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Understand the correlates of ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and examine the association of UPF on body mass index in children aged 3–5 years. Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of 3–5-year-olds/parent, followed 1-year between March 2014 and October 2016. Usual UPF intake from 2 3-day food records completed 1 year apart, a standardized nutrient database customized with child-specific foods, and a NOVA food classification system was used. Child/parent characteristics and media use were measured via parent-reported surveys. Child weight/height objectively measured. New Hampshire community. Six hundred and sixty-seven parent-child dyads were screened, and 624 were enrolled with 90% follow-up. Primary outcome: identify correlates of UPF intake. Secondary outcome: determine if UPF intake is associated with body mass index change. Adjusted β linear regression, linear regression, P <0.05. Ultra-processed food accounted for 67.6% of total caloric intake. In adjusted models, children's UPF intake was positively associated with increasing child age, greater hours watching television, and more frequent parent soda/fast-food intake. Ultra-processed food intake was negatively associated with higher parent education and reported race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White. There was no association between UPF intake and weight. There are several predictors of UPF intake in young children. Family-level interventions could be implemented to encourage the intake of minimally processed foods before and during preschool years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identify and describe diet patterns of children during early childhood using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Longitudinal data were drawn from the STRONG Kids 2 program. Mothers were surveyed about their child's diet at 24 (n = 337), 36 (n = 317), and 48 (n = 289) months old. The Block Food Frequency Questionnaire for children aged 2–7 years was used to derive diet patterns; 23 food groups were created for analyses. Principal component analysis was used to obtain preliminary factor loadings, and loadings were used to form a priori hypotheses for CFA-derived diet patterns. Independent samples t tests were used to compare food groups, nutrient intakes, and child and family characteristics by CFA pattern scores above vs at/below the median. Three diet patterns consistently emerged: (1) processed meats, sweets, and fried foods; (2) vegetables, legumes, and starchy vegetables; and (3) grains, nuts/seeds, and condiments (only 24 and 36 months). Patterns were related to differences in added sugars, dietary fiber and potassium intakes, maternal education, and household income. Opposing healthful vs Western patterns, extant in child and adult literature, were observed across all ages. The third pattern differed between 24/36 and 48 months, representing a potential shift in food choices or offerings as children age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep problems are prevalent during adolescence, and modifying dietary factors may contribute to better sleep outcomes in adolescents. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of modifiable dietary factors on sleep health among adolescents. A systematic search of records from six databases including MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and the CENTRAL from inception up to November 2023, identified 33 peer-reviewed publications that assessed the relationship between modifiable dietary factors and sleep outcomes in adolescents aged 12–18 years. The NIH Quality Assessment Tools were used to assess the quality of the included studies. Meta-analysis was performed on a sub-group of studies (n = 6) to ascertain the effect of dietary factors on sleep health. Although the included studies were predominantly cross-sectional and exhibited heterogeneity, relying mainly on self-reported measures, it was observed that consumption of healthy foods was consistently linked with improved sleep outcomes among adolescents, whereas higher intake of fat-rich or sugar-rich foods and red meats or processed food was associated with poorer sleep features. The meta-analysis further substantiated that adolescents with higher caffeine intake faced increased odds of sleep problems (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.28–2.17), while alcohol consumption was significantly associated with insomnia (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07–1.27). Overall, despite high heterogeneity among studies, this systematic review underscores the promising role of healthy dietary factors in enhancing both the quality and quantity of sleep in adolescents. The meta-analysis results also highlight that reducing caffeine and alcohol intake holds potential for supporting better sleep in this population. However, further validation through intervention studies is warranted. • Examining dietary factors affecting sleep is crucial during adolescence, as this is a key stage for developmental plasticity. • Healthy diets improve sleep outcomes, whereas unhealthy diets are linked to poorer sleep features among adolescents. • Reducing the consumption of caffeine and alcohol can have positive effects on promoting better sleep in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushroom waste can account for up to 50% of the total mushroom mass. Spent mushroom substrate, misshapen mushrooms, and mushroom stems are examples of mushroom byproducts. In ancient cultures, fungi were prized for their medicinal properties. Aqueous extracts containing high levels of β-glucans as functional components capable of providing prebiotic polysaccharides and improved texture to foods have been widely used and new methods have been tested to improve extraction yields. Similarly, the addition of insoluble polysaccharides controls the glycemic index, counteracting the effects of increasingly high-calorie diets. Numerous studies support these benefits in vitro , but evidence in vivo is scarce. Nonetheless, many authors have created a variety of functional foods, ranging from yogurt to noodles. In this review, we focus on the pharmacological properties of edible mushroom by-products, and the possible risks derived from its consumption. By incorporating these by-products into human or animal feed formulations, mushroom producers will be able to fully optimize crop use and pave the way for the industry to move toward a zero-waste paradigm. • The edible mushroom industry generates recoverable byproducts due to the wide variety of bioactive components of mushrooms. • Mushroom stems are rich in polysaccharides with prebiotic and antiglycemic properties. • The by-products can be used in the formulation of functional foods, natural flavor enhancers and thickening agents. • Feeds supplemented with mushroom stems improve intestinal health in aquaculture and livestock farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the barriers and facilitators to online food purchasing through a meal kit and grocery shopping website titled NY SNAP Express among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries. A purposive sample of SNAP-eligible adults residing in New York State participated in interviews guided by the Capabilities, Opportunities, Motivations, and Behaviors Model. Barriers to online food purchasing among participants (n = 32) include physiological and health conditions, the weight of food, technology, language, the price of foods, transportation challenges, the stigma associated with SNAP, and concerns regarding the quantity and quality of meal kits. Facilitators include health and nutrition improvements, knowledge and skills, saving money, culturally relevant meals, increased efficiency in food purchases and preparation, and customization. Online platforms such as NY SNAP Express have the potential to increase nutritious food access and resources among SNAP recipients; however, improvements are necessary to meet the needs of its audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is abundantly present in nature and accountable for sporadic and epidemic cases of listeriosis in humans. The objective of this study was to screen common food sources for L. monocytogenes using biochemical and molecular methods to detect and characterise its toxin genes as well as for biofilm formation. A total of 92 samples, comprising dairy and street food products, were randomly collected from various sources for this investigation. The collected samples were processed for biochemical and molecular methods to detect L. monocytogenes. Additionally, virulence factors associated genes, antibiogram profiles and biofilm formation related assays were determined. L. monocytogenes presence was confirmed using molecular detection methods targeting prs and lmo 1030 genes, along with MALDI-TOF MS. Following 16 S rRNA sequencing, the identified Listeria species were further categorised into two groups. L. monocytogenes was detected in two (2.17%) food samples tested (L-23 and L-74). Multiplex PCR indicated the presence of seven virulence-related genes in L. monocytogenes isolates, i.e., inl A, inl B, prf A, iap , act A, plc B, and hly A. In addition, 17 antibiotics were tested, whereby two isolates showed resistance to clindamycin and azithromycin, while one isolate (L-74) was also resistant to nalidixic acid, co-trimoxazole, ampicillin, norfloxacin, and cefotaxime. L-23 and L-74 isolates showed biofilm formation, especially at pH 8.6 and 37°C. Besides the demonstration of the presence of L. monocytogenes in some dairy and street food products, this study underscores the need to increase the standards of hygiene on the one hand and the importance of the surveillance of food-borne pathogens on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food banks and health care are being increasingly called on to partner together to support individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, yet few published works highlight descriptions of current food bank–health care partnerships. The aim of this study was to identify and describe food bank–health care partnerships, the impetus for development of partnerships, and challenges to sustainable partnerships within a single-state area. Qualitative data collection using semi-structured interviews was performed. Twenty-seven interviews were completed with representatives of all 21 food banks in Texas. All interviews were between 45 and 75 minutes and completed virtually using Zoom. Types of models used for implementation, impetus for partnership development, and challenges to partnership sustainability were identified through interview questions. Content analysis was performed in NVivo (Lumivero. Denver, CO), using transcriptions from voice-recorded semi-structured interviews. Four types of models of current food bank–health care partnerships were identified; they included food insecurity screening and referral, emergency food distribution at or near health care partner, pop-up food distribution and health screenings in community settings, and specialty programs for patients referred by health care. The impetus for partnership formation most often came from pressures from Feeding America or the belief that partnerships provided an opportunity to reach individuals and families that were currently not being served by the food bank. Challenges to sustainable partnership included lack of investment in both physical capacity and staff, administrative burden, and poorly developed referral processes for partnership programs. Food bank–health care partnerships are forming in diverse communities and settings, yet they need significant capacity building to support sustainable implementation and future growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Jordan, the public is still unaware of the fate and impact of pesticide application. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes, knowledge and practices of undergraduate students enrolled in various academic departments at the Faculty of Agriculture, Mutah University, Jordan toward pesticides' residues in food and feed. Students were questioned about their social aspects, and food and feed safety knowledge and resources. Responses have been obtained from 209 responding students. Results indicated that the cross-section through the Faculty of Agriculture, Mutah University, Jordan appears a satisfactory. The findings show that respondents are very highly concerned about human health, food safety, and the risk of environmental pollution, and they have a real desire to reduce the use of pesticides. Respondents had a moderate level of knowledge about food safety, pesticides' side effects, pesticides' residues in food or feed, and usage of pesticides in homes and gardens. According to the respondents, the most common way that people are exposed to pesticide residues is by consuming pesticide residues in food. The respondents expressed a moderate level of concern about their attitudes toward organic farming adoption. Correlations between demographic variables and knowledge of food and feed safety, involving a workshop on food/feed safety, care about human health as well as environmental pollution, and looking for information on food/feed safety were reported in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) show an attentional bias to food. However, due to different conceptualizations of attentional bias and the use of various paradigms, results are inconclusive and more precise insights into the exact nature of this attentional bias are needed. Therefore, an eye-tracking paradigm with food (low and high caloric) and non-food (objects) pictures was used to investigate biases in AN patients (n = 25) compared to healthy controls (n = 22). Several indices of visual attention were examined, both during free (initial orientation, fixation frequency, fixation time) and explicitly instructed (engagement, disengagement) viewing. Our results during the free viewing phase indicated that AN patients (as compared to healthy matched controls) looked less frequently and spent less time fixating on food stimuli, compared to the comparison group. No differences between both groups (n = 47) in initial orientation could be observed. Interestingly, during the instructed viewing phase, no differences between the patient and the comparison group were observed in engagement or disengagement to food stimuli. These results suggest an (initial) attentional avoidance of food in AN patients when closely investigating spontaneous attentional processes, while this could not be observed during gaze behaviour when receiving clear instructions. Hence, future research should look into how attentional bias during spontaneous gaze patterns could serve as a potential marker of AN, and how targeting this bias could be applied in treatment interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evidence on the association between diet and miscarriage risk is scant and conflicting. To summarize the evidence on the association between periconceptual diet and miscarriage risk in healthy women of reproductive age. Electronic databases were searched from inception to August 2022 without restriction of regions, publication types, or languages. Experimental or observational studies were considered for inclusion. The population was healthy women of reproductive age. Exposure was periconception diet. Study quality was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Summary effect sizes (odds ratio [OR] with 95% confidence interval [CI]) were calculated for each food category. Miscarriage rate (as defined by primary studies). We included 20 studies (11 cohort and 9 case-control), of which 6 presented data suitable for meta-analysis (2 cohort and 4 case-control, n = 13,183 women). Our primary analyses suggest a reduction in miscarriage odds with high intake of the following food groups: fruit (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.33–0.46), vegetables (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.46–0.76), fruit and vegetables (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50–0.81), seafood (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.71–0.92), dairy products (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.54–0.73), eggs (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72–0.90), and cereal (grains) (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52–0.87). The evidence was uncertain for meat, red meat, white meat, fat and oil, and sugar substitutes. We did not find evidence of an association between adherence to predefined dietary patterns and miscarriage risk. However, a whole diet containing healthy foods as perceived by the trialists, or with a high Dietary Antioxidant Index score (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20–0.91) may be associated with a reduction in miscarriage risk. In contrast, a diet rich in processed food was demonstrated to be associated with increased miscarriage risk (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.36–3.34). A diet abundant in fruit, vegetables, seafood, dairy, eggs, and grain may be associated with lower miscarriage odds. Further interventional studies are required to accurately assess the effectiveness of periconception dietary modifications on miscarriage risk. CRD42020218133 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices have attracted considerable scientific attention due to their ability to incorporate multiple complex analytical processes onto a single chip. Such miniaturised devices can reduce most large-scale laboratory processes to small chips. This review discusses the recent developments and applications of nanomaterial-based LOC devices for sustainable food and agricultural industries. First, we present a brief introduction to this topic. We then highlight the applications of nanomaterial-based LOC devices in the food and agriculture industries. In the subsequent section, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such devices in food screening. Finally, we conclude the review by providing the future perspectives of this promising field for detecting and monitoring important analytes in food and agricultural products. Due to the miniaturisation of the entire assay, a minute sample is needed to perform the complete analysis quickly, thereby increasing the efficiency of the overall process. Thus, by exploiting the unique electrical, optical, and physical properties of the nanomaterials onto such LOCs, several properties of the sensing process can be improved, including the ability to selectively label the target analytes and thereby improve the overall sensitivity of the process. Such nanomaterial-based LOC devices have considerable potential in identifying nucleic acid, proteinic, and cellular components from complex food and agricultural samples with high specificity and, therefore, can be applied in the continuous monitoring of multiple agri-food analytes to ensure sustainability and food safety. Recent developments and applications of nanomaterial-based lab-on-a-chip devices for sustainable agri-food industries. Image created using BioRender and Canva. [Display omitted] • Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices allow multiple analytical processes on a single chip. • LOC maximize efficiency and accuracy with miniaturised assays. • Unlock enhanced capabilities by integrating nanomaterials with LOC devices. • Identify key components in food & agricultural samples with high precision. • LOC devices hold a promising future in food & agricultural monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The U.S. food supply chain, from manufacturer to retailer, is a relatively hazardous occupation for workers, with higher morbidity and mortality rates versus other industries. • Employees in food manufacturing, wholesaling, and even retailing experience relatively high numbers of occupational injuries and fatalities. One reason for the high hazard rates may be the reliance on a synergistic packaging system designed to load and transport food products within and between manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. • This paper examined severe injuries related to the packaging and movement of food products in segments of the food and beverage supply chain from manufacturing to retailing. We used an OSHA database to investigate all severe injuries in the six years from 2015 to 2020. • Results show there were 1,084 severe injuries and 47 fatalities during the six-year period. Fractures of the lower extremities were most prevalent, with the most frequent event type being transportation-related such as pedestrian-vehicle incidents. Significant differences were seen in the three parts of the food supply chain. The paper discusses how pressure from various parts of the food supply chain may be increasing risks for workers. Introduction : The modern food supply chain presents unique hazards to employees that result in higher morbidity and mortality rates versus other industries. Employees in food manufacturing, wholesaling, and even retailing experience relatively high numbers of occupational injuries and fatalities. One reason for the high hazard rates may be the reliance on a synergistic packaging system designed to load and transport food products within and between manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Packaged food products are often aggregated using palletizers before they can be transported by forklifts and pallet jacks. Materials handling within facilities is critical to the efficient functioning of all members of the food-related supply chain, but product movement can be a source of occupational injuries. No previous research has examined the cause and result of such hazards. Method: This paper aims to examine severe injuries related to the packaging and movement of food products in segments of the food and beverage supply chain from manufacturing to retailing. An OSHA database was used to investigate all severe injuries in the six years from 2015 to 2020. The focus was on the food supply chain for the period since OSHA began mandating new reporting procedures for severe injuries. Results: Results show there were 1,084 severe injuries and 47 fatalities during the six-year period. Fractures of the lower extremities were most prevalent, with the most frequent event type being transportation-related such as pedestrian-vehicle incidents. Significant differences were seen in the three parts of the food supply chain. Practical Applications: Implications are drawn for key sectors of the food-related supply chain to reduce packaging- and product movement-related hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a comprehensive assessment of foods and nutrition competencies with robust psychometric properties for the 4-H Foods and Nutrition Project. The Assessment of Foods and Nutrition Competencies in Adolescents was developed through a systematic measurement development process by a group of researchers, practitioners, and program alumni familiar with the theory of change and implementation procedures of the 4-H Foods and Nutrition Project. Recruitment was conducted through the 4-H Online membership management program for 4-H members throughout Texas to complete online survey questions. Four hundred twenty-four Texas 4-H members in grades 6–12. Survey items addressing 6 specific foods and nutrition competencies dimensions. A series of reliability and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to assess the psychometric qualities of Assessment of Foods and Nutrition Competencies in Adolescents. Assessment of Foods and Nutrition Competencies in Adolescents was found to possess good factor structure, reliability, validity, and measurement invariance. Program participants showed an advantage over nonparticipants in most core foods and nutrition competencies concerning positive behavioral changes. Assessment of Foods and Nutrition Competencies in Adolescents comprehensively captures the core competencies promoted by the 4-H Foods and Nutrition Project and possesses the psychometric qualities critical for program evaluation. A more diversity-focused outreach effort is needed for inclusive youth programs like the 4-H Foods and Nutrition Project to benefit the general youth population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine whether food intake modifies the risk of developing hearing impairment (HI) in Japanese adults in their 40s. Data for individuals who were in their 40s with no HI at baseline and had participated in the survey multiple times were extracted from the National Institute for Longevity Sciences, Longitudinal Study of Aging. A total of 1846 samples observed for up to 11.5 years in 421 participants were included in the analyses. The average 3-day food intake was calculated. HI is defined as a pure-tone average of the better ear at frequencies of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz greater than 25 dB. The risk of developing HI in the 18 food groups was calculated longitudinally using multivariable cumulative data analyses. Even after adjusting basic confounding factors, food groups, and baseline hearing level, significant associations were found between beverage consumption and risk increments for HI (odds ratio [OR] = 2.374, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.141–4.940) and also between mushroom intake and risk reduction (OR = 0.215, 95% CI:0.069–0.667). Other foods did not consistently show significant results when the combination of analysis variables were changed. Although the effect of food on hearing is modest to the extent that the significance varies with the variables used in the analysis, the intake of beverages and mushrooms could potentially modify the risk of developing HI after middle age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) comprise in silico and in vitro methods applied as alternative to animal testing. Even though NAMs are already fully implemented as research tools, their use in regulatory risk assessments (RA) is limited currently. To promote the regulatory uptake/acceptance of NAMs, a paradigm shift in risk assessment approaches, and a proper dialogue between risk assessors and risk managers is needed. Several reviews addressed the use of NAMs for chemical RA in generic terms, but without providing specific considerations on their use for food/feed safety assessments. Therefore, in this review, we give insights on the potential use of NAMs for regulatory purposes in the EU. We summarise relevant projects and activities on NAMs coordinated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which is the agency of the European Union that contributes to the safety of the European food and feed chain. The review informs on future developments on the use of NAMs in human health chemical RA, and touches on their use for the assessment of protein toxicity and allergenicity, as well as environmental risks. Reducing animal testing and filling some RA gaps via NAMs is almost a reality. Moreover, there is a growing body of evidence confirming that the inclusion of mechanistic information improves risk assessments. EFSA's projects address the main challenge of using intermediate effects observed in non-animal models for safety assessments, especially those linked to adverse effects that are insufficiently covered or uncovered by animal apical endpoints. • NAMs, as alternatives to animal testing, have marginal use in regulatory assessments • Challenges and opportunities for including NAMs in food/feed safety assessments • Need for paradigm evolution and guidance to use non-apical effects in risk assessment • Opportunities for safety assessment of chemicals in food/feed, proteins and allergens • EFSA is paving the way for regulatory acceptance of non-standardized NAM-based results [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cleaning of tanks or containers in the food and cosmetics industry with conventional tank cleaning systems requires a large amount of cleanser. Especially for swellable soiling, complete wetting of the surfaces and sufficient soaking of the soiling is advantageous for an efficient cleaning process. For soaking, only a small amount of cleanser needs to get in contact with the soil. Using conventional tank cleaning systems, significantly more cleanser is used during the soaking step than required. Flooding the tank with wet steam before cleaning to initiate the soaking process in a resource-saving manner addresses this issue. In this work, steam of varying saturation was injected into a test container to cause soaking and swelling of different soils before spray cleaning. The test setup consisted of a rectangular stainless-steel container with a volume of 105 L, a steam generator, a CIPSoaking System, and a UV-camera sensor for monitoring the cleaning process. Using this test setup, the influence of a preliminary soaking step on the duration of the subsequent spray cleaning was investigated and compared with a conventional spray cleaning process. Flooding the tank with wet steam before spray cleaning reduced the spray cleaning time for most of the soiling. As a result, a reduction of up to 40% of the used cleanser was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations and distributions of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the whole blood and meat of eight typical edible animals (chicken, donkey, horse, cattle, rabbit, sheep, duck, and pig) were illustrated. Total concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and PCBs (on a basis of liquid volume) in animal bloods were 142-484 pg/L and 46-62 ng/L, respectively. Total concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs (on a basis of dry weight (dw) and lipid weight (lw)) in animal meat samples were 0.47-1090 pg/g dw (0.47-4513 pg/g lw) and 7.2-23 ng/g dw (10-776 ng/g lw), respectively. TEQs for both PCDD/Fs and PCBs in animal blood and meat samples were (67 ± 27) pg/L and (5.3 ± 14) pg/g dw (24 ± 56 pg/g lw), respectively. Besides, the dietary intakes of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were also estimated. Chicken and pig contributed more TEQs than other animals. Chicken contributed the most (95%) with high toxicity, followed by pig (3.4%) with high consumption. The dietary intake of chicken might pose risks to consumers who prefer to eat chicken products, who should comprehensively consider the essential nutrients and contaminants in food during dietary intake. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplier evaluation has a crucial role in maintaining efficiency in the food industry supply chain. Machine learning approaches can be employed to formulate models aimed at analyzing and evaluating supplier performance. Previous research has successfully designed decision tree and neural network models for assessing suppliers in the food industry with accuracies of 84.2% and 92.8% separately. Recognizing the opportunity to improve the model's performance, this study aims to advancing the machine learning models accuracy for analyzing and evaluating suppliers in the food industry. Two main models are proposed to enhance model accuracy: ensemble methods and support vector machine. This research has successfully designed a supplier evaluation model and demonstrated that the ensemble method - gradient boosting model outperforms other ensemble methods and support vector machine which is achieved a accuracy of 93.6% on a cross-validation dataset. The development of a dashboard is required to implement the supplier evaluation model using machine learning, facilitating decision-makers in evaluating and controlling supplier performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenol-rich foods have beneficial properties that may lower cardiometabolic risk. We aimed to prospectively investigate the relationship between intakes of dietary polyphenols, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components, in 676 Danish residents from the MAX study, a subcohort of the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health–Next Generations (DCH-NG) cohort. Dietary data were collected using web-based 24-h dietary recalls over one year (at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months). The Phenol-Explorer database was used to estimate dietary polyphenol intake. Clinical variables were also collected at the same time point. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate relationships between polyphenol intake and MetS. Participants had a mean age of 43.9y, a mean total polyphenol intake of 1368 mg/day, and 75 (11.6%) had MetS at baseline. Compared to individuals with MetS in Q1 and after adjusting for age, sex, lifestyle and dietary confounders, those in Q4 – for total polyphenols, flavonoids and phenolic acids–had a 50% [OR (95% CI): 0.50 (0.27, 0.91)], 51% [0.49 (0.26, 0.91)] and 45% [0.55 (0.30, 1.00)] lower odds of MetS, respectively. Higher total polyphenols, flavonoids and phenolic acids intakes as continuous variable were associated with lower risk for elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (p < 0.05). Total polyphenol, flavonoid and phenolic acid intakes were associated with lower odds of MetS. These intakes were also consistently and significantly associated with a lower risk for higher SBP and lower HDL-c concentrations. • Dietary polyphenols have been associated with improved health outcomes. • Limited evidence on dietary polyphenols and cardiometabolic risk factors are available. • Prospective observational analysis, including data collection by three timepoints over 1 year of follow up. • Flavonoid and phenolic acid were associated with systolic blood pressure and HDL-c. • Dietary polyphenol intake might be a key dietary factor on metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords Social cognition; Theory of mind; Perspective taking; Dual systems theory; Expressions; Experiential records Highlights * Three-and-a-half-year-olds show suspenseful expressions when others approach deceptive objects. * Children under age 4 rely on records of others' experiences when anticipating their (re)actions. * Children under age 4 do not yet understand deceptive appearances and their effect on agents' object representations. Abstract In the theory of mind debate, a middle position between nativism and conceptual change theory has gained traction. This position states that children younger than 4 years track agent--object relations (by building 'records' of others' experiences) without cognizing how agents represent--or misrepresent--the objects they encounter. We tested these claims with 3.5-year-olds using puppet shows geared to evoke suspenseful expressions. In two experiments (N = 90), children watched an agent approach an object that looked like her favorite food but was inedible. In Experiment 1, children showed tense expressions when an agent's real food item was, unbeknownst to her, replaced with a fake food item. Children, however, showed no signs of understanding that the agent would mistake the deceptive object for food. Consistent with this, children's expressions in Experiment 2 did not differ when the agent approached a deceptive object compared with when she approached a non-deceptive object. The experiments support the middle position's view that toddlers track agent--object interactions but fail to recognize when agents misrepresent objects. Author Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 7 August 2022; Revised 10 January 2023; Byline: Qianhui Ni [qni@usc.edu] (*), Jake Shoyer, Zoë Bautista, Alexandra Raport, Henrike Moll

To describe the quality of food and physical activity (PA) environments by World Bank Income level in jurisdictions from the Children's Healthy Living Program. Baseline cross-sectional community data were analyzed from 11 jurisdictions categorized by World Bank Income levels to describe exposure to different food and PA outlets. The Children's Healthy Living Program was a multilevel, multijurisdictional prevalence study and community intervention trial that reduced child obesity in the US-Affiliated Pacific region. US-Affiliated Pacific region. Food (n = 426) and PA (n = 552) Outlets. Physical activity and food scores that reflect the quality of the outlets that support being physically active and healthy eating options, respectively. Descriptive statistics are presented as means ± SD or percentages. High-income-income level jurisdictions had higher food and PA scores than middle-income level jurisdictions. The US-Affiliated Pacific region has limited quality food and PA outlets in underserved communities at risk for obesity. The findings in this paper can be used to develop tools and design interventions to improve the food and PA environment to increase a healthier, active lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) biomolecules produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are of prodigious interest due to their unique structural, physico-chemical, and functional characteristics. Several genera of LAB including Enterococcus spp. have been studied for EPS production by various research groups worldwide. EPS produced by various strains from Enterococcus spp. have shown a wide range of functional and technological properties with potential commercial applications. Numerous techniques are used in the characterization of Enterococcus EPS to reveal their structure, linkage, monosaccharide units, functional groups, morphology, and thermal properties. Bioactive potentials of Enterococcus EPS include antioxidant, antibacterial, antibiofilm, anticancer, immunological, prebiotic, and antidiabetic potentials which have been widely reported. These functional and biological properties make Enterococcus EPS a candidate of great importance for multiple applications in the area of food, pharmaceuticals, biomedical and environmental. This review is focused on EPS produced by various strains of the Enterococcus genus isolated from different sources. Several procedures and parameters involved in the production and purification of Enterococcus EPS are also deliberated along with the functional aspects and potential applications. [Display omitted] • Structurally diverse Enterococcus EPS produced from various sources. • Thorough outline of Enterococcus EPS production, purification and characterization. • Physico-functional and biological properties of Enterococcus EPS deliberated. • Conferred applications and further recommendations of Enterococcus EPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human society cannot afford the luxury of the business-as-usual approach when dealing with the emerging challenges of the 21st century. The challenges of food production to meet the pace of population growth in an environmentally-sustainable manner have increased considerably, emphasizing the need to explore newer approaches to agriculture. Agrochemical-based agricultural practices are known to have serious environmental and health implications. Even conventional organic farming is not sustainable in the long run. Although some "age-old" practices are useful, these will not help feed more people on the same or less land more sustainably. Sustainable intensification is the way forward. There is a need to incorporate a customer-centric outlook and make the organic system sustainable. Here, we bring forth the necessity to enhance the efficiency of organic agriculture by the inclusion of robotics and agrochemical-free GM seeds. Such an organic-GM hybrid agriculture system integrated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) based technologies will have better energy efficiency. The produce from such a system will offer consumers a 'third' choice and create a new food label, 'organically-grown GM produce'. • Policy-makers need to make immediate well-balanced decisions on food and environmental challenges. • We need to shape the food systems for pandemics, like COVID-19. • The polarizing debate on GM crops versus organic crops is similar to the paradox of 'prisoner's dilemma.' • Governments can solve the dilemma only if the rewards of cross-fertilization of ideas are shared with society openly. • Cultivating GM crops organically, assisted by robotics and artificial intelligence, will provide consumers with an environmentally sustainable third choice of chemical-free produce. • This third choice can be popularized under a new food label 'organically-grown GM produce'. • Healthy diets with sustainability considerations will reduce the hidden costs related to health (SDG 3) and climate change (SDG 13), generating vital synergies with other SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing transparency and accountability in the current global food value chain is one of the biggest debates in food policy. Food waste generation and management is a global challenge that requires urgent prevention measures. Efforts are also required to develop significant conceptual frameworks and theoretical developments with a clear focus on a wide range of practical applications. The true cost paradigm identifies new research venues for the cross-disciplinary theme of waste in the food value chain. This commentary examines True Cost Accounting (TCA) as a potential theoretical and methodological framework to evaluate the impact of food waste in relationship to cost-externalizing and the hidden costs of food systems. The article opens up a discussion on true cost theory and its application to food waste. Additionally, it provides directions for future research in four specific areas: the broad food value chain, social policy, social sustainability aspects, and final consumers. • True cost of food as a theoretical framework to evaluate the impact of food waste. • TCA of food as a unified methodology to quantify cost-externalizing and hidden costs of food waste. • Directions for future research in redefining pricing in the cost of food waste along the value chain. • Discusses the development of instruments for social policy, taxes, and incentives. • Explores communication of fair price/value of food and end-users and consumption decisions and behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical/behavioral outcomes of a remotely-delivered, culturally-tailored plant-based nutrition and lifestyle intervention designed to improve cardiovascular risk among Black adults in a rural, Black Belt community. We implemented a 12-week intervention with weekly educational sessions, cooking lessons, social support, exercise, and food items. Body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, trimethylamine N-oxide, diet/physical activity. Paired t tests analyzed preintervention and postintervention differences (n = 24). Body mass index and waist circumference were reduced (P < 0.001), and total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased by 10.8% and 13.9%, respectively (P < 0.05). There was a 25.8% reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.02). Diet and physical activity were also improved. This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a remotely-delivered intervention focused on improving cardiovascular risk through plant-based nutrition, physical activity/wellness, social support, and cultural adaptability. Larger scale and longer-term studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lyophilized microencapsulated phenolics utilized for enrichment of yoghurt. • Sensory acceptability, bioactive and chemical characteristics were compared. • Higher bioactive compounds observed in enriched yoghurt than normal yoghurt. • 2% enriched yoghurt showed higher sensory acceptance besides higher bioactives. In this study lyophilized microencapsulated phenolic extract powder (MPE) from peel of wild pomegranate fruit was utilized for enrichment of yoghurt. From different treatments, treatment (T 4) enriched with 2(%) MPE was found best on the basis of sensorial attributes. The significant increase (p < 0.05) in yoghurt bioactive compounds and various antioxidant properties were observed after incorporation of 2(%) MPE. Changes in various characteristics were recorded at different storage intervals (0, 7 and 14 days). After 14 days of storage enriched yogurt retained higher phenolics (96.52%), flavonoids (97.72%), radical scavenging activity (95.85%), metal chelating activity (96.53%), FRAP (96.22%) and reducing power (94.49%) besides higher colour scores and sensory acceptability. Hence yoghurt could also be kept safe for 14 days under refrigeration temperature (4–7 °C) conditions in polystyrene cups with minimum changes in quality attributes. This study suggests that functional and antioxidant properties of yoghurt can be enhanced significantly by MPE enrichment without sensorial alterations, with maximum retention of bioactive compounds, thus product could be utilized commercially. The study also concluded that enriched yoghurt had higher phenolics and antioxidant activity which could open a new way towards the consumption of functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current way our food systems operate does not result in healthy and nutritious diets for all, nor are we producing food in a manner that the planet can sustain. Food biodiversity, or the range of animal and plant species used for food is one solution to improve the health of both people and the planet. Case studies were used to illustrate current initiatives and programs aimed to bring greater food biodiversity into our food systems. Case studies were developed by subject matter experts and reviewed for demonstrated and potential impact on four food system outcomes: healthy diets and nutrition, agro-ecological resilience, livelihoods and income and socio-cultural wellbeing. The six case study examples demonstrate that there are multiple approaches that confer benefits across a range of food system outcomes. The case studies demonstrate contributions to the body of knowledge on food composition, dietary diversification, strategies to prioritize crops that regenerate soil and purify water, require few inputs or can grow in harsh conditions, as well as provide increased income to communities and rebuild cultural knowledge. Some approaches were initiated by government and others at community level; they all demonstrate ways to achieve greater integration of food biodiversity into food systems. This collection of case studies illustrates a fraction of what is currently being done to support biodiverse food production and consumption. The evidence base for how to bring greater food biodiversity back into our food systems should be improved and should not be an isolated occurrence, but rather a continuous process. • A collection of case studies was used to illustrate current initiatives and programs aimed to bring greater food biodiversity into our food systems. • The case studies demonstrate contributions to the body of knowledge on nutrition, through food composition data and dietary diversification strategies. • Contributions to agro-ecology are demonstrated through strategies to prioritize crops that regenerate soil and purify water, require few inputs or can grow in harsh conditions. • Income generation through greater use of food biodiversity was demonstrated in two case studies. • Many of the case studies provided evidence of benefit to socio-cultural wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The relationships between healthcare use and social needs are not fully understood. In 2015, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision coding introduced voluntary Z codes for social needs‒related healthcare encounters. This study evaluated early national patterns of Z codes in privately insured adults.Methods: In 2021, the authors conducted a case-control analysis of national commercial health payer claims from 2016 to 2019. Among adults with ≥6 months of continuous enrollment and ≥1 medical claims, patients with any assigned Z codes were defined as cases. Controls were selected through stratified random sampling. Z codes were organized under 3 categories: socioeconomic, community/social, and environmental.Results: Of 29.5 million adults, 521,334 patients (1.8%) had any assigned Z codes. Among all the Z codes, 53.5% identified community/social issues, 30.3% identified environmental issues, and 16.2% identified socioeconomic issues. Among socioeconomic Z codes, housing needs were frequently identified, but needs for food, utility bills, and transportation were very rarely identified. In multivariable regression analysis, females had higher odds of Z code assignment than males. Depression and chronic pulmonary disease were the 2 common comorbidities (≥5% prevalence in cases and controls) that were highly associated with Z code assignment. Less common comorbidities strongly associated with Z code assignment were drug abuse, alcohol abuse, psychoses, and AIDS/HIV.Conclusions: In this national study of privately insured patients, many Z codes identified healthcare encounters caused by social stressors, whereas few identified food- or transportation-related causes. Depression and chronic pulmonary disease were highly associated with Z code assignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explore the relationship between diabetes-related psychosocial outcomes and food stress in American Indian communities. Convergence model of a mixed methods triangulation study. Five American Indian reservation communities in the Midwest. One-hundred ninety-two participants were randomly selected from tribal health centers using clinic patient records and were surveyed about diabetes distress, empowerment, and food stress across 4 different time points. Seventeen focus group discussions were conducted and transcribed, and a mix of purposive and convenience sampling was used. Psychosocial outcomes associated with (or related to) diabetes and food stress. Quantitative: Multiple linear regression was performed to explore relationships between food stress and diabetes distress and empowerment. Qualitative: Open coding of data identified portions of the transcripts related to food followed by a deductive approach on the basis of the components of quantitative food stress. Food stress in the forms of (1) not having enough money for food and not having enough time for cooking or shopping (P = 0.08) and (2) inadequate food access and being on a special diet (P = 0.032) were associated with increased diabetes distress. Lower diabetes empowerment was associated with not having enough money for food and being on a special diet (P = 0.030). Our qualitative data mirrored quantitative findings that experiencing multiple forms of food stress negatively impacted diabetes psychosocial outcomes and illuminated the cyclical role mental health can play in relationships to food. Our findings highlight that experiencing food stress negatively affects diabetes empowerment and diabetes distress. These findings emphasize the importance of improving community food environments and addressing individual food access for diabetes management and prevention initiatives in American Indian communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the association between household food insufficiency and flourishing among young children (6 months-5 years) in the U.S. and assessed whether sleep adequacy modifies this association.Methods: We used data from the 2018-2020 National Surveys of Children's Health. Adjusted prevalence differences and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between household food insufficiency and flourishing were modeled using average marginal predictions from logistic regression models. Sleep adequacy was assessed as an effect measure modifier on the additive scale.Results: Evidence supports additive scale effect measure modification of the food insufficiency-flourishing association by sleep adequacy (Likelihood Ratio Test statistic = 12.4, degrees of freedom = 2, P < .05). Adjusted for potential confounders, the prevalence of flourishing was 13.2 percentage points lower (95% CI: -22.6, -3.7) for children in households with insufficient food and inadequate sleep compared to those with sufficient food and adequate sleep.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that having enough food and enough sleep are associated with greater wellbeing. These modifiable factors should be targeted by public health interventions to facilitate flourishing among young children in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence for the association between food groups, dietary patterns, and breast cancer risk among the Asian population. This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We performed a systematic literature search up to December 2022 in English in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted as effect sizes. Publication bias was estimated by two different funnel plot methods. We collected the data from 15 cohort studies and 34 case−control studies meeting the search criteria. The meta-analysis found that the consumption of fruits and, likewise, vegetables were associated with a 29% lower risk of breast cancer, respectively [RR = 0.71 (0.55, 0.93); RR = 0.71 (0.53, 0.95)]. By contrast, no significance was found between meat, soy foods, and green tea consumption and breast cancer risk (P > 0.05). However, soy protein and isoflavone intake could lower breast cancer risk by 35% and 32%, respectively [RR = 0.65 (0.51, 0.83); RR = 0.68 (0.55, 0.82)]. As for the dietary pattern, high adherence to a healthy dietary pattern and, similarly, to a healthy eating index was associated with a 38% and 51% reduction in breast cancer risk, respectively [RR = 0.62 (0.44, 0.88; RR = 0.49 (0.27, 0.87)], while high adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with a 44% increased risk [RR = 1.44 (1.06, 1.96)]. Considering alcohol consumption, a 75% increased risk of breast cancer was found [RR = 1.75 (1.33, 2.30)]. The present meta-analysis found that high intakes of fruits, vegetables, soy protein, and soy isoflavone significantly reduced the risk of breast cancer, while high intake of alcohol had a significantly increased risk. Meat, soy food, and green tea consumption were not significantly associated with breast cancer risk. Considering dietary patterns, high adherence to a healthy eating index and a healthy dietary pattern may reduce breast cancer risk. Conversely, adherence to unhealthy dietary patterns may increase breast cancer risk. However, further studies are needed to confirm the associations between dietary patterns and breast cancer in the Asian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new genomic techniques (NGTs) has the potential to address some future challenges related to food security, agroecology and global warming. NGTs encompass ZFN-1, ZFN-2 and ZFN-3 technologies, TALENs, Meganucleases, CRISPR-Cas, and Oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis. The regulation of innovations based on NGT is sensitive and debated in many countries around the world. To better understand the possible consequences of NGTs and their potential applications to plant and related food production, we conduct a scoping review of the literature focusing on economic issues related to NGT. This review covers a rather recent literature, namely, published mainly over the last 5 years, and we also underline the overlooked issues. Our review leads us to present the main issues related to the consumer perception, the supply of NGT related to the research effort, the intellectual property rights and the regulation. The socio-economic factors affecting the emergence and impacts of new genomic techniques in agriculture are unevenly analyzed in the literature. A large part of the literature focuses on regulation issues. However, a clear understanding of both consumer preferences and supply chain organizations is also essential for understanding the possible emergence and the impact of NGT, but these issues raise less attention. We also insist on the necessity of evaluating the option value of NGT that would thwart the possible but unlikely disappearance of some conventional food productions. • Economic conditions and regulation are key drivers of the diffusion of innovation based on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). • The literature on the economic issues related to NGTs mainly cover regulation issues. • Emergence and impact of NGTs also depends on consumer preferences, supply chain and intellectual property rights strategies. • Overlooked questions covers the option value related to NGTs and the link between regulation and public controversies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering/spectroscopy (SERS) is now being extensively employed as a non-destructive and highly sensitive analytical tool, especially in the detection of various trace chemicals. With the increasing demand for online food quality and safety inspection, SERS has also attracted more and more attention in agricultural applications, including quality assessment of agricultural products, monitoring of crop growth, screening of plant seeds, as well as safety control of varieties of food including fruit and vegetable. A comprehensive understanding of the recent progress in both research and application of SERS-based sensors in these aspects is highly required. This review focuses on diversified strategies for fabrication of effective SERS substrates for SERS sensors, including flexible SERS substrates, reusable SERS substrates, selective SERS substrates for specific targets, and microfluidic SERS-based sensors, and also effective solutions to practical tasks from different aspects, with the discussion of features of different SERS-based sensors and their applications in agriculture and related fields. SERS-based sensors provide extraordinary convenience in sample preparation and instrument operation, exhibiting special advantages over many traditional methods in terms of detection throughput, cost, efficiency, universality, automation, and portability. Currently, researchers are striving to develop advanced SERS sensing techniques in agriculture by making use of modern technology, including nanomaterial/nanostructure fabrication, automation, mobile communication, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. We expect that portable and smart/intelligent advanced SERS-based sensors specifically designed for various situations and scenarios of agricultural purposes will be more widely applied in the future. [Display omitted] • Summary on diversified substrates of SERS sensors for agricultural applications. • Introduction of various SERS analytical approaches useful for agriculture purposes. • Special interest in flexible and reusable SERS substrates for rapid food safety inspection. • Special interest in microfluidic SERS sensors for high-throughput detection and automation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been part of much worldwide cooperation in engineering design, nutrients production that contributes towards a better and more sustainable future. This review intends to uncover a potential renewable source that could significantly contribute to various goals under the SDGs. The prospects of algae tackling the socio-ecological, economic, and environmental issues faced globally are discussed, along with approaches of algae that can be utilized to achieve many of the SDGs are reviewed and discussed. Moreover, the recent trends in terms of engineering application that co-relate to novel algae-based technology has also been included. Apart from that, algae have high oil content which is suitable for producing affordable and clean energy, which can be used for biofuels or electricity generation. The promising characteristics of algae will lead to its global acceptance and utilization for sustainability to help create a better world. [Display omitted] • The prospects of algae in Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. • Enhancement towards good health and wall-being via Algae. • Utilization of Algae-based Biomass for Affordable and Clean Bioenergy • Implementation of algae-based technology in the food industry • Algae will lead to its global acceptance and utilization of sustainability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patient participation in healthcare system‒sponsored efforts to address food insecurity varies widely. This mixed-methods study sought to understand the patient sociodemographic factors associated with and barriers and facilitators to the use of a monthly produce market held at Cambridge Health Alliance in partnership with The Greater Boston Food Bank.Methods: Baseline surveys (N=715) were conducted from February 2019 to March 2020 before market attendance, followed by 1-year follow-up surveys (n=514) and qualitative interviews (n=45). Robust Poisson regression estimated associations between sociodemographic characteristics and market attendance. Analyses were conducted from 2021 to 2022.Results: A total of 37.1% attended the market ≥1 time. Market attendance was associated with being aged 30-49 years (Risk Ratio (RR)=1.36, 95% CI=1.00, 1.86), having a monthly household income <$1,000 (RR=1.73, 95% CI=1.29, 2.32), identifying as Asian (RR=2.48, 95% CI=1.58, 3.89), having a preferred language for medical care other than English (RR=1.35, 95% CI=1.03, 1.76), being retired (RR=1.90, 95% CI=1.17, 3.08), and living in the city of the market's location (RR=1.36, 95% CI=1.12, 1.63). Barriers included limited time (28%), work conflict (23%), forgetfulness (23%), and not knowing market location/date (22%). Interviews revealed that accessibility barriers (e.g., limited market hours, transportation issues, competing demands, medical conditions, long lines) were obstacles to attendance, whereas access to novel, healthy foods motivated attendance.Conclusions: Healthcare-based food distributions have the potential to reach patients with unmet food needs who cannot or would not access other forms of food assistance. Time constraints, physical limitations, and transportation challenges impact attendance; program modifications are necessary to improve accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Supernutrition of selenium (Se) in an effort to produce Se-enriched meat may inadvertently cause lipid accumulation. Se-enriched Cardamine violifolia (SeCv) contains >80% of Se in organic forms.Objectives: This study was to determine whether feeding chickens a high dose of SeCv could produce Se-biofortified muscle without altering their lipid metabolism.Methods: Day-old male broilers were allocated to 4 groups (6 cages/group and 6 chicks/cage) and were fed either a corn-soy base diet (BD, 0.13-0.15 mg Se/kg), the BD plus 0.5 mg Se/kg as sodium selenite (SeNa) or as SeCv, or the BD plus a low-Se Cardamine violifolia (Cv, 0.20-0.21mg Se/kg). At week 6, concentrations of Se and lipid and expression of selenoprotein and lipid metabolism-related genes were determined in the pectoral muscle and liver.Results: The 4 diets showed no effects on growth performance of broilers. Compared with the other 3 diets, SeCv elevated (P < 0.05) Se concentrations in the pectoral muscle and liver by 14.4-127% and decreased (P < 0.05) total cholesterol concentrations by 12.5-46.7% and/or triglyceride concentrations by 28.8-31.1% in the pectoral muscle and/or liver, respectively. Meanwhile, SeCv enhanced (P < 0.05) muscular α-linolenic acid (80.0%) and hepatic arachidonic acid (58.3%) concentrations compared with SeNa and BD, respectively. SeCv downregulated (P < 0.05) the cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis-related proteins (sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2) and upregulated (P < 0.05) hydrolysis and β-oxidation of fatty acid-related proteins (lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid binding protein 1, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A), as well as selenoprotein P1 and thioredoxin reductase activity in the pectoral muscle and/or liver compared with SeNa.Conclusions: Compared with SeNa, SeCv effectively raised Se and reduced lipids in the liver and muscle of broilers. The effect was mediated through the regulation of the cholesterol and triglyceride biosynthesis and utilization-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whereas earlier studies have shown that traditional screen time such as TV watching influences dietary behaviors in adolescents, little is known about the effects of modern screen time such as smartphone use.Objectives: We examined the associations of smartphone usage duration and content type with dietary risk factors among adolescents.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using a nationally representative sample of 54,601 middle- and high-school students (aged 12-18 y; 26,928 boys and 27,673 girls) in the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey 2017. Smartphone use (average duration and most frequently used content type) and dietary intakes [frequent breakfast skipping; less frequent intakes of fruits and vegetables; more frequent intakes of instant noodles, fast food, chips/crackers, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)] were self-reported via an online-based questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate ORs and 95% CIs for the associations of smartphone usage duration and content type with prevalence of dietary risk factors, adjusting for potential confounders. All analyses accounted for complex survey sampling.Results: Prolonged smartphone use (≥300 compared with 1-59 min/d) was associated with (OR; 95% CI) higher prevalence of frequent breakfast skipping (1.60; 1.45, 1.76); frequent intakes of instant noodles (1.65; 1.47, 1.84), fast food (1.36; 1.20, 1.53), and SSBs (1.92; 1.75, 2.11); and less frequent intakes of fruits (1.44; 1.30, 1.59) and vegetables (1.32; 1.18, 1.47). Adjusting for usage duration, using smartphones mainly for messenger/e-mail, social networking service (SNS)/forum, and games were associated with less frequent intakes of fruits (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.31; OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.40; and OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.32, respectively) and vegetables (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.37; OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.40; and OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.40, respectively) than was using smartphones for education/information search. Using smartphones mainly for messenger/e-mail (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.35) and SNS/forum (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.29) were also associated with more frequent intake of SSBs.Conclusions: Our data suggest that both duration and content type of smartphone use are independently associated with dietary risk factors among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords agricultural; foraging trip; Gelochelidon nilotica; Laridae; movement ecology; repeatability Highlights * Few studies have evaluated differences in foraging behaviour in monomorphic species. * The gull-billed tern is a monomorphic seabird exploiting terrestrial habitats. * Females but not males increased foraging effort from incubation to chick rearing. * Only females increased the exploitation of aquatic habitats during chick rearing. * A mixed foraging strategy likely maximizes the chances of higher breeding success. In contrast to sexually size-dimorphic species, monomorphic ones rarely show sexual differences in foraging behaviour as such variations have been primarily attributed to dissimilar body size. To investigate this aspect, we analysed foraging behaviour in breeding gull-billed terns, Gelochelidon nilotica, a monomorphic seabird adapted to rural habitats. We equipped 19 breeding birds with GPS devices and assessed differences in foraging behaviour and habitat use according to sex and breeding stage. Foraging trip distance and duration and daily frequencies were influenced by both breeding stage and sex, with females, but not males, performing closer, more frequent and shorter duration trips during chick rearing than incubation. Females, but not males, increased the repeatability of foraging metrics from incubation to chick rearing, while both sexes increased individual foraging site fidelity between the two breeding stages. Agricultural fields were the most exploited habitat for both sexes, but females made more use of aquatic habitats than males, especially during chick rearing. By foraging in different ways and in different habitats, the breeding pair can provide a wider range of prey types to their offspring, maximizing the chances of delivering high quantity and quality of food items under different environmental conditions. Our work provides new additional evidence of sex differences in foraging behaviour of monomorphic species, while highlighting the need to better understand underlying mechanisms driving foraging niche divergence and the consequences for fitness. Author Affiliation: (a) Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per La Protezione e La Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Italy (b) Via Gianbattista Verci, Padua, Italy (c) Servizio per La Sostenibilità Della Pianificazione Territoriale, per le Aree Protette e La Tutela Del Paesaggio, Della Natura e Dei Servizi Ecosistemici Terrestri (BIO-SOST), Istituto Superiore per La Protezione e La Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Rome, Italy (d) Area per La Genetica Della Conservazione (BIO-CGE), Istituto Superiore per La Protezione e La Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Italy (e) ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy (f) Associazione Culturale Naturalistica Sagittaria, Rovigo, Italy * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 11 April 2022; Revised 1 August 2022; Accepted 17 November 2022 (miscellaneous) MS. number: 22-00184R Byline: Davide Scridel [dscridel@gmail.com] (a,*), Lorenzo Serra (a), Simone Pirrello (a), Marco Basso (b), Alessandro Franzoi (a), Alberto Cardillo (c), Chiara Mengoni (d), Fausto Ramazzotti (e), Emiliano Verza (f), Simona Imperio (a), Jacopo G. Cecere (a)

With the increase of the global population, food production cannot keep pace with the strong growth of demand, and the food crisis is not impossible. At the same time, growing environmental concerns are also forcing changes to the traditional food supply system. Microalgae are attracting more and more attention as future food sources. Microalgae have the advantages of strong carbon sequestration ability and high photosynthetic efficiency, and will play an important role in the new food supply system and world carbon neutrality process in the future. This paper reviews the opportunities brought by the progress of microalgae biotechnology for the food application of microalgae, analyzes the application advantages of microalgae products, and summarizes the current challenges. The development direction of microalgae application in the food field was discussed from the aspects of safety, environmental impact, production cost and function. With the advancement of microalgal biotechnology, microalgal products exhibit many interesting benefits in terms of health benefits, functional properties, nutritional value, etc. Microalgal products, like non-animal proteins, high-value compounds and microalgal dry biomass, are gradually penetrating their food market. However, as the development direction of the future food field, there are still many problems to be solved for microalgae-based food. Challenges such as high production costs, low product acceptance and unknown safety, are the current bottlenecks restricting practical application. The joint efforts of people in various fields are needed to promote the development of microalgae-based food. [Display omitted] • Microalgae have unique advantages in future food development. • The state-of-art technology and problems of microalgae-based food were discussed. • The safety, environmental impact, and function of microalgae food were analyzed. • The contribution of microalgal biotechnology to food applications was summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand if a culinary medicine training program increases food literacy, culinary skills, and knowledge among practicing registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN). Prepost study design evaluating pilot test of RDN train-the-trainer curriculum from September, 2019 to January, 2020. On average, results indicate an increase in culinary nutrition skills (mean difference, 6.7 ± 4.4; P < 0.001; range, 10–30) and a significant increase in 5 of the 8 food literacy factors. Through process evaluation, RDNs rated the training as extremely useful to their practice (mean, 4.4 ± 0.3). Registered dietitian nutritionist participants increased culinary nutrition skills with statistically significant scores across all individual measures. This study describes an RDN training curriculum in culinary medicine across a diverse group of practicing RDNs from a large county health care system. Culinary medicine shows a promising impact on promoting nutrition skills and confidence; however, it warrants further assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a context-specific methodology to assess the 5 A's of food environment: availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability, and accommodation. Cross-sectional mixed-methods study. Availability of foods was assessed by on-site observation and interviewing vendors. To assess accessibility, buffer zones around food stores were created using geographic information systems. Affordability was controlled by selecting participants from the middle-income group. Accommodation and acceptability were assessed by interviewing vendors and caregivers. Villages of Ghatkesar subdistrict (n = 4), Telangana, South India. Caregivers of children aged 6–10 years (n = 160) and food vendors (n = 68). The quality of the 5 A's was graded on the basis of concurrence between actual and perceived measures. The actual and perceived 5 A's for semiperishable foods matched, and hence the food environment was graded as good across the villages. However, for perishable foods, the food environment was graded as poor with respect to accommodation and acceptability in all villages; and with respect to availability and affordability in at least 2 villages as the actual and perceived measures did not match. This study demonstrated the use of context-specific methods to assess the 5 key dimensions of the food environment, which can be attempted in other contexts with suitable modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms, food loss and waste caused by spoilage microorganisms, and the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are of the greatest public concerns. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a promising technology for mitigating the above challenges. Given the rapid advances in PDI and its increasing popularity in food decontamination, a comprehensive and updated review is needed to summarize the antimicrobial mechanisms of PDI against food-related microorganisms. This review discusses the principle behind PDI, its application in food decontamination and preservation, antimicrobial mechanisms, and impact on innate antimicrobial susceptibility of microorganisms. Special emphasis is given to the antimicrobial mechanisms of PDI, its biological targets, and impacts. The chemistry behind PDI is the production of reactive oxygen species through the activation of endogenous or exogenous photosensitizers. PDI has proven its efficacy against pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, fungi, viruses, and spores in a variety of food and food contact surfaces. PDI's major antimicrobial mechanisms include disruption of cell structure and function, oxidation of macromolecules, inhibition of quorum sensing, disruption of biofilm, and attenuation of virulence factors. Development of PDI resistance is unlikely because of its multitargeted nature. Projects that investigate the long-term impacts of PDI treatments on food quality and safety as well as on human health, optimization of application parameters, and effective transformation of the laboratory-scale design to industrial-scale production are still needed for more advanced application of PDI in food systems. • Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a promising antimicrobial strategy. • PDI with and without exogenous PS have been evaluated in various food systems. • Antimicrobial mechanisms of PDI against food-related microorganisms are reviewed. • Development of PDI resistance is unlikely because of its multitargeted nature. • Future research directions for facilitating the PDI deployment in food are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eating behaviors are determined by a complex interplay between behavioral and physiologic signaling occurring before, during, and after eating.Objectives: The aim was to explore how selected behavioral and physiologic variables separately and grouped together predicted intake of 8 different foods.Methods: One hundred adults with normal weight performed a food preference task combined with biometric measurements (the Steno Biometric Food Preference Task) in the fasting state. The task measured food reward as well as biometric (eye tracking, electrodermal activity, and facial expressions) responses to images of foods varying in fat content and taste. Energy intake from an ad libitum buffet of the same 8 foods as assessed in the preference task was subsequently assessed. A mixed-effects random forest approach was applied to explore how individual and combined measures of food reward and biometric responses predicted energy intake of the 8 single foods. The performance of the different prediction models was compared with the predictions from a linear model including only an intercept (naïve model) using bootstrap cross-validation.Results: Participants had a median [IQR] intake of 369 kJ [126-472 kJ] per food. Combined or separate measures of food reward or biometric responses did not predict energy intake better than the naïve model.Conclusions: We did not find that the reward or biometric responses to food cues assessed in a clinical setting were useful in predicting energy intake of single foods. However, this study provides a framework in the field of behavioral nutrition for applying machine learning with a focus on individual predictions. This is necessary on the road toward personalized nutrition and provides great potential for handling complex data with multiple variables.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03986619. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A portable smartphone-based fluorescence sensing platform can realize the on-site rapid quantification of sulfite in food. [Display omitted] • A chromogenic and fluorogenic dual-mode probe was developed for the detection of sulfite. • The probe specifically recognizes sulfite with fast response and low detection limit. • A portable sensing platform can on-site visually determine sulfite in various food. • The probe achieved high accuracy and good anti-interference ability. Sulfur dioxide (SO 2) and its derivatives (HSO 3 − and SO 3 2−) are widely used in food-processing. Whereas excessive consumption of sulfur dioxide and its derivatives (>0.70 mg·kg−1day−1) severely endangers human health. In this work, we rationally constructed a practical dual-mode probe (dicyanomethylene)-1-methyl-1,4-dihydroquinolin-2-yl)vinyl)-1-methylquinolinium (QMN), which underwent a specific 1, 4-Michael addition with sulfite to afford a noticeable color change from pale yellow to red along with a high-contrast fluorescence turn-on response at 598 nm. QMN has the advantages of rapid response, high signal-to-noise ratio, excellent selectivity, good water-solubility, large Stokes shift and low detection limit (LOD = 31.9 nM). QMN has been successfully used to on-site visually determine sulfite in a diversity of foods with satisfactory recoveries (91.33–111.33 %) and high accuracy (93.74–98.71 %). Furthermore, a portable smartphone-based fluorescence sensing platform was fabricated for on-site determination of sulfite in food with good performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeria monocytogenes biofilms present a significant challenge in the food industry. This study explores the impact of different acidic conditions of culture media and food matrices on the development and removal of biofilms developed on stainless steel surfaces by wild-type (WT) L. monocytogenes strains as well as in two mutant derivatives, Δ sigB and Δ agrA, that have defects in the general stress response and quorum sensing, respectively. Additionally, the study investigates the efficacy of nanoencapsulated carvacrol as an antimicrobial against L. monocytogenes biofilms developed in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) culture media acidified to different pH conditions (3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.5), and in food substrates (apple juice, strained yogurt, vegetable soup, semi-skimmed milk) having the same pH levels. No biofilm formation was observed for all L. monocytogenes strains at pH levels of 3.5 and 4.5 in both culture media and food substrates. However, at pH 5.5 and 6.5, increased biofilm levels were observed in both the culture media and food substrates, with the WT strain showing significantly higher biofilm formation (3.04–6.05 log CFU cm−2) than the mutant strains (2.30–5.48 log CFU cm−2). For both applications, the nanoencapsulated carvacrol demonstrated more potent antimicrobial activity against biofilms developed at pH 5.5 with 2.23 to 3.61 log reductions, compared to 1.58–2.95 log reductions at pH 6.5, with mutants being more vulnerable in acidic environments. In food substrates, nanoencapsulated carvacrol induced lower log reductions (1.58–2.90) than the ones in TSB (2.02–3.61). These findings provide valuable insights into the impact of different acidic conditions on the development of L. monocytogenes biofilms on stainless steel surfaces and the potential application of nanoencapsulated carvacrol as a biofilm control agent in food processing environments. • Greater biofilm formation at pH 5.5 and 6.5 in both culture media and food • Nanoencapsulated carvacrol was effective in biofilm removal, especially at pH 5.5. • Mutant L. monocytogenes were more vulnerable in acidic conditions. • Food substrates reduced nanoencapsulated carvacrol's efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ALE meta-analysis was used to integrate evidence from WTP-related fMRI studies. • The WTP for items neural network included bilateral IFG, bilateral insula, and bilateral ACC. • WTP for food and other rewards commonly activated the ACC. Willingness to pay (WTP) pervades every marketplace transaction, therefore, understanding how the brain makes bidding decisions is essential in consumer neuroscience. Although some neuroimaging studies have investigated the neural networks of WTP, systematic understanding remains limited. This study identified reliable neural networks activated by the WTP across different reward types and assessed common and distinct neural networks for different reward types (food and other) bids. We conducted an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis on WTP across different reward types (25 studies; 254 foci; 705 participants), and to compared neural representations of WTP for food reward (22 studies; 232 foci; 628 participants) and other rewards (7 studies, 61 foci; 177 participants). The ALE results revealed that the brain centers of WTP for different rewards mainly consist of the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), bilateral insula, bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), along with the left caudate. This suggests that neural networks encoding WTP for different rewards consist of brain regions associated with reward processing, cost-benefit calculations, and goal-directed action activities. In addition, consistent activation of the bilateral IFG and bilateral insula for food but no other rewards bids suggest their involvement in the neural network of appetite. WTP for food and other rewards commonly activated ACC, suggesting a common region encoding bids for different rewards. Our findings provide novel insights into neural networks associated with WTP for food and other rewards bids and the mechanisms underlying WTP across different reward types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]