A control technique based on Reinforcement Learning is proposed for the thermal sterilization of canned foods. The proposed controller has the objective of ensuring a given degree of sterilization during Heating (by providing a minimum temperature inside the cans during a given time) and then a smooth Cooling, avoiding sudden pressure variations. For this, three automatic control valves are man...

OBJECTIVE To determine the nutrient composition of complementary foods consumed by 6-12-month-old South African infants. DESIGN Nutrient intake was determined for infants who were recruited to participate in a randomised controlled trial using a single 24-hour dietary recall. SETTING/SUBJECTS Infants aged 6-12 months (n=475) residing in The Valley of a Thousand Hills, a rural area in KwaZul...

Unintended intoxication with botulinum neurotoxin (botulism) occurs only rarely, but its high fatality rate makes it a great concern for the general public and the medical community. In the USA, an average of 110 cases of botulism are reported each year. Of these, approximately 25% are food borne, 72% are infant botulism and the rest are wound botulism. Outbreaks of food-borne botulism involvin...

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-hmf) is known as an indicator of quality deterioration in a wide range of foods. the current study covered 70 samples taken from domestically produced foods and drinks available on the iranian markets (including honey, jam, fruit cakes tomato paste, ketchup, syrup, fruit juice, canned fruit, uht milk, instant coffee and jelly powder). hmf levels were determined using ...

BACKGROUND Bisphenol A (BPA) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are high-production-volume chemicals used in plastics and resins for food packaging. They have been associated with endocrine disruption in animals and in some human studies. Human exposure sources have been estimated, but the relative contribution of dietary exposure to total intake has not been studied empirically. OBJECTIV...