Juice Quality Evaluation with Multisensor Systems-A Review.

E-nose and e-tongue are advanced technologies that allow for the fast and precise analysis of smells and flavours using special sensors. Both technologies are widely used, especially in the food industry, where they are implemented, e.g., for identifying ingredients and product quality, detecting contamination, and assessing their stability and shelf life. Therefore, the aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the application of e-nose and e-tongue in various industries, focusing in particular on the use of these technologies in the fruit and vegetable juice industry. For this purpose, an analysis of research carried out worldwide over the last five years, concerning the possibility of using the considered multisensory systems to test the quality and taste and aroma profiles of juices is included. In addition, the review contains a brief characterization of these innovative devices through information such as their origin, mode of operation, types, advantages and disadvantages, challenges and perspectives, as well as the possibility of their applications in other industries besides the juice industry.

Analysis of Consumer Behaviour in the Context of the Place of Purchasing Food Products with Particular Emphasis on Local Products.

BACKGROUND: Researchers and marketing specialists study consumer behaviour in the market because it is an important part of economics. There is a growing trend among consumers to buy local products. Consumers know that buying local products is seen to support local producers and entrepreneurs and protect the domestic economy. METHODS: A diagnostic survey analysis was conducted among 404 respondents from Eastern Poland in 2022 to achieve the research objectives. The aim was to present the specifics of the phenomenon of consumer behaviour in relation to the place of purchase of food products, with particular emphasis on local products, according to the qualitative approach adopted. An attempt was made to identify and evaluate the attitudes and declarations of individual consumers in this area. A questionnaire was used as the research tool, and its distribution was carried out entirely electronically via the Internet. RESULTS: The study showed that shopping habits vary by location and age, with hypermarkets and local stores popular among both men and women, while online shopping and wholesale options were also common. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding how consumers make decisions is a complex task, as it involves various factors such as thoughts, emotions and actions that lead to product selection and purchase. These factors can vary based on demographic characteristics, such as gender, age, and location. Studies have shown that Polish consumers are more likely to buy local products from large chain stores than from smaller manufacturer-owned stores, and prefer domestically produced goods, which is reflected in an ethnocentric attitude toward the local market.

Application of Biosensors, Sensors, and Tags in Intelligent Packaging Used for Food Products-A Review.

The current development of science and the contemporary market, combined with high demands from consumers, force manufacturers and scientists to implement new solutions in various industries, including the packaging industry. The emergence of new solutions in the field of intelligent packaging has provided an opportunity to extend the quality of food products and ensures that food will not cause any harm to the consumer's health. Due to physical, chemical, or biological factors, the state of food may be subject to degradation. The degradation may occur because the packaging, i.e., the protective element of food products, may be damaged during storage, transport, or other logistic and sales activities. This is especially important since most food products are highly perishable, and the maintenance of the quality of a food product is the most critical issue in the entire supply chain. Given the importance of the topic, the main purpose of this article was to provide a general overview of the application of biosensors, sensors, and tags in intelligent packaging used for food products. A short history and the genesis of intelligent packaging are presented, and the individual possibilities of application of sensors, biosensors, gas sensors, and RFID tags, as well as nanotechnology, in the area of the packaging of food products are characterized.

Food allergies in rural areas.

INTRODUCTION: A food allergy is a group of symptoms occurring in the organism and resulting from consuming some food, where the problems are conditioned by immunological mechanisms. The symptoms may become apparent first in adulthood and they may be an initial manifestation of a latent allergy. Typical symptoms of a food allergy occur in different organs, thus not only in the digestive system, but also in the skin, respiratory system and circulatory system. AIM: To assess the frequency of food allergy onset in rural areas of the Lublin region as well as to determine which factors induce such allergies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey was conducted, involving the participation of 340 inhabitants of rural areas. The study monitored the knowledge and situation of the disease, concerning allergens, allergy symptoms, methods of treatment and opinions regarding such treatment. RESULTS: The analysis focused on 124 people with diagnosed allergies. CONCLUSIONS: Introducing a diet did not result in a statistically significant difference regarding elimination of the symptoms, as compared to the patients who did not follow any diet. On the other hand, pharmacological treatment causes statistically worse results than using other methods or not being treated at all. The patients in whom allergy symptoms disappeared were more convinced about the positive character of their diet than those in whom the symptoms were not eliminated. The age when the allergy becomes evident does not affect its duration, yet it matters as to the time of its later elimination. The more symptoms were experienced by a patient, the longer the duration of the allergy was.