Food Products In China Research Articles

Impact of Ramadan on Halal Food Marketing Strategies in the Chinese Market: A Data Analytics Approach

This study investigates the integration of halal food into Chinese multinational culture amid the Coronavirus epidemic. Applying a thorough data analytics procedure, the research focuses on the evolving e-commerce landscape within China. The adaptation under scrutiny includes a wide range of sociocultural transformations, including linguistic proficiency, social norms, dietary preferences, and e-commerce consumption habits from various cultural domains. A data-driven marketing strategy's analytical structure, supported by an updated Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning (STP) model, carefully examines product differentiation criteria. Furthermore, the investigation includes the implementation of a prediction model that uses complex algorithms to estimate market trends and consumer preferences. The term "halal" comes from Arabic and refers to food that is considered permissible for consumption excluding porcine products, carrion, blood, and alcohol. Halal cuisine, which adheres to Islamic dietary regulations, is critical to Muslims' religious devotion around the globe. Halal dietary habits are integrated into Chinese cuisine through major e-commerce platforms. This study utilizes a data-analytics marketing model to analyze transactional data from Taobao.com and Tmall.com, aiming to understand purchasing patterns of halal food products in China. The analysis highlights significant seasonal fluctuations, particularly during major festivals such as Ramadan, Chinese New Year, and Eid, which heavily influence sales.

Prevalence and genomic characterization of the Bacillus cereus group strains contamination in food products in Southern China

The Bacillus cereus group, as one of the important opportunistic foodborne pathogens, is considered a risk to public health due to foodborne diseases and an important cause of economic losses to food industries. This study aimed to gain essential information on the prevalence, phenotype, and genotype of B. cereus group strains isolated from various food products in China. A total of 890 strains of B. cereus group bacteria from 1181 food samples from 2020 to 2023 were identified using the standardized detection method. These strains were found to be prevalent in various food types, with the highest contamination rates observed in cereal flour (55.8 %) and wheat/rice noodles (45.7 %). The tested strains exhibited high resistance rates against penicillin (98.5 %) and ampicillin (98.9 %). Strains isolated from cereal flour had the highest rate of meropenem resistance (7.8 %), while strains from sausages were most resistant to vancomycin (16.8 %). A total of 234 out of the 891 B. cereus group strains were randomly selected for WGS analysis, 18.4 % of which displayed multidrug resistance. The species identification by WGS analysis revealed the presence of 10 distinct species within the B. cereus group, with B. cereus species being the most prevalent. The highest level of species diversity was observed in sausages. Notably, B. anthracis strains lacking the anthrax toxin genes were detected in flour-based food products and sausages. A total of 20 antibiotic resistance genes have been identified, with β-lactam resistance genes (bla1, bla2, BcI, BcII, and blaTEM-116) being the most common. The B. tropicus strains exhibit the highest average number of virulence genes (23.4). The diarrheal virulence genes nheABC, hblACD, and cytK were found in numerous strains. Only 4 of the 234 (1.7 %) sequenced strains contain the ces gene cluster linked to emetic symptoms. These data offer valuable insights for public health policymakers on addressing foodborne B. cereus group infections and ensuring food safety.

Low prevalence of mcr-1 in Escherichia coli from food-producing animals and food products in China

Backgroundmcr-1-positive Escherichia coli has emerged as a significant threat to human health, veterinary health, and food safety in recent years. After the prohibition of colistin as a feed additive in animal husbandry in China, a noticeable reduction in both colistin resistance and the prevalence of mcr-1 was observed in E. coli from animals and humans.ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of the colistin resistance gene mcr-1 and characterize its genetic context in E. coli strains derived from fecal and meat samples from food-producing animals in China.MethodsA total of 1,353 fecal samples and 836 food samples were collected between 2019 and 2020 in China. E. coli isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and their susceptibility to colistin were determined using the broth microdilution method. The colistin-resistant E. coli isolates were screened for the presence of mcr by PCR analysis and sequencing. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 15 antimicrobial agents against the mcr-1-positive strains were further tested using the agar dilution method, conjugation assays were performed, and whole genome sequencing was performed using Illumina HiSeq.ResultsIn total, 1,403 E. coli strains were isolated. Thirteen isolates from chicken meat (n = 7), chickens (n = 3), and pigs (n = 3) were resistant to colistin with MIC values of 4 to 16 mg/L, and carried mcr-1. All mcr-1-positive strains, except for isolate AH20PE105, contained multiple resistance genes and exhibited multidrug-resistant phenotypes. They belonged to 10 sequence types (STs), including a novel ST (ST14521). mcr-1 was located on IncI2 (n = 9), IncX4 (n = 2), and IncHI2 (n = 2) plasmids, which were highly similar to other mcr-1-carrying plasmids sharing the same incompatibility type. Seven mcr-1-carrying plasmids could be successfully conjugally transferred to E. coli C600.ConclusionsWhile the low prevalence of mcr-1 (0.93%) identified in this study may not immediately seem alarming, the very emergence of this gene merits attention given its implications for colistin resistance and public health. Hence, ongoing surveillance of mcr-1 in E. coli remains crucial.

Contamination of Plant Foods with Bacillus cereus in a Province and Analysis of Its Traceability.

Bacillus cereus is an important zoonotic foodborne conditional pathogen. It is found in vegetables, dairy products, rice, and other foods, thereby greatly endangering human health. Investigations on B. cereus contamination in China primarily focus on raw milk, dairy products, meat, and others, and limited research has been conducted on plant-based foodstuffs. The rapid development of sequencing technology and the application of bioinformatics-related techniques means that analysis based on whole-genome sequencing has become an important tool for the molecular-epidemiology investigation of B. cereus. In this study, we investigated the contamination of B. cereus in six types of commercially available plant foods from eight regions of a province. The molecular epidemiology of the isolated B. cereus was analyzed by whole-genome sequencing. We aimed to provide fundamental data for the surveillance and epidemiology analysis of B. cereus in food products in China. The rapid traceability system of B. cereus established in this study can provide a basis for rapid molecular epidemiology analysis of B. cereus, as well as for the prevention and surveillance of B. cereus. Moreover, it can also be expanded to monitoring and rapid tracing of more foodborne pathogens.

Chromosomally and Plasmid-Located mcr in Salmonella from Animals and Food Products in China.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genomic characteristics of the colistin resistance gene mcr in Salmonella enterica in China. In total, 445 S. enterica isolates from animals and food products were screened through PCR and sequencing for the presence of mcr. The mcr genes were detected in nine Salmonella strains (2.02%), with complete mcr-1 in S. enterica serovar Indiana (n = 1) and an S. Typhimurium monophasic variant (S. 4,[5],12:i:-; n = 1), mcr-4.3 in S. enterica serovar London (n = 1), and an incomplete mcr-1 in S. Indiana (n = 6). They exhibited MIC values of 0.25 to 8 mg/L to colistin and showed resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on mcr-positive Salmonella strains using Illumina HiSeq or PacBio single-molecule real-time sequencing. The complete mcr-1 gene was located on conjugative IncN1-IncHI2 plasmid and IncX4 plasmid, respectively, with high similarity to other mcr-1-bearing plasmids belonging to the same incompatibility type. Together with an additional 13 antimicrobial resistance genes, the incomplete mcr-1 was embedded in an 81,442-bp multiresistance region on the chromosome in S. Indiana YZ20MCS6. The Δmcr-1-pap2 segment and a set of tellurite resistance determinants (terYXWZABCDEF) in six S. Indiana strains were similar to other IncHI2 plasmid backbones. The mcr-4.3 gene was located on an untyped plasmid pYULZMPS10. Although low prevalence of mcr was observed in Salmonella, continuous surveillance of this gene in Salmonella is required. Plasmids play an important role in mcr transmission, and mcr-1, although incomplete, can be captured by chromosomes with the help of mobile elements. IMPORTANCE Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic for severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogens. Colistin resistance genes mcr, particularly mcr-1, have been found in Enterobacteriaceae around the world, mainly in Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Salmonella enterica is a major foodborne pathogen, with MDR Salmonella being considered a "Serious Threat Level pathogen" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Therefore, the prevalence of mcr in Salmonella strains must be monitored. In this study, a low mcr prevalence (2.02%) was observed in Salmonella strains from animals and food products, with plasmid-borne mcr-1 in S. enterica serovar Indiana and an S. Typhimurium monophasic variant (S. 4,[5],12:i:-) and chromosomally located mcr-1 in S. Indiana. The mcr-4.3 gene was first identified in S. enterica serovar London associated with an untyped plasmid. Although this study reports a low mcr prevalence in Salmonella, the transmission ability of mcr-positive Salmonella strains to humans via the food chain is a public health concern.

Hey, did you see that label? It's sustainable!: Understanding the role of sustainable labelling in shaping sustainable purchase behaviour for sustainable development

AbstractConsumers, nowadays, are becoming mindful of environmental issues than ever. The rising concerns for the adverse effects of consumption on environmental sustainability are leading to transformation in consumer behaviour. Consumers need relevant sustainability information about the products to shape sustainable purchase behaviours. On this note, marketers and organizations are increasingly using labels and logos for integrating sustainability evidence in their product offerings. This research integrates the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) with environmental concern, consumer effectiveness, consumer innovativeness and sustainable label awareness to determine how these affect the sustainable purchase behaviour for food products in China. The findings of structural equation modelling using data gathered from 273 consumers indicate all the constructs as significant, with consumer innovativeness having a negative and significant association. The present research expects to contribute to advancement in the literature on TPB and sustainable labelling by presenting a comprehensive and distinct model. Given the importance of the factors highlighted in the current research, marketers can design appropriate strategies by leveraging these determinants. The outcomes imply that marketers and policymakers need to make the consumers aware of sustainable labels and their favourable effects on the environment to promote sustainable consumer behaviour.

Changes in China's Food Self-Sufficiency Rate in the Context of a Changing Dietary Structure

This paper explores the impacts of the evolution of the dietary structure of the population on national food security using the food self-sufficiency rate under various statistical dimensions and simulate various food security scenarios for China in the medium- and long-term future. This study indicates that China’s rapid economic and social development and the continuous improvement in people’s living standards appears to be declining in the food self-sufficiency rate. The analysis regarding the factors influencing the food self-sufficiency rate revealed that the improved dietary structure, involving an increase in animal-based food product consumption, has led to a decrease in China’s food self-sufficiency rate. It concludes that the dietary structure is likely to continue to move toward increased consumption of animal-based food products in China for the future. The research results will assist decision-makers in formulating scientific food self-sufficiency rate targets and food security strategies

Consumer acceptance of gene-edited food products in China

Biotechnology use in food production has been a polarizing topic that has encountered resistance from some consumers. The discovery of genome editing biotechnology, in which no foreign genetic material is introduced into the host organism while making accurate and efficient changes in genomes, has the potential to revolutionize food biotechnology in a more socially acceptable and less polarizing fashion. The success and adoption of gene-edited foods, however, ultimately depends on consumer acceptance. This study reports the results of a geographically disperse Chinese consumer acceptance study (n = 835) in which individuals evaluated rice and pork products that were bio-engineered to address two significant hazards that have recently garnered international attention: cadmium contamination in rice and African swine fever. We explore the role that food technology neophobia has on consumer acceptance and assess how information on the differences between transgenic and gene editing technologies affects consumer preferences. While averse to the use of biotechnology in food products, consumers were considerably more accepting of products that have undergone genome editing rather than transgenic modification. We find differential impacts of information provision on preferences between pork and rice products and on preferences for product provenance. Our analysis indicates that a reduction in consumers’ fear of novel food technologies can substantially increase consumer valuation and market acceptance of bioengineered food products and reinforces the need to consider attitudes in measuring acceptance of novel food products.

Genotyping, Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Biofilm Formation of Bacillus cereus Isolated from Powdered Food Products in China.

This study was conducted to reveal the genotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility, and biofilm formation of Bacillus cereus isolated from powdered food products in China. Five hundred powdered food samples were collected from five provinces in China: 100 samples each of powdered infant formula (PIF), soy milk powder (SMP), lotus root powder (LRP), walnut powder (WP), and rice flour (RF). The genotyping of isolates was analyzed using multilocus sequence typing; meanwhile, antimicrobial susceptibility, and ability of biofilms formation on stainless steel tube of isolates were evaluated. Forty-two B. cereus strains were detected with an overall contamination rate of 8.4%, as well as, the highest B. cereus contamination rate was found in SMP (10%), followed by LRP (9%), WP (9%), RF (8%), and PIF (6%). These isolates were divided into 22 sequence types (STs); among them, ST32 (4/42, 9.5%) was the predominant ST. Phylogenetic relationships showed that the 42 strains of B. cereus were divided into three groups (group I, group II, and group III). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated that all isolates were susceptible to tetracycline, gentamicin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol, while resistant to ampicillin, cefepime, oxacillin, and rifampin. The analysis of ability of biofilm formation on stainless steel tube showed optical density (OD)595 value of 66.7% of B. cereus isolates was greater than 1. The OD595 level of isolates belonging to group III was higher compared with the other two groups, and OD595 values of B. cereus HB1 and HN5 were greater than 2. These findings improved the understanding of the characteristics of B. cereus isolated from powdered food products in China, and provided a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of B. cereus in food industry.

Reduced Cd, Pb, and As accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by a combined amendment of calcium sulfate and ferric oxide.

A combined amendment (CF) consisting of 90% calcium sulfate (CaSO4) and 10% ferric oxide (Fe2O3) was used to investigate the feasibility, active principles, and possible mechanisms of the immobilization of heavy metals in paddy soil. A soil incubation experiment, two consecutive pot trials, and a field experiment were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and persistence of CF on metal(loid) immobilization. Soil incubation experiment results indicated that the application of CF significantly decreased the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in soil solution. CF treatments simultaneously reduced the accumulation of Cd, Pb, and As in two consecutive pot trials. The total Cd, Pb, and As concentrations in the rice grains were respectively 0.02, 2.08, and 0.62 mg kg-1 in the control treatment in the second year, which exceeded the safety limits of contaminants in food products in China. However, a high amount of CF amendment (CF-H, 0.3%) effectively decreased Cd, Pb, and As by 75.0%, 75.5%, and 46.8%, respectively. Further, with the CF amendment, the bioavailable Cd and Pb in the soil and the accumulation of Cd, Pb, and As in rice grain in the field experiment were also significantly decreased. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, and As in grains were respectively 0.02, 0.03, and 0.39 mg kg-1 in the control treatment in the field experiment, which decreased to 0.01, 0.01, and 0.22 mg kg-1 with CF addition, suggesting that grains produced in the field could pose less health risk. In conclusion, these results implied that CF was an effective and persistent combined amendment to immobilize heavy metals in soil and thereby can reduce the exposure risk of metal(loid)s associated with rice consumption.

Consumers’ valuation for food traceability in China: Does trust matter?

Food safety is a very important topic in China. We investigate Chinese consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for food traceability using a choice experiment. Given that consumers’ trust in the food system may affect their preferences and WTP, we also assess the interaction between consumers’ trust in government’s supervision of food safety and food labels and consumers’ preferences for traceable food products. Using data collected from a choice experiment on Fuji apples in a face-to-face survey in six Chinese cities, the results show that (i) consumers are willing to pay for traceable food but their valuations can differ upon the degree of their trust in government’s supervision of food safety and food labels; (ii) consumers are willing to pay for traceability with strong evidence of preference heterogeneity; (iii) government is not the most trusted safety inspection and certificate authority as found in prior studies using animal food products in China.

Insufficient awareness of celiac disease in China: population-based screening is needed.

Insufficient awareness of celiac disease in China: population-based screening is needed.

Introduction of New Food Products in China: Is There a Trend towards Healthier and Safer Products?

The Chinese society has undergone an important transformation in the last 20 years, withchanges in lifestyles due to increasing urbanization and rising income levels. The emergence ofmodern supermarkets, convenience stores, and hypermarkets has run alongside the changes inconsumers’ lifestyles, revolutionizing the Chinese food system and the nature of its food supply.Changes in food consumption patterns have also accompanied these shifts. One of thedistinguishing aspects of this modern food sector is the continuous introduction of new foods andbeverages to the market, and the communication of their associated attributes through labels, instoredisplays, and advertising. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether there have been anytrends towards the introduction of products with greater health, nutrition, and food safety attributesto help consumers attain healthier diets making trade-offs between purchase options. Results showthat there has been a rise in the number of new products in the Chinese food retail sector,particularly branded products introduced mainly by Chinese companies making food safety claims.It is clear, however, that the new food and drink products follow the consumption trendshighlighted in the literature, and, therefore, there are low chances that they will positively influencethe Chinese diet to an important degree, as they are mainly reinforcing the observed dietary trends.

Molecular Characterization of qnrVC Genes and Their Novel Alleles in Vibrio spp. Isolated from Food Products in China.

This study reports the prevalences of qnrVC genes in 74 ciprofloxacin-resistant Vibrio sp. isolates. Two novel functional qnrVC alleles, qnrVC8 and qnrVC9, sharing 98% and 99% nucleotide similarity with qnrVC6 and qnrVC7, respectively, were identified. Our findings suggested that carriage of qnrVC alleles, together with target mutations in gyrA and parC genes, may contribute to the development of fluoroquinolone resistance in Vibrio species, posing a serious threat to public health.

Marketing of Hawai’i Food Products in China

This study describes an integrated strategy for exploring niche markets and assessing consumers’ response to imported food products in China. Using a case study of Hawai’i food products, the analysis illustrates an approach to bundling various food items in order to increase their appeal to consumers. These products are presented to consumers in the form of gift baskets. Chinese consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay and purchase the gift baskets are evaluated using a contingent rating survey. The results indicate that bundling increases profits for each individual product, including the basket. Consumers are receptive to the idea of paying a price premium for quality imported food items with decorative presentation. Implications of the current research on other food items, particularly food product bundling are discussed.

Patterns and dietary intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in food products in China

The health risk of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) to human being should be assessed regularly. To evaluate the contamination levels in various food products in the Chinese market and to assess the dietary exposure of the Chinese population, 11 varieties of food groups totaling 634 samples including beef and mutton, chicken and duck, pork, fish and seafood, milk and dairy products were evaluated. The average concentrations of PCDD/Fs in all groups ranged from 0.291 to 8.468pg/g whole weight (w.w.). The average toxic equivalency concentrations were from 0.012pg TEQ/g w.w. for cereal to 0.367pg TEQ/g fat for marine oil. OCDD and 2,3,7,8-TCDF were the dominant congeners in foodstuffs. The dietary estimated mean intake for the Chinese rural and urban populations were 0.656 and 0.514pg TEQ/kg body weight/day, respectively, however, the cereal group exposure were higher to the estimate daily intake and contributed 81% for rural and 48% for urban population, followed by fish and seafood which contributed 4% and 16% to the estimate daily intake. The estimated dietary intakes were compared with the toxicological reference values and showed that both rural and urban populations were well below those values.

Research of Risk Control of GM Technology in Food Products Based on Model of Risk Amplification Effect in China: Case of 2013 GM Cyber-controversy

The GM technology in food products in China takes the leading position around the world, but the technology is hotly disputed by general public. This study uses risk amplification effect model and take “2013 GM Cyber-Controversy” in China as an example. The authors analyze the process how the risk on GM technology in China expanded. Then points out the liability subject of the process and the consequence of the risk amplification. Finally, the paper provides some valuable suggestions on risk control of GM foods based on the results of the analysis.

Opportunities for Western Food Products in China: The Case of Orange Juice Demand

ABSTRACTChina's ever increasing demand for agricultural products provides new opportunities for both domestic and foreign food companies. With Western‐style products becoming increasingly popular across China, more information is needed to better evaluate the future market opportunities of different juice products. In this regard, we investigate Chinese consumer perception, knowledge, and willingness‐to‐pay for different types of orange juice products. Results show that Chinese consumers have limited knowledge of juice products, especially for Western‐style juices. Although consumers are willing to pay more for products with higher juice content, 10% orange juice drink will probably continue to dominate the orange juice product market in China unless there is a significant drop in the price of 100% not from concentrate orange juice. Consumers with better knowledge of juice products, females, and those with higher income are more likely to be willing to pay more for 100% not from concentrate orange juice. [EconLit citations: C34, D12, M31].

Quantitative indirect ELISA for determination of walnut proteins in foods

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) capable of detecting walnut proteins in commercial products was developed. Polyclonal antibodies against soluble walnut protein were used. Specific epitopes of walnut protein were analyzed for cross activity with peanut, soybean, sesame, rice, wheat, jujube, and defatted milk protein. Epitopes of walnut proteins had no cross activity. The indirect ELISA was highly specific for soluble walnut proteins. Recovery values from walnut protein solutions ranged from 88.47 to 115%, and low coefficients of variation (<10%) indicated good repeatability. Intra and inter-assay precisions were <6 and <7 %, respectively. The limit of detection was 10 ng/mL of soluble walnut protein. The method was applied to detect some commercial food products in China and the results showed that indirect ELISA could be promisingly used to quantify adulteration of walnut processed foods.

Prevalence and Characterization of Monophasic Salmonella Serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- of Food Origin in China

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- is a monophasic variant of Salmonella Typhimurium, which has recently been recognized as an emerging cause of infection worldwide. This bacterium has also ranked among the four most frequent serovars causing human salmonellosis in China. However, there are no reports on its contamination in Chinese food. Serotyping, polymerase chain reaction, antibiotic resistance, virulotyping, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) assays were used to investigate the prevalence of this serological variant in food products in China, and to determine phenotypic and genotypic difference of monophasic isolates and Salmonella Typhimurium isolated over the same period. Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- was prevalent in various food sources, including beef, pork, chicken, and pigeon. The study also confirmed the high prevalence (53.8%) of resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline in Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:-, which was higher than that in Salmonella Typhimurium. Moreover, Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- isolates in our study were different from Salmonella Typhimurium isolates by the absence of three plasmid-borne genes (spvC, pefA, and rck) and the presence of gipA in all isolates. All Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- isolates demonstrated MLST pattern ST34. Genomic deletions within the fljBA operon and surrounding genes were only found in Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- isolates, with all isolates containing a deletion of fljB. However, hin and iroB were identified in all Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- isolates. Three different deletion profiles were observed and two of them were different from the reported Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- clones from Spain, America, and Italy, which provided some new evidence on the independent evolution of the multiple successful monophasic clones from Salmonella Typhimurium ancestors. This study is the first report of Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- in food products from China. The data are more comprehensive and representative, providing valuable information for epidemiological studies, risk management, and public health strategies.