International Food Research Articles

Body Weight Perceptions Among Youth From 6 Countries and Associations With Social Media Use: Findings From the International Food Policy Study

BackgroundBody dissatisfaction is associated with poor psychological and physical health, particularly among young people. However, limited data exist on body size perceptions across countries and factors associated with dissatisfaction. ObjectiveThis study examined dissatisfaction prevalence and associations with sociodemographics and social media use among youth in 6 countries. DesignRepeat cross-sectional national online surveys were conducted as part of the 2019 and 2020 International Food Policy Study Youth Survey. ParticipantsThe sample included 21 277 youth aged 10 to 17 years from Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Youth were recruited to complete the online survey through parents/guardians enrolled in the Nielsen Consumer Insights Global Panel and their partners’ panels. Main outcome measuresFigural drawing scales assessed self-perceived and ideal body images, with differences between scales representing body dissatisfaction. Statistical analyses performedMultinomial logistic regression models examined differences in body dissatisfaction by country, and associations with sociodemographics and either social media screen time or platforms used, including 2-way interactions with country. ResultsOverall, approximately 45% of youth reported the same perceived and ideal body sizes, whereas 35% were “larger than ideal” (from 33% in Canada and Australia to 42% in Chile) and 20% were “thinner than ideal” (from 15% in Chile to 22% in Mexico). Greater social media screen time was associated with a higher likelihood of moderate-severe dissatisfaction for being “thinner than ideal” and at least mild dissatisfaction for being “larger than ideal” (P < .003 for all contrasts), with greater dissatisfaction among users of YouTube and Snapchat than nonusers (P ≤ .005 for both contrasts). Modest differences in body dissatisfaction between countries were observed for age, ethnicity, body mass index, and weight-based teasing. ConclusionsBody dissatisfaction is prevalent among youth across diverse countries. These findings highlight the need to promote healthy body image in youth, particularly among social media users.

Examining the Role of Aguas Frescas in Assessment of Sugary-Drink Intake among Mexican and Mexican American Adults

BackgroundAguas frescas are Mexican drinks that are typically made with water, sugar, and fruit. Aguas frescas may be a significant component of sugary-drink intake among Mexican and Mexican-American (MA) adults. However, it is unclear whether survey respondents report aguas frescas consumption when it is not specifically queried in standardized beverage frequency instruments. ObjectivesThis study examined the prevalence of aguas frescas consumption, the sociodemographic correlates of aguas frescas intake, and how specifically querying aguas frescas intake affects sugary-drink estimates among Mexican and MA adults. MethodsCross-sectional, online surveys were conducted in 2021 with 5377 Mexican and 3073 MA adults as part of the International Food Policy Study. Past 7-d consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), sugary drinks, and aguas frescas were assessed along with relevant covariates. Weighted analyses included logistic and linear regression, including models with correlation structure. ResultsAn estimated 61.7% of Mexican and 28.7% of MA adults consumed aguas frescas. In Mexico, consumption was associated with females, low education, perceiving oneself as having about the right weight, being good to excellent health, and consuming an unhealthy amount of sugary drinks. For MAs, intake was associated with being younger, speaking Spanish, and perceiving oneself as being underweight or about the right weight. Among Mexican adults who consumed aguas frescas but did not report them unless specifically queried, the volume of SSB intake was 67.9% higher for females and 64.3% higher for males when aguas frescas were included. Among MAs, SSB intake was 56.9% higher for females and 44.1% higher for males. Most participants (79.9%–85.2%) remained in the same sugary-drink tertiles when including compared with excluding aguas frescas. ConclusionsAguas frescas should be queried during beverage intake assessments, as they contribute a nontrivial amount of added sugars to the diets of many Mexican and MA adults.

International migration, food insecurity, and mental health: A scoping review protocol.

Food insecurity is a global priority that has been found to negatively impact mental health, increasing the risk of mental disorders and severe mental illness. International migrants may face food insecurity throughout their migratory cycle due to a range of risk factors, such as poor transit conditions, precarious employment, financial pressure, discrimination, and lack of availability and access to culturally relevant food, among others. Although there are multiple reviews on migration, food insecurity, and health in general, no scoping review has been conducted on food insecurity among international migrants focusing on mental health. To investigate the available evidence on food insecurity and mental health among international migrants. A search of scientific literature in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese published since 2013 will be performed in the Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, APA PsycArticles, Cinahl, and ASSIA databases, including grey literature available in Google Scholar. Two authors will independently review titles, abstracts, and full texts before extracting data from publications complying with the eligibility criteria. Extracted data will be descriptively mapped according to emerging thematic categories. The review will contribute to identifying what is known about international migration, food insecurity, and mental health, gaps in the literature, opportunities for specific research subtopics, and how food insecurity and mental health can be linked in the existing literature.

Innovative decision support tools for perishable food supply chain management

PurposeWe introduce decision support tools aimed at optimizing perishable food supply chain management, effectively balancing conflicting objectives such as the exporter’s product collection cost and the importer’s profit. This involves considering factors like perishability, selling price, discount rate, and order quantity to achieve optimal outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThis study considered a three-echelon supply chain comprising farmers, a single exporter, and a single importer providing a single, random-lifetime, perishable product under deterministic customer demand. The proposed mathematical model derived the optimal order quantity, selling price, and discount rate for the entire supply chain. This integrated optimization model treats both demand and supply sides as a multi-objective problem, employing a nonlinear program and a two-stage capacitated vehicle routing problem formulation. Numerical examples and a case study focusing on Thailand durian supply chain were conducted to illustrate the approach of the proposed model.FindingsTaking into account both the importer’s profit and the exporter’s product collection cost, the proposed integrated supply chain model and tools maximize profitability, minimizes waste, and meets demand by optimizing perishable product collection costs and proposing a discount system for selling prices.Research limitations/implicationsLimited to a single perishable product in a three-echelon international food supply chain. Future research can explore different products and supply chain contexts.Practical implicationsThe tools enhance decision-making for supply chain managers, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction in the perishable food industry.Social implicationsThe proposed model aids in local workforce management by forecasting required manpower for upcoming seasons. By factoring in product quality and pricing, it ensures customers receive fresh products at fair prices. Furthermore, the near-zero waste concept enhances storage conditions at importers' facilities, contributing to improved environmental hygiene.Originality/valueThe integrated model and decision support tools offer a novel approach to address complexities and conflicting objectives in perishable food supply chains, providing practical insights for researchers and practitioners.

The effect of total factor productivity on the food security and livelihood vulnerability of farm households in Bangladesh

Food security and livelihood vulnerability are important issues for the economic sustainability of developing countries like Bangladesh. This study examines the influence of total factor productivity (TFP) on the livelihood vulnerability and food security of rice farming households in Bangladesh. Data from 1,841 rice farming households were extracted from the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (2015 and 2018) conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute. Various statistical methods, such as the stochastic frontier model, principal component analysis, path analysis using structural equation modeling, and multivariate regression, were employed to analyze the data. The study utilizes a multivariate modeling approach that combines the stochastic frontier model to determine TFP and sophisticated methodologies to estimate the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) and women’s empowerment in agriculture index (WEAI). The LVI, household dietary diversity Score (HDDS), TFP, and WEAI scores were 0.454, 10.72, 0.703, and 0.717, respectively. The results indicate a significant relationship between TFP and both LVI and HDDS. Higher TFP is associated with lower LVI and higher HDDS among rice farming households, suggesting that improving TFP can enhance food security and reduce vulnerability. The multivariate regression analysis reveals that TFP, household wealth index, women’s empowerment in agriculture index, per capita food expenditure, household level welfare, and household size have a positive significant impact on HDDS, while TFP is negatively associated with LVI, per capita food expenditure and household size. The findings underscore the importance of increasing TFP to improve food security, reduce livelihood vulnerability, and achieve sustainable development goals in countries like Bangladesh. Higher TFP yields positive outcomes regarding household dietary diversity and livelihood vulnerability, highlighting the need for agricultural policies that prioritize TFP enhancement. Policymakers and professionals can use these findings as a roadmap to implement advanced agricultural policies to achieve food security and reduce livelihood vulnerability. Improving household dietary diversity and reducing livelihood vulnerability can be achieved by focusing on increasing TFP, enhancing household wealth, women’s empowerment, per capita food expenditure, household welfare, and household size. Therefore, increasing TFP should be considered in the design of policies aiming to achieve SDGs Goal 2.

Tracking and optimizing toxic chemical exposure pathways through food trade: A case study in SCCPs contaminated seafood in China

Abstract Food safety is related to human health and sustainable development. International food trade poses food safety risks through the collateral transport of toxic chemicals that are detrimental to human health. Domestic interprovincial trade has similar effects within countries but has not been comprehensively investigated previously. Here we assessed the effects of interprovincial trade on food safety and human dietary exposure to short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), a group of emerging persistent toxic chemicals, in seafood across China by synthesizing data from field observation and various models. Our findings indicate that there is a higher level of SCCPs exposure risk in coastal provinces compared to inland provinces. Approximately 70.3% of human exposure to SCCPs through seafood consumption in China was embodied in the interprovincial seafood trade in 2021. Specifically, the domestic trade led to a remarkable increase in SCCPs exposure in the coastal provinces in South China, attributable to low SCCPs pollution in these provinces and imported seafood from those provinces with high SCCPs pollution. In contrast, human exposure to SCCPs decreased in those coastal provinces in East China due to importing seafood from those provinces with low SCCPs concentrations. The interprovincial seafood trade routes were optimized by linear programming to minimize human exposure to SCCPs considering both shipping cost and health risk constraints. The optimized trade routes reduced the national per capita SCCPs exposure through seafood consumption by over 12%. This study highlights the importance of interprovincial food trade in the risk assessment of toxic chemicals.

Use of online food delivery services among adults in five countries from the International Food Policy Study 2018–2021

AimOnline food delivery services (OFDS) are popular for purchasing meals prepared outside home, increasing access to energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods. This adversely impacts dietary choices and health outcomes. Our study examined trends in OFDS use in Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) from 2018 to 2021. MethodsRepeated annual cross-sectional data was sourced from the International Food Policy Study for five countries among adults over 18 years (N = 83,337). Weighted estimates for trends in i) the proportion of the respondent’s purchasing meals per week using OFDS, and ii) average number (and standard deviation (SD)) of meals purchased per week using OFDS were assessed. Logistic regression models were fitted. FindingsOFDS use increased among adults between 2018–2021 (Australia: 17 % of respondents purchased at least one meal in the last 7 days using OFDS in 2018 to 25 % in 2021, Canada: 12 % to 19 %, Mexico: 28 % to 38 %, UK: 19 % to 28 %, and US: 17 % to 21 %). Average number of meals purchased per week outside home remained consistent for all countries over time (e.g., in Australia, 2.70 (SD 0.06) meals in 2018 and 2.63 (SD 0.06) in 2021). However, average number of meals purchased using OFDS nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021 (e.g., in Australia, 0.45 (SD 0.03) meals in 2018 to 0.81 (SD 0.04) in 2021). ConclusionOFDS use is increasing and are substituting the conventional forms of purchasing meals outside home. Nutritional quality of foods sold, marketing practices and purchasing patterns on OFDS deserve further attention.

Association of immunomodulatory therapies with COVID-19 mortality in rheumatoid arthritis: An analysis of the FDA adverse event reporting system

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly affects patients with RA and other rheumatic diseases. Our study aims to explore the factors associated with COVID-19-related fatality among Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients, especially immunomodulatory therapies, using the international Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). MethodsReportes from FAERS were extracted from February 2020 to September 2022, and uesd for this cross-sectional analysis. The investigative outcome was COVID-19-related death. Age, sex, region, event date, and immunomodulatory medications classies were included as co-variates in multivariable logistic regression. In view of the different targeting and affinity of individual JAKi, Tofacitinib, Upadacitinib and Baricitinib was respectively analyzed. ResultsIn all, 3808 cases (mean age 58.85 years, 82.8% female), 267 (7.0%) died. JAKi therapies (41.2%), followed by TNFi (37.7%), IL-1i (12.2%), IL-6i (4.1%) and Anti-CD20 (3%) were reported. Risk factors associated with COVID-19-related death in RA patients were age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–1.08; p ​< ​0.01), male sex (1.71, 1.26–2.33; p ​= ​0.01) and anti-CD20 therapies (5.05; 1.40–18.19; p ​= ​0.013). With TNFi conference, anti-CD20 was still a risk predictor (4.29; 2.39–7.70; p ​< ​0.01). Other DMARDs except for anti-CD20, did not confer a significant association with mortality, compared with csDMARDs or TNFi. Individual JAKi showed no obvious difference in the risk of death, compared with csDMARDs or TNFis. ConclusionsConclusions Using FAERS open access data for risk prediction of death, anti-CD20 therapies were recognized as a risk factor for COVID-19-related fatalities among RA patients, other immunomodulatory therapies were not associated with mortality, compared with csDMARDs or TNFis.

Nondestructive testing of runny salted egg yolk based on improved ConvNeXt-T.

Salted egg yolks from salted duck eggs are widely utilized in the domestic and international food industry as both raw materials and ingredients. When salted egg yolks are not fully cured and matured, they exist in a fluid state, with a mixture of solid and liquid internally. Due to this composition, they are susceptible to deterioration during storage and usage, necessitating their detection and classification. In this study, a dataset specifically for salted egg yolks was established, and the ConvNeXt-T model, employed as the benchmark model, underwent two notable improvements. First, a lightweight location-aware circular convolution (ParC) was introduced, utilizing a ParC-block to replace a portion of the original ConvNeXt-T block. This enhancement aimed to overcome the limitations of convolution in extracting global feature information while integrating the global sensing capability of vision transformer and the localization capability of convolution. Additionally, the activation function was modified through substitution. These improvements resulted in the final model. Experimental results indicate that the enhanced model exhibits faster convergence on the custom salted egg yolk dataset compared to the baseline model. Furthermore, a significant reduction of model parameters by a factor of 4 led to a 2.167 percentage point improvement in the accuracy of the test set. The ParC-ConvNeXt-SMU-T model achieved an accuracy of 96.833% with 26.8 million parameters. Notably, the improved model demonstrates exceptional effectiveness in recognizing salted egg yolks. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study can be widely applied in the process of salted egg yolk production and quality inspection, which can improve the actual sorting efficiency of salted egg yolks and reduce the labor cost at the same time. It can also be used for nondestructive testing of salted egg yolks by governmental enterprises and other regulatory authorities.

Evaluating pelvic floor muscle activity in chronic functional constipation: A transabdominal ultrasound study

IntroductionChronic functional constipation (CFC) is one of the most challenging types of constipation which negatively influences patients’ quality of life. Recently, investigators mentioned pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) as an influential factor in the symptoms of patients with CFC, while its underlying mechanism is still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the PFMs function in people with and without CFC using transabdominal ultrasound. MethodIn this cross-sectional and prospective study, we utilized a convenience sample of 200 individuals (100 CFC and 100 non-CFC) aged between 20 and 50 years old. The data collection included the measurement of the bladder base diameters displacement between rest and contraction using transabdominal ultrasound in all subjects. Also, individuals’ diet and physical activity were assessed as contributing factors using International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Food Frequency Questionnaire. ResultsThe result of MANCOVA revealed no significant group by physical activity level interaction for bladder base diameter at rest and bladder base displacement. Moreover, the Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant difference in physical activity level of patients with CFC in comparison with healthy individuals. Independent T-test results revealed that there is a significant difference in the consumption of fat and dairy subgroups between two groups. Discussion and conclusionsThe results indicated that there is no significant association between the bladder base displacement and the development of CFC. Moreover, our data revealed that people with CFC experience a more sedentary life and consume more fat and dairy products in comparison with individuals without CFC.

Trends and gaps in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) improvement in sub‐Saharan Africa: Drought tolerance breeding strategies

AbstractThe main challenge facing agricultural crop production in the current global climate change scenario is sustainability. Drought, as a yield‐limiting factor, has become a major threat to international food security. Tolerance to drought is a complex trait and its response is carried out by various genes, transcription factors, microRNAs, hormones, proteins, cofactors, ions and metabolites. The complexity of the trait has limited the development of drought‐tolerant sweet potato cultivars by traditional breeding. Advances in sweet potato breeding to exploit the full potential of the crop to contribute to improved and higher performing sweet potato cultivars, adapted to increasingly risky rainfed conditions, mainly drought, are key to making food production systems more efficient and more tolerant to pressure from drought and other stressors. Genetic gain for yield potential in sweet potato has improved mostly in African countries, mainly as a result of an accelerated breeding scheme. The focus on maximising the utilisation of molecular tools for sweet potato improvement and yield has been recently explored in breeding programmes in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). This article provides an update on the trends and gaps in sweet potato breeding in SSA, reviewing the relevant strategies used to improve sweet potato in the region. Finally, the perspectives of using new advanced tools including genetic engineering and genome editing, and the challenges associated with climate change for further improvement of the crop are highlighted. Collaborative efforts in African countries are driving advances in breeding methods through the incorporation of molecular tools to develop drought‐tolerant sweet potato varieties that are important to global food security despite challenges posed by the drastic change in climate.

Risks in the international logistics system household and food products

Risks in the international logistics system household and food products

Exploring The Service Quality of Different Fast-Food Restaurants in Faisalabad City

Background: The fast food industry in Faisalabad has experienced significant growth, making the evaluation of service quality an important area of study to sustain this growth and competitive edge. Previous research has emphasized the importance of service dimensions such as tangibility, assurance, reliability, responsiveness, and empathy in shaping customer satisfaction and loyalty, particularly in the context of rapid globalization and increasing customer expectations. Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of service quality dimensions on customer satisfaction within international fast food franchises in Faisalabad, with a focus on identifying key areas for improvement to enhance overall restaurant performance. Methods: A systematic random sampling method was used to select 300 participants aged between 18 to 35 years from prominent fast food franchises. Data were collected using a structured SERVQUAL questionnaire, which measured five dimensions of service quality. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics and reliability testing, were conducted using SPSS version 25.0 to evaluate the data. Results: The results indicated a generally high level of customer satisfaction, with 65% to 75% of respondents expressing satisfaction across the service dimensions. The dimensions of reliability and responsiveness were particularly noted for their positive impact on satisfaction levels. The mean scores for service dimensions ranged from 3.74 to 4.00, demonstrating a favorable reception of service attributes. However, the assurance dimension scored lower in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.551), suggesting variability in this area. Conclusion: The study confirmed that service quality significantly influences customer satisfaction in the fast food industry in Faisalabad. While the majority of customers are satisfied with the current level of service, continuous improvements in staff training and operational efficiency are recommended to further enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Keywords: Fast Food Industry, Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, SERVQUAL Model, Faisalabad, Systematic Sampling, SPSS Analysis, Reliability Testing, Service Dimensions.

Understanding the spillover effects of ethanol production and energy prices on African food markets: A time-varying approach

Amidst recent global uncertainty caused by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and wars, African countries are finding it even more challenging than before to achieve food security. This study utilizes the time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP-VAR)–based extended joint connectedness model to analyze the impact of external factors, such as U.S. ethanol production, grain speculation, international energy prices, international food prices, and international corn prices, on domestic food prices in four African countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, and Tanzania). The key results of the study can be summarized as follows: (1) The production of ethanol in the United States has an influence on the food prices in all four sample countries, with the extent of this impact differing from one nation to another. Notably, the effects of ethanol production were particularly pronounced until the years 2011–2012. (2) In Ethiopia and Tanzania, the domestic food market shows only a slight impact from speculative activities, whereas in Ghana and South Africa, these activities have a notable effect. (3) International energy prices play a significant role in shaping the domestic food prices across all four countries.

Gluten-free pasta as an alternative in the diet of patients with celiac disease.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that produces inflammation in the gut mucosa, affecting nutrient digestion and absorption. CD affects 0.3% to 1.0% of the world's population and only 15% have a clinical diagnosis. The only effective treatment is a gluten-free diet. The objective of this study was to develop a dough for gluten-free pastaprepared with mixtures of flours from corn, amaranth, soy, and rice. According to the FAO standard of 1975, the resultant mixtures should have a protein content greater than 11.0% and a chemical rating of not less than 70. Three mixtures were obtained: corn‒soy (81-19), corn‒rice‒soy (48-37-15), and corn‒rice‒amaranth (49-32-14). To improve the handling of the pasta and its physical characteristics (sedimentation, degree of absorption, and cracked shaped pasta) compared to a control (commercial) gluten-free pasta, carboxymethylcellulose, an emulsifier (distilled monoglycerides), and egg albumin were added at concentrations of 0.3, 0.5, and 5.0%, respectively. The corn flour was pregelatinized, and the extrusion was repeated twice.The experimental pasta had a protein content of 14.0%, which was higher than the commercial pasta (4.5%), and a gluten content of less than 20mg/kg which, according to the Codex Alimentarius International Food Standard (2015), it is consideredgluten-free. The corn‒rice‒soy pasta obtained had an acceptance and liking similar to a commercial brand.This pasta may widen the gluten-free products commercially available to CD patients in Mexico, which nowadays is limited and expensive. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Raw materials available in our country were selected to promote their consumption and diversify the ingredients used in the production of gluten-free products. The pasta obtained presented a higher nutritional content than a commercial gluten-free pasta and was comparable to that of a pasta made with wheat.

Public acceptability of proposals to manage new takeaway food outlets near schools: cross-sectional analysis of the 2021 International Food Policy Study

ABSTRACT Global trends indicate that takeaway food is commonly accessible in neighbourhood food environments. Local governments in England can use spatial planning to manage the opening of new takeaway outlets in ‘takeaway management zones around schools’ (known sometimes as ‘exclusion zones’). We analysed data from the 2021 International Food Policy Study to investigate public acceptability of takeaway management zones around schools. Among adults living in Great Britain (n = 3323), 50.8% supported, 8.9% opposed, and 37.3% were neutral about the adoption of these zones. Almost three-quarters (70.4%) believed that these zones would help young people to eat better. Among 16-17 year olds (n = 354), 33.3% agreed that young people would consume takeaway food less often if there were fewer takeaways near schools. Using adjusted logistic regression, we identified multiple correlates of public support for and perceived effectiveness of takeaway management zones. Odds of support were strongest among adults reporting that there were currently too many takeaways in their neighbourhood food environment (odds ratio: 2.32; 95% confidence intervals: 1.61, 3.35). High levels of support alongside limited opposition indicate that proposals for takeaway management zones around schools would not receive substantial public disapproval. Policy makers should not, therefore, use limited public support to rationalise policy inertia.

Evaluating compliance with local and International Food Labelling Standards in urban Tanzania: a cross-sectional study of pre-packaged snacks in Dar Es Salaam

BackgroundUrbanization influences food culture, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where there is an increasing consumption of processed and pre-packaged foods. This shift is contributing to a rise in non-communicable diseases. Food labelling standards are crucial for regulating manufacturing practices and helping consumers make healthy food choices. We aimed to assess the compliance of local and imported pre-packaged snacks with Tanzanian and international labelling standards in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 snack products. A checklist based on Tanzanian and Codex labelling standards was used to evaluate adherence. We also examined factors influencing adherence, such as product origin, price, category, purchase location, and package size.ResultsThe majority of the snacks demonstrated partial adherence to Tanzania (n = 97; 54%) and International (Codex) (n = 120; 67%) labelling standards. Imported products showed significantly better adherence to both Tanzanian (n = 46; 53%) and international (n = 42; 48%) standards. Notably, more than half (n = 110; 66.7%) of the products used English for labelling, and infrequently (n = 74; 41.4%) used the recommended World Health Organization Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling. Product category, origin, and package size were significantly associated with higher levels of international standard adherence (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe inadequate adherence to mandatory labelling standards and the scarce use of Swahili and FoPL highlight the need to strengthen labelling practices and potential challenges faced by consumers in understanding nutritional information. Thus, strengthening and emphasizing good labelling practices are urgently needed as we seek to address diet-related noncommunicable diseases.

#junkfluenced: the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages by social media influencers popular with Canadian children on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok

BackgroundMarketing of unhealthy foods to children on digital media significantly impacts their dietary preferences and contributes to diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Canadian children spend a significant amount of time on digital devices and are frequently exposed to unhealthy food marketing on social media, including by influencers with celebrity status who endorse products. This study aimed to examine the frequency, healthfulness, and power of unhealthy food marketing in posts by influencers popular with Canadian children on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.MethodsThe top 9 influencers popular amongst Canadian children aged 10–12 years were identified from the 2021 International Food Policy Study Youth Survey. A total of 2,232 Instagram, YouTube and TikTok posts made by these influencers between June 1st 2021 and May 31st 2022 were examined for instances of food marketing. Food products/brands were identified and frequencies were calculated for the number of posts promoting food products/brands, posts promoting products/brands classified as less healthy according to Health Canada’s Nutrient Profile Model (2018) and marketing techniques utilized.ResultsYouTube had the highest average rate of food marketing instances per post, at a rate of 1 food marketing instance every 0.7 posts, while TikTok and Instagram had instances every 10.2 posts and 19.3 posts, respectively. Overall, fast food restaurants was the most promoted food category (21%), followed by regular soft drinks (13%), snacks (11%), candy and chocolate (11%) and water (8%). The most frequently used marketing techniques were appeals to fun/cool (37%), the use of songs or music (28%) and the product being consumed (25%). In terms of healthfulness, 83% of the products/brands (87% of brands and 82% of products) promoted were classified as less healthy.ConclusionsSocial media influencers play a substantial role in promoting unhealthy food products to children, primarily fast food items. Given the significant impact of such marketing on children, there is a need for ongoing government-led monitoring, and it is crucial to include social media and influencer marketing in marketing restrictions targeting children in Canada to safeguard this vulnerable demographic.

Preface

The 3rd International Conference on Agriculture and food sustainability (The 3rd ICAFOSY 2023) The 3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SUSTAINABILITY (The 3rd ICAFOSY 2023) marked a significant milestone in the pursuit of global efforts to address the challenges facing food systems and nutritional security in the wake of climate change, particularly in developing countries. With its overarching theme, “Enhancing the resilience of food systems for food and nutritional security under climate change,” The conference united academics, researchers, specialists, policymakers, and practitioners committed to advancing sustainable agricultural practices.At the heart of this collective endeavor, the conference served as a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas, cutting-edge research findings, and innovative solutions. Delegates explored various dimensions of the conference’s focus and scopes, ranging from adaptation, mitigation, and resilience strategies to climate-smart agriculture adoption and the intricate interplay between climate change and agriculture. Participants engaged in fruitful discussions on topics such as bioenergy for sustainable agriculture, climate change education for social transformation, and governance strategies for ensuring food security in the face of climate challenges.A moment of reflection and gratitude is extended to all the colleagues and participants whose dedication and expertise contributed to the success of the 3rd ICAFOSY 2023. The collaborative spirit exhibited during the conference underscored the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing the complex and multifaceted issues surrounding agriculture, food sustainability, and climate change. The collective wisdom and shared experiences of our colleagues have undoubtedly enriched the dialogue and propelled us closer to actionable solutions for a more resilient and sustainable future.The 3rd ICAFOSY held on October 30-31, 2023, the conference found its home in the Main Hall of the Department of Agricultural Socio-economic Building, 3rd Floor, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia. The hybrid format of the event allowed for both in-person and virtual participation, enabling a global audience to engage in the discussions and contribute to the conference’s goals. The unique blend of physical and virtual interactions fostered a sense of global collaboration, transcending geographical boundaries to address the challenges posed by climate change to agriculture and food sustainability.Finally, the resounding success of the 3rd ICAFOSY 2023 would not have been possible without the unwavering support and commitment of the Department of Agricultural Socio-economic, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya.List of Editor, Technical Programme Committee are available in this pdf.

Subtle differences in recycled polypropylene from rheology to additives impacts ease of circularity in materials extrusion additive manufacture

The decentralized production associated with material extrusion additive manufacture (MEX) has been proposed as an ideal path to increase the circularity of plastics through direct recycling. Although multiple studies have reported on the 3D printing of various recycled plastics, variability in recycled materials, in particular post-consumer waste, challenges the direct extension of these results into production through MEX. Here, we demonstrate filament fabrication and printing of post-consumer polypropylene (PP), where the PP is sourced from clear, cold drink cups from three large international food service and beverage retail chains to provide well defined plastic waste that is perfectly sorted for recycling. These sources for the recycled PP were selected due to their ready availability to enable the results to be directly applied for hobbyist printing, blow molded products to provide good mechanical performance, and the clarity of the PP that suggests formulation design to minimize the PP crystal size. Despite the similarities in the end use product and their physical appearance, the source for the PP impacted the mechanical properties and the visual appearance of the printed objects. These differences can be directly traced to the rheological properties and oxidative stability of the PP at conditions relevant with the print process. These results clearly illustrate differences in initial formulation design and branding details, even when the product is for the same application, impacts the performance of recycled plastics in AM. The high viscosity associated with the PP from blow molding leads to requirements for higher extrusion temperatures for printing. The combination of high temperature and shear during extrusion process of 3D printing degrades the recycled PP. For circularity with MEX with recycled PP, one needs to consider the evolution in the properties of the polymer. Rheological details of recycled plastics are critical to selection of processing conditions and performance of MEX parts. Reporting of rheological data of recycled plastics and these properties after printing is critical to enable translation towards circular 3D printing of recycled plastics.