Food irradiation

Food irradiation has become a matter of topical interest also in the Federal Republic of Germany following applications for exemptions concerning irradiation tests of spices. After risks to human health by irradiation doses up to a level sufficient for product pasteurization were excluded, irradiation now offers a method suitable primarily for the disinfestation of fruit and decontamination of frozen and dried food. Codex Alimentarius standards which refer also to supervision and dosimetry have been established; they should be adopted as national law. However, in the majority of cases where individual countries including EC member-countries so far permitted food irradiation, these standards were not yet used. Approval irradiation technique for industrial use is available. Several industrial food irradiation plants, partly working also on a contractual basis, are already in operation in various countries. Consumer response still is largely unknown; since irradiated food is labelled, consumption of irradiated food will be decided upon by consumers.     

Vibrio parahaemolyticus: a concern of seafood safety

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a human pathogen that is widely distributed in the marine environments. This organism is frequently isolated from a variety of raw seafoods, particularly shellfish. Consumption of raw or undercooked seafood contaminated with V. parahaemolyticus may lead to development of acute gastroenteritis characterized by diarrhea, headache, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps. This pathogen is a common cause of foodborne illnesses in many Asian countries, including China, Japan and Taiwan, and is recognized as the leading cause of human gastroenteritis associated with seafood consumption in the United States. This review gives an overview of V. parahaemolyticus food poisoning and provides information on recent development in methods for detecting V. parahaemolyticus and strategies for reducing risk of V. parahaemolyticus infections associated with seafood consumption.     

Cross-national differences in child food neophobia: A comparison of five European countries

Food neophobia (FN) has been extensively explored, especially in children. However, very few studies have compared this food behavior in children from different countries. Considering the clear diversity between European countries in feeding practices and food consumption, it is important to deepen the understanding of cross-national differences in child FN. The aim of this study was to explore and compare FN in five European countries (Finland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and UK) using a food neophobia scale specifically designed for children. Five hundred and twenty-nine children (54% girls) aged 9–12 years were recruited from schools in each country and were asked to complete the Italian Child Food Neophobia Scale (ICFNS, Laureati, Bergamaschi et al., 2015), which was translated into each respective language. Parents (n ≈ 300) completed a food consumption frequency questionnaire for their child, and provided background information. Reliability of the tool was assessed through internal consistency and temporal stability. Total internal consistency was 0.76. When calculated by country, internal consistency was satisfactory (Cronbach’s alpha >0.70) for all countries. FN was negatively associated to fruit and vegetable consumption, liking of wholegrain biscuits, and timing of introduction of semi-solid food. There were small but significant cross-national differences in FN with British and Swedish children being the most neophobic and significantly higher in FN than Finnish children, who were the most neophilic. Results indicate that the tool can be successfully used in all the tested countries with children in the age range of 9–12 years. The tool can be useful to measure the effects of interventions aiming at changing food behaviors, such as reducing FN, among children.     

Nutritional and potential health benefits of konjac glucomannan,a promising polysaccharide of elephant foot yam,Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch: A review

Amorphophallus konjac (konjac) is one among the major vegetable (tuber) crops grown in Asian countries. In China and Japan, it has been used as food and a food additive for more than 1000 years. Over the last few decades, the purified konjac flour, commonly known as konjac glucomannan (KGM), a dietary fiber hydrocolloidal polysaccharide, has been introduced as a food additive as well as a dietary supplement in many Asian and European countries. The present article reviews the literature (up to January 2015) covering the development of various functional foods, food additives from KGM and their derivatives, Also, this review deals with global nutritional aspects and value added products of konjac corm. The bioprocessing techniques such as preparation, purification, and extraction of KGM from konjac flour and methods to improve quality of KGM are discussed.

Abbreviations: ¹³C NMR: carbon-13, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; CHD: coronary heart disease; CKF: crude konjac flour; CVD: cardiovascular disease; DA: degree of acetylation; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; DOB: degree of branching; EC: European Commission; EFSA: European Food Safety Authority; EFY: elephant foot yam; FCC: Food Chemical Codex; FDA: Food and Drug Administration; GM: glucomannan; KG: konjac gel; KGM: konjac glucomannan; KGMOS: KGM octenyl succinate; KM: konjac mannan; OSA: octenyl succinic anhydride; PKF: purified konjac flour; SEM: scanning electron microscopy; USDA: United States Department of Agriculture; WHO: World Health Organization; WVP: water vapor permeability     

Validated PCR assay for the routine detection of Salmonella in food

We developed a rapid and reliable PCR assay with genus-specific primers for the detection of Salmonella in food samples. With these primers, no primer-specific amplicons were detected when challenged with cultures of microorganisms other than salmonellae, and positive results, i.e., Salmonella-specific bands, were obtained with pure cultures of all 125 Salmonella isolates tested, which represented 100 serovars. The PCR assay was optimized using both pure cultures and artificially inoculated food samples. The assay results were compared with those of the Australian standard culture methods, using more than 500 "naturally" contaminated food samples, over a period of 9 years. Food samples were subjected to nonselective preenrichment in buffered peptone water followed by selective enrichment in Rappaport Vassiliadis (RV) broth and mannitol selenite cystine (MSC) broth. A simple sample preparation method was developed based on concentrating bacterial cells from 1 ml of RV or MSC broths. The PCR results were in perfect agreement with the results of the standard culture methods; no false-positive or false-negative results were obtained. However, the PCR assay was extremely rapid, and results could be obtained within 4 h of testing of enrichment broths.     

Requirements for Healthy Nutrition: Integrating Food Sustainability, Food Variety, Health

ABSTRACT: Until recently, the criteria for healthy nutrition were couched principally in terms of a combination of some form of Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs) for energy (calories/kilojoules) and for nutrients recognized as essential, along with Dietary Guidelines (since the late 1970s in various countries). In Cyprus, in 1995, WHO and FAO advocated FBDGs (Food-Based Dietary Guidelines); these allow for food cultural differences, population genetic differences, and the broad non-nutrition roles of food (such as social discourse); and, especially, the physico-chemical properties and phytochemicals which confer human biological advantages. Measures of the total cuisine (for example, of the traditionality of the Greek diet) and its transportability to other localities (such as Food Habits in Later Life and SENECA studies) in relation to health also indicate that the contribution of diet to health is more than the sum of its chemical components. Food diversity or variety (including food processing variations) is also a predictor of health outcomes and of food security. It is also relevant that for each 1% increase in dietary diversity there is a 1% increase in per capita food consumption for poor and middle-income countries. Food variety also reflects biodiversity and environmental security. In the future, it can be expected that the environmental costs of food production will need to be taken into account in the formulation of nutrition requirements and related policy and in food choice.     

Barley: Impact of processing on physicochemical and thermal properties—A review

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a nutritious cereal but very little (only about 2%) of this grain is used as human food. However, it has attracted the attention of researchers and food processors in the last 15 years for its potential health benefits. It is also recognized as a functional grain because it contains high levels of β-glucan and phytochemicals. Therefore, a number of barley processing research and animal/clinical trials have been performed over the last 15–20 years. Also, health claims have been approved by a number of government agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) about consumption of β-glucan, an important component of barley. Barley must undergo various processing steps before human consumption, which greatly affect their composition and physicochemical properties. These properties play an important role in the development of new products. Therefore, the present article reviews the literature on the effect of processing on the physicochemical and thermal properties of barley.     

米饭饮食与血糖控制

米饭作为亚洲多数国家的主食,对饮食健康具有重要的影响。米饭通常被认为是一种高血糖指数的食物,但米饭摄入与2型糖尿病风险是否相关仍存在争议。本文梳理了有关米饭摄入和2型糖尿病风险之间的流行病学和人体实验证据,综述了稻米品种、加工方式、烹调方式、储藏和食用温度以及不同食物搭配对米饭餐血糖指数和人体餐后血糖变化的影响。目前证据表明,通过选择合适的大米品种、合理的烹调加工和搭配进食,可以有效调节米饭餐的血糖反应。     

Brazilian consumer views on food irradiation

This study investigated the consumer attitude to food irradiation in São Paulo, Brazil, through a qualitative research perspective. Three focus groups were conducted with 30 consumers, responsible for food choices and purchases. Both irradiated and nonirradiated food samples were served in the sessions to motivate the discussion and elicit the participants´ knowledge, opinions, feelings and concerns towards the irradiation process. Reactions were similar among the groups and differences between the irradiated and the nonirradiated samples were hardly perceived. When provided with positive information about irradiation and its benefits to foods and human health, many people still remained suspicious about the safety of the technology. Risk perception seemed to be related to unease and lack of knowledge about nuclear power and its non-defense use. Participants claimed for more transparency in communication about risks and benefits of irradiated foods to the human health, especially with respect to the continued consumption.Industrial relevanceIrradiation is an emerging food processing technology, which has been gaining interest by food technologists, producers and manufacturers all over the world in the last decades. Irradiation is suitable for disinfestation, microorganism load reduction or sterilization, assuring the safety, as well as having benefits in the shelf-life of foodstuffs.Food irradiation is approved in many countries and its use in food processing is endorsed by several reputed authorities, such as FAO and USDA. Despite the approval and recommendation, this technology still remains underutilized not only in Brazil, but also in other countries. The main reason appears to be the consumer concerns and doubts about the use of radiations in food processing. To develop communication strategies in promotion of irradiated foods it is necessary to investigate consumer attitudes, knowledge, opinions, as well as fears, with respect to the use of radiation in food processing.It is well-known that consumer views on technology may vary from a culture to another. So, findings from consumer research in a country may certainly not reflect the consumer views in other countries. In this sense, Brazilian studies focused on consumer views on food irradiation are necessary to gain understanding on how the local market accepts the technology. Brazil is one of the most important food producers in the world and an emerging consumer market with a population of about 184 million people. Food irradiation is regulated in Brazil since 1973, but to date only a few food ingredients are subjected to irradiation. The wide use of irradiation in food processing would favor Brazilian producers in the quality and safety assurance of food products, both for the local market and for exports.     

Motives for food choice: a comparison of consumers from Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and New Zealand

With increasing emphasis on understanding consumer preferences in export markets, particularly in Asia, there is a need to determine those factors that influence food choice in other cultures. The Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), which assess the relative importance of nine factors thought to be important motives in food choice: Health, Mood, Convenience, Sensory Appeal, Natural Content, Price, Weight Control, Familiarity, andEthical Concern, was administered to groups of female consumers in Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and New Zealand. The Food Neophobia Scale was also administered in New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan. There was agreement between Taiwanese and (ethnically Chinese) Malaysian consumers in the most important food choice factors: Health, Natural Content, Weight Control andConvenience. In contrast, Price was most important for Japanese consumers and Sensory Appeal for New Zealand consumers. Familiarity was rated as least important by all countries, and Ethical Concern was also considered unimportant by all countries except Japan, where it was rated as relatively important. Older consumers generally gave higher ratings. Differences between consumer groups were also shown in the degree of neophobia. These data are important in demonstrating differing motives for food choice cross-culturally, and also provide indications of which food claims may be useful in promoting choice in the countries studied.     

From the Chacra to the Tienda: Dietary delocalization in the Peruvian Andes

The Peruvian Andes are home to incredible biodiversity, which has sustained human life for thousands of years. However, consumption patterns are shifting as a result of neoliberal policies that influence food accessibility and dietary delocalization. As women are often disproportionately affected by these trends, this study takes an ethnographic approach to understanding dietary delocalization among women in the province of Carhuaz. Through participant observation, 24-hour diet recalls, and the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale, this study identifies the tensions that exist as local peasant farmers increase participation in the global market economy. While all participating households experienced food insecurity, families regularly sold their own crops to meet the demands of modern life (e.g., education) and increasingly relied on store-bought, non-local food items. While exploratory, the study reveals a need for local and international entities to consider various structural drivers when developing programs and policies addressing nutrition in the region.     

Sustainable food choice motives: The development and cross-country validation of the Sustainable Food Choice Questionnaire (SUS-FCQ)

In view of all kinds of sustainability concerns related to our current diet, it is essential to gain a good understanding of the sustainability motives consumers have for selecting their food. A comprehensive and validated scale to measure sustainability motives within the full range of food choice motives could contribute to this understanding, especially as sustainability is a multi-faceted concept in which the different aspects can sometimes be conflicting. The current paper aims to 1) develop the Sustainable Food Choice Questionnaire (SUS-FCQ) that covers the full concept of sustainability, 2) test which dimensions of sustainable food choice motives can be distinguished and 3) validate the scale as part of the Food Choice Questionnaire in multiple countries. An online survey was completed by 5,116 respondents from five European countries (The Netherlands, Denmark, Czech Republic, France and Italy). The scale was developed with a Dutch sub-sample and validated in all included countries. Exploratory factor analysis followed by confirmatory factor analyses resulted in a two-factor solution. A ‘general sustainability’ dimension (6 items, covering environmental, ethical and animal welfare aspects) and a ‘local & seasonal’ dimension (3 items) were identified. The Sustainable Food Choice Questionnaire shows to be reliable and valid in the five included countries and can be used as an addition to the Food Choice Questionnaire developed by Steptoe and colleagues (1995). The scale is suitable to gain a better understanding of the position of sustainability motives against other motives in consumers food choices and can be used for country comparisons.     

Risk assessment of aflatoxins in food in Africa

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, occur widely on many staple foods and cause a broad range of detrimental health effects in animals and humans. As a consequence, maximum tolerated levels (MTLs) have been legislated in many countries. However, in developing countries where food safety compliance can be low and significant levels of the food supply are locally consumed by the producers or purchased at local markets, more comprehensive strategies are required. In this regard, risk analysis with its components of risk assessment, risk management and risk communication, is an important tool in dealing with food safety issues. Risk assessment for aflatoxin B(1) in Africa has been performed using the carcinogenic potency, established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and applying it to typical food products and consumption across the continent, to illustrate the significant health implications caused by the intake of high levels of contaminated foods. Highlighted in this assessment is the fact that even low levels of contamination, which might of themselves fall within legislated limits, can have serious health implications due to high levels of consumption, i.e. meeting a MTL does not of itself guarantee food safety. Recent developments have highlighted the growth retardation and immune suppression caused by aflatoxin exposure in human populations in west Africa. Using the limited data available on both these health effects, a first step has been taken to incorporate them into a risk assessment paradigm quantifying the risk of immunosuppression, malnutrition and stunting in children exposed to aflatoxins and highlighting again how excessive consumption of foods meeting MTLs can carry significant health risks.     

Are the World Food Programme’s food consumption groups a good proxy for energy deficiency?

The Food Consumption Score (FCS) is the World Food Programme’s main food access indicator, a proxy for household diet quantity and quality. The score is based on the number of days in a week eight food groups were eaten, and thresholds classify households as having poor, borderline or acceptable food consumption. The ability of the FCS and its thresholds to classify household’s consumption consistently are vital as food assistance is directed towards areas and population groups where prevalence of inadequate food consumption is high. As there are indications that the current thresholds underestimate inadequate consumption, this paper asks whether FCS thresholds can be identified corresponding to inadequate energy consumption, the quantity dimension of the score. The analysis uses household survey data that include comprehensive modules on food consumption as well as the information necessary to calculate the FCS from six countries. The results show that the FCS is significantly but not highly correlated with calorie intake. Not counting foods eaten in small quantities, clearly improves the association between the FCS and caloric intake, but the analysis suggests that in practice it is difficult to exclude the small quantities. Established sensitivity and specificity criteria for suitable thresholds are not met and this paper concludes that it is not appropriate to identify FCS thresholds that adequately correspond to caloric thresholds. The analysis illustrates that the FCS depicts both quantitative and qualitative aspects of food consumption and concludes that a future strategy should be to anchor thresholds in an indicator comprising both these dimensions.     

Microbiological risk assessment in developing countries

Microbiological risk assessment (MRA) has been evolving at the national and international levels as a systematic and objective approach for evaluating information pertaining to microbiological hazards in foods and the risks they pose. This process has been catalyzed by international food trade requirements to base sanitary measures on sound scientific evidence and appropriate risk assessments. All countries, including developing countries, need to understand and use MRA. MRA is resource intensive, as has been demonstrated by some of the the assessments undertaken in industrialized countries. However, when used in the appropriate circumstances MRA offers many benefits. The process of undertaking MRA improves the understanding of key issues, enables an objective evaluation of risk management options, and provides a scientific justification for actions. Although the gap between developing countries and some industrialized countries is quite extensive with regard to MRA, many developing countries recognize the need to at least understand and move toward using MRA. This process requires development of infrastructure and enhancement of scientific and technical expertise while making optimal use of limited resources. International organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, are in a position to provide countries with guidance, training, information resources, and technical assistance to develop and/or strengthen food safety infrastructure. Enhanced cooperation and collaboration at all levels are needed for such efforts to be successful and to ensure that MRA, as a food safety tool, is available to all countries.     

Food legumes in human nutrition: a personal perspective.

Perhaps with the notable exception, and that only in recent years, of red meat, which contributes dietary saturated fats and cholesterol, two well‐known reasons in the etiology of heart‐related disorders, no single group of foods has been portrayed in such negative terms as the food legumes traditionally have been during the last 50 years of research in food science and human nutrition. Even more alarming are the trends of continued research on such aspects as the deficiency of sulfur‐amino acids (both by amino acid analyses as well as rat feeding studies), and the heat lability/stability of proteinase inhibitors and phytohemagglutinins in various legume species. A survey of literature indicates that over 100 research papers were published during the 1981 to 1990 period alone, in just three journals (Journal of Food Science, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, and Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture) having the highest citation ratings in food sciences on these three topics, with a general consensus about the facts that were well established as early as the late 1950s. Considering the proliferation of journals publishing food science and human nutrition related work, especially in the Third World countries, the actual number probably would be much higher. This trend also indicates that we are repeating certain aspects of research on the importance of food legumes in human nutrition. Are we really any closer today in our understanding and appreciation of why the nomadic human made such a choice for their very existence during the transition to a more civilized society? This is a high time to project the image of legumes in human nutrition in proper perspective. The validity of our continued research on certain aspects of legumes in human nutrition, at a time when worldwide the research dollars are becoming increasingly harder to come by, is challenged in this review. Essentially, it is a journey through the author's personal diary that raises several questions in justifying the continued research support for at least some nutrition‐related work on legumes and an account of what research areas perhaps need to be targeted in the 21st century.     

Household Food Insecurity and Canadian Aboriginal Women's Self-efficacy in Food Preparation

Purpose: Determinants of self-efficacy related to food preparation using store-bought food were examined in women belonging to the Atikamekw Nation. Also examined was whether self-efficacy was associated with household food insecurity. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 107 women responsible for household food supplies. Two self-efficacy scores were calculated, one for healthy food preparation and one for food preparation in general. Household food insecurity was measured with an adapted version of the United States Food Security Core Module. The other variables were household composition, income sources, food supplies, tobacco use, participants' health status, and lifestyle and sociodemographic characteristics. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze associations between self-efficacy and household food insecurity in 99 participants. Results: Severe household food insecurity was associated with significantly lower healthy food preparation scores in Atikamekw women. Other associated variables were food supplies, marital status, alcohol consumption, weight status, and understanding of the native language. Conclusions: Application of the concept of self-efficacy contributes to a better understanding of the factors influencing food preparation in Atikamekw women. In this study, self-efficacy in healthy food preparation was linked to food insecurity and obesity, particularly in the most serious cases. Efforts to improve diet will require not only behavioural interventions, but public policies.     

食品添加剂中存在的安全问题研究

近年来,由食品添加剂引发的食品安全问题不断发生,使得消费者"谈剂色变"。食品添加剂大部分是化学合成的,长期或大量食用会危害人们的身体健康。一般而言,按照食品安全法规正确合理地使用食品添加剂并不会对人体造成很大危害,但是很多商家为牟取利益滥用添加剂,严重影响食品安全,影响了人们对添加剂的正确认识。本文主要就食品添加剂的概况、存在问题、解决方案等方面展开论述。