Stock market reaction to product-harm crisis response strategies.

Product-harm crises have detrimental effects on firm's sales, reputation, and financial value, requiring crisis managers to promptly adopt appropriate response strategies to mitigate these impacts. Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) guides managers to align responsibility attribution with response strategies. Using Chinese listed firms' product-harm crises sample from 2015 to 2021, this study analyzes the stock market's reaction to different response strategies. The event study method reveals that a passive strategy is more effective during the disclosure stage, and accept+no recall and deny+recall are conforming strategies during the initial response stage. Additionally, firms with a crisis history should assume greater responsibility when developing response strategies for product-harm crises, as crisis history amplifies negative effects. The results provide recommendations to help managers formulate appropriate strategies.

Risk factors for listeriosis due to sausage consumption in Mexico: consumer practices, bacterial survival, and quantitative microbial risk assessment.

Listeriosis is a foodborne disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), which represents a public health problem. Lm has been identified as an important contaminating bacterium of ready-to-eat meat products (RTEM) in Mexico. The objective was to explore the risk factors for acquiring listeriosis due to sausage consumption by defining the consumer profile, evaluating the survival of Lm in sausage (5, 10, and 25 °C for 32 days) and performing a quantitative microbiological risk assessment. The survey of 100 participants revealed that the factors compromising the safety of the RTEM by the consumer are the extension of the shelf life. Acquiring packaged RTEM was observed as a safe habit. All respondents stated that they were unaware of listeriosis, but 18% reported infections linked to RTEM, mainly sausage. The sausage supports the growth of Lm, whose population increases in congruence with temperature (25 °C > 10 °C >5 °C) and storage time (P ≤ 0.05). The increase in temperature decreases the adaptation time (Lag25 °C = 1.0 h, Lag10 °C= 92.5 h, Lag5 °C = 226.1 h) and increases the growth rate (µ25 °C = 4.43 CFU/h, µ10 °C = 0.075 CFU/h, µ5 °C = 0.0026 CFU/h) of Lm on the sausage. The risk of listeriosis due to sausage consumption increased according to the increase in temperature: 5.53 × 10-8-1.42 × 10-5 (5 °C), 0.00616-0.111 (10 °C), and 0.109-1.00 (25 °C). Consumer education in the hygienic management of RTEM and information on associated pathogens will minimize the risk of disease.

From worst-case to reality - Case studies illustrating tiered refinement of consumer exposure to cosmetic ingredients.

Consumer exposure to cosmetic ingredients is estimated in a tiered manner. Simple Tier1 deterministic aggregate exposure modelling generates a worst case estimate of exposure. Tier1 assumes that a consumer uses all cosmetic products concomitantly daily, at maximum frequency, and products always contain the ingredient at the maximum allowed % w/w concentration. Refining exposure assessment from worst case to more realistic estimates uses evidence from surveys of actual use levels of ingredients and Tier2 probabilistic models, where distributions of consumer use data can be applied. In Tier2+ modelling, occurrence data provides evidence of products on the market actually containing the ingredient. Three case studies are presented using this tiered approach to illustrate progressive refinement. The scale of refinements from Tier1 to Tier2+ modelling for the ingredients, propyl paraben, benzoic acid and DMDM hydantoin were: 0.492 to 0.026; 1.93 to 0.042 and 1.61 to 0.027 mg/kg/day exposure dose. For propyl paraben, moving from Tier1 to Tier2+ represents a refinement from 49-fold to 3-fold overestimate of exposure when compared to a maximum estimate of 0.01 mg/kg/day exposure seen in human studies. Such refinements from worst case to realistic levels of exposure estimation can be critical in the demonstration of consumer safety.

Safety Assessment of Soy Proteins and Peptides as Used in Cosmetics.

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) assessed the safety of soy proteins and peptides, which function in cosmetics primarily as hair conditioning agents and skin-conditioning agents-miscellaneous. The Panel considered relevant data related to these ingredients. The Panel concluded that soy proteins and peptides are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.

Safety Assessment of Polyglyceryl Fatty Acid Esters as Used in Cosmetics.

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) assessed the safety of 274 polyglyceryl fatty acid esters. Each of the esters in this group is a polyether comprising 2 to 20 glyceryl residues, end-capped by esterification with simple carboxylic acids, such as fatty acids. Most of these ingredients are reported to function in cosmetics as skin-conditioning agents and/or surfactants. The Panel reviewed the available data and considered conclusions from their relevant previous reports, and determined that these ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment when formulated to be non-irritating.

Amended Safety Assessment of Dialkyl Dimer Dilinoleates as Used in Cosmetics.

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) reassessed the safety of 8 dialkyl dimer dilinoleates as used in cosmetics. These ingredients are diesters formed from the reaction of straight-chained or branched alkyl alcohols and dilinoleic acid; these ingredients are reported to function in cosmetics as skin-conditioning agents. The Panel reviewed data relevant to the safety of these ingredients and concluded that Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Dicetearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diethylhexyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Dioctyldodecyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Ditridecyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Di-C16-18 Alkyl Dimer Dilinoleate, and Di-C20-40 Alkyl Dimer Dilinoleate are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.

Biogenic silica microparticles as a new and sustainable cosmetic ingredient: Assessment of performance and quality parameters.

The demand for sustainable products is increasing worldwide and cosmetic industry is not an exception. Besides exploring nature as source of new ingredients, their production must be sustainable and should use environmentally friendly processes. In this work, biogenic silica microparticles were synthesized from sugarcane ash, and their potential application as cosmetic and skincare ingredient was evaluated. For such application, several properties were validated, including cytotoxicity in skin keratinocytes, potential sensitization effect on skin peptides, stimulation of pro-collagen I alpha 1, wound healing capacity, as well as the ingredient stability along a storage period. Biogenic silica showed to be non-cytotoxic on skin keratinocytes, at concentrations up to 5 wt%, and non-skin sensitizer. A positive effect on the stimulation of pro-collagen I alpha 1 suggests a potential anti-ageing activity, while the migration of fibroblasts to a wounded area suggests a regenerative capacity. Under an accelerated stability study, biogenic silica showed an increase on the loss on drying, but no changes were observed on its functional properties, mainly oil absorption capacity, as well the microbiological quality, which was maintained. Overall, novel biogenic silica microparticles produced from a sustainable source are safe, stable over time and have potential to be used as a cosmetic and skincare ingredient.

Artificial Intelligence That Predicts Sensitizing Potential of Cosmetic Ingredients with Accuracy Comparable to Animal and In Vitro Tests-How Does the Infotechnomics Compare to Other "Omics" in the Cosmetics Safety Assessment?

The aim of the current study was to develop an in silico model to predict the sensitizing potential of cosmetic ingredients based on their physicochemical characteristics and to compare the predictions with historical animal data and results from "omics"-based in vitro studies. An in silico model was developed with the use of WEKA machine learning software fed with physicochemical and structural descriptors of haptens and trained with data from published epidemiological studies compiled into estimated odds ratio (eOR) and estimated attributable risk (eAR) indices. The outcome classification was compared to the results of animal studies and in vitro tests. Of all the models tested, the best results were obtained for the Naive Bayes classifier trained with 24 physicochemical descriptors and eAR, which yielded an accuracy of 86%, sensitivity of 80%, and specificity of 90%. This model was subsequently used to predict the sensitizing potential of 15 emerging and less-studied haptens, of which 7 were classified as sensitizers: cyclamen aldehyde, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, dimethylthiocarbamyl benzothiazole sulphide, geraniol hydroperoxide, isobornyl acrylate, neral, and prenyl caffeate. The best-performing model (NaiveBayes eAR, 24 parameters), along with an alternative model based on eOR (Random Comittee eOR, 17 parameters), are available for further tests by interested readers. In conclusion, the proposed infotechnomics approach allows for a prediction of the sensitizing potential of cosmetic ingredients (and possibly also other haptens) with accuracy comparable to historical animal tests and in vitro tests used nowadays. In silico models consume little resources, are free of ethical concerns, and can provide results for multiple chemicals almost instantly; therefore, the proposed approach seems useful in the safety assessment of cosmetics.

Safety Assessment of Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.

This is a safety assessment of 6 Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus)-derived ingredients as used in cosmetics. The reported functions of the Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus)-derived ingredients include abrasive, fragrance ingredient, and skin-conditioning agent (miscellaneous and occlusive). The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) reviewed the relevant data on these ingredients. Because final product formulations may contain multiple botanicals, each containing the same constituents of concern, formulators are advised to be aware of these constituents and to avoid reaching levels that may be hazardous to consumers. Industry should use good manufacturing practices to limit impurities. The Panel concluded that Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus)-derived ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment when formulated to be non-sensitizing.

A Characterization of Pediatric Craniofacial Injuries from Children's Toys.

INTRODUCTION: Playing with toys contributes significantly to the cognitive, physical, and social development of children. Certain toys, unfortunately, carry the potential for serious craniofacial injury. There is a gap in the literature regarding the comprehensive assessment of toy-related craniofacial injuries. By studying mechanisms of injury and ensuing trauma, our goal is to encourage innovative design and educate caregivers, health care workers, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission on risk mitigation and prevention. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Database was queried to analyze toy-related craniofacial injuries that occurred in children (ages 0-10) between 2011 and 2020. RESULTS: Approximately 881,000 injuries occurred over a 10-year span. Children ages 1 to 5 sustained most injuries, peaking at age 2 (16.3%). Males were injured 1.95 times more frequently than females. Injured sites included the face (43.7%), head (29.7%), mouth (13.5%), ears (6.9%), and eyes (6.2%). The top diagnoses were lacerations (40.4%), foreign bodies (16.2%), internal injuries (15.8%), and contusions (15.8%). The most common causes were scooters (13%), balls (6.9%), toy vehicles excluding riding toys (6.3%), building sets (4.4%), and tricycles (3%). DISCUSSION: This study identifies toys that most frequently cause craniofacial injuries in children. These results provide new information about types of play that should be supervised, and this data helps anticipate injury profiles seen in emergency settings. Future research should study why the products identified are strongly associated with injuries, so safety features can be optimized and designs appropriately altered.

Ready-to-Eat Egg Products Formulated with Nisin and Organic Acids to Control Listeria monocytogenes.

Formulating ready-to-eat (RTE) products with growth inhibitors minimizes the risk of listeriosis. In part I, RTE egg products formulated with 6.25 ppm nisin were evaluated to control Listeria monocytogenes. Individual experimental units were surface inoculated with 2.5-log CFU/g of L. monocytogenes, packaged in pouches with a headspace gas of 20:80 CO2:NO2, and stored at 4.4°C for 8 weeks. Formulations with finished product pH of 6.29 ± 0.07 limited growth to <2-log for 4 weeks. Products at pH values of 7.42 ± 0.12 and 7.84 ± 0.11 were not different (p > 0.05) from the control without nisin at pH 7.34 ± 0.13, all supported 4-log growth by 4 weeks. In part II, a nisin bioassay test was performed to evaluate the stability of nisin in eggs as affected by the product pH (6.00 ± 0.03, 7.00 ± 0.00, 7.50 ± 0.03, and 8.00 ± 0.02) and cooking to an internal temperature of 73.9 or 85°C for 90 s. The nisin activity loss increased as the product pH or the cooking temperature increased (p < 0.05). Part III evaluated the effectiveness of 6.25 ppm nisin in combination with either an acetate-based antimicrobial used at 1.0% (w/w) in egg formulation (A1.0), propionate at 0.3% (P0.3), acetate-diacetate at 1.0% (AD1.0), acetate-diacetate at 0.6% (AD0.6), and lactate at 2.0% (L2.0) as a positive control. These formulations had a finished product pH, moisture, and salt contents of 5.97 ± 0.21, 72.4 ± 0.9%, and 0.67 ± 0.05%, respectively. L. monocytogenes did not grow in formulations A1.0 and AD1.0, whereas L2.0 and P0.3 supported 2-log growth by weeks 6 and 15, respectively and AD0.6 supported <1-log growth over 20 weeks at 4.4°C. Evaluation of uninoculated control units in parts I and III showed no changes (p > 0.05) in the CO2 and O2 headspace gas composition, generally no detection or growth of background microbes, and no changes (p > 0.05) in the pH of the formulations during storage, all assuring absence of uncontrolled interferences for the growth of L. monocytogenes.

SCCS scientific opinion on HAA299 (nano) - SCCS/1634/21.

Opinion to be cited as: SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety), Opinion on HAA299 (nano), preliminary opinion July 22, 2021, final opinion 26-27 October 2021, SCCS/1634/2021. HAA299 is a UV filter active intended to be used in sunscreen products as skin protectant against UVA-1 rays. Its chemical name is '2-(4-(2-(4-Diethylamino-2 hydroxy-benzoyl)-benzoyl)-piperazine-1-carbonyl)-phenyl)-(4-diethylamino-2-hydroxyphenyl)-methanone' and INCI name 'Bis-(Diethylaminohydroxybenzoyl Benzoyl) Piperazine' (CAS 919803-06-8). This product was designed and developed to deliver to the consumer stronger UV protection on skin and is most effective as a UV filter when it is milled to a smaller particle size, a process we refer to as micronization. Currently HAA299 normal form and nano form is not regulated under the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. In 2009, Commission' services received a dossier from industry to support the safe use of HAA299 (micronised and non-micronised) in cosmetic products, which was further substantiated with additional information in 2012. In its corresponding opinion (SCCS/1533/14), the SCCS concluded that "the use of non-nano HAA299 (micronised or non-micronised, with median particle size distribution around 134 nm or larger, as measured by FOQELS) at a concentration up to 10% as an UV-filter in cosmetic products, does not pose a risk of systemic toxicity in humans". In addition, SCCS stated that "[the Opinion] … covers the safety evaluation of HAA299 in non-nano form. The opinion does not cover the safety evaluation of HAA299 which is composed of nano particles' and highlighted that '[the Opinion] … does not apply to inhalation exposure of HAA299 since no information on chronic or sub-chronic toxicity after inhalation is provided". With the current submission, received in September 2020, and in view of the previous SCCS opinion (SCCS/1533/14) on the normal form of HAA299, the applicant requests to assess the safety of HAA299 (nano) intended to be used as UV-filter up to a maximum concentration of 10%.

Deterministic Approach and Monte Carlo Simulation to Predict Listeria monocytogenes Time to Grow on Refrigerated Ham: A Study Supporting Risk-based Decisions for Consumers' Health.

This study assessed the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) ham during storage under conditions simulating domestic practices with the intention to offer support in the elaboration of food safety policies that should better protect consumers against food poisoning at home. RTE ham, artificially contaminated at either medium (102-103 CFU/g) or high (104-105 CFU/g) concentration, was stored at both isothermal (4℃ in a refrigerator able to maintain a relatively constant temperature and 5℃ and 7℃ in a refrigerator with fluctuating temperature) and dynamic (5℃ and 7℃ with intermittent exposure to ambient temperature, e.g. 25℃) conditions. Under isothermal conditions, the increasing storage temperature determined a significantly increased (p < 0.05) capacity of L. monocytogenes to grow. The kinetic growth parameters were derived by fitting the Baranyi and Roberts model to the experimental data and, based on the maximum specific growth rates, it was estimated the temperature dependence of L. monocytogenes growth in RTE ham. At medium contamination level, sanitary risk time calculation revealed that, unlike storage at 5℃ and 7℃, storage at 4℃ of the RTE ham extends the time period during which the product is safe for consumption by ∼40 and 52%, respectively. However, the real temperature fluctuations included in the Monte Carlo simulations at low L. monocytogenes counts (1, 5 and 10 CFU/g) have shortened the safety margins. Stochastic models also proved to be useful tools for describing the pathogen's behavior when refrigeration of the RTE ham alternates with periods of ham being kept at room temperature, considered dynamic conditions of growth.

SCCS Scientific Opinion on Acid Yellow 3 (submission II) - SCCS/1631/21.

Opinion to be cited as: SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety), Opinion on Acid Yellow 3 - C054 (CAS Number 8004-92-0, EC No 305-897-5), submission II, preliminary version of 7 May 2021, final version of 23 July 2021, SCCS/1631/21.

Safety Assessment of Cocos nucifera (Coconut)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) assessed the safety of 11 Cocos nucifera (coconut)-derived ingredients, most of which are reported to function as skin-conditioning agents in cosmetic products. The Panel reviewed the available data to determine the safety of these ingredients. The Panel concluded that 10 ingredients, derived from coconut flower, fruit, and liquid endosperm, are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment, and that the available data are insufficient to make a determination of safety for Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Shell Powder under the intended conditions of use in cosmetic formulations.

Safety Assessment of Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.

This is a review of the scientific literature and unpublished data that are relevant for assessing the safety of 12 Helianthus annuus (sunflower)-derived ingredients as used in cosmetics. Because final product formulations may contain multiple botanicals, each containing similar constituents of concern, formulators are advised to be aware of these constituents and to avoid levels that may be hazardous to consumers. Helianthus annuus (sunflower)-derived ingredients may contain allergens, including 2S albumins and sesquiterpene lactones. Industry should use current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) to limit impurities and constituents of concern. The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) concluded that 9 Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed- and flower-derived ingredients are safe as used in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. The data are insufficient to evaluate the safety of 3 ingredients that are derived from other plant parts.

Consumer habits and practices for cosmetics and personal care products in Singapore: An online survey.

Understanding trends in habits and practices of cosmetics and personal care products is essential for the assessment of product exposure and simultaneously, the establishment of safe use levels for incorporated ingredients. To date, most exposure data is limited to European and USA populations, with data on Asian-specific habits and practices lacking. This data gap needs to be filled as evidence has shown that there is a large variation in product use behaviors between consumers, across and within populations. Moreover, there is a need to seek a more efficient approach of data collection. Conventional methods of collecting habits and practices data require extensive effort and are generally cost and time intensive. In this publication, we demonstrate the feasibility of employing a rapid and cost-effective online survey approach to gather habits and practices for Southeast Asia, specifically Singapore. We describe the methodology and display the type of habits and practices data that can be gathered through this approach. Although certain limitations exist, this approach can be used to effectively collect preliminary product use data across regions and different product categories.