Abstract The study aims to determine certain physicochemical properties (moisture, ash, titratable acidity, pH, and color), total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC, ABTS, DPPH) and bioaccessibility of 20 bee pollen samples (10 unpackaged and 10 trademarked products in their original packages) sold in Turkey. The total phenolic content of the bee pollen samples was detected as 147.10-462.02 mg GAE/g and bioaccessibility ranged from 36.91% to 77.87%. The highest total value for antioxidant capacity was assessed as 83.24-257.27 μmol TE/g by the CUPRAC method. When the bioaccessibility of the antioxidant capacity of bee pollen was compared among the methods, the highest value (95.76%) was obtained for the sample M by the CUPRAC method. Antioxidant capacity and bioaccessibility of the unpackaged bee pollen samples were lower than those of the trademarked products. Based on overall evaluations, it can be deduced that bee pollen known for its potential beneficial effects on health may well be used as a functional food additive in the production of various food products with its high antioxidant and bioaccessibility features.

Abstract Thirty-two yeast strains were identified by means of molecular methods isolated from traditional Turkish cheeses (Tulum, Kashkaval, Mihalic, Orgu, White, Sepet, and Goat). Debaryomyces hansenii and Torulaspora delbrueckii were found as predominant species in cheese samples. Other species which were identified were Kluyveromyces lactis, Candida parapsilosis, Clavispora lusitaniae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, K. marxianus, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Meyerozyma guilliermondii (formerly Pichia guilliermondii), C. zeylanoides and Candida albicans. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and D. hansenii strains, from Kashkaval cheese, showed antilisterial activity, whereas only one K. lactis strain from Orgu cheese exhibited proteolytic activity.

Abstract Honey is a natural animal product. The elemental composition of honey varies greatly depending on the source of nectar, honeydew, pollen and environmental conditions. The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and aluminium (Al) in a total of 65 honey samples procured from different regions of Turkey. Element levels were measured by using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). Minimum and maximum levels of the elements, indicated as µg/g wet weight were as follows: Cr: 0.126-7.964, Cu: 0.223-198.361, Fe: 3.506-1278.778, Mg: 5.830-309.783, Mn: 0.096-29.496, Se: 0.418-19.879, Zn: 1.734-245.205, Cd: 0.000-0.297, Pb: 0.000-3.035, Al: 0.775-155.585.

Abstract Cronobacter spp. are opportunistic pathogens isolated from many different type of food and environmental samples and may cause serious health problems and even death in newborns, children and elders. The purpose of the study was to determine occurrence and prevalence of Cronobacter spp. in animal originated food, ready-to-eat food, fruits and vegetables, sold in Istanbul and its vicinity and to perform molecular typing of the isolated agents by multiplex PCR. Analyses were conducted on a total of 219 food samples including 11 confectionary, 50 fruits and vegetables, 52 dairy products, 50 meat and meat products and 56 ready-to-eat food. Suspected isolates were validated by PCR targeted to gyrB gene and multiplex PCR was performed for identification. Overall analyses revealed a prevalence of 5.48% for Cronobacter spp. in all food products assessed. Prevalence of the bacteria was 9%, 1.9% and 17.8% in confectionary, dairy products and ready-to-eat food, respectively whereas no bacteria were detected in fruits and vegetables, meat and meat products. Out of a total of 12 isolates determined, 8 (66%), 3 (25%) and 1 (8%) were identified as C.sakazakii, C.muytjensii and C.malonaticus , respectively and nine isolates belonged to cereal-based balls (meatless cig kofte).

Abstract Honey, produced by honeybees from nectar in flowers and plants, is an aqueous supersaturated sugar solution, mainly composed of fructose and glucose. The quality and biochemical properties of honey are related to honey maturity, production methods, processing and storage conditions, climatic conditions as well as the nectar source of the honey. In this study, 35 honey samples of different sizes and packaging all of which were sold in Istanbul were examined in terms of some physicochemical and microbiological properties. All samples were floral liquid honey. The physicochemical characterizations were as follows: average moisture (16.31±1.40%), ash (0.30±0.29%), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (8.09±7.63 mg/kg), pH (4.32±0.34), acidity (30±9 meq/kg). In addition, total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, yeast and mold analyses were performed in these samples. According to the microbiological analyses; the average total number of mesophilic aerobic bacteria was 2.68 log cfu/g. Enterobacteriaceae have not been observed in the samples. However, in three samples, mold-yeasts were detected at the levels between 1.30 and 1.60 log cfu/g.

Abstract In this study, mineral element and heavy metal levels in bee pollen produced in various regions of Turkey (20 samples) and imported bee pollen (4 samples), were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) device. Mineral and heavy metal levels of bee pollens produced in Turkey were determined to be within the following ranges (minimum-maximum, µg/gpollen); Cr (chromium): 0.124-1.595, Cu (copper): 3.728-14.994, Fe (iron): 28.603-725.360, Mg (magnesium): 271.107-1278.340, Mn (manganese): 8.151-201.036, Se (selenium): 0.593-5.085, Zn (zinc): 14.832-39.079, B (boron): 0.592-61.33, Ni (nickel): 0.002-1.761, Si (silicon): 0.082-10.500, K (potassium): 992.107-2894.154, Ca (calcium): 491.853-1472.102, P (phosphorus): 795.899-5246.992 and Cd (cadmium): 0.006-0.181, Pb (lead): 0.000-0.479, As (arsenic): 0.006-1.035. As a result of this study, it can be concluded that bee pollens produced in Turkey may be a good source of mineral regarding the trace elements Se, Mn, Fe, Cr and Cu.

Abstract Cronobacter spp. involves a group of opportunistic pathogens that cause meningitis in newborns, immunosuppressed individuals with a mortality rate of 50-80%. Seven species like C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus, C. muytjensii, C. turicensis, C. dublinensis, C. universalis, C. condimenti are included in this genus which has been a subject of research especially in the bacteriologic analysis of baby foods. However, since these species were detected also in prepared foodstuffs. The objective of this study was to assert the presence of Cronobacter spp. in foodstuff offered for sale in Turkey. A total of 151 prepared foodstuffs including a variety of spice, flour, instant soup were purchased from different sales points. The presence of Cronobacter spp. were investigated in these samples. Cronobacter suspected isolates which were obtained by microbiological analyses were confirmed by PCR targeted to gyrB gene and were then identified by multiplex PCR. Prevalence of Cronobacter spp was estimated to be 17.88%. Out of 27 Cronobacter spp. isolates obtained, 13(48.1%), 6(22.2%), 5(18.5%), 3(11.1%) belonged to C. sakazakii, C. muytjensii, C. turicensis, C. malonaticus species, respectively. Consequently, the presence of the bacteria in widely consumed foodstuff revealed that Cronobacter spp. is subject to monitoring due to its opportunistic nature in terms of public health concern.

Abstract In this study the effects of zein film coating along with benzoic acid on the quality of sliced pumpkin samples, which were packaged with different techniques were investigated. The samples were allocated into different groups and were treated with different processes. Following processing, the samples were stored at +4 °C for twenty days. Physicochemical and microbiological analyses were carried out on the samples once every five days during the storage period. According to color analysis, the L* value was observed to have significantly decreased in the processed and packaged samples in comparison with the control group. Besides, a* and b* values increased in all groups. It was determined that zein film alone did not exhibit the expected effectiveness against moisture loss in the samples. According to the results of microbiological analysis, a final decrease at approximately 1.00 log level was determined in total count of mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB) in the group which was vacuum packaged in PVDC with zein coating when compared with the initial TMAB. Furthermore, no molding occurred in zein-coated group on the last day of the storage period, while massive mold growth was noted in the group which was packaged without any pretreatment procedure.