Zein and zein -based nano-materials for food and nutrition applications: A review

BackgroundZein, a byproduct of corn with renewable resources, unique hydrophobic/hydrophilic character, film/fiber forming and antioxidant properties, is a promising biopolymer for food and nutrition applications. The advantages in properties and efficiencies of nano materials over bulk counterparts are the basis of their unique nature in novel technologies. These advantages also expand their possible applications.Scope and approachAn effort has been made to review on applications of zein/zein-based nano-materials in various branches of food (except food packaging) and nutrition sectors. The effects of various parameters affecting preparations and properties of the nano-materials are also discussed. Nano-encapsulation of foods and nutrients is the major section of this study.Key findings and conclusions(i) the average size of zein nanoparticles reported to be 50–200 nm; (ii) the functions of zein nanomaterials were multiples: a carrier of delivery (food, beverage, and nutrient) systems; a shell or a core of encapsulated systems; or a food ingredient; (iii) zein-based nano-materials have been used for encapsulation of food and nutrient components including lipids; essential oils; fat soluble vitamins; food colorants; flavors; and natural anti-oxidants; (iv) the bioavailability of food and nutrient components such as folic acid, vitamin D₃, curcumin, beta-carotene, and resveratrol was improved by employing the zein-nanoparticles in comparison with the bulk counterparts; and (v) bioactive substances with potential applications for food and nutrition sectors were stabilized by zein/zein-based nano-materials.     

Internet use and farm households food and nutrition security nexus: The case of rural Ghana

The impact of internet use on food and nutrition security of rural households in Ghana is investigated in this study. To offset the potential challenge of selection bias, an endogenous treatment regression (ETR) technique is utilized for the analysis.. The results reveal that Internet use can improve smallholder farmers’ food and nutrition security. Internet usage has a profound positive effect on the food security of households with off-farm work and larger size of landholding. Our results suggest the intensification of efforts to enhance Internet connectivity across the nation by the government and policymakers is essential since it can go a long way to affect household welfare. The findings also highlight the importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs), the Internet, patronization to improve rural household welfare.     

Searching for triangles: An extension to food & packaging

Two laboratory-based visual search experiments (Experiments 1 and 2) and an online survey (Experiment 3) were conducted in order to investigate the visual search for triangular foods. The results of Experiment 1 revealed that the visual search for a downward pointing triangular target was faster than when the same target pointed upward, regardless of whether the stimuli were simple geometric figures or photos of food. Experiment 2 replicated these results using images of both food and non-food packaging. Experiment 3 revealed that the same triangular stimuli were generally rated as less pleasant, less liked, and less familiar when they pointed downward than when they pointed upward. Taken together, these results therefore suggest that the cognitive processing of food images is influenced by incidental aspects of their visual appearance, and that such a pattern of results can also be extended to the case of food packaging.     

Relative contributions of nearshore and wetland habitats to coastal food webs in the Great Lakes

Hydrologic linkages among coastal wetland and nearshore areas allow coastal fish to move among the habitats, which has led to a variety of habitat use patterns. We determined nutritional support of coastal fishes from 12 wetland-nearshore habitat pairs using stable isotope analyses, which revealed differences among species and systems in multi-habitat use. Substantial (proportions?>?0.30) nutrition often came from the habitat other than that in which fish were captured. Nearshore subsidies to coastal wetlands indicate wetlands are not exclusively exporters of energy and materials; rather, there is reciprocity in the mutual energetic support of nearshore and wetland food webs. Coastal wetland hydrogeomorphology influenced the amount of multi-habitat use by coastal fishes. Fishes from systems with relatively open interfaces between wetland and nearshore habitats exhibited less nutritional reliance on the habitat in which they were captured, and higher use of resources from the adjacent habitat. Comparisons of stable isotope analyses of nutrition with otolith analyses of occupancy indicated nutritional sources often corresponded with habitat occupancy; however, disparities among place of capture, otolith analyses, and nutritional analyses indicated differences in the types of support those analyses inform. Disparities between occupancy information and nutritional information can stem from movements for support functions other than foraging. Together, occupancy information from otolith microchemistry and nutritional information from stable isotope analyses provide complementary measures of the use of multiple habitats by mobile consumers. This work underscores the importance of protecting or restoring a diversity of coastal habitats and the hydrologic linkages among them.     

Food satisfaction: Integrating feelings before,during and after food intake

Consumers’ satisfaction is important for the food industry to ensure product success. Determinants to food satisfaction are multifactorial and a method approaching the multiple determinants would provide a detailed picture of determinant behind consumers’ hedonic food appreciation.The aims of this study were (1) to develop a method that could give detailed information about sensory- and food satisfaction (2) to study differences in sensory satisfaction in a case study, and (3) to study the factors related to food satisfaction. Focus group interviews and a literature study provided an overview of factors with potential to affect food satisfaction. A total of four questionnaires, covering factors before-, during- and after intake as well as demographics, were developed to measure factors related to satisfaction. The questionnaires were utilised in a cross-over consumer study with 79 subjects consuming two sensory different variants of chicken soup. Soups were sensory evaluated utilising expert statements. The consumer study showed that sensory satisfaction was highly influenced by liking of taste and appearance, whereas liking of odour and texture influenced sensory satisfaction moderately. Food satisfaction was influenced by factors measured during- and post intake; sensory satisfaction, fulfilment of expectations, reason for ending intake, product performance relative to expectations, hunger and fullness after intake were found highly influential in food satisfaction. Pre-intake factors did not substantially influence food satisfaction. Though the use of multiple variables gave a detailed picture of factors involved in food satisfaction, there was still variation in food satisfaction that remained unaccounted.     

含有植物纤维或玉米淀粉的食品接触产品质量安全风险研究

研究市售的含有植物纤维或玉米淀粉的食品接触产品质量状况并对其安全性进行初步评价。参考标准要求并结合可能存在的质量安全隐患,从傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)材质分析、总迁移量、重金属(以Pb计)、脱色试验、五氯苯酚特定迁移量及砷、镉、铬、铅含量等维度对含有植物纤维或玉米淀粉的食品接触产品进行研究。35批次样品中有2批次塑料主体材质为密胺,2批次塑料主体材质为聚乳酸,31批次塑料主体材质均为聚丙烯;35批次样品的重金属(以Pb计)、脱色试验、五氯苯酚特定迁移量等项目均符合所参照标准的要求;35批次样品均检出至少含2种重金属,有4批次一次性淀粉餐具总迁移量超标。从检验结果可知,市面上销售的含有植物纤维或玉米淀粉的食品接触产品存在总迁移量超标及样品含重金属的情况,说明市场上该类产品确实存在一定的潜在风险。     

Re-understanding the antecedents of functional foods purchase: Mediating effect of purchase attitude and moderating effect of food neophobia

The world market for functional foods has grown dynamically and China is expected to be one of the most promising markets. But little is understood the formation mechanisms of consumers’ purchase attitude and intention toward functional foods in Mainland China. The current study investigates the roles of trust, health consciousness and price in shaping consumers’ purchase intention toward functional foods by focusing on purchase attitude as a mediator and food neophobia as a moderator. Results from the sample of 1144 Chinese suggest that Chinese consumers had moderate purchase intention toward functional foods. Trust in the food system and health consciousness positively affects purchase intention via purchase attitude. Price negatively affects purchase intention; meanwhile, the negative effect could be counteracted by health consciousness. Food neophobia does not directly affect individuals’ purchase attitude or intention, but moderates the relationships between antecedents and them. Consumers with a low level of food neophobia treat higher price as a monetary sacrifice, while their counterparts may regard a higher price as a greater quality signal. The study offers the food industry insights into the development and marketing of functional foods targeted to the Mainland China market.     

The role of sour and bitter perception in liking,familiarity and choice for phenol-rich plant-based foods

Among factors influencing food preferences and choices, individual differences in taste perception play a key role in defining eating behaviour. In particular, sour and bitter responsiveness could be associated with the acceptance and the consumption of phenol-rich plant-based foods recommended for a healthy diet. The aim of this study was to investigate, in a large population sample, the associations among sour and bitter responsiveness and liking, familiarity and choice for plant-based foods characterized by these target tastes. Adults aged 18 to 60 years (n = 1198; 58% women) were tested for their sour and bitter responsiveness both in water solutions and in food models (pear juice-based beverages modified in citric acid content to induce different levels of sourness: 0.5, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 g/kg; chocolate pudding samples modified in sucrose content to induce different levels of bitterness: 38, 83, 119, 233 g/kg). Familiarity, stated liking and choice for fruit juices and vegetables varying for sour/bitter taste (high in bitter/sour taste: e.g. grapefruit juice and cauliflower; low in bitter/sour taste: e.g. zucchini and pineapple juice) were measured. Results showed a significant positive correlation between bitter and sour taste perception in water solutions and model foods, as well as a positive correlation between the perceived intensity of the two taste stimuli. Subjects characterized by high responsiveness to the two target stimuli were found to give lower liking scores to foods characterized by sour/bitter tastes and tended to choose less sour/bitter foods compared to less responsive subjects.Thus, food choice for phenol rich plant-based products could be associated with a reduced responsiveness to bitter and sour tastes and a consequent higher acceptance of food products characterized by these taste qualities.     

一起误食光硬皮马勃中毒事件调查

目的 对2019年9月4日发生在云南省楚雄彝族自治州的一起误食光硬皮马勃中毒事件进行调查分析,明确中毒原因,总结中毒特点及救治方法,为该蘑菇中毒事件的处置提供借鉴。方法 收集中毒病例资料、进行流行病学调查、对蘑菇样品进行形态学和分子生物学鉴定。结果 2例患者各进食了约50 g购买于市场的马勃后,出现了腹痛、恶心、呕吐、腹泻及低血压的症状,潜伏期0.5～1 h,经过对症治疗后好转出院。蘑菇标本经形态学和分子生物学鉴定为光硬皮马勃。结论 此次事件是因误食光硬皮马勃引起的急性中毒事件。光硬皮马勃与可食用的云南硬皮马勃外形相似,常因误食而中毒。鉴于很多毒蘑菇与一些食用菌形态上极为相似而导致误采误食,建议不要随意采食野生蘑菇。