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FRANCESCO GIUSEPPE GALLUZZO

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2024 - Determination of Mycotoxins in Plant-Based Meat Alternatives (PBMAs) and Ingredients after Microwave Cooking [Articolo su rivista]
Galluzzo, Francesco Giuseppe; Cammilleri, Gaetano; Pulvirenti, Andrea; Mannino, Erika; Pantano, Licia; Calabrese, Vittorio; Buscemi, Maria Drussilla; Messina, Elisa Maria Domenica; Alfano, Calogero; Macaluso, Andrea; Ferrantelli, Vincenzo
abstract

In this study, we investigate the role of microwave cooking in reducing mycotoxin contamination in plant-based food matrices, with a focus on veggie burgers (purchased and home-made) and their ingredients (soybean, potatoes, zucchini, carrots). Two different conditions were studied (Max–Min) that were 800 W for 60 s and 800 W for 90 s, respectively. The degradation patterns of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), fumonisins (FB1, FB2, FB3), trichothecenes (T2, HT2, ZEA), and ochratoxin A (OTA) were studied. The extraction procedures were conducted with the QuEChERS extraction, and the analyses were conducted with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that degradation under microwave cooking varies considerably across different food matrices and cooking conditions. This study provides valuable insights into the degradation of mycotoxins during microwave cooking and underscores the need for more research in this area to ensure food safety.

2022 - Fatty Acids Composition of Stomach Oil of Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) from Linosa’s Colony [Articolo su rivista]
Galluzzo, Francesco Giuseppe; Cumbo, Valentina; Cammilleri, Gaetano; Calabrese, Vittorio; Pulvirenti, Andrea; Cicero, Nicola; Pantano, Licia; Mascetti, Antonietta; Lo Cascio, Giovanni; Bacchi, Emanuela; Macaluso, Andrea; Vella, Antonio; Seminara, Salvatore; Ferrantelli, Vincenzo
abstract

Calonectris diomedea is a Procellariforms seabird having a very representative colony in Linosa Island (Southern Italy). The adult forms of C. diomedea produce a pasty oil from their proven- triculus to feed their chicks during the rearing period. In this work, we examined the fatty acids composition of the stomach oil of C. diomedea from Linosa Island by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The samples were collected at 20 and 70 days after hatching. Twenty different fatty acids (FAs) were identified. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were the most abundant in percentage (41.6%) at day 20 followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 38.7%) and monounsat- urated fatty acids (MUFA, 19.7%). MUFAs were the most abundant in samples collected at day 70 (53.8%), followed by SFAs (36.6%) and PUFAs (9.8%). Oleic acid (C18:1ω9) in the samples on day 70 was 4 times higher than that in the samples on day 20. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) verified a clear separation of the stomach oil samples in two groups, according to the day of sampling. The results obtained confirm the role of FAs analysis of stomach oil to understand the ecology and breeding behaviour of C. diomedea, highlighting a resemblance with signatures recorded in marine organisms of Linosa Island.

2022 - Trace elements in stomach oil of Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) from Linosa's colony [Articolo su rivista]
Cumbo, V.; Galluzzo, F. G.; Cammilleri, G.; Mascetti, A.; Lo Cascio, G.; Giangrosso, I. E.; Pulvirenti, A.; Seminara, S.; Ferrantelli, V.
abstract

Calonectris diomedea is a colonial Procellariiform breeding on Mediterranean islands. The stomach oil produced during chick rearing is a peculiar trait of this species. The composition of the stomach oil is likely to reflect the composition of the prey ingested and might reveal the contaminants uptake with prey becoming a possible tool for the marine pollution monitoring. We examined the concentration of 15 trace elements by ICP-MS and direct mercury analyser. The principal component analysis revealed a heterogeneous pattern of metal concentration, showing a significant separation between samples collected 20 and 70 days after hatching. The data obtained in this work give preliminary information on the feeding habits and breeding ecology of Linosa's colony of Scopoli's shearwater. The trace metals variability found suggest that the stomach oil may have a role as trophic markers to understand predator-prey relationships and to have evidence on the accumulation of pollutants in the latter.

2021 - Acrylamide assessment of wheat bread incorporating chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) by LC-LM/MS [Articolo su rivista]
Galluzzo, Francesco Giuseppe; Cammilleri, Gaetano; Pantano, Licia; Lo Cascio, Giovanni; Pulvirenti, Andrea; Macaluso, Andrea; Vella, Antonio; Ferrantelli, Vincenzo
abstract

We examined the acrylamide content in samples of wheat bread with chia seeds added at different concentrations (2%, 5%, 7%, 10%) and cooked at predefined conditions (20 min at 200°C) by a validated LC-MS/M method after QuEChERS extraction. The acrylamide contents of the bread samples with added chia seeds were compared with control wheat bread samples. The highest acrylamide values were found in bread with 5% chia seeds, showing a mean value of 156.5 ± 115.4 µg/kg, followed by bread with 10% chia seeds (150.2 ± 103.8 µg/kg). About 6% of the bread samples with added chia seeds reached acrylamide levels above the benchmark level set by the EU Regulation. No significant differences in acrylamide values were found between control samples and bread with different percentages of chia seeds (p > .05). The results obtained provide a first report on the possible contribution of chia to the increase of acrylamide formation in bread.

2021 - High hydroxycinnamic acids contents in fennel honey produced in Southern Italy [Articolo su rivista]
Vella, Antonio; Cammilleri, Gaetano; Pulvirenti, Andrea; Galluzzo, Francesco; Randisi, Barbara; Giangrosso, Giuseppe; Macaluso, Andrea; Gennaro, Samuele; Ciaccio, Gabriele; Cicero, Nicola; Ferrantelli, Vincenzo
abstract

A total of 122 honey samples (Apis mellifera ssp. Ligustica) collected from Southern Italy were examined for floral identification by melissopalynological examination and for polyphenols detection by an LC-ESI-OrbitrapTM -MS/MS method. The melissopalynological examination confirmed all the samples examined as fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) unifloral variety. The analytical method carried out for polyphenols detection showed satisfactory linearity and recovery values, achieved during the validation of the method. Very high amounts of flavonols (kaempferol and quercetin) and hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid), were found in all the samples examined. Among the hydroxycinnamic acids group, caffeic acid showed the highest mean contents (865.90 ± 67.07 µg/kg). The results of this work confirmed the high presence of phenolic acids with strong free radical-scavenging activity in fennel products such as honey, suggesting their use to reduce oxidative stress.

2021 - QuEChERS LC–MS/MS Screening Method for Mycotoxin Detection in Cereal Products and Spices [Articolo su rivista]
Pantano, Licia; La Scala, Ladislao; Olibrio, Francesco; Galluzzo, Francesco Giuseppe; Bongiorno, Carmelo; Buscemi, Maria Drussilla; Macaluso, Andrea; Vella, Antonio
abstract

2021 - The cold chain and the COVID-19 pandemic: an unusual increase in histamine content in fish samples collected in Southern Italy during lockdown [Articolo su rivista]
Galluzzo, Francesco Giuseppe; Cammilleri, Gaetano; Cicero, Antonello; Pantano, Licia; Pulvirenti, Andrea; Macaluso, Andrea; Cicero, Nicola; Calabrese, Vittorio; Ferrantelli, Vincenzo
abstract

Objectives We analysed 900 samples of fresh (250) and processed (650) fish products collected in Sicily (Southern Italy) in 2020 during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic (hereafter: COVID-19). Materials and methods The samples were divided temporally based on five phases relating to the various restrictions imposed by the Italian government in this period. The validated method of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) combined with a diode array detector (DAD) was then employed for the analysis. Results The samples collected during the Phase I lockdown period and after it had ended (Phase II) revealed significant increases in the mean histamine levels: 41.89±87.58 mg/kg -1 and 24.91±76.76 mg/kg -1, respectively. The 11 (1.3% of the total) fresh fish samples that were identified as being non-compliant with EC Reg. 2073/2005 were only found during these two periods. All the processed samples were always compliant. The histamine values decreased as the restrictions eased, achieving a mean value of 11.16±9.3 mgkg -1 (Phase III). Conclusions There was an increase in the incidence of fish samples that were non-compliant with EC Reg. 2073/2005 compared to previous surveillance data. These results provide a first report on the effect of lockdown measures on food safety and the cold chain. Our findings must cause food safety operators to intensify their controls over fresh fish products in such periods to safeguard consumer health. Further studies are required to evaluate whether the same trend would be observed with other food contaminants.

2020 - Development of a rapid and eco-friendly UHPLC analytical method for the detection of histamine in fish products [Articolo su rivista]
Cicero, A.; Galluzzo, F. G.; Cammilleri, G.; Pulvirenti, A.; Giangrosso, G.; Macaluso, A.; Vella, A.; Ferrantelli, V.
abstract

We developed, validated, and confirmed with proficiency tests a fast ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD) method to determine histamine in fish and fishery products. The proposed method consists of two successive solid–liquid extractions: one with a dilute solution of perchloric acid (6%) and the second only with water. The instrumental analysis with UHPLC provides a very fast run time (only 6 min) with a retention time of approximately 4 min, a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 7.2 mg kg−1, a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.2 mg kg−1, a recovery around 100%, a relative standard deviation (RSD%) between 0.5 and 1.4, and an r2 of calibration curve equal to 0.9995. The method detected optimal values of the validation parameters and required a limited number of reagents in comparison to other methods reported in the literature. Furthermore, the method could detect histamine in a very short time compared with other methods. This method, in addition to being validated, precise, specific, and accurate, avoids wasting time, money, and resources, and limits the use of organic solvents.

2020 - Histamine in fish products randomly collected in Southern Italy: A 6-year study [Articolo su rivista]
Cicero, A.; Cammilleri, G.; Galluzzo, F. G.; Calabrese, I.; Pulvirenti, A.; Giangrosso, G.; Cicero, N.; Cumbo, V.; Vella, A.; MacAluso, A.; Ferrantelli, V.
abstract

In total, 4,615 fresh and processed fish samples collected from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed for histamine by ultrahighperformance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Histamine levels were detected in 352 (7.6%) samples, with a maximum of 4,110 mg kg1 and mean values of 908.9 6 1,226.79 and 344.01 6 451.18 mg kg1 for fresh and processed fish samples, respectively. No histamine levels were found in canned tuna and smoked fish samples in contrast to most of the data reported in the literature. A low percentage (2.79%) of noncompliant samples was found. The highest mean values were found during 2011 and 2015 for fresh and processed fish samples, respectively, showing a significant (P , 0.05) difference between the sampling years. The histamine contents found in fresh fish samples were significantly higher (P , 0.05) than those of processed samples. Most of the positive samples came from street vendors, suggesting the need to improve inspection measures in these commercial categories to ensure fish product safety.

2019 - Land Snails as a Valuable Source of Fatty Acids: A Multivariate Statistical Approach [Articolo su rivista]
Galluzzo, Francesco Giuseppe; Cammilleri, Gaetano; Ulrici, Alessandro; Calvini, Rosalba; Pulvirenti, Andrea; Lo Cascio, Giovanni; Macaluso, Andrea; Vella, Antonio; Cicero, Nicola; Amato, Andtonella; Ferrantelli, Vincenzo
abstract

The fatty acid (FA) profile of wild Theba pisana, Cornu aspersum, and Eobania vermiculata land snail samples, collected in Sicily (Southern Italy), before and after heat treatment at +100 °C were examined by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC‐FID). The results show a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in all of the examined raw snails samples, representing up to 48.10% of the total fatty acids contents, followed by monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). The thermal processing of the snail samples examined determined an overall reduction of PUFA levels (8.13%, 7.75%, and 4.62% for T. pisana, C. aspersum and E. vermiculata samples, respectively) and a species‐specific variation of saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents. Oleic acid remained the most abundant FA of all of the snails species examined, accounting for up to 29.95% of the total FA content. A relevant decrease of ɷ3/ɷ6 ratio was found only for T. pisana samples. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed a separation of the snail samples in terms of species and heat treatment. The results of this work suggest land snails as a valuable source of MUFA and PUFA contents and boiling as appropriate treatment, according to the maintenance of healthy properties.

2019 - Mercury Detection in Benthic and Pelagic Fish Collected from Western Sicily (Southern Italy) [Articolo su rivista]
Cammilleri, Gaetano; Galluzzo, Francesco Giuseppe; Fazio, Francesco; Pulvirenti, Andrea; Vella, Antonio; Lo Dico, Gianluigi Maria; Macaluso, Andrea; Ciaccio, Gabriele; Ferrantelli, Vincenzo
abstract

In highly polluted water, fish can accumulate mercury up to a concentration of 10 mgKg-1. This has occurred on the eastern coasts of Sicily (Southern Italy), probably due to the intense industrial activity of this area. However, little is known about Hg accumulation in fish of the western Sicilian coasts. In this work, we examined the Hg accumulation of 108 fish samples belonging to 14 species collected from western Sicilian coasts using a direct mercury analyzer. The samples showed a mean mercury concentration of 0.165 ± 0.22 mg kg-1 with a maximum in Lepidopus caudatus (1.72 mgKg-1), exceeding the limits provided by EC Reg. 1881/2006. The lowest Hg levels were found in Sparus aurata samples (0.001 mgKg-1). A significant difference was found between the fish species examined (p < 0.05). The comparison between benthic and pelagic species did not show statistical differences (p < 0.05). Fish food constitutes the main route of Hg uptake for humans. Only four of the 130 samples examined reached a mercury concentration over the European limits. The comparative analysis of Hg pollution for benthic and pelagic species did not confirm a different trend in metal contamination.