Perceived barriers to food packaging recycling: Evidence from a choice experiment of US consumers

To increase recycling rates, packaging companies, policymakers, and food and beverage companies have promoted recycling of packaging through media and packaging labels. Yet, how effective such information is at enhancing recycling behavior remains subject to debate. This study contributes to the literature on product recycling by examining how particular packaging characteristics foster or hinder recycling. An online survey administered to a representative sample of 1500 American households is used to examine consumer perceived barriers to recycling food packaging. Using a between-subject choice experiment design, we investigate the effectiveness of message targeting and media delivery, including infographic and video treatments, on consumer stated recycling behavior of a plastic or boxboard sandwich container. We find that respondents viewed having to clean packaging, a requirement for many food products, as a barrier to recycling, but not the type of packaging material or the number of steps involved in recycling the product. Individuals drawn to recycling for energy conservation reasons were less likely to view cleaning as a barrier. The information treatments did not significantly affect consumer recycling behavior, however, they altered preferences for packaging material.     

Routine quality control in honey packaging companies as a key to guarantee consumer safety. The case of the presence of sulfonamides analyzed with LC-MS-MS

One of the main challenges in the Horizon 2020 framework is to ensure sufficient food and feed, while monitoring safety throughout the food chain. In this context, the objective of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of the routine quality control that honey companies carry out on raw batches (before entering the industrial packaging process) considering the presence of sulfonamides. A total of 279 honey samples were analyzed in this study: 178 raw honey samples were taken on reception in different companies, and 101 samples (from the same industries) were purchased locally. The validation of the methodology applied (LC–MS/MS) before analyzing the samples, confirm the reliability of the results obtained. All the purchased samples were found to be negative for sulfonamides, however, in 9 raw samples sulfathiazole (6 samples) and sulfadiazine (3 samples) were found, which represents 3.4% and 1.7% of the 178 raw samples analyzed, respectively. Therefore, if monitoring is carried out routinely at reception, risk can be decreased to a negligible level. The results confirm that using a suitable analytical methodology and implementing an appropriate routine quality control on reception is totally effective to avoid the presence of sulfonamides in the commercialized product, thereby ensuring consumer safety.     

Hygiene in the home kitchen: Changes in behaviour and impact of key microbiological hazard control measures

This review first examines the societal evolutions which may impact negatively on food safety at home as well as the knowledge and perceptions of consumers with respect to food hygiene. In its second section, this paper gives a general overview of measures to control microbiological hazards in the domestic kitchen and their effectiveness. The measures described are those that aim to (i) decrease cross contaminations, (ii) hinder microbial growth (storage temperature), (iii) decrease microbial load (cooking, cleaning of hand, dishes, dish cloths, sponges, towels, equipment and utensil surfaces). The necessity to clean hands is unanimously recognized but for other measures this is not the case and they therefore deserve to be further studied to establish the most relevant recommendations for consumers. Some views on how to communicate these recommendations to consumers are presented, which make it possible to conclude that improvements could to be obtained through motivating the youngest consumers.     

Consumers' evaluation of volition,control, anticipated regret,and perceived food health risk. Evidence from a field experiment in a traditional vegetable market in Kenya

Food markets in developing countries encompass a wide spectrum of food health risk exposures for consumers, but little is known about how consumers make judgments and decisions in relation to these risks. This study examined the relationship between perceived food health risk, anticipated regret from adverse health outcomes, command over exposure (volition), and command over outcome (control). A field experiment was conducted with consumers of kale (Brassica oleracea) at a traditional peri-urban market in Nairobi, Kenya. The intervention introduced a sales point developed to meet high food safety standards with produce being specifically sourced and controlled for safe production, transport, and handling practices. The treatment group (n = 152) received information about actions taken through the intervention to minimize risks and participants used their own money to bid to upgrade from kale sold from non-intervention sales stands. Participants in the control group (n = 100) were observed after buying kale from non-intervention sales points within the same market. The results showed that consequentialist and emotion-based risk measures were related, as were volition and control for both groups, but the levels were different. Moreover, in the treatment group perceived risk was related to volition and anticipated regret, but control was only related to perceived risk. These findings have implications for food risk communication and actions to improve local conditions under which food is sold.     

Street food on the coast of Salvador,Bahia, Brazil: A study from the socioeconomic and food safety perspectives

Street food includes various food items and drinks largely sold in public places, including leisure areas such as beaches. Despite the prevalence at this activity studies made within this scenario are few. Therefore, this study sought to characterize street food commercialization on the Salvador coast in Bahia, Brazil based on the socioeconomic, labor, and food safety perspectives. An exploratory and quantitative study was conducted on 14 beaches using questionnaires addressing the following areas: the socio-demographic characteristics of the food vendors, characteristics of the work, and hygienic and sanitary conditions of the activity. Our study included 247 food vendors with an average age of 40.3 years, of whom 55.9% were women, and 48.7% had completed an elementary education or less. The median time spent working in street food vending was nine years, and the average working day for the participants was 8.3 Furthermore, 46.2% of the participants worked only on weekends and 72.0% declared that their family income was between one and three times the minimum wage, of whom 29.1% had revenue from a source other than street food vending. Most of the vendor locations were fixed (57.5%), and the products sold were typically obtained from supermarkets (48.1%), suppliers (36.8%), and street markets (36.0%). Prepared food items were the most common (61.6%), although mineral water/soft drinks (35.8%) and beer (35.2%) were also commonly sold items, followed by acarajé (21.9%), coconut water (19.0%), fried fish (14.2%), and abará (12.5%). Only 38.3% of the perishable food items were kept in cooling containers. Of the interviewed individuals, 22.6% declared that they did not sanitize their hands when working, whereas 80.2% admitted to handling food and money simultaneously. Our study reveals the socioeconomic importance of the street food sector as well as the poor hygienic conditions of most street food vendor operations.     

The heterogeneity in the type of shelf life label and storage instructions on refrigerated foods in supermarkets in Belgium and illustration of its impact on assessing the Listeria monocytogenes threshold level of 100 CFU/g

Confusion about the use of shelf life labels among consumers is a major contributor to avoidable food waste at the end of the food supply chain. By means of an inventory snapshot of all pre-packed refrigerated food products (n = 1477), including a wide range of fresh-cut vegetables, smoked fish, meat and dairy products, from four different supermarket chains in Belgium, the use and consistency in use of shelf life labels (i.e. ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates) within food product categories and supermarkets was investigated. In addition, recommended storage conditions were noted and by means of a challenge test on a randomly selected cooked pork meat product the impact of storage temperature (4 °C, 7 °C and 10 °C) and validity of the set shelf life (13 days) and shelf life label (a ‘best before’ date) was evaluated. It was noted that a mixed use of the ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates and recommended storage conditions occurs in most refrigerated food product categories except for smoked fish for which on all product brands (including private labels and premium brands) at all retailers a ‘use by’ data and storage at 4 °C was recommended. The inconsistency of shelf life labels and storage conditions within a food product category is to some extent expected as product characteristics and packaging and storage conditions will impact on microbial quality and safety such as growth potential of Listeria monocytogenes. Still a mixed use will detract from consumers' understanding of the shelf life label and contribute to food waste. In addition, recommended storage conditions were noted and by means of a challenge test with L. monocytogenes on a randomly selected cooked pork meat product the impact of storage temperature (4 °C, 7 °C and 10 °C) and validity of the set shelf life (13 days) and shelf life label (a ‘best before’ date) was evaluated. Challenge testing indicated substantial growth potential of L. monocytogenes (on average +1.0, +2.0 and +4.0 log CFU/g respectively at 4, 7 and 10 °C) within the set shelf life and also indicates a potential public health risk if the pathogen would be present, thus indicating the inappropriateness of the setting of a ‘best before’ date. This highlights that more attention is needed to reflect, as an individual company or an industry association or competent authority on more stringent guidelines on the use and the validation of shelf life labels.     

Easy and rapid method for the quantitative determination of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey by ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: An evaluation in commercial honey

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are toxins biosynthesised by plants and they are known to be present in approximately 6000 plant species, about 3% of all flowering plants. PAs are probably the most widely distributed natural toxins and represent a potential risk to human health, since poisoning caused by these toxins is associated with acute and chronic liver damage and may lead to death. One of the most common sources of PAs exposure in humans is honey consumption. We have developed a quick and easy method to quantify nine different PAs (echimidine, heliotrine, intermedine, lycopsamine, lasiocarpine, retrorsine, seneciphylline, senecionine, senkirkine) in honey based on QuEChERS sample extraction and ultra fast liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection. We performed a validation study of the method and it resulted in good precision and accuracy, high recoveries, and good linear calibrations. The limit of detection ranged from 0.021 to 1.39 μg Kg⁻¹ and the limit of quantification from 0.081 to 4.35 μg Kg⁻¹. This new approach was applied to the quantification of PAs in retail honeys purchased in local supermarkets, classified by their country of origin: Italian honeys, blends of honey of European countries and blends of honey of European and non-European countries. The concentrations detected ranged from 1 to 169 μg PAs/kg⁻¹ with higher concentrations in blends of European and non-European honeys. This study reveals that many samples tested would exceed the tolerable daily intake suggested for these substances and they could be a hazard to human health.     

The impact of high pressure thermal sterilization on the microbiological stability and formation of food processing contaminants in selected fish systems and baby food puree at pilot scale

To this day there is no implementation of the high pressure thermal sterilization (HPTS) in the food industry. HPTS could result in better food quality, lower thermal load applied to the product and less unwanted food processing contaminants (FPCs) such as furan.Based on findings for selected foods at lab-scale extrapolated temperature-time combinations for a 12 log₁₀ inactivation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were chosen for a scale-up with a 55 L vessel (HPHT system Hiperbaric). Temperature-time-combinations at 600 MPa were between 100 and 115 °C and 0.45–28min. The scale-up resulted in a reduction of furan, depending on the food system, between 41 and 98% to retorting. Results at pilot scale were similar to lab-scale experiments. The performed storage trials (standardized method NF V 08-408) showed that only for the baby food puree two selected treatment conditions (107.5 °C, 9.8 min and 115 °C, 0.45 min at 600 MPa) resulted in an unstable product. Overall the results of the scale-up process support the idea that the HPTS could be feasible for the implementation in the food industry.     

油气二次运移地球化学常用参数变化规律的新认识——石油二次运移模拟实验的启示和思考

为了利用地球化学参数的变化规律正确判断油气二次运移方向，运用自行设计的实验装置进行了油气运移模拟实验，对收集的样品族组分、饱和烃色谱一质谱、芳烃色谱质谱、烷基酚类化合物及中性氮化合物进行了分析。结果表明，原油在通过输导层的运移过程中，具有和色谱（色层）过程同样的效应，在地层中运移的组分（除饱和烃族组分外）含量都不是单调地降低或者升高，而是有一个富集的过程。将化合物相对浓度曲线和化合物比值曲线合成一张图，则可根据化合物相对浓度和比值的关系正确判断运移的方向：二者一致升高的方向或者一致降低的方向就是油气运移的方向；如果二者不一致，那么降低的一方的变化方向就应是油气运移的方向。图15参12     

The effect of the concentration of high-absorbing inclusions on the laser initiation threshold of energetic materials: model and experiment

ABSTRACT

A model has been developed which makes it possible to determine the temperature profile arising in energetic materials containing absorbing inclusions when exposed to laser radiation. The model takes into account the dispersion of these inclusions, the time and intensity of irradiation, and the properties of the energetic materials proper. The proposed model explains the obtained experimental data, according to which the dependence of the threshold for NCP initiation on the content of graphene additives is characterized by the minimum of 3 wt. % graphene. In this case, the threshold of initiation is reduced by about 10 times.     

进口天然气盈亏平衡定价对市场的影响——以广州市中亚天然气为例

2011年11月底土库曼斯坦天然气经过中亚—中国天然气管道和西气东输二线管道正式向位处华南的广州市供气。然而,由于中国天然气价格与国际气价脱节,天然气进口业务陷入进口越多亏损越多的尴尬境地,提高进口气入关后的价格将有助于缓解长期以来的进口气购销价格倒挂问题。为此,以广州市为例,测算了中亚天然气盈亏平衡时不同天然气用户的气价;采用天然气与可替代能源等热值直接成本对比法,按各类天然气用户实际支付可替代能源的现有价格等热值折算分析了对应的中亚天然气价格可承受能力。结果表明:从价格承受能力来看,居民用户和公共福利用户基本上是可以承受中亚天然气盈亏平衡定价;工商业用户也有一部分可以承受上述定价,但对燃料成本占总成本比重较大的用户,承受能力则较弱;天然气发电用户无法承受上述定价,中亚天然气发电只能扮演调峰角色。考虑到西气东输管道输送的既有国产气,也有进口气,为此提出:可以将国产气的出厂价与进口气的成本价加权平均,作为西气东输天然气的"出厂价"。     

The occurrence and effect of unit operations for dairy products processing on the fate of aflatoxin M1: A review

Mold contamination has challenged the safety of feed production and processing because of its undeniable role in the spoilage and the possible consequent toxicity impact on human health and the economy. Aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) is a hepatocarcinogenic derivative of aflatoxin B₁ excreted into the milk after ingestion of feed contaminated by certain molds. Because of the important role of dairy products, especially milk in the human diet, there is a huge concern about the presence of AFM₁ in milk and dairy products. In this article, the occurrence of AFM₁ and the fate of AFM₁ during processing of milk and dairy products, such as yoghurt and cheeses, since 1996 until today, was reviewed. The evaluation of mechanisms by which AFM₁ is affected by each processing step is of major importance to provide useful and accurate information to develop risk assessment studies and risk management strategies.     

The impact of process parameters on the responses of a diesel engine running on biodiesel-diesel blend: An optimization study

The study sought to investigate the combined impact of parsley biodiesel blend (PSB) proportion, engine speed, and load on diesel engine parameters. The obtained result revealed that an increase in the proportion of PSB blend as the load increases, led to a rise in brake thermal efficiency (BTE), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and a decline in brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), carbon monoxide (CO) and brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) but no interactive effect of both factors hydrocarbon (HC). Also, varying the engine speed and proportion of PSB blend declined BSFC, BSEC, HC, and NOx bur raised BTE and CO. A blend of 20.22%, engine speed of 1483.39 rpm, and engine load of 95.88% were the best variables for the tested engine to achieve better performance and reduced emission utilizing the desirability-based method. The projected values for BTE, BSFC, BSEC, CO, HC, and NOx responses were 20.61%, 0.32 kg/kWh, 6.14 MJ/kW, 0.08963%, 18.28 ppm, and 347.72 ppm respectively. Furthermore, for the tested engine, the engine speed was determined to be the most significant variable (with the most influence) when compared to the engine load and fuel blend. This study is beneficial to researchers and organizations working on improving engine performance and reduction of toxic emissions to the environment. The optimization study can also help overcome the high cost and lengthy experimental techniques.     

四川盆地东北地区下寒武统海相页岩气成因: 来自气体组分和碳同位素组成的启示

通过对四川盆地东北地区下寒武统海相页岩的现场解吸,获取气样并进行了组分和稳定碳同位素分析。结果表明,页岩气的甲烷含量介于96.39 % ~98.83 % ,其他组分含量较少;各组分相对含量随着解吸时间和累积解吸气量呈现规律性变化,该变化规律可能为泥页岩对不同气体吸附能力的差异所致。页岩气甲烷稳定碳同位素组成(δ¹³C₁)在-32.20 ‰ ~-29.50 ‰ 之间,乙烷稳定碳同位素组成(δ¹³C₂)介于-37.70 ‰ ~-36.60 ‰ ,所有气样均有δ¹³C₁>δ¹³C₂的"逆序"特点,这可能是在高成熟阶段,液态烃裂解气与早期生成的干酪根裂解气混合作用所致。随解吸时间增加,δ¹³C₁约有2.3 ‰ 的分馏,这可能与气体在解吸过程中的扩散作用有关。     

长石溶解-沉淀的热力学和动力学特征及其对储层物性的影响——以渤海湾盆地渤南洼陷沙三段为例

长石溶解及其次生孔隙的形成对砂岩储层质量具有重要影响。为了研究渤海湾盆地渤南洼陷有利孔隙发育带,利用长石溶解-沉淀的热力学和动力学计算,结合薄片分析、孔隙度和渗透率资料,开展了对沙三段长石次生孔隙发育的研究。结果显示,现今的地层水多有利于长石沉淀,部分区域发生长石溶解。结合孔隙度平面分布图和镜下薄片分析可知:孔隙度发育较好的区域主要是钾长石发生溶解,钙长石ΔG<-15 kJ/mol溶解速率较快和钠长石ΔG<15 kJ/mol沉淀速率较慢的区域。此外,粘土矿物(高岭石等)在长石溶解形成的次生孔隙中的沉淀,降低了储层的渗透率;且在埋深超过3 000 m的区域,地层水中的SiO₂(aq)沉淀速率的显著加快降低了储层孔隙度。综上:埋藏环境中,长石的溶解对于次生孔隙的贡献十分重要,但是如果其副产物未发生迁移则对次生孔隙的贡献较小,并且较高的粘土矿物含量会降低储层的渗透率。本文对于利用热力学和动力学模型预测储层发育提供了新的方法。     

How dietary risk assessment can guide risk management and food monitoring programmes: The approach and results of the French Observatory on Pesticide Residues (ANSES/ORP)

The French system for monitoring dietary exposure to pesticide residues and its scoring method are presented. This system aims both to assess acute and chronic risks to the general population and to identify food commodities and pesticides that need to be better monitored and/or regulated thanks to 6 priority levels. The method combines four chronic and acute dietary risk indicators based on the results of the most recent national monitoring programmes and maximum residue levels, in connection with individual and national food consumption data. The probability of exceeding the toxicological reference values was estimated for children and adults, for 522 pesticides and their metabolites. Food contributors were detailed and a minimum number of samples to be taken per food was proposed. The majority of the pesticides (87%) was scored at the lowest priority level 1. For pesticides classified in levels 2 to 5, there is a need to refine the assessment. The monitoring should also be extended to include newly authorised substances in levels 2 to 4. Carbendazim, dimethoate, dithiocarbamates and imazalil merit particular attention as they scored at level 6 and are frequently quantified in fruits and vegetables, meaning that risk managers should take corrective measures in order to ensure consumer safety.     

致密砂岩自生伊利石的成因及其对相对优质储层发育的影响——以川西地区须四段储层为例

川西地区须家河组四段为典型的致密砂岩储层,砂岩骨架颗粒中岩屑含量高而长石含量极低。自生黏土矿物主要为伊利石和高岭石,其中自生伊利石呈碎屑颗粒包膜、充填于次生粒内溶孔中的网状集合体和充填于粒间的非网状集合体3种方式产出。第一种为早期形成的蒙脱石经伊蒙混层转化而来;第二种由埋藏期钾长石的伊利石化作用形成;第三种由钾长石和早期形成的高岭石在深埋期间通过伊利石化作用形成。自生伊利石的形成对致密砂岩中相对优质储层的发育具有双重影响。它能降低储层的渗透率,影响储层质量,但颗粒包膜伊利石可以阻止石英次生加大的形成从而保护原生孔隙,埋藏成岩过程中蒙皂石-伊利石的转化反应以及钾长石和高岭石的伊利石化作用能促进钾长石的溶解形成次生孔隙。因此,自生伊利石的形成对于砂岩原生孔隙的保存和次生孔隙的发育具有积极作用,因而有利于相对优质储层的形成。     

The Effect of the Salinity of Injected Water and Reservoir Water on WAG Injection: A Study in an Iranian Reservoir

The effect of salinity of injected water and reservoir water in water alternating gas injection in one of an Iranian reservoir was investigated. Usually in simulation works water salinity of reservoir or salinity of injected water may be ignored. Without applying salinity effect, it would cause estimated overall oil recovery to be different with real. Salinity of water phase would increase the viscosity of injected water also obviously the mobility ratio of oil. Because of this improvement in water mobility, more oil would be displaced toward production wells. The problem of increasing salinity of injected water is that too much salt may harm pump equipments. Over time, salt deposits in pumping devices may cause reduction in pumps efficiency and corrosion of pipes, thus injecting salty water would cause corrosion problems and pump failures. Since the salinity of the reservoir water in the study was not available so it was chosen in two modes: reservoir water without salt (Cs = 0) and with concentration of 140 kg/m³ (Cs = 140). In this work 0.8 reservoir pore volume WAG was injected. Salinity of injected water was varied from zero to 4,800 kg/m³; by increasing salinity of injected water, because of mobility ratio increment between water and oil, production efficiency would be increased. The economic dimension of this view must be examined. By considering reservoir water salinity, recovery would be increased in WAG injection.     

The tectonic fracture modeling of an ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoir based on an outcrop analogy: A case study in the Wangyao Oilfield of Ordos Basin, China

Due to inherent limits of data acquisition and geophysical data resolution, there are large uncertainties in the characterization of subsurface fractures. However, outcrop analogies can provide qualitative and quantitative information on a large number of fractures, based on which the accuracy of subsurface fracture characterization can be improved. Here we take the tectonic fracture modeling of an ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoir based on an outcrop analogy, a case study of the Chang6t~ Formation of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Group of the Wangyao Oilfield in the Ordos Basin of China. An outcrop at the edge of the basin is a suitable analog for the reservoir, but the prerequisite is that they must have equivalent previous stress fields, similar final structural characteristics, relative timing and an identical depositional environment and diagenesis. The relationship among fracture density, rock type and bed thickness based on the outcrop is one of the most important fracture distribution models, and can be used to interpret fracture density in individual wells quantitatively. Fracture orientation, dip, geometry and scale, also should be described and measured in the outcrop, and can be used together with structure restoration and single well fracture density interpretation to guide fracture intensity prediction on bed surfaces and to constrain the construction of the 3D fracture geometry model of the subsurface reservoir. The application of the above principles shows the outcrop-based tectonic fracture models of the target ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoir are consistent with fractures inferred from microseismic interpretation and tracer tests. This illustrated that the fracture modeling based on the outcrop analogy is reliable and can reduce the uncertainty in stochastic fracture modeling.     

储层岩石学特征对成岩作用及孔隙发育的影响——以鄂尔多斯盆地陇东地区三叠系延长组为例

利用岩石普通薄片、铸体薄片、阴极发光薄片及孔渗数据,分析了鄂尔多斯盆地陇东地区三叠系延长组储层岩石学特征对成岩作用和孔隙发育的影响。结果表明,岩屑类型及含量、云母类矿物含量及碎屑颗粒粒度对成岩作用影响最大。大量泥岩、千枚岩等塑性岩屑的存在降低了岩石的抗压强度,在埋藏过程中易被挤压变形,形成假杂基充填堵塞孔隙;碳酸盐岩、中酸性火山岩等易溶岩屑的存在则可增强岩石的可溶性,利于溶蚀孔隙的形成。云母类矿物在孔隙水的参与下水化析出钾离子造成碱性环境,降低了石英的稳定性,促进了石英的压溶与缝合线的形成;另一方面云母蚀变后析出的硅铝铁成分在石英与长石颗粒周围形成绿泥石膜胶结,在粒间孔隙中形成高岭石与含铁类矿物胶结,降低了孔隙度和渗透率。颗粒粒度主要控制砂岩的抗压性和胶结强度。