Watered-down or fake liquors can reap financial rewards for nefarious individuals, but the adulteration of liquor cheats consumers and can even lead to health hazards from added contaminants. Scientists now report in a portable device with an advanced sensor array that can identify liquors and determine if they’d been altered, offering a strategy for liquor quality assurance.

Following a case of poisoning caused by a potato dish, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is reminding people about the correct handling of potatoes. Glycoalkaloids, of which solanine is an important derivative, are natural ingredients of the potato, but the ingestion of higher amounts of glycoalkaloids can lead to poisoning in humans. “Although only a few cases of poisoning caused by potato dishes have been reported and documented in the last 100 years, green and strongly germinating potatoes should not be consumed in order to avoid health risks” says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. Based on the latest level of available knowledge, the BfR has derived a provisional NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) of 0.5 milligrams (mg) of glycoalkaloids per kilogram (kg) body weight and day. This equates to the highest dose at which no undesired health effects were observed. To avoid an exceedance of the NOAEL, the glycoalkaloid content in table potatoes should be no higher than 100 mg per kg fresh weight. Up to now, potatoes with a glycoalkaloid content of up to 200 mg per kg have generally been considered safe.

Across the ten highest consuming nations for both sugar confectionery and gum, consumption is increasing, with CAGRs ranging from 0.5 percent to 3.0 percent over the 2010-2022 forecasted period. Global sales were worth US$85.8 billion in 2017 and expected to reach around US$100 billion by 2022 (Innova Market Insights, 2018).

Algatech (Algatechnologies) Ltd. announces its 100% organic Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae powder and astaxanthin oleoresin as part of its AstaPure line was granted National Organic Program (NOP) certification from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. “NOP organic certification means that our products are being cultivated, processed—and thus able to be labelled as—organic,” says Efrat Kat, VP Marketing and Sales for Algatech. “This certification, in addition to our GMP accreditation and non-GMO project verification, reaffirm our commitment to providing premium quality ingredients that consumers and industry partners can trust.” According to trends tracked by Global Food Forums, today’s consumers continue to seek healthier choices and want to know what the sources are for the products they use, especially how and where the products are produced. These consumers prefer suppliers who offer greater transparency. This is especially relevant to algae-based products since they can grow under a wide range of conditions. “Supplying pure, natural microalgae requires a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience, and fully controlled processes, with constant attention paid to the smallest details,” explains Shoshi Shunak, QA Manager for Algatech. “We cultivate microalgae in a patented, eco-friendly, closed system that allows the production of the highest quality ingredients and prevents any exposure to contaminations.” “The four NOP principles for organic certification—health, ecology, fairness and sustainability—comply with Algatech’s ‘DNA’ and core values, and therefore to ‘go organic’ was a natural step,” notes Hagai Stadler, Algatech’s CEO. “Our plant, in the Arava Desert between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, is a living example of how it is possible to green the desert and unlock the potential of a non-fertile land. Recycling water, saving solar energy is just a small part of activities that Algatech does on a regular basis to minimize its environmental footprint. For us, this is a fundamental part of our shared vision: to make an impact by bringing the good that’s inherent in microalgae to the world.” “Algatech insists on reflecting maximum transparency to our clients and partners, from the growing of our Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae to ensuring a safe, clean environment,” adds Kat. “We are among the few companies in the world who have cracked the code for producing commercial-scale natural microalgae under the very highest standards.”

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