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Food Hygiene

  • account_circleShuichi MasudaPhD, Prof.
  • account_circleYuko ShimamuraPhD, Research Asst. Prof.
Risk assessment of chemicals and food poisoning bacteria in foodstuff
Estimating of food safety linked to maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Foodstuffs contain numerous components and chemicals. It is reported that some of these substances exhibit various functionalities, such as antioxidative, antiobesity, and antidiabetic activities, and toxicity, such as mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity to humans. And also, illnesses such as food poisoning are caused even under hygienic conditions. The most common foodborne illness are induced by bacteria. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the biological effects of these chemicals and to control food poisoning bacteria in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our laboratory studies the evaluation of risk of substances in foodstuffs using various evaluation systems in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we propose novel control methods to reduce food-poisoning.
1. Safety assessment and risk analysis of chemical substances in the food environment

We have elucidated the formation mechanism, mutagenicity and in vivo behavior of chemical substances in foods (acrylamide, glycidol fatty acid ester, heterocyclic amine, etc.) and evaluated the risk of these substances to humans.

2. Development of novel control methods to reduce food-poisoning

For the purpose of establishing the control methods for food poisoning, we analyze the toxin production and toxin activity of Staphylococcus aureus and the pathogenic expression via membrane vesicles produced by the bacteria. In addition, we search for food ingredients that suppress these factors that induce biological effects.

3. Changes in biological effects due to combined exposure to chemical and biological risk factors in food

We investigate whether each toxicity of chemicals and bacterial change when these both risk factors are simultaneously exposed and elucidate the mechanism of these actions.

Figure 1
Approach from Chemical and Bacterial Risk Factors of Food
Figure 2
The Sources of Chemicals and Bacteria Contaminants and Control of Their Health Hazards
References
  1. Toxics, 8, 119 (2020)
  2. Molecules., 25(8), 1867 (2020)
  3. J. Food Prot., 83(6), 928-934 (2020)
  4. Food Sci. Technol. Res., 26(6), 825-835 (2020)
  5. J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr., 20-83, 1-7 (2020)