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Honey is natural sweet substance produced by Apis mellifera, which is consumed as a high nutritive value food. The physicochemical quality criteria of honey are well specified by the European Legislation (EC Directive 2001/110) [1]. The quality properties of honey can be diminished by the influence of heating in the thermal pasteurization of honey [2]. As an alternative to conventional thermal pasteurization, the non-thermal high pressure processing has potential to produce safety food with similar characteristics to the raw unprocessed foods [3]. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to study the effect of three treatments: 1) high pressure (725 MPa for 10 minutes); 2) high pressure with temperature (725 MPa for 10 minutes at temperature of 50 °C); and 3) thermal treatment (75 °C for 5 minutes) on the physicochemical parameters (moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, free acidity, diastase activity and hydroxymethylfurfural content) of a Portuguese heather honey. The results obtained for several physicochemical parameters were significantly different among the samples under the different treatments, for instance, the HMF content. This parameter, widely recognized as indicator of honeys' freshness [4], depends on several factors, such as temperature, time of heating and storage conditions [5]. The value of HMF in the raw honey was 5,5 ± 0,5 mg.kg−1 of honey (EU limit is 40 mg·kg−1), ensuring that it was a fresh product that has not been subjected to heating or inadequate storing conditions. Concerning the treatments, the ANOVA results showed that the amounts of HMF did differ significantly (P-value= 0.0315). The thermal treatment significantly increased the HMF concentration comparing with the raw honey (P-value= 0.0355). The preliminary results did not show significant increase in the HMF content when high pressure processing, with and without temperature, were applied. Further studies should be performed to confirm that high pressure processing has no adverse effect on the honey quality. ; Thanks are due to the University of Aveiro, the Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), EU, QREN, FEDER and COMPETE for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (project PEst- C/QUI/UI0062/2013) and to the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Concerns about traces of numerous toxic substances and authenticity have prompted consumer demand for honey that is certified as organic, based on strict ecological, natural principles and traceability. The present study aims to characterize organic honey samples (n = 73) from Northeast Portugal, with respect to floral nectar origin, physicochemical parameters and microbial safety. The phenols and flavonoids contents, often referred to as responsible for honey's bioactive properties, were also assessed. All organic honey samples were classified as monofloral lavender (Lavandula sp.), exceeded in quality the international physicochemical standards and showed low microbiological counts (yeast, moulds and aerobic mesophiles), with negative results in respect to fecal coliforms, Salmonella and sulphite-reducing Clostridium spp. Correlation of the palynological, physicochemical and microbiological results is necessary to check the authenticity, quality and sanitation of honey. Although not required by international legislation, results of those assessments provide a complete outlook and elucidation of the organic honey's properties, which could promote its valorisation.

Honey is the natural sweet substance produced by Apis mellifera bees from the nectar of plants, secretions of living parts of plants, or excretions of plant-sucking insects on the living parts of plants, which the bees collect, transform by combining with specific substances of their own, deposit, dehydrate, store and leave in the honeycomb to ripen and mature (Decreto-Lei nº214/2003). This product can suffer alterations if the conditions of conservation and storage are not appropriate. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the temperature in the physical-chemical and microbiological parameters of monofloral honeys stored for 4 months. The evaluated physical-chemical parameters were: moisture, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, ashes, reducer's sugars, apparent sucrose, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diastase activity and color. Relatively to the moisture none of the samples exceeded the legislated limits. The maximum value obtained for the pH were 4.92 for the heather honey maintained to room temperature and the minimum were 3.77 for the rosemary honey in the same storage conditions. Free acidity decreased in all samples, and all storage conditions. Relatively to electrical conductivity and ash, it was found that, for rosemary and cherry honeys, independently of storage conditions, the values obtained were within legal limits. Regarding to heather and chestnut honeys, the values obtained for the mentioned above parameters exceeded the stipulated by law. In all of the analyzed samples an increase of HMF was verified along the time, being this more accentuated to 45ºC. In this case, the obtained values exceeded broadly allowed it by law. Relatively to the reducer's sugars and the sucrose it was verified, in most of the samples a progressive decrease during storage, however, in all cases, the obtained values located inside of the legislated. In most of the samples, the diastase activity decreased over the time. The storage caused a darkening of the honey, especially for the chestnut honey, stored to 45ºC. Relatively to the microbiological analysis, the aerobics mesophylics were found in some of the analyzed samples; however they never exceeded the limits stipulated by law. The moulds and yeasts just were present in the chestnut tree honey stored in the freezer. The indicators of sanitary quality and the toxigenic species were absent in all of the samples in study.

Honey is the natural sweet substance produced by Apis mellifera bees from the nectar of plants, secretions of living parts of plants, or excretions of plant-sucking insects on the living parts of plants, which the bees collect, transform by combining with specific substances of their own, deposit, dehydrate, store and leave in the honeycomb to ripen and mature (Decreto-Lei nº214/2003). This product can suffer alterations if the conditions of conservation and storage are not appropriate. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the temperature in the physical-chemical and microbiological parameters of monofloral honeys stored for 4 months. The evaluated physical-chemical parameters were: moisture, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, ashes, reducer's sugars, apparent sucrose, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diastase activity and color. Relatively to the moisture none of the samples exceeded the legislated limits. The maximum value obtained for the pH were 4.92 for the heather honey maintained to room temperature and the minimum were 3.77 for the rosemary honey in the same storage conditions. Free acidity decreased in all samples, and all storage conditions. Relatively to electrical conductivity and ash, it was found that, for rosemary and cherry honeys, independently of storage conditions, the values obtained were within legal limits. Regarding to heather and chestnut honeys, the values obtained for the mentioned above parameters exceeded the stipulated by law. In all of the analyzed samples an increase of HMF was verified along the time, being this more accentuated to 45ºC. In this case, the obtained values exceeded broadly allowed it by law. Relatively to the reducer's sugars and the sucrose it was verified, in most of the samples a progressive decrease during storage, however, in all cases, the obtained values located inside of the legislated. In most of the samples, the diastase activity decreased over the time. The storage caused a darkening of the honey, especially for the chestnut honey, stored to 45ºC. Relatively to the microbiological analysis, the aerobics mesophylics were found in some of the analyzed samples; however they never exceeded the limits stipulated by law. The moulds and yeasts just were present in the chestnut tree honey stored in the freezer. The indicators of sanitary quality and the toxigenic species were absent in all of the samples in study.

Since the primordial of humanity, pollen has been considered a good source of nutrients and energy. Its promising healing properties have also been referred to. The present study aimed to characterize, for the first time, eight commercial pollens from Portugal and Spain available on the market studying the legislation on labeling, pollinic origin, physicochemical and microbiological analyses and identification of yeasts. Eleven botanical families were found amongst the samples. The most abundant family and the most dominant pollen was Cistaceae. The moisture content, ash, aw, pH, reducing sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and energy were analyzed and the specific parameters were within the specifications required by some countries with legislation regarding these parameters. Microbiologically commercial pollen showed acceptable safety for the commercial quality and hygiene. All samples showed negative results for toxigenic species. The microorganisms studied were aerobic mesophiles, yeasts and moulds, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and sulfite-reducing Clostridium. During the work, six yeasts species were isolated from pollen, with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa being the most abundant, as it was present in four samples.

Since the primordial of humanity, pollen has been considered a good source of nutrients and energy. Its promising healing properties have also been referred to. The present study aimed to characterize, for the first time, eight commercial pollens from Portugal and Spain available on the market studying the legislation on labeling, pollinic origin, physicochemical and microbiological analyses and identification of yeasts. Eleven botanical families were found amongst the samples. The most abundant family and the most dominant pollen was Cistaceae. The moisture content, ash, aw, pH, reducing sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and energy were analyzed and the specific parameters were within the specifications required by some countries with legislation regarding these parameters. Microbiologically commercial pollen showed acceptable safety for the commercial quality and hygiene. All samples showed negative results for toxigenic species. The microorganisms studied were aerobic mesophiles, yeasts and moulds, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and sulfite-reducing Clostridium. During the work, six yeasts species were isolated from pollen, with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa being the most abundant, as it was present in four samples.

Concerns about traces of numerous toxic substances and authenticity have prompted consumer demand for honey that is certified as organic, based on strict ecological, natural principles and traceability. The present study aims to characterize organic honey samples (n = 73) from Northeast Portugal, with respect to floral nectar origin, physicochemical parameters and microbial safety. The phenols and flavonoids contents, often referred to as responsible for honey's bioactive properties, were also assessed. All organic honey samples were classified as monofloral lavender (Lavandula sp.), exceeded in quality the international physicochemical standards and showed low microbiological counts (yeast, moulds and aerobic mesophiles), with negative results in respect to fecal coliforms, Salmonella and sulphite-reducing Clostridium spp. Correlation of the palynological, physicochemical and microbiological results is necessary to check the authenticity, quality and sanitation of honey. Although not required by international legislation, results of those assessments provide a complete outlook and elucidation of the organic honey's properties, which could promote its valorisation.

Lipases belong to the family of serine hydrolases, which in turn include various esterase enzymes (E.C.3.1.1.1). They are involved in the cleavage of triacylglycerols to free fatty acids and glycerol in many important biological processes, as for instance routine metabolism of dietary triglycerides to cell signalling and inflammation. Lipases constitute a ubiquitous group of enzymes able to catalyse a number of different reactions, many of them of industrial interest. Particularly, microbial lipases exhibit a wide range of industrial applications, namely in pharmaceutical, food and detergents industry. The aim of this review is to summarize the recent achievements illustrating the importance and the versatility of microbial lipases, including their involvement in infection mechanisms. ; A. Pascoal would like to thank Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal), Programa Operacional Pontencial Humano (POPH) and European Union (EU) for his Postdoctoral grant SFRH/ BPD/91380/2012. The authors also are grateful to the Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, funded by FCT, UID/BIA/ 04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569) and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI). ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Table olives are a traditional component of the Mediterranean diet and are largely consumed in the world. There are different trade treatments that originate different types of olives. The aim of the present work was to proceed to the microbiological characterization of table olives commercialized in the Portuguese market, with respect to their microbiological safety. The microbiological characterization was made in the olive pulp and packing brine of thirty-five table olives samples of different types and trade treatments, namely natural olives Cv. Galega (NOG), natural turning colour olives (NTCO), green olives (GO), black ripe olives (BO) and natural olives purchased in the traditional market and obtained from traditional producers (NOt). Simultaneously it was verified specific legislation of the table olives in what it concerns to labeling rules, pH values and the identification of isolated yeasts. In general, table olives consumed showed acceptable security with exception of four NOt samples that presented Staphylococcus aureus. In a considerable number of samples high number of microorganisms indicators of contaminations were observed that reveals the need of optimization the hygienic procedures during production process to improve the quality and safety of table olives. During the work seven yeasts were isolated from olive pulp and brine.

Concerns about traces of numerous toxic substances and authenticity have prompted consumer demand for honey that is certified as organic, based on strict ecological, natural principles and traceability. The present study aims to characterize organic honey samples (n = 73) from Northeast Portugal, with respect to floral nectar origin, physicochemical parameters and microbial safety. The phenols and flavonoids contents, often referred to as responsible for honey's bioactive properties, were also assessed. All organic honey samples were classified as monofloral lavender (Lavandula sp.), exceeded in quality the international physicochemical standards and showed low microbiological counts (yeast, moulds and aerobic mesophiles), with negative results in respect to fecal coliforms, Salmonella and sulphite-reducing Clostridium spp. Correlation of the palynological, physicochemical and microbiological results is necessary to check the authenticity, quality and sanitation of honey. Although not required by international legislation, results of those assessments provide a complete outlook and elucidation of the organic honey's properties, which could promote its valorisation ; SI

Since the primordial of humanity, pollen has been considered a good source of nutrients and energy. Its promising healing properties have also been referred to. The present study aimed to characterize, for the first time, eight commercial pollens from Portugal and Spain available on the market studying the legislation on labeling, pollinic origin, physicochemical and microbiological analyses and identification of yeasts. Eleven botanical families were found amongst the samples. The most abundant family and the most dominant pollen was Cistaceae. The moisture content, ash, aw, pH, reducing sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and energy were analyzed and the specific parameters were within the specifications required by some countries with legislation regarding these parameters. Microbiologically commercial pollen showed acceptable safety for the commercial quality and hygiene. All samples showed negative results for toxigenic species. The microorganisms studied were aerobic mesophiles, yeasts and moulds, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and sulfite-reducing Clostridium. During the work, six yeasts species were isolated from pollen, with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa being the most abundant, as it was present in four samples ; SI

Sparkling mead is obtained by secondary fermentation of the mead involving the addition of starter yeast culture, sucrose, nutrients and fining agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different fining agents (tannins vs combined fining agents) on the volatile composition of sparkling mead. Sparkling mead was produced from a base mead using a commercial yeast strain (Saccharomyces bayanus) and the volatile compounds were determined by gas chromatography–flame ionisation detection and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Thirty six volatile compounds were quantified and the major groups were alcohols (73.2%), acetates (19.1%), carbonyl compounds (5.5%) and ethyl esters (1.2%), represented by 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde and monoethyl succinate, respectively. The remaining compounds were present at 1, with ethyl octanoate and ethyl hexanoate contributing to the aroma of sparkling mead, with fruity, strawberry and sweet notes. The combined fining agents caused a marked decrease in the concentration of volatile compounds compared with tannins. In general, 3-ethoxy-1-propanol, ethyl lactate, ethyl octanoate, diethyl succinate, diethyl malate, monoethyl succinate, 2-methylpropanoic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, acetaldehyde, acetoin, furfural, benzaldehyde, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, trans-furan linalool oxide, cis-furan linalool oxide and 4-oxo-isophorone decreased in concentration. Conversely, 1-propanol and 2-methylpropanoic acid (tannins) and ethyl butyrate (combined fining agents) increased in concentration. The remaining volatile compounds were not affected. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found for 19 volatile compounds independently of the type of fining agents used. ; O. Anjos thanks Centro de Estudos Florestais that is a research unit funded by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal; UID/AGR/UI0239/2013). A. Pascoal would like to thank FCT, Portugal, Programa Operacional Pontencial Humano and the European Union for his postdoctoral grant (SFRH/BPD/91380/ 2012). The authors also are grateful to the Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, funded by FCT, UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569) and by the ERDF through the COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização. This study was also supported by FCT under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 – Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Honey is a natural sweet substance produced by Apis mellifera, which has great potential to serve as a natural food antioxidant. The physicochemical quality criteria of honey are well specified by the European Legislation (EC Directive 2001/110). The quality properties of honey can be diminished by the influence of heating. As an alternative to the conventional thermal pasteurization, nonthermal high pressure processing (HPP) has potential to produce safe food with similar characteristics to the raw unprocessed foods. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HPP (725 MPa for 10 minutes) and HPP with temperature (725 MPa for 10 minutes at 50 °C) on physicochemical properties (moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, free acidity, diastase activity and hydroxymethylfurfural content) of a heather honey in comparison with thermal treatment (75 °C for 5 minutes) and unprocessed honey. The effect of storage (6 months) in processed and unprocessed samples was also investigated. The results showed significant differences in some physicochemical parameters, for instance, the hydroxymethylfurfural content, an indicator of honeys' freshness that depends on several factors, such as temperature, time of heating and storage conditions. An electronic tongue (ET) with lipidic membranes was used to evaluate the differences between all honey groups. A linear discriminant analysis to the ET results showed that the processed and unprocessed honey samples at day 0 (when treatments were applied) and after the storage have matrix differences that allows a complete separation of groups. The correlation between physicochemical and electronic tongue data showed the advantages of this data fusion. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Honey legislation has been addressed to establish the minimum marketing level of the product and the need for consumer protection through correct denominations. Research oriented toward assessment of floral origin and physicochemical properties may increase the commercial value of these products. The characteristics of 23 unifloral honeys of Erica sp., from Portugal, were studied. Pollen features and some physicochemical parameters (moisture, ash, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, apparent sucrose, reducing sugars and diastase activity) were determined. RESULTS: All honey samples can be classified as monofloral Erica sp., they gave a mean value of 56% of Erica pollen type. The families Fabaceae and Rosaceae provided the greatest number of pollen types with 8 and 4 pollen types each respectively. The second most important pollen type is Eucalyptus, present in 69.6% of the samples. All honey samples met the international physicochemical quality standards. The present study found a linear correlation (R = 0.996) between the ash content of honeys and their specific conductivity. CONCLUSION: All honey samples can be classified as monofloral Erica sp. Unifloral honeys are increasingly requested and appreciated, despite their higher prices. The samples were found to meet allmajor international honey specifications.

Copyright © 2017 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling Mead, one of the oldest fermented drinks, is derived from the fermentation of diluted honey by yeasts. In the context of wine production, several procedures are applied to stabilize the beverage and to improve its organoleptic properties. This study aims to evaluate the impact of adding fining agents on the production of mead. In general, the best results were obtained for the samples containing just one fining agent instead of two combined. However, the best performance was obtained for the combined fining agents (bentonite + gelatine + egg albumin). Tannins decreased significantly the content of volatile compounds. On the other hand, silica appears to be the best fining agent, resulting in the lowest loss of volatile compounds. Thirty-six volatile compounds were determined by gas chromatograph–flame ionization detector and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, including alcohols (42.5%), carbonyl compounds (40.4%), acetates (14.4%) and esters (1.8%). Eleven volatile compounds had odour activity values > 1, representing those with a major impact on the aroma of mead. Significant differences (p 0.05) were observed for remaining compounds. Copyright © 2017 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling. ; A. Pascoal would like to thank Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Programa Operacional Pontencial Humano and European Union for his postdoctoral grant (SFRH/BPD/91380/ 2012). The authors are grateful to FCT, Portugal and Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) under Programme PT2020 for financial support to Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO) (UID/AGR/00690/2013). This work was supported by the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569) funded by national funds through the FCT I.P. and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion