Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor Based on α-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex and MXene Modification for Highly Sensitive and Selective Detection of Alkylresorcinols in Whole Wheat Foods.

Authenticating whole wheat foods poses a significant challenge for both the grain industry and consumers. Alkylresorcinols (ARs), serving as biomarkers of whole wheat, play a crucial role in assessing the authenticity of whole wheat foods. Herein, we introduce a novel molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor with modifications involving a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and MXene nanosheets, enabling highly sensitive and selective detection of ARs. Notably, we specifically chose 5-heneicosylresorcinol (AR21), the predominant homologue in whole wheat, as the template molecule. α-Cyclodextrin and acrylamide served as dual functional monomers, establishing a robust multiple interaction between the MIP and AR21. As a result, the sensor exhibited a wide linear range of 0.005 to 100 µg·mL-1 and a low detection limit of 2.52 ng·mL-1, demonstrating exceptional selectivity and stability. When applied to commercial whole wheat foods, the assay achieved satisfactory recoveries and accuracy, strongly validating the practicality and effectiveness of this analytical technique.

Adapting food environment frameworks to recognize a wild-cultivated continuum.

Food environments, or interfaces between consumers and their food systems, are a useful lens for assessing global dietary change. Growing inclusivity of nature-dependent societies in lower-and middle-income countries is driving recent developments in food environment frameworks. Downs et al. (2020) propose a food environment typology that includes: wild, cultivated, informal and formal market environments, where wild and cultivated are "natural food environments." Drawing from transdisciplinary perspectives, this paper argues that wild and cultivated food environments are not dichotomous, but rather exist across diverse landscapes under varying levels of human management and alteration. The adapted typology is applied to a case study of Indigenous Pgaz K'Nyau food environments in San Din Daeng village, Thailand, using the Gallup Poll's Thailand-adapted Diet Quality Questionnaire with additional food source questions. Wild-cultivated food environments, as classified by local participants, were the source of more food items than any other type of food environment (37% of reported food items). The case of Indigenous Pgaz K'Nyau food environments demonstrates the importance of understanding natural food environments along a continuum from wild to cultivated.

Procedure to identify fortified foods in the Dutch branded food database.

Introduction: Information on fortified foods is needed for multiple purposes, including food consumption research and dietary advice. Branded food databases are a valuable source of food label data. European labeling legislation prescribes that food fortification should be indicated in the ingredient list, and nutrient values should be declared under certain conditions. This creates the potential to identify fortified foods in branded food databases, though it is not straightforward and labor-intensive. The aim of our study was to develop an automated approach to identify fortified foods in the Dutch branded food database called LEDA. Methods: An automated procedure, based on a stepwise approach conforming with European labeling legislation, using a list of rules and search terms, was developed to identify fortified foods. Fortification with calcium, folic acid, vitamin B12, and zinc was studied as an example. The results of a random stratified sample with fortified and not-fortified foods were validated by two experts. Results: The automated approach resulted in identifying 1,817 foods fortified with one or more of the selected nutrients in the LEDA dataset (0.94%). The proportions of fortified foods per nutrient were below 0.7%. The classification of fortified/non-fortified foods matched manual validation by experts for the majority of the foods in the sample, i.e., sensitivity and specificity indicating the probability of correctly identifying fortified and non-fortified foods was high (>94.0%). Conclusion: The automated approach is capable of easily and quickly identifying fortified foods in the Dutch branded food database with high accuracy, although some improvements to the automated procedure could be made. In addition, the completeness, correctness, and consistency of the LEDA database can be improved. To fully benefit from this automated approach, it needs to be expanded to cover all micronutrients that may be added to foods.

Exploring Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Escherichia coli in Food-Producing Animals and Animal-Derived Foods.

Antimicrobials serve as crucial treatments in both veterinary and human medicine, aiding in the control and prevention of infectious diseases. However, their misuse or overuse has led to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, posing a significant threat to public health. This review focuses on extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in animals and their associated food products, which contribute to the proliferation of antimicrobial-resistant strains. Recent research has highlighted the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli in animals and animal-derived foods, with some studies indicating genetic similarities between these isolates and those found in human infections. This underscores the urgent need to address antimicrobial resistance as a pressing public health issue. More comprehensive studies are required to understand the evolving landscape of ESBLs and to develop strategic public health policies grounded in the One Health approach, aiming to control and mitigate their prevalence effectively.

The use of food processing terminology in Australian news media: a content analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine whether ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are being discussed in news media in Australia and whether this terminology, as described in the NOVA system, is being applied accurately. DESIGN: Interpretive content analysis of online and print media articles that mentioned UPFs from 2009 to 2023 in Australia. SETTING: Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Online and print media articles. RESULTS: A total of two hundred ninety-eight Australian media articles were captured. A substantial increase in the number of UPF articles was observed between 2017-2019 and 2021-2023. The UPF concept was inaccurately explained or defined in 32 % of the articles and was frequently used interchangeably with other descriptors, such as 'highly or heavily processed food', 'junk food', 'unhealthy food', 'packaged food' and 'discretionary food'. Most of the articles had a health focus; however, sustainability interest increased, particularly in the past 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: UPFs are increasingly being discussed in news media in Australia; however, the concept is still incorrectly presented in over a third of articles. This highlights the importance of improving the literacy about UPFs to ensure that messages are communicated in a way that is salient, accessible and accurate.

Association of Ultraprocessed Food Consumption with Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: Findings from the UK Biobank.

SCOPE: Among patients with diabetes, who have modified nutritional behavior and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the influence of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) on CVD remains unknown. The study aims to evaluate the association between UPF intake and the risk of CVD among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and further examine the potential biological pathways linking the association. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study includes 5405 participants with T2D who provided at least one 24-h dietary recall from the UK Biobank study. In the fully adjusted models, a 10% increase in the proportion of UPFs is associated with higher hazards of overall CVD (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04, 1.15), coronary heart disease (HR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.16), heart failure (HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.25), but not stroke (HR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.12). Cystatin C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A, C-reactive protein, and body mass index collectively explain 26.9% (12.8%, 48.5%) of the association between UPF intake and the risk of overall CVD. CONCLUSION: Higher UPF intakes are associated with increased hazards of CVD among individuals with T2D, and the association is partly mediated through worsening biomarkers of renal function, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and body weight.

A comprehensive review of the mechanism, changes, and effect of deep fat frying on the characteristics of restructured foods.

Restructured foods are a blend of various ingredients that are dried or fried to obtain a ready-to-eat product. Several frying techniques have been employed viz., deep fat, microwave, vacuum, air, and spray frying. Deep-fat frying is the most common technique used for products that have improved texture and sensory characteristics. It facilitates various transformations that include starch gelatinization, protein denaturation, nutrient loss, non-enzymatic browning, lipid oxidation, etc. This physicochemical change alters both the product and the fried oil quality. The frying conditions will also influence the product characteristics and affect the properties of the fried product. This review focuses on the mechanisms and transformations during deep fat frying. The properties, namely physical, chemical, sensory, thermal, rheological, and microstructural changes of restructured foods were discussed. Thus, a better understanding of mechanisms and properties at optimum frying conditions would yield the desired product quality.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and mental health of pregnant women from the South of Brazil.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and the mental health of pregnant women from the South of Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study carried out in Criciúma, Brazil, through face-to-face interviews, from April to December 2022. Pregnant women aged 18 or older who underwent prenatal care in the 48 Basic Health Units of the municipality and who were in their third trimester of pregnancy were included. High consumption of UPF was considered as 6 or more items or subgroups of UPF consumed on the day before the interview, using the Nova-UPF screener. The mental health variables were depressive symptoms, stress, sadness, and anxiety. Crude and adjusted analyses were conducted using the Fisher's exact test and the Poisson regression with robust variance. In total, 428 pregnant women were studied; most of them were aged between 20 and 25 years and were white. Pregnant women who presented high consumption of UPF were 1.42-fold (95%CI 1.06;1.92) more likely to experience anxiety and presented a prevalence 56% (95%CI 1.18;2.07) higher of stress when compared to those who did not present high consumption of UPF. The prevalence of depressive symptoms and feelings of sadness was 1.31-fold (95%CI 1.08;1.60) and 3.41-fold (95%CI 1.77;6.58) higher among those with high consumption of UPF, respectively. The results suggest that diet quality is associated with the mental health of pregnant women. Promoting joint actions focused on food and nutritional education for pregnant women, as well as mental health, is necessary.

Combined effect of cold plasma-activated oxygen (CPAO) and microwave on microbial decontamination and quality of milkshake powder.

This study presents a new method combining cold plasma-activated oxygen (CPAO) and microwave (MW) to decontaminate milkshake powder, exploring its effectiveness, mechanisms, and quality impact. CPAO (6 min) alone reduced bacterial load by 0.419 log CFU/g, and MW (3 min) by 0.030 log CFU/g. However, their co-application significantly amplified decontamination, achieving a 1.265 log CFU/g reduction. CPAO-MW co-treatment inflicted more oxidative damage on bacterial cell membranes and intracellular antioxidant defense system, leading to higher mortality. It also raised protein and lipid oxidation, while decreasing vitamin C and A levels in the powder. Specifically, CPAO (6 min)-MW (3 min) co-treatment increased the carbonyl content from 0.438 to 0.891 nmol/mg protein, malondialdehyde from 0.824 to 0.996 mg/kg, and lowered vitamin C from 162.151 to 137.640 mg/kg, and vitamin A from 2.05 to 1.38 mg/kg. This study shows CPAO-MW is effective for decontaminating powdered foods but highlights a need to reduce negative effects.

An Innovative and Efficient Fluorescent Detection Technique for Salmonella in Animal-Derived Foods Using the CRISPR/Cas12a-HCR System Combined with PCR/RAA.

Here, we present a method for Salmonella detection using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated with the CRISPR-associated protein 12a-hybridization chain reaction (CRISPR/Cas12a-HCR) system combined with polymerase chain reaction/recombinase-assisted amplification (PCR/RAA) technology. The approach relies on the Salmonella invA gene as a biorecognition element and its amplification through PCR and RAA. In the presence of the target gene, Cas12a, guided by crRNA, recognizes and cleaves the amplification product, initiating the HCR. Fluorescently labeled single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) H1 and H2 were introduced, and the Salmonella concentration was determined based on the fluorescence intensity from the triggered HCR. Both assays demonstrate high specificity, sensitivity, simplicity, and rapidity. The detection range was 2 × 101-2 × 109 CFU/mL, with an LOD of 20 CFU/mL, and the entire process enabled specific and rapid Salmonella detection within 85-105 min. Field-incurred spiked recovery tests were conducted in mutton and beef samples using both assays, demonstrating satisfactory recovery and accuracy in animal-derived foods. By combining CRISPR/Cas12a with hybridization chain reaction technology, this study presents a rapid and sensitive Salmonella detection method that is crucial for identifying pathogenic bacteria and monitoring food safety.

Self-Assembled Food Peptides: Recent Advances and Perspectives in Food and Health Applications.

Self-assembling peptides are rapidly gaining attention as novel biomaterials for food and biomedical applications. Peptides self-assemble when triggered by physical or chemical factors due to their versatile physicochemical characteristics. Peptide self-assembly, when combined with the health-promoting bioactivity of peptides, can also result in a plethora of biofunctionalities of the biomaterials. This perspective highlights current developments in the use of food-derived self-assembling peptides as biomaterials, bioactive nutraceuticals, and potential dual functioning bioactive biomaterials. Also discussed are the challenges and opportunities in the use of self-assembling bioactive peptides in designing biocompatible, biostable, and bioavailable multipurpose biomaterials.

Children's evaluations of culturally diverse lunchbox foods.

Previous research indicates that children make ingroup-outgroup judgments based on notions of food conventionality and that ethnic minority children have been teased or bullied for bringing non-conventional foods to school. This series of three studies experimentally investigated U.S. school-age children's evaluations of culturally diverse lunchbox foods. Study 1 examined an online sample of children aged 5 to 12 years and their evaluations of foods from four cultures (mainstream American, Chinese, Indian, and Mexican) on the taste, smell, and messiness of the food, the appropriateness of bringing the food to school, and whether "cool kids" eat the food. Compared with the mainstream American lunchbox, children rated the Chinese, Indian, and Mexican lunchboxes as less tasty, more messy, and less likely that cool kids would bring those foods to school. In Studies 2 and 3, we examined children's behavioral choices in a hypothetical cafeteria. In both studies, we found that the match between children's own lunch preferences and what was displayed in the mainstream American lunchbox was the only predictor of children's choice to sit at the table with the American lunchbox. Individual variables (e.g., child age, food pickiness) and contextual variables (e.g., neighborhood diversity) did not predict children's table choices. This research highlights children's understanding of familiarity and conventionality of foods and the social consequences of their behavioral choices.

Our extended microbiome: The human-relevant metabolites and biology of fermented foods.

One of the key modes of microbial metabolism occurring in the gut microbiome is fermentation. This energy-yielding process transforms common macromolecules like polysaccharides and amino acids into a wide variety of chemicals, many of which are relevant to microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions. Analogous transformations occur during the production of fermented foods, resulting in an abundance of bioactive metabolites. In foods, the products of fermentation can influence food safety and preservation, nutrient availability, and palatability and, once consumed, may impact immune and metabolic status, disease expression, and severity. Human signaling pathways perceive and respond to many of the currently known fermented food metabolites, though expansive chemical novelty remains to be defined. Here we discuss several aspects of fermented food-associated microbes and metabolites, including a condensed history, current understanding of their interactions with hosts and host-resident microbes, connections with commercial probiotics, and opportunities for future research on human health and disease and food sustainability.

Antibiotic resistance patterns of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacteriaceae isolated from street foods in selected towns of Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Street foods are any foods or drinks prepared or sold by street vendors in an open space. The purpose of this study was to determine the Bacteriological safety and antibiotic resistance patterns of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacteriaceae isolated from street foods. METHOD: A laboratory-based cross-sectional study was used from December 2022 to February 2023 on street foods of Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Dire Dawa, and Jimma towns of Ethiopia. 525 street foods and 175 water samples were taken from 175 street food vending stalls. Proportional allocation to the total town population and stratified sampling techniques were used to select vending stalls. Samples were analyzed for the presence of bacteria following the standard microbiological methods used for the isolation, enumeration, and identification of bacteria. Pour plate technique was used to transfer the suspension to MacConkey agar, Mannitol Salt Agar, and Salmonella Shigella Agar. The antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. RESULT: Out of 525 food samples, 279 (53%) were contaminated by bacteria. From 175 water samples, 95 (54.3%) were contaminated with Escherichia coli. From both samples in total, eleven bacterial species were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated species. Shigella, Klebsiella, and Salmonella group A have statistically significant with the type of food. Erythromycin (54%), Streptomycin (17%), and Amoxicillin (14%) were the most resistant antibiotics. Least resistance was observed to Ciprofloxacin (5%). CONCLUSION: Street foods of the selected towns were highly contaminated with various antibiotic-resistant organisms. Hence, the relevant authorities ought to ensure the proper handling of street food by enforcing safety measures. Additionally, they should initiate a widespread awareness campaign promoting the prudent use of antibiotics among both street food vendors and the broader population.

Strategies for Healthier Meat Foods: An Overview.

Functional food products remain the focus of current market trends toward healthier nutrition. The consumption of meat-based functional foods has been a topic of interest in food innovation since some of these products generate controversy due to their possible adverse effects on health. However, studies have demonstrated that meat-based functional products are considered an opportunity to improve the nutritional profile of meat products through the addition of biologically valuable components and to meet the specific needs of consumers. In this sense, some strategies and techniques are applied for processing and developing functional meat products, such as modifying carcass composition through feeding, reformulating meat products, and processing conditions. This review focuses on presenting developed and evaluated strategies that allow the production of healthy and functional meat foods, which application has successfully achieved the sensory, nutritional, and technological parameters mainly affected by such application.

Type and timing of ultra-processed foods consumption and its association with dietary intake and physical activity in women with obesity living in poverty.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the type and timing of ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption and its association with dietary intake (DI) and physical activity (PA) in women with obesity living in poverty. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was employed. Obesity was defined by at least two criteria (body mass index, waist circumference or % fat mass). Poverty was defined as the three lowest classes of the Brazilian Economic Classification Criterion. PA was measured with triaxial accelerometers and DI was assessed with three 24-h dietary recalls. Foods were categorised according to the NOVA classification, with UPF classified into five subgroups, as well as the timing of consumption into six meals. RESULTS: In total, 56 adult women were included. Overall energy intake was 1653.21 (503.22) kcal/day. UPF intake was 21.62% (11.94%) kcal/day, being higher at breakfast (4.91% kcal/day), afternoon snack (5.39% kcal/day) and dinner (5.01% kcal/day). Only UPF subgroup 4 (sandwich biscuits, sweets, or treats) showed a positive association with energy intake (ß = 54.40 [27.6, 81.10] kcal/day) and a negative association with protein intake (ß = -0.31% [-0.48%, -0.14%] kcal/day). UPF consumption in morning (ß = -0.41% [-0.79%, -0.02%] kcal/day) and afternoon (ß = -0.18% [-0.33%, -0.04%] kcal/day) snacks was associated with lower protein intake. Furthermore, lunchtime UPF consumption was positively associated with walking time (ß = 0.16% [0.02%; 0.30%]) and steps/hour (ß = 8.72 [1.50; 15.94] steps/h). CONCLUSIONS: Women with obesity living in poverty consume more UPF during breakfast, afternoon snack and dinner. Physical activity is positively associated with UPF consumption at lunch. UPF, such as sandwich biscuits, sweets or treats, contribute to increasing energy intake and reducing protein intake.

Mapping the evidence of novel plant-based foods: a systematic review of nutritional, health, and environmental impacts in high-income countries.

CONTEXT: Shifting from current dietary patterns to diets rich in plant-based (PB) foods and lower in animal-based foods (ABFs) is generally regarded as a suitable strategy to improve nutritional health and reduce environmental impacts. Despite the recent growth in supply of and demand for novel plant-based foods (NPBFs), a comprehensive overview is lacking. OBJECTIVES: This review provides a synthesis of available evidence, highlights challenges, and informs public health and environmental strategies for purposeful political decision-making by systematically searching, analyzing, and summarizing the available literature. DATA SOURCES: Five peer-reviewed databases and grey literature sources were rigorously searched for publications. DATA EXTRACTION: Study characteristics meeting the inclusion criteria regarding NPBF nutrient composition and health and environmental outcomes in high-income countries were extracted. DATA ANALYSIS: Fifty-seven peer-reviewed and 36 grey literature sources were identified; these were published in 2016-2022. NPBFs typically have substantially lower environmental impacts than ABFs, but the nutritional contents are complex and vary considerably across brands, product type, and main primary ingredient. In the limited evidence on the health impacts, shifts from ABFs to PB meats were associated with positive health outcomes. However, results were mixed for PB drinks, with links to micronutrient deficiencies. CONCLUSION: If carefully selected, certain NPBFs have the potential to be healthier and nutrient-rich alternatives to ABFs and typically have smaller environmental footprints. More disaggregated categorization of various types of NPBFs would be a helpful step in guiding consumers and key stakeholders to make informed decisions. To enable informed policymaking on the inclusion of NPBFs in dietary transitions as part of a wider net-zero and health strategy, future priorities should include nutritional food standards, labelling, and subdivisions or categorizations of NPBFs, as well as short- and long-term health studies evaluating dietary shifts from ABFs to NPBFs and standardized environmental impact assessments, ideally from independent funders.

[A Study on the Scientific Reliability of Notification Data in the Foods with Function Claims].

We conducted a comprehensive survey of Foods with Function Claims (FFC) submitted from April to August 2022 to examine the scientific reliability of the systematic review (SR), which is the basis for functional claims. The results of the review of 611 functional claims for 398 products showed that there were 121 functionally active substances and 87 health claims (Hc) that were labeled, with some functionally active substances having multiple functions. SRs, meta-analyses, and clinical studies were submitted as the basis of functionality for 87%, 10%, and 3% of the reports, respectively. Of these SRs, 39% of the SRs included a single paper. In 67% of the SRs with a single paper included, some of the authors of the included paper and the person who conducted the SR had the same affiliation, which raises concerns about conflicts of interest. The median of clinical trial participants in papers included for SR was relatively small, 38, and the smallest total number of SRs was 6. Thus, it was shown that there are many SRs for FFC that are based on only a single paper or a small-scale clinical trial and that lack reliability as scientific evidence.

The Effects of an Educational Intervention About Front-of-Package Labeling on Food and Beverage Selection Among Children and Their Caregivers: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity pose a global public health challenge and have a multifactorial origin. One of these factors includes obesogenic environments, which promote ultraprocessed foods characterized by being high in calories, saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium. In Mexico, it has been estimated that 30% of the total energy consumed comes from processed foods. The Modification to the Official Mexican Standards introduces nutritional information through black octagonal seals that alert consumers about products with excessive amounts of some components for a better food selection in the population. However, the effects of warning labels on processed food selection and purchases among children remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the impact of a digital educational intervention focusing on front-of-package warning labels on the food selection and purchasing behavior of elementary schoolchildren and their caregivers. METHODS: Children from 4 elementary schools in Mexico City, 2 public and 2 private schools, will participate in a randomized controlled trial. The schools will be chosen by simple random sampling. Schools will be randomized into 2 groups: intervention and control. In the control group, the dyads (caregiver-schoolchildren) will receive general nutritional education, and in the intervention group, they will receive guidance on reading labels and raising awareness about the impact of consuming ultraprocessed products on health. The educational intervention will be conducted via a website. Baseline measurements will be taken for both groups at 3 and 6 months. All participants will have access to an online store through the website, allowing them to engage in exercises for selecting and purchasing food and beverages. In addition, other measures will include a brief 5-question exam to evaluate theoretical understanding, a 24-hour reminder, a survey on food habits and consumption, application of a food preference scale, anthropometric measurements, and recording of school lunch choices. RESULTS: Registration and funding were authorized in 2022, and we will begin data collection in September 2024. Recruitment has not yet taken place, but the status of data analysis and expected results will be published in April 2025. CONCLUSIONS: The study is expected to contribute to evaluating whether reinforcing front-of-package warning labels with education enhances its effects and makes them more sustainable. Conducting this study will allow us to propose whether or not it is necessary to develop new intervention strategies related to front-of-package labeling for a better understanding of the population, improved food choices, and better health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06102473; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06102473. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/54783.