Packaging contaminants in former food products: Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to identify the remnants and the associated risks

Review: Nutritional, safety, and environmental aspects of former foodstuff products in ruminant feeding

As a consequence of global population growth, rising incomes, urbanisation, and improved household economics, the demand for animal products is expected to increase. This has led to a heightened focus on the challenge of allocating natural resources between the production of human food and livestock feed. The livestock industry, particularly ruminant producers, is seeking cost-effective, human-inedible feed alternatives due to the rising costs of forage production and grains. Former foodstuff products (FFPs), derived from food industry leftovers (material remnants of food processing), represent a promising strategy for reducing feed-food competition, particularly through partial replacement of grains and concentrate feed in ruminant diets. FFPs are rich in simple sugars and fats; however, their excessive intake by ruminants may increase the risk of subacute rumen acidosis and modulate microbial protein synthesis and methane emissions. Furthermore, chemical substances present in FFPs (polyphenols and theobromine), packaging remnants, and microbiological contaminants may alter ruminal ecosystems and fermentation, methane emissions, milk quality, and animal health. This review summarises the nutritional composition of FFPs, with a focus on their potential to replace energy feeds, the risks and benefits of FFPs in ruminant nutrition, and legislation regarding the use of FFPs in livestock diets. It concludes by highlighting further research that could promote sustainable FFP practices.

Impact of Nanoplastics on the Functional Profile of Microalgae Species Used as Food Supplements: Insights from Comparative In Vitro and Ex Vivo Digestion Studies

The widespread use of plastics in the food industry raises concerns about plastic migration and health risks. The degradation of primary polymers like polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) can generate nanoplastics (NPs), increasing food biohazard. This study assessed the impact of PS, PE, and PS + PE NPs on Chlorella vulgaris (CV) and Haematococcus pluvialis (HP) before and after in vitro and ex vivo digestion, focusing on particle size, polydispersity index, and surface charge. The modulation of total phenolic content (TPC) induced by NP contamination was also evaluated. Results demonstrated that NP behavior varied with the microalgae medium and persisted postdigestion, posing health risks. Significant size increases were noted for PS + PE in the CV and HP. TPC increased significantly with NP exposure, especially PS + PE. These findings underline the need for regulatory measures to ensure food safety in cases of plastic contamination and to address the behavior and toxicity of NPs.

Food packaging solutions in the post-per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics era: A review of functions, materials, and bio-based alternatives

Food packaging (FP) is essential for preserving food quality, safety, and extending shelf-life. However, growing concerns about the environmental and health impacts of conventional packaging materials, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics, are driving a major transformation in FP design. PFAS, synthetic compounds with dual hydro- and lipophobicity, have been widely employed in food packaging materials (FPMs) to impart desirable water and grease repellency. However, PFAS bioaccumulate in the human body and have been linked to multiple health effects, including immune system dysfunction, cancer, and developmental problems. The detection of microplastics in various FPMs has raised significant concerns regarding their potential migration into food and subsequent ingestion. This comprehensive review examines the current landscape of FPMs, their functions, and physicochemical properties to put into perspective why there is widespread use of PFAS and microplastics in FPMs. The review then addresses the challenges posed by PFAS and microplastics, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable and bio-based alternatives. We highlight promising advancements in sustainable and renewable materials, including plant-derived polysaccharides, proteins, and waxes, as well as recycled and upcycled materials. The integration of these sustainable materials into active packaging systems is also examined, indicating innovations in oxygen scavengers, moisture absorbers, and antimicrobial packaging. The review concludes by identifying key research gaps and future directions, including the need for comprehensive life cycle assessments and strategies to improve scalability and cost-effectiveness. As the FP industry evolves, a holistic approach considering environmental impact, functionality, and consumer acceptance will be crucial in developing truly sustainable packaging solutions.

Ex-Foods Diets Affect the Fatty Acid Profile of the Abdominal Adipose Tissue Without Significantly Affecting the Plasma Metabolome of Postweaning Piglets

Food leftovers can be used as alternative feed ingredients for monogastric to replace human-competing feedstuffs, such as cereals, recycle a waste product, reduce the feed-food competition and keep nutrients and energy in the feed-food chain. Among food leftovers, former food products (FFPs) are no more intended for human but still suitable for animal consumption. However, the metabolic impact of FFP has never been investigated. In this study, we evaluated the impact of replacing 30% of conventional cereals with FFP on abdominal fat quality and plasma metabolome modulation in postweaning piglets. Thirty-six Large White × Landrace postweaning piglets (28 days old) were randomly assigned to three dietary groups for 42 days: control (CTR), 30% replacement of CTR with salty FFP (SA), 30% replacement of CTR with sugary FFP (SU). Body weight and feed intake were measured to calculate average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The fatty acid profile of the diets and the abdominal adipose tissue was determined and a mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics investigation was performed on plasma samples. The growth performance was not significantly affected by SA and SU diets. Despite the different fatty acid profile of the diets, the fatty acid profile of the adipose tissue was rebalanced in piglets. The plasma metabolome was more affected by the time factor rather than the treatment factor. Six metabolites were significantly altered in SA and SU groups compared to CTR: caffeine, theobromine, proline-betaine, dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (PC 32:0), spermidine and l-tryptophan. Caffeine and glycerophospholipid pathways were significantly different between CTR and SA and SU groups, although no impact on other metabolic pathways was observed. Overall, the limited impact of FFP on the abdominal fat, plasma metabolome and related pathways in postweaning piglets demonstrated the value of FFP as innovative and sustainable feed ingredients to replace human-competing feedstuffs.

Recent advances and applications of ionic covalent organic frameworks in food analysis

Ionic covalent organic frameworks with both crystallinity and charged sites have attracted significant attention from the scientific community. The versatile textural structures, precisely defined channels, and abundant charged sites of ionic COFs offer immense potential in various areas such as separation, sample pretreatment, ion conduction mechanisms, sensing applications, catalytic reactions, and energy storage systems. This review presents a comprehensive overview of facile preparation methods for ionic covalent organic frameworks (iCOFs), along with their applications in food sample pretreatment techniques such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE), and dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE). Furthermore, it highlights the extensive utilization of iCOFs in detecting various food contaminants including pesticides, contaminants from food packaging, veterinary drugs, perfluoroalkyl substances, and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. Specifically, this review critically discusses the limitations, challenges, and future prospects associated with employing iCOF materials to ensure food safety.

Plastics in biogenic matrices intended for reuse in agriculture and the potential contribution to soil accumulation

The spread of biogenic matrices for agricultural purposes can lead to plastic input into soils, raising a question on possible consequences for the environment. Nonetheless, the current knowledge concerning the presence of plastics in biogenic matrices is very poor. Therefore, the objective of the present study was a quali-quantitative characterization of plastics in different matrices reused in agriculture as manures, digestate, compost and sewage sludges. Plastics were quantified and characterized using a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy coupled with an optical microscope (μFT-IR) in Attenuated Total Reflectance mode. Our study showed the presence of plastics in all the investigated samples, albeit with differences in the content among the matrices. We measured a lower presence in animal matrices (0.06-0.08 plastics/g wet weight w.w.), while 3.14-5.07 plastics/g w.w. were measured in sewage sludges. Fibres were the prevalent shape and plastic debris were mostly in the micrometric size. The most abundant polymers were polyester (PEST), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). The worst case was observed in the compost sample, where 986 plastics/g w.w. were detected. The majority of these plastics were compostable and biodegradable, with only 8% consisting of fragments of PEST and PE. Our results highlighted the need to thoroughly evaluate the contribution of reused matrices in agriculture to the plastic accumulation in the soil system.

Detection and prevention of foreign material in food: A review

This review highlights the critical concern foreign material contamination poses across the food processing industry and provides information on methods and implementations to minimize the hazards caused by foreign materials. A foreign material is defined as any non-food, foreign bodies that may cause illness or injury to the consumer and are not typically part of the food. Foreign materials can enter the food processing plant as part of the raw materials such as fruit pits, bones, or contaminants like stones, insects, soil, grit, or pieces of harvesting equipment. Over the past 20 years, foreign materials have been responsible for about one out of ten recalls of foods, with plastic fragments being the most common complaint. The goal of this paper is to further the understanding of the risks foreign materials are to consumers and the tools that could be used to minimize the risk of foreign objects in foods.

Simulation and Characterization of Nanoplastic Dissolution under Different Food Consumption Scenarios

Understanding of the potential leaching of plastic particles, particularly nanoplastics (NPs), from food packaging is crucial in assessing the safety of the packaging materials. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate potential exposure risks by simulating the release of NPs from various plastic packaging materials, including polypropylene (PP), general casting polypropylene (GCPP) or metalized casting polypropylene (MCPP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), under corresponding food consumption scenarios. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to identify and characterize the NPs leached from plastic packaging. The presence of separated NPs was observed in PP groups subjected to 100 °C hot water, GCPP plastic sterilized at a high temperature (121 °C), and PE plastic soaked in 100 °C hot water, exhibited a distorted morphology and susceptibility to aggregation. The findings suggest that the frequent consumption of takeaway food, hot beverages served in disposable paper cups, and foods packaged with GCPP materials may elevate the risk of ingestion of NPs. This reminds us that food packaging can serve as an important avenue for human exposure to NPs, and the results can offer valuable insights for food safety management and the development of food packaging materials.

Review: Pig-based bioconversion: the use of former food products to keep nutrients in the food chain

The primary challenge of agriculture and livestock production is to face the growing competition between food, feed, fibre, and fuel, converting them from resource-intensive to resource-efficient. A circular economy approach, using agricultural by-products/co-products, in the livestock production system would allow to reduce, reuse, and redistribute the resources. Former food products (FFPs), also named ex-foods, could represent a valid option in strengthening resilience in animal nutrition. FFPs have a promising potential to be included regularly in animal diets due to their nutritive value, although their potential in animal nutrition remains understudied. A thorough investigation of the compositional and dietary features, thus, is essential to provide new and fundamental insights to effectively reuse FFPs as upgraded products for swine nutrition. Safety aspects, such as the microbial load or the presence of packaging remnants, should be considered with caution. Here, with a holistic approach, we review several aspects of FFPs and their use as feed ingredients: the nutritional and functional evaluation, the impact of the inclusion of FFPs in pigs' diet on growth performance and welfare, and further aspects related to safety and sustainability of FFPs.