Food Quality Research Articles

Well supplied in life, set aside in death: A multi-isotope study of Justinian plague victims from Saint-Doulchard (France, 7th-8th centuries AD).

Justinian plague and its subsequent outbreaks were major events influencing Early Medieval Europe. One of the affected communities was the population of Saint-Doulchard in France, where plague victim burials were concentrated in a cemetery enclosure ditch. This study aimed to obtain more information about their life-histories using the tools of isotope analysis. Dietary analysis using carbon and nitrogen isotopes was conducted on 97 individuals buried at Le Pressoir in Saint-Doulchard, with 36 of those originating from the enclosure ditch. This sample set includes all individuals analyzed for plague DNA in a previous study. Mobility analysis using strontium isotope analysis supplements the dietary study, with 47 analyzed humans. The results are supported by a reference sample set of 31 animal specimens for dietary analysis and 9 for mobility analysis. The dietary analysis results showed significantly different dietary behavior in individuals from the ditch burials, with better access to higher quality foods richer in animal protein. 87Sr/86Sr ratios are similar for both studied groups and indicate a shared or similar area of origin. The results suggest that the ditch burials contain an urban population from the nearby city of Bourges, which overall had a better diet than the rural population from Saint-Doulchard. It is implied that city's population might have been subjected to high mortality rates during the plague outbreak(s), which led to their interment in nearby rural cemeteries.

Intelligent packaging films based on two-dimensional nanomaterials for food safety and quality monitoring: Future insights and roadblocks

Intelligent packaging films based on two-dimensional nanomaterials for food safety and quality monitoring: Future insights and roadblocks

Triple-enhanced Raman scattering sensor based on superhydrophobic/-philic microsphere platform and heating evaporation assisted for high-sensitivity detection

The ability to detect molecules in small volumes of highly diluted solutions is crucial for applications such as food quality and safety, environmental monitoring, biomedical diagnostics, and so on. The primary concern lies in the sensitivity and efficiency of detection technology. In this work, an ultra-sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection strategy is presented, which is based on superhydrophobic/-philic microsphere SERS (SSM-SERS) platform and heating evaporation assisted for high-sensitivity detection. Relying on the heating-assisted evaporation, the evaporation efficiency of the droplet is increased by 378.5 times, and the deposition area after evaporation is reduced by 10.4 times, leading to the extremely high detection efficiency and further enrichment of the target molecules. When the microspheres array approaches the superhydrophobic/-philic (SH/SHL) substrate, the optical-plasmonic hybrid structure is formed, enhancing light-matter interactions and resulting in an improvement of the Raman signal. The optimized SERS sensor is capable of detecting Rhodamine 6 G (R6G) at the femtomolar level (10−16 M), with a sample volume of only 5 μL and an enhancement factor of 3.29 × 109. Considering the misuse of fish drugs, malachite green (MG) and methylene blue (MB) were chosen to validate the performance of SERS sensor. These findings highlight the consistent high sensitivity of the SERS sensor, offering valuable insights for applications in food safety and related fields.

Untargeted volatolomic approach for the identification of sensory quality markers of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce stored in modified atmosphere packaging

Fresh-cut iceberg lettuce is appreciated by consumers for its nutritive properties, convenience, and ease of use. Producers are then pushed to preserve the quality of these products by using modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). In this study, the influence of passive MAP (air) or active MAP (1–5 % O2), on several quality attributes of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce samples was evaluated during storage time (from 3 to 14 d) at 4 °C. The respiration rate and the electrolyte leakage values of samples packaged in active MAP were higher than those of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce stored in the air, indicating stressful storage conditions. Inverse trends were observed for O-quinones content and browning index until the end of the storage period. Sensory analysis highlighted that active MAP has preserved the visual quality, limiting the browning of the cut surfaces. On the other hand, active MAP modified the sensory profile after 3 d at 4 °C, and samples scored below the marketability limit for both odor and off-odor. Finally, a volatile organic compound characterization by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) allowed the identification of target molecules that could signal a decrease in food quality under different conditions. A total of 118 compounds were identified and, among them, ethyl alcohol and acetaldehyde were identified as the best quality markers for passive MAP and active MAP samples, respectively, while ethyl acetate could represent a good compromise to assess the quality of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce, regardless of MAP conditions.

Regulation of tea polyphenols in gluten-glucose Maillard reaction: Evaluation and analysis

Maillard reaction plays an important role in the flavour and color of some food. However, the excessive occurrence of Maillard reaction may affect the quality and safety of food. In this study, a simulated Maillard system composed of gluten and glucose was established to evaluate and analyze the regulatory role of tea polyphenols (TP) in it. The addition of tea polyphenols alleviated excessive browning of the Maillard reaction and significantly inhibited the accumulation of fructosamine and late glycosylation end products in the system. Based on the analysis of laser particle sizer and atomic force microscope, the large particle size distribution and aggregation structure of the Maillard reaction products in the tea polyphenol group disappeared. Further experiments showed that with the addition of tea polyphenols, the free radicals content in the system decreased, while the amount of reaction substrates increased. It was also shown that tea polyphenols effectively inhibited the isomerism of glucose to fructose and affected the content of free sulfhydryl and free amino groups in the system. The results indicated that tea polyphenols can regulate the Maillard reaction between gluten and glucose, which gives it the potential for application in the field of bakery and thermally processed foods.

Ratanjot (Alkanna tinctoria L.) Root Extract, Rich in Antioxidants, Exhibits Strong Antimicrobial Activity against Foodborne Pathogens and Is a Potential Food Preservative

Natural and sustainable plant-based antioxidants and antimicrobials are highly desirable for improving food quality and safety. The present investigation assessed the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of active components from Alkanna tinctoria L. (herb) roots, also known as Ratanjot root. Two methods were used to extract active components: microwave-assisted hot water (MAHW) and ethanolic extraction. MAHW extract yielded 6.29%, while the ethanol extract yielded 18.27%, suggesting superior Ratanjot root extract powder (RRP) solubility in ethanol over water. The ethanol extract showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than the MAHW extract. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry analysis revealed three major phenolic compounds: butanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-; arnebin 7, and diisooctyl pthalate. The color attributes (L*, a*, b*, H°ab, C*ab) for the ethanolic and MAHW extracts revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in all the above parameters for both types of extracts, except for yellowness (b*) and chroma (C*ab) values. The ethanol extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against 14 foodborne bacteria, with a significantly higher inhibitory effect against Gram-positive bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) than the Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Escherichia coli). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were both 25 mg/mL for the Gram-negative bacteria, while the MIC and MBC concentrations varied for Gram-positive bacteria (0.049–0.098 mg/mL and 0.098–0.195 mg/mL) and the antimicrobial effect was bactericidal. The antimicrobial activities of RRP extract remained stable under broad temperature (37–100 °C) and pH (2–6) conditions, as well as during refrigerated storage for 30 days. Application of RRP at 1% (10 mg/g) and 2.5% (25 mg/g) levels in a cooked chicken meatball model system prevented lipid oxidation and improved sensory attributes and retarded microbial growth during refrigerated (4 °C) storage for 20 days. Furthermore, the RRP extract was non-toxic when tested with sheep erythrocytes and did not inhibit the growth of probiotics, Lacticaseibacillus casei, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. In conclusion, the study suggests that RRP possesses excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, thus making it suitable for food preservation.

GlobalGAP compliance costs in Ghana’s small-scale pineapple farming sector

ABSTRACT When farmers implement GlobalGAP they incur specific input costs that arise from quality requirements of the technology. However, due to the difficultly in observing and measuring food quality, previous empirical studies seldom analysed the relationship between quality improvements in food production and total costs of production. They assumed that product quality itself was exogenous and hence had no effect on productive efficiency or cost of production. This study estimates the impact of GlobalGAP on costs of production while accounting for fixed cost improvements and quality endogeneity. Data were obtained from GlobalGAP-certified small-scale pineapple farmers in Ghana. The hypothesis that product quality was exogenous was tested and rejected. Consequently, a quality-adjusted translog cost function was used to identify the main contributors to cost increases on small-scale GlobalGAP-certified pineapple farms. The estimated function exhibited economies of size, implying that most small-scale adopters are unable to increase output and benefit from lower average costs. Production costs arising from improvements in quality imposed by GlobalGAP are most sensitive to changes in plantlet price, followed by wages, agrochemical price and expenditure on capital items. Smaller small-scale farmers are much more sensitive to increases in capital expenditure than are larger small-scale farmers. Key policy recommendations include joint ventures to increase nursery capacity and competition in the market for plantlets, scrutiny of mandatory fees impacting the cost of imported labour-saving inputs, facilitating sharing arrangements between smallholders to lower the cost of on-farm infrastructure, and research to identify constraints preventing certified farmers from exploiting size economies.

A comprehensive understanding of memorable experiences in food tourism

PurposeMore specifically, the research identifies the determinants of positive and negative memorable experiences in different contexts of food tourism.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data were collected from domestic and international tourists visiting New Zealand. Using an in-person, self-administered, electronic survey, 374 complete surveys were gathered in Christchurch City.FindingsThe findings reveal 25 factors contributing to positive memorable experiences, whereas the lack of seven of them leads to negative memorable experiences. Food quality is the most dominant determinant of both positive and negative memorable experiences.Originality/valueDespite existing various types of food and drink experiences, the literature largely focused on the consumption part. The negative memorable experience has also been neglected. To expand the knowledge of the determinants of memorable food/drink experiences, this research focuses on all types of such experiences including positive and negative ones to provide a comprehensive understanding of memorable experiences within food tourism.

Innovative strategies in yacon drying: Ethanol pretreatment and intermittent microwave drying.

The yacon roots are rich in fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and highly perishable. Drying is crucial for food quality and extending shelf life. However, preserving thermosensitive compounds, such as FOS, poses a challenge in conventional drying methods. In this regard, microwave drying and ethanol pretreatment (ET) have emerged as promising solutions for maintaining nutrients and reducing drying time (DT). The objective of this study was to assess how ET and sample temperature affect quality and process parameters during intermittent microwave drying of yacon. Drying at 52°C treated with ethanol was the one that stood out for presenting the highest fructan retention (64.1%), low DT, lower energy consumption (EC) (364.00±5.03kWhkgwater-1), higher retention of antioxidant capacity (73.9%) and total phenolic content (77.5%), and slight variation in color parameters. Therefore, microwave drying with a controlled temperature of yacon pretreated with ethanol effectively reduces DT and EC by maintaining quality parameters.

Engineering an enzyme-like catalytic sensor for on-site dual-mode evaluation of total antioxidant capacity.

Anovel Fe-MoOx nanozyme, engineered with enhanced peroxidase (POD)-like activity through strategic doping and the creation of oxygen vacancies, is introducedto catalyze the oxidation of TMB with high efficiency. Furthermore, Fe-MoOx is responsive to single electron transfer (SET) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanisms related to antioxidants and can serve as a desirable nanozyme for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) determination. The TAC colorimetric platform can reach a low LOD of 0.512μM in solution and 24.316μM in the smartphone-mediated RGB hydrogel (AA as the standard). As proof of concept, the practical application in real samples was explored. The work paves a promising avenue to design diverse nanozymes for visual on-site inspection of food quality.

NMR Immunosensor Based on a Targeted Gadolinium Nanoprobe for Detecting Salmonella in Milk.

Detecting harmful pathogens in food is not only a crucial aspect of food quality management but also an effective way to ensure public health. In this paper, a complete nuclear magnetic resonance biosensor based on a novel gadolinium (Gd)-targeting molecular probe was developed for the detection of Salmonella in milk. First, streptavidin was conjugated to the activated macromolecular polyaspartic acid (PASP) via an amide reaction to generate SA-PASP. Subsequently, the strong chelating and adsorption properties of PASP toward the lanthanide metal gadolinium ions were exploited to generate the magnetic complex (SA-PASP-Gd). Finally, the magnetic complex was linked to biotinylated antibodies to obtain the bioprobe and achieve the capture of Salmonella. Under optimal experimental conditions, the sensor we have constructed can achieve a rapid detection of Salmonella within 1.5 h, with a detection limit of 7.1 × 103 cfu mL-1.

Response of fruit fly (Drosophila pseudoobscura) to diet manipulation of nutrient density

AbstractCaloric intake can greatly affect many aspects of an organism's life. A deficiency of calories can lead to stress resulting in decreased fecundity, insufficient calories to maintain tissues and increased lifespan. Conversely, increasing caloric density increases fecundity and decreases lifespan. Despite decades of work exploring food quality and quantity on physiology in the model species Drosophila melanogaster Meigan 1830 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and the melanogaster group in general, relatively little work explores the physiological responses to diet manipulation in other Drosophila species, like the obscura species group. Here, we looked at the effects of five different caloric densities (0.5×, 0.75×, 1.0×, 1.5× and 3.0×) on food intake, body weight, body fat, fecundity and longevity in D. pseudoobscura Frolova & Astaurov, 1929 (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Comparing longevity and fecundity across diets, we found that heavy caloric concentration (3.0×) decreases lifespan and that calorie restriction (0.5× and 0.75×) led to significant decreases in fecundity and body weight. However, calorie concentration did not significantly increase D. pseudoobscura body fat. By expanding our understanding of the physiological responses to diet stress to D. pseudoobscura, we establish the framework for comparative work across Drosophila species. With this information, we can then identify which physiological responses to diet manipulation might be most conserved and comparable across species.

Kinetics of Dietary Fibers in a Fat Sand Rat: The Importance of the Isolating Structures of the Digestive Tract and Food Quality

Kinetics of Dietary Fibers in a Fat Sand Rat: The Importance of the Isolating Structures of the Digestive Tract and Food Quality

Exploring Genetic Variability, Path Analysis and Divergence in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

The grain crop known as sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], which belongs in the Poaceae family, is said to have evolved from Ethiopia or Sudan. This is a crucial crop for food security, especially within the tropical and semi-arid regions in African nations. By terms of long-term domestication and genetic diversity, this crop was native from Ethiopia. showed differences between the crop's cultivated and wild ancestors that gathered within the nation. Due to its enormous diversity of sorghum, which shows innate biological resistant to disease, dryness, and insects in addition to having large lysine content and excellent quality of grain, Ethiopia has become the world's top contributor of germplasm for the sorghum breeding programmes. Ethiopian landraces referred to as "zera zera" sorghum and the generations that sprang of those were used in ICRISAT along with other nations' contemporary sorghum breeding programmes for hybrids creation. Sorghum is at present Ethiopia's second most significant cereal crop after the tef with regard to of its combined area covered and productivity, which means it's used to make injera. Sorghum genotype from Ethiopia is varied and has responded to a variety of rainfall conditions and elevations. Plant breeding starts with the characterisation and recognition of sorghum seeds that offer desired features for improved genetics. When contrast with field trial evaluation, DNA-based molecular markers and PCR-based methods were most effective in characterising and identifying sorghum genotypes which offer desired features since they are unaffected by duration or climate. The most economical method of increasing sorghum production for many applications is genetic enhancement. Gaining more knowledge about sorghum's genetic diversity could be extremely beneficial for improving the crop in terms of quality of food along with other crucial agronomic characteristics. Sorghums from the Ethiopian Centre of Crop Diversity have a vast amount of genetic variety. To effectively gather and conserve this genetic variety before it is overrun and lost, some serious work is required.

A Preliminary Evaluation of Faba Bean as a Green Shell Bean in Virginia, USA

Even though faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important food crop on worldwide basis, its use as a vegetable i.e. use of green seeds as food is limited. We were interested in characterizing production and food quality traits of faba bean grown in eastern USA. Our main objective is to develop faba bean as a winter alternative crop for this region to diversify cropping system that currently mainly depends upon cereal grain crops. This necessitates existence of winter-hardy faba bean varieties. We conducted a preliminary experiment with two winter-hardy faba bean breeding lines to record production and seed composition traits. Two faba bean lines (VSX-BL and VSX-BH) were planted in the field in November 2022 and green pods were harvested in June 2023 at physiological maturity. Values of most of the traits under study were statistically similar between the two lines except for concentration of phosphorus. Results demonstrated that faba bean green pod and green seeds yields could be approximately 5700 and 2100 kg ha-1. The shelling percent in green faba bean pods was approximately 37 whereas seed number per pod was approximately 2.6. Concentrations (g 100 g-1) of fructose, glucose, and sucrose were 0.245, 0.668, 2.9021, respectively whereas concentrations of Fe and Zn (mg kg-1) were 103.7 and 69.7, respectively. Green faba bean seeds contained small amounts of RFO carbohydrates. Seed composition traits of green faba bean seeds compare well with green seeds of pea, soybean, and white lupin. Our results provide a positive proof of concept that production of green faba bean as an alternate winter food legume crop in eastern USA is possible.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and to Develop Strategies for Resistance on the Farming Practices in Ganjam District-An Analysis

The present study entitled “Scientific study on the farming practices in ganjam district to comprehend the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop strategies for resistance” was undertaken with a view to evaluate COVID-19's effects on farmers of Ganjam District of Odisha and to suggest them how to overcome such pandemic situation. The study followed purposive and random sampling techniques that were found appropriate and taken to undergo the analysis. The study was conducted in the Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS), Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University Bhubaneswar, between December 2020 and August 2022. For the selection of District, Blocks and Villages covering 120 respondents, information was collected through structured interview schedule and focus group discussion. Suitable tools and techniques used during the analysis to suffice the study need are frequency, percentage, mean score, standard deviation, Person’s coefficient Correlation, T- test, multiple regression was employed for analyzing collected data. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (85%) belong to middle and older group, having the sex ratio of 3:2 male and female. The study revealed that the education of children adversely affected with mean score of 2.625, further it has been observed that the farmers couldn’t ensure expenses on purchase of household materials. The study depicted that quality food consumption, expenditure habit and farming in general have been adversely affected. The banking activities as regard to getting loan, taking banking transactions have also been adversely affected. Several farmers have faced physical, socio-economic, technological and production constraints. In this study, particularly problem in sound sleep, depression, feeling of insecurity, slowdown of supply chain and non-availability of quality inputs for cultivation are the main focus constraints encountered by agriculture. It was also found that to mitigate such situation farmers had opined that the vaccine should be taken regularly and farmer should develop the saving habit for future use.

Maternal Dietary Carbohydrate and Pregnancy Outcomes: Quality over Quantity

Dietary nutrition plays a crucial role in determining pregnancy outcomes, with poor diet being a major contributor to pregnancy metabolic syndrome and metabolic disorders in offspring. While carbohydrates are essential for fetal development, the excessive consumption of low-quality carbohydrates can increase the risk of pregnancy complications and have lasting negative effects on offspring development. Recent studies not only highlighted the link between carbohydrate intake during pregnancy, maternal health, and offspring well-being, but also suggested that the quality of carbohydrate foods consumed is more critical. This article reviews the impacts of low-carbohydrate and high-carbohydrate diets on pregnancy complications and offspring health, introduces the varied physiological effects of different types of carbohydrate consumption during pregnancy, and emphasizes the importance of both the quantity and quality of carbohydrates in nutritional interventions during pregnancy. These findings may offer valuable insights for guiding dietary interventions during pregnancy and shaping the future development of carbohydrate-rich foods.

Hygienic quality of food from animal origin and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli in a border region of Algeria

Food of animal origin such as milk and meat have a high nutritional value and form an important part of the human and animal diet, but are difficult to produce and are highly perishable. Additionally significant socio–economic loss will result if production and/or storage conditions are neglected, whether through loss of the food or illnesses caused by consumption and treatment. It was in this context that we carried out this study, to assess the hygienic quality of cow’s milk and meat produced and consumed in a border region of Algeria. A total of 130 samples were taken from animal foodstuffs (raw cow’s milk, sheep carcasses, chicken and turkey meat) at farm, abattoir and butchery levels. Mesophilic aerobic flora, total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms and Escherichia coli were enumerated, and the sensitivity of the E. coli to certain antibiotics most commonly used in human and veterinary medicine was assessed. High levels of contamination and bacterial loads ranging from 5.36×102 CFU·mL–1 for milk, to 1.56×105 CFU·cm–2 for sheep meat, some of this foodstuffs are acceptable but represent a food hazard, and others are not acceptable according to regulations. A high percentage of multiresistant strains and worrying resistance rates were detected, and if the necessary measures are not taken as a matter of urgency in the context of “One Health”, the situation is likely to worsen and human and animal health will be affected.

An Overview of Advanced Antimicrobial Food Packaging: Emphasizing Antimicrobial Agents and Polymer-Based Films

The food industry is increasingly focused on maintaining the quality and safety of food products as consumers are becoming more health conscious and seeking fresh, minimally processed foods. However, deterioration and spoilage caused by foodborne pathogens continue to pose significant challenges, leading to decreased shelf life and quality. To overcome this issue, the food industry and researchers are exploring new approaches to prevent microbial growth in food, while preserving its nutritional value and safety. Active packaging, including antimicrobial packaging, has gained considerable attention among current food packaging methods owing to the wide range of materials used, application methods, and their ability to protect various food products. Both direct and indirect methods can be used to improve food safety and quality by incorporating antimicrobial compounds into the food packaging materials. This comprehensive review focuses on natural and synthetic antimicrobial substances and polymer-based films, and their mechanisms and applications in packaging systems. The properties of these materials are compared, and the persistent challenges in the field of active packaging are emphasized. Specifically, there is a need to achieve the controlled release of antimicrobial agents and develop active packaging materials that possess the necessary mechanical and barrier properties, as well as other characteristics essential for ensuring food protection and safety, particularly bio-based packaging materials.

Environmental Facility of Food Products as a Factor of Market Positioning

The purpose of the article is to analyze the reactions of consumers to the quality characteristics of food products, in particular related to the level of their environmental friendliness, in order to develop proposals for improving the communication programs of manufacturers of these products in Ukraine. The authors describe the reactions of consumers to the qualitative characteristics of food products based on the results of a sociological study. 1269 people participated in the study, including 539 (42.5%) men and 730 (57.5%) women. The distribution of respondents by age is as follows: from 18 to 20 years old - 68 people or 5.4%; from 21 to 30 years old - 367 people or 28.9%; from 31 to 40 years old - 705 people or 55.5%; over 40 years old – 129 people or 10.2%. The age structure of respondents shows that about 90% of respondents belong to generations Y and Z, according to the well-known American classification. The intensifying competition among food manufacturers in Ukraine requires them to improve their own communication programs and positioning strategies by identifying significant emotional and functional attributes of the specified products. The conducted sociological study of the purchasing behavior of consumers on the food market in Ukraine contributes to the solution of this problem. The authors identified a number of factors influencing the formation of stereotypes of food quality perception. Indicators of environmental friendliness and safety for human health turned out to be the most important attributes in market positioning. The results of the study serve as a methodological basis for improving the communication programs of food manufacturers, contribute to the development of healthy competition among them. The findings of this study can be considered important as a guide for future research.