Search

The aim of this study was to assess the risk of replacing meat with plant-based analogues with respect to mycotoxin exposure, as a proof of concept to demonstrate the need for a proper regulatory framework for mycotoxins in meat imitates. Hence, we considered a full replacement of meat consumption with soy-based meat analogues and we evaluated the exposure to AFB1 and OTA, based on the Italian National Food Consumption Survey INRAN-SCAI 2005–2006 and the European Food Safety Authority occurrence data. The overall health impact from soy-based food consumption and a meat-free diet was quantified in terms of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in three different contamination and consumption scenarios. The substitution of meat products with soy-based imitates would prevent up to 406.2 colorectal cancer cases/year/country associated with 532 healthy years of life. However, we also determined an increased risk of liver cancer and loss of healthy life-years due to AFB1 exposure and a potential risk of renal cancer as due to an increased intake of OTA, leading up to 1208 extra cancer cases associated with the loss of 12,080 healthy life-years/country. Shifting to a plant-based diet actually eliminates a cancer risk factor such as processed meat, however, higher and unexpected risks could arise if mycotoxins are not properly regulated in plant-based meat alternatives. Taking into account the ubiquitous occurrence of mycotoxins, also in the light of climate change, and the growing trend toward plant-based meat analogues, greater importance should be given to actual food consumption trends and correlated with updated natural toxins regulations and risk assessments. Graphical abstract

Study describing the use of pasteurised eggs in dishes traditionally prepared with raw or undercooked eggs as a food safety solution againstSalmonella

Salmonellosis is the second most common zoonosis in humans after campylobacteriosis. Eggs and egg products are the foods most commonly associated with Salmonella outbreaks. Also, inadequate hygiene practices performed by consumers at home contribute to the prevalence of foodborne diseases. The elderly, children, and pregnant women are the most vulnerable individuals. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyse Romanian and Portuguese consumers' self-reported consumption of raw-egg based-foods, food and hand hygiene practices, and to check if vulnerable consumer groups mediate the relationship between consumption of raw-egg based-foods and hygiene practices since they have weak immune systems. Significant correlations were found between the number of foodborne events and the number of Romanian and Portuguese consumers who did not report proper raw-egg handling and hand hygiene practices. An ordinary regression model indicated an increased consumption frequency of raw-egg based-foods reported by Romanian and Portuguese men, consumers aged 55 years. Structural equation modelling (SEM) indicated that there is a negative link between consumption frequency of raw-egg based-foods and food and hand hygiene practices for both Romanian and Portuguese consumers. Vulnerable consumers mediate the relationship between consumption frequency and hygiene practices, suggesting that Romanian families with elderly members and families with children dampened the negative relationship between consumption of raw-egg based-foods and self-reported hygiene practices, the contrary being observed Portuguese families with children and families from both countries with pregnant women. Recommendations for multi-faceted approaches regarding educational campaigns are made in order to improve consumers’ knowledge and food handling practices.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dirt removal (bacteria and organic matter) of several hand-cleaning procedures. The results from the hand hygiene experiment indicated that washing hands with warm water and soap for 20 s is the most effective method investigated when hands are either dirty or greasy. Even if not proper washing, rinsing under running water for 5 s is a cleaning procedure that may significantly reduce the probability of cross-contamination, as it removes 90% of the hands’ dirt. Although less effective than water and soap, the usage of antibacterial wipes was significantly more effective than wet wipes, indicating that they are a better choice when water and soap are not available. The results of this study enable us to inform consumers about the effectiveness of hand-cleaning procedures applied in their homes when cooking. Moreover, it can make consumers understand why, during the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities recommended washing hands as a preventive measure of infection and using an anti-bacterial hand gel or wiping hands with an antimicrobial wipe if water and soap are not available.

The ongoing shift from traditional diets to plant-based meat alternatives is governed by the friendly-character related to consumers' health and environment. However, the beneficial aspects of meat alternatives overshadow the possible adverse effects that accompany them. The present systematic review shows that the contamination of the most common plant-based meat alternatives, soybean, chickpea, pea, and seitan with mycotoxins is understudied or not studied at all. Even though they are toxic and were found in soy-based food, tropane and β-carboline alkaloids contamination data in plant-based meat alternatives is also lacking. Mycotoxin mixtures that can have additive or synergistic toxic effects have been found in multiple soy-based food, revealing the high risk that consumers expose themselves to. To better understand the risks that come along with the shift to plant-based meat diets, future research is needed regarding contamination data of plant-based meat alternatives with natural toxins. Maximum limits for contaminants found in plant-based meat alternatives need to be established by the European Commission in order to ensure consumers' food safety.

This paper examines the Romanian consumers' knowledge regarding food hazards and their awareness on certified labelled food, while identifying the sources of information they trust. The study reveals that half of the consumers are not aware of hazards as mycotoxins and pathogenic microorganisms likeListeria,Campylobacter,YersiniaandClostridium, while they perceive food additives and GMOs as being hazardous. Using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and principal component analysis (PCA), it was found that certified labelled food provides the consumer with a general feeling of trust; however, consumers do not discriminate what the certification is standing for. Also, science books are recognized as trustful sources of information but family and media are the first option at hand for making an opinion on what can put somebody at risk. Applying confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) modelling it was possible to link consumers’ knowledge and awareness with their trust and to identify means to communicate in order to fill the existing knowledge gaps and alleviate part of their food related anxieties. Suggestions on how to manage this process are given with the aim to make Romanian consumers understand the efforts of food chain participants to ensure food safety, to avoid confusion on what is risky and what is not, and to determine them to share responsibilities on food safety. The study may inspire strategies for consumer education based on adopting a risk-based approach to food safety not only in Romania, but in other countries too, as similarities may exist.

This paper aimed to establish the relationship between food safety knowledge, food shopping attitude, and self-reported kitchen practices among Romanian consumers. The study used data collected in an online survey applied on 985 consumers. A knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) model applied by structural equation modelling revealed significant correlations between knowledge and attitude (r=0.36;pβ=0.17,pβ=0.47,p&nbsp

The safety of many foods is dependent on ensuring the cold chain until the time of consumption. A weak link is the consumer part of the chain as the temperatures of domestic refrigerators are often too high and the users have limited possibilities to monitor and adjust the temperatures. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether common consumer practices for monitoring that food is kept cold are valid. Consumers demonstrated limited ability to assess food and surface temperature by tactile sense with lower precision at 8 °C compared to 4 °C. Almost 20% of the consumers were able to detect the exact food and surface temperature kept at 4 °C, while at 8 °C only 13% detected the exact temperature. A web-based survey mapping consumer practices showed that more than 40% of consumers never checked the temperature in their refrigerators, 38% rely on food coldness to evaluate if the refrigerator is running at adequate temperature and 65% lack knowledge on how to correctly asses temperature in the fridge. Most of the comments emphasized the situations where consumers could be at risk due to misevaluation of refrigerated food and surfaces real temperature indicating the necessity for better monitorization of cold food chain at domestic level.

International audience; The data presented here capture the structure of kitchen layouts belonging to consumers vulnerable to foodborne diseases and food risk-takers. Data were collected in the frame of the SafeConsume project by multidisciplinary research teams that visited consumers during preparing a meal and had the possibility to examine their cooking routines. Distances between sink and stove, sink and refrigerator, stove and refrigerator, sink and working place (countertop or table), stove and working place were analyzed to correlate food safety practices applied during cooking with kitchen arrangements. The results arising from analyzing the ergonomics of kitchens versus potential cross-contamination events are presented in Mihalache et al., [1]. These data contribute to a better understanding of real kitchen layouts and can be used as a starting point for future research regarding food safety-oriented arrangements instead of ergonomics-focused designs, for food safety risk assessments, as study cases for explaining specific measures that can be established to improve food handling and hygiene practices in homes and for sociological research pointing consumers' behavior during cooking.

This study evaluates the potential of pasteurised eggs to be used as a replacement for raw eggs in recipes where eggs remain uncooked or undercooked. Sensory tests were performed by 178 untrained panellists (143 from Portugal and 35 from Romania) using a 9-point hedonic scale. The tested recipes were tiramisu, chocolate mousse, eggnog, hollandaise sauce, and condensed milk mousse (Baba de camelo). While in Portugal the colour and texture of the chocolate mousse prepared with pasteurised and unpasteurised eggs differed significantly, no significant differences in regards to the organoleptic attributes were recorded in Romania. Nonetheless, the results revealed comparable distribution scores regarding the overall acceptability for all the recipes indicating an agreement among panellists for both raw and pasteurised eggs dishes in both countries. The regression analysis showed that the main drivers of consumers’ acceptance of dishes made with pasteurised eggs are flavour and texture. This research demonstrates that five dishes prepared with liquid pasteurised eggs are accepted by consumers as they cannot clearly be distinguished from their counterparts prepared with raw eggs. As Salmonella-contaminated eggs are the most frequent cause of salmonellosis, pasteurised eggs can be used as a safer ingredient to substitute shell eggs in raw egg-based dishes without significant reduction of the sensory quality of the dish. Since liquid pasteurised eggs are already widely used, especially by industry and restaurants, we provide reasons supporting pasteurisation of eggs in shell as a more convenient solution for consumers. Pasteurised eggs, either liquid or in shell, constitute a way to reduce the burden of foodborne diseases by diminishing the number of cases of salmonellosis associated with cooking at home. Researchers and food safety authorities can use our results as a starting point for future studies or intervention strategies., CC BY-NC-ND