The Perils of Partnership: Interactions Between Public Health England, Drinkaware, and the Portman Group Surrounding the Drink Free Days Campaign.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that the alcohol industry seeks to obstruct public health policies that might affect future alcohol sales. In parallel, the alcohol industry funds organisations that engage in "responsible drinking" campaigns. Evidence is growing that the content and delivery of such campaigns serves industry, rather than public health interests, yet these organizations continue to be the subject of partnerships with government health departments. This study aimed to examine the nature and potential impacts of such partnerships by analysing the practices of the alcohol industry-funded charity Drinkaware during the establishment of the Drink Free Days campaign. METHODS: A case study based on an inductive analysis of documents revealed by freedom of information (FoI) request regarding communications between Drinkaware, Public Health England (PHE), and the Portman Group, in the years running up to, and during, the Drink Free Days campaign, a partnership between alcohol industry-funded charity Drinkware, and PHE. RESULTS: This study reveals a range of less visible, system-level effects of such partnerships for government departments and civil society. The tensions observed, as exhibited by discrepancies between internal and external communications, the emphasis on managing and mitigating the perception of negative consequences, and the links to wider alcohol industry initiatives and bodies, suggest the need for wider considerations of organizational conflicts of interest, and of possible indirect, harmful consequences to policy-making. These include the marginalization of other civil society voices, the displacing of more effective policy options, and strategic alignment with other industry lobbying activities. CONCLUSION: The findings have implications for how public health practitioners and health organisations might better weigh the potential trade-offs of partnership in the context of health promotion campaigns.

Inhibitors and Supporters of Policy Change in the Regulation of Unhealthy Food Marketing in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the impact of policies that regulate unhealthy food marketing demonstrates a need for a shift from pure industry self-regulation toward statutory regulation. Institutional rules, decision-making procedures, actor practices, and institutional norms influence the regulatory choices made by policy-makers. This study examined institutional processes that sustain, support, or inhibit change in the food marketing regulation in Australia using the three pillars of institutions framework - regulatory, normative, and cultural cognitive pillars. METHODS: This was a qualitative study. Twenty-four in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with industry, government, civil society, and academic actors who are involved in nutrition policy in Australia. RESULTS: The regulatory pillar was perceived to inhibit policy change through the co-regulation and self-regulation frameworks that assign rulemaking, monitoring and enforcement to industry bodies with minimal oversight by regulatory agencies and no involvement of health actors. The normative pillar was perceived to provide pathways for comprehensive statutory regulation through institutional goals and norms for collaboration that centre on a whole-of-government approach. The framing of food marketing policies to highlight the vulnerability of children is a cultural cognitive element that was perceived to be essential for getting support for policy change; however, there was a lack of shared understanding of food marketing as a policy issue. In addition, government ideologies that are perceived to be reluctant to regulate commercial actors and values that prioritize economic interest over public health make it difficult for health advocates to argue for statutory regulation of food marketing. CONCLUSION: Elements of all three pillars (regulatory, normative, and cultural-cognitive) were identified as either inhibitors or pathways that support policy change. This study contributes to the understanding of factors that inhibit policy change and potential pathways for implementing comprehensive statutory regulation of unhealthy food marketing.

Child and adolescent exposure to unhealthy food marketing across digital platforms in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents are exposed to a high volume of unhealthy food marketing across digital media. No previous Canadian data has estimated child exposure to food marketing across digital media platforms. This study aimed to compare the frequency, healthfulness and power of food marketing viewed by children and adolescents across all digital platforms in Canada. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, a quota sample of 100 youth aged 6-17 years old (50 children, 50 adolescents distributed equally by sex) were recruited online and in-person in Canada in 2022. Each participant completed the WHO screen capture protocol where they were recorded using their smartphone or tablet for 30-min in an online Zoom session. Research assistants identified all instances of food marketing in the captured video footage. A content analysis of each marketing instance was then completed to examine the use of marketing techniques. Nutritional data were collected on each product viewed and healthfulness was determined using Health Canada's 2018 Nutrient Profile Model. Estimated daily and yearly exposure to food marketing was calculated using self-reported device usage data. RESULTS: 51% of youth were exposed to food marketing. On average, we estimated that children are exposed to 1.96 marketing instances/child/30-min (4067 marketing instances/child/year) and adolescents are exposed to 2.56 marketing instances/adolescent/30-min (8301 marketing instances/adolescent/year). Both children and adolescents were most exposed on social media platforms (83%), followed by mobile games (13%). Both age groups were most exposed to fast food (22% of marketing instances) compared to other food categories. Nearly 90% of all marketing instances were considered less healthy according to Health Canada's proposed 2018 Nutrient Profile Model, and youth-appealing marketing techniques such as graphic effects and music were used frequently. CONCLUSIONS: Using the WHO screen capture protocol, we were able to determine that child and adolescent exposure to the marketing of unhealthy foods across digital media platforms is likely high. Government regulation to protect these vulnerable populations from the negative effects of this marketing is warranted.

Advances of protein-based emulsion gels as fat analogues: Systematic classification, formation mechanism, and food application.

Fat plays a pivotal role in the appearance, flavor, texture, and palatability of food. However, excessive fat consumption poses a significant risk for chronic ailments such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the development of green, healthy, and stable protein-based emulsion gel as an alternative to traditional fats represents a novel approach to designing low-fat food. This paper reviews the emulsification behavior of proteins from different sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of their potential in the development of emulsion gels with fat-analog properties. It further investigates the emulsifying potential of protein combined with diverse substances. Then, the mechanisms of protein-stabilized emulsion gels with fat-analog properties are discussed, mainly involving single proteins, proteins-polysaccharides, as well as proteins-polyphenols. Moreover, the potential applications of protein emulsion gels as fat analogues in the food industry are also encompassed. By combining natural proteins with other components such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, or biopolymers, it is possible to enhance the stability of the emulsion gels and improve its fat-analog texture properties. In addition to their advantages in protecting oil oxidation, limiting hydrogenated oil intake, and delivering bioactive substances, protein-based emulsion gels have potential in food 3D printing and the development of specialty fats for plant-based meat.

Narrative Review of the Current and Future Perspectives of Phycobiliproteins' Applications in the Food Industry: From Natural Colors to Alternative Proteins.

Vivid-colored phycobiliproteins (PBPs) have emerging potential as food colors and alternative proteins in the food industry. However, enhancing their application potential requires increasing stability, cost-effective purification processes, and consumer acceptance. This narrative review aimed to highlight information regarding the critical aspects of PBP research that is needed to improve their food industry potential, such as stability, food fortification, development of new PBP-based food products, and cost-effective production. The main results of the literature review show that polysaccharide and protein-based encapsulations significantly improve PBPs' stability. Additionally, while many studies have investigated the ability of PBPs to enhance the techno-functional properties, like viscosity, emulsifying and stabilizing activity, texture, rheology, etc., of widely used food products, highly concentrated PBP food products are still rare. Therefore, much effort should be invested in improving the stability, yield, and sensory characteristics of the PBP-fortified food due to the resulting unpleasant sensory characteristics. Considering that most studies focus on the C-phycocyanin from Spirulina, future studies should concentrate on less explored PBPs from red macroalgae due to their much higher production potential, a critical factor for positioning PBPs as alternative proteins.

The effect of workforce diversity on organizational performance with the mediation role of workplace ethics: Empirical evidence from food and beverage industry.

This study examines the effect of workforce diversity on organizational performance in the Ethiopian food and beverage sector. It incorporates workplace ethics as a mediator to explain in detail the complex relationship between workforce diversity and organizational performance. The study uses a quantitative design, in which data is collected from a random sample of 359 employees from stratified random firms. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) result verified the viability of three of the four proposed hypotheses. Organizational performance is not directly affected by workforce diversity. But it directly changes in response to the change in workplace ethics. Besides, workplace ethics mediate the relationship between workforce diversity and organizational performance. This implies a more advanced relationship exists between diversity and performance, involving effects transitions via workplace ethics, than what this study initially proposed. Thus, an approach to improving firm performance involves reinforcing good workplace ethics practices. Organizations can mitigate the negative impact of workforce diversity on workplace ethics by creating a more inclusive and ethical workplace. This includes providing training on diversity and inclusion and promoting a culture of respect and understanding.

Litsea cubeba essential oil: Extraction, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and applications in the food industry.

Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. (Lauraceae) is a valuable industrial crop that produces essential oil. The essential oil extracted from L. cubeba (LCEO) has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and high antioxidant properties, with great potential for increased usage in the food industry. This literature review summarizes the extraction techniques, content and chemical composition, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of LCEO, with a focus on its usage in the food industry, which is an area of substantial recent research. The chemical composition of LCEO, which is affected by various factors, plays a key role in determining its bioactivity and usage in food. The potent antimicrobial activity of LCEO against various foodborne pathogens gives it potential for use in food packaging and preservation to extend shelf life. Future research challenges include the elucidation of the role and mechanism of individual chemical components of LCEO in inhibiting specific foodborne microorganisms; cultivar development to produce germplasm that yields essential oils of the desired chemical composition; and the development of commercial products that can be used in the food industry.

Corporate social responsibility, policy framing and strategic marketing: understanding the alcohol industry's use of social media in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa is important to the future of alcohol and global health because the alcohol market there is expanding rapidly in a relatively young population. This entails a corresponding contest about whether the policy measures adopted will be shaped by scientific evidence or by industry interference in alcohol policy. This study examines how alcohol industry actors use social media. METHODS: Uganda was selected for study because of high levels of alcohol harm and recent alcohol policy debates. Data on the X (formerly Twitter) activity of the Ugandan companies of AB InBev and Diageo, who are the two main brewers, and the trade association including both, were collected, coded and thematically analysed. RESULTS: X is used overwhelmingly by alcohol industry actors in Uganda to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) and alcohol policy framing content. There is little direct product marketing. The framing of policy problems and solutions, and of the actors involved in policymaking and CSR resembles that used elsewhere in the political strategies of the transnational alcohol corporations. Content which appears more emphasised in Uganda includes material on farmers, illicit trade and contribution to the economy. As elsewhere, it avoids giving attention to the policy measures which would make a difference to the levels of alcohol harms endured by Uganda. Rhetorically, X is thus used to create a parallel universe, in which the actual harms and what is known about how to reduce them are conspicuous by their absence. CONCLUSIONS: The alcohol industry presents itself as indispensable to Uganda's future and appears to have developed relationships with politicians, partnerships with government, and built a coalition with farmers. This means the alcohol industry may be well positioned to oppose public health policy measures, even though their arguments lack substance and are at odds with the evidence.

The impact of the UK soft drink industry levy on the soft drink marketplace, 2017-2020: An interrupted time series analysis with comparator series.

BACKGROUND: In April 2018, the UK government implemented a levy on soft drinks importers and manufacturers, tiered according to the amount of sugar in drinks. The stated aim was to encourage manufacturers to reduce sugar and portion sizes. Previous evidence suggests that the policy has been successful in reducing sugar in drinks in the short-term since implementation, but their sustained effects have not been explored. This study aimed to assess the impact of the soft drink industry levy (SDIL) on sugar levels, price, portion size and use of non-sugar sweeteners in the medium-term. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Product data from 30 November 2017 to 14 March 2020 from one major UK retail supermarket were analysed (112,452 observations, 126 weekly time points). We used interrupted time series analysis, to assess the impact of the soft-drink industry levy (SDIL) on levy-eligible soft drinks, with exempt drinks (i.e. 100% fruit juices, milks, flavoured milks) acting as a comparator series. At the point of implementation of the SDIL (April 2018) there was a step change in the proportion of eligible drinks with sugar content below the SDIL levy threshold (5g per 100ml) (+0.08, 95%CI: +0.04, +0.12), with a similar sized decrease in the proportion in the highest levy category (> = 8g sugar per 100ml) (-0.06, 95%CI: -0.10, -0.03). Between April 2018 and March 2020, the proportion of eligible drinks below the SDIL levy threshold continued to gradually increase (p = 0.003), while those in the highest levy category decreased (p = 0.007). There was a step change in price of eligible drinks in the higher levy category at the point of implementation of +£0.049 (95%CI: +£0.034, +£0.065) per 100mL (for comparison, the levy is set at £0.024 per 100mL for this group). Trends in price for the high levy category were not altered by the SDIL. In the no levy category, there was a step change in price at the implementation (+£0.012 per 100mL, 95%CI: +£0.008, +£0.023), followed by a second step change in October 2018 (-£0.018p per 100mL, 95%CI: -£0.033, -£0.001p). The volume of products in the higher levy group decreased at the time of the implementation (-305mL on average including multipacks, 95%CI: -511, -99). The change in trend for the product volume of drinks in the higher levy group between April 2018 and March 2020 was in the increasing direction (+704mL per year, 95%CI: -95, 1504), but it did not meet our threshold for statistical significance (p = 0.084). There were no changes observed in the volume of lower levy drinks or no levy drinks. There was a step change in the proportion of drinks with non-sugar sweeteners at the implementation of the SDIL (+0.04, 95%CI: +0.02, +0.06). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the SDIL was successful in [1] producing reductions in sugar levels that were maintained over the medium term up to March 2020 and [2] a reduction in product volume for higher tier drinks that may be diminishing over time. Our results also show that the SDIL was associated with a maintained price differential between high and low sugar drinks.

Green Methods to Recover Bioactive Compounds from Food Industry Waste: A Sustainable Practice from the Perspective of the Circular Economy.

The worrying and constant increase in the quantities of food and beverage industry by-products and wastes is one of the main factors contributing to global environmental pollution. Since this is a direct consequence of continuous population growth, it is imperative to reduce waste production and keep it under control. Re-purposing agro-industrial wastes, giving them new life and new directions of use, is a good first step in this direction, and, in global food production, vegetables and fruits account for a significant percentage. In this paper, brewery waste, cocoa bean shells, banana and citrus peels and pineapple wastes are examined. These are sources of bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, whose regular intake in the human diet is related to the prevention of various diseases linked to oxidative stress. In order to recover such bioactive compounds using more sustainable methods than conventional extraction, innovative solutions have been evaluated in the past decades. Of particular interest is the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and compressed solvents, associated with green techniques such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and pulsed-electric-field-assisted extraction (PEF). These novel techniques are gaining importance because, in most cases, they allow for optimizing the extraction yield, quality, costs and time.

Randomised study of the effects of sense of entitlement and conflict of interest contrarianism on researcher decision-making to work with the alcohol industry.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that the tobacco industry used research funding as a deliberate tactic to subvert science. There has been little wider attention to how researchers think about accepting industry funding. We developed, then tested, hypotheses about two psychological constructs, namely, entitlement and conflict of interest contrarianism (CoI-C) among alcohol researchers who had previously received industry funding. METHODS: A mixed-methods pilot study involved construct and instrument development, followed by an online survey and nested 3-arm randomised trial. We randomly allocated alcohol industry funding recipients to one of three conditions. In two experimental conditions we asked participants questions to remind them (and thus increase the salience) of their sense of entitlement or CoI-C. We compared these groups with a control group who did not receive any reminder. The outcome was a composite measure of openness to working with the alcohol industry. RESULTS: 133 researchers were randomised of whom 79 completed the experiment. The posterior distribution over effect estimates revealed that there was a 94.8% probability that reminding researchers of their CoI-C led them to self-report being more receptive to industry funding, whereas the probability was 68.1% that reminding them of their sense of entitlement did so. Biomedical researchers reported being more open to working with industry than did psychosocial researchers. CONCLUSION: Holding contrarian views on conflict of interest could make researchers more open to working with industry. This study shows how it is possible to study researcher decision-making using quantitative experimental methods.

Chlorella vulgaris-mediated bioremediation of food and beverage wastewater from industries in Mexico: Results and perspectives towards sustainability and circular economy.

The food and beverage industries in Mexico generate substantial effluents, including nejayote, cheese-whey, and tequila vinasses, which pose significant environmental challenges due to their extreme physicochemical characteristics and excessive organic load. This study aimed to assess the potential of Chlorella vulgaris in bioremediating these complex wastewaters while also producing added-value compounds. A UV mutagenesis treatment (40 min) enhanced C. vulgaris adaptability to grow in the effluent conditions. Robust growth was observed in all three effluents, with nejayote identified as the optimal medium. Physicochemical measurements conducted pre- and post-cultivation revealed notable reductions of pollutants in nejayote, including complete removal of nitrogen and phosphates, and an 85 % reduction in COD. Tequila vinasses exhibited promise with a 66 % reduction in nitrogen and a 70 % reduction in COD, while cheese-whey showed a 17 % reduction in phosphates. Regarding valuable compounds, nejayote yielded the highest pigment (1.62 mg·g-1) and phenolic compound (3.67 mg·g-1) content, while tequila vinasses had the highest protein content (16.83 %). The main highlight of this study is that C. vulgaris successfully grew in 100 % of the three effluents (without additional water or nutrients), demonstrating its potential for sustainable bioremediation and added-value compound production. When grown in 100 % of the effluents, they become a sustainable option since they don't require an input of fresh water and therefore do not contribute to water scarcity. These findings offer a practical solution for addressing environmental challenges in the food and beverage industries within a circular economy framework.

Investigation and characterization of changes in potato peels by thermochemical acidic pre-treatment for extraction of various compounds.

Potato peel waste (PPW) is an underutilized substrate which is produced in huge amounts by food processing industries. Using PPW a feedstock for production of useful compounds can overcome the problem of waste management as well as cost-effective. In present study, potential of PPW was investigated using chemical and thermochemical treatment processes. Three independent variables i.e., PPW concentration, dilute sulphuric acid concentration and liberation time were selected to optimize the production of fermentable sugars (TS and RS) and phenolic compounds (TP). These three process variables were selected in the range of 5-15 g w/v substrate, 0.8-1.2 v/v acid conc. and 4-6 h. Whole treatment process was optimized by using box-behnken design (BBD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Highest yield of total and reducing sugars and total phenolic compounds obtained after chemical treatment was 188.00, 144.42 and 43.68 mg/gds, respectively. The maximum yield of fermentable sugars attained by acid plus steam treatment were 720.00 and 660.62 mg/gds of TS and RS, respectively w.r.t 5% substrate conc. in 0.8% acid with residence time of 6 h. Results recorded that acid assisted autoclaved treatment could be an effective process for PPW deconstruction. Characterization of substrate before and after treatment was checked by SEM and FTIR. Spectras and micrographs confirmed the topographical variations in treated substrate. The present study was aimed to utilize biowaste and to determine cost-effective conditions for degradation of PWW into value added compounds.

Understanding parents' perceptions of children's exposure to unhealthy food marketing in digital and retail environments.

Unhealthy food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing (UFM) adversely impacts children's selection and intake of foods and beverages, undermining parents' efforts to promote healthy eating. Parents' support for restrictions on children's exposure to food marketing can catalyse government action, yet research describing parent concerns is limited for media other than television. We examined parents' perceptions of UFM and their views on potential policies to address UFM in supermarkets and on digital devices - two settings where children are highly exposed to UFM and where little recent research exists. We conducted in-depth interviews with sixteen parents of children aged 7-12 from Victoria, Australia, analysing the data thematically. Parents perceived UFM as ubiquitous and viewed exposure as having an immediate but temporary impact on children's food desires and pestering behaviours. Parents were concerned about UFM in supermarkets as they viewed it as leading their children to pester them to buy marketed products, undermining their efforts to instil healthy eating behaviours. Parents generally accepted UFM as an aspect of contemporary parenting. Concern for digital UFM was lower compared to supermarkets as it was not directly linked to pestering and parents had limited awareness of what their children saw online. Nevertheless, parents felt strongly that companies should not be allowed to target their children with UFM online and supported government intervention to protect their children. While parents supported government policy actions for healthier supermarket environments, their views towards restricting UFM in supermarkets varied as some parents felt it was their responsibility to mitigate supermarket marketing. These findings could be used to advocate for policy action in this area.

What is the impact of the UK soft drinks industry levy on childhood tooth decay?

DESIGN: Interrupted time series analysis. DATA ANALYSIS: An interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was conducted to determine if there was an association between the announcement and implementation of the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL) and rates of hospital admission for tooth extractions due to dental caries in children. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) were used on hospital admissions for tooth extraction of one or more primary or permanent tooth due to a primary diagnosis of dental caries in children aged 0-18 years attending a National Health Service (NHS) hospital in England from January 2012 (pre-SDIL) to February 2020 (post-SDIL implementation). HES data were grouped and summarised by Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and age group. RESULTS: There was an absolute reduction of 3.7% (95% CI 5.3% to 2.2%) per 100,000 population/month and a relative reduction of 12.1% (95% CI 17.0% to 7.2%) in hospital admissions for carious tooth extractions in all children (0-18 years) compared if there had been no announcement of the SDIL (counterfactual scenario). Reductions were observed in children living in most areas regardless of the level of deprivation and most notably in the youngest children (<10 years). CONCLUSIONS: An ITS analysis of administrative data on hospital admissions found the announcement of the UK SDIL was associated with improvements (reduction) in the incidence of hospital admissions for tooth extractions due to dental caries. This study provides evidence of benefits of the UK SDIL to children's oral health.

The Potential of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas for the Direct Degradation of Organic Pollutants Derived from the Food Production Industry.

Specialized chemicals are used for intensifying food production, including boosting meat and crop yields. Among the applied formulations, antibiotics and pesticides pose a severe threat to the natural balance of the ecosystem, as they either contribute to the development of multidrug resistance among pathogens or exhibit ecotoxic and mutagenic actions of a persistent character. Recently, cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPPs) have emerged as promising technologies for degradation of these organic pollutants. CAPP-based technologies show eco-friendliness and potency for the removal of organic pollutants of diverse chemical formulas and different modes of action. For this reason, various types of CAPP-based systems are presented in this review and assessed in terms of their constructions, types of discharges, operating parameters, and efficiencies in the degradation of antibiotics and persistent organic pollutants. Additionally, the key role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is highlighted. Moreover, optimization of the CAPP operating parameters seems crucial to effectively remove contaminants. Finally, the CAPP-related paths and technologies are further considered in terms of biological and environmental effects associated with the treatments, including changes in antibacterial properties and toxicity of the exposed solutions, as well as the potential of the CAPP-based strategies for limiting the spread of multidrug resistance.

Multidrug resistance profile in Lactobacillus delbrueckii: a food industry species with probiotic properties.

Lactobacillus delbrueckii, a widely used lactic acid bacterium in the food industry, has been studied for its probiotic properties and reservoir of antibiotic-resistant genes, raising safety concerns for probiotic formulations and fermented products. This review consolidates findings from 60 articles published between 2012 and 2023, focusing on the global antibiotic resistance profile and associated genetic factors in L. delbrueckii strains. Resistance to aminoglycosides, particularly streptomycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin, as well as resistance to glycopeptides (vancomycin), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin), and tetracyclines was predominant. Notably, although resistance genes have been identified, they have not been linked to mobile genetic elements, reducing the risk of dissemination. However, a significant limitation is the insufficient exploration of responsible genes or mobile elements in 80% of studies, hindering safety assessments. Additionally, most articles originated from Asian and Middle Eastern countries, with strains often isolated from fermented dairy foods. Therefore, these findings underscore the necessity for comprehensive analyses of new strains of L. delbrueckii for potential industrial and biotherapeutic applications and in combating the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Preparation, bioactivities, and food industry applications of tuber and tuberous roots peptides: A review.

Tuber and tuberous roots proteins are important sources for producing bioactive peptides. The objective of this review is to present the current research status of tubers and tuberous roots bioactive peptides (TTRBP), including its preparation methods, purification techniques, structure identification approaches, biological functions, and applications in the food industry. Moreover, the current challenges and future development trends of TTRBP are elucidated. Currently, TTRBP are mainly produced by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Pretreatment like high static pressure, ultrasound and microwave can assist enzymatic hydrolysis and facilitate TTRBP production. In addition, TTRBP are structurally diverse, which is related to the molecular weight, amino acids composition, and linkage mode. Accordingly, they have various biological activities (such as antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypoglycemic) and have been utilized in the food industry as functional ingredients and food additives. This review will provide valuable insights for the optimal utilization of tuber and tuberous roots.

Towards tailored guidelines for microbial air quality in the food industry.

Airborne microorganisms in food processing environments pose a potential risk for food product contamination. Yet, the absence of established standards or guidelines setting quantitative limits on airborne microorganisms underscores a critical gap in current regulatory frameworks. This review seeks to explore the feasibility of establishing quantitative limits for airborne microorganisms in food processing facilities, aiming to provide evidence-based guidance to enhance food safety practices in the industry. The review begins by addressing the complexities of microbial air quality in the food industry through a general literature search covering sources of airborne microorganisms, factors affecting particle deposition, air sampling methods and preventive measures. Subsequently, it employs a structured approach to assess the significance of air quality and its impact on product quality. Utilizing the PRISMA method, relevant scientific literature from May 2002 to May 2022 was examined, resulting in 26 articles meeting inclusion criteria from a pool of 11,737 original research papers. Additionally, the review investigates existing probability models for assessing airborne contamination to enhance air quality risk assessment in food safety management systems. The literature reveals a lack of substantial evidence supporting a direct correlation between airborne microorganisms and food contamination. The absence of standardized air sampling methodologies in previous studies hinders the comparability and reliability of research findings. Additionally, the literature fails to establish a conclusive relationship between influencing factors such as total particle counts, temperature, relative humidity and airborne contamination. Contradictory probability models for quantifying airborne contamination, and the absence of tailored preventive measures, hinder effective control and undermine microbial contamination control in diverse food processing contexts. In conclusion, the development of numeric guidelines for airborne contamination necessitates a tailored approach, considering factors such as product characteristics and production context. By integrating risk assessment models into this process, a more thorough comprehension of contamination risks can be achieved, providing tailored guidance based on the identified risk levels for each product. Ongoing collaborative efforts are essential to develop evidence-based guidelines that effectively mitigate risks without incurring unnecessary costs.