This paper investigates differences in efficacy of isolating pathogenic bacteria Salmonella Enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 between conventional cultivation (ISO method) and immunomagnetic separation (IMS method) related to the types of dairy products and initial numbers of bacteria. Different milk products (dairy pudding- vanilla or chocolate ; a mixture of yoghurt and pudding ; solid, liquid and fruit yoghurt ; AB culture - with or without fruit ; cheese spread) were intentionally contaminated with different numbers (≈10 and ≈30) of live cells of the observed bacteria per mL. The obtained results showed that the classical ISO procedure still represents an equally adequate method for the detection of S. Enteritidis and L. monocytogenes in dairy products as well as the IMS method. However, the ISO method was found to be inefficient for determination of E. coli O157:H7 when the initial contamination was low (≈10 live cells per mL). In such cases, even the IMS method appeared to be inefficient when used for fermented dairy products analysis. Fermented dairy products in contrast to the non-fermented ones, still represent a challenge for the development of routine detection methods, especially for S. Enteritidis, whilst the detection of L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 has improved by introducing the IMS method. The largest difference in the ability to detect bacteria in dairy product samples with reference to the initial number of bacteria by both methods was in the detection of E. coli O157:H7. The choice of broth (non- selective fluid broth vs. selective fluid broth) did not matter in the in the detection of S. Enteritidis and L. monocytogenes by applying the IMS procedure. However, for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 the application of modified tripton-soya broth with novobiocin (mTSB+Nb) has proved to be superior when compared to using the buffered peptone water (BPW). The presented results may be of importance as a scientific basis for future determination of standard methods related to laboratory detection of pathogens in dairy products.

High dietary sodium intake is an important public health issue. A high level of sodium intake is a risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular diseases. High sodium consumption is also associated with risk of osteoporosis, kidney disease and stomach cancer. Knowledge about sodium consumption and food sources contributing most to sodium intake can be useful in reducing salt intake. There is no country-specific sodium reduction policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of this study was to determine sodium consumption in food, and to assess the most contributing sources of sodium in nutrition of student population in the city of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Students (n = 176) of the University of Banja Luka completed a questionnaire on their: gender, age, faculty attended, and the food frequency dietary recall. The sodium content in foods was calculated using the data obtained by analyzing salt content in foods (n = 55 food items). The salt content was analyzed by the Mohr method by titration with AgNO 3 . Contribution of different food groups to the total sodium intake was calculated. The mean estimated daily sodium intake from FFQ was 3,349 mg (95% CI, 3,231 3,469). The food groups that contributed the most to the total sodium intake of the students were processed meat products (29.37%), fast food (28.84%) and bread and bakery products (24.21%). The sodium intake among student population is higher than recommended. The most important source of sodium are fast food, bread and bakery products and cured meat products. The findings may be a call for organized and comprehensive public health interventions for reducing salt intake in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The aim of the paper was to determine the level of soil contamination with lead and perform risk assessment by calculating the Hazard Quotient Index (HQI). The research was carried out during 2015 and 2016 at three locations in Herzegovina (Mostar, Capljina, and Stolac), where nectarine cultivars ('Big Top' and 'Caldesi 2000') were cultivated. At the Mostar and Capljina locations, the total content of lead in the soil exceeded MPC values in both years of research. Estimated daily intake (EDI) and estimated weekly intake (EWI) values of lead in the studied nectarine varieties showed no acute or chronic risk for human health.