Nanotechnology - the future of food?

There is a whole lot of future possibilities for nanotechnology in the food sector. The following examples are just a few of many, many ideas which are currently under research:

Nanotechnology in food directly:

- Nanocarrier systems could improve the delivery of nutrients and food supplements

- Nanotechnology could help produce healthier foods (e.g. lower fat, lower salt) by nano encapsulation - without losing taste or texture.

- There could be ingredients with improved properties.

- Smart-aids for processing foods to remove allergens such as peanut protein

- Nanocapsules containing nutrients which they would release when they detect a deficiency in the body.

Here are some ideas what nanotechnology could do for food packaging:

- Smart packages could tell the consumer about the freshness of food.

The food company Kraft together with scientist of the Rutgers University and the University of Connecticut have developed an “electronic tongue”. This is a technology, where nanosensors can detect spoilt food and by releasing of gases change the colour of the packaging. This again will alert the consumer and tell him that the food has begun to spoil.

- Nanoparticles could increase the barrier to oxygen and slow down the degradation of food while it is being stored.

Interactive food:

Nanomaterials are being developed to improve the taste, colour, and texture of foods and would allow you to choose which flavour and colour a food has.

Nanoparticles in our body - is it safe?

The major concearn of those who are against nanofood has to do with what happens to nanoparticles once we ingested them. Research shows, that nanoparticles do not only have different proberties, they also have the ability to access cells via different pathways and may be able to wander around in our body. Jonathan J. Powell, Head of the Biomineral Research Group at the University of Cambridge, has done some research on this topic. He came to the conclusion that we, inhabitants of a western country, have been exposed to nanoparticles throughout evolution. Therefor we have generated strategies to utilize nanoparticles for dietary and physiological benefit. There even are special cells outside our gastrointestinal tract whos job it is to absorb wandering nanoparticles for safe storage. While this might sound as if Powell was giving his approval for nanoparticles in food and food contact material, he stresses the point that he is not. He says that "nanoparticulate structures are neither inherently toxic nor inherently safe: like all molecules these decisions will rest upon molecular structure, biological environment, degree of exposure and host susceptibility."

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896841109001462http://monito91.blogspot.co.at/

Nanotechnology - A Lifesaver

Too many people in this world do not have access to clean drinking water. Here is Engineer Michael Pritchards TED talk about how nanotechnology can solve this problem. He invented the Lifesaver bottle - wich, with the help of a portable nanofilter can make the most filthy water drinkable within seconds.

Nanofood, Law and Regulations

The vast majority of laws implemented on food in the European Union comes directly from the EU themselves. The General Food Law Regulation is the base for Food Laws all over Europe and ensures that everywhere in the EU the same standards are followed. Specific food laws concern novel foods, food enhancers, food supplements, materials in contact with food and labelling. Mostly there are no extra laws for nanofood, since they already have to follow the strict rules set up for all foods and food related products. 

This is with one exception. The law of food additives is the only piece of food law that refers specifically to “nanotechnology”. Usually a food additive is not allowed to be used, unless its safety has been tested and it has been authorised. Once that is done, they are being put on the approved list and can within certain conditions be used within the EU. Concerning nanomaterials this law says that authorisation has to be obtained for nano versions of food additives,irrespective of what’s on the approved list.

There is, however, a special legislation on novel foods, which makes it obligatory for producers to label products containing engineered nanomaterials. In the list of ingredients, those substances must be followed by the word “nano” in brackets. Very recently, in March 2014, the European Parliament objected to a change of the definition of nanomaterials. The change, which would have exempted foods containing additives which might be nanomaterials that are already on the market from being labelled, has been proposed by the European Comission.

The reason, the European Parliament presented for the decision to shut this change down, was for consumer protection. The Parliament sees the different properties nanoscale materials have in comparison to their bulk form as a source of great uncertainty about these compounds’s health and environmental impacts. Because of these uncertainties the Members of Parliament see labelling as a way of giving the consumer a choice until more research is done.  

At the moment all producers have to follow special guidelines for testing engineered nanomaterials before adding them to food products. These guidelines have been published by the EU in 2011 and basically state what kind of approval those materials need to have, what criteria they have to fit and what tests have to be completed before they can be used. Still with all those laws, rules and regulations the European Government still sees this new technology critically. 

http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/foodlaw/index_en.htm

http://corporateeurope.org/agribusiness/2014/03/food-lobby-fights-labelling-nano-ingredients

http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/regulation/foodlaw/#.U4we_Pl_trM

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/edinterviews/docs/corporatenanotechnology121003.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/nanotechnology/pdf/nano_com_en.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/health/nanotechnology/policy/index_en.htm

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/nanotechnology.htm

http://www.nanoandme.org/regulation/nano-food-and-safety/which-laws/

http://ihcp.jrc.ec.europa.eu/our_activities/nanotechnology/Nano_Food

http://www.nanoandme.org/regulation/nano-food-and-safety/which-laws/

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/nanotechnology.htm

How instant photography works

In this blogpost I am going to tell you how instant photography works. 

Basically, it can be said, that instant film follows the same principles as regular camera film. Patterns of light are captured on a plastic-based film which is covered with a light sensitive silver compound. These light sensitive silvers produce a latent image, which becomes visible during the developing process. The difference to regular camera film is that instant film already contains all the chemicals needed for developing the photograph.

The whole film is organized in layers. All these layers with the chemicals and the light sensitive silver compounds inside are attached to a black base layer. The bottom layers are the three light sensitive layers, sensitive to blue, green and red light respectively, and the developer layers containing the dye couplers. On top of these bottom layers, there lies the reagent layer.The reagent is a mixture of chemicals, which later triggers the chemical reactions. Before a photograph is taken, the reagent layer is empty and the reagent sits in the white frame, separated from the picture to prevent it from developing too early. On top of the reagent layer there are three more layers with chemicals. These are the image layer, the timing layer and the acid layer. All these layers are concealed by clear plastic on the very top. A regular colour instant film, therefore, consists of up to 15 different layers.

While taking an instant photograph, various reactions happen at the different layers of the instant film. Once you press the trigger, the instant film is exposed to light for a short moment, causing the light sensitive layers to react.The photograph then is ejected from the camera. It passes between two stainless steel rollers which spread the reagent evenly over the reagent layer. This is the start for several chemical reactions.

The reagent is a mix of different chemicals causing the other chemicals in the different layers of the instant film to react. First of all, it prevents the light from filtering on to the light sensitive layers below, so they will not react anymore. Secondly, the reagent causes the developer layers to release their dye couplers. The dye couplers then react with the different colour layers and move to the image layer, where the image is captured. On top of the image layer lies the timing layer. Its only purpose is to slow down the reagent on its way to the acid layer, giving the image time to develop. The top layer, the acid layer, clears up the particles in the reagent that prevented the light from filtering through.

When we look at an instant photograph and it seems as if it was developing right there infront of our eyes, what we actually see is just the last step. We only see the acid layer dissolving the last particles, so that the image becomes visible for our eyes.

Nanotechnology used in foods and food contact materials

On the website of the Food Standard Agency of the UK I found an article about “Nanotechnology-enabled foods and food contact materials on the UK market”. This article distinguishes “soft” and “hard” nanomaterials. While “soft” nanomaterials are a natural part of food such as homogenised milk or ricotta cheese, “hard” nanomaterials are the once intentionally added to foods or food contact materials.

On the same page a list was published, depicting the nanomaterials that are permitted to be used in foods or food contact materials in the UK. This is the list, with additional information on which products the Nanomaterials are used in.

Nanomaterial	Related information
Fumed silica	One specific form of E551, silicon dioxide, is a food additive that is authorised for use as an anti-caking agent and a carrier. E551 (including fumed silica) has been approved for many years and it is commonly used in the preparation of a wide range of foods. It is used as a free-flowing agent in various powdered foods, such as coffee creamer or soups. One classic example would be Knorr Pasta Sides.
Nanoclay	The mineral montmorillonite (also called as bentonite) has potential use in a variety of food packaging applications, such as in packaging for fruit juices and dairy products or bottles for beer and carbonated drinks, to provide a better barrier to gases and extend shelf-life. Plastic beer bottles that incorporate a layer of nanoclay are reported to be in use in other countries (for example in the US) but not at present in the UK or the rest of Europe.
Nanosilver	Items such as re-useable food containers are available in the UK (via websites) and function to inhibit the growth of microorganisms. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kinetic-Go-Green-Premium-Nanosilver-Food-Storage-Container-Set-/321345653433?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ad1b18ab9
Titanium nitride	Polymer composites incorporating titanium nitride have been developed to improve the rigidity and strength of food packaging objects. Titanium nitride was evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority in 2008 and has been approved as an additive for use in some food contact plastics since 1 May 2011. The Agency is not aware of any commercial use of this additive.

Should you be more interested in this topic the Wilson Centre of Virginia Tech has started this website as an inventory for nano enabled consumer products. Have a look.

http://www.nanolyse.eu/PublicDocs/Nanolyse_newsletter_Issue%20no%202%20and%203.pdf

https://www.google.at/#q=fumed+silica+E551+used+in+food&start=10

Nanotechnology - Basics

Before we go deeper into the field of Nanofood, here is a short video introducing you to it's "mother" field of studies: Nanotechnology. This video presents shortly, what is so special about particles at a nano size, how and why they change their behaviour, and what scientists are using these special properties for.

Nanofood-CAJ Abstract

This CAJ presents reviewed information on nanofood and connected fields of studies. The Journal’s focus lies on both the present situation in nanofood studies and predictions for the future. Concerning the present, the current situation of Nanofood research is discussed with a special scope on potential health risks. Furthermore, food related products which have been altered by nano-technology and are available on the market are presented. When it comes to the future of Nanofood, this CAJ concentrates on methods and products which are currently under development and will be ready for the market within the next twenty years. All the information presented in the following posts has been selected by reviewing various newspaper articles, documentaries and scientific papers. After careful consideration of all possible aspects, it can be said that while especially in Europe Nanofood is yet treated with huge concern, it is more liberated in other parts of the world. Considering what scientists are working on at the moment, it is clear that this field of studies has huge potential for the future and should be a topic discussed more frequently.

WHEN ZOMBIES ATTACK!! MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF AN OUTBREAK OF ZOMBIE INFECTION! !

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the flexibility of mathematical modelling and its application to infectious diseases using the scenario of a zombie infection. The paper is a guide to develop mathematical models for an unusual outbreak and shows how modelling can respond to a wide variety of challenges in “biology”. For the developed models popular-culture zombies, who are slow moving, cannibalistic and undead with no intention of attacking and defeating each other, were chosen. Even though the zombie scenario differs from other infectious diseases by the dead being able to come back to life, these models allow real life applications to, for example, allegiance to political parties, or diseases with a dormant infection. Furthermore, all developed models use a short timescale in order to allow the natural birth and death rates to be ignored. Based on these key criteria five different models were developed: a basic model, a model with latent infection, a model with quarantine, a model with treatment and a model with impulsive eradication. Comparing the outcome of the equations, an outbreak of an infection like a zombie infection is most likely to lead to the collapse of civilisation, unless it is dealt with quickly. Mathematical modelling has led to the conclusion that, while aggressive quarantine may contain the epidemic, or a cure may lead to coexistence, the most effective way to contain the infection are frequent attacks with increasing force.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0HbknFNhe_7QVVmQ0k0X0dlNXM/edit

Instructions how to kill Hitler

This set of instructions will tell you  how to kill Hitler in a few simple steps.

Before you start, make sure you have got all the materials needed:

- everything you need for building a time machine which is able bring you back again.

- a still operating gun, that has been commonly used during World War One

- a still operating gun, that has been commonly used in 1933

- a still operating bomb, that has been commonly used in 1933

If you got all your materials assembled, then move on to step one.

1. Use the material for building a time machine and build a time machine. Be careful that it is a time machine that will be able to bring you back.

2. Choose a time in which you want to kill Hitler. This set of instructions is valid for 1915 or 1933.

3. If you decide to kill Hitler in 1915, then move on to step four.
   If you decide to kill Hitler in 1933, then move on to step six.

4. You have decided to kill Hitler in 1915.
   Take the gun from 1915 and use the time machine to travel to 1915.

5. Now go to the battlefield where Hitler is currently fighting the French, take your gun from 1915 and shoot Hitler.

6. You have decided to kill Hitler in 1933. Pack the gun and bomb from 1933 and use the time machine to travel to 1933.

7. Once again you have two options: you can either develop your own plan, or help someone who is already working on a plan how to kill Hitler.
   If you decide to develop your own plan, move on to step eight.
   If you decide to help someone who is already working on a plan how to kill Hitler, move on to step 12.

8. You decided to develop your own plan, how to kill Hitler. Now, figure out a way how to get close to Hitler.

9. Once you are close enough to Hitler, decide on how to kill him. You can either use the gun from 1933, or the bomb from 1933.
   If you decide to kill Hitler with the gun, move on to step ten.
   If you decide to kill Hitler with the bomb, move on to step 11.

10. You decided to kill Hitler with the gun. Now, take the gun from 1933 and shoot Hitler.

11. You decided to kill Hitler with the bomb. Plant the bomb from 1933 and blow Hitler up.

12. You decided to help someone who is already working on a plan, how to kill Hitler. Find Karl Lutter and his friends from the KDP and help them prepare Hitler’s assassination. Steps a. and b. will tell you how to do that.

1. Join Lutter and his KDP friends.
2. Stop the people who want to betray Lutter from doing that.

13. Together with Lutter and his KDP friends kill Hitler in Königsberg.

Congratulations! If you carefully followed these Instructions, you have just succeeded in killing Hitler. Now here is a little tip: HURRY BACK HOME BEFORE ANYBODY NOTICES WHAT YOU JUST DID!!!!!!

These instructions are based on this document: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1mUz3PXJoI4n6poNeGAjNHj18yRbvX0g0OuNN28hyw5I/edit

Analysis of Instructions

We looked at these instructions on how to make a camera lucida and rated how helpful we thought they were. 

At first sight, these instructions on how to build a camera lucida seem to be chaotic. We think this is mainly because they do not look like the instructions we are used to. Clearly numbered steps which would make it much easier to follow are missing completely, let alone an explicit list of materials needed to build the camera lucida. The reader has to figure out all this on his own. Even though these instructions do not follow the classic rules of how instructions should look, they still contain all the necessary information. The drawings, for example, indicate the needed materials. By combining the information from the drawings and the additional instructional texts, it should be possible to build a functional camera lucida based on these instructions. In retrospect, the instructions would need some work without doubt, but yet we have to admit that they turned out more helpful than expected at first glance.

Nano Food Abstracts

Applications and implications of nanotechnologies for the food sector

Abstract

A review of current and projected nanotechnology-derived food ingredients, food additives and food contact materials is presented in relation to potential implications for consumer safety and regulatory controls. Nanotechnology applications are expected to bring a range of benefits to the food sector, including new tastes, textures and sensations, less use of fat, enhanced absorption of nutrients, improved packaging, traceability and security of food products. The review has shown that nanotechnology-derived food and health food products are set to grow worldwide and, moreover, a variety of food ingredients, additives, carriers for nutrients/supplements and food contact materials is already available in some countries. The current level of applications in the European food sector is at an elementary stage; however, it is widely expected that more and more products will be available in the EU over the coming years. The toxicological nature of hazard, likelihood of exposure and risk to consumers from nanotechnology-derived food/food packaging are largely unknown and this review highlights major gaps in knowledge that require further research. A number of uncertainties and gaps in relevant regulatory frameworks have also been identified and ways of addressing them proposed.

Comments:

In my opinion this abstract has all it needs.

Purpose: Nanotechnology is already used very often in food, and this is going to increase over the next few years. Unfortunately its effects on consumer are not yet scrutinized sufficiently.

Scope: nanotechnology-derived food ingredients,additives and contact materials 

Methods: reviewing what is already being done and what is missing

Findings: There are major gaps...

Recommendation: ...that require further research.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02652030701744538

Consumer choices for nano-food and nano-packaging in France and Germany

Abstract

An experiment with different information treatments was conducted in France and Germany to evaluate consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for food nanotechnology focusing on two applications: nano-fortification with vitamins and nano-packaging. Results show that many consumers in both countries are reluctant to accept nanotechnology in food. Being confronted with general information on nanotechnology, econometric estimations of WTP reveal that French consumers are more reluctant to accept nano-packaging, whereas German consumers are less inclined to accept nano-fortification compared with the respective other application. More detailed information on nanotechnology has a negative impact when voluntary access to relevant information is assured.

Comments:

The information in the abstract makes the paper seem very interesting, but unfortunately the text itself is not written cohesively which makes it look a bit unprofessional. Maybe it is just a bad translation, obviously this paper was written in either French or German, but eitherway professional scientists should be able to identify a bad translation. This makes me wonder whether or not the whole paper is worth reading. Other than that, this abstract includes all the typical contents, except for the recommendation.

Purpose: to find out whether or not people are willing to pay for food nanotechnology

Scope: nanotechnology-derived food ingredients,additives and contact materials, France and Germany

Methods: an experiment was conducted 

Findings: Consumers in general are reluctant to accept nanotechnology in food, however the Germans slightly less than the French.

http://erae.oxfordjournals.org/content/40/1/73.short

  

Description of the Photograph "Migrant Mother"

The photograph portrays a middle-aged migrant mother with her three little children, all four of them with gaunt bodies. Clad in worn-out and dirty clothing, their outer appearance indicates a difficult life. At the bottom of the picture an infant is lying on the mother’s lap with its head resting on her left arm, where its face is half-hidden from the camera. The two older children have turned away from the camera. On the right side of the picture one child is clinging to its mother’s shoulder and burying its face in her neck whereas the one on the left side tries to hide itself behind the mother’s shoulder. The center of the photograph is occupied by the mother who is exuding an aura of sadness. Her worn and weather-beaten face bears witness to everything she has gone through. All her worries are apparent in the deep lines that furrow her face. The whole photograph leaves the observer with a strong feeling of sympathy, rooting for a better life for the mother and her three little children.

Dorothea Lange "Migrant Mother"

Nanotechnology - Nanofood: An Introduction

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology deals with the creation or manipulation of materials on a very small scale, the nanometre (nm). Do give you an Idea what we are talking about: One of your hairs is approximately 70,000 nm in diameter, whereas a nanoparticle has a size somewhere between 0.5 and 5 nm.

The next question you are probably asking yourself by now is: If these particles are so small, what can they actually do? Actually these nanoparticles are quite capable. Compared to bigger particles they have special chemical and physical properties like, for example, higher reactivity. Because they have a relatively large surface area.

What is Nano-Food?

While there are nanoparticles naturally found in food like milk, the term nano-food is generally used to describe food that has been in contact with nanotechnology. Even though nanotechnology in food is rather new, there are already nanotechnological influenced products in our supermarket aisles like ketchup, which often contains silica dioxide particles to maintain the consistency.

What scientists are working on right now:

- nanoparticles in mayonnaise, in order to make it less fat

- nanoparticles in packaging, so the milk carton turns red when the milk is no longer drinkable  

Why is Nano-Food interesting?

Everybody has to eat. That alone should be enough reason for us to find nano-food highly fascinating. Whether we like it or not, whether it is healthy or not, whether it changes the food world completely or not: It is going play a huge part in our future. 



Sources:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/nanotechnology/what.htmhttp://www.theguardian.com/what-is-nano/what-you-need-know-about-nano-food#start-of-commentshttp://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/wait-theres-nanotechnology-in-my-food-16510737
http://www.planet-wissen.de/natur_technik/forschungszweige/nanotechnologie/nanofood.jsp

Say no to ADA's!!!

PSA against after-death avatars – TV commercial:

1^st scene: Funeral of a young girl. Everybody offers their condolences to the family.

The camera zooms in on her best friend standing on the side, separated from all the other people. She obviously is very sad and pale, no tears. She looks straight to the grave and talks to nobody.

2^nd scene: We see the same girl in her room looking through the facebook page of her dead best friend. Suddenly she notices an eterni.me add on the side. She clicks on the link.

3^rd scene: We can see the girl, now happy again, and the after-death avatar of her best friend walking in a park. The other people in the park, some of them are familiar from the funeral, look at her like she needs to be in the closed psychiatric wing. The camera zooms out and we see other couples like her and her best friend.

4^th scene: It is night, all the post-death avatars from before and some others have now changed into zombie like creatures. They obviously just slaughtered a whole city and are on the move to the next one.

5^th scene: Black. In a white fond it says across the screen: “Stop the apocalypse! Say no to ADA’s!!!”