This study describes the validation of a headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization (HS-GC-FID) method for the determination of propanal, pentanal, hexanal, octanal, and trans-2-nonenal originated by lipid oxidation from cat food samples, as well as the evaluation of the matrix effect in the results. This method was applied to the analysis of commercial cat food and proved to be suitable for the determination of these volatile compounds in different samples. Mean recoveries between 88 and 109% were obtained and repeatability expressed as relative standard deviation was always lower than 6.95%. The intra- and inter-assay precisions ranged from 0.44 to 20.88% and from 0.45 to 20.52%, respectively. In addition, the matrix effect of cat food samples was determined by comparing the slopes of the standard addition method, and the external calibration curve and its influences were verified. These results highlight the high potential of this method, which allows the determination of lipid oxidation products in cat food samples directly, without requiring prior sample preparation techniques.

Acerola is a tropical fruit with a large industrial and commercial appeal due to its organoleptic qualities and bioactive compound-rich nature. Thus, as bioactive compounds (BC) stability is of great interest in the food industry, assessment of preserving techniques to prolong shelf life has become imperative. Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate how storage affects BC conservation in microencapsulated and lyophilized acerola pulps over 180 days. For this matter, antioxidant tests, physical-chemical analyzes, and vitamin C analysis by mass spectrometry were performed. Results indicated that microencapsulation better preserved the antioxidants in acerola pulp compared to the other preservation technologies employed. This is due to the greater BC concentration in the microencapsulated, as well as the pH reduction. Furthermore, over 180 days, microencapsulation better preserved the target compounds in acerola pulp compared to lyophilization, as evidenced by the superior content of BC in the former treatment, making it an appealing option for the food sector.

Human milk (HM) lipids provide about 50% energy and facilitate the transport and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins for infants, but their composition should be studied when the milk is processed. This study evaluated the lipid quality of lyophilized and vacuum-packed colostrum (C), transitional (T), and mature (M) HM for a period of 1, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days of storage at –18 ºC. From the acidity (ºDornic), lipid content, and fatty acid (FA) composition results, no significant differences in the analyzed period were observed. The relative percentage of major triacylglycerols (TAG) of the HM was not altered, showing that the lyophilization process in HM is a good alternative that could be applied in human milk banks (HMB), increasing HM preservation and facilitating its transport and storage.

Fusarium oxysporum is usually found in foods such as corn, wheat, soybeans and barley, and can cause economic losses and risks to health in humans and animals due to the production of mycotoxins. The conventional microbiological test for fungal identification is based on morphological characteristics, requires specialists, and it is very time-consuming as it is necessary to carry out a culture of the fungus for two weeks before microorganism identification. Nowadays, researchers have made efforts to develop alternative analytical methods with advantages such as shorter time of analysis and better accuracy and reproducibility when compared to microbiological methods. In this way, in the present work, a qualitative analytical method to detect the secondary metabolites of Fusarium oxysporum in culture media by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed with the intention of relating the presence of these chemical compounds to contamination by the fungus. The method comprised liquid-liquid or liquid-solid extractions with ethyl acetate from liquid and solid culture media, respectively, followed by GC-MS analysis, which was able to identify the presence of fusaric acid, 13-socosenamide, 5-(4-hydroxybutyl)-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid and toxin HT-2. The presence of these compounds was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry quadrupole time of flight (HPLC-MS/QTOF).