Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Environmental Health in the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / The retail sector in South Africa is increasingly evolving into a dynamic industry, driven by changes in technology, saturating markets and globalisation. A major phenomenon in South Africa has been the evolution of hypermarkets, which sell large quantities of almost all consumer goods on a self-service basis. The South African consumers are becoming increasingly health conscious and, as such, the demand for wellness foods, health and convenience food has escalated. Convenience foods are expected to remain popular with consumers and supermarkets and will therefore increase the amount of ready-to-eat food items offered. As the retail industry has changed over the last two decades, so has the epidemiology of foodborne illnesses, with an increase in the incidence of bacterial infections caused by emerging organisms. In addition, there are certain food safety issues specifically associated with ready-to-eat foods. In recent years, incidences of enteric diseases associated with meat consumption have risen. The emergence of several new foodborne diseases has led to an increased focus attention on the issue of food safety by consumers and the industry. The most commonly implicated foods in these disease outbreaks have been meat and dairy products. The microbial load of eight convenience food manufacturing plants was determined by firstly sampling stainless steel food contact surfaces after they had been cleaned and sanitised at the end of a day‘s shift. The samples were analysed for Total Plate Count (TPC), Escherichia coli, Salmonella species and Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria. The results showed that 59 % of the total areas sampled for TPC failed to comply with the legal requirements for food surfaces specified in the South African Health Act (< 100 cfu.cm-2). Listeria was detected in 23 % of the samples taken and E.coli was found in 1.3 % of the samples, while S. aureus was not detected in any of the samples. Fifty percent of the plants applied conventional cleaning methods for cleaning and sanitation and the remaining 50 % used the low-pressure foam (LPF) method. The bacterial results of the two cleaning methods were statistically compared and a statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) was found between the TPC means of the cleaning methods after cleaning. No statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) was found in terms of the Listeria species counts after both cleaning processes. The LPF method proved to be the superior cleaning option for reducing TPC counts. Secondly surface samples were collected from washed and sanitised dominant hands of food handlers and analysed for the presence of total plate counts, S. aureus and E. coli. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hand washing practices and sanitation before commencing work. A total of 230 samples were collected, involving 100 % of the food handlers in selected convenience food outlets. The highest bacterial count taken from handswas 7.4 x 10-3 cfu.cm-2 and the lowest showed no detectable growth. Forty percent of the TPC analysed complied with the legal limit of < 100 cfu.cm-2 and only 18 % of the food handlers had no detectable bacteria present on their hands. One hand sample tested positive for E. coli, which is generally viewed as an indication of faecal contamination. S. aureus could not be detected on the hands of any of the food handlers. The results of this study indicated that hand hygiene is unsatisfactory and underlined the importance of further training to improve food handlers‘ knowledge of good hand washing practices. The study also aimed to present data on the food hygiene knowledge and practices of food handlers based on a representative sample from convenience food outlets in the Gauteng area. The management, as well as food handlers, were interviewed without prior announcement and managers were interviewed prior to starting their shifts, followed by food handlers, after they had passed through the change room and hand wash facilities. Although the majority of food handlers adhered to basic hygiene principles, the results highlighted a need for proper and continuous training in hygiene practices, not only for food handlers, but also for management. Furthermore, all food handlers should adhere to a formal cleaning schedule and specific courses should be planned for food handlers. Most training is done away from the workplace and the workers might find it difficult to translate theory into practice. Although food safety training programmes are essential, behavioural changes will not occur merely as a result of having received training but rather continuous development of food handlers. In conclusion, the popularity of convenience food is bound to increase with the growing appeal for modern foods. Consumers in South Africa nowadays demand good quality and safe products at a reasonable cost. Due to continuous time constraints, convenience food is the food of the future for the working mother. It is clear that managing foodborne disease is a challenge and an economic problem subject to various constraints. Food safety has too often become a hit-or-miss gamble, with parents obliged to roll the dice when it comes to the safety of their children‘s food and consumers in general. The food industry therefore needs to improve food safety processes to prevent the contamination of foods and use methods to ensure safe food for consumers. Better training, more testing and better methods of tracking food must be utilised to verify that the processes are working. This study endeavoured to add to the understanding and improvement of hygiene processes as well as food handlers‘ practices in the convenience food industry in the Gauteng Province.

Magister Legum - LLM / The aim of this study is to examine laws and policies relating to food safety in South Africa, specifically with regard to labelling requirements in the food industry. It is hoped that this research will serve as a pointer for policy and legislative reforms in a bid to identify weak areas as well as encourage accountability and strengthen government’s response to the realisation of the right to safe food as a human right imperative. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Artigo 1 - Sistemas de identificação e rastreabilidade na cadeia produtiva alimentar: uma análise sob a perspectiva da oferta segura de carne bovina A carne bovina é um importante segmento do agronegócio brasileiro, com elevada participação no valor das exportações do país. Este artigo objetiva discutir a consistência da legislação brasileira que ampara o Sistema de Identificação e Certificação de Bovinos e Bubalinos (SISBOV), em comparação às legislações de alguns países pioneiros na utilização de sistemas de identificação e rastreabilidade (SIRs) das cadeias produtivas de alimentos. Essa análise, embasada na teoria de Economia Institucional, parte da estrutura de produção pecuária doméstica, com base em dados secundários do MAPA, SECEX/MDIC, IBGE, FAO e ABIEC7, e de documentos que estabelecem a política de alimentos seguros, do MS8 e do MAPA. O estudo da legislação internacional abarca documentos oficiais dos Estados Unidos, Canadá e União Europeia (UE). O SISBOV foi desenvolvido para atender às exigências impostas pela UE para importação de carne bovina brasileira. A adesão a esse Serviço envolve uma série de ajustes na gestão dos vários elementos da cadeia produtiva de carne para viabilizar a sua exportação para a UE. Do ponto de vista de sua estrutura, esse sistema atende às exigências do mercado europeu, muito embora pareça mais factível para produtores e frigoríficos mais capitalizados. Adicionalmente, o SISBOV constitui-se, potencialmente, como um mecanismo inibidor de eventuais práticas ilegais, como abates clandestinos e sonegação de impostos. ARTIGO 2 - Os prós e contras do SISBOV: uma visão dos agentes econômicos da cadeia produtiva de carne bovina no Brasil. A partir dos anos 1990, a politica de comercio internacional de inúmeros países e a percepção de consumidores acerca da qualidade de alimentos derivados de animais foram influenciadas por crises de insegurança alimentar de amplo escopo que ganharam destaque naquele período. O SISBOV, implantado no Brasil em 2002, mandatório para pecuaristas que exportam para países que exigem rastreabilidade, elevou a complexidade da gestão da atividade pecuária e de seus custos no país. Este estudo objetiva mapear e identificar a opinião de pecuaristas, frigoríficos, empresas certificadoras, associações de classe e órgãos de inspeção e regulação acerca das medidas e dos serviços governamentais que visam a produção segura de carne bovina, em particular acerca do SISBOV. A pesquisa empírica foi conduzida por via eletrônica, com convites enviados a 414 potenciais participantes estabelecidos em todo o Brasil, e resultou numa amostra de 34 respondentes, de ambos os sexos, a maioria com formação acadêmica qualificada. As respostas foram tratadas e processadas com base na aplicação da metodologia qualiquantitativa do DSC. Resultados obtidos indicam que os atores da cadeia produtiva de carne bovina estão insatisfeitos com o SISBOV, na medida em que o sistema não atendeu suas expectativas. A baixa adesão dos pecuaristas se deve, principalmente, aos custos adicionais para implantação do sistema - ainda que se reconheça a sua contribuição para a gestão das fazendas -, sem garantia de retorno financeiro aos participantes, uma vez que e incerto o pagamento de valores adicionais pelos animais rastreados, pois os frigoríficos detém poder de mercado e estabelecem os preços nas transações com os pecuaristas. Criadores de gado percebem o SISBOV como uma etapa prévia a inclusão da propriedade rural na Lista TRACES, exigência adicional e exclusiva para exportadores brasileiros de carne bovina para a UE e que pode ser entendida como uma barreira não tarifaria. / Food production chain identification and traceability systems: an analysis considering the perspective of a safe beef offer. Beef is an important segment in the Brazilian agribusiness, with high share in the country exports value. This article aims at a discussion about the consistency of the Brazilian legislation that supports the Cattle and Buffalo Identification and Certification System (SISBOV), compared to the legislation of some pioneering countries that have been using identification and traceability systems in food production chains. The analysis, based upon Institutional Economics, involves an approach of the structure of the domestic cattle production, using secondary data made available by MAPA, SECEX/MDIC, IBGE, FAO and ABIEC, besides documents that establish the food safety policy, from MS and MAPA. The international legislation study was carried out from official documents from the United States of America, Canada and the European Union (EU). SISBOV was developed to comply with the exigences imposed by the EU to import Brazilian beef. The adherence to that system involves several adjustments in the management of the elements of the beef production chain to make it feasible to export to the EU. From the point of view of its structure, that system complies with the exigences of the European market, even though it seems to be more feasible to wealthier producers and slaughters. Further to that, SISBOV is, potentially, an inhibiting mechanism to occasional illegal practices such as clandestine slaughters and tax evading. SISBOV pros and cons: the perspective of the beef production chain economic agents in Brazil From the 1990´s on, the international trade policy from various countries and the consumers perception about the quality of animal based food were influenced by broad reach food unsafety crisis, that were pointed out at that moment. SISBOV, implemented in Brazil in 2002, mandatory to producers to export to countries that require traceability, increased the complexity of the cattle raising management and its costs in the country. This objective of this study was to seek and identify the opinion of producers, slaughters, certifying companies, class associations and inspection and regulatory entities, about the governmental procedures and services that aim at a safe beef production, particularly the SISBOV. The empirical research was carried out by electronic means, with invitations sent to 414 potential respondents all over Brazil, and led to a sample of 34 final respondents, both genders, most of them with qualified academic background. The answers were handled and processed based upon the use of the Discourse of the Collective Subject qualiquantitative methodology. Obtained results indicated the beef production chain actors are dissatisfied with SISBOV, taking into account that the system did not accomplish their expectations. The producers low adherence is, mainly, due to the additional costs to implement the system even though its contribution to the farms management is recognized - , without any payback guarantee to the participants, considering it is uncertain the payment of additional values for the traced cattle, since the slaughters hold the market power and establish the prices in the transactions with the producers. The producers perceive SISBOV as a previous step to include the farm in the TRACES List, an additional and exclusive exigency to Brazilian beef exporters to the EU, which can be understood as a non-tariff barrier.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os sistemas de gestão da segurança de alimentos de indústrias de vegetais minimamente processados (VMP) do Rio Grande do Sul, avaliar a inativação de Salmonella Enteritidis (SE86) em alfaces submetidas aos diferentes métodos de lavagem e desinfecção observados nas indústrias investigadas e, por fim, elaborar uma proposta de regulamento técnico de Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF) para o setor. Cinco indústrias foram visitadas a fim de investigar os fatores contextuais e os sistemas de segurança de alimentos implementados. Em seguida, os métodos de lavagem e desinfecção observados em cada indústria foram simulados em laboratório e alfaces artificialmente inoculadas com S. Enteritidis SE86 foram submetidas a cada um deles. Com base nessas avaliações e outros documentos técnicos, elaborou-se uma proposta de legislação para indústrias de VMP. Os resultados demonstraram que as indústrias estavam operando em um contexto de alto risco, sem os controles necessários para a redução dos mesmos. Foi demonstrada a necessidade de melhorias em relação aos controles de fornecedores, instalações, design higiênico de equipamentos, programas de manutenção e calibração de equipamentos, programas de higienização, registros, capacitação de funcionários, bem como, na realização de análises microbiológicas do produto final. Nenhuma empresa demonstrou implementação completa das BPF, Procedimentos Operacionais Padronizados (POP) ou implementação de sistema Análise de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle (APPCC). Os resultados laboratoriais indicaram que as indústrias estavam realizando procedimentos de lavagem e desinfecção capazes de reduzir significativamente contagens de S. Enteritidis SE86, porém, em nível industrial, a concentração de sanificante, o pH, a concentração de matéria orgânica e temperatura de água não estavam sendo controlados, o que sugere alto risco. Em vista dos resultados, recomendações foram realizadas na proposta de legislação de BPF e POP, as quais foram adicionadas a RDC 275/2002 (ANVISA) aplicável às indústrias de alimentos brasileiras. Foi sugerido a inclusão de dois POP, o primeiro referente a seleção dos fornecedores de matéria-prima (frutas e vegetais frescos) e o segundo com relação ao processo de lavagem e desinfecção. Além disso, no corpo da proposta, foi sugerido a adição de monitoramento e verificação das temperaturas das câmaras frias, capacitação adequada e contínua de pessoal sobre higiene e manipulação de alimentos e riscos associados a produção e consumo de frutas e vegetais frescos. Também sugeriu-se a obrigatoriedade de Responsável Técnico comprovadamente capacitado para orientar e controlar a implementação e continuidade dos sistemas de gestão da segurança de alimentos. As recomendações foram divididas entre aquelas de curto, médio e longo prazo, sendo as de curto prazo a implementação de controles do processo, principalmente nas etapas de lavagem e desinfecção e análises microbiológicas de produto final. As de médio prazo foram a seleção de fornecedores com Boas Práticas Agrículas (BPA) implementadas, bem como a implantação completa de BPF nas indústrias de VMP. Finalmente, a medida a ser implementada a longo prazo foi a implementação de APPCC. A Proposta de Regulamento específico para VMP pode ser discutida com o setor regulado, para em seguida ser encaminhada para consulta pública e possível publicação pela Vigilância Sanitária Estadual. Essas ações são propostas, a fim de melhorar a segurança dos VMP e desenvolver o setor. / The aim of this study was to evaluate Safety Management Systems of minimally processed vegetable industries (VMP) of Rio Grande do Sul, evaluate the inactivation of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE86) in lettuces exposed to different washing methods and disinfection observed in the investigated industries and, finally, prepare a draft technical regulation for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for the sector. Five industries were visited to investigate the contextual factors and the implemented food safety systems. Then, the cleaning and disinfecting methods observed in each industry were performedin laboratory, by inoculating S. enteritidis SE86 on lettuces and subjecting to them. Based on these assessments and other technical documents, it was drawn up a proposed for legislation to VMP industries. The results showed that the industries were operating in a high risk environment, without the necessary control to reduce the risk. It has demonstrated the need for improvements in relation to suppliers of controls, facilities, hygienic equipment design, maintenance programs and calibration equipment, hygiene programs, records, employee training, as well as in carrying out microbiological analyzes of the final product. No company demonstrated full implementation of GMP, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) or the implementation of Hazard Analysis System and Critical Control Points (HACCP). The laboratory results indicated that the washing and disinfection procedures performed in industries can significantly reduce S. Enteritidis SE86 counts, however, at the industrial level, the concentration of sanitizing, pH, concentration of organic matter and water temperature were not It is controlled, suggesting a high risk. In view of the results, recommendations were made in the proposed GMP and SOP legislation, which were added to DRC 275/2002 (ANVISA) applicable to Brazilian food industries. The inclusion of two SOP has been suggested, the first relating to the selection of suppliers of raw materials (fruits and vegetables) and the second with respect to the washing and disinfection process. In addition, the body of the proposal, it was suggested the addition of monitoring and checking temperatures of cold rooms, adequate and continuous training of personnel on hygiene and food handling and risks associated with production and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. It also suggested to proven capable mandatory technical manager to guide and monitor the implementation and continuity of Food Safety Management Systems. The recommendations were divided into short, medium and long term. Short term was the implementation of process controls, especially in the washing and disinfection steps and microbiological analyzes of the final product. Medium-term was the selection of suppliers with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) implemented, as well as the full implementation of GMP in the VMP industries. Finally, the measure to be implemented in the long term was the implementation of HACCP. The Proposal for a Regulation specific to VMP can be discussed with the regulated sector, to then be sent for public consultation and possible publication by the State Sanitary Surveillance. These actions are proposed in order to improve the safety of VMP and develop the sector.

A produção de alimentos no mundo está condicionada à oferta e ao consumo de fertilizantes inorgânicos, obtidos de fontes naturais não renováveis. Existe um limite entrópico para o atendimento das necessidades crescentes de alimentos. A sustentabilidade da dinâmica dos sistemas agrícolas dependerá da adequação da produção de alimentos à quantidade de recursos naturais disponíveis. No presente trabalho nós testamos essa sustentabilidade, procurando analisar a eficiência do uso de fertilizantes inorgânicos na produção de soja, um dos alimentos básicos nas cadeias alimentares globais, segundo uma abordagem da bioeconomia fundamentada na termodinâmica. Com base nos dados de produção e área cultivada de soja no Brasil, como disponibilizados pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), desenvolveu-se um modelo analítico baseado em programação matemática e no princípio de máxima entropia para estimar o uso de fertilizantes por extrato de área cultivada, bem como os respectivos custos totais de produção. Neste trabalho estimou-se a eficiência termodinâmica do uso de fertilizantes e a eficiência econômica da produção de soja nos diferentes extratos de área de produção. Para avaliar essas eficiências utilizou-se um conceito de retorno constante de produtividade da terra (RCP). Esse indicador define o rendimento relativo por hectare da produção de soja nos diferentes extratos de área. Assim, analisando o caso da produção de soja brasileira, verificou-se que no ano de 2008 o aumento de preços das matérias-primas para produzir fertilizantes levou a uma queda no seu respectivo consumo global. A partir dessa observação, procurou-se identificar os fundamentos da tomada de decisão do produtor de soja relativa ao emprego dos fertilizantes no Brasil. Verificou-se que o produtor de soja brasileiro decide as quantidades de fertilizantes que vai empregar, baseando-se na expectativa do lucro da respectiva safra. Os resultados apontam que essa decisão leva a um emprego ineficiente de fertilizantes inorgânicos entre os diferentes extratos de área, principalmente nos extratos inferiores a 20 hectares, em relação a produtores com área superior a 2500 hectares. Essa ineficiência relativa se dá devido ao fato de que, embora a taxa de aplicação de fertilizantes por hectare apresente diferenças pouco significativas entre os extratos de área, as respectivas produtividades são evidentemente distintas. A produtividade da terra em soja é menor nos extratos até 20 hectares, quando comparada à produtividade nos extratos superiores, ocorrendo casos em que essa diferença venha a ser até de duas toneladas de soja por hectare. No período de 1975 a 2011, anos selecionados para este estudo, outros extratos menores, mas superiores a 20 hectares, também apresentaram menor eficiência em relação ao uso de fertilizantes em comparação aos extratos superiores a 2500 hectares. Em relação à respectiva eficiência econômica, verificou-se que os custos de fertilizantes por tonelada de soja são similares entre os extratos, sugerindo-se uma homogeneidade em termos de estrutura de comercialização dos fertilizantes, o que acaba por impactar na lucratividade relativa da produção de soja. Os custos totais de produção refletem também a estrutura tecnológica adotada em cada extrato de área. Ao utilizar-se o conceito de RCP, verifica-se que extratos abaixo de 500 hectares possuem uma menor eficiência econômica quando comparadas com os extratos acima de 2500 hectares. Esses resultados indicam a necessidade de uma escala mínima de produção para o produtor manter-se competitivo do ponto de vista econômico. Desses resultados, e aproveitando-se a modelagem desenvolvida por este estudo, foram derivados alguns cenários pertinentes ao cultivo de soja no Brasil, relativos à produção, área, produtividade e uso de fertilizantes, bem como os custos de produção associados. O modelo desenvolvido para estimar as quantidades de fertilizantes inorgânicos utilizados pelos diferentes extratos de área, relativos à produção de soja, tem como principal característica oferecer a possibilidade de testar-se hipóteses sobre produção, área, produtividade e uso de fertilizantes. Esse modelo pode ser uma ferramenta de apoio à decisão, tanto para gestores de investimentos públicos na agricultura, quanto para a gestão nas unidades de produção agrícola. Os resultados deste presente trabalho sugerem que na produção de soja brasileira o uso de fertilizantes inorgânicos está desconectado de determinantes tecnológicos agronômicos, assim como está dissociado de questões relativas à segurança alimentar ou da sustentabilidade ambiental. Isso porque a tomada de decisão sobre o uso de fertilizantes inorgânicos na agricultura ignora a termodinâmica do processo produtivo como um todo. Para que a produção de soja no Brasil seja efetivamente eficiente e sustentável, do ponto de vista bioeconômico, ou seja, integrador das dimensões econômica, agronômica e termodinâmica, é necessário levar-se em consideração de que são imprescindíveis extratos de produção agrícola de áreas superiores, que contenham uma certa área mínima para a produção de soja, e que se redesenhe com propriedade as tecnologias empregadas nos seus respectivos sistemas de produção, levando-se em conta o limite entrópico da disponibilidade de fertilizantes inorgânicos no mundo. / Food production worldwide is conditioned to supply and consumption of inorganic fertilizers that are obtained from nonrenewable natural sources. The satisfaction of the increasing food needs is limited by an entropic threshold. Therefore, sustainability of the agricultural systems’ dynamics will depend on the adequacy of food production to the amount of available natural resources. In this paper, we examine such sustainability, seeking to analyze the efficiency of the inorganic fertilizers’ use in the production of soybean, one of the basic foods from the global food chain, according to a bioeconomic approach grounded on thermodynamics. Based on data on the soybean production and cultivated areas in Brazil, made available by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IGBE, from the Brazilian Portuguese: “Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística”), we have developed an analytical model, which is based on mathematical programing and on the generalized maximum entropy principle, to estimate the use of fertilizers per level of cultivated land, as well as its full production costs. In this paper, we have estimated the efficiency of thermodynamics regarding the use of fertilizers and the economical efficiency of soybean production in different levels of cultivated land. To evaluate such efficiencies, a concept of constant return on land productivity (RCP, from the Brazilian Portuguese: “Retorno Constante de Produtividade”) has been used. This indicator defines the yield per hectare of soybean production in different levels of cultivated land. Thus, analyzing the case of Brazilian soybean production, it’s been asserted that during 2008 the increased price of raw materials used to produce fertilizers lead to a decline in its global consumption. From that observation, we have sought to identify the reasons behind soybean producers’ decision-making regarding the use of fertilizers in Brazil. We’ve discovered that Brazilian soybean producers decide on the amount of fertilizers they will use based on the expectations of profit regarding that particular crop. Results indicate that such decision leads to an inefficient use of inorganic fertilizers per different levels of cultivated land, mainly on portions lower than 20 hectares, from producers holding a field over 2500 hectares. Such relative inefficiency occurs due to the fact that, although the fertilizer’s usage rate per hectare shows little significant differences between producers, their yields are clearly distinct. The soil productivity of soybean is lower in portions up to 20 hectares in comparison to productivity on higher levels of cultivated land and there are instances where such difference is up to two tons of soybean per hectare. From 1975 to 2011, the period selected for this particular study, other smaller levels of cultivated land which were higher than 20 hectares, also evidenced a lower efficiency with regard to the use of fertilizers in comparison to levels higher than 2500 hectares. Regarding their economic efficiency, evidence showed that the costs of fertilizers per ton are similar between levels of cultivated land, suggesting homogeneity in terms of the fertilizers trading structure, resulting in an impact on the relative yielding of soybean production. Total production costs also reflect the technological structure adopted in each level of cultivated land. By applying the concept of RCP, it’s been ascertained that levels lower than 500 hectares have a lower economic efficiency when compared to levels higher than 2500 hectares. Such results indicate the need for a minimal production scale in order for the producer to keep their competitiveness, from an economic perspective. From these results, and taking advantage of the modeling developed for this study, some sceneries pertaining the soybean culture in Brazil have been derived that relate to production, area, yield, and use of fertilizers, as well as related production costs. The model developed to estimate the amounts of inorganic fertilizers used in soybean production, in different levels of cultivated land, holds as its main feature the fact that it allows for the testing of hypothesis on production, area, yield, and use of fertilizers. Such a model can be used as a decision-making supporting tool, both for public agricultural investment managers and for managing the agricultural production units (farms). This paper’s results suggest that, in Brazilian soybean production, the use of inorganic fertilizers is disconnected from agronomic technological determiners and dissociated from food safety and environmental sustainability issues. That happens because decision-making on agricultural use of fertilizers overlooks the thermodynamics of the productive process as a whole. In order for the soybean production in Brazil to be effectively efficient and sustainable, from the bioeconomic point of view, i.e., integrating the economic, agricultural, and thermodynamic dimensions, it is necessary to consider that they are fundamental portions of agricultural production in bigger areas, which contain a minimal area for the production of soybean, and to properly redesign the technologies applied in their production systems, taking into account the entropic threshold of availability of inorganic fertilizers in the world.

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-08T12:45:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Elane Rafaela Cordeiro Nunes.pdf: 921731 bytes, checksum: eddcacad472e8bebb52d60738ec901b1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-08T12:45:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elane Rafaela Cordeiro Nunes.pdf: 921731 bytes, checksum: eddcacad472e8bebb52d60738ec901b1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-08 / The widespread use of antimicrobials for veterinary and human medicine is the main cause of the selection of resistant bacteria. Monitoring antimicrobial use the occurrence of disease and profile of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial assists in policy formulation and solution of public events related to ecological and microbial diseases. The use of these drugs for milking animals may result in residues in milk and favors the selection of bacteria. In the Southeast and South of Brazil there is more research on antimicrobial residues in raw milk. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of antibiotic residues in raw milk produced in farms located in the microregion of Garanhuns of the state Pernambuco. Like, make a survey of active antimicrobials sold in pharmacies veterinary and human that region. We analyzed 84 samples of milk collected in expansion tanks or drums, coming from 84 herds in 19 counties. In each farm received a questionnaire on milk production, health management and use antimicrobial. The survey of antimicrobials in milk was performed with kit Charm Cowside II®. The results showed that 14.29% of fresh milk were positive for the presence of antimicrobial residues in milk. The only variable significantly associated with the presence of antimicrobial residues in milk was the type of milking (p=0.038) with a predominance of positive results in the technique of milking mechanics the foot. The active principle antimicrobials often used in dairy cattle herd are tetracyclines, aminoglycosides anda penicillins. The presence of antimicrobial residues in fresh milk was detected in over 50% of the municipalities of the region of Garanhuns, PE. The milking technique as well as the hygienic milking may favor the presence of antimicrobial residues in fresh milk. There were differences in the classes of antimicrobials used in the dairy herd in 47.3% of the municipalities. The diagnosis of antimicrobials showed some of the health and economic risks associated with the use of these drugs in dairy cattle herd in the region. And hence the need to implement intervention strategies in order to control the irrational use of these drugs in animals, and the development of research related to antimicrobial efficacy in human and veterinary medicine. / O amplo uso de antimicrobianos na medicina veterinária e humana é a principal causa da seleção de bactérias resistentes a antimicrobianos. Monitorar o uso de antimicrobianos, a ocorrência de doenças e o perfil de resistência bacteriana a estes fármacos auxilia na formulação de política públicas e na elucidação de fatos relacionados a ecologica microbiana e das doenças. No rebanho leiteiro, a utilização desses fármacos pode resultar na presença de resíduos no leite, o que favorece a seleção de bactérias. As pesquisas elaboradas no intuito de detectar resíduos de antimicrobiano em leite in natura estão concentradas nas regiões Sudeste e Sul do país. Desse modo, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi pesquisar resíduos de resíduos de antimicrobianos em leite in natura produzido em propriedades rurais localizadas na microrregião de Garanhuns do Estado de Pernambuco. Foram analisadas 84 amostras de leite coletadas em tanques de expansão ou latões, procedentes de 84 propriedades localizadas em 19 municípios. Em cada propriedade foi aplicado um questionário sobre produção leiteira e manejo sanitário e uso de antimicrobiano. A pesquisa de antimicrobianos no leite foi realizada com o Kit Charm Cowside II®. Os resultados evidenciaram que 14,29% do leite in natura foram positivos para presença de resíduos de antimicrobianos no leite. A única variável de manejo que teve associação significativa com a presença de resíduos de antimicrobianos no leite foi o tipo de ordenha (p=0,038) com predominância de resultados positivos na técnica de ordenha mecânica ao pé. Os princípios ativos de antimicrobianos frequentemente utilizados no rebanho bovino leiteiro da microrregião pertencem à classe das tetraciclinas, aminoglicosídeos e penicilinas. A presença de resíduos de antimicrobianos em leite in natura foi detectada em mais de 50% dos municípios da microrregião de Garanhuns, PE. A técnica de ordenha, assim como o manejo higiênico durante a ordenha pode favorecer a presença de resíduos de antimicrobianos em leite in natura. Houve diferença nas classes de antimicrobianos utilizadas no rebanho leiteiro em 47,3% dos municípios. O diagnóstico sobre os antimicrobianos evidenciou alguns dos riscos sanitários e econômicos associados ao uso destes fármacos no rebanho bovino leiteiro da região. E consequentemente, a necessidade da implantação de estratégias de intervenção, visando controlar o uso irracional desses fármacos nos animais, e a elaboração de pesquisas relacionada à eficácia antimicrobiana na medicina humana e veterinária.

Food allergies within the United States and Europe have become exceedingly prevalent in children, adolescents, and adults. In the United States alone, over 12 million people have been diagnosed with at least one food allergy. If the allergen is accidentally consumed, the food allergy sufferer may suffer a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis. More than 200 U.S. food allergic consumers die annually as a result of anaphylaxis due to ingestion of food allergens. To safely manage food allergies, food allergy sufferers and stakeholders (such as caregivers) require clear and complete ingredient information to avoid certain allergens in packaged food products. Despite U.S. legislative mandates designed to assist the food allergic consumers and stakeholders to make safe food selection choices, food allergy labeling on consumer packaged food products remains unclear. To properly manage food allergy, it is imperative that food allergy stakeholders have access to clear and unambiguous food allergen ingredients located on the food product labels. The purpose of this research was to capture the impact of current United States food allergen labeling guidelines on U.S. food allergy stakeholders. With the elaboration likelihood framework, this research aimed to better understand how the congruence of allergen ingredient information on the Product Label Claim on the front of the package and Nutrition Facts Panel information on the back of the package affected food allergic consumers and stakeholders in evaluation of product packaging allergen information. A total of 223 food allergy stakeholders were administered four surveys depicting food allergen labeling variations found on U.S. food product labels. Seventeen hypotheses were formulated and analyzed with ANCOVA and t tests to measure the impact of congruence and elaboration of the food allergen messages on the food product labels, with a specific focus on purchase intention. Findings indicated that food allergy stakeholders had difficulties using and understanding existing food allergen labels under current U.S. food allergen labeling guidelines. The results also showed confusion among U.S. food allergic stakeholders with safe food selection choices when the label claims did not align with the actual allergen ingredient information. Research, public policy, and managerial implications were thoroughly discussed.

Arcobacter spp. é um micro-organismo Gram negativo que provoca diarreia aquosa e sepse em seres humanos. A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus e A. skirrowii são espécies patogênicas para humanos. O objetivo deste estudo foi detectar a presença de Arcobacter spp. na carne de aves comercializadas em açougues na cidade de São Paulo, verificando os genes de virulência e o perfil genotípico. Um total de 300 cortes de carne de frango foram submetidos ao cultivo e isolamento sob condições aeróbicas, a 30&deg;C por 72 horas. Colônias suspeitas de Arcobacter spp. foram selecionadas para a detecção molecular pela reacção em cadeia da polimerase (PCR), a fim de determinar as espécies e os genes de virulência. Os resultados revelaram a presença de Arcobacter spp. em 18.3% (55/300) de amostras de carne de aves, sendo identificado como A. butzleri 63,6% (35/55) e A. cryaerophilus 36,3% (20/55). Os genes de virulência pesquisados demonstraram positividade de 100% (55/55) para o ciaB e mviN, seguidos de cj1349 98,1% (54/55), pldA 94,4% (52/55), cadF 72,7% (40/55), tlyA 92,7% (51/55), hecA 49% (27/55), irgA 47,2% (26/55) e hecB 34,5% (19/55). Estas cepas foram submetidas ao AFLP gerando dois dendogramas. Foram identificados 19 perfis genotípicos para A. butzleri e 17 para A. cryaerophilus. Os resultados desta pesquisa apontam a presença de A. butzleri e A. cryaerophilus na fase final da distribuição de carne de frangos nos açougues. A falta de inocuidade dos alimentos de origem animal, bem como a presença de estirpes virulentas representam riscos de Saúde Pública, com especial atenção para a possibilidade de contaminação cruzada gerados por alimentos crus e utensílios de cozinha / Arcobacter spp. is a Gram negative microorganism that causes watery diarrhea and septicemia in humans. A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus and A. skirrowii are pathogenic for humans. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Arcobacter spp. in poultry meat from butcher shops in the city of São Paulo, checking the virulence genes and profile genotypic. A total of 300 chicken cuts were used for cultivation and isolation in broth and JM agar, under aerobic conditions, at 30 &deg;C for 72 hours. Arcobacter colonies were selected and submitted to molecular detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in order to determine species and virulence genes. Results show the presence of Arcobacter spp. in 18.3% (55/300) of poultry meat samples, identified as A. butzleri 63.6% (35/55) and A. cryaerophilus 36.3% (20/55) in chicken isolates. The virulence genes on Arcobacter spp. researched demonstrated positive these 100% (55/55) for ciaB and mviN, followed by cj134998,1% (54/55), pldA 94,4% (52/55), cadF 72.7% (40/55), tlyA 92,7% (51/55), hecA 49% (27/55), irgA 47,2% (26/55) and hecB 34,5% (19/55). These strains were submitted to AFLP generating two dendogramas. Nineteen profiles genotypins were obtained for A. butzleri and seventeen for A. cryaerophilus. The results of this research point to the presence of Arcobacter butzleri and A. cryaerophilus in the final stage of distribution of poultry meat to butcher shops. The lack of safety of food of animal origin, as well as the presence of virulent strains pose risks to Public Health, with special focus on cross contamination risks generated by uncooked food and utensils

Biofilm phenotypes were studied in 32 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from store-bought meats and 22 from diseased patients in hospitals. Of the meat-associated strains, 21 were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 11 were methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). The hospital-associated strains included 15 MRSAs and 7 MSSAs. We studied the robustness and composition of the biofilms produced by these strains. We found that on average hospital-associated strains form more robust biofilms than meat associated strains. The model often used to describe S. aureus biofilm composition includes two biofilm types defined by the presence or absence of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA), PIA-dependent and PIA-independent respectively. In this model, PIA-independent biofilms are structurally reliant on proteins and extracellular DNA (eDNA) and PIA-dependent are structurally reliant on polysaccharides. Enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix can reveal which compounds are essential for the structural integrity of the biofilm, and by this model PIA-independent biofilms should be susceptible to both DNase and proteinase K. We found that hospital-associated strains are, on average, more susceptible to degradation by proteinase K. Interestingly, hospital-associated strains are less susceptible to degradation by DNase than meat-associated strains. Finding that proteinase K and DNase susceptibility for these strains are not linked gives evidence to support the idea that S. aureus biofilm composition can vary greatly from strain to strain and that the PIA-dependent and PIA-independent dichotomy of the standard model may be insufficient to describe the variety of S. aureus biofilm composition and may only apply to the extremes of the spectrum. Additionally, we saw no relationship between MRSA or MSSA strains and biofilm robustness, proteinase K degradation, or DNase degradation. Differences in biofilm characteristics between hospital-associated and meat-associated strains reinforce previous findings that these populations are genetically distinct.

Key Points: (1) Nutrition management for individuals infected with HIV can be helpful in maintaining lean body weight, combating oxidative stress, reducing complications from hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and managing gastrointestinal function. (2) Patients may need to be individualized to meet each individual's unique requirements. (3) Consideration should be given to including the expertise of a registered dietitian/nutritionist s part of the health care team to promote wellness in the individuals infected with HIV.