Search Results (9,609)

Prolonged consumption of animal-derived foods containing high levels of lincomycin (LIN) residues can adversely impact human health. Therefore, it is essential to develop specific antibodies and immunoassay methods for LIN. This study utilized computational chemistry to predict the efficacy of LIN haptens prior to chemical synthesis, with subsequent confirmation obtained through an immunization experiment. A hybridoma cell line named LIN/1B11 was established, which is specific to LIN. The optimized indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) method exhibited high specificity for detecting LIN residues, with an IC50 value of 0.57 ± 0.03 µg/kg. The method effectively detected LIN residues in pork and milk samples, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) ranging from 0.81 to 1.20 µg/kg and a limit of quantification (LOQ) ranging from 2.09 to 2.29 µg/kg, with recovery rates between 81.9% and 108.8%. This study offers a valuable tool for identifying LIN residues in animal-derived food products. Furthermore, the efficient hapten prediction method presented herein improves antibody preparation efficiency and provides a simple method for researchers in screening haptens. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Mediterranean diet has been widely suggested to exert significant beneficial effects on endothelial oxidative status and cardiometabolic health. Greek Orthodox monasteries, due to their specific nutritional and sartorial habits, comprise a population thatstrictly adheres to nutritional patterns with restricted eating and a plant-based subset of the Mediterranean diet, often accompanied by profound hypovitaminosis D. Time-restricted eating (TRE) is also adopted bya large part of the general lay Greek population for health-promoting reasons, without restrictions on animal product consumption, as imposed by Orthodox religious fasting. However, the comparative effects of these nutritional patterns on oxidative stress markers remain scarce. Methods: The present study attempted to evaluate the effects of Christian Orthodox fasting (COF) in a group of vitamin D-deficient and overweight Orthodox nuns from Central and Northern Greece compared to the implementation of TRE, a 16:8 dietary regimen (16 h of food abstinence and 8 h of feeding) in a cohort of adult women from the general population from the same region with regard to markers of endothelial oxidative status. A group of 50 women from two Orthodox monasteries in Northern Greece and one group of 50 healthy lay women were included. During the enrollment, a detailed recording of their dietary habits was performed, along with a scientific registry of their demographic and anthropometric characteristics (via bioimpedance). The Orthodox nuns followed a typical Orthodox fasting regimen [daily feeding window (8 a.m.–4 p.m.)], whereas the lay women followed a TRE 16:8 regimen with the same feeding time-window with a recommendation to follow a low-fat diet, without characteristics of the Mediterranean diet. We included a complete biochemical analysis, as well as calciotropic profiles [calcium—Ca, albumin, parathyroid hormone—PTH, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D—25(OH)D] and markers of TAC (total antioxidant capacity), GSH (glutathione),and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) concentrations as markers of oxidative status. Results: All the groups were compared at the baseline regarding their calcium, PTH, and 25(OH)D concentrations, with no statistically significant differences between the groups apart from higher PTH levels in the nuns due to lower 25(OH)D levels. The Orthodox nuns manifested a lower median GSH compared to the controls (6.0 vs. 7.2, p 0.04) and a higher median TAC (0.92 vs. 0.77, p < 0.001). The TBARS comparisons showed no significant difference between the two groups. No significant associations of oxidative status with 25(OH)D, PTH, and the markers of glucose homeostasis were evident. Conclusions: The results of this small pilot study indicate that both dietary regimens have advantages over the oxidative markers compared to each other, with increased TAC in the group of Orthodox nuns after a 16-week period of COF compared to a 16:8 TRE and increased GSH concentrations in the lay women group. Future randomized trials are required to investigate the superiority or non-inferiority between these dietary patterns in the daily clinical setting. Full article

One of the primary global objectives is to decrease building energy consumption to promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The large-scale food retail trade sector accounts for over 15% of total primary energy consumption in Europe, posing a significant challenge to the transition towards green energy. This study proposes a simple method for energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and cost-saving assessment and improvement in large-scale food retail trade buildings. It aims to analyze the energy and environmental performance of building–plant systems, establishing an interactive network to assess intervention potential for the energy transition. The investigation focuses on the proper selection and analysis of the benefits of retrofit solution implementation, emphasizing potential energy savings in current and future climate change scenarios. Dynamic simulation with the Building Energy Model (BEM) was used to evaluate the impacts of building–plant system retrofit solutions, such as high thermal insulation, photovoltaic (PV) panels, Light Emitting Diode (LED) installation, waste heat recovery, and improvement in refrigeration units. The results show a reduction in annual energy consumption for the PV panel installation by up to 29% and lighting systems with high-quality LED to 60%. Additionally, CO₂ emissions can be decreased by up to 41% by combining these two strategies. Full article

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. Female gender was a predictor for the total hedonic hunger score (β = −0.285, p = 0.026). 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. Full article

The gut microbiome is a dynamic ecosystem crucial for maintaining its host’s health by regulating various immune and metabolic functions. Since diet plays a fundamental role in shaping the gut microbiome, understanding the relationship between food consumption and microbiome structure is essential. Although medicinal plants are widely recognized for their broad health benefits, their specific impact on the gut microbiome remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of garlic (Allium sativum) on the gut microbiome using an in vitro human fecal incubation model. Our findings revealed that the impact of garlic on gut microbial structure varied depending on the dominant gut microbiome components (enterotypes). The Bacteroides-dominant enterotype exhibited significant changes in overall microbial diversity in response to garlic, while the Prevotella-dominant enterotype remained unaffected. Additionally, the garlic treatment led to specific alterations in microbiota composition, such as an increase in beneficial probiotics like Bifidobacterium. We validated garlic’s prebiotic potential by promoting the growth of Bifidobacterium adolescentis under in vitro culture conditions. Our study highlights the importance of understanding enterotype-specific responses to diet and suggests that garlic may serve as a dietary supplement for modulating gut microbiota and promoting the growth of beneficial probiotics. Full article

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is responsible for listeriosis, a serious foodborne disease, with high hospitalization and mortality rates worldwide. The main cause of listeriosis in humans is the consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods; Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 establishes microbiological criteria for Lm in RTE foods. Raw fish products are widely consumed, e.g., in sushi and various seafood recipes (e.g., carpaccio, sashimi, maki, nigiri, tartare, etc.), but are not subjected to RTE food safety criteria. The aim of our study was to assess the growth potential of Lm in raw sea bass fillets obtained from a leading aquaculture company in Greece. In order to assess the growth of Lm in raw sea bass fillets, we applied the “challenge test”, a scientific experiment designed to assess the growth of Lm within a specific food product under controlled conditions. According to our results, and taking into consideration the health risk for the listeriosis-vulnerable population, raw fish products utilized in the preparation of RTE foods, including sushi and an array of seafood dishes, should be incorporated in the Category of Safety Criteria of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 “Ready-to-eat food able to support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes”. Full article

Membrane technologies play a pivotal role in various industrial sectors, including food processing. Membranes act as barriers, selectively allowing the passage of one or other types of species. The separation processes that involve them offer advantages such as continuity, energy efficiency, compactness of devices, operational simplicity, and minimal consumption of chemical reagents. The efficiency of membrane separation depends on various factors, such as morphology, composition, and process parameters. Fouling, a significant limitation in membrane processes, leads to a decline in performance over time. Anti-fouling strategies involve adjustments to process parameters or direct modifications to the membrane, aiming to enhance efficiency. Recent research has focused on mitigating fouling, particularly in the food industry, where complex organic streams pose challenges. Membrane processes address consumer demands for natural and healthy products, contributing to new formulations with antioxidant properties. These trends align with environmental concerns, emphasizing sustainable practices. Despite numerous works on membrane modification, a research gap exists, especially with regard to the application of modified membranes in the food industry. This review aims to systematize information on modified membranes, providing insights into their practical application. This comprehensive overview covers membrane modification methods, fouling mechanisms, and distinct applications in the food sector. This study highlights the potential of modified membranes for specific tasks in the food industry and encourages further research in this promising field. Full article

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) has become increasingly important in recent years in terms of risk for public health, as the main causative agent of acute viral hepatitis. It is a foodborne disease transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated water or contaminated food. Human-to-human transmission is sporadic and is linked to transfusions or transplants. The main reservoirs of the hepatitis E virus are domestic pigs and wild boars, although, compared to pigs, wild boars represent a lesser source of risk since their population is smaller and the consumption of derived products is more limited. These peculiarities often make the role of the wild boar reservoir in the spread of the disease underestimated. As a public health problem that involves several animal species and humans, the management of the disease requires an interdisciplinary approach, and the concept of “One Health” must be addressed. In this direction, the present review intends to analyze viral hepatitis E, with a particular focus on wild boar. For this purpose, literature data have been collected from different scientific search engines: PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google scholar, and several keywords such as “HEV epidemiology”, “Extrahepatic manifestations of Hepatitis E”, and “HEV infection control measures”, among others, have been used. In the first part, the manuscript provides general information on the disease, such as epidemiology, transmission methods, clinical manifestations and implications on public health. In the second part, it addresses in more detail the role of wild boar as a reservoir and the implications related to the virus epidemiology. The document will be useful to all those who intend to analyze this infectious disease from a “One-Health” perspective. Full article

Background: Nutrition, cooking, and gardening lessons individually and together have been shown to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in school-aged children. The CATCH Rainbow program incorporated nutrition education, cooking, and gardening lessons aimed at increasing FV consumption in elementary school-aged children and assessed changes in participants’ BMI, self-reported FV consumption, and skin carotenoid levels at baseline and post-intervention. Methods: Two-hundred and twenty-five 4th and 5th graders (mean age: 9.8 years and 52% male participants) at Genoa Elementary School participated in six cooking and six gardening sessions between September 2021 and May 2022. Each nutrition education session was 25 min long, paired with either hands-on cooking activities or gardening skills. At baseline and post-intervention, participants’ height and weight were assessed with a stadiometer/scale, and skin carotenoid measurement was taken by a Veggie Meter^® (Longevity Link Corporation (Salt Lake City, UT, USA)). Students also completed the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire to self-report FV consumption at both time points. Focus groups were conducted with children at the end of the program for qualitative feedback. Results: paired samples T-test and regression analysis results indicate no significant decrease in BMI or significant increase in skin carotenoid scores from pre- to post-intervention. However, though not significant, there was an increase in self-reported FV intake by 0.4 servings. Additionally, the qualitative feedback was positive, as children mentioned benefits of healthy eating and expressed enjoyment for growing, cooking, and tasting fruits and vegetables. Conclusion: Results from this study can be used to guide future cooking and gardening programs for elementary school children. Time of the year when implementing these programs and collecting data may impact study outcomes due to seasonal variations in fruit and vegetable intake. Full article

Background/Objectives: The current gender-specific nutritional assessment methods for the transgender population may not cover the unique physiological characteristics of the gender transition process. Considering the potential effects of hormone therapy (HT), it has become relevant to review current evidence on the nutritional status of the transgender population. This systematic review aims to provide an updated report of the characteristics of the nutritional status, including food habits, and eating disorders in transgender individuals undergoing HT. Methods: Five databases were researched (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, and Cochrane Library) from database inception to May 2024. The PRISMA 2020 statement was used. Studies focusing on adult transgender individuals (18 to 65 years old) that included outcomes related to nutritional status, HT, and food habits were considered for this review. The NOS and NIH tools were chosen to perform the risk of bias and quality assessment. Results: A total of 122 studies were identified, and 27 were included in this review. These studies comprised sixteen cohorts, seven cross-sectional, and four case studies, with a combined number of 8827 participants. BMI was the most referenced parameter, varying between low weight and overweight. High food insecurity frequency, restricted eating behaviors, high fat intake, and low levels of vegetable, grain, and fruit consumption were also observed. Conclusions: While nutritional status was perceived as a relevant factor when administering HT, the relationship between HT with both nutritional status and food habits has been insufficiently explored and warrants further research. Full article

The article presents the possibilities of using by-products from the agri-food industry in the form of fruit and vegetable pomace as a supplementary ingredient to extruded food products in the form of snack pellets. In the recipe based on potato starch, pomace from apples, chokeberries, pumpkin, nigella seed and flaxseed were added in amounts of 10%, 20% and 30%. The prepared raw material blends were processed using a single-screw extruder-cooker with a plastification system L/D = 20 and variable screw speed. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of pomace addition on the extrusion-cooking process, i.e., efficiency and energy consumption, as well as on selected physical properties of the obtained food pellets, such as expansion index, bulk density and durability. The addition of selected pomace influenced the extrusion-cooking process and the physical properties of the extrudates. A percentage contribution ranging from 10 to 20% can optimize the extrusion-cooking process and improve the quality characteristics of the final product, while simultaneously utilizing by-products from the agri-food industry and reducing their negative environmental impact. Full article

Food waste indicates ineffective and irresponsible consumption of resources, particularly during the food consumption stage. The aim of our research study is to optimize the catering management process at Latvian schools by reducing the amount of plate waste. The experts developed a set of recommendations aimed at improving the catering management process at schools. The recommendations developed were supported by measurable parameters, which must be monitored by school staff. The capability-driven development approach was applied to model the recommendation system. A plate waste predictive module and a large language model classifier were integrated into the system to support sustainable decision-making. The large language model classifier was trained to filter questions and recommendations. Three training methods were compared: training from scratch and finetuning by using datasets DBPedia and News Category Dataset. As a result, we present the list of recommendations based on the literature review, and the prototype of the knowledge-based recommendation system was developed to audit the school catering management process and promote sustainable school management and decision-making. The recommendation system aims to reduce plate waste due to deficiencies in the implementation of the catering process and to promote responsible food consumption at schools. Full article

Edible mushroom products, encompassing both cultivated and wild varieties, are highly favored by consumers due to their rich nutritional profiles, including significant levels of proteins and amino acids. These mushrooms have extensive applications across the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, making the edible mushroom industry a vital component of global poverty alleviation efforts. Taking China as an example, the country produces over 45 million tons of edible mushrooms annually, accounting for 94.01% of the world’s total production, thereby establishing itself as the leading global producer of edible mushrooms. However, alongside the rapid expansion of this industry, concerns have emerged regarding counterfeit products and incidents of poisoning resulting from the consumption of toxic wild mushrooms. As follows, to advance the development and integrity of the mushroom production and processing industry: (1) This study presents the situation of counterfeit edible mushrooms and elucidates the factors contributing to the production of fraudulent products from both subjective and non-subjective perspectives. (2) We provide a detailed introduction to 22 varieties of freshly cultivated edible mushrooms and commonly encountered wild edible mushrooms in the Chinese consumer market, proposing the application of DNA barcoding, environmental DNA analysis, and other technologies for the future authentication of counterfeit mushroom products. (3) Concurrently, we present an overview of mushroom poisoning incidents in China from 2010 to 2023, emphasizing the challenges in mitigating the risks associated with wild mushroom consumption and preventing food poisoning, thereby necessitating heightened consumer caution. (4) Finally, we offer four recommendations aimed at ensuring the healthy, stable, and sustainable growth of the edible mushroom industry. Full article

We used lipid, fatty acid, and stable isotope analyses to investigate variation, over nine months, in the trophodynamics of 10 dominant cryptofaunal, macroalgal/algal, and environmental components from two sites within a rhodolith (Lithothamnion glaciale) bed in southeastern Newfoundland (Canada). There was an overall shift from a diatom-based food web following the spring phytoplankton bloom to a kelp/algae-based food web during fall, accompanied by preferred use of EPA (20:5ω3) over DHA (22:6ω3) in most cryptofauna. The food web contained three trophic levels that encompassed: (1) direct feeding relationships from primary producers (e.g., rhodoliths, macroalgae) to second-order consumers (e.g., sea stars, polychaetes); (2) trophic subsidy from within and outside the rhodolith bed via settlement, resuspension, and consumption of macroalgal fragments and other detrital organic matter; and (3) strong pelagic/benthic coupling. Riverine input did not affect cryptofaunal diets, as shown by the lack of terrestrial biomarkers at the study site nearest to the riverine input, and there were minor differences in trophodynamics between both study sites. The present study’s findings, applicable to relatively broad spatial and temporal domains, as well as those of complementary studies of the same rhodolith bed, uncover high spatio-temporal stability of the rhodolith bed framework and of resident cryptofaunal abundance, diversity, and trophodynamics. Full article

With the anticipated population growth by 2050, the demand for high-quality protein for human consumption is set to rise. To enhance the sustainability of U.S. cattle production, producers and researchers have traditionally concentrated on improving the feed efficiency of steers through advancements in genetics, nutrition, and microbiome tools, resulting in a more marketable beef product. However, without successful pregnancies, there would be no marketable animals to feed. Despite extensive research on hormonal impacts on cattle physiology, including nutrition and reproduction, there is limited knowledge about how the rumen microbial environment is impacted by pregnancy and feed efficiency in female beef cattle. Understanding the rumen microbiome’s role in feed efficiency and its response to hormonal changes during pregnancy is crucial for advancing sustainable beef cattle production. Therefore, this review highlights the importance of understanding the microbial dynamics in the rumen of pregnant beef females. Although progress has been made, gaps remain in understanding how varying nutritional requirements throughout pregnancy affect the rumen microbiome, highlighting the need for continued research. Addressing these areas will lead to more efficient and sustainable cattle production practices, benefiting beef production and contributing to global food security. Full article