Dyes in aquaculture and reference points for action

Evaluation of Methylene Blue Migration from Time-Temperature Indicators Using LC-MS/MS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and validate methylene blue migration from printed time-temperature indicators (TTIs) into food. It also highlights the importance of establishing regulatory measures and safety standards for food packaging, suggesting that this can contribute to improving food packaging safety. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify methylene blue migration in various food simulant and food matrix samples. The results show that the level of methylene blue migration varies significantly depending on the chemical properties of the food mimetic and the composition of the food matrix. The established method demonstrated a high sensitivity, with limits of detection (LODs) of 0.0019-0.0706 μg/L (kg) and limits of quantification (LOQs) of 0.0057-0.2138 μg/L (kg). This study highlights the need for a regulatory framework to mitigate the health risks associated with methylene blue in intelligent packaging systems and argues that regulatory thresholds should be set to ensure food safety and quality.

Evaluation of Ethyl Violet as an Alternative Dye to Crystal Violet to Visualize the Vessel Wall during Vascular Anastomosis

Crystal violet (CV) ink has been used as a skin marker worldwide. It has been reported to be useful for vessel wall visualization of microvascular anastomoses. Contrastingly, it has been found to be carcinogenic and inhibit migration and proliferation of venous cells. In some countries, its use in the medical field has been restricted. Therefore, it is necessary to consider alternatives to CV. In this present study, we compared the time required for the anastomosis of a 0.8-1 mm diameter vessel in the chicken wrist artery using CV and a CV-free dye (ethyl violet; EV). The surgeon, microscope, and anastomosis microsurgical tools were standardized for comparison. CV and EV were changed for each anastomosis. The same surgeon performed 30 anastomoses using each dye. No visually obvious differences were noted in the vascular transections with CV and EV. As per the results, no statistically significant difference was observed in the time required for anastomosis using CV and EV. EV conforming to California Proposition 65 may be an effective alternative to CV for vascular visualization of microvascular anastomoses. However, further studies on the effectiveness of the EV in clinical cases are needed.