Corn is one of the most cultivated grains in the world and is an important part of the diet for humans and animals. It’s no wonder that the USA honor this versatile grain with their own holiday, National Maize Day. However, corn is also criticized because it is often genetically modified. The grain with the […]
Plant-based foods are a major trend and new vegetarian and vegan foods are constantly coming onto the market. However, people with allergies need to look carefully when choosing plant-based milk and meat alternatives.
The trend towards vegetarian and vegan diets is unbroken. An important topic in this context is the presence of mycotoxins, because many of the plant-based products consist of grains, nuts or soy – foods that are often contaminated with fungal toxins. More and more people are reducing their meat consumption or giving up eating foods […]
In the USA, National Nut Day is celebrated on October 22. Reason enough to take a closer look at the little vitamin bombs. 1. Not everything we call a nut actually is one In fact, from a botanical point of view, there are only a few “true nuts”, including hazelnuts, walnuts as well as sweet […]
October 25 is World Pasta Day. We think that’s a good occasion to try out a new kind of noodles. How about insect pasta? Edible Insects are in the trend: they are healthy, rich in protein and sustainable. Their cultivation is much more economical in terms of resources and produces fewer greenhouse gases than other […]
World Food Day is celebrated on 16 October to remind us that many people in the world are still suffering from hunger. Military conflicts, the COVID pandemic and climate change have recently exacerbated the situation again. How can access to healthy and safe food be improved for all people? Food waste is a major problem. […]
Listeria monocytogenes is frequently associated with the most severe outbreaks in terms of hospitalisations and deaths. In 2021, Listeria outbreaks included fresh produce, cured meats, ready to eat chicken products as well as cheese. 18 outbreaks of infections were traced to bagged salads and led to a recall of more than 200 varieties of bagged […]
Mustard is categorized as a spice, globally ones of the most important ones, and belongs to the Brassicaceae family of plants. Other plants in this family include for example broccoli, cabbage, and rapeseed (canola).
Did you know? Harvested seaweed, neither seafood nor a vegetable, is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but only as a spice. As part of sushi, in the form of salad or as part of cosmetics or fertilizers and soil conditioners – seaweeds find many applications in several industries, with a special increasing […]
Food safety is a global concern that includes various different areas of our daily life. Safe and nutritious food in sufficient amounts is crucial to sustaining life and promoting good health. Hazardous food contaminated with e.g. harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances can cause more than 200 different diseases – ranging from diarrhea to […]
Although, GMO foods may become an essential tool in feeding the world’s growing population and undergo strict testing, people have concerns about possible risks, and there is much debate about the pros and cons of using GMOs.
Drinking is a huge part of how we socialize, celebrate, and also sometimes deal with stress. However, as more people make a point of a conscious lifestyle or become sober-curious, fully sober, or simply want a more fun night off, there is an increasing demand and popularity for low and non-alcoholic beverages. These include alcohol-free […]
Recently, there have been a number of oyster recalls due to Norovirus contaminations. But what actually are noroviruses, what are sources of contamination and how can the viruses be detected?
Edible insects are a matter of course for more than a quarter of the world’s population, because they taste good, are nutritious and are relatively readily available. Thus, insects supplement the diets of approximately two billion people in various countries around the world – mainly in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America. More and […]
Culinary herbs and spices are not only used for flavoring food. They may also come with other properties, such as antioxidative and bacteriostatic effects as well as certain pharmacological activities.
We often get the question: “Why do you have a gluten PCR in your portfolio?” A valid question indeed, because gluten is the general name for the proteins in wheat, barley, rye and triticale. Since PCR detects DNA or RNA – not protein, the question remains: How can you use qPCR in gluten analysis?
Enzymatic food analysis is probably one of the oldest biochemical methods in food and feed testing. The so-called “Yellow Line” from Roche is widely accepted as a reference method for many food and feed testing applications. R-Biopharm has successfully sold these products for more than 20 years. So why change a winning team?
Did you know that gluten may also be present in fruit juice and fish sticks? Cereal protein gluten is frequently used to maintain the form of drinks and convenience meals. As a result, many of these goods include the warning label “May contain traces of gluten.” Our R-Biopharm RIDASCREEN® Gliadin ELISA (Art. No. R7001) now […]
Our R-Biopharm christmas recipe this year was submitted by our employee Christine. These peanut-caramel lozenges are delight for the whole family, to be shared under the Christmas tree. Or maybe you could bake a batch of cookies and give them to your friends as a gift? In any case, we hope you enjoy baking them, […]
Salmonella are rod-shaped bacteria that cause infections in the gastrointestinal tract in humans and animals and can often be fatal. The treatment of salmonella has become a billion-dollar industry in many countries around the world. A new study from Hungary now provides surprising figures on how high these really are.
Allergens are substances that produce varied symptoms in allergy patients. As a result, allergens must be labeled. Some (such as eggs or gluten-containing wheat flour) are also found in cakes. What do allergy patients need to know about allergens in cakes? This article summarizes.
Gastrointestinal disorders and impairment of the immune and nervous systems: Mycotoxins, the metabolic product of mold fungi, are not just hazardous to human health; they may also be toxic for pets. How do mycotoxins get into pet food? What health risks are there? As a pet owner, this is vital information!
Particularly in colder regions, the wine tends to be very acidic. The acidic and tart taste is not for all winemakers and wine enthusiasts. Lactic acid bacteria are used to convert malic acid into lactic acid and carbon dioxide. In our article, you can find answers to all the important questions relating to malolactic fermentation […]
“Folic acid is an important vitamin.” But why is that so? What function does folic acid have and which foods are rich in folic acid? Learn more in the 3rd edition of our vitamin series!
“Gluten-free”, like “allergen-free”, is on everyone’s lips today. Even if foods are produced without allergens such as peanuts or milk or without gluten, they can be dangerous for allergy sufferers and patients with celiac disease. The reason for this is contamination. Test methods should therefore be integrated into an allergen management system. How should allergen […]
Horse meat in lasagna, falsely declared fish or contaminated baby food – food fraud makes headlines again and again. Companies hope to gain a financial advantage, but often endanger the health of consumers.
Standardization of methods, a more efficient lab routine, and saving time and resources. Automation has many advantages. We answer the most important questions about automation.
Vitamins protect us every day. Without vitamins, muscles, metabolism and brain cannot perform. This is reason enough to get to know vitamins. In the 2nd part of our series, we introduce vitamin B12 (cobalamin).
Microorganisms transform sugar contained in must into alcohol and carbon dioxide in a process known as fermentation, which results in the production of wine. Winemakers (and brewers) have two options for starting the fermentation process with yeast: they can use a commercial pure yeast strain that has particularly desirable and consistent characteristics, or they can […]
Buckwheat is popular in many countries, including Russia, and is usually enjoyed either sweet or hearty, similar to that of semolina. It’s time to take a deeper look at the plant, especially because buckwheat does not contain gluten. Allergy patients, however, must use caution.
International Coconut Day is celebrated on September 2nd. The coconut palm grows in the tropical belt, yet it is no longer considered exotic here; it has long been a staple of our cuisine. Here are 8 startling facts.
Residues of antibiotics, hormones and toxins are a threat to consumer health. This makes reliable test systems and their validation all the more important. Validation demonstrates that an analytical method meets requirements for accuracy, precision, robustness, specificity, selectivity and repeatability, among others. In summary: It is the proof that a test method works correctly. So […]
Vitamins ensure that our bodies function every day. Time to get to know them. In our series, we introduce you to 9 vitamins: Where do they occur? What function(s) do they have? How much does a person need? In episode 1, we start with vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine). Check out our infographic for more facts.
High humidity provides ideal conditions for mycotoxin-forming fungi that contaminate wheat. Because this summer has had high rain fall mycotoxin analysis is especially important. We sat down with Carrie Maune, vice-president of Trilogy Analytical Laboratory: What do you need to know about grain contamination with DON (deoxynivalenol) and ZON (zearalenone)?
The antibiotic Florfenicol is brought on the market under various brand names and is used to control infections in cattle, pigs, poultry, and aquaculture. The compound is an effective broad-spectrum antibiotic and is considered as a less toxic alternative for chloramphenicol, which is banned world-wide because of its toxic effects.
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has approved the first insect for human consumption: the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva). It is categorized as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 (‘food consisting of, isolated from or produced from animals or their parts’, as described in Article 3(2)(v)).
Sesame seeds are a common ingredient in the food industry. Yet, sesame seeds are a tremendously strong allergen and the prevalence of sesame seed allergy has been increasing in recent years.
Christmas is just around the corner and with it the cookie season. For celiac patients, caution is advised to not take any risks while snacking. That’s why we have a gluten-free cookie recipe for you to try out, so you don’t have to give up this holiday season.
During the control of allergens in food, the so-called hook effect can occur. But what does the hook effect mean in terms of allergen detection and what are the possible consequences of the test result?
This year’s grain harvest has begun. After the very changeable weather conditions, the question arises whether the harvest could possibly be contaminated with mould. What does this mean for the harvest and the resulting products?
Extraction of nucleic acids is a vital part of real-time PCR and is often challenging due to several factors such as the high variability of sample matrices and inhibitory substances like plant ingredients, alcohols or salts.
Pork does not belong in a kebab or a beef sausage. However, adulteration of meat products with cheaper pork is a common form of meat fraud. This is a problem – especially for consumers who refrain from eating pork for religious reasons.
Goat’s milk and sheep’s milk are increasingly popular alternatives to cow’s milk. However, consumers do not always get what they pay for. Adulteration with cow’s milk – intentional or unintentional – is not uncommon.
Tap water contaminated with Legionella can cause severe infections. Water pipes that are not used regularly are particularly susceptible to the colonization of bacteria – a problem especially now during the coronavirus pandemic, as many businesses, hotels and public facilities are closed.
When testing for allergens in food, most laboratories use immunological methods such as ELISA. However, real-time PCR can provide distinct advantages.
At Easter, eggs are served particularly often. But they are also a popular ingredient in many other dishes and processed foods — a challenge for allergic people.
The spread of the coronavirus is causing concern worldwide. Because knowledge of this novel virus is still limited, there is much speculation. For example, there are fears that the virus may also be transmitted through food. Is there any truth to this?
Moldy bread is easy to recognize for the consumer. But mold can already develop in the field and contaminate the harvest. More dangerous than the mold fungus itself are the toxins it produces, the so-called mycotoxins. One of the most prevalent mycotoxins is deoxynivalenol (DON).