News: Plant-based food: Mycotoxins in the vegan diet  (10/11/2022)

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 […]

News: Vitamins in health supplements (31/07/2023)

Vitamins are organic molecules important for human growth and health. Specifically, the human body requires 13 vitamins to stay healthy, each with a different biochemical function. Vitamins are divided into two groups, based on the way they break down once ingested. Water-soluble vitamins are not easily stored as they break down quickly upon ingestion. Fat-soluble […]

News: Mycotoxins in animal feeds: How dangerous are they for pets? (26/11/2021)

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!

News: A Sustainable Christmas Feast: Delicious, Eco-Friendly, and Heartwarming (19/12/2023)

As we gather with loved ones to celebrate Christmas, there’s an opportunity to not only indulge in delicious food but also to make choices that are kind to the planet. In this Christmas food blog, we’ll explore the concept of a sustainable Christmas feast. From locally sourced ingredients to eco-friendly cooking methods and mindful consumption, […]

News: Mycotoxin analysis: 3 attributes you should be aware of when analyzing spices (12/07/2017)

Spices are essential for food production, but just like cereals, spices are often contaminated with mycotoxins. Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin are particularly prevalent in spices. In order to ensure safe foods, regular mycotoxin analyses are mandatory. Here’s what you should consider when testing spices.

News: The hidden threat in your coffee: exploring ochratoxin A and fungal diversity (16/08/2024)

Monitoring and controlling mycotoxins like ochratoxin A (OTA) in food involves not only routine analysis but also identifying the sources of fungal infection. This is crucial for high-value products such as coffee, where OTA can significantly impact market prices for producers. A recent study published by Rodríguez et al. in the journal Postharvest Biology and […]

News: Malolactic fermentation: Helper lactic acid bacteria (15/11/2021)

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 […]

News: Mycotoxin surveillance in Ecuador and Qatar (25/04/2014)

A steady stream of publications continues to confirm the widespread occurrence of mycotoxins and builds on existing knowledge. Oritz et al., (December 2013) in Food Additives & Contaminants have reported the co-occurrence of mycotoxins in rice, oat flakes and wheat noodles which are stable foods in Ecuador. Using the R-Biopharm OHCRAPREP® immunoaffinity columns, ochratoxin A […]

News: Out-of-season increase of norovirus cases (22/08/2024)

Norovirus facts:￭ Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea￭ Contaminated oysters are a common source of outbreaks￭ Rapid detection is essential to prevent the spread of illness Norovirus remains a significant cause of foodborne illness worldwide, particularly within the food industry, where maintaining safety and quality is paramount. In 2024, there […]

News: Unlocking the potential of qPCR in wine making for enhanced quality control (02/07/2024)

In the complex world of wine making, precision and quality control are paramount to delivering exceptional products. Real-time PCR is a great tool for gaining invaluable insights to the microbial status and thus enhancing quality control measures from grape to bottle. Quality assurance in wine makingqPCR has emerged as a supporting tool for quality assurance […]

News: Salmonella in baby food (23/01/2018)

It’s a case that has caused serious concern not only in France: salmonella was found in baby food from a French dairy company. More than 12 million cans of baby milk were recalled – and the scandal is growing. Here’s why salmonella is dangerous and what you can do against it.

News: Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A new way to track down the pathogenic bacteria (21/06/2016)

The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common pathogen. Together with E. coli, legionella and enterococci, it is one of the most dangerous bacteria in drinking water and also one of the most common hospital germs. The new Compact Dry PA identifies the bacterium easily and reliably.

News: Buckwheat – a hidden food allergen? (08/09/2021)

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.

News: High levels of ochratoxin A found in dried figs (17/02/2016)

Lately, there has been an increase in the presence of ochratoxin A in dried figs. Our colleagues from R-Biopharm Rhône have summarized the most important information for you.

News: R-Biopharm News I/2016 (15/03/2016)

News: R-Biopharm News III/2016 (08/09/2016)

R-Biopharm on the web New parameter in the Compact Dry portfolio: Compact Dry PA – for detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa RIDA®SMART APP: Mycotoxin-App gets another update to RIDA®SMART APP V1.3 Simple and accurate extraction of food allergens New algal sources of vitamin B12 for dietary supplements Product launch: Pectinase Fairs and conferences Analysts workshops R-Biopharm AG […]

News: Vegan or plant-based: What’s the difference? (20/01/2023)

Vegan food is continuing to be one of the biggest dietary trends. For some time now, however, you’ve been hearing more and more about the “plant-based diet”. Is this just a new term for the vegan lifestyle – or is there something else behind it? What does “vegan” mean? People who live vegan avoid (usually […]

News: The increasing trend towards plant-based products and their composition (31/10/2023)

The growing demand for plant-based products for vegan or vegetarian consumers is also a major challenge for food manufacturers. Many manufacturers have expanded their product line to include new plant-based products that replicate burgers and other meat dishes with plant-based ingredients, deceptively imitating the taste and texture of meat. Products range from plant-based burgers to […]

News: How eco-friendly is your mycotoxin analysis? (20/10/2015)

Organic solvents always played an important role in mycotoxin analysis.  However they have a negative impact on the environment and impose a hazard for the lab technician.

News: On the trail of beer spoilage bacteria (13/08/2019)

In general, beer is not a likely habitat for microorganisms: the alcohol content, the low pH value, the anaerobic atmosphere, the hop bitters and the limited nutrient supply make beer a rather hostile environment. However, some bacteria have adapted to this environment.

News: Scientists discover simpler vitamin analysis (04/04/2014)

Scientists from Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangzhou, China) have developed an improved procedure for water-soluble multi-vitamin analysis. Heng Zhang et al. in the June 2014 issue of Food Chemistry report a novel extraction buffer which enables efficient simultaneous co-extraction of vitamin B12, folic acid and biotin from infant formula.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.12.088 These authors employed this buffer in […]

News: Introducing a better way to check the vitamin content (28/10/2016)

Foods like infant formula, baby food and dairy drinks are often fortified with vitamins. Since manufacturers must ensure that the labelled level of vitamin is actually present in the product, determining the vitamin content is crucial. A new immunoaffinity column makes your vitamin analysis more effective and convenient.

News: International Beer Day: This new technique speeds up beer analysis (05/08/2016)

Raise your glass: the first Friday in August is International Beer Day – a perfect day to enjoy a tasty brew. But unfortunately, beer doesn’t always taste as expected: beer spoilers can leave an unpleasant stale taste. It’s good to know that it just got easier to detect beer-spoiling bacteria and yeasts – here’s how […]