Category: News

On 3 and 4 September, a project meeting was held in the European project QALIBRA in Reykjavík.

QALIBRA, or "Quality of Life - Integarted Benefit and Risk Analysis. Web-based tool for assessing food safety and health benefits, ”Abbreviated QALIBRA (Heilsuvogin in Icelandic), is the title of a European project, which falls under Priority 5, Food Quality & Safety in the 6th EU Research Program. This is a three and a half year project managed by Matís ohf. The project manager is Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir, department manager at Matís.

The aim of the QALIBRA project is to develop quantitative methods to assess both the positive and negative effects of food ingredients on human health. These methods will be presented in a computer program that will be open to stakeholders on the World Wide Web.

Participants in the project are from Iceland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal and Hungary.

Matís has completed a preliminary project that was funded by the Rannís Technology Development Fund in collaboration with the canning factory Ice-W ehf. Grindavík. The project focused on liver enzyme treatment for canning. The aim of the project was to increase the profitability of canning of the liver by reducing production costs and increasing the quality of products.

The aim of the project was achieved by developing and testing a technology that removes membranes and ringworms from the surface of the liver with enzymes. A method of brine salting was also developed for canning instead of putting salt directly into cans with the raw material, as is done today.

The results of the project are promising as they managed to reduce the number of ringworms in the liver by 80%, and soften the membrane significantly. The purpose of removing or softening the membrane surrounding the liver was to provide better and more even dosing in cans and increase utilization, as well as the resulting optimization of the processing process. It is possible to reduce the number of full-time equivalents during liver cleansing, as well as increase the efficiency by 100%, with this method. A grant has been received from AVS to work further on these issues.

The results and benefits of the project mainly consist of new technology for the removal of liver membranes and ringworms, which leads to improved procedures and streamlining of processing. Salt brine salting for canning results in a better and more even quality of product. As a result, the value added of canned liver increases, which creates increased value for seafood for both the company and the nation as a whole.

The project manager is Ásbjörn Jónsson, a specialist at Matís.

Tomorrow, Thursday 4 September, Matís will receive good guests. It is an 11-member delegation from Hokkaido Island in Japan that comes to Iceland on behalf of METI, but it is an acronym for Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry. The group will get acquainted with Matís' operations, especially the company's biotechnology division, and the reception will take place in the Biotechnology Division's premises at Gylfaflöt 5, Grafarvogur. There, the various projects that Matís has been working on recently will be introduced, as well as the company will be introduced in a broader context.

In addition to visiting Matís, the group will get to know the activities of MS, both in Reykjavík and Selfoss, as well as visit the Farmers' Association, the Icelandic Export Council and the Japanese Embassy.

The delegation consists of the following:

Mr Mitsuo Izumi, Chief Technical Officer and Factory Director, Hokkaido Milk Product Co., Ltd.
Mr Yoshinori Okada, Senior Managing Director, Obihiro Shinkin Bank.
Mr Takuma Kameda, Associate Plant Manager, NAGANUMA Ice CO., LTD.
Mr Makoto Kawakami, Supervisor Livestock Product Section, Hokkaido Food Processing Research Center
Mr Toshio Sato, CEO, Managing Director, BETSUKAI NYUGYO KOUSYA CO., LTD.
Mr Hideyuki Nagasawa, President, National University Corporation Obihiro University of Agriculture and Verterinary Medicine
Mr Yohsinoru Nagata, Deputy Director General, Hokkaido Food Processing Research Center
Mr Tadashi Nagamura, Senior Assistant Professor, National University Corporation Obihiro University of Agriculture and Verterinary Medicine
Mr Hiroshi Nishino, Director International Exchange Department, Institute for International Studies and Training
Mr Toshihiro Hirahata, Deputy-Director International Affairs Division Industries Department, Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Mr Kiyoshi Yamaguchi, Director Administration Bureau, National University Corporation
Obihiro University of Agriculture and Verterinary Medicine.

On the 27th of August Matís received a group of 7 people from the Joint Research Center (JRC), but the Joint Research Center - JRC - consists of several research centers funded by the 7th Framework Program and is intended to support the policy-making, development and implementation of EU policies. The reception took place in the premises of the Matís Biotechnology Department, Prokaria, at Gylfaflöt in Grafarvogur.

The group got to know the operations and received an introduction to the company from Sjöfna Sigurgísladóttir, CEO of Matís, and also an introduction to the Department of Biotechnology from Ragnar Jóhannsson, division manager. After the presentations, Ragnar led the group around the building, showed them the laboratories of the Biotechnology Department and told more about the main aspects of the operation. Finally, the group gathered in the company's dining hall and had an informal, but lively chat, as well as enjoying light refreshments.

The group that visited Matís this time included: Elke Anklam, Director General of the EU Health and Consumer Agency, Roger Hurst from the EU Energy Agency, Frank Raes from the EU Environment and Sustainability Agency, and Thomas Barbas from the Organization for the Safety and Protection of Citizens in the EU.

From the 15th to the 17th of September, the 9th International Conference on the Application of Magnetic Resonance in Food Science will be held at the Nordic House in Reykjavík. It is Matís who has problems with her preparation. According to María Guðjónsdóttir, who has had difficulties in preparing for the conference, almost 100 people from all over the world have already announced their participation in the conference.

The conference is the ninth in a series of popular conference series, held every two years. It brings together the leading experts in Magnetic Resonance in food research in the world today, together with participants from the food industry and others. This time the emphasis will be on the use of this technology in fish and meat research and how the technology can be used in food production processes in general.

Although nuclear and electronic research is not new, the technology has only been used in food research to a limited extent in Iceland so far. By holding the conference here in Iceland, an attempt is made to present the great possibilities and advantages that this technology has for Icelandic researchers and the food industry, thus deepening the understanding of the Icelandic food industry and researchers of behavior and the changes that food undergoes in its production processes.

Paper presented at the conference will also be published in the form of scientific articles in a magnificent conference proceedings, which will be distributed to all participants. The publication is published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom. All posters presented at the conference will also be published on its website after the conference.

It should be noted that the last time the conference was held in Nottingham, England, in July 2006, Mary was invited to give a talk on the project. "Low field NMR study of the state of water at superchilling and freezing temperatures and the effect of salt on freezing processes of water in cod mince”Which she presented on a poster and was chosen as one of the four most interesting posters of the conference.

Further information on the conference agenda and presentations can be found on the conference website www.matis.is/mrinfood2008 Registrations and inquiries are accepted at the e-mail address mrinfood2008@matis.is or in phone 422 5091 (María Guðjónsdóttir).   

The conference is sponsored by Matís ohf., The University of Iceland, the Nordic Marine Academy, Bruker Optics, Stelar, Woodhouse Publishing and the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Búnaðarsamband Suðurlands 2008, a magnificent and extensive agricultural exhibition will be held at Gaddstaðaflatur by Hella from the 22nd to the 24th. August 2008. Matís will present various agricultural projects that the company is working on at the exhibition.

In addition, those lamb producers will receive information on a survey on interest in cooperating in a development project on smoked and dried lamb, which was presented on Matís' external website earlier this week.

Finally, Matís gives the kids a joy that should be useful at school, which starts in most places next week.

Those who have errands east of the mountain should therefore stop by and observe the ram's head and take part in the tuition fees and, stop by Matís' booth.

Matís is preparing a project on smoked and dried lamb and is looking for cooperation with small, local companies for the development of smoked and dried lamb products. Air-dried lamb should have the same status as air-dried ham (such as Parma, San Daniels and Serrano) in southern Europe.

Matís examines producers' interest in participating in a development project on smoked and dried lamb. The project is divided into two parts, on the one hand education and product development related to local food production and food tourism in Iceland and on the other hand collaboration with parties in the Faroe Islands and Norway on the development of air-dried / smoked lamb products.

The first part of the project is an analysis of the state of affairs in Iceland, i.e. an assessment of how many people are producing or are interested in producing smoked and / or dried mutton and to realize the need for and interest in education, consulting and collaboration on product development and promotion / marketing of these products.

As part of the project, a survey has now been prepared with the aim of examining who is interested in and the current state of production of air-dried lamb is in this country. Matís encourages everyone who is interested in the issue to participate. The survey will be open for participation until 5 September.

Week 17.-24. August, Matís runs a course in collaboration with the University of Iceland, for doctoral students. The title of the course is "Interplay of sensory evaluation, consumer and market factors in product development", and the aim is, as the name implies, to use information on sensory evaluation, consumers and market factors in product development. The course is fully booked and will be attended by a total of 24 students from Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

As stated above, the aim is to utilize information on sensory evaluation, consumers and market factors in product development. The purpose of the course is to train doctoral students in using sensory evaluation methods and consumer surveys in product development, innovation and marketing. The task of the course will be to produce a healthier version of a product that is already on the market. A healthier product can be, for example, a product with a lower content of saturated fat or salt.

The speakers will be Nordic and international experts. Every day there will be theoretical lectures with practical exercises to shed light on the subject. The course is therefore an ideal opportunity for Nordic doctoral students and other students in this field.

The content of the course is:

Product knowledge - Taste and smell of food
• Why is there an interest in the taste and smell of food? The role of raw material treatment, processing and the effect of new ingredients in the formation of taste and smell is a necessary knowledge for product development researchers. A variety of technologies and methods are used in the food industry to reduce fat and salt in foods to meet consumer desires for healthier foods.

Sensory evaluation and training of judges
• In sensory evaluation, definitions of factors that describe the appearance, smell, taste and texture of food are important. Descriptive sensory analysis will be used theoretically and linked to training, monitoring and evaluation of judges.

Factors that affect how consumers experience food perception.
• Expectations affect how much consumers enjoy and like certain foods as well as the taste experience of the food. Information about the health effects of food and the origin of henna is an important message that affects consumer expectations and experiences. 

Different consumer segmentation and product acceptance
• New foods are often designed for specific groups of consumers. Consumers can be divided into groups according to different factors, for example according to geographical factors, attitudes or tastes.

Consumer surveys and the relationship between taste and quality factors (preference mapping)
• Consumer tastes and choices can be linked to the sensory aspects of a product using a method called preference mapping. With this method, sensory evaluation with a trained group is used to explain and predict consumer choices.

Consumer behavior and marketing
• From a marketing perspective, the most interesting research questions related to consumer preferences and behaviors are: Understanding how consumer tastes are formed, how they are stored in memory, and can be influenced, ie what determines whether tastes are determined or not and when external circumstances influence choice and behavior.

Statistics

• Statistics are a key factor in sensory evaluation and consumer research. If the experimental design is not done correctly at the beginning of the experiments, the results of the experiments are very often meaningless both when analyzing sensory evaluation factors and examining consumers' tastes. Statistics and graphical presentation of data are an essential tool in the training of sensory evaluation judges. After collecting data on sensory evaluation factors and consumers, proper statistics and data processing are necessary to ensure that the correct information is obtained from the data. 

For further information, contact Emilía Martinsdóttir, tel. 422 5032 or emilia.martinsdottir@matis.is

Heavy metal pollution in the sea around the country is generally well below international standards, according to a new report by Matís on changes in the marine environment around the country. Heavy metals are elements that originate in nature but their concentration can increase due to human action (eg mining).

Since 1989, an annual monitoring project of pollutants in the marine environment around Iceland has been underway. The project is funded by the Ministry for the Environment and is managed by a so-called AMSUM group, which works under the auspices of the Ministry. Members of this working group are from Matís, the Icelandic Radiation Protection Authority, the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the Icelandic Environment Agency, the Marine Research Institute and the Ministry of the Environment.

Various pollutants in the ocean can enter marine organisms or organisms that feed on seafood. In many cases, this pollution is man-made and there is growing concern about this development. Neither pollution nor animals respect borders, and pollutants reach here by air and sea currents, whether we care about it or not. It is therefore important to monitor the amount of pollutants in this country, whether in the air, on land or in the womb, and no less so in the organisms that live by the land. It is also important to be able to compare our position with the situation in other countries. This is especially important because of the importance of seafood to the nation.

As stated above, the monitoring has been going on since 1989 and its purpose is threefold:.

? Firstly, to examine whether the amount of pollutants is increasing in the sea off Iceland.
? Secondly, to assess whether human health is endangered by the consumption of seafood.
? Thirdly, to assess whether the marine environment is at risk of pollution.

To investigate this, samples of cod and sandeel are taken at four locations around the country each year and mussels are collected at 11 locations around the country.

Cod is chosen for monitoring due to its high distribution and importance in fishing. Cod in general monitoring are in the length range 30-45 cm (3-6 years) and are caught before spawning in March each year. Sand coal is a bottom-dwelling fish species that lives in a relatively demarcated area and is therefore well suited for monitoring. The samples are in the length range of 20-35 cm and taken in March like the cod samples. Mussels are a local species and reflect the presence of pollutants in the coastal area where they live, but samples are taken before spawning in August / September.

These samples measure inorganic (heavy metals) and organic trace elements. The heavy metals lead, cadmium, mercury, copper and zinc, the persistent organic pollutants HCH, HCB, PCB, chloride, DDT and TBT and the radioactive substance Cs-137 are measured. Matís measures heavy metals in the above samples and ensures that persistent organic pollutants are also measured in them.

Matís' report presents the results of the monitoring project for the years 2006 and 2007. The aim of the monitoring project is to identify changes that may occur in the concentration of trace elements in the marine environment around the country during a certain period and between different ocean and coastal areas. Among other things, the research is important for the sale of Icelandic seafood in foreign markets, where it can be demonstrated with scientific data that Icelandic fish is caught in an unpolluted environment.

The report (Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland in 2006 - 2007) states that the concentration of heavy metals such as mercury is very low. However, the concentration of cadmium has sometimes been higher in the marine environment in Iceland than in more southerly areas. However, the amount of cadmium is low in the organisms studied, for example in the range of 0.1-1 mg / kg in mussels. The high concentration of cadmium in Iceland is considered to have natural causes as there has been no evidence of man-made cadmium pollution. Thus, for example, cadmium levels in mussels have been higher in recent years in various places that are far from residential areas and commercial activities, such as in Mjóafjörður, than in Hvalfjörður and Straumsvík.

Read the report

In the picture below, Dr. Sasan Rabieh, employee of Matís' Chemical Research Department and lead author of the report.

The company Loyalty from the sea began the development of spicy silver and salt-puree in 2006, but that year it was awarded a grant from the AVS Research Fund's small project category to develop a product from Icelandic food algae and examine whether the market for those products is opening domestically, examine whether the market is large enough to it pays to take care of it and consider selling sales to foreign health and consumer goods markets. Hollusta from the sea and Matís now plan to complete product development on the above-mentioned product.

The project will review recipes, packaging and appearance in order to highlight the image and properties that are sought, ie. a tasty product with a good shelf life that also brings health and quality. Then a production process will be designed for processing and packaging of the product.

Spicy salt and puree salt, mashed salt, is a new delicacy. There is a spicy kelp in the market abroad, but it is not known that there are spicy salts for sale. This is an exciting product that will no doubt fit in well with the country, given the growing interest in Icelandic cuisine in Iceland, such as sushi, where dried food algae play a major role.

The founder of Hollusta úr hafinu ehf is Eyjólfur Friðgeirsson and the project manager on behalf of Matís is Þóra Valsdóttir. According to Þóra, work on the project will begin in full force in September, but she says that the best time to collect silver is in the spring and autumn. 

The AVS fund and Matís are supporting the new project.