Post-consumer food waste generation while dining out: A close-up view.

Food loss and food waste occur along the food supply chain, negatively impacting the environment, global economy, and food security. There is a growing global interest in tackling this issue to mitigate or handle the waste generated and limit its repercussions, as one in eight people suffer from undernourishment worldwide. In the Arab world, where there is a high dependency on imports and limited potential of increasing local food production, addressing food loss and waste becomes substantial. Research has mainly been focused on household food waste generation, while data on post-consumer plate food waste in the foodservice sector remains scarce. In this study, managers from a representative sample of 222 restaurants located in Municipal Beirut, Lebanon, were surveyed about food waste generation. Plate food waste was measured to establish baseline information. Multiple Tobit regression analyses were performed to explore the determinants for plate food waste generation. Plate waste generation was also compared between Lebanese and non-Lebanese cuisine restaurants. Results revealed that 1,620 tons of plate food waste are generated per year in Beirut, equivalent to 0.15% of Lebanon's total organic waste. Furthermore, Lebanese cuisine restaurants serving Mediterranean Mezze were found to generate 34 kg of organic waste per day more than restaurants that serve international non-Lebanese cuisine. The type of cuisine, kind of service, and menu planning were significantly associated with post-consumer food waste generation. This study revealed an increasing concern towards the amount of plate waste generated in Beirut, and thereby further research is needed to create baseline information at the national level.

Telenovela como estratégia de educação nutricional no âmbito de uma política pública de acesso à alimentação adequada e saudável / Soap opera as a food and nutritional education strategy in the context of a public policy to promote access to adequate healthy food / Telenovela como estrategia de educación alimentaria y nutricional en el ámbito de una política pública de acceso a la alimentación adecuada y saludable

O presente estudo objetivou analisar a telenovela "O caminho do meio" como estratégia de educação alimentar nutricional e a sua relação com os processos de aprendizagem inventiva e com a produção de novos modos de subjetivação. Trata-se de um estudo com abordagem qualitativa, com 15 frequentadores de um restaurante popular, por meio de: (1) visualização da telenovela "O caminho do meio", com duração de 46 minutos; e (2) entrevista individual realizada com um roteiro previamente estruturado. Após gravação, transcrição e análise de conteúdo dos discursos emergiram três categorias: (1) a telenovela e as experiências de vida dos frequentadores do restaurante popular; (2) a telenovela: cenas, personagens e mensagem; (3) novas percepções e tendências relacionadas à alimentação e ao estilo de vida. A experimentação com a telenovela forneceu uma aprendizagem inventiva e a produção de novos modos de subjetivação. (AU)

This study analyzed the soap opera "O caminho do meio" (The Middle Way) as a food and nutritional education strategy and its relation with inventive learning and the production of new modes of subjectivation. We conducted a qualitative study with 15 people who eat at a "popular restaurant" involving the following: (1) Watching the soap opera "O caminho do meio", which lasts 46 minutes; and (2) Individual interviews administered using a previously prepared guide. Three thematic categories emerged after recording, transcribing and analyzing the content of the interviews: (1) "The soap opera and the life experiences of the respondents"; (2) "The soap opera: scenes, characters and message"; and (3) "New perceptions and trends related to eating and lifestyle. The experimentation with the soap opera stimulated inventive learning and the production of new modes of subjectivation. (AU)

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la telenovela "O caminho do meio" como estrategia de educación alimentaria y nutricional y su relación con los procesos de aprendizaje inventivo y con la producción de nuevos modos de subjetivación. Se trata de un estudio con abordaje cualitativo, con 15 frecuentadores de un restaurante popular, por medio de: (1) Visionado de la telenovela "O caminho do meio", con duración de 46 minutos; y (2) Entrevista individual realizada a partir de un guion previamente estructurado. Después de la grabación, de la transcripción y del análisis de contenido de los discursos surgieron 3 categorías: (1) "La telenovela y las experiencias de vida de los frecuentadores del restaurante popular"; (2) "La telenovela: escenas, personajes y mensaje" (3) "Nuevas percepciones y tendencias relacionadas a la alimentación y al estilo de vida". La experimentación con la telenovela proporcionó un aprendizaje inventivo y la producción de nuevos modos de subjetivación. (AU)

Aplicação de uma planilha de controle de estoque em uma unidade de alimentação e nutrição / Application of a stock control sheet in a food and nutrition unit

Introdução: O profissional nutricionista tem, entre suas atribuições, o planejamento de cardápios e o controle de estoque. Dentre as inúmeras atividades inerentes ao setor de alimentação coletiva, a importância da gestão de suprimentos pode passar despercebida e acarretar problemas na execução dos cardápios, gerando monotonia nos mesmos. Assim, ferramentas de controle são necessárias, visto que a monotonia alimentar pode acarretar problemas à saúde dos usuários. Objetivo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo apresentar a elaboração e implantação de uma planilha de controle de estoque em uma unidade de alimentação e nutrição (UAN) de uma instituição de ensino superior pública. Métodos: O trabalho foi desenvolvido e executado no Restaurante Universitário da Escola Agrícola de Jundiaí, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, localizada no distrito de Jundiaí, Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, com levantamento das fichas de controle. Resultados: O produto deste trabalho foi uma planilha no formato Excel® para controle dos gêneros alimentícios secos do estoque. Observou-se que, além de controlar a entrada e a saída dos gêneros, a planilha auxiliou na tomada de decisão de compra e reabastecimento de suprimentos. Conclusão: Diante dos objetivos almejados, a planilha foi desenvolvida e aplicada com êxito, alcançando a finalidade esperada pelo serviço. (AU)

Introduction: the professional nutritionist has the tasks of planning menus and, consequently, stock control. Among countless activities inherent to the collective food sector, the importance of supply management can go unnoticed and cause problems in the execution of the menus, generating monotony in them. So, control tools are needed, since food monotony can cause health problems for users. Objective: this study aimed to present the preparation and implementation of a stock control spreadsheet in a food and nutrition unit (FNU) of a public higher education institution. Methods: the study was developed and carried out at the Restaurante Universitário da Escola Agrícola de Jundiaí (University Restaurant of the Agricultural School of Jundiaí), of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte), located in the District of Jundiaí, Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with a survey of control cards. Results: the product of this study was a spreadsheet in Excel® format to control dry foodstuffs from the stock. It was observed that in addition to controlling the entry and exit of the genders, the spreadsheet also helped in the decision to purchase and replenish supplies. Conclusion: in view of the desired objectives, the spreadsheet was developed and applied successfully, reaching the purpose expected by the service. (AU)

The Local Food Environment and Obesity: Evidence from Three Cities.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the association between the food environment and obesity. METHODS: BMI and waist circumference (WC) were measured in 8,076 participants from three cities. The number of fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants, bars/pubs, markets, and liquor stores within 500 m of each participant was documented. The association between the food environment (ratio of fast-food to full-service restaurants, ratio of bars/pubs to liquor stores, and presence of markets) with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 ) and abdominal obesity (WC ≥ 102 cm for males or WC ≥ 88 cm for females) was investigated, adjusted for age, sex, education level, neighborhood deprivation, neighborhood type, and total hours per week of walking and taking into account city-level clustering. RESULTS: The ratios of fast-food to full-service restaurants and of bars/pubs to liquor stores were positively associated with obesity (OR = 1.05 [CI: 1.02-1.09] and OR = 1.08 [CI: 1.04-1.13], respectively). The ratio of bars/pubs to liquor stores was positively associated with abdominal obesity (OR = 1.10 [CI: 1.05-1.14]). There was no association between markets and either obesity or abdominal obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Features of the food environment have varying associations with obesity. These features have an additive effect, and future studies should not focus on only one feature in isolation.

Exploring Student Food Behaviour in Relation to Food Retail over the Time of Implementing Ontario's School Food and Beverage Policy.

BACKGROUND: Canadian provincial policies, like Ontario's School Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150), increasingly mandate standards for food and beverages offered for sale at school. Given concerns regarding students leaving school to purchase less healthy foods, we examined student behaviours and competitive food retail around schools in a large urban region of Southern Ontario. METHODS: Using a geographic information system (GIS), we enumerated food outlets (convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants) within 500, 1000 and 1500 m of all 389 regional schools spanning years of policy implementation. Consenting grade 6-10 students within 31 randomly selected schools completed a web-based 24-h diet recall (WEB-Q) and questionnaire. RESULTS: Food outlet numbers increased over time (p < 0.01); post-policy, within 1000 m, they averaged 27.31 outlets, with a maximum of 65 fast-food restaurants around one school. Of WEB-Q respondents (n = 2075, mean age = 13.4 ± 1.6 years), those who ate lunch at a restaurant/take-out (n = 84, 4%) consumed significantly more energy (978 vs. 760 kcal), sodium (1556 vs. 1173 mg), and sugar (44.3 vs. 40.1 g). Of elementary and secondary school respondents, 22.1% and 52.4% reported ever eating at fast food outlets during school days. CONCLUSIONS: Students have easy access to food retail in school neighbourhoods. The higher energy, sodium and sugar of these options present a health risk.

How does local government use the planning system to regulate hot food takeaway outlets? A census of current practice in England using document review.

Takeaway food outlets typically sell hot food, ordered and paid for at the till, for consumption off the premises due to limited seating provision. Growing numbers of these outlets has raised concerns about their impact on diet and weight gain. This has led to proposals to regulate their proliferation through urban planning. We conducted a census of local government areas in England with planning power (n = 325) to identify planning policies specifically addressing takeaway food outlets, with a 'health', and 'non-health' focus. We reviewed planning policies using content analysis, and developed a typology. One hundred and sixty-four (50.5%) local government areas had a policy specifically targeting takeaway food outlets; of these, 56 (34.1%) focused on health. Our typology revealed two main foci: 'Place' with five targeted locations and 'Strategy' with four categories of approach. The most common health-focused approach was describing exclusion zones around places for children and families (n = 33). Non-health focused approaches primarily involved minimising negative impacts associated with takeaway food outlets within a local government area boundary (n = 146). To our knowledge, this is the first census of planning policies explicitly focused on takeaway food outlets in England. Further work is required to determine why different approaches are adopted in different places and their acceptability and impact.

Association between Availability of Neighborhood Fast Food Outlets and Overweight Among 5⁻18 Year-Old Children in Peninsular Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

A growing number of fast-food outlets in close proximity to residential areas raises a question as to its impact on childhood overweight and obesity. This study aimed at determining the relationship between the availability of fast-food outlets that were in close proximity to residential areas and overweight among Malaysian children aged 5 to 18 years. Measurement data on the weight and height of 5544 children (2797 boys, 2747 girls) were obtained from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011. Overweight (including obesity) is defined as BMI-for-age z-score > +1 SD based on the WHO growth reference. Geographic information system geospatial analysis was performed to determine the number of fast-food outlets within 1000 m radius from the children's residential address. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between the availability of fast-food outlets (none or more than one outlet) and overweight with adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, monthly household income, parental educational level, residential area and supermarket density. Our results showed that the prevalence of overweight was 25.0% and there was a statistically significant association between the density of fast-food outlets and overweight (odds ratio: 1.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.03, 1.47). Our study suggested that the availability of fast-food outlets with close proximity in residential areas was significantly associated with being overweight among children. Limiting the number of fast-food outlets in residential areas could have a significant effect in reducing the prevalence of overweight among Malaysian children.

Are exposures to ready-to-eat food environments associated with type 2 diabetes? A cross-sectional study of 347 551 UK Biobank adult participants.

BACKGROUND: Rapid urbanisation and associated socioeconomic transformations have modified current lifestyles, shifting dietary preferences towards ready-to-eat, calorie-dense food of poor nutritional quality. The effect of ready-to-eat food environments that sell food for instant consumption on the risk of type 2 diabetes has received scant attention. We therefore aimed to examine the association between exposure to ready-to-eat food environments and type 2 diabetes in a large and diverse population sample. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adult male and female participants from the baseline phase of the UK Biobank cohort. Participants in this cohort were aged 37-73 years and resided in one of 21 cities in the UK. Ready-to-eat food environments, which we determined from a modelled and linked built environment database, were objectively measured within 1-km catchment areas of the residential streets of participants and were expressed as metrics of density and proximity to the participants' homes. We used logistic regression models to examine the associations between exposure to ready-to-eat food environments and the odds of type 2 diabetes, adjusting for individual covariates such as physical activity. As sensitivity analyses, we investigated the associations between the street distance to the nearest ready-to-eat food outlet and type 2 diabetes. We also tested post hoc for effect modification by sex, income, body-mass index, and location of the UK Biobank collection centre. FINDINGS: Of 502 635 UK Biobank participants enrolled between March 13, 2006, and Oct 1, 2010, the sample analysed included 347 551 (69·1%) participants. The density of ready-to-eat food environments within a 1-km catchment area was associated with higher odds of type 2 diabetes for participants in the groups with highest exposure to restaurants and cafeterias (odss ratio 1·129, 95% CI 1·05-1·21; p=0·0007) and a composite measure of ready-to-eat outlet density (1·112, 1·02-1·21; p=0·0134) compared with those with no exposure. Exposure to hot and cold takeaways was only significantly associated with higher odds of type 2 diabetes at the second highest exposure category that we examined (1·076, 1·01-1·14; p=0·0171), representing a density of 0·75-2·15 units per km2. A protective effect with distance decay was observed: participants in the highest quintile of street distance to nearest ready-to-eat food outlet reported lower odds of type 2 diabetes than those in the lowest quintile (0·842, 0·78-0·91; p<0·0001 for restaurants and cafeterias; and 0·913, 0·85-0·98; p=0·0173 for hot and cold takeaways). These effects were most pronounced in overweight participants (p=0·0329), but there was no evidence of interaction by sex, income, or UK Biobank collection centre. INTERPRETATION: Access to ready-to-eat food environments was positively associated with type 2 diabetes. Top-down policies aimed at minimising unhealthy food access could potentially reduce unhealthy consumption and risks of chronic diseases. Further long-term studies are needed to effectively guide such interventions. FUNDING: University of Hong Kong, UK Biobank, and UK Economic & Social Research Council.

Association between Childhood Obesity and Neighbourhood Accessibility to Fast-Food Outlets: A Nationwide 6-Year Follow-Up Study of 944,487 Children.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this 6-year follow-up study was to examine whether neighbourhood accessibility to fast-food outlets was associated with diagnosed childhood obesity, after adjustment for neighbourhood- and individual-level socio-demographic factors. METHODS: This 6-year follow-up study comprised 484,677 boys and 459,810 girls aged 0-14 years in Sweden. The follow-up period ran from January 1, 2005, until hospitalisation/out-patient treatment for obesity, death, emigration or the end of the study period on December 31, 2010. Multilevel logistic regression models (individual-level factors at the first level and neighbourhood-level factors at the second level) were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: We identified 6,968 obesity cases (3,878 boys and 3,090 girls) during the follow-up period. Higher odds of childhood obesity for those living in neighbourhoods with accessibility to fast-food outlets was observed (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.07-1.22) that remained significant after adjustments (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.00-1.13). CONCLUSIONS: This prospective nationwide study showed that the neighbourhood accessibility to fast-food outlets was independently associated with increased odds of diagnosed childhood obesity. This finding implicates that residential environments should be considered when developing health promotion programmes.

Longitudinal Associations between Change in Neighborhood Social Disorder and Change in Food Swamps in an Urban Setting.

Few studies have examined how neighborhood contextual features may influence the food outlet mix. We evaluated the relationship between changes in neighborhood crime and changes in the food environment, namely the relative density of unhealthy (or intermediate) food outlets out of total food outlets, or food swamp score, in Baltimore City from 2000 to 2012, using neighborhood fixed-effects linear regression models. Comparing neighborhoods to themselves over time, each unit increase in crime rate was associated with an increase in the food swamp score (b = 0.13; 95% CI, -0.00017 to 0.25). The association with food swamp score was in the same direction for violent crime and in the inverse direction for arrests related to juvenile crimes (proxy of reduced crime), but did not reach statistical significance when examined separately. Unfavorable conditions, such as crime, may deter a critical consumer base, diminishing the capacity of a community to attract businesses that are perceived to be neighborhood enhancing. Addressing these more distal drivers may be important for policies and programs to improve these food environments.

Do GIS-derived measures of fast food retailers convey perceived fast food opportunities? Implications for food environment assessment.

PURPOSE: Geographic information systems (GISs) have been used to define fast food availability, with higher availability perhaps promoting poorer quality diets. Alternative measures involve perceptions; however, few studies have examined associations between GIS-derived and perceived measures of the food environment. METHODS: Telephone surveys of 705 participants within an eight-county region in South Carolina were analyzed using logistic regression to examine relationships between geographic presence of and distance to various types of food retailers and perceived fast food availability. RESULTS: The mean distance to the nearest fast food restaurant was 6.1 miles, with 16% of participants having a fast food restaurant within 1 mile of home. The geographic presence of and distance to all food retailer types were significantly associated with perceived availability of fast food in unadjusted models. After adjustment, only the presence of a fast food restaurant or pharmacy was significantly associated with greater odds of higher perceived availability of fast food. Greater odds of lower perceived availability of fast food were observed with the presence of a dollar store and increasing distance to the nearest supermarket or pharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: Measures of fast food availability, whether objective or perceived, may not be interchangeable. Researchers should carefully decide on the appropriate measurement tool-GIS-derived or perceived-in food environment studies.

Beyond Access: Characteristics of the Food Environment and Risk of Diabetes.

Characteristics of the built environment, including access to unhealthy food outlets, are hypothesized to contribute to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Swedish nationwide registry data on 4,718,583 adults aged 35-80 years living in 9,353 neighborhoods, each with at least 1 food outlet, were geocoded and linked to commercial registers (e.g., restaurants and grocery stores). Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the prospective relationship between characteristics of the food environment and T2D from 2005 to 2010. Relative access to health-harming food outlets was associated with greater likelihood of both prevalent and incident T2D in a curvilinear manner, with the highest risk being observed for environments in which one-third of outlets were health-harming. Relative to individuals whose food environment did not change, those who moved into areas with more health-harming food outlets had higher odds of developing T2D (odds ratio = 3.67, 95% confidence interval: 2.14, 6.30). Among those who did not move, living in an area that gained relative access to health-harming food outlets was also associated with higher odds of T2D (odds ratio = 1.72, 95% confidence interval: 1.27, 2.33). These results suggest that local food environment, including changes that result in greater access to unhealthy food outlets, is associated with T2D.

Proximity to Fast-Food Outlets and Supermarkets as Predictors of Fast-Food Dining Frequency.

BACKGROUND: This study used cross-sectional data to test the independent relationship of proximity to chain fast-food outlets and proximity to full-service supermarkets on the frequency of mealtime dining at fast-food outlets in two major urban areas, using three approaches to define access. Interactions between presence of a supermarket and presence of fast-food outlets as predictors of fast-food dining were also tested. METHODS: Residential intersections for respondents in point-of-purchase and random-digit-dial telephone surveys of adults in Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD, were geocoded. The count of fast-food outlets and supermarkets within quarter-mile, half-mile, and 1-mile street network buffers around each respondent's intersection was calculated, as well as distance to the nearest fast-food outlet and supermarket. These variables were regressed on weekly fast-food dining frequency to determine whether proximity to fast food and supermarkets had independent and joint effects on fast-food dining. RESULTS: The effect of access to supermarkets and chain fast-food outlets varied by study population. Among telephone survey respondents, supermarket access was the only significant predictor of fast-food dining frequency. Point-of-purchase respondents were generally unaffected by proximity to either supermarkets or fast-food outlets. However, ≥1 fast-food outlet within a 1-mile buffer was an independent predictor of consuming more fast-food meals among point-of-purchase respondents. At the quarter-mile distance, ≥1 supermarket was predictive of fewer fast-food meals. CONCLUSIONS: Supermarket access was associated with less fast-food dining among telephone respondents, whereas access to fast-food outlets were associated with more fast-food visits among survey respondents identified at point-of-purchase. This study adds to the existing literature on geographic determinants of fast-food dining behavior among urban adults in the general population and those who regularly consume fast food.

Fast food price, diet behavior, and cardiometabolic health: Differential associations by neighborhood SES and neighborhood fast food restaurant availability in the CARDIA study.

Little research has addressed whether neighborhood context influences associations between fast food price, diet, and cardiometabolic health. We investigated these associations using 25 years of Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study data (n=4,469, observations=21,134). We found a negative association between fast food price and consumption, with stronger inverse associations in more (vs. less) deprived neighborhoods [3rd tertile: ß=-0.68 (95% CI: (-0.85, -0.51); 1st tertile: ß=-0.22 (95% CI: -0.42, -0.02); p-interaction-0.002], and a similar association for BMI [3rd tertile: ß=-1.34 (95% CI: -1.54, -1.14); 1st tertile: ß=-0.45 (95% CI: -0.66, -0.25); p-interaction<0.001], but not insulin resistance [3rd tertile: ß=-0.07 (95% CI: -0.24, 0.09); 1st tertile: ß=0.09 (95% CI: -0.08, 0.26); p-interaction=0.40]. We observed no modification of fast food price by fast food availability. Future research on obesity disparities should consider potential differences in the association between fast food prices and health outcomes across neighborhood socioeconomic levels.