Patent Report

Detection of food poisoning bacteria involves contacting foodstuff with surface acoustic wave element having antibodies attached to surface Oki Electric Ind. Co. Ltd JP-05034349. 9 February 1993

In the detecton of the presence or absence of food-poisoning bacteria, anti-food-poisoning bacteria antibodies are attached to a surface acoustic wave clement. Food compositions arc contacted with the surface acoustic wave element to which the antibodies have been attached; and the food-poisoning bacteria are detected from the change in frequency of the surface acoustic wave element before and after the contact. In the sensor for the detection of food-poisoning bacteria, the surface acoustic wave element is covered with polystyrene and food-poisoning bacteria antibodies are attached to the polystyrene. 006-93

Determining migration of toxic substances from impact- resistant polystyrene by holding samples of polystyrene in water at specified temperature and measuring styrene concen- tration in medium Gnoevaya V. G. SU-1723522; 30 March 1992

The method comprises placing samples of analysed impact- resistant polystyrene in four hermetically sealed containers containing distilled water of temperature 80,60,40 and 20°C. placing the containers in thermostats for time 0.5, 1 .O. 1.5 and 3.0h at 8O”C, 1.0. 2.0, 4.0 and 6.Oh at 6O”C, 5.0, 10.0. 12.0 and 21 h at 40°C and 48 h at 20°C. holding each container for further 4 h at room temperature, measuring the concentration of toxic substance (styrene) in water from each container and calculating migration rate of styrene for the optional tempera- ture within range 20-80°C according to expression:

Ig C= Ig L(2.7 x 10m5 x TX C,, x m)lVj +a x t/2.3

where C is the concentration of toxic substances calculated per styrene (mg/l), T is temperature (“C), m is weight of sample (g). V is the volume of model medium (water) (I), t is the time of thermostating (h), C,, is the content of styrene monomer in sample (wt %), and a is styrene migration rate (/.L-’ h-l). The equipment comprises glass containers with sealing covers provided with glass holders for samples, magnetic mixer and model medium with samples of analysed material. Migration rate of styrene can be found from a calibration graph made on the basis of experimentally found data and relationships. Process can be accelerated and simplified by processing data by means of microcomputer, using the known relationship. 007-93

Infrared attenuation measuring system using waveband- related parameters to determine component concentrations in aqueous fat-containing samples, especially milk Foss Electric As N WO-9306430; 1 April 1993

Infrared attenuation (IRA) measuring system for the quanti- tative detection of the concentration of component(s) in an aqueous fat-containing sample comprises an IRA measuring device. Device measures the IRA of the sample in a number of wavebands and a calculating device adapted to calculate the concentration of the components of the fat-containing sample using a set of waveband-related parameters. Set parameter contains information enabling the calculating device to ensure that the calculated concentrations are independent of the degree of homogenization of the fat- containing sample, and/or to determine the degree of homogenization of the sample. 008-93

Detector of foreign object inside transparent container has electromagnetic wave generator with two sources and photo- diode array which collect images while analyser superimposes and subtracts them Ixea Sarl WO-9306469; 1 April 1993

A number of containers to be analysed arc placed on the surface of a conveyor belt symmetrically relative to a plane. The detector of foreign objects includes an electromagnetic wave generator and an array of photodiodes connected to an image analyser. Electromagnetic beams are generated by two sources placed above the belt surface. The container images generated by the two beams arc collected by the photodiodes. The analyser is programmed to superimpose and subtract the two images so that a foreign object stuck on container wall is revealed. 009-93

Detecting contaminants in reusable plastic beverage container using sensor inside container which changes optical character- istics when exposed Du Font de Nemours & Co E.I. EP-533653; 31 March 1993

Whether certain contaminants are on or have migrated into the body of a plastic reusable food or beverage container is determined using a sensor attached to the inside of the container which undergoes a detectable change in its absorb- ancc when exposed to the contaminants. Its absorbance is determined by exposing it to ultraviolet illumination and measuring its effect on the illumination. The absorbance of the sensor is compared with the absorbance of a standard sensor. 010-93

Packaged product inspection using ultra-soft X-ray imaging following dispersion by shaking of headspace in package which gives indication of degradation of contents Fujimori Kogyo KK EP-273370: I7 March 1993

Method of inspecting a package containing a fluid in a packaging container, comprising the steps of shaking the package, irradiating the package with ultra-soft X-rays from outside thereof to obtain an image, and assessing the occurrence or non-occurrence of degradation or the degree of degradation of the fluid according to the state of dispersion of package headspace in the image compared with a package containing a fluid in which degradation is deemed not to occur. 011-93

Detection of moulds in foodstuffs and body fluids by immuno- logical determination of the extracellular polysaccharide followed by a specific inhibition test Nederlanden Min Welzijn EP-325004; I7 March 1993

Whether or not an article under inspection is defective in order to reject any article determined to be defective. A light irradiator irradiates an articlc being inspected with a light beam having a smaller diameter than that of the article. A light condenser condenses the rays of light transmitted through the article while being diffused. Two light detectors respectively detect two specific kinds of light having different wavelengths from among the condensed rays of light trans- mitted through the article. 012-93

Accurate, sensitive assay of magnesium ion in biological samples, food etc. using glucokinase from Zymomonas together with ATP, NADPH, glucose-6-phosphate dehydro- genase and glucose Unitika Ltd JP-04505608; 4 March 1993

A reagent for the assay of Mg ion contains glucokinase

Food Control 1994 Volume 5 Number 1 55