Excessive Food Research Articles

Cognitive behavioral therapy-enhanced through videoconferencing for night eating syndrome, binge-eating disorder and comorbid insomnia: a Case Report.

Both night-eating syndrome and binge-eating disorder are characterized by episodes of excessive food consumption, significant distress, and functional impairment related to maladaptive eating behaviors. Both types of eating disorders are associated with poorer sleep quality. Cognitive behavioral therapy has demonstrated good outcomes for binge-eating disorder; however, it is unknown if it is effective for night-eating syndrome and comorbid insomnia. The current paper presents a case report of a Dutch woman in her 40's receiving cognitive behavioral therapy-enhanced for night-eating syndrome, as well as binge-eating disorder. However, to tailor the intervention to her specific needs, throughout the course of treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy-insomnia interventions were also implemented. Her comorbid complaints were insomnia, childhood trauma, a depressive mood disorder, and cluster B and C personality traits. She had a history of bariatric surgery, as well as alcohol addiction, and received various treatments in the past, aiming to become abstinent from binge eating. Post-treatment, she was abstinent from binge eating and, her scores of various eating disorder measures were below clinical cut-points. However, it is unclear if she would show earlier symptom reduction if she received cognitive behavioral therapy-insomnia, prior to cognitive behavioral therapy-enhanced. In addition, the patient reported an increase in her depressive mood and commenced schema therapy after cognitive behavioral therapy- enhanced. Although common, the underlying cause of symptom shifts in patients with an eating disorder remains largely unknown.

Achieving an equitable circular food economy in Vancouver

ABSTRACT Food loss and waste occur at an alarming rate while many households in the City of Vancouver are food insecure. Set within the context of City of Vancouver’s Zero Waste 2040 long-term strategic plan, the City seeks to promote a circular economy, including through food waste reduction and prevention, better food redistribution, and partaking in awareness campaigns. Food rescue and redistribution is often framed as a win–win solution to avoid throwing unwanted, unmarketable, or surplus foods from the landfill and instead redistributing the food to those who are food insecure. This solution has been framed as a useful tool to promote a circular economy. However, both food waste and food studies scholars have rightly noted that connecting unwanted foods with those who are food insecure to address systemic hunger is not a panacea, nor is it a systemic solution to prevent food waste. Drawing on key informant interviews with agri-food experts across the system (n = 20), this study identified the challenges, opportunities, and the overall vision of the circular food economy and how it is mobilised in the City of Vancouver. It seeks to understand how equity factors into the vision of a circular food economy and its implementation by agri-food and relevant actors. The findings in this study highlight the importance of dynamic governance systems that targets critical points for change including regulation, funding, and capacity building to ensure a circular food economy that considers equity and justice.

Injecting care and negotiating pleasures with weight loss pharmaceuticals

The recent rise of injectable ‘wonder drugs’ for weight loss has been rapid and unregulated (so rapid that it has resulted in a worldwide shortage of Ozempic). We analyse the commercialisation of these drugs, and the political manoeuvres companies engage in to leverage and manufacture the gendered capitalism of ‘care’. Marketing relies heavily on situating ‘obesity’ as a chronic disease influenced by genes or other aspects of biology, working therefore to supposedly mitigate the blame and shame of the taken-for-granted aetiology of ‘obesity’, overwhelmingly understood as excess food intake and insufficient activity. Armed with this evidence, women are told to ‘stand up against weight care judgement’ and to engage in ‘shame free’ care. Pharmaceutical interventions are at the ready to inject this weekly dose of care, producing freedom through neoliberal pleasure but, ironically, in doing so, sacrificing the pleasure of food and non-conditional self-acceptance as vital forms of self-care.

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, EMOTIONAL EATING, EATING PATTERN, AND GENETIC TRAITS WITH OBESITY AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS

ABSTRACTBackground: The prevalence of obesity continues to rise steadily due to various factors. The demanding academic schedules leads to reduced physical activities among female students. Academic stress may induce emotional instability, which may result in emotional eating. Excessive food intake may ultimately contribute to the development of obesity.Objectives: This study aims to analyse factors contributing to obesity in female students, such as physical activity, emotional eating, eating pattern, and genetic traits. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional research design, was conducted at Jenderal Sudirman University in October 2022. A sample comprising 54 female students was selected through a stratified random sampling technique. Research instruments were International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) to assess physical activity levels, the Emotional Eating Scale (SSES) to gauge emotional eating tendencies, the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to evaluate dietary patterns, and a genetic questionnaire to ascertain genetic antecedents. The bivariate analysis between variables were conducted using Chi-Square test.Results: There is a statistically significant correlation between emotional eating behaviors and the prevalence of obesity (p=0.028). Furthermore, a statistically significant association is observed between genetic factors and the incidence of obesity (p=0.000). In contrast, no statistically significant relationships are discerned between obesity and physical activity (p=0.386), high-energy dietary patterns (p=0.268), or low-energy dietary patterns (p=0.102). Conclusion: This investigation substantiates the presence of a relationship between emotional eating tendencies and genetic factors with the manifestation of obesity among the studied population. Conversely, no discernible relationships were identified between physical activity, dietary patterns, and obesity. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of obesity etiology and highlight the prominence of emotional and genetic influences in this context.Keywords: Eating pattern; Emotional Eating; Genetic, Obesity; Physical Activity

An exploration of community food pantries in Scotland: strategic and operational perspectives on addressing food insecurity and health inequalities

Introduction: Food insecurity and health are inextricably linked. Since 2008, Scotland has witnessed a proliferation of both food insecurity and emergency food provision. There is a recognised commitment from Scottish Government to ‘end the need for food banks’, however, the food aid landscape was ‘turbo-charged’ during COVID-19 leading to intense expansion and diversification of food-based projects, including the development of community food pantries (CFPs). These ‘new’ models are relatively under-researched, meaning we do not adequately understand their potential or realised impacts on food insecurity and health. This study aims to fill that gap.MethodsA qualitative methodology was used to collect and analyse data from in-depth interviews with 10 representatives from both operational and policy settings related to food insecurity in Scotland. In addition, we conducted an analysis of policy documentation from Scottish Government related to tackling food insecurity to understand how CFPs fit into its overall strategy to transition away from food bank use.ResultsWe found there were variations in conceptualisations of CFPs and how they operate, challenges related to addressing food insecurity at a community level and varied narratives around the role of community level interventions in tackling health inequalities. Choice and access to services were viewed as central components to the pantry model. However, there were significant challenges faced by CFPs, including territorialism, funding and food supply. Articulations of health were often multi-layered and complicated with strong recognition of the social determinants as well as acknowledgement of the limitations of tackling food insecurity and health inequalities solely at the community level.ConclusionsDespite a commitment to transition away from emergency food provision, CFPs in Scotland appear to face many of the same issues as food banks, particularly those which impact health. Urgent critique of their reliance on surplus food redistribution is required alongside investigation of how these ‘new’ models are experienced by the people who access them. Further expansion of these models should be viewed with caution and in the same vein as traditional emergency food provision: a symptom of, rather than a solution to, the problem of food insecurity.

Assessment of Food Wastage in Hostel Messes – An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Abstract Introduction: The level of food waste must be assessed to ensure food security, as increasing agricultural productivity alone will not be sufficient. A common contributor to food waste is unintentionally heaping the plate with more food than is intended. In areas with a mass group and an endless supply of food, like a hostel mess, the amount of food wasted rises drastically. Thus, we planned to explore the reasons of food wastage amongst the resident students in the hostel mess and to know the possible solutions to reduce its waste. Methodology: It was a qualitative exploratory study carried out amongst 50 students residing in girls’ and boys’ hostel of tertiary care teaching hospital. Informed consent was taken from all the study participants. Free listing was done to find the reasons and possible solutions of food wastage with validated interview guide. The data were entered and analysed using Visual Anthropac software. Results: The three categories emerged from the reasons of food wastage were student-related factors, mess staff-related factors and management-/warden-related factors. The most salient student-related factors voted for food wastage were 20% ordering food from outside without prior intimation, 15% said that they deliberately waste food as they paid for it, 60% of the participants felt that the taste of the food was not up to the level and 45% proclaimed that cooking more food than required. The management-related factors were monotonous menu (35%). Conclusion: Despite surplus food production wastage of food occurs due to the lethargic behaviour of everyone on food wastage. It is imperative for each one of us to judiciously consume food which is required which solves half of the problems of wastage and the unmanageable wasting can be used to create energy or other purposes in order to prevent complete wastage and produce energy.

Peracetic acid enhanced anaerobic co-digestion of excess sludge and food waste: performance and mechanism

ABSTRACT Anaerobic co-digestion of excess sludge (ES) and food waste (FW) has been proven to be a clean and efficient strategy for the resource recovery of organic waste. However, the methane production from the anaerobic co-digestion of ES and FW is not optimal. This study reports a new strategy of using peracetic acid (PAA) pretreatment to enhance the anaerobic co-digestion of ES and FW and reveals the underlying mechanisms. The results confirm that PAA can effectively promote the production of methane from the anaerobic co-digestion of ES and FW, with the maximum methane yield reaching 416 mL/g volatile suspended solids at a PAA content of 9% (w/w). Mechanistic analysis indicates that PAA efficiently facilitates the solubilization of organic matter, promoting the release of soluble proteins and polysaccharides, and accelerating the metabolic conversion of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to prevent excessive acidification. The maximum output of VFA in the PAA group was 1,511–1,974 mg/L, which was lower than that in the control group. Batch experimental analysis revealed that PAA promoted the hydrolysis and acidification processes, but inhibited the methanogenic process. The PAA pretreatment technique provides a theoretical basis for the efficient treatment of organic matter in urban areas.

Lifestyle, meal times, and sleep patterns changes in higher education professors during COVID-19: Association with non-communicable chronic diseases.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions had to swiftly adapt and transition to remote teaching in order to maintain academic activities. However, these changes presented a number of challenges for professors, which could have negative effects on their health. To analyze the association between changes in dietary and sleep habits, physical activity level, and sedentary behavior with the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Brazilian higher education professors during the pandemic period. This is a cross-sectional and retrospective study conducted using an online form. Generalized linear models, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, were used to verify the difference between pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Logistic regression models were used to predict the odds ratio (OR) for the development of NCDs according to physical activity time, sedentary behavior time, dietary and sleep patterns. A total of 936 professors residing across Brazil participated in the survey. The duration of sedentary behavior increased, sleep duration slightly decreased, and meal times shifted to earlier during the pandemic. A total of 22.9%of the participants reported the diagnosis of some NCDs during this period. Physical activity practice was associated with a lower risk of diseases during the pandemic, regardless of the intensity performed. On the other hand, late eating habits and excessive food consumption during the pandemic were associated with a higher risk. The results provide data that can help in the development of public policies that promote health actions to minimize the consequences associated with the pandemic period.

Blockchain-Driven Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Review for Unexplored Opportunities

This systematic review critically examines the diverse applications of Blockchain technology in the food supply chain and identifies areas where its potential remains underutilized. By analysing 60 Blockchain-based frameworks, the study highlights the most frequently employed drivers such as transparency, traceability, and security within food supply chains. Additionally, underexplored applications such as food donation and redistribution, supply chain financing, animal welfare, food waste management, and data analysis are identified, revealing opportunities for further innovation. The research employed NVivo 14 to analyze the extent of Blockchain’s implementation in various food supply chain drivers, and the findings informed the development of a more diverse framework for Blockchain integration. Key insights demonstrate Blockchain’s transformative potential, particularly in enhancing data integrity, trust, and operational efficiency through its immutable ledger and smart contracts, which streamline transactions, cut administrative costs, and reduce fraud. In terms of sustainability and safety, Blockchain improves traceability, accelerates safety responses, promotes environmental sustainability by tracking resource usage, and enhances humanitarian efforts with transparent, efficient resource distribution. Additionally, Blockchain facilitates food waste reduction by optimizing inventory and distribution, while ensuring surplus food reaches those in need. The study concludes by offering a roadmap for future research, pointing toward untapped dimensions of Blockchain’s application in food traceability, sustainable supply chain management, and environmental & social impact. While the review provides a comprehensive understanding of Blockchain’s current usage in food supply chains, the scope is limited by the systematic review process and specific inclusion criteria. This study serves as a foundation for exploring Blockchain’s broader potential in shaping the future of food supply chains.

The Growth of Food Aid in Sweden – How Demand and Supply are Transforming Charitable Organisations

Abstract The purpose of this article is to describe and analyse the growth in food aid in Sweden, and how it affects the non-profit organisations providing it. The particular type of food aid in focus is large-scale collaborations between charitable non-profit organisations and the food industry, through which food surplus is turned into food aid for people in food insecurity. The first examples of such food aid emerged less than 10 years ago in Sweden, but it has since experienced a dramatic growth. The development in Sweden follows a pattern known from many other European countries, with the exception that it is going faster, as if Sweden is catching up. This makes food aid in Sweden an interesting case for an empirical study. The article is based on an interview study performed in 2022. Staff and managers at two large, national organisations were interviewed about how the rapid growth in food aid has affected their work and the institutional logics of their organisations. They also provided their thoughts on the role of food aid in Swedish society. One of the main findings is that the growth in food aid bring both the benefit of more people in need receiving help, and the challenge of strain as well as concerns regarding ethics and mission drift in the organisations. Another finding is that the growth is driven by both a growth in demand for food aid, but also by a growth in supply of food from the charities and their corporate partnerships.

Contradictions, dilemmas, views and motivations of volunteers in two community food support schemes in two London boroughs

The voluntary and charitable sector is responsible for much food support in the UK, in the absence of direct government action. A rise in food insecurity (FI) places additional importance on the work of unpaid volunteers, instrumental in food support schemes. Their perceptions, views and experiences are essential contributors to maintaining and enhancing such provision. Semi-structured interviews were held with 51 volunteers at two food support schemes in neighbouring London boroughs. Most volunteers were white and middle-aged and almost half were in paid work. Generally high levels of empathy towards clients were expressed, although some were concerned about possible abuse of the support. Contradictory views were expressed in relation to both personal responsibility for FI and the pay-as-you-feel model; training on both is needed. Major motivators for involvement in volunteering were the perceived value of the work and alignment of projects with personal interests, skills and beliefs. Benefits were viewed as wider than solely nutritional. Ethical difficulties described included the appropriateness of using surplus food to address FI, allowing supermarkets to effectively ‘greenwash’ and failing to address underlying drivers of both FI and food overproduction. Volunteers were also concerned that their involvement allowed the government to abdicate responsibility.

Seaweed sinking has great potential for climate mitigation in China

With the intensification of the greenhouse effect, the climate-mitigation role of marine carbon sequestration (blue carbon) is gaining more attention. Seaweed aquaculture, as an important nature-based solution that provides various ecosystem services while as a food source, have become the main way of marine biological carbon sequestration. As an emerging carbon dioxide removal strategy, sinking seaweeds to the deep sea for additional CO2 sequestration to contribute to Paris Agreement temperature goal have attracted much attention. Currently, the ecological value assessment of sinking seaweeds is immature, and there is also a conflict between with traditional food values. However, in the long term, the value of carbon sequestration will continuously rise as global emission reduction advance, and rapidly growing seaweed production will be able to fully satisfy food demand in the future. Therefore, sinking surplus seaweeds to convert excess food value into higher ecological value is more compatible with development prospects, and long-term planning for sinking seaweed is particularly important. As the largest seaweed farming country, China accounted for more than half of the world’s production in 2021, possessing a huge potential for carbon sequestration. Incorporating factors such as food requirements, emission reduction demands and population changes, this paper explored the feasibility and planning of sinking seaweeds to serve the achievement of climate goals under five SSP-RCP scenarios in 2020–2050. The results indicate that with the slowdown in population growth and increasing demand for climate mitigation, the ecological value of seaweeds has more development potential than the edible value, and thus the sunken seaweed task should be placed more in the later period (2041–2050 phase) to maximize the ecological benefits of seaweed farming. Sinking seaweed is able to serve the SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5 scenarios relatively well, while the realization of the SSP1-1.9 scenario presents some challenges.

Tech-enabled solutions for student hunger: A comprehensive analysis of food surplus, community dynamics, and usability

In this study, we explore the interconnected issues of food wastage, student hunger, and the potential of technology to facilitate food sharing. We begin by examining the general problem of food insecurity on university campuses and its impact on student well-being and academic performance. Through a mixed-methods approach involving 30 participants (13 Males (43%) and 17 Females (57%)), we gather both qualitative and quantitative data to understand attitudes towards surplus food and the challenges of accessing food when needed. Our quantitative findings reveal that while 69.6% of participants are willing to share surplus food, only 39.1% have access to a viable network for food distribution. Qualitative insights further uncover the profound effects of food insecurity on students, who advocate for technological solutions featuring financial tracking, transparent food distribution, and privacy measures to enhance the food-sharing experience. Building on these findings, we conduct a heuristic evaluation of a low-fidelity prototype designed to address the identified challenges. The results underscore the need for a user-friendly interface that aligns with students' preferences, with key areas for refinement highlighted for future development. Following this, we refine the application and evaluate it using the System Usability Scale, which provides valuable insights into user experiences with the FeedLine prototype. While the overall impressions are positive, the feedback also highlights the need for improved onboarding support and clearer communication of the app's capabilities. This research contributes to the development of a technology-driven solution aimed at alleviating food-related challenges among students.

The Effect of Multi-Strategy Nutrition Education Programs on Hedonic Hunger and Nutrition Status in Adolescents.

Objective: Increasing the awareness of adolescents about hedonic hunger, understanding the difference between homeostatic hunger and hedonic hunger, and adolescents learning to control themselves to stop excessive food consumption are extremely important for a healthy adulthood. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of the multi-strategy nutrition education programs (MSNEP) on hedonic hunger, food addiction, nutrition literacy, and nutritional status in adolescents. Methods: This study was planned using a pre-test and post-test design. The MSNEP was conducted with 132 adolescents (11-15 years; 69 boys, 63 girls) for 4 weeks (45 min-1 h/session). Data were obtained using questionnaires with face-to-face interviews at pre-education (baseline) and post-education (week 4 and week 8). The survey form included sociodemographic information, nine item short version of Children's Power of Food Scale (C-PFS-9), the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0 (YFAS-C 2.0), the Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale (ANLS), anthropometric measurements, and 24-hour dietary recall. Results: A decrease in C-PFS-9 total scores was found compared to the baseline (p < 0.001). While the YFAS-C 2.0 score decreased in boys compared to the baseline (p < 0.05), no significant difference was found in girls (p > 0.05). A difference was found in the ANLS scores for girls (p = 0.01), but no difference was found in the scores for boys during the study (p > 0.05). At week 4, the consumption of dairy products, legumes, vegetables and fruits, bread and grains, nuts, and hard-shelled seeds increased compared to the baseline (p < 0.05). Also, daily protein and fiber intake increased (p < 0.05). Accordingly, a higher YFAS-C 2.0 score predicted greater hedonic hunger. A lower ANLS score was a predictor for higher food taste and food available scores. Conclusions: In conclusion, the MSNEP was found to have positive effects on hedonic hunger, food addiction, nutritional literacy, and healthy eating behaviors. The study revealed differences between girls and boys. In order to maintain healthy body weights in adolescents, it is recommended that the MSNEP be provided in schools.

The Perception of Consumer Behaviors in Subscription Platforms for Surplus Food Restaurants-An Analytical View of the Technology Acceptance Model.

Subscription services have become popular in recent years, breaking the traditional business model of one-time payment and prompting operators to build long-term loyal relationships with their customers. As smartphones are popular in Taiwan and the Taiwanese have a high acceptance of new technologies, is it possible for domestic restaurants to reach a win-win situation for both consumers and restaurant operators and to reduce food waste through subscription services? The Technology Acceptance Model was used in this study to explore consumers' perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitudes toward restaurant subscription platforms, with two variables, new environmental paradigm and environmental behavior, added to probe the relations with intention to use. This study was conducted by convenience and snowball sampling, and the subjects were consumers eating out. A total of 400 questionnaires were collected and 369 valid ones were returned, with a response rate of 92.25%. The results show that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, new environmental paradigm, environmental behaviors, and attitude toward using have significant positive effects, and attitude toward using has the same effect on intention to use. In addition, attitude toward using has a mediating effect on perceived usefulness, new environmental paradigm, environmental behavior, and intention to use. Finally, it is expected that the results of this study can be used as a reference for restaurant operators to adopt subscription services in order to build long-term and stable relationships with consumers. Furthermore, new entrepreneurs can also evaluate the feasibility of building a subscription platform like this one, which can provide a convenient and economical option for consumers dining out, as well as reduce food waste.

Food system adaptation and maintaining trade could mitigate global famine in abrupt sunlight reduction scenarios

After a major nuclear war, volcanic eruption or asteroid or comet impact that causes an abrupt sunlight reduction scenario, agricultural yields would plummet. We analyzed a nuclear winter scenario involving the injection of 150 Tg of soot in the stratosphere using a linear optimization model with and without global food trade. We investigated the effects of loss of global food trade, some simple adaptations like rationing and storage of excess food for the coldest years, and rapid, large-scale deployment of food sources which are less dependent on present day climate (so called resilient foods) including cool tolerant crops, methane single cell protein, lignocellulosic sugar, greenhouse crops, and seaweed. In the worst case of no global food trade and no adaptations, the model predicts a global famine. However, scaling up resilient foods quickly could mitigate this for many countries. Maintaining global food trade would further alleviate pressure on local food systems, unlocking the potential to feed the entire global population. However, insufficient preparation, post-disaster conflict, or economic collapse would worsen outcomes and hinder adaptation.

Hierarchy and cause–effect relationship of barriers to circular business models in food systems: a Fuzzy-DEMATEL analysis in the Berlin-Brandenburg area in Germany

ABSTRACT Food systems face significant environmental challenges, necessitating a shift towards sustainability and resource efficiency. Implementing circular economy principles and adopting new business models can significantly contribute to more sustainable food systems. These approaches address major issues in the linear economic model, such as excessive food loss and waste, resource depletion, and market volatility. However, due to various barriers, adopting new circular food systems confronts sluggish progress. This study identifies the hierarchical structure and cause-and-effect relationships of these barriers using the example of selected food systems in Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany. Employing the Fuzzy-DEMATEL analysis approach, this research identifies four primary causal barriers and four effect barriers classified across market development, finance, technological availability, knowledge management, as well as institutional domains. Furthermore, the study ranks these barriers based on their significance. It reveals that the top barriers are poor product design and waste management infrastructure, insufficient quantity and quality of material flow, and a lack of collaboration in the supply chain. In addition, weak policies, along with their inadequate evaluation and monitoring, act as the most influential causal barriers. These findings hold significant implications for practitioners and policymakers striving to promote the transition to circular food systems through innovative business models. Practitioners are advised to prioritize collaborations with different stakeholders to ensure proper waste management, by-product valorization, and resource efficiency. Concurrently, policymakers should enact supportive policies and effective governance structures based on the needs of the businesses and its stakeholders.

Using blockchain technology to achieve sustainability in the hospitality industry by reducing food waste

The hospitality industry generates significant food waste, leading to adverse environmental and economic impacts, social and ethical concerns, legal and regulatory issues, and operational challenges. The lack of traceability and trust among stakeholders in the hospitality industry exacerbates the expensive and difficult nature of food waste management. This work proposes a blockchain-based solution that aims to minimize food waste generated in hospitality outlets, thereby fostering a sustainable food ecosystem. Within this context, the term’sustainable food ecosystem’ refers to the interconnected network of stakeholders involved in the responsible management of food resources within the hospitality industry. In this context, we categorize these stakeholders under the umbrella of’food resource management entities,’ encompassing both food donation organizations and recycling companies, recognizing their distinct roles in the effective management of surplus food resources. With our proposed solution, businesses can track and verify the origin, movement, and disposal of food items in real-time, facilitating streamlined inventory planning, waste reduction, and heightened operational efficiency. Additionally, the proposed system ensures transparency and accountability, guaranteeing the proper and efficient disposal of food waste. Using a permissioned Ethereum network, our solution establishes seamless connectivity between food and beverage outlets and various food resource management entities. We present a generalized system for secure information sharing, integrating advanced algorithms tailored to capture and enhance trust among participating stakeholders. Furthermore, our thorough security analysis underscores the robustness of our proposed solution, effectively addressing various security vulnerabilities. Lastly, the proposed blockchain-based solution is commercially viable, enabling the hospitality industry to operate with enhanced efficiency while providing improved information connectivity for various stakeholders in the food supply chain.

Voluntary Wheel Running an Effective Intervention in the Management of Excessive Food Usage in CD-1 Mice (Mus musculus).

Some mice demonstrate excessive food-grinding behaviors in which food pellets are broken down into crumbs (orts). This is considered abnormal behavior and is undesirable in a research environment, as it is thought to potentially be a stereotypic behavior suggestive of a negative welfare state in these animals. Further, food grinding often necessitates more frequent food and bedding changes. Research outcomes may also be affected if investigators do not exclude food losses due to grinding when measuring food consumption. We hypothesized some mice may excessively grind food in part to expend energy and access to a running wheel would contribute to a reduction in food grinding. Total daily food usage (the combined weight of food consumption and ort production) was measured for 40 d in CD-1 mice that exhibited food grinding. Median daily food usage was compared 10 d before, 20 d during, and 10 d after access to a running wheel. Additional cages of similar food-grinding mice that did not have access to a running wheel were monitored during the same period for comparison. A significant reduction in food usage was observed in 8 out of the 20 d in which mice had access to a running wheel compared with controls (P < 0.05). This reduction was significantly less than the median daily food usage before and after the running wheels were available (P < 0.01). Food usage significantly increased sharply in the 3 d following removal of the running wheel compared with controls during the same period (P < 0.05). A positive correlation between relative humidity and median daily food usage was observed (P < 0.05). Despite fluctuations in relative humidity, providing a running wheel effectively reduced excessive food-grinding behavior.

The Influencing Mechanism of Household Food Purchasing Behavior and Household Reserve Efficiency under Non-Normal Conditions

Family reserves are an important part of national reserves, and how to do a good job in family reserves is a common concern of the government and society. Under the non-normal conditions of major accidents and disasters, wars, plagues, social unrest, etc., urban food supply mainly depends on external supply guarantee, and urban residents’ risk perception is more sensitive. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and Norm Activation Model, this study constructs an analytical framework for the risk perception, perceived behavior control, and family reserve efficacy of urban residents under non-normal conditions from the perspectives of rationality and sensibility, self-interest, and altruism. The perceived behavior control of household food reserves in non-normal conditions is affected by risk perception, subjective norms, and personal norms. On this basis, countermeasures and suggestions are put forward: Urban residents should strengthen their sense of risk and responsibility for storing food at home, reserve food appropriately, and develop a good habit of family saving. On the other hand, it is necessary to pay attention to personal norms, reduce the negative impact of subjective norms on residents, and avoid excessive food storage and food waste.