Emission of light as a result of biochemical activities of some living bacteria Vibrio fischeri (in the past known as Photobacterium phosphoreum) makes it possible to monitor environmental changes in ecosystems. Toxicity testing as an international standard operating procedure based on the use of this method has already been accepted. The bioluminescent test offers a rapid, simple and sensitive method to test a wide spectrum of chemical substances and environmental samples including water, wastewater, sludge extracts, etc. In this study, aimed at characterising and comparing bioluminescent properties, four different bacterial strains were cultivated in four different liquid mediums and temperature conditions. The bioluminescent intensity of bacterial suspensions was measured using a laboratory BioOrbit 1253 luminometer during bacteria culture. Based on obtained results and mathematical calculations of RLU (relative luminescent units) values strain Photobacterium phosphoreum + NCBE medium were indicated as the variant demonstrating proper bioluminescence intensity and characteristics most suitable for further applications.

The PAHs content in four groups of meat products industrially and traditionally smoked was determined. Methodology applied for the study included fat’s extraction, PAHs isolation using GPC and consequently qualitative-quantitative compound’s determination by HPLC-FLD/DAD. Mostly traditional method of smoking affected the higher total PAHs contamination. For all products smoked using both methods it was proved that internal parts had a significantly lower total PAHs contamination as well as each individual PAH content than exteriors of the same products. Irrespectively of smoking method applied, benso[a]pyrene’s content was much lower than maximum tolerable limit of 5 μg·kg^-1, which was set for smoked meat products in Commision Regulation (EC) No. 208/2005.

Applicability of selected marine and freshwater fish and squid for snack food manufacture by indirect extrusion cooking was evaluated. Formulations consisting of various cereals and meat were extruded with a 20-DN single-screw laboratory extruder (Brabender, Germany). Meat of lean fish showed better extrusion characteristics than that of fat fish, fresh fish being superior in this respect to frozen fish. Washing of the fish meat was found to enhance meat utility in extrusion cooking. Myofibrilar proteins of cod proved most useful protein fraction to extrusion.

Investigations were conducted on the level of the overall proteolytic activity in flour fractions as well as fine and bruise bran, obtained from four varieties of wheat (‘Zyta’, ‘Pegassus’, ‘Sukces’, ‘Tonacja’), subjected to pre-harvest sprouting. Moreover, an analysis was conducted on the effect of pre-harvest sprouting on the functional properties of flour, determining the physical properties of gluten and dough. The analyses included a determination of crude protein, non-protein nitrogen, wet gluten, proteolytic activity and the rheologic properties of dough. The studies ended with a trial baking, with vitamin C and vital gluten added as improvers to the flour from pre-harvest sprouted grain. In all the milling fractions the overall proteolytic activity increased as result of sprouting, the highest increase being recorded for variety ‘Tonacja’. Simultaneously, in all the fractions tested an increased level of non-protein nitrogen was observed. Flour obtained from pre-harvest sprouted grain was characterised by an increased water holding capacity and the dough by poorer rheologic properties. Bread obtained from flour from pre-harvest sprouted grain was of insufficient quality. The use of improvers (vital gluten and vitamin C) as a rule resulted in favourable palatability and physico-chemical changes in bread.

The effect of the four consecutive crop years including precipitation on the selected biological activities in the three cereal grains genus each two varieties Lama and Puma-wheat, Motto and Amilo-rye, Presto and Vero-triticale was the aim of this study. In the analysed cereals total protein content, extractable protein content, amylolytic activity and antiamylolytic and antitryptic activity against enzymes from mammalian and insect origin were estimated. Precipitation statistically significantly affected only endogenous amylolytic activity and inhibitory activities against hog pancreas α-amylase of studied cereals. The analysis of variance has shown statistically significant influence of variety, genus, and the year of harvest as well as interaction between them on the inhibitory activities against S. granarius and T. confusum α-amylase and antitryptic activity of cereal seeds studied. However, precipitation did not statistically significantly affect inhibitor activities against all the studied α-amylase insects.

The presented work defines the influence of technological process on chemical composition of peppers. The technological treatments made in this work were: lyophilization and samples evaporation. Evaporation process was conducted in two conditions of temperature and pressure: I – 35°C and 70 mbar, II – 50°C and 400 mbar. The working material consisted of four pepper cultivars, two sweet: ‘King Artur’ and ‘Red Knight’, and two hot: ‘Capel Hot’ and ‘Robustini’. The changes of vitamins C and E, β-carotene, xanthophylls and phenolic compounds were investigated as processing and cultivar factors. Additionally antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds was evaluated by method with DPPH radical. The extracts prepared in conditions I had a significantly higher concentration of vitamin C, E, β-carotene, total phenol and antioxidant properties than the extracts obtained at the higher temperature and under the higher pressure. It was found that extracts obtained from hot fruits had a higher vitamin E and β-carotene contents than from the sweet ones. However, the extracts from sweet varieties were characterized by higher antioxidant properties and phenolic compounds than the ones obtained from hot peppers.

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of freezing and long-term frozen storage on total phenolic, total anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activity of highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). In addition, a HPLC method was developed for the determination of individual anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid contents. Blueberries were frozen at –18°C and –35°C and were stored at these temperature conditions for six months. Derivatives of malvidin and delphinidin accounted for 61% and 22% of total anthocyanin contents in fruit, respectively. Measurements of the antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds contents of blueberries showed there were no significant differences between fresh and frozen fruits. Also, at the end of frozen storage period, antioxidant activity remained significantly unchanged compared with the values measured just after the freezing process.

The spraying with titanium is one of the agronomic practices used to stimulate the flowering, bearing of fruit and production of strawberry plants. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of titanium treatment (Ti⁴⁺-ascorbate) on L-ascorbic acid, total polyphenol, antioxidant activity, and phenolics profile of six strawberry fruit cultivars. The experiment was carried out on a commercial plantation where basic fertilization and protection of plants followed the recommendations for the species. The chemical composition of strawberries, as a response to titanium treatment, was differential and cultivar-dependent. A significant increase of total polyphenol content was noted only in ‘Elkat’ berries. The treatment resulted in the increase of L-ascorbic acid in all the cultivars, except for ‘Kent’. However, the influence of Ti on the antioxidant activity of strawberries against ABTS (2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6sulfonic acid) and DPPH (2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical was differential. Only in treated ‘Elsanta’ fruit a significant enhancement of scavenging both radicals was observed. Moreover, the treatment caused a significant increase of total anthocyanin content in ‘Kent’, ‘Selva’ and ‘Senga’ fruit, and a significant decrease of these compounds in ‘Dukat’ berries. Regarding total proanthocyanidins, the only significant change was a decline observed in treated ‘Elsanta’ berries. The applied treatment exerted no considerable effect on ellagic acid and p-coumaric acid content in any of cultivars tested.

The retrogradation susceptibility of starch determines consumer suitability of food products rich in this polymer. Starch isolated from flour obtained from rye variety ‘Amilo’, which displays very low amylolytic activity, contains highest amounts of amylose and exhibits strong retrogradation susceptibility. Flour from rye ‘Dańkowskie Złote’ and commercial rye flour type 720, that have higher amylolytic activity in comparison to ‘Amilo’, contain starch with lower amounts of amylose and reduced retrogradation susceptibility. Wheat starch displays lower degree of retrogradation in comparison to rye, because of larger amounts of phosphorus (phospholipids).

The aim of the study was to check the influence of extrusion on the content of polyphenol and antioxidant/antiradical activity of rye grains. The extrudates prepared from three cultivars of rye were obtained at different process parameters. Total polyphenol, antioxidant and antiradical activity was measured in the samples. Extrusion resulted in a decrease of total polyphenol content (TPC) on average by 40% in rye grains, and the largest loss of endogenic phenolic compounds was observed at the extrusion conditions: 20% moisture of raw material and 120°C. Extrudates obtained at: 14% moisture of raw material and 180°C exhibited either increase of these compounds or no change. It was found that rye extrudates exhibited the highest antiradical activity (measured by the methods with DPPH and ABTS) when raw material contained 14% of moisture and at temperature of the extrusion – 180°C, while the lowest when the parameters were 20% and 120°C. Antioxidant activity in beta-carotene-linoleate model system was high when rye extrusion was performed at 14% and 20% moisture and temperature 180°C. The negative influence of extrusion on the antioxidant activity of rye grains was observed at 20% moisture and 120°C.

The aim of the study was an estimation of the level of nutrition knowledge on iodine deficiency in woman with diagnosed thyroid diseases and its comparison with healthy woman’s knowledge. The study was conducted by direct interview method among 400 women – 200 patients of the Clinic of Thyroid Diseases in Poznan (Poland) and 200 “healthy” individuals (thyroid diseases were not diagnosed). Respondents were asked to give their opinion to the sequence of statements relating to iodine deficiency prophylaxis. A sufficient level of knowledge was found in terms of basic issues concerning iodine deficiency, i.e. the role of iodine in the thyroid gland functioning and its sources in the diet. However, both in the group of patients and healthy individuals, a low level of knowledge was found connected with the effect of thermal processing on iodine content in food and food limiting the iodine supply. The level of nutrition knowledge in woman with diagnosed thyroid disease was higher than in healthy woman. Due to the role of knowledge on factors limiting the iodine supply from the diet for the effectiveness of iodine deficiency prophylaxis, it is essential to include them in nutrition education.

The popularity of seven groups of processed foodstuffs (soups, dinners, pulverized fruits and vegetables, desserts, dairy desserts, juices, teas) for infants and small children aged 4 months up to 3 years, available on the market and comprising a total of 154 products, was investigated in this study. A survey was carried out in the group of 100 individuals. They were mothers and fathers bringing their children to crèche as well as buying analysed products. Among 24 soups vegetable soup with rabbit meat, vegetable soup and vegetable soup with chicken turned out to be most popular, as they were bought by 26%, 25% and 24% parents, respectively. In the group of second courses the most popular included vegetable with rabbit meat (19%), vegetables with lamb and groats (17%) and lamb in vegetable stew (16%). The most popular pulverized fruits and vegetables included apple (32%), apple with blueberries (27%), carrot and apple (26%) and carrot, apple and forest berries (23%). In the group of fruit and cereal desserts mango with banana and passion fruit juice turned out to be the most popular (22%), while among dairy desserts it was vanilla dessert (23%). Out of 30 kinds of juices, parents purchased most frequently carrot and apple juice (52%) and apple juice (37%), while in the group of teas it was fennel tea as well as camomile tea and herbal tea for colds. A total of 33% and 29% parents, respectively, bought the above mentioned teas. Most respondents were of the opinion that the taste of these products was slightly inferior to those prepared at home and the price was too high, but they bought them for their convenience.

Due to presented in literature potential health benefits of shiitake Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegl. and oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.: Fr.) Kumm., chemical composition as well as Fe, Cu and Zn ions sorption (in conditions related to human digestive tract) by dried shiitake and oyster were investigated. Both dried mushrooms had the high content of dietary fiber, Fe, Cu, Mg, K but low of fat, Na and Ca. Relatively low sorption of micronutrients was found in pH = 1.8, while the high sorption of Cu and Fe was observed in pH = 8.7. Dried mushrooms satisfied the maximum permissible level standards concerning toxic metals. The results of the research suggest that dried shiitake and oyster mushrooms can be used as additives in food products.