β-Casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is a peptide released through the proteolysis of β-casein (β-CN), which is considered a bioactive peptide displaying evidence of promoting the binding and activation of the μ-opioid receptor located in various body parts, such as the gastrointestinal tract, the immune system and potentially the central nervous system. The possible effects of BCM-7 on health are a theme rising in popularity due to evidence found in several studies on the modulation of gastrointestinal proinflammatory responses that can trigger digestive symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort. With the advancement of studies, the hypothesis that there is a correlation of the possible effects of BCM-7 with the microbiota–gut–brain axis has been established. However, some studies have suggested the possibility that these adverse effects are restricted to a portion of the population, and the topic is controversial due to the small number of in vivo studies, which makes it difficult to obtain more conclusive results. In addition, a threshold of exposure to BCM-7 has not yet been established to clarify the potential of this peptide to trigger physiological responses at gastrointestinal and systemic levels. The proportion of the population that can be considered more susceptible to the effects of BCM-7 are evidenced in the literature review. The challenges of establishing the adverse effects of BCM-7 are discussed, including the importance of quantifying the BCM-7 release in the different β-CN genotypes. In summary, the reviewed literature provides plausible indications of the hypothesis of a relationship between β-CN A1/BCM-7 and adverse health effects; however, there is need for further, especially in vivo studies, to better understand and confirm the physiological effects of this peptide.

The objective was to evaluate the use of ractopamine (RAC) in the diet for pacu (Piaractus mesopotaminus) in the finishing phase on some quality parameters of the fillets. Thirty-five animals weighing 0.868±0.168kg were distributed in a completely randomised design with five treatments (0.0 - control; 11.25, 22.50, 33.75 and 45 ppm of RAC) and seven replicates with two fillets obtained from the same animal. The diets were isocaloric and isoprotein and experimental time was 90 days. RAC did not affect (P>0.05) the initial pH or ph after 24 hours of the fillets. Compared to the control, RAC increased (P

The macauba (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.) is a palm tree native to tropical regions and occurs in much of the Brazilian territory. Current studies are focused on the extraction and exploitation of vegetable oil from this fruit. However, there are few studies on the residue, the endocarp, which represents approximately 25% of the total mass of the fruit. Studies that search for solutions for using residue, thus adding value, and generating environmentally friendly products, are of fundamental importance. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of reconstituted wood panels produced with different proportions of macauba endocarp particles to replace pine wood particles, in addition to characterize the physical and chemical properties of macauba endocarp. The chemical characterization tests were performed according to applicable standards. The basic density was determined according to the NBR 11941 standard. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were also performed. The particleboards panels were produced with a nominal density of 0.70g/cm³ and dimensions of 25x25x1.5cm. Five different treatments were evaluated with variations in the proportion of macauba endocarp particles in the core of the panel. For particle agglutination, phenol-formaldehyde adhesive was used at a proportion of 9% for the core and 12% for the faces, based on the dry mass of each panel. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the panel surfaces.

Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming, Gram-positive bacterium that causes foodborne illness and dairy spoilage. This study analyzed B. cereus s.s. isolates from milking environments, raw milk, and dairy products to assess their genotypic and phenotypic traits. From 466 samples, 61 isolates were obtained: 27 from milking environments, 9 from dairy environments, 8 from raw milk, and 17 from dairy products. Genomic sequencing identified genes encoding proteolytic (BC5350, BC0666, BC2984, BC0598, BC5351, BC3383, BC2735), lipolytic (BC4862, BC2141, BC1027, BC4123, BC4345, BC5402, BC5401), and esterase (BC1954, BC4515, BC3413, BC3606) enzymes. Plate assays confirmed enzymatic activities. Proteolytic genes were more prevalent in environmental samples, followed by raw milk and dairy products. Lipolytic genes were most frequent in raw milk, followed by environmental samples and dairy products. Esterase genes were most common in dairy environments. These findings suggest that dairy processing influences the enzymatic profile of B. cereus s.s., potentially impacting food safety and quality in the dairy industry. Understanding the distribution of these genes may help develop strategies to mitigate spoilage and contamination risks in dairy products.

The production and consumption of buffalo milk have reached great nutritional importance and economic relevance in Brazil, which makes monitoring the quality of the raw material an essential aspect of this production. Nonetheless, little has been discussed about this matter, with only one state legislation regulating the quality of buffalo milk in Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of raw milk from 30 farms in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in order to trace a qualitative profile of buffalo milk production in the region. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters and somatic cell count (SCC) of milk were evaluated over 11 months. Titratable acidity and fat content (16.68% and 5.74%, respectively) were above the established minimum levels. While microbiological parameters were high, the mean SCC was below the established limit. There were no physicochemical changes in raw milk; however, there was a high count of microorganisms, related to inadequate hygiene in the production process. Results showed that the microbiological parameters are not adequate for the production of buffalo milk in the region. Therefore, the raw buffalo milk produced on the farms showed low microbiological quality during the monitoring period.