-on milks. In addition, HMF and F values of some samples with an imminent expiration date were found to be higher than HMF and F values of the other samples. At present, no limits have been established in the Turkish Food Codex (TFC) for furfural compounds concentrations in infant formula and milks. Establishing limits related to these compounds would be important for protecting the quality of infant foods.

Histamine is the most common and toxic biogenic amine in foods. The presence of histamine in some foods is considered as an indicator of microbiological quality and hygiene. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the amount of histamine in some milk and cheese consumed in Ankara. A total of 116 samples of 20 different pasteurized milk, 20 high heat-treated milk and 76 cheese samples (tulum cheese, white cheese, fresh kashar cheese, and labne cheese) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. As a result, In 29 (72.5%) of 40 milk samples, the presence of histamine was detected in concentrations ranging between 0.10 and 0.32 mg/L. The mean levels (±S.E) of histamine of milk samples were found to be 0.18±0.01 mg/L. In 58 (76.3 %) of 76 cheese samples, the presence of histamine was detected in concentrations ranging between 2.52 and 189.79 mg/kg. Regarding the tulum cheese, white cheese, fresh kashar cheese, and labne cheese samples, mean levels (±SE) of histamine in were found to be 56.60±12.56 mg/kg; 3.68±0.29 mg/kg; 4.88±0.35 mg/kg and 4.48±0.39 mg/kg, respectively. The mean levels of histamine of cheeses were higher than mean levels of histamine of milk. The differences between mean levels of histamine in milk samples and the mean levels of histamine in cheese samples were statistically significant (P<0.001). At present, there are no established limits on Turkish Food Codex for histamine concentrations in milk and cheeses.

Melamine is widely used as a chemical in food industry and may lead to kidney damage. The aim of this study was to determine melamine and pH value of 80 canned tuna fish samples of four different brands (A, B, C, D) sold in Ankara, Turkey. Quantitative determination of melamine in canned tuna fish samples was carried out by capillary zone electrophoresis with diode array detector (CZE-DAD). The limits of detection and quantitation for melamine were found to be 0.21 mg kg -1 and 0.68 mg kg -1 , respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the analysis of melamine in canned tuna fish samples by mean recovery with 104.7% in oily and 107.6% for light samples. Melamine levels were found as <0.68 mg kg -1 (LOQ value) in all samples analysed during the period of the study. The mean pH values (±SE) of the samples for the A, B, C and D brands were determined to be 5.89 ± 0.02, 5.86 ± 0.01, 5.83 ± 0.02 and 5.82 ± 0.02, respectively. As a result, present study shows that the presence of melamine of canned tuna fish obtained during the period of study do not pose a health risk to consumers.