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This study provides occurrence data for acrylamide in various foodstuffs, including those covered by Recommendation (EU) 2019/1888, from 210 samples purchased on the Belgian market. Detection frequencies exceeded 84% in potato-based products other than fries, vegetable crisps, black olives, cocoa powders, coffee substitutes and cereals and snacks. Large variations in acrylamide levels were found in cereals and snacks, with no correlation between cereal type or processing. Snacks containing chia did not show higher acrylamide levels than other cereal-based snacks. Maximum levels found were 4389 and 3063 µg kg−1 in coffee substitutes and vegetable crisps, respectively. Potato-based products contained 2 to 27 times less acrylamide when prepared in oven, compared to deep fryer processing. Artificially oxidised "Californian-style" black olives contained five times more acrylamide than "Greek-style" olives. In bread, pastries, nuts, oilseeds, dried fruits and confectionaries, detection frequencies varied from 27 to 69% and the average acrylamide content was <30 µg kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

United Nations bodies call for legal responses to restrict children's exposure to unhealthy food marketing; however, few governments have introduced legislative controls. This research studies the underlying political economy influences that impacted the introduction of legal responses. We used a multiple case study methodology to examine the political economy influences on the policy process in three contexts (Chile, Canada and the UK). Data from documentary evidence and 21 semi-structured key informant interviews were analysed using a political economy framework studying the institutions, interests, ideas and the associated power dynamics that shaped the policy process. The prevailing neoliberal ideologies and overarching institutional paradigm, in which all actors were operating, meant any form of government intervention had to be justified, evidence-based and no more intrusive on commercial enterprise and public life than necessary. The neoliberal paradigm permeated each of the political economy elements (institutions, ideas and interests). In addition, its influence was observed in all stages of the policy process, from introduction through to adoption of the resulting law or regulation, and experienced in both the executive and legislative branches of government. A paradigm shift away from the protection and primacy of commercial enterprise and limited government interference would reduce the barriers governments face when introducing legislative responses to unhealthy food marketing. These dynamics may be tempered if institutional, actor and discursive power is harnessed in support of the legitimate public health measure, which would involve a strong mandate for the ministry responsible and a dedicated and influential policy entrepreneur. - Provides an insight into how three different governments legislated unhealthy food marketing. - Provides lessons for other governments about what challenges those countries faced and how they overcame them. - Considers the political reality behind policy making that impacts on how evidence-based policy making occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been relatively little research on youth's exposure to food marketing on digital media, which is important as new digital platforms emerge and youth spend more time online. Evidence evaluating different policy approaches to restricting digital food marketing to children is also limited. This study examined differences in self-reported exposure to digital food marketing between children and adolescents in different policy environments: Ontario (where food marketing is self-regulated) and Quebec (where advertising is government regulated). Methods: An observational cross-sectional online survey was conducted in April 2023 among children (aged 10–12 years) and adolescents (13–17 years) from Ontario and Quebec, recruited by Leger Marketing. Participants self-reported their frequency of exposure to food marketing via various digital platforms and marketing techniques. Logistic regression and proportional odds models examined differences in exposure by province and age group, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and digital device usage. Results: The odds of reporting more frequent exposure to marketing of sugary drinks (OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.69), sugary cereals (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.86), salty/savoury snacks (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.96), fast food (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.92), and desserts/sweet treats (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.78) were lower among Quebec children than Ontario children. Quebec children were less likely than Ontario children (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38, 0.84), but more likely than Quebec adolescents (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.42), to report exposure to unhealthy food marketing on one or more gaming/TV/music streaming platform/website(s). Compared with Ontario children, Quebec children were less likely to report exposure to marketing featuring characters or child/teenage actors (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.76), child-appealing subjects, themes and language (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.89), and visual design, audio and special effects (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.99), and to report exposure to a greater number of marketing techniques (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.84). Conclusions: Exposure to unhealthy food marketing on digital media is high for youth from Ontario and Quebec, particularly for Ontario children. These findings reinforce the need for federal regulations to protect Canadian youth from unhealthy food marketing on digital media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rise in social media users has spurred innovative marketing strategies, particularly in content consumption. ASMRtists, creators of sensational media content, are capturing attention across the business world, especially in the food and beverage industry. This study addresses a research scarcity by exploring a link between food ASMRtists (FAs) and sensory marketing using a mixed-method technique. Phase one involved a qualitative content analysis of 240 posts uploaded by the eight most-followed FAs on Instagram, examining visual and textual elements (18,912 texts). Phase two conducted a quantitative analysis of post engagement through the number of likes, views, comments, shares, featured posts, post frequency, and duration of posts. The research results depict an essential comprehension of sensory engagement for practitioners enhancing marketing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the history of cheese produced in the Silesian region (Poland). The purpose of the research was to collect documentation on cheese, for which the name "śląski" cheese ("Silesian" cheese) is adopted in this paper. The research method was a query, and the research materials were archival documents collected in Polish libraries and archives. Conducting a comprehensive search made it possible to collect relevant information on "śląski" cheese. The authors also carried out a survey to obtain data on consumer behaviour in the regional food market. Based on the research, there is a strong rationale for taking steps to safeguard the name "śląski" cheese by acquiring a Protected Designation of Origin or Protected Geographical Indication status. As a significant cheese producer in the European Union, Poland should promote cheeses associated with a specific region. "Śląski" cheese has the potential to become a symbol of the Silesia region in the southwestern part of Poland. This research is an example of documentation gathering and could be helpful to all those who are trying to obtain geographical indications for regional products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify and evaluate the difference between voluntary and mandatory food marketing policies and regulations targeting childhood obesity and to study the role of media, the food industry, and private associations in implementing such policies. Methods: A review of policies and legislation about unhealthy food marketing was conducted by searching and extracting relevant grey literature from the websites of international health agencies, food marketing pledge databases, GINA, and NOURISHING policy databases. Statutory laws and self-regulations of high-income countries were compared with each other and with the WHO recommendations. Results: Regulations differ regarding target audience, nutrient profiling, communication media, and marketing techniques. To date, no country has implemented comprehensive regulations restricting all forms of unhealthy food marketing. Statutory laws are more meticulous and rigorous than self-regulatory policies. Conclusion: The goal of reducing childhood obesity through restrictions on unhealthy food advertising has not been met. While not welcomed by all actors, mandatory regulations may be more effective than voluntary measures in reaching this goal. A system for monitoring adherence to regulations and providing both incentives and penalties for violations is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels are gaining importance as healthy eating nudge. As a European Union-wide FOP system is under discussion, it is important to examine the understanding of FOPs in various European countries. This study investigates consumer understanding of four FOPs (Heart Symbol, Keyhole, Nutri-Score, Guideline Daily Amounts) and associated consumer characteristics (age, gender, household income, health interest, unhealthy = tasty belief, environmental concern in food choice) in Finland. In an online experiment, 2428 participants ranked products (yoghurt or granola) according to healthiness first without, then with a randomized FOP. Heart Symbol appeared as the most efficient FOP in nutritional assessment of yoghurts. In granolas, Heart Symbol and Nutri-Score performed equally. FOPs were less helpful for older consumers in both product categories and for men in yoghurts. There is a connection between FOP understanding and consumer attitudes. The results contribute to public policy and food industry in FOP implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many universities maintain pouring rights contracts (PRCs) with beverage companies wherein one company exchanges sponsorship payments for exclusive beverage marketing rights. Separately, universities may have healthy beverage initiatives (HBIs) to encourage healthier choices on campus. This study aimed to assess how and how frequently PRCs included provisions related to health and nutrition to examine how PRCs may support or undermine HBIs. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: U.S. public universities with >20,000 students. Sample: 131 PRCs obtained from 124 of 143 universities in 2019-2020. Measures: Primary outcomes were the presence of provisions that could encourage or discourage promotion of healthy beverages (water, diet soda, unsweetened coffee or tea, and 100% juice), and any other provisions explicitly or implicitly referencing health or nutrition. Analysis: Descriptive statistics. Results: Twelve contracts (9%) had explicit commitments from the company or university to promote healthy beverages or adhere to nutrition standards, including five committing to support HBIs, four committing to healthy vending policies, and three describing activities to promote healthy beverage brands. Ten (8%) had provisions explicitly inhibiting water promotion and 55 (42%) had provisions that could be interpreted that way. Eleven (8%) included other health and nutrition provisions, such as funding for unspecified wellness activities. Conclusion: Most university beverage contracts did not expressly aim to support healthy choices, and more than half had provisions potentially limiting universities' ability to implement HBIs. When present, nutrition standards were weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How are moral markets organized? While previous research has shown that moral markets combine conventional and alternative elements, it has failed to explain how these hybridizations can ensure the organization of moral markets. To this end, we take an economic-sociological approach using ethnographic materials from a study of Swedish Reko-rings, a direct-to-customer market for local foods, to analyse how actors address the key coordination problems of value, competition and cooperation. The analysis shows how participants of these markets enact an 'alternative framing', emphasizing economic certainty as instrumental for moral certainty, which enables them to develop and implement 'alternativized' solutions to market coordination problems. Thereby, participants make economic and moral values certain by making the former instrumental for the latter. We advance previous research by showing that moral markets require not just hybridization, but hybridization guided by a specific economic-moral framing that enables these markets to avoid co-option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background There has been relatively little research on youth’s exposure to food marketing on digital media, which is important as new digital platforms emerge and youth spend more time online. Evidence evaluating different policy approaches to restricting digital food marketing to children is also limited. This study examined differences in self-reported exposure to digital food marketing between children and adolescents in different policy environments: Ontario (where food marketing is self-regulated) and Quebec (where advertising is government regulated). Methods An observational cross-sectional online survey was conducted in April 2023 among children (aged 10–12 years) and adolescents (13–17 years) from Ontario and Quebec, recruited by Leger Marketing. Participants self-reported their frequency of exposure to food marketing via various digital platforms and marketing techniques. Logistic regression and proportional odds models examined differences in exposure by province and age group, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and digital device usage. Results The odds of reporting more frequent exposure to marketing of sugary drinks (OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.69), sugary cereals (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.86), salty/savoury snacks (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.96), fast food (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.92), and desserts/sweet treats (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.78) were lower among Quebec children than Ontario children. Quebec children were less likely than Ontario children (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38, 0.84), but more likely than Quebec adolescents (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.42), to report exposure to unhealthy food marketing on one or more gaming/TV/music streaming platform/website(s). Compared with Ontario children, Quebec children were less likely to report exposure to marketing featuring characters or child/teenage actors (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.76), child-appealing subjects, themes and language (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.89), and visual design, audio and special effects (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.99), and to report exposure to a greater number of marketing techniques (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.84). Conclusions Exposure to unhealthy food marketing on digital media is high for youth from Ontario and Quebec, particularly for Ontario children. These findings reinforce the need for federal regulations to protect Canadian youth from unhealthy food marketing on digital media.

In this commentary, we thus call for more research that addresses demand-side GHG emission mitigation strategies related to food - that is, the reduction of meat consumption and food waste - from an international marketing perspective. The global food system (i.e., production, transport, processing, packaging, storage, retail, consumption, loss, and waste of food) is responsible for 34% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ([4]). It would therefore be interesting to study how Western consumers may overcome food neophobia, particularly related to the consumption of insects and seaweed, two foods already included in Asian diets and have great potential to serve as an alternative protein source to meat. [Extracted from the article]

The first designers specialized in food design in the Netherlands about 25 years ago. Since then, more and more designers have joined them and presented their work at exhibitions and events. In addition, specialized food design courses and curricula have been developed. However, interviews with professionals and scientists in the field of nutrition and public health show that the term food design is still largely unknown and often interpreted negatively, pointing to how food marketing manipulates consumers and seduces them into buying unhealthy products. Nevertheless, participants see opportunities for designers to support healthy and sustainable food choices by presenting them in a more attractive way or in more prominent locations. In addition, designers could improve food or optimize its packaging, improve nutrition education, redesign food environments and facilitate collaboration between stakeholders to achieve systemic change. However, to create impact, the public should better understand what food design is and how it can contribute, and designers should demonstrate that their interventions are effective.

Unhealthy food marketing influences children’s food preferences, intake and rates of obesity. Currently, there is no mandatory national food marketing policy that restricts food marketing to youth in Canada. Little is known about the effects news media may have on the policy process with regard to food marketing. This study aimed to investigate how the Canadian media portrays the issue of food marketing policy, what perspectives are being framed, and who is being quoted. An article search of Canadian news sources on the databases Eureka and Factiva was conducted for the period 1 November 2015 and 1 November 2021. Sixty-five unique news articles on food marketing regulation were identified and a content analysis of each was conducted. The majority of news articles on food marketing regulation framed the topic around health (e.g. obesity, poor dietary intake) and lack of regulation. Food marketing regulation was identified as a solution to the problem in nearly all articles analyzed and was presented positively in 64.6% of articles. Few harms of marketing regulation were identified, while the two main benefits observed were reduced child obesity rates and exposure to food marketing. This study emphasizes the agenda-setting role of news media that were supportive of promoting public health goals. The Canadian media positively promotes government regulation of unhealthy food marketing.

The widespread use of social media among children has raised concerns about its impact on their dietary habits and health. This systematic review investigates the negative effects of social media on children’s diets to inform evidence-based interventions and policies. A search of peer-reviewed studies from 2020 to 2024 was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies involving children aged 5–18 and examining social media’s influence on diet were included. Two independent reviewers screened the studies, and data extraction and quality assessment were done using standardized methods. Of 945 identified studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. The key themes included (1) exposure to unhealthy food advertisements, (2) peer influence promoting energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, (3) distorted body image perceptions leading to unhealthy eating, and (4) reduced mealtime quality due to social media distractions. Stronger associations were observed for marketing exposure and peer influence on food choices. The review highlights social media’s negative effects on children’s diets, emphasizing the need for interventions, stricter food marketing regulations, and educational programs to enhance media literacy. Future research should explore the long-term impacts and protective factors to guide policies for creating healthier digital environments for children.

Abstract Background Consumption of sugary drinks (SD) among children and adolescents is a prevalent public health issue both within Canada and worldwide. This problem is exacerbated by the powerful marketing of such beverages to youth, which is known to influence a wide range of dietary behaviours. Methods A cross-sectional, secondary analysis of the International Food Policy Survey Youth Wave 2019 was conducted to assess the relationship between self-reported exposure to SD marketing within the past 30 days or SD brand advertisements and brand preference and brand recall among youth aged 10–17 from Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Ordinal, multinomial, and binary logistic regression were used as appropriate to examine these associations. Results Youth brand preference and recall was positively associated with self-reported exposure to general and brand-specific SD marketing across all countries. No statistical interaction was observed between youth age and SD marketing overall or within countries. Soft drinks, sports drinks, and fruit juice brands were most commonly recalled by all youth. Conclusion Similar results were observed among children and adolescents within all countries. Global marketing policies should consider older children and adolescents to adequately protect and support child health.

This study aims to evaluate the current state of the food industry in Azerbaijan, focusing on main problems in produced product's quality and gaps in the regulations over the food market. Currently with the increasing trend of consumerism among the population, many problems have emerged regarding the food industry which are so detrimental for the population's health. This paper highlights the reasons why the government should worry about those gaps in the regulations and problems in the food industry. It investigates future risks of those gaps and provides some suggestions to eliminate these gaps and improve food quality. Through case studies and practical solutions this article emphasizes the role of regulations in driving food quality and offers insights into overcoming common challenges in implementing those regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the solutions to overcome malnutrition is to set up some policies to encourage vegetable consumption. Indeed, vegetables are important for human nutrition and health. They are rich in bioactive nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, phytochemical compounds, and dietary fiber. But in Benin, vegetable consumption is very low and their production is also facing many challenges. Understanding the food environment seems to be a key step to address relevant policies to improve healthy vegetable production and consumption. This study aims to understand the food policy environment in general, and in particular the policies, stakeholders, and their perceptions of the challenges and policy priorities for the production and consumption of vegetables in Benin. For this, through a qualitative approach, a documentation review of the existing policies were done. In addition, stakeholders' NetMap workshop which gathered 15 participants and 22 stakeholders' interviews were carried out. The interview data were processed and analyzed through a content-based analysis approach with Quirkos software. The results showed that many policies have been designed and implemented to improve food systems in Benin. These policies are mostly oriented toward agricultural product supply in terms of quantity (availability) and on improving social protection, equity, and livelihood, but with little attention paid to quality. The results of the interviews revealed many issues such as the high post-harvest losses, the high use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the weak access to improved seeds. In addition, the lack of food marketing and promotion, the lack of local vegetables promotion and the weak adaption strategies to address climate change effects have also been pointed out as issues. All these issues are seen by the stakeholders as priority points of attention that current and future policies should address to enable the environment for vegetable-rich diets in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited evidence on how exposure to digital marketing of unhealthy foods affects youth's dietary behaviours. This study therefore aimed to examine the association between youth's self-reported digital food marketing exposure and dietary intakes, and explore predictors of frequent unhealthy food consumption. A survey was conducted among 1075 youth in Canada (aged 10–17 years) in April 2023. Proportional odds models examined associations between frequency of exposure to digital marketing of unhealthy foods and frequency of consumption of those foods, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and digital device usage. Compared with participants reporting no exposure to digital fast-food marketing in the past week, those exposed ≥4 times per week were more likely to consume fast food more frequently. Youth exposed to digital marketing of sugary drinks and salty/savoury snacks ≥1 time(s) in the previous week were more likely to consume these foods on a greater number of days, compared with those reporting no exposure to this marketing in the past week. Reporting exposure to digital marketing of desserts/sweet treats every day or more than once a day was associated with more frequent consumption of desserts/sweet treats. Province of residence (Ontario/Quebec) and total daily time spent online predicted more frequent consumption of fast food, sugary drinks, salty/savoury snacks, and desserts/sweet treats. Overall, more frequent self-reported exposure to digital marketing of unhealthy foods is associated with more frequent consumption of these foods by Canadian youth. Regulations are needed to help protect youth from digital food marketing, which may help reduce their unhealthy food consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the case of Bucharest, the article aims to analyze a neglected element of infrastructure: the basement of the Central Market Hall. Its main function, of food preservation, suffers major reconsiderations around 1900, under the double impact of microbiology and cooling preservation techniques. How the City Hall authorities responded to the challenges brought by the emergence of new medical, biological, and hygiene knowledge? What role did they have in introducing disruptive techniques, such as refrigerators, that modify the behavior of the various agents of the food market? The analysis of the Market Hall's basement dynamic also reveals the tensions between the hygienic principles and the limits imposed by very specific conditions. Caught between divergent pressures, the Municipality was forced to be flexible and to compromise, trying to find solutions that were regarded as definite progress even if they did not fully comply with the hygienic ideals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Availability bias influences decisions by how readily certain events, objects, or people can be brought to mind. This " out of sight, out of mind " effect depends on whether these elements are present during decision-making. To promote sustainable food consumption, understanding this bias is crucial, as marketing promotions exhibit heterogeneity in terms of the salience, recency, and frequency with which they are administered. Our research examines the impact of different promotions that vary across these three dimensions on the demand for plant-based food products and their interaction with price sensitivity. We analyzed weekly purchases of 21 plant-based beverage brands across 242 stores in Quebec, Canada, from 2015 to 2016 using two-level mixed-effect regression models across four studies. Results from Study 1 indicate that flyer promotions that had high salience, recency, and frequency were most effective (B = 0.417, p < 0.001), compared to mobile promotions with low salience and variable recency and frequency (B = 0.233, p < 0.001) or in-store promotions of high salience but low recency and frequency (B = 0.073, p < 0.001). Of the mobile promotions evaluated in Study 2, advertisements promoting bonus loyalty points were the most effective in driving demand (B = 0.776, p < 0.001), followed by general advertisements (B = 0.125, p < 0.001). Demand was elastic across all models, and most promotions increased price sensitivities in Studies 3 and 4 regardless of their salience, recency, or frequency. The findings highlight the synergistic effect of promotional elements delivered both before and at the decision-making moment in overcoming availability bias to boost demand for sustainable products. However, frequent promotions may increase price sensitivities due to anchoring to promotional prices. This article has implications for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of social media among children has raised concerns about its impact on their dietary habits and health. This systematic review investigates the negative effects of social media on children's diets to inform evidence-based interventions and policies. A search of peer-reviewed studies from 2020 to 2024 was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies involving children aged 5–18 and examining social media's influence on diet were included. Two independent reviewers screened the studies, and data extraction and quality assessment were done using standardized methods. Of 945 identified studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. The key themes included (1) exposure to unhealthy food advertisements, (2) peer influence promoting energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, (3) distorted body image perceptions leading to unhealthy eating, and (4) reduced mealtime quality due to social media distractions. Stronger associations were observed for marketing exposure and peer influence on food choices. The review highlights social media's negative effects on children's diets, emphasizing the need for interventions, stricter food marketing regulations, and educational programs to enhance media literacy. Future research should explore the long-term impacts and protective factors to guide policies for creating healthier digital environments for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the COVID‐19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine War, global food markets have been in turmoil. Agricultural input and energy prices doubled between 2020 and 2022, with immediate consequences on food accessibility. We examine the drivers of the EU food inflation patterns, and how trade integration shapes these dynamics. We find that food price inflation has been mainly driven by surges in agricultural production costs and, to a lesser extent, by global food price increases. Trade openness has not exacerbated the inflating dynamics during this period. We conclude with reflections on inflationary, production, and trade policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Consumption of sugary drinks (SD) among children and adolescents is a prevalent public health issue both within Canada and worldwide. This problem is exacerbated by the powerful marketing of such beverages to youth, which is known to influence a wide range of dietary behaviours. Methods: A cross-sectional, secondary analysis of the International Food Policy Survey Youth Wave 2019 was conducted to assess the relationship between self-reported exposure to SD marketing within the past 30 days or SD brand advertisements and brand preference and brand recall among youth aged 10–17 from Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Ordinal, multinomial, and binary logistic regression were used as appropriate to examine these associations. Results: Youth brand preference and recall was positively associated with self-reported exposure to general and brand-specific SD marketing across all countries. No statistical interaction was observed between youth age and SD marketing overall or within countries. Soft drinks, sports drinks, and fruit juice brands were most commonly recalled by all youth. Conclusion: Similar results were observed among children and adolescents within all countries. Global marketing policies should consider older children and adolescents to adequately protect and support child health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pea (Pisum sativum) protein, as a pulse protein second only to soy protein, has shown increasing popularity in the plant-based food market. Numerous studies have shown the desirable techno-functionalities of pea protein for emulsifying, gelling, and foaming. Nevertheless, poor digestibility and unpleasant beany flavors of pea protein lower consumer acceptance. The current state of understanding on digestibility and beany attributes of pea proteins could help pave the way for pea protein-based food formulation with improved quality. This paper covers recently reported studies to modulate the digestibility and beany notes of pea protein by many processing techniques, and highlights the influence of non-protein components and food matrix structures while formulating pea protein-based food systems. Several modification techniques could alter the digestibility and improve the flavor of pea proteins by reorienting the protein structures or forming protein-based complexes. Precise tailoring the digestibility/flavor of pea proteins is promising based on current research, though further investigation is still required to reduce adverse effects or side products. In addition, more studies on simulated pea protein-based food systems are required to mimic the actual food comprising multi-components and specific structures to narrow the gap between lab-scale research and food industry applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines how red ambient color in restaurants/cafeterias influences food choices. Prior research shows that red directly related to a food product (such as on nutrition labels or plates/cups) leads to avoidance of unhealthy foods. Yet, many successful fast‐food restaurants (e.g., McDonald's and Dairy Queen) use red in their ambiance, suggesting that in the context of food/eating, ambient red may have a different meaning than product‐related red. Indeed, the current research shows that consumers associate ambient red (e.g., wall color) with unhealthy restaurants. The presence of ambient red (vs. blue, gray, or white) leads to greater preference for unhealthy (i.e., high calorie, high fat, and indulgent) food options because consumers draw on ambient factors to make inferences about products sold in a retail establishment and then choose contextually appropriate products. The effect is moderated by the extent to which a consumer associates red with unhealthy restaurants. This research highlights how, in the context of food/eating, the placement of red influences its meaning and ultimately whether consumers approach or avoid unhealthy foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest global scale occurrences — COVID-19 pandemic and bellicose conflicts — have weakened stable value chain relationships and forced international leaders to reassess commitments to sustainability. From these experiences, it became evident that the success of sustainability initiatives encompasses strengthening local and short value chains while creating means for engaging smallholders in formal food channels. Taking international and national policies as motivations, this article examines the emerging pawpaw value chain in the Eastern United States. We employ a mixed-mode approach with two aims. First, we demonstrate how complementing qualitative methods can be articulated to prepare a strategic agenda to foster the development and resilience of local ag-food chains. Second, through the application of the devised methodology, interview records and survey answers are evaluated to map value chain relationships and describe stakeholders' perceived challenges and opportunities. On the empirical front, this article proposes four macro strategies and 22 actionable projects. We argue that the representative association of pawpaw growers may adopt a broader leadership role to coordinate the necessary changes for sustaining long-term growth and promoting economic gains in rural communities dedicated to pawpaw production. The mixed-mode approach presented in this study can be replicated to analyze local and short chains elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines black-market food activities in the German-occupied territory of the General Government during World War II. Unlike in other areas of occupied Poland (e.g. in areas incorporated into the Reich), in the General Government, and especially in Warsaw, the black market became a specialist discipline, often practiced professionally. The article argues that this professionalized black market thrived in large part due to the corruption of German authorities and their powerlessness to enforce the harsh system of rules and prohibitions around illegal food trade. An analysis of Polish and German archival materials, ego-documents, as well as both the official and underground press shows that this corruption and inability to control characterized the entire supply chain of black-market food, from production in the countryside, transfer to cities, and distribution and consumption in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of proper cleaning and sanitizing practices on natural food-contact surfaces can lead to foodborne illness outbreaks. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of cleaning and sanitizing methods for reducing Salmonella inoculated onto banana leaf and bamboo basket surfaces. Surfaces were inoculated with a Salmonella cocktail and assigned to a combination treatment of cleaning and sanitizing methods. Three cleaning methods were evaluated (wiping, scrubbing, or no cleaning) alone or in combination with 200 ppm of bleach or 400 ppm of peracetic acid (either applied for 3 or 5 min) or no sanitizing. Regardless of cleaning method or contact time, peracetic acid reduced Salmonella on banana leaves to a level below the limit of quantification (<1.44 log CFU/cm2). The efficacy of sanitizing with bleach for banana leaves differed depending on the cleaning method (P = 0.044). Bleach applied for 5 min with wiping was most effective and reduced Salmonella on banana leaves to 2.85 log CFU/cm2 (95% confidence interval: 2.52, 3.18). For bamboo baskets, the most effective treatment was sanitizing with peracetic acid for 5 min regardless of cleaning method (P < 0.0001). This study offers insights for controlling Salmonella on food-contact surfaces commonly used in Cambodian fresh food markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Food marketing restrictions often apply nutrient profile models (NPM) to distinguish unhealthy products that should not be advertised, however brand-only marketing remains largely unaddressed. We sought to test a threshold method for classifying packaged food, beverage, or fast-food brands as (non)permitted for marketing, based on the nutrient profile of their product-lines. Methods: We retrieved nutrient information from the Nutritrack databases for all products sold by the top 51 packaged food, beverage and fast-food brands in New Zealand, selected by market share. All products under each brand were classified as permitted (or not) to be marketed to children, using the NPM for WHO Western Pacific. The 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% threshold of brands' products permitted to market were compared. The 50% and 75% thresholds were compared to the WHO CLICK method, which is based on assessment of the brand's leading product. Results: The 90% threshold permitted 13% of the brands to be marketed to children. The 25% threshold permitted the marketing of 62% of brands. The 50% and 75% thresholds remained highly sensitive in identifying brands that should not be marketed to children. Comparison to the WHO CLICK method identified that a threshold method is more comprehensive and less arbitrary. Conclusions: A threshold model based on product-line nutrient profiling provides a robust and option for brand classification. The 50% and 75% thresholds may be the most politically preferred options for use in regulation, while remaining highly effective. Practitioner points: Brand marketing (e.g. sponsorship) remains largely unaddressed in existing restrictions on unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children. An established Nutrient Profile Model can be applied to a brand's entire product line, allowing calculation of the proportion of products that would not be permitted to be advertised to children. Restricting brand marketing for food and beverage brands with less than 50% or 75% of their products classified as 'permitted to be marketed to children' is a robust and evidence-based method that can be applied in regulation, with potential to mitigate industry challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the role of shared meaning for organising Alternative Food Networks (AFNs). Extant research shows that organisational elements, such as rules, and hybridisation of conventional and alternative modes of food provisioning are important for AFN organisation. Yet, they might both enable and hinder the aims of AFNs. Complementing this body of research, the article investigates how AFN participants work out the appropriate kind of organisation for realising 'a promise of difference'. Introducing Zelizer's 'relational work', the article investigates how AFN participants foster a shared meaning of participating and thereby identify what practices are appropriate for its organisation. The analysis draws on extensive ethnographic materials from Swedish REKO‐rings (a direct marketing arrangement for local foods). The findings show how the REKO‐ring participants' relational work negotiates and establishes shared meaning; what practices are appropriate and inappropriate for organising decent food provisioning. The study contributes to extant research by showing the fundamental role of shared (and discordant) meaning for the organisation of market‐based alternatives to the current food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: The pervasive promotion of energy‐dense, nutrient‐poor food and drinks undermines efforts by adolescents and their parent/carers to maintain a nutritious diet during a crucial developmental period. This study examined the association between awareness of food and drink advertisements and adolescents' dietary behaviours and intake. Methods: A sample of Australian secondary students aged 12–17 years (N = 8763) self‐reported their awareness of food and drink advertisements across seven settings, whether they had tried a new product or asked a parent/carer to purchase a product they had seen advertised, and their consumption of various unhealthy food and drink types. Analyses used multilevel mixed‐effects generalised linear models adjusted for school‐level clustering, socio‐demographic factors and television viewing. Results: Students with higher advertising awareness were more likely to have tried a new product they had seen advertised (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.51–1.73, p <.001) and asked their parent/carer to buy an advertised product (APR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.51–1.73, p <.001) at least once in the past month. As advertising awareness increased, so too did students' likelihood of reporting these dietary behaviours. A high unhealthy food intake was more commonly reported among students with higher advertising awareness (APR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.32–1.58, p <.001), as was a high unhealthy drink intake (APR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.18–1.42, p <.001). Conclusions: Australian adolescents are vulnerable to the persuasive effects of food and drink marketing. So What?: Greater restrictions on the way the food and drink industry can market their products to adolescents are needed to better support them in developing and maintaining positive dietary behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have found that growing or wild-harvesting some of one's own food is associated with food security in high-income societies. Yet this research has not established causal relationships, and it measures household food security using indicators that assess only access to market food. To disentangle how non-market food production interacts with food security, we interviewed 26 key informants who play central roles in communities of gardeners, hunters, fishers, foragers, and homesteaders in northern New England, U.S.A. These informants indicated that non-market food production relates ambiguously to short-term food access in high-income societies where market food is cheap relative to wages. But non-market production can enhance all other recognized dimensions of food security: availability, adequacy, acceptability, agency, utilization, stability, and sustainability. Causation can run the other way, too: food insecurity was said to increase the likelihood and intensity of engagement in non-market food production. Yet poverty can deprive food-insecure households of the equipment, money, skills, and land access needed for successfully producing their own food. Overall, our informants portrayed non-market food production as a skills-based safety net for reliably feeding oneself from the landscape through personal and societal crises, from the distant past to the climate-change future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents spend much of their time online and hence are exposed to a lot of non‐core (energy‐dense, nutrient‐poor) social media food marketing (SMFM). This may influence their dietary choices and health. This present study aimed to investigate adolescents' perceptions towards SMFM; that is, their recognition and appreciation of SMFM. Methods: Semi‐structured one‐on‐one interviews were conducted with Dutch adolescents aged 13–16 years (n = 16), on Skype. Examples of food promotions on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube were discussed with adolescents. Results: Adolescents' reasons for recognising and appreciating or liking SMFM were often related to the level of product integration. Factors that determined participants' recognition of SMFM included product focus (e.g., brand or product prominence), sponsorship disclosure, type of content (paid, influencer and peer‐generated content) and promotional strategy (e.g., discounts, promotional texts, layout). Participants' appreciation of SMFM was determined by the format of a post (image, video, text, pop‐up), trustworthiness of the source (brand, celebrity, friend/peer), type of product promoted (core, non‐core) and appearance or layout of a post (e.g., professionalism, appeal). Conclusions: The present study contributes to the ongoing debate on how to increase adolescents' resilience to commercial messages that promote non‐core foods. Adolescents mostly enjoy watching non‐core video content from peers or influencers and do not perceive this as food marketing. It is recommended that future studies investigate the effects of earned social media marketing formats (i.e., unpaid peer and influencer endorsements) promoting non‐core foods on adolescents' dietary intake, and how they can be made more critical towards such types of SMFM. Highlights: Adolescents mostly identify social media food marketing based on product prominence.Sponsorship disclosure in social media is not always recognised by adolescents.Trust is a key determinant for adolescents' appreciation of social media food posts.Adolescents prefer seeing unhealthy social media food promotions.Adolescents like earned social media food content but do not perceive it as marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activation of globalization processes opens the access of agrarian business to world food markets. Taking into account the need to adapt to rapidly changing external markets, the justification of the system of strategic directions for the formation of competitiveness must meet the criteria of innovation, minimal riskiness, and maximum business efficiency, which allow increasing the competitive potential of agribusiness. The purpose of the research is to develop a methodological tool for developing a competitive positioning strategy for an agricultural enterprise in world food market. The research methods used are the process approach, expert and integral assessment methods, and the matrix method. The article analyzes the peculiarities and innovative aspects of the competitive positioning of agrarian business enterprises. As a result of the study, the characteristics of the main types of competitive positioning are determined. To obtain information about the indicators of the positioning of agricultural enterprises, a survey was conducted and the main indicators of competitive positioning in the agrarian business were identified. The matrix of competitive positioning strategies, taking into account the influence of the main indicators of competitiveness, was formed to select a competitive positioning strategy. The scientific novelty and originality of the research consists in identifying innovative aspects of competitive positioning for an agrarian business enterprise. The results of the study can be useful for the development of a strategy for positioning and marketing management of enterprises in the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article it is presented an evaluation of the Bulgarian food sector’s competitiveness on the European market for the period 2007 – 2022. The analysis of the competitiveness of the sector is based on a method of calculating three competitiveness indices – a production index, a value index and a general index of competitiveness. Based on the obtained results and their analysis, it is concluded that during the study period the competitiveness of the Bulgarian food sector is low on the European market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Feta cheese is a Greek product under Protection Designation of Origin (PDO), benefiting its producing regions with its marketing potential. However, farmers are evidently often excluded from this value chain. This study aims at understanding the opportunities farmers in Greece have for supply chain arrangements (SCAs) that ensure fair market participation. It uses a two-step latent class analysis on data from a farm survey to explore and classify farmer–cheesemaker SCAs based on their perceived characteristics, farmers' satisfaction, availability of alternative options and farmers' sustainability objectives. Results highlight the importance of collective arrangements, economic incentives and price formulation mechanisms in forming farmer-inclusive SCAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the fitness industry has become a growing industry alongside the nutritional supplements industry within the food industry. Small and large companies are fighting for consumers. They offer products tailored to different training goals, whether sold online or offline. Companies are developing their marketing strategies by observing consumer preferences and habits. But do we need supplementation? Are the products on the market safe? What do we even mean by a food supplement? Is it a good idea to buy supplements that are in line with the latest trends? In this study we will show whether or not supplementation is really necessary for athletes and what determines whether it is. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foods are frequently marketed to children through the inclusion of a wide range of elements on the packages. Several studies conducted in different countries around the globe have shown that products marketed to children are usually high in sugar and other nutrients associated with non-communicable diseases. The present exploratory cross-sectional study aimed at providing additional evidence on the composition of products marketed to children by analysing the disclosure of additives in such products. Data were collected at nine supermarkets in two Uruguayan cities between August and October 2021. All packaged products available in each supermarket were surveyed using a cell phone app, except for culinary ingredients. All the information from the labels was extracted. Products marketed to children were identified based on the presence of indicators of child-directed marketing on the package. The disclosure of additives was analysed based on the information available in the ingredient list. The prevalence of food additive disclosure was calculated. Of the 7,343 products included in the database, 573 (7.8%) were classified as marketed to children. Candies and cookies were the categories with the largest number of products marketed to children. The great majority of the products marketed to children disclosed at least one food additive (93.5%). These products tended to more frequently notify colourings, antioxidants, acidity regulators, raising agents, stabilisers, humectants, anticaking agents, and glazing agents compared to products not marketed to children. These findings underscore the need to expand the current scope of regulations on marketing targeted at children beyond nutrients to include additives potentially linked to adverse health effects, such as artificial colourings.