Dehydrated fruits and vegetables, which may well be used in baby foods, must be of excellent bacteriological quality with an absence of contamination. In order to define the effects of the industrial dehydration process, according to the 'Hatmacker' drying method, on an organophosphorus pesticide, we have studied phosalone in Golden Delicious apples as an example. The technological process undertaken leads to a reduction in phosalone levels on the apples of more than 80%, whatever the initial dose between 0 and 4.29 micrograms/kg. Washing brings about a reduction of 30-50%, probably by the dissolution of the phosalone in the water. The cooking and especially the filtration of the puréed apple mechanically eliminates, without notable deterioration, 40-70% of the phosalone. However, drying, which takes place at the end of the process, does not lead to significant variations in phosalone levels. Consequently, the reduction in phosalone residue levels in dehydrated apple products manufactured by this process provides the consumer with a greater degree of security with respect to this contaminant. In addition, we have presented several possibilities to add to the quality of dehydrated products.
1. The effects of rilmenidine, a new alpha 2-adrenoreceptor agonist with antihypertensive properties, were investigated on plasma catecholamines, blood cell adrenoreceptors and adrenal medullary function. 2. In conscious sino-aortic denervated (SAD) dogs, rilmenidine (1 mg kg-1 orally for 2 weeks) significantly reduced both blood pressure and heart rate when compared with placebo treatment. The drug decreased plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline levels and corrected the decrease in leucocyte beta-adrenoreceptors observed in placebo-treated SAD dogs. There was no change in platelet alpha 2-adrenoreceptors. 3. In anaesthetized normotensive dogs, rilmenidine (0.1 and 0.3 mg kg-1 i.v.) induced a dose-dependent decrease in both cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) and catecholamine release from the adrenal medulla. 4. The present study shows that rilmenidine decreases sympathetic tone mainly by an action on the adrenal medulla. In addition, its ability to lower blood pressure in SAD dogs, i.e. a model of hypertension in which high sympathetic tone is present, indicates that rilmenidine may also depress other parts of the sympathetic nervous system.
Phosphine is a food fumigant, used until now as an insecticide and rodenticide. The present work researches the action of phosphine treatment on growth and aflatoxin production of 23 Aspergillus strains. Production of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 decreased in almost all cases by a ratio of 10 to 100. Phosphine treatment therefore seems favorable to prevent growth of various Aspergillus strains, in the context of keeping food safe.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.