The availability of reliable sensitive multi-analyte methods for unambiguous determination of mycotoxins is crucial for ensuring food and feed safety, considering their adverse health effects and (co-)occurrence in various foods. Accordingly, a multi-mycotoxin confirmatory method for simultaneous determination of 11 mycotoxins regulated in cereals within the European Union (EU) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed and in-house validated to fit the EU legislation requirements for analytical methods. A simple sample preparation was based on a solid–liquid extraction using a solvent mixture acetonitrile/water/formic acid (79/20/1, v/v/v) and a dilution of raw extract using water/acetonitrile/formic acid (79/20/1, v/v/v) before instrumental analysis. Average recoveries in all three validated cereal crop types (maize, wheat, and barley), spiked at multiple levels, were found acceptable for all analytes when matrix-matched calibration was used, ranging from 63.2% to 111.2% and also showing very good repeatability, with relative standard deviations below 20%. Matrix effect (SSE) evaluation revealed maize as the most complex of the three analyzed cereal matrices, with strong SSE (150%) recorded for all 11 analyzed mycotoxins. An additional method verification was performed through successful participation in proficiency testing schemes, with the achieved z-scores generally in the acceptable range of −2 ≤ z ≤ 2. The obtained validation results demonstrated the suitability of the developed confirmatory multi-mycotoxin UHPLC-MS/MS method based on a dilute-and-shoot principle for the simultaneous determination of low concentrations of 11 EU-regulated mycotoxins in cereals, including aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins B1 and B2, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, and ochratoxin A.

Starch is a polysaccharide that is widely used in food and other industries; therefore, due to its great potential, it is attempted to be maximally isolated from various foods rich in starch. Commonly, potatoes are used for starch production due to the relatively high starch content in tubers, and the process itself is complex and includes several steps. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize starch from eight potato varieties. First, the basic chemical composition of the potato samples was determined, and then the isolation was carried out under laboratory conditions. The isolated starch was air dried, then ground and sieved through a 400 µm sieve. The basic chemical composition, amylose content, starch color, swelling capacity and solubility index, clarity of starch pastes, texture of starch gels and thermo-physical properties (gelatinization and retrogradation) were determined in the obtained starch samples. The results showed that the SL 13–25 potato variety had the lowest starch content, while the Stilleto variety had the highest starch content. The content of protein, fat, ash and crude fiber was relatively low in all of the isolated starches, indicating their high purity. Also, the difference in the color of the isolated starches was difficult to see. The highest amylose content had starch from Saprodi, while the lowest was observed in starch from SL 13–25. Starch from the cv. Dartiest had the highest, while starch from the cv. Sereno had the lowest gel strength. The starch of the cv. Dartiest also had the highest clarity value. The retrogradation transition temperatures and enthalpies were lower compared to the gelatinization temperatures and enthalpies. With the increasing temperature, both the swelling capacity and the solubility index of all the samples increased. According to the obtained differences, this study confirmed the significant influence and role of different cultivars on starch characteristics.

Although neglected as an industrial raw material, rose hip has been important for both nutritional and medical purposes for centuries. The main goal of this study was to propose a rapid and inexpensive non-thermal technique such as high voltage electrical discharge (HVED) to preserve valuable rose hip bioactive compounds, towards the development of high-quality products, including low-calorie products. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of HVED on the physicochemical properties and the microbiological safety of rose hip nectar formulations and, for comparison, on a pasteurised sample. Physicochemical analysis proved that rose hip pulp and the prepared nectars were valuable sources of polyphenols and ascorbic acid with high antioxidant activity. The HVED technique had minimal effects on the quality characteristics of the nectars under the different process conditions (50, 100 Hz; 10, 15, 20 min). In addition, the pasteurised nectar showed the greatest loss of ascorbic acid (54%) and phenolic compounds (40%). The microbiological quality of nectars was examined immediately after preparation/treatment and after 6 and 12 days of storage at 4 °C. In addition to the pasteurised sample, HVED-treated rose hip nectar prepared from microwave-blanched puree with extended shelf life had satisfactory microbiological safety after storage.

Traditional figures of speech (metaphors, metonymies, synecdoche) play an important role in everyday language. Moreover, they are used when discussing complex scientific, political, and social issues in the entire world. The aim of this paper is to determine if metonymies play an important role in the area of food technology too, i.e. if they are significantly represented in the textbooks intended for teaching German for specific purposes at the Faculty of food technology. By classifying metonymies, light will be shed on the most prevailing types used in three German textbooks. Even though metonymies are commonly used to produce rhetorical effects such as in humour, jargon, literature, persuasion, this paper will determine if they can be found in the scientific field of food technology.