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High (free) sugar intakes can increase self-reported energy intake and are associated with unfavourable cardiometabolic health. However, sugar source may modulate the effects of sugars due to several mechanisms including the food matrix. The aim of this review was to assess the current state of evidence in relation to food source effects on the physiological responses to dietary sugars in humans relevant to cardiometabolic health. An additional aim was to review potential mechanisms by which food sources may influence such responses. Evidence from meta-analyses of controlled intervention trials was used to establish the balance of evidence relating to the addition of sugars to the diet from sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juice, honey and whole fruit on cardiometabolic outcomes. Subsequently, studies which have directly compared whole fruit with fruit juices, or variants of fruit juices, were discussed. In summary, the sources of sugars can impact physiological responses, with differences in glycaemic control, blood pressure, inflammation, and acute appetite. Longer-term effects and mechanisms require further work, but initial evidence implicates physical structure, energy density, fibre, potassium and polyphenol content, as explanations for some of the observed responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over consumption of added sugar beyond the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended level of 10% of daily energy intake has well‐established negative health consequences including oral diseases. However, the average consumption of added sugar in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA—World Bank's regional classification) is 70% higher than the WHO recommended level. Imposing taxes on added sugar has been proposed by the WHO to decrease its consumption. Yet, only 21.6% of the total MENA population are covered by taxation policies targeting added sugar. Challenges: Well‐recognized challenges for the implementation of sugar taxation in MENA include the tactics used by the food and beverage industry to block these type of policies. However, there are also other unfamiliar hurdles specific to MENA. Historically, there have been incidents of protest and riots partially sparked by increased price of basic commodities, including sugar, in MENA countries. This may affect the readiness of policy makers in the region to impose added sugar taxes. In addition, there are also cultural, lifestyle and consumption behavioural barriers to implementing added sugar taxation. Ultra‐processed foods and sugar‐sweetened‐beverages (SSBs) rich in added sugar are perceived by many in MENA as essential treats regardless of their health risks. Furthermore, some countries even provide subsidies for added sugar. Also, (oral) healthcare providers generally do not engage in policy advocacy mainly due to limited training on health policy. Ways forward: Here, we discuss these challenges and suggest some ways forward such as (1) support from a health‐oriented political leadership, (2) raising public awareness about the health risks of over consumption of sugar, (3) transparency during the policy‐cycle development process, (4) providing a free and safe environment for a community dialogue around the proposed policy, (5) training of (oral) healthcare professionals on science communication and policy advocacy in local lay language/dialect, ideally evidence informed from local/regional studies, (6) selecting the appropriate political window of opportunity to introduce a sugar tax policy, and (7) clear and strict conflict of interest regulations to limit the influence of commercial players on health policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating soy whey into pineapple juice can enhance nutritional and nutraceutical potential. The present study was conducted to develop soy whey‐fortified pineapple juice beverage and impact of ambient storage conditions on physicochemical, antioxidant, rheological, and sensory properties of functional beverage. Increasing the storage period decreased pH from 4.1 to 3.7 for control and 4.0 to 3.8 for soy whey‐treated samples. TSS increased from 8.3 to 10.6 on 0th day for control and soy whey‐treated beverage samples while on the 30th day, the TSS ranged from 8.9 to 11.1°B. Up to 30% soy whey incorporation, the DPPH, reducing power, and ABTS of beverages increased from 5.58%–57.01%, 56.35%–56.90%, and 4.84%–47.01%, respectively. The flow index (n) of the beverage formulations ranged between 0.4758 and 0.6521, and the yield stress between 0.018 and 0.025 Pa, hence showing Herschel–Bulkley character. With the increase in concentration and storage period, both G′ and G″ values decreased considerably (p <.05). The standard plate and yeast and mold count decreased considerably with an increase in soy whey and increased with an increase in storage. The sensory score of the beverages up to 30% soy whey exhibited best sensory score results compared to control and samples with 30% above soy whey content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify factors influencing the availability and sales of healthy food and drinks in a café located in a hospital setting in a rural area. Three online and 1 in-person group model building workshops were conducted with hospital staff members to develop a causal loop diagram. Four areas in the causal loop diagram were identified, 5 teams were created to implement 15 identified action ideas, and an action registry was created to track their progress. By May 2023, 4 actions were active, 6 inactive, 4 completed, and 1 abandoned. The group model building process identified factors and actions to improve the healthiness of the hospital's café and motivated staff members to act for change. However, progress was limited by staff turnover, recruitment, and inadequate participation from decision-makers. Better leadership and support by senior management can ensure that long-term objectives are achieved and healthier hospital food environments are sustained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to conduct an umbrella review of evidence from meta-analyses of observational studies investigating the link between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and human health outcomes. Using predefined evidence classification criteria, we evaluated evidence from 47 meta-analyses encompassing 22,055,269 individuals. Overall, 79% of these analyses indicated direct associations between greater sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and higher risks of adverse health outcomes. Convincing evidence (class I) supported direct associations between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and risks of depression, cardiovascular disease, nephrolithiasis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and higher uric acid concentrations. Highly suggestive evidence (class II) supported associations with risks of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and dental caries. Out of the remaining 40 meta-analyses, 29 were graded as suggestive or weak in the strength of evidence (classes III and IV), and 11 showed no evidence (class V). These findings inform and provide support for population-based and public health strategies aimed at reducing sugary drink consumption for improved health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Alcopop beverages are generally the first alcoholic beverage that young females drink which contain high levels of sugar and alcohol. The over-consumption of these drinks may encourage alcohol co-administration with methamphetamine (METH) impacting on drinking behaviour and glial function. Aims: The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of adolescent binge alcohol exposure on consumption level, anxiety-like behaviour, cross-sensitization with METH and on astrocyte expression in reward related brain regions. Methods: Adolescent female Sprague-Dawley rats had daily 1-hour oral alcohol consumption of alcopop (ALCP; with sucrose) or ethanol-only (ETOH; without sucrose), transitioned from 5 to 15% (v/v) ethanol content for 34 days. Water and sucrose groups act as controls. During alcohol withdrawal, rats were tested for anxiety on the elevated plus maze (EPM) and locomotor activity following saline or METH (1 mg/kg i.p) treatment. Brains were then collected to assess astrocyte immunofluorescence for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in reward-related brain regions. Results: Rats pretreated with 5% ALCP consumed significantly more volume and ethanol intake when compared to 5% EtOH rats. Both ALCP and EtOH groups had a higher preference ratio for 5% than 15% alcohol solutions and ALCP rats had greater ethanol intake at 15% than EtOH rats. Alcohol withdrawal showed no significant differences between groups on anxiety, METH cross-sensitization effects or GFAP intensity in the regions studied. Conclusions: Overall, the addition of sucrose to alcoholic solutions encouraged female rats to consume larger volumes and greater ethanol intake compared to ethanol-only solutions, yet did not have long lasting effects on behaviour and astrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a probiotic bacterium that possesses numerous health-promoting properties and has significant technological applications in the fermentation of a wide range of food products and beverages. This review discusses the health benefits of L. acidophilus, including its ability to enhance immunity; promote digestive wellness; and exhibit antioxidant, antitumor, and antimicrobial properties. This review also discusses the production of bioactive peptides and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) by L. acidophilus. Factors, such as salinity, temperature, carbon sources, and nutrient availability, influence the growth of L. acidophilus, which can affect the survival and bioactive potential of fermented products. The proteolytic effects of L. acidophilus contribute to protein breakdown, which leads to the release of bioactive peptides with various health benefits. This review also discusses the applications of L. acidophilus in the fermentation of dairy products, cereal beverages, soymilk, fruit and vegetable juices, and other functional food preparations, highlighting its potential for improving the nutritional value, organoleptic properties, and probiotic delivery of these products. This review highlights the importance of understanding and controlling fermentation conditions to maximize the growth and health-promoting benefits of L. acidophilus in various food and beverage products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cyclic voltammetry coupled with machine learning (ML) was leveraged as a rapid analytical approach to evaluate antioxidant capacities in tea products. Characteristic voltammetric fingerprints were extracted from four tea types and transformed into ML-compatible datasets. The anodic peak currents showed excellent linear scan rate dependence indicating adsorption-controlled interfacial kinetics. Among supervised models, support vector machines demonstrated optimal accuracy of 93.5% and correlation coefficient of 0.96 to spectrophotometric assay values on validation samples. The approach reliably predicted antioxidant contents in commercial teas within 5% relative errors. Case studies on adulteration detection, shelf-life analysis and novel variant screening further proved practical utility. The salient input features were identified to be the oxidation peak regions, validating underlying electron-transfer phenomena. This work successfully demonstrated proof-of-concept for an inexpensive voltammetry-ML platform as an automated, high-throughput analytical tool for functional food testing. With appropriate re-training, it can enable rapid quality assurance to support rising nutraceutical consumer awareness. Prospects include extensive validation on diverse food commodities and field deployment. Overall, this rapid analytical strategy can facilitate point-of-use assessment of antioxidant capacity in functional foods and beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Color matching and stability are the essential considerations in restorative dentistry, as they contribute to the longevity and esthetic appeal of the restorations. Composites with nanoparticles and more filler content are anticipated to be more color-stable. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess and contrast the color stability of esthetic restoration materials following exposure to various antioxidant beverages. Materials and Methods: A Class V cavity was prepared on the buccal surface of 40 maxillary premolars. The specimens were divided into two groups: microhybrid (MH) and nanohybrid (NH) composite. The baseline color of each tooth sample was measured and then, the samples were categorized into four subgroups based on the immersion solution (pomegranate juice, beetroot juice, black plum juice, and distilled water) and evaluated on day 1, day 7, day 14, and day 21 using a spectrophotometer-based on CIE L*a*b* color scale. For spectrophotometer analysis, CIE XYZ data were obtained and converted to CIELAB. The samples mean difference in ΔE values before and after being immersed in various beverages. Statistical Analysis: The data were statistically analyzed using an independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Results: MH and NH composite materials showed color change after being exposed to the test beverages. Conclusion: MH composite causes more color change than NH composite at all-time intervals. Black plum showed the greatest discoloration in both composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood obesity is a major public health burden. The prevalence of weight excess for children and the adolescent population (8 to 16 years) is 34.9%. During childhood, lifestyles are acquired, which are developed in adulthood. In this context, the role of parents is crucial, since they are the model to imitate. We aimed to evaluate the current evidence on the effects of family-based interventions as a tool in the treatment of childhood obesity. We reviewed studies indexed in several databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Original articles published from 1 January 2014 to 30 May 2024 with a controlled trial design were considered, in which family-based interventions were carried out compared to a control group or to data before the intervention. Although 148 records were identified in the search, 6 studies met inclusion criteria. Overall, studies reported beneficial effects of family-based interventions on improving anthropometric parameters: BMI z-score, BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. Regarding nutritional and physical activity guidelines, general recommendations must consider increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, reducing sugary drinks, controlled screen time, and 30–60 min of physical activity/day. Thus, family-based interventions could be an effective non-pharmacological strategy for modulating childhood obesity, allowing families to modify their lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Schools can play a key role in promoting health among adolescents, and Hungarian legislation gives them sufficient space to do so. In our study, we examined the impact of a multiyear school health promotion programme on pupils' health behaviour and well-being. Methods: We carried out our investigation in an intervention and a control primary school in Hungary. All 5th and 7th grade pupils were invited to participate in the questionnaire-based survey between 2017 and 2021. The effect of the intervention was quantified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Our results show that for those behaviours where pupils' personal choices had a greater influence (unhealthy eating, smoking, screen time), the health promotion programme was more effective. For those behaviours where family background and parental influence were more pronounced (healthy eating, physical activity), the intervention had less impact. Self-perceived health was better in the 7th-grade intervention group. Conclusions: Our findings are in line with the conclusion of systematic reviews that more intensive, longer-term, multi-behavioural school health promotion programmes can be effective in promoting positive behaviour. To be more effective, it would be worth using a well-structured curriculum, well-developed teaching materials, and greater involvement of teachers, parents, and various local organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This scoping review aimed (1) to map, analyse, interpret and synthesize data from in situ studies on which substances were added to acidic beverages to reduce the erosive potential on tooth enamel and (2) to establish the level of evidence of the effectiveness of adding substances to acidic beverages to reduce the erosive potential on tooth enamel. Design: This is a scoping review, according to the methods from the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA‐ScR, with high‐sensitivity searches in the databases PubMed (MEDLINE), Virtual Health Library, Embase (Elsevier), Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science and ScienceDirect (Elsevier). In situ studies published in English until December 2022 were included. Studies that did not report a control group were excluded. To map and summarize the results, tables and figures were used. Results: From 895 potentially eligible articles, nine were included. Blackcurrant juices (n = 5) with the addition of calcium (n = 3) or xanthan gum (n = 2) formulations were the most tested in terms of reducing the erosive potential of the beverages on tooth enamel. The profilometer was the equipment of choice (n = 8) for evaluating the loss of enamel structure after the experimental tests. Conclusions: Calcium and xanthan gum are among the most tested by in situ studies, offering promising results in reducing the erosive potential of fruit juices and carbonated and energy drinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kids SIP smart ER is a 6-month behavioral and health literacy intervention effective at reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake among middle school students and their caregivers in the rural Appalachian region. This exploratory mixed methods study utilized a convergent parallel design to assess participant acceptability of a school-based curriculum for students and a text messaging program for caregivers. Acceptability was assessed using surveys (873 students and 453 caregivers), five focus groups (34 students) and telephone interviews (22 caregivers). Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative data were content coded. On a 5-point scale, average quantitative survey acceptability ratings ranged from 2.7 to 3.3 among three student-rated questions and 4.1 to 4.2 among four caregiver-rated questions. Qualitative focus group findings suggested that students preferred curricular activities that were hands-on and involved social interaction, while caregiver interview results showed high acceptability of the text messaging program's design, including usability, content messages and personalization. Students and caregivers reported similar program benefits: increased knowledge of SSBs and health risks, increased awareness of SSB behaviors and support to make beverage behavior changes. Results from this study can be used to understand Kids SIP smart ER's effectiveness data, communicate the intervention's acceptability with stakeholders and plan for future implementation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) contribute to illness, especially among marginalized communities and children targeted by the beverage industry. SSB taxes can reduce consumption, illness burden, and health inequities, while generating revenue for health programs, and as one way to hold the industry responsible for their harmful products and marketing malpractices. Supporters and opponents have debated SSB tax proposals in news coverage - a key source of information that helps to shape public policy debates. To learn how four successful California-based SSB tax campaigns were covered in the news, we conducted a content analysis, comparing how SSB taxes were portrayed. We found that pro-tax arguments frequently reported data to expose the beverage industry's outsized campaign spending and emphasize the health harms of SSBs, often from health professionals. However, pro-tax arguments rarely described the benefits of SSB taxes, or how they can act as a tool for industry accountability. By contrast, anti-tax arguments overtly appealed to values and promoted misinformation, often from representatives from industry-funded front groups. As experts recommend additional SSB tax proposals, and as the industry mounts legislative counter-tactics to prevent them, advocates should consider harnessing community representatives as messengers and values-based messages to highlight the benefits of SSB taxes.

ObjectiveTo examine the effectiveness of a workplace sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) sales ban on reducing SSB consumption in employees, including those with cardiometabolic disease risk factors.DesignA controlled trial of ethnically diverse, full-time employees who consumed SSB heavily (sales ban n 315; control n 342). Outcomes included standardised measures of change in SSB consumption in the workplace (primary) and at home between baseline and 6 months post-sales ban.SettingSutter Health, a large non-profit healthcare delivery system in Northern California.ParticipantsFull-time employees at Sutter Health screened for heavy SSB consumption.ResultsParticipants were 66·1 % non-White. On average, participants consumed 34·7 ounces (about 1 litre) of SSB per d, and the majority had an elevated baseline BMI (mean = 29·5). In adjusted regression analyses, those exposed to a workplace SSB sales ban for 6 months consumed 2·7 (95 % CI -4·9, -0·5) fewer ounces of SSB per d while at work, and 4·3 (95 % CI -8·4, -0·2) fewer total ounces per d, compared to controls. Sales ban participants with an elevated BMI or waist circumference had greater post-intervention reductions in workplace SSB consumption.ConclusionsWorkplace sales bans can reduce SSB consumption in ethnically diverse employee populations, including those at higher risk for cardiometabolic disease.

CONTEXT: Poor diet has been implicated in a range of noncommunicable diseases. Fiscal and pricing policies (FPs) may offer a means by which consumption of food and non-alcoholic beverages with links to such diseases can be influenced to improve public health. OBJECTIVE: To examine the acceptability of FPs to reduce diet-related noncommunicable disease, based on systematic review evidence. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo, SCI, SSCI, Web of Science, Scopus, EconLit, the Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, and the Campbell Collaboration Library were searched for relevant studies published between January 1, 1990 and June 2021. DATA EXTRACTION: The studies included systematic reviews of diet-related FPs and: used real-world evidence; examined real or perceived barriers/facilitators; targeted the price of food or non-alcoholic beverages; and applied to entire populations within a jurisdiction. A total of 9996 unique relevant records were identified, which were augmented by a search of bibliographies and recommendations from an external expert advisory panel. Following screening, 4 systematic reviews remained. DATA ANALYSIS: Quality appraisal was conducted using the AMSTAR 2 tool. A narrative synthesis was undertaken, with outcomes grouped according to the WHO-INTEGRATE criteria. The findings indicated a paucity of high-quality systematic review evidence and limited public support for the use of FPs to change dietary habits. This lack of support was related to a number of factors that included: their perceived potential to be regressive; a lack of transparency, ie, there was mistrust around the use of revenues raised; a paucity of evidence around health benefits; the deliberate choice of rates that were lower than those considered necessary to affect diet; and concerns about the potential of such FPs to harm economic outcomes such as employment. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the need for high-quality systematic review evidence on this topic, and the importance of responding to public concerns and putting in place mechanisms to address these when implementing FPs. This study was funded by Safefood [02A-2020]. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42021274454.

INTRODUCTION: One in 5 pregnant individuals report consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at least once per day. Excess sugar consumption during pregnancy is associated with several perinatal complications. As sugar-sweetened beverage taxes become increasingly common public health measures to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, evidence of the downstream effects of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes on perinatal health remains limited. METHODS: This longitudinal retrospective study examines whether sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in 5 U.S. cities were associated with decreased risk of perinatal complications, leveraging 2013-2019 U.S. national birth certificate data and a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences approach to estimate changes in perinatal outcomes. Analysis occurred from April 2021 through January 2023. RESULTS: The sample included 5,324,548 pregnant individuals and their live singleton births in the U.S. from 2013 through 2019. Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes were associated with a 41.4% decreased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (-2.2 percentage points; 95% CI= -4.2, -0.2), a -7.9% reduction in weight-gain-for-gestational-age z-score (-0.2 standard deviations; 95% CI= -0.3, -0.01), and decreased risk of infants born small for gestational age (-4.3 percentage points; 95% CI= -6.5, -2.1). There were heterogeneous effects across subgroups, particularly for weight-gain-for-gestational-age z-score. CONCLUSIONS: Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes levied in five U.S. cities were associated with improvements in perinatal health. Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes may be an effective policy instrument for improving health during pregnancy, a critical window during which short-term dietary exposures can have lifelong consequences for the birthing person and child.

The article discusses cases of allergic contact cheilitis/stomatitis caused by beverages and food, emphasizing the importance of considering this diagnosis in unexplained and persistent lip and oral mucosa inflammation. Two cases are presented, highlighting the role of sulphites in alcoholic beverages and cinnamon in triggering allergic reactions. The authors stress the need for thorough history-taking, patch testing, and avoidance of suspected allergens to diagnose and manage such conditions effectively. The study underscores the significance of recognizing uncommon sources of contact allergies in dermatological practice. [Extracted from the article]

The document discusses the impact of alcohol misuse on learning in school and university students, highlighting the negative effects on cognitive abilities, decision-making, and brain health. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to impairments in memory, learning, and cognitive function by affecting brain structures like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Biology educators are encouraged to provide effective alcohol education by explaining the biological mechanisms behind these effects and incorporating alcohol-related topics into the curriculum. Educators can also help identify signs of alcohol abuse and provide support to students, working alongside dedicated professionals to address this worldwide issue. [Extracted from the article]

Deuterium oxide (D2O) appearance in blood is a marker of fluid bioavailability. However, whether biomarker robustness (e.g., relative fluid delivery speed) is consistent across analytical methods (e.g., cavity ring-down spectroscopy) remains unclear. Fourteen men ingested fluid (6 ml/kg body mass) containing 0.15 g/kg D2O followed by 45 min blood sampling. Plasma (D2O) was detected (n = 8) by the following: isotope-ratio mass spectrometry after vapor equilibration (IRMS-equilibrated water) or distillation (IRMS-plasma) and cavity ring-down spectroscopy. Two models calculated D2O halftime to peak (t1/2max): sigmoid curve fit versus asymmetric triangle (TRI). Background (D2O) differed (p <.001, η2 =.98) among IRMS-equilibrated water, IRMS-plasma, and cavity ring-down spectroscopy (152.2 ± 0.8, 147.2 ± 1.5, and 137.7 ± 2.2 ppm), but did not influence (p >.05) D2O appearance (Δppm), time to peak, or t1/2max. Stratifying participants based on mean t1/2max (12 min) into "slow" versus "fast" subgroups resulted in a 5.8 min difference (p <.001, η2 =.73). Significant t1/2max model (p =.01, η2 =.44) and Model × Speed Subgroup interaction (p =.005, η2 =.50) effects were observed. Bias between TRI and sigmoid curve fit increased with t1/2max speed: no difference (p =.75) for fast (9.0 min vs. 9.2 min, respectively) but greater t1/2max (p =.001) with TRI for the slow subgroup (16.1 min vs. 13.7 min). Fluid bioavailability markers are less influenced by which laboratory method is used to measure D2O as compared with the individual variability effects that influence models for calculating t1/2max. Thus, TRI model may not be appropriate for individuals with slow fluid delivery speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of various beverages on the color stability of nanohybrid and bulk-fill resin composites.Methods: In this experimental study, 36 disk-shaped composite samples (6 mm diameter, 4 mm thickness) were prepared from three types of composite resins (n=12): a nanohybrid composite (Filtek Z550), a bulk-fill composite (Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill) and a flowable bulk-fill composite (Filtek Bulk Fill Flowable). The samples from each composite were then divided into four subgroups based on the applied staining solution (n=3) and immersed for 120 hours in either distilled water, chocolate milk, cola, or orange juice. Color measurements were conducted at baseline and after immersion in staining solutions by a VITA Easyshade Compact according to the CIELAB color system. Color changes (∆E) were analyzed by a two-way ANOVA at the significance level of P3.3) after immersion in various beverages. The greatest color changes were usually found in Filtek Bulk Fill Flowable composite. Both bulk fill composites showed significantly greater color changes than the nanohybrid composite after immersion in distilled water and chocolate milk (P

Introduction and purpose: Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a pollutant in water and various types of beverages. Given that humans are regularly exposed to the risk of microplastic accumulation in the body through the consumption of water and different drinks, this review study aimed to assess the occurrence of this emerging pollutant across water and various beverage categories. Methods: For this review study, the articles on the presence of MPs in beverages published up to 2024 were thoroughly reviewed. These articles were identified through searches conducted in reputable national and international databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, and SID. The search utilized both Persian and English keywords, such as microplastic, beverages, human health, tea, bottled water, tap water, and soft drinks. Results: The review examined the presence of microplastics in a range of beverage types, including bottled water (11 articles), tap water (6 articles), tea and coffee (7 articles), milk (6 articles), and energy drinks and sodas (4 articles). According to the results, the frequency of MPs in each liter of bottled water and tap water was between 4.6 and 20348 particles, and their dominant sources were polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate. The size range of MPS in tea varied from 200.6-220.7 µm, and the common polymers identified were ethylene-vinyl acetate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Furthermore, the average number of MPs in milk samples was 6±5 particles per liter. The results pointed out that the possibility of milk being contaminated by MPs during the production process was higher than during the packaging process. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, MPs were present in all the beverages studied, and the sources of their contamination included the packaging of bottles and abrasion of bottle caps in bottled water, water treatment and pipelines in tap water, agricultural plastic films, and the use of plastic packaging in tea and milk. The presence of MPs in water and beverages has adverse effects on human health, and there is a need for further studies and new standards to control the related risks.

The food and beverage packaging industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. Particularly the requirement for appropriate packaging materials used for the sale of fermented products is boosted due to the rising acceptance of economical functional foods available to consumers on the shelves of their local supermarkets. The most popular nutraceutical foods with increased sales include natural yogurts, probiotic-rich milk, kefir, and other fermented food and beverage products. These items have mainly been produced from dairy-based or non-dairy raw materials to provide several product options for most consumers, including vegan and lactose-intolerant populations. Therefore, there is a need for an evaluation of the potential developments and prospects that characterize the growth of the food packaging industry in the global market. The article is based on a review of information from published research, encompassing current trends, emerging technologies, challenges, innovations, and sustainability initiatives for food industry packaging.