The Influence of the Addition of Hemp Press Cake Flour on the Properties of Bovine and Ovine Yoghurts

Hemp press cake flour (HPCF) is a by-product of hemp oil production rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, oleochemicals, and phytochemicals. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the addition of HPCF to bovine and ovine plain yoghurts at concentrations of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% could change the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of the yoghurts, focusing on the improvement of quality and antioxidant activity, and the issue of food by-products and their utilisation. The results showed that the addition of HPCF to yoghurts significantly affected their properties, including an increase in pH and decrease in titratable acidity, change in colour to darker, reddish or yellowish hue, and a rise in total polyphenols and antioxidant activity during storage. Yoghurts fortified with 4% and 6% HPCF exhibited the best sensory properties, thus maintaining viable starter counts in the yoghurts during the study period. There were no statistically significant differences between the control yoghurts and the samples with 4% added HPCF in terms of overall sensory score while maintaining viable starter counts during the seven-day storage. These results suggest that the addition of HPCF to yoghurts can improve product quality and create functional products and may have potential in sustainable food waste management.

Aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products – A mini review

Aflatoxins (AF) are a group of toxic secondary metabolites mostly produced by strains of Aspergillus spp. fungi. There are several types of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFG1, AFB2, AFG2, AFM1, AFM2, etc.), but the most toxic and the most common is AFB1. Aflatoxins have been shown to possess powerful carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties. AFB1 can contaminate feed and food during the growth and/or storage under inappropriate conditions. When animals consume AFB1-contaminated feed, it undergoes various metabolic pathways and finally, it is metabolized into hydroxylated metabolite AFM1, which is possibly excreted in milk if the animal is lactating. This issue presents a huge concern regarding the representation of milk and dairy products in the human diet. Furthermore, climate changes have a significant impact on aflatoxin production. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and improve strategies for controlling and mitigating the occurrence of AFM1 in milk and dairy products. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the latest scientific literature regarding the occurrence of AFM1 in milk and dairy products.