Sixteen organochlorine pesticides and 8 synthesized pyrethroid pesticides were detected in foods by GC/MS by means of negative chemical ionization (NCI). The mass spectrum of organochlorine pesticides showed a common characteristic ion at m/z 35 which was considered to be chlorine ions eliminated from the chlorinated compounds. The pesticides were mixed with 48 crude food extracts and determined by GC/MS in the NCI mode. The fortified pesticides were usually detected without serious interfering peaks. Green colored food extracts, however, damaged the GC column and missed or reduced captan, DDT, and captafol peaks. Thus, Florisil clean-up was necessary to remove the green color and protect the GC column. The measurement by GC/MS in the NCI mode was sensitive, selective, and rapidly detected residual organochlorine pesticides and synthesized pyrethroid pesticides in the agricultural products.

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The authors reviewed the development of flavor regulations in Japan. Promulgated in 1900, the first flavor regulations in Japan only prohibited the use of "harmful flavoring substances" in soft drinks. However, since flavors were not widely used at the time and since no specific substances were identified in the regulations, flavors were effectively unregulated. The Food Sanitation Law was passed after World War II. Under this law, only those synthetic chemicals designated by the Minister of Health and Welfare can be manufactured, sold, imported, or used as food additives. The Enforcement Regulations of the Food Sanitation Law were promulgated on 1948. The regulations pioneered the use of positive list for synthetic food additives in the world. Flavors were listed primarily by chemical groups, such as aliphatic alcohols, aromatic aldehydes, ethers. That list was the first positive list of flavors in the world. Since 1959 the specifications and use restrictions have been developed for certain commonly used flavors. The specifications and use restrictions were complied in the First Edition of Japanese Standards for Food Additives (JSFA). Since the Food Chemicals Codex and JECFA Specifications had not yet been published, the JSFA was the first set of food additive specifications to be published in the world. The preparation of specifications for additional frequently used flavors has continued since 1959. The current editions of the JSFA contains specifications for 78 flavors. Government officials worked closely with industry to prepare them. New labeling regulations for food additives have been in force since 1991. The amended labeling regulations require that all additives used in foods be identified on food labels as a rule. However in case of flavors, collective term "flavor" is used. The safety of food flavors has been virtually unquestioned, since the amount of flavor added to foods is so small. Today, the evaluation of safety of flavors and other food additives have been continued in Japanese government agencies and in international organizations, such as JECFA. The current edition of the JSFA, the sixth edition, reflects the fact that this set of specifications has been revised five times since its initial publication. Since passage of the Food Sanitation Law, there have not been any serious violations or safety problems. When considering international harmonization, the government agencies and the flavor industry should work together.

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The toxicity test of madder root colorant (MR), a food colorant extracted from madder (Rubia tinctorium), was undertaken using (C57BL/6 x C3H)F₁ mice of both sexes for the safety assessment of this product. The acute toxicity test was performed by administration of MR disolved in distilled water by gavage at doses of 5000, 3500, 2000, 500, and 0 mg/body weight to groups of 4, 6 or 7 males and 6 or 7 females, maintained for 14 days. One mouse of either sex dosed at 5000 mg/kg body weight were dead before the end of the study, indicating that the tolerated dose of MD was over 5000 mg/kg body weight. The subacute toxicity test of MD was examined using 124 mice of both sexes (62 males and 62 females) by feeding a diet mixed with MD at concentrations of 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.6, 0.3, and 0% for 90 days. All mice tolerated these doses of MD well. The body weight gains of either sex were not affected by the treatment. Histopathological examinations showed that retention cyst of the kidney, epididymitis, chronic cystitis or epidermal cyst of vagina in treated or control mice. No hyperplastic or neoplastic lesions were found. These results suggest that MR has no acute and subacute toxic effects in mice.

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With the hygienic research of bound sulfurous acid as objective, in the present report, the reactivity of sulfurous acid with typical food components under various conditions was investigated and the factors listed below were confirmed. 1) Food components (carbonyl compounds) that were bounded to sulfurous acid were acetaldehyde, pyruvic acid, aldehyde of 2-ketoglutaric acid; ketones and sugars were arabinose, glucose, galactose, aldose of mannose, mannose, and lactose. 2) Aldehydes and ketones bounded quickly to sulfurous acid with a high binding rate (over 85%). Sugars such as arabinose, galactose, and mannose took 12 hours to reach the peak binding rate (about 56%). Whereas for glucose, maltose, and lactose, even at 48 hours, a low binding rate of less than 20% was seen. 3) Carbonyl compounds other than acetaldehyde showed an increase in binding rate to sulfurous acid as the temperature increased. In addition, regarding appropriate pH, that for aldehydes and ketones was a wide range of pH 2 to 7 and the range for sugars was pH 4 to 6. 4) Concentration of sulfurous acid were fixed and made to react with random concentrations of each carbonyl compound. Aldehydes and detones bonded in a ratio of approximately 1:1. For sugars, in order for the linear aldehyde molecule to react only with sulfurous acid, a high concentration of sugars was considered necessary to obtain high bonding. 5) It became possible to measure bound sulfurous acid by the HPLC method, from the difference in measured values of carbonyl compounds obtained before and after the addition of sulfurous acid.

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The amounts of bromide ions in the 13 commercial salts anda reagent sodium chloride of highly purified were determined by ion chromatography with a conductivity monitor. All samples tested contained significant amounts of bromideions. Possibly because of the different methods of production or stages of purification of the salts, there were several groups classified by the amount of bromide ions; 64.6〜110μg Br^-/g NaCl, 110〜350μ g/g. 350〜650μ g/g and 650〜1500μ g/g. The recoveries of Br^- added 50, 500, 1500μ g/g to commercial salts were 62.2, 95.8 and 98.9 %, respectively.

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The sensitivity of a microbial sensor for sulfite determination in food was enhanced to 0.1μ g/ml or g by using thin gas-permeable membrane and increasing sample volume. The improved method was applied to the determination of total sulfite in some solid and liquid foods. Automatic determination of sulfite in liquid foods succeeded by the use of an automatic sampler.

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4^G-β-D-Galactosylsucrose (lactosucrose, LS) is an indigestive oligosaccharide with Bifobacterium proliferation enhancing effects (Fig. 1). 110 healthy adult females (22.8±8.1 yrs of age) with constipation or a tendency to constipate were enrolled in the study. Stool improving effects due to ingestion of LS was investigated from the points of frequency of defecation, number of days of defecation, stool condition, and feeling to defecate. The study was divided into the following 3 groups: ingestion of 2g of LS group, ingestion of 3g of LS group, and ingestion of 5g of LS group (Table 1). The non-ingestion period (control period) was set at 2 weeks, the LS ingestion period at 2 weeks, and the induction period at 2 days after the start of ingestion (Fig. 2). Defecation condition and food composition were examined during the study period (Tables 1, 3) and the results obtained were pooled and analyzed. The results showed an increase in frequency of defecation and number of days of defecation during the LS ingestion period with a significant difference seen between the 3g/day and the 5g/day groups (p,0.05, Tables 4, 5). For subjects that tended to constipate where the frequency of defecation and number of days of defecation were few, there was a marked increase in these tendencies in the control period. The effect of LS on stools and frequency of defecation was not dose dependent and the effective dose was shown to be of a wide range (Fig. 3). As regard to the condition of defecation, the color of stools during the LS ingestion period tended to be slightly yellow. Banana shaped stools tended to increase significantly (p<0.005) and even in regard to hardness sensation, and appropriate softness of stools was seen (p<0.01). There was s significant increase in the feeling of refreshness after defecation (p<0.01, Fig. 4). In addition, most gastro-intestinal symptoms during the study period were transient (Table 6). From the above results, it was shown that laxation, and stool condition are improved by ingestion of LS.

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Yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. T.Tanaka) is a kind of sour orange and the fruit has a characteristic pleasant, fresh, fulfurous, green odor. The detail GC-MS analysis of the sulfurous odor fraction obtained from peel oil using column chromatography and HPLC revealed the presence of 1-p-menthene-8-thiol (1) in combination with GC-sniffing, and 1 was estimated to be a character impact odor compound of yuzu.

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[in Japanese]

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Silver-containing zeolite has been introduced into the market being mixed into plastic. Because of its antimicrobial effect, this material is now variously applied to cookwared and sanitation products in hospitals. As for A-type zeolite, it has been used as a detergent builder and was cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration per their safety standard for long-term oral intake. However, little is known about the toxicity of zeolite of which antimicrobial metal is substituted. In light of the drastic expansion of antimicrobial plastic products, we conducted a three-month aral subchronic toxicity test by using FISHER-344 rats from the viewpoint of public hygiene. Currently, more than ten companies manufacture antimicrobial zeolite products. These products are completely different in performance and characteristics; hence Zeomic (manufactured by Shinagawa Fuel Co., Ltd.) -a major product of this kind in the Japanese market-was adopted as the sample. Results indicate growth inhibition and atrial thrombus in the 5.0% Zeomic intake mouse group and the mice died in seven weeks. In the 2.5% and 1.25% intake groups, the dosage-reaction correlative pigmentation was observed. Also several changes of blood components were observed such as increase of white blood cells at 5.0% intake group. In the case of rats, growth inhibition and mid-way death were observed in the 5% Zeomic intake group. A change in the vascular walls was also observed presumably caused by silver sedimentation. In the 2.5% and 1.25% intake rat groups, pigmentations of pancreas, liver and kidney were observed, which was the same as in the 5% group. The non-effective dosage of Zeomic for mice and rats was estimated at 0.125%.

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In the Law Concerning the Examination and Regulation of Manufacture, etc. of Chemical Substances (Chemical Substances Control Law), there is a demand for data on environmental pollution and dermatological tests for novel chemical substances. Considering the many existing examples of chemical substances, the frequency of irritation can be considered to be samll. However, up to now testing has been for chemical substance being developed. The sample of reference is an existing chemical substance. However, it is a substance where Ag, Zn, and NH3 have been bonded into an A-type zeolite synthesized by an ion-exchange reaction and is not a substance that could not be chemically considered to be a new chemical substance. This substance is to be used by mixing it with clothing for hospitals and other locations where cleanliness is a necessity. Also when considering sanitary clothing for infants, it is necessary to establish data on skin irritation as part of the public hygienic research. The primary dermatological test for AZN zeolite was performed following the Draize method in accordance with OECD guidelines. 0.5g or 0.05g of AZN zeolite was spread on the back skin (2.5x2.5cm) of white New Zealand strain rabbits and left for 24 hours. After removal, skin changes were macroscopically observed for 0.5, 24, and 48 hours. No skin change was observed for both the 0.5g and 0.05g dosages of AZN zeolite on normal and comeal abrasion skin parts. From these results, the primary irritation index (PII) was set at 0 based on the eveluation at 0.5 and 48 hours aftere the AZN zeolite was removed and, the irritation of skin was concluded to be almost absent.

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CO₂ is a food additive that has been listed in "THE JAPANESE STANDARDS FOR FOOD ADDITIVES" since its first edition. According to the questionnaire research conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare regarding domestic and imported CO₂, a total of 120,000 tons of food grade CO₂ from 25 companies was shipped in Japan during 1993. Based on this figure, I think it is necessary to examine how muchCO₂ is currently used and to calculate the per capita and per diem Japanese intake, as one of the basic food additives. The atmosphere is composed of 0.035% CO₂. Also, various alcohlic beverages such as beer and foamy liqueurs contain CO₂, which is produced during the fermentation and manufacturing process. It is a basic component of food and drink. Therefore, we must inspect the various aspects of CO₂ when we examine its daily intake. In studying the use of additives which are regarded as company confidential know-how, it is a general procedure to conduct a hearing to determine the production statistics of the food in question. From these studies, we obtained the following estimated breakdown of CO₂ that was shipped as food additive: 70,000 to 75,000 tons for airtight rooms and pouches to prevent the oxidation of foods. In the aforementioned types of use, CO₂ dissipates immediately after it serves its purpose and is irrelevant to human intake. Also, the quality of food grade CO₂ is high and it is often used in other fields such as medicine, research, and foam plastics. The total for these uses is estimated to be approximately 10,000 tons. The human intake of CO₂ is mainly attributed to carbonated drinks. According to a industry source, 18,115 tons of CO₂ is used in carbonated drinks and 20% of the gas dissipates when the containers are opened. In order to estimate the accumulated amount of CO₂ in food, we assumed the following figures for the calculation purpose: 1,200 tons for the CO₂ content of beer; 876 tons of CO₂ content of canned "chuhai" (Japanese distilled spirit) and foamy liqueurs; and the 20% CO₂ loss when the containers are opened. Based on the above assumption, we estimated the per capita and per diem intake of CO₂ as food additive in Japan to be 373mg based on Japan's 1993 population. We used only those 20 years of age and older because of prohibition of minors from drinking. As for CO₂ as a food component, beer is the largest contribution. Based on the amount of beer and the shipped CO₂ content, we estimated the per diem and per capita figure of 943mg. The daily consumption of CO₂ is 12,040mg, which is more than ten times larger than the aforementioned intake from foods. This is because we ihnale air that contains 0.035% CO₂. As for the respiratory amount, we assumed the per diem and per capita figure of 17.5m³ as an average of man and woman. From this viewpoint, we found that the per capita and per diem CO₂ intake of a Japanese is 13,356mg in total. However, this figure is extremely small in comparison to approximately 900g of CO₂ that is contained in human expiration. For your reference, 456 tons of sodium dicarbonate, 88.5 tons of magnesium carbonate, and 38.6 tons of calcium carbonate were shipped in 1990 in Japan as medical and pharmaceutical products. They are used as antacid and produce CO₂ in human bodies. The produced amounts of CO₂ are 238, 22.3, and 17 tons respectively with the total of 277 tons. If we assume that about 70% of the prescribed doses are taken, it amounts to 194 tons and we can obtain the per capita and per diem figure of 4.3mg.

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