The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has released its latest Food and Nutrition Research Briefs.
The ARS briefs include data from ComBase, an online quantitative food microbiology database that boasts over 65,000 records to drive efforts for better food safety programs as well as documenting regulatory compliance, the ARS reported in a release.
"ARS Food and Nutrition Research Briefs is available on the web," the ARS reported. "Readers can subscribe, signing up for either of two email options. They can receive the full text of the newsletter by email or simply an advisory when a new issue has been posted online."
ComBase is also proving to be a financial benefit, saving the food industry millions of dollars in testing and other related expenses each year, the ARS reported. The database can also head off potential food recalls and foodborne illnesses.
The brief includes information on isochoric freezing, a new method that could result in frozen foods that are safer and of a higher quality, the ARS reported. The new method can protect food from freezer burn as well, which is a leading issue impacting food quality.
The brief also cites a method of using peanut skins, which generally are a waste product in the production of peanut butter, to enhance milk chocolate by increasing antioxidant levels, the ARS reported. The skins contain compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
