Consumption In Chile Research Articles

Cheers to anxiety: Granger causality insights on alcohol consumption patterns across 13 South American countries.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and mental health is complex; drinking may exacerbate anxiety, and in turn, anxiety can lead to excessive drinking. This study explores the relationship betweenalcoholconsumption patterns including wine, beer, and spirits,and anxiety prevalence in selected 13 South American nations. This study utilises secondary data spanning 29years from 1991 to 2019 obtained from the Our World in Data database. It investigates the causal link between the prevalence of anxiety and alcohol consumption in the selected countries using the Granger causality test. Anxiety was found to have a unidirectional effect on wine and beer consumption in Chile, Suriname, Uruguay, and Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, drinking alcohol consumption appears to impact anxiety levels in Brazil. Argentina demonstrates a bidirectional relationshipbetween anxiety and all three types of alcohol consumption, with similar patterns observed in Brazil (wine and beer), Chile (spirits), and Paraguay (spirits). No significant causal relationships for alcohol consumption patterns were found in other nations. The identified Granger causal links follow four distinct directions in this study. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, governments, and international investors for informed decision-making regarding regulation and policy tools.

Does a higher cultural supply raise cultural consumption? The association between individual and city traits and cultural consumption in Chile

While cultural economics and urban economics literatures have well established that more able individuals tend to prefer mostly cities with a high level of cultural amenities and schooling is one of the main individual determinants of the cultural consumption, there is no empirical evidence on whether cities specialized in culture boost cultural consumption of their residents. This research takes a step back compared to most studies and directly tests whether—controlling for individual characteristics—the higher the city cultural supply, the higher the probability of consuming cultural goods. Using data for 2017 from Chile and an instrumental variable approach, the results suggest that cities’ cultural employment shape workers’ decisions to consume cultural goods. A positive impact of city cultural supply on cultural consumption is found for both aggregated and disaggregated cultural goods, a robust result even under weaker exclusion restrictions of the instrument.

Mycotoxin Exposure in Children through Breakfast Cereal Consumption in Chile.

Mycotoxins are unavoidable contaminants produced by fungi in food, especially grains. This study aimed to measure the occurrence and levels of total aflatoxins (AFs); ochratoxin A (OTA); zearalenone (ZEN); fumonisins B1, B2, and B3 (FUM); deoxynivalenol (DON); and T-2/HT-2 toxins in the four most commonly consumed breakfast cereals in Chile and to assess mycotoxin exposure and risk in children aged 2 to 13 years due to cereal consumption. In this study, a total of 110 batches with three subsamples of the four brands were sampled in supermarkets from November 2019 to June 2021. Samples were analyzed by Veratox® ELISA (Neogen). Exposure was assessed by estimated daily intake (EDI) considering the levels found in a modified lower bound (mLB) and upper bound (UB). Risk was estimated by margin of exposure (MOE) in the case of OTA and AFs and hazard quotient (HQ) for the rest of the mycotoxins. No T2/HT2 toxins were detected. Few samples had quantifiable levels of ZEN, FUM, and DON except for brand 1, with a mean (standard deviation, SD) of 54 (20), 1552 (351), and 706 (218) ng/g, respectively. In addition, three FUM samples and one DON sample had values over the Chilean regulation. Brands 2, 3, and 4 had quantifiable levels of AFs, with mean (SD) values of 1.3 (0.1), 2.1 (0.6), and 1.9 (0.4) ng/g, respectively. Brand 3 had quantifiable levels of OTA, with a mean (SD) of 2.3 (0.4) ng/g. Estimated exposure indicated a risk of AFs in all scenarios, and of FUM for brand 1 consumption, OTA and DON for brand 3 consumption, and OTA for brand 4 consumption in the mLB worst-case scenario. In general, mycotoxin levels were below the Chilean regulatory limits, but most of them were above the EU regulation for processed cereal-based food in young children. Because the risk was higher in the 2- to 5-year-old children, we recommend special regulations for this group in Chile.

Prevalence and molecular identification of zoonotic Anisakis and Pseudoterranova species in fish destined to human consumption in Chile

Zoonotic larvae of the family Anisakidae found in several fish species represent a serious risk in public health since they may cause food-borne anisakidosis in humans. Chile has culinary preferences including eating raw fish in many traditional preparations. In the present study, a total of 180 fish specimens representing three different fish species, i.e., Chilean hake (Merluccius gayi), snoek (Thyrsites atun), and sea bream (Brama australis), were caught at central coast of Chile. Parasitological examination was performed on musculature and abdominal cavity for subsequent extraction and quantification of anisakid larvae. Estimation of infection parameters, such as prevalence, was performed indicating 100% (CI: 0.94–1.0) prevalence of anisakid L3 in Chilean hakes and snoeks. Moreover, sea breams reached a prevalence of 35% (CI: 0.23–0.48). Prevalence of anisakid larvae in muscle was also analyzed showing values of 18.6% (CI: 0.097–0.309) in Chilean hakes, 15% (CI: 0.07–0.26) in snoeks, and 1.7% (CI: 0–0.089) in sea breams. Meanwhile, prevalence of anisakid larvae in internal organs showed highest values for peritoneum (100% and 83.3%) for snoeks and Chilean hakes, respectively, for liver (96.7%) and gonads (86.6%) in Chilean hakes, and for intestine (98.3%) in snoeks. Molecular analysis of collected anisakid L3 unveiled presence of two potentially zoonotic nematode species, i.e., Pseudoterranova cattani and Anisakis pegreffii. P. cattani was found in Chilean hakes and snoeks being the first molecular host species report for Chilean snoeks. Besides, A. pegreffii was also identified in these species being the first molecular report on this regard. These findings are relevant for better understanding of epidemiology of anisakiasis in Chilean coasts and for public health issues considering potential risk of human population due to its culinary preferences in eating raw fish.

Cytotaxonomic characterization of cultivars and accessions of Lens culinaris Medik. (Fabaceae) from Chile and Canada

The lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae), and it possesses benefits at nutritional, sustainable, and crop rotation system levels. Its occurrence and consumption in Chile originated from imports from Canada, but molecular tools now group Canadian lentils apart from those of the Mediterranean agro-ecological zones in Chile. Isoenzyme studies have shown a narrow genetic distance between different strains of Chilean germplasm. This present work characterizes Chilean cultivars and regional accessions and compares them with those in Canada using the cytotaxonomic tools of chromosome formula, chromosomal asymmetry index, total chromosome length (TLC), and a detailed architectural examination of each chromosome. We found chromosome stability among all lentils as 4m+3sm. Results showed a low TLC but higher inter-chromosomal asymmetry in the accessions from Hualqui (Biobio Region) (CVCL= 31.25), a unique secondary constriction from Yumbel (Nuble Region), and a higher TLC in Collanco (Biobio Region). Even though there was no evident karyotypic separation between Chilean and Canadian lentils, there was greater heterogeneity in TLC among cultivars in Chile than among those from Canada. It is unknown what physiological differences these cytological variants might possess. Because L. culinaris in Chile is of agronomic importance, studies of conservation are recommended to safeguard cytotaxonomic races as a national genetic resource.

Blueberry consumption and healthy lifestyles in an emerging market

Aim of study: This study focuses on the preference for and consumption habits of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in an emerging market. The objective is to analyze the determinants of blueberry consumption in Chile and evaluate to what extent traditional factors, such as income and price, are more determinant than other attitudinal factors and lifestyles.Area of study: The Biobío Region (Chillán City), the second most important region in Chile.Material and methods: A face-to-face survey is applied to a random stratified sample. The survey collected information on adoption of healthy lifestyles, knowledge of blueberries as a natural functional food, some sociodemographic characteristics, and traditional economic factors. A Heckman model is estimated by the Maximum Likelihood.Main results: Results suggest that higher blueberry consumption is positively associated with the adoption of healthy lifestyles, a higher self-perception of healthy habits, and the recognition of blueberries as a natural functional food. The nutritional status reflected that people with a lower body mass index consume fewer blueberries. Finally, traditional factors, such as income and price, are showed to be more influential on blueberry consumption than attitudinal and lifestyle factors.Research highlights: Chilean consumers perceive blueberries as a healthy product, which can contribute to adopt healthier lifestyles. Domestic markets should be supplied with higher quality product taking into account that the demand is price inelastic. Branding and packaging with functional claims could be an efficient strategy to increase domestic consumption.

The association between flavor capsule cigarette use and sociodemographic variables: Evidence from Chile.

PurposeThe objective of this article is to examine the factors associated with smoking of flavor capsule cigarettes in Chile, where the popularity of these products has increased dramatically, a trend increasingly observed across the world.MethodsA representative poll of 851 smokers in Metropolitan Santiago de Chile, which comprises 40% of the country's total population, was implemented in mid-2017. Smokers were given a questionnaire that collected socio-demographic information and information on smoking patterns. Four discrete-choice models were estimated on the decision to smoke flavor capsule cigarettes to better understand the statistical relationships between traits of smokers and the consumption of flavor capsule cigarettes.ResultsThe results of these models show that each year less in a smoker’s age increases the likelihood of preferring flavor capsule cigarettes by, on average, between 0.8 and 0.9 percentage points. If the smoker is a woman, the likelihood of preferring flavor capsule cigarettes increases between 13.4 and 13.5 percentage points. Results also reveal a positive relationship between the price paid and the consumption of flavor capsule cigarettes, indicating that these cigarettes tend to be more expensive. There is no statistical relationship between participation in the labor market and smoking these products.ConclusionsChile has the world’s highest prevalence of flavor capsule cigarette smoking, which is concentrated among young people (25 years and younger) and females. No relationship between socioeconomic status and use of these products is found, though there are indications that such relationship may exist, as they were at the time of study 14% more expensive, on average, than conventional non-flavored cigarettes. As in most countries, the tobacco industry appears to be deliberately promoting these products with the goal of halting or slowing the decline in cigarette consumption in Chile. Thus, to reduce cigarette consumption (especially among youth), restricting or forbidding cigarette flavorings of all types, including flavor capsules, would be an effective strategy.

Consumer confidence and consumption: empirical evidence from Chile

ABSTRACTThis paper examines whether consumer confidence forecasts future consumption in Chile. The results show that consumer confidence indicators are positively related to later consumption growth, suggesting that consumption increases after periods of high consumer confidence. This result contradicts the theoretical predictions of consumption expenditures (for instance, the Precautionary Saving Hypothesis). Furthermore, the results show that consumer confidence measures can be good predictors of consumption, even after controlling for the information contained in other economic fundamentals. This evidence suggests that consumer confidence in Chile also reflect a component of consumer sentiment that is unrelated to macroeconomic conditions. Finally, additional results show that predictive models that include consumer confidence produce more accurate predictions for positive, rather than for negative, changes in consumption over the next month.

Comparative study of fatty acid profiles in the muscular tissue (Longissimus dorsis ) of bovines from Chile, Paraguay and Brazil

Abstract Per capita meat consumption in Chile is 89.1 kg per year in 2014, of which approximately 25 kg are beef. Some 50% of the beef consumed is imported as vacuum packaged meat from two species, Bos taurus, produced mainly in Chile, Argentina and Paraguay, and Bos indicus, which comes mainly from Brazil and Paraguay. The latter two countries account for the highest levels of beef imports in Chile. The objective of this investigation was to study and compare the fatty acid profiles of beef from Bos Taurus from Chile and Bos indicus from Paraguay and Brazil. Samples of vacuum packaged Longissimus dorsi muscle tissue were collected from private companies, two Chilean, three Paraguayan and two Brazilian. The fatty acid profiles were determined by GLC according to standardized regulations. There were differences in the fat profiles of the analyzed meats, mainly in the content of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Brazilian and Paraguayan beef had similar fat compositions, with higher saturated fat content and lower monounsaturated fat content than the Chilean beef. The saturated and monounsaturated fat contents in the Chilean beef were similar. All the analyzed beef samples had a low content of trans and polyunsaturated fats.

Economic development and residential water consumption in Chile

AbstractA better understanding of the relative importance of factors related to climate change and to changes associated with economic growth would serve to inform water policy and to focus scarce public resources on anticipated problems arising from distinct sources of changes in water demand. This article investigates the determinants of residential water consumption in Chile, a developing country that has seen noteworthy changes in incomes, household size, poverty rates and levels of urbanization, and which is projected to experience significant climatic but varied changes, depending on the region of the country. Panel data for 1998-2010 at the municipal level is used to analyze the sensitivity of residential water demand to climate and development-related factors. In the case of Chile, the effect on water consumption of these development-related changes is estimated to be several times that of the changes associated with climate projections for 50 to 80 years in the future.

The impact of prices on alcoholic beverage consumption in Chile.

Introduction and objectiveChile is among the countries with the highest alcohol consumption per capita in Latin America, but little has been done in the way of public policy and policy research to overcome this problem. The objective of the present study is to estimate demand elasticities (own-price, cross-price, expenditure and quality) for three groups of alcoholic beverages in Chile: spirits, wines, and beers.Data and methodsThe study uses data from the VII Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares (Family Budget Survey) 2011–2012 conducted by the National Institute of Statistics. Because of problems with the quality of the measurement units, hot-deck imputation method was used with the alcohol purchases that presented problems. To estimate the demand elasticities, the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) method proposed by Deaton was used. Quality decisions were estimated for each beverage separately using an equation proposed by Deaton in the three-step AIDS.ResultsThe estimated elasticities were more inelastic for spirits (-0.14, P<0.01), followed by wines (-0.77, P<0.01) and beers (-0.93, P<0.01). Spirits reported less sensitivity to changes in the total budget, while wines reported the most sensitivity to changes in the total budget (expenditure elasticity). Wines also reported the most sensitivity related to quality for changes in the total budget (0,20, meaning that a 10% increase in a household’s total expenditure increases the “quality” of purchased wines by 2%).ConclusionsOwn-price elasticities reported for spirits, wines and beers are consistently negative, and inelastic, in line with international evidence. Although own-price elasticities for spirits is more inelastic than found in most studies, its quality-elasticity is more positive and greater. This could be explained by the greater price dispersion of spirits, as well as spirits (and wine) being consumed more than beers in Chile. This in turn may be because consumers have the option of switching to cheaper, Chilean-produced spirits such as pisco and wines when prices rise. The existence of these relatively broad quality-elasticities points to the need for a change in the alcohol tax structure from the current ad-valorem tax to a specific tax that could reduce price dispersion and curb total consumption.

Effect of the insulation level on the thermal response of a PCM-modified envelope of a dwelling in Chile

Chile exhibits a continuous growth of energy demand, and for this reason energy saving approaches in the commercial, public, and residential sectors, which share 21% of the final energy consumption in Chile, have been encouraged. One of the solutions to increase energy savings in buildings and dwellings is to increase the thermal performance of their envelope. The use of phase change materials (PCMs) has gained attention during recent years, especially in northern climates, since they can be used to enhance the thermal inertia of light building materials. Usually, the thermal envelope of a dwelling in Chile is made of brick or wood together with light building materials such like fiber-cement, plasterboard, and thermal insulating materials as polystyrene foam. The experimental part of this work deals with the thermal characterization of an organic PCM (hexadecane), which has a relatively low phase transition temperature. The characterization involves the measurement of density, thermal conductivity, and heat capacity as a function of temperature, and the determination of phase change temperature and latent heat. The thermophysical properties were implemented in a set of thermal simulations of an actual project dwelling located in Santiago and Puerto Montt. The numerical results in terms of heat storage and temperature profiles in the envelope, and heating and cooling demands are shown for different insulation levels.

La opresión del género sobre las trayectorias de vida de mujeres alcohólicas

Los datos de Senda (2016) dan cuenta del incremento del consumo de alcoholen Chile en los últimos años; pese a lo anterior, la mayorí­a de la informaciónlevantada sobre el tema se ha realizado desde una perspectiva cuantitativa ysin enfoque de género. Por ello, la presente investigación aborda elementosprovenientes de la cultura heteronormativa, comunes a las trayectorias deconsumo de alcohol en mujeres alcohólicas, y cómo estos se manifiestande forma transversal en la vida de estas mujeres, independientemente desu nivel socioeconómico y de estudios. Es decir, desde el supuesto de queser mujer y alcohólica no tiene las mismas implicancias sociales que serhombre y alcohólico, en tanto que la opresión normativa del género –ycomo consecuencia el estigma– recae con mayor fuerza sobre las mujerespor contravenir el "deber ser" mujer. Esta investigación, desde un enfoquecualitativo y con el método biográfico, se propone explorar cómo dichoselementos se hacen presentes en sus relatos de vida.Palabras clave: cultura patriarcal, género, violencia, alcohol, estigma.

Socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol consumption in Chile and Finland

BackgroundReasons for socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol harm are not sufficiently understood. One explanation relates to differential exposure to alcohol by socioeconomic status (SES). The present study investigated socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol use in two countries with high alcohol consumption and alcohol harm. MethodsData from nationally representative surveys in 2009–2010 in Chile and in 2008–2011 in Finland were used. Surveys comprised 3477 participants in Chile and 9994 in Finland aged 30–64 years. Outcome measures included abstinence, weekly consumption of pure alcohol, heavy volume drinking and heavy episodic drinking (HED). We employed a novel method in alcohol research, the concentration index, to measure socioeconomic inequalities. ResultsAlcohol abstinence showed a strong association with lower SES in Chile and Finland. These were largely driven by inequalities among women in Chile and older subgroups in Finland. In both countries, women aged 45–64 of higher SES showed higher weekly consumption of pure alcohol and heavy volume drinking. Heavy volume drinking among Chilean women aged 45–64 showed the highest inequality, favouring higher SES. HED was equally distributed among SES groups in Chile; in Finland HED disproportionally affected lower SES groups. ConclusionsLower SES was associated with higher abstinence rates in both countries and heavy episodic drinking in Finland. Heavy volume drinking was more prevalent in middle-aged women of high SES. The results identified groups for targeted interventions, including middle-aged higher SES women, who traditionally have not been specifically targeted. The concentration index could be a useful measure of inequalities in alcohol use.

Salmonella enterica: a review or the trilogy agent, host and environment and its importance in Chile

Salmonella enterica is a major foodborne pathogen worldwide, being the main cause of outbreaks by food consumption in Chile. Despite all efforts deployed for control and prevention, the high incidence in people still persists, with several factors that could be influencing the epidemiological behavior of this infection. The objective of this review is to identify these factors belonging to the biological agent, the human host and the environment, which probably have a greater importance in Chile. Thus, priority areas for research of S. enterica are inferred, which hopefully will help to understand its spread in nature and its success as a wide host range pathogen. In the future, increased understanding of these determinants will facilitate the implementation of biosecurity and surveillance strategies for the prevention of disease in people and animals.

Beyond the “deficit discourse”: Mapping ethical consumption discourses in Chile and Brazil

This article challenges the longstanding trend of much empirical material on ethical consumption originating from the global North, offering instead rich data on ethical consumption and practices in Chile and Brazil. Drawing on data generated from 32 in-depth focus groups (179 participants in total) in both countries, the article identifies similarities and differences between these two countries and with the global North. We identify how ethical consumption in Chile and Brazil is conceptualized mainly at two different scales, namely first, the everyday ethics of consumption at household scale and, second, a more global scale of discourse on environmental problems and the negative effects of globalisation. At the household scale, narrative themes include those of prudence, of avoiding overconsumption, family health, and focus on quality. At a more national and international scale, respondents from all classes in both countries discussed labour conditions associated with Chinese imports. Further, particularly university-educated and well-travelled respondents had adopted international environmentalist discourses. Employing a relational geography to discourses, the article calls for research to both include and transcend cross-country comparisons, and binaries of global North and South.

Site selection for microalgae farming on an industrial scale in Chile

Scientific research and commercial projects into the use of microalgae as a source of energy have increased markedly over the last decade. The economic feasibility and overall sustainability of operations based on farming of microalgae on an industrial scale will largely depend on their geographic location. Criteria concerning selection of sites from which diverse local resources can be optimized have to be also considered. The present study leads the analysis of relevant factors (i.e. natural resources, road infrastructure, geographic characteristics and industrial activities which generate greenhouse gas emissions) that support proper decision-making process for selecting potential areas of large-scale microalgae farming in Chile. Based on an eight-step methodology, ten potential sites were identified as meeting all necessary requisites for the industry across the country. Sites cover 103,600ha, capable of producing an estimated volume of 1.5Mm3 per year of biodiesel, and replacing 17% of the annual diesel consumption in Chile.

Risk assessment of Listeria monocytogenes in poultry and beef

Purpose – A quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) was developed to estimate the probability of getting listeriosis as a consequence of chicken and beef consumption in Chile. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – As a first step a deterministic retail-to-home model was constructed for the Chilean susceptible population, including storage, cross-contamination and cooking. Next, two probabilistic models were developed, including variability and/or the uncertainty of some of the parameters. The probabilistic models were analyzed by Monte Carlo simulations with 100,000 iterations. Findings – Of the total susceptible population used in the model (2.81 million people), the deterministic model estimated 11 and two listeriosis cases because of beef and poultry consumption, respectively and the variability model estimated a mean of 322 and 7,546 cases for beef and poultry consumption, respectively. The uncertainty analysis showed large ranges, with realistic estimates made with an initial concentration of Listeria monocytogenes of 0.04-1 CFU/g and a dose-response parameter r ranging from 10-14 to 10-10. Research limitations/implications – The lack of information was the major limitation of the model, so the generation of it has to be a priority in Chile for developing less uncertain risk assessments in the future. Practical implications – Raw animal products can be the cause of listeriosis cases if they are not stored, cooked and/or handled properly. Consumer education seems to be an essential factor for disease prevention. Originality/value – This is the first QMRA made in Chile, and also the first study of listeriosis in non-processed meat.

Estimating the heterogeneous relationship between peer drinking and youth alcohol consumption in Chile using propensity score stratification.

When estimating the association between peer and youth alcohol consumption, it is critical to account for possible differential levels of response to peer socialization processes across youth, in addition to variability in individual, family, and social factors. Failure to account for intrinsic differences in youth’s response to peers may pose a threat of selection bias. To address this issue, we used a propensity score stratification method to examine whether the size of the association between peer and youth drinking is contingent upon differential predicted probabilities of associating with alcohol-consuming friends. Analyzing a Chilean youth sample (N = 914) of substance use, we found that youths are susceptible to the detrimental role of peer drinkers, but the harmful relationship with one’s own drinking behavior may be exacerbated among youth who already have a high probability of socializing with peers who drink. In other words, computing a single weighted-average estimate for peer drinking would have underestimated the detrimental role of peers, particularly among at-risk youths, and overestimated the role of drinking peers among youths who are less susceptible to peer socialization processes. Heterogeneous patterns in the association between peer and youth drinking may shed light on social policies that target at-risk youths.

Alcohol-Attributable Mortality and Years of Potential Life Lost in Chile in 2009

The aim of the study was to estimate mortality and years of potential life lost (YPLL) attributable to alcohol consumption in 2009 in Chile. The population considered for this study included those 15 years and over. Exposure to alcohol in the population was estimated by triangulating the records of alcohol per capita consumption in Chile with information from the Eighth National Study of Drugs in the General Population (2008). The effect of alcohol consumption on each cause of death (relative risk) was extracted from previously published meta-analyses. With this information we estimated the alcohol-attributable fraction (AAF) and deaths and YPLL due to alcohol consumption. The confidence intervals for the AAF were estimated with Monte Carlo sampling using the estimated variances of the exposure prevalence and relative effect. The estimated total number of deaths attributable to alcohol consumption was 8753 (95% CI: 6257, 11,584) corresponding to 9.8% (95% CI: 7.01%, 12.98%) of all deaths in Chile in 2009. The total estimated YPLL attributable to alcohol were 195,475 (95% CI: 164,287, 227,726), corresponding to 21.5% (95% CI: 18.1%, 25.0%) of total YPLL for that year in Chile. Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor and accounts for nearly one of ten deaths in Chile. These results may be used to guide the design of public health policies and evaluations.