The present study investigated the influence of active modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the quality and shelf life of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Nabila under ambient winter storage conditions. Freshly harvested fruits were packaged using low-density polyethylene (LDPE), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), corrugated fiberboard (CFB), and aluminum foil containers, with silica gel and potassium permanganate used as active components, and compared with an untreated control. Parameters evaluated for fruit quality assessment included physiological weight loss, firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, sugars, anthocyanin content, ascorbic acid, total phenols, antioxidant activity, and decay incidence. Overall, active MAP treatments effectively reduced quality deterioration and decay compared to the control, as evidenced by improved retention of physical and biochemical attributes during storage. These findings highlight the potential of active MAP as a practical, low-cost technology for prolonging strawberry freshness and supporting improved postharvest handling and distribution under ambient conditions.
{"title":"Influence of active modified atmosphere packaging using silica gel and potassium permanganate on quality and shelf life of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Nabila under ambient storage","authors":"Grandhi N.V.G.K.S. Nimita , Vikanksha , Jatinder Singh, Arun Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study investigated the influence of active modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the quality and shelf life of strawberries (<em>Fragaria × ananassa</em> Duch.) cv. Nabila under ambient winter storage conditions. Freshly harvested fruits were packaged using low-density polyethylene (LDPE), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), corrugated fiberboard (CFB), and aluminum foil containers, with silica gel and potassium permanganate used as active components, and compared with an untreated control. Parameters evaluated for fruit quality assessment included physiological weight loss, firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, sugars, anthocyanin content, ascorbic acid, total phenols, antioxidant activity, and decay incidence. Overall, active MAP treatments effectively reduced quality deterioration and decay compared to the control, as evidenced by improved retention of physical and biochemical attributes during storage. These findings highlight the potential of active MAP as a practical, low-cost technology for prolonging strawberry freshness and supporting improved postharvest handling and distribution under ambient conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101029"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101019
Jéssica de A.F.F. Finger , Emília M.F. Lima , Camille P. Coutinho , Guilherme A. Silva , Daniela A. Costa , Mariza Landgraf , Bernadette D.G.M. Franco , Daniele F. Maffei , Uelinton M. Pinto
Epidemiological data from several countries indicate that most foodborne disease (FBD) outbreaks occur in households, yet information on hygiene and food handling practices in this setting remains limited. This study aimed to assess adherence to hygiene, handling, and food storage practices in Brazilian households, with implications that may extend to other countries, generating insights that can support food safety communication and public policies. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted with 5000 participants using a structured online questionnaire addressing food purchasing, storage, and handling behaviors. In the second stage of the research, a subsample of 216 participants from the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo recorded refrigerator temperatures over three days. The main observations that stood out were that only 38 % of participants properly sanitize vegetables, half of them wash meat in the kitchen sink, 24 % consume undercooked meat, and 17 % consume raw or undercooked eggs. Most participants (81 %) do not use thermal bags to transport refrigerated food from the store to their homes, and 39 % defrost food at room temperature. Statistical analysis revealed a relationship between monthly family income and certain habits, such as the methods used to wash fruits and vegetables and the consumption and handling of animal products, indicating different hygiene standards. Regarding refrigerator temperatures, 91 % of the recorded values fell within the recommended range (0–10 °C). These findings highlight that a substantial portion of the population adopts inadequate hygiene, handling, and storage practices at home, potentially increasing the risk of FBD. Strengthening public communication on food safety and consumer education is essential to reducing preventable FBD and promoting safer food consumption.
{"title":"Food hygiene and handling practices in Brazilian households: Insights from a nationwide survey","authors":"Jéssica de A.F.F. Finger , Emília M.F. Lima , Camille P. Coutinho , Guilherme A. Silva , Daniela A. Costa , Mariza Landgraf , Bernadette D.G.M. Franco , Daniele F. Maffei , Uelinton M. Pinto","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Epidemiological data from several countries indicate that most foodborne disease (FBD) outbreaks occur in households, yet information on hygiene and food handling practices in this setting remains limited. This study aimed to assess adherence to hygiene, handling, and food storage practices in Brazilian households, with implications that may extend to other countries, generating insights that can support food safety communication and public policies. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted with 5000 participants using a structured online questionnaire addressing food purchasing, storage, and handling behaviors. In the second stage of the research, a subsample of 216 participants from the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo recorded refrigerator temperatures over three days. The main observations that stood out were that only 38 % of participants properly sanitize vegetables, half of them wash meat in the kitchen sink, 24 % consume undercooked meat, and 17 % consume raw or undercooked eggs. Most participants (81 %) do not use thermal bags to transport refrigerated food from the store to their homes, and 39 % defrost food at room temperature. Statistical analysis revealed a relationship between monthly family income and certain habits, such as the methods used to wash fruits and vegetables and the consumption and handling of animal products, indicating different hygiene standards. Regarding refrigerator temperatures, 91 % of the recorded values fell within the recommended range (0–10 °C). These findings highlight that a substantial portion of the population adopts inadequate hygiene, handling, and storage practices at home, potentially increasing the risk of FBD. Strengthening public communication on food safety and consumer education is essential to reducing preventable FBD and promoting safer food consumption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101019"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101025
Coralie Hellwig , Mohammad J. Taherzadeh
Ensuring food security while reducing the environmental footprint of food production has intensified interest in fungi-based foods. This study gauges Europeans’ sentiments to such products by surveying 6004 adults in Germany, Spain and Sweden (Oct–Nov 2024), countries chosen for their contrasting food cultures, sustainability views and regulatory contexts. Many respondents already find the concept appealing, while a similarly large group is open to trying it. A group of respondents voices disinterest, and many do not know what fungi-based food is, highlighting an opportunity for awareness-building. Country effects are modest: Spain shows slightly higher rejection, Germany more uncertainty and Sweden the most trial experience. Up to one-quarter report no concerns; the remainder focus mainly on additives, processing transparency, toxicity, price and flavor or texture parity with meat, while nutritional, digestibility and sustainability worries are rarer. Younger, highly educated and animal-derived food minimizing or avoiding (e.g., flexitarian or vegetarian) persons are more receptive than older or meat-oriented cohorts. Clear labeling, sensory optimization and targeted messaging could convert the sizeable open-minded segment into early adopters, advancing the EU Farm-to-Fork vision of resilient, resource-efficient food.
{"title":"European perspectives on fungi-based food: Appeal and concerns","authors":"Coralie Hellwig , Mohammad J. Taherzadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ensuring food security while reducing the environmental footprint of food production has intensified interest in fungi-based foods. This study gauges Europeans’ sentiments to such products by surveying 6004 adults in Germany, Spain and Sweden (Oct–Nov 2024), countries chosen for their contrasting food cultures, sustainability views and regulatory contexts. Many respondents already find the concept appealing, while a similarly large group is open to trying it. A group of respondents voices disinterest, and many do not know what fungi-based food is, highlighting an opportunity for awareness-building. Country effects are modest: Spain shows slightly higher rejection, Germany more uncertainty and Sweden the most trial experience. Up to one-quarter report no concerns; the remainder focus mainly on additives, processing transparency, toxicity, price and flavor or texture parity with meat, while nutritional, digestibility and sustainability worries are rarer. Younger, highly educated and animal-derived food minimizing or avoiding (e.g., flexitarian or vegetarian) persons are more receptive than older or meat-oriented cohorts. Clear labeling, sensory optimization and targeted messaging could convert the sizeable open-minded segment into early adopters, advancing the EU Farm-to-Fork vision of resilient, resource-efficient food.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101025"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101018
Joseph F. Kayihura , Marc Antoine Ndisanze , Endy Triyannanto
The present study examined the renneting behaviour of reconstituted skim milk pre-salted at levels relevant to Domiati-style cheese-making (up to 3 M, NaCl) using dynamic rheometry, dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. The aim was to reveal some fundamental reasons for the impairment of rennet gel structural formation. Gelation rate improved slightly at 0.1 M (rennet coagulation time (RCT) of 7 min vs 9 min at 0 M), then decreased as pre-salting levels increased (RCT > 60 min at 2.7 and 3 M). The storage modulus, loss tangent and complex viscosity of gels formed at pre-salting levels ≤ 0.9 M were strain- and frequency-dependent. Gels returned to liquid-like states at frequencies between 15 and 35 Hz depending on their strengths (0.1 > 0.3 > 0 > 0.9). At 2.7 and 3 M, milk still behaved as a liquid 60 min after rennet addition and was characterised by lower charge density, larger protein complexes and slower micellar diffusivity than at levels ≤ 0.9 M. Moreover, the principal component analysis clearly discriminated and correlated various protein secondary structures with pre-salting levels. Renneted samples with < 0.9 M correlated mainly with intramolecular β-sheets and random coils whereas those with extremely high salt correlated with α-helices, aggregated β-sheets, side chains and β-turns structures. Findings demonstrate that pre-salting of milk can alter the secondary structures of proteins and induce micellar restructuring, thus, could suggest impediment to potent casein interactions as the reason for inhibited gelation although this correlation remains to be unravelled.
{"title":"Impact of pre-salting of reconstituted skim milk on rennet gel formation and structural properties","authors":"Joseph F. Kayihura , Marc Antoine Ndisanze , Endy Triyannanto","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study examined the renneting behaviour of reconstituted skim milk pre-salted at levels relevant to Domiati-style cheese-making (up to 3 M, NaCl) using dynamic rheometry, dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. The aim was to reveal some fundamental reasons for the impairment of rennet gel structural formation. Gelation rate improved slightly at 0.1 M (rennet coagulation time (RCT) of 7 min vs 9 min at 0 M), then decreased as pre-salting levels increased (RCT > 60 min at 2.7 and 3 M). The storage modulus, loss tangent and complex viscosity of gels formed at pre-salting levels ≤ 0.9 M were strain- and frequency-dependent. Gels returned to liquid-like states at frequencies between 15 and 35 Hz depending on their strengths (0.1 > 0.3 > 0 > 0.9). At 2.7 and 3 M, milk still behaved as a liquid 60 min after rennet addition and was characterised by lower charge density, larger protein complexes and slower micellar diffusivity than at levels ≤ 0.9 M. Moreover, the principal component analysis clearly discriminated and correlated various protein secondary structures with pre-salting levels. Renneted samples with < 0.9 M correlated mainly with intramolecular β-sheets and random coils whereas those with extremely high salt correlated with α-helices, aggregated β-sheets, side chains and β-turns structures. Findings demonstrate that pre-salting of milk can alter the secondary structures of proteins and induce micellar restructuring, thus, could suggest impediment to potent casein interactions as the reason for inhibited gelation although this correlation remains to be unravelled.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101018"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101005
Jacob Tizhe Liberty
Traditional food and health diagnostics are often limited by rigid protocols and binary outputs, which reduce their ability to respond effectively to complex, decentralized, and climate-sensitive safety challenges. This paper introduces the concept of Reflective Diagnostics, an adaptive diagnostic platform that combines three core elements: (1) CRISPR-based molecular detection, which identifies specific genetic material from pathogens; (2) interpretive biosensing, which contextualizes sensor signals by incorporating environmental data such as temperature, humidity, and time; and (3) AI-driven learning loops, which continuously update decision rules based on accumulated data and system feedback. These features support dynamic probe selection, memory-informed interpretation, and context-aware risk evaluation. The system generates a composite risk score, a multidimensional index that integrates molecular signals and environmental metadata to reflect overall risk levels. Applications include cold chain monitoring, ready-to-eat food safety, traceability systems, personalized nutrition, smart packaging, and use in resource-limited settings. This approach transforms diagnostics into an evolving and responsive process capable of real-time adaptation. The work presents a novel architecture that links molecular detection with environmental sensing and intelligent interpretation, offering a forward-looking framework not yet explored in the literature. Future development should focus on integrating digital twins, aligning with regulatory standards, and ensuring equitable implementation.
{"title":"Reflective diagnostics: A self-learning CRISPR–biosensor–AI platform for adaptive food and health safety monitoring","authors":"Jacob Tizhe Liberty","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional food and health diagnostics are often limited by rigid protocols and binary outputs, which reduce their ability to respond effectively to complex, decentralized, and climate-sensitive safety challenges. This paper introduces the concept of <em>Reflective Diagnostics</em>, an adaptive diagnostic platform that combines three core elements: (1) CRISPR-based molecular detection, which identifies specific genetic material from pathogens; (2) interpretive biosensing, which contextualizes sensor signals by incorporating environmental data such as temperature, humidity, and time; and (3) AI-driven learning loops, which continuously update decision rules based on accumulated data and system feedback. These features support dynamic probe selection, memory-informed interpretation, and context-aware risk evaluation. The system generates a <em>composite risk score</em>, a multidimensional index that integrates molecular signals and environmental metadata to reflect overall risk levels. Applications include cold chain monitoring, ready-to-eat food safety, traceability systems, personalized nutrition, smart packaging, and use in resource-limited settings. This approach transforms diagnostics into an evolving and responsive process capable of real-time adaptation. The work presents a novel architecture that links molecular detection with environmental sensing and intelligent interpretation, offering a forward-looking framework not yet explored in the literature. Future development should focus on integrating digital twins, aligning with regulatory standards, and ensuring equitable implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101005"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101016
Iqra Rafique, Shehla Noreen, Zahoor Ahmad Sajid
The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg L−1 Yeast Extract (YE), a well-known biotic elicitor, on the callus cultures, and in vitro and pot grown plants of Moringa oleifera. The results revealed a significant increase in fresh and dry weight (1.736 and 0.863 g) of callus at 100 mg L−1 YE. The root and shoot length, number of leaves, leaf fresh and dry weight was found to be maximum at 200 mg L−1 YE both in in vitro (6.40 and 3.53 cm, 21.33, 1.99 and 0.95 g) and pot grown plants (41.00 and 16.66 cm, 56.33, 21.6 and 10.01 g). The Peroxidases (POD) activity was highest (2.83 and 1.74 mg g−1) at 100 mg L−1 YE in callus cultures and pot grown plants, whereas in in vitro grown plants maximum POD activity (1.4 mg g−1) was exhibited at 50 mg L−1 YE. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) was found to be maximum (1.20, 0.32, 0.83 mg−1) at 200 mg L−1 YE while Catalase (CAT) was highest (3.3233, 2.42, 2.5 mL−1) at 100 mg L−1 YE in all the three experiments. The results also revealed that maximum increase in TSP (172.01, 90.2, 110.93 mg g−1), TSS (8.653, 6.15, 6.43 mg mL−1) and TFC (29.8, 22.06, 28.9 mg g−1 DW) was recorded at 200 mg L−1 YE in all the three cases. TPC was recorded to be maximum (85.16 and 48.12 mg GAE g−1 DW) at 50 mg L−1 YE in case of callus cultures and pot grown plants, whereas in in vitro grown plants it was maximum (31.27 mg GAE g−1 DW) at 200 mg L−1 YE. These outcomes suggest that YE can act as an efficient elicitor to enhance the phytochemicals in M. oleifera.
{"title":"Investigating the impact of yeast extract on the growth and development of callus cultures and plants of Moringa oleifera Lam.","authors":"Iqra Rafique, Shehla Noreen, Zahoor Ahmad Sajid","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg L<sup>−1</sup> Yeast Extract (YE), a well-known biotic elicitor, on the callus cultures, and <em>in vitro</em> and pot grown plants of <em>Moringa oleifera</em>. The results revealed a significant increase in fresh and dry weight (1.736 and 0.863 g) of callus at 100 mg L<sup>−1</sup> YE. The root and shoot length, number of leaves, leaf fresh and dry weight was found to be maximum at 200 mg L<sup>−1</sup> YE both in <em>in vitro</em> (6.40 and 3.53 cm, 21.33, 1.99 and 0.95 g) and pot grown plants (41.00 and 16.66 cm, 56.33, 21.6 and 10.01 g). The Peroxidases (POD) activity was highest (2.83 and 1.74 mg g<sup>−1</sup>) at 100 mg L<sup>−1</sup> YE in callus cultures and pot grown plants, whereas in <em>in vitro</em> grown plants maximum POD activity (1.4 mg g<sup>−1</sup>) was exhibited at 50 mg L<sup>−1</sup> YE. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) was found to be maximum (1.20, 0.32, 0.83 mg<sup>−1</sup>) at 200 mg L<sup>−1</sup> YE while Catalase (CAT) was highest (3.3233, 2.42, 2.5 mL<sup>−1</sup>) at 100 mg L<sup>−1</sup> YE in all the three experiments. The results also revealed that maximum increase in TSP (172.01, 90.2, 110.93 mg g<sup>−1</sup>), TSS (8.653, 6.15, 6.43 mg mL<sup>−1</sup>) and TFC (29.8, 22.06, 28.9 mg g<sup>−1</sup> DW) was recorded at 200 mg L<sup>−1</sup> YE in all the three cases. TPC was recorded to be maximum (85.16 and 48.12 mg GAE g<sup>−1</sup> DW) at 50 mg L<sup>−1</sup> YE in case of callus cultures and pot grown plants, whereas in <em>in vitro</em> grown plants it was maximum (31.27 mg GAE g<sup>−1</sup> DW) at 200 mg L<sup>−1</sup> YE. These outcomes suggest that YE can act as an efficient elicitor to enhance the phytochemicals in <em>M</em>. <em>oleifera</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101016"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101009
Thaís Lourenço Oliveira, Gabriela de Paula Oliveira, Luiz Fernando Cappa de Oliveira
Milk lipids, mainly triacylglycerols (TAGs) and minor phospholipids, vary significantly among animal species, affecting both the nutritional and technological properties of dairy products. In this study, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman Spectroscopy (FT-Raman), combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), were applied to characterize and compare lipid fractions extracted from raw cow, goat, sheep, and buffalo milk. Lipids were obtained using the Folch method and analyzed for their structural and compositional differences. PCA successfully differentiated the species groups, with the first two principal components explaining over 90 % of the total variance. In FTIR data, buffalo and goat milk lipids were associated with higher absorbance at ∼1740 cm⁻¹ (CO stretching of esters) and 1100–1200 cm⁻¹ (C–O stretching), suggesting a higher proportion of short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids. In contrast, cow and sheep milk exhibited stronger signals around 1655 cm⁻¹ , related to CC stretching, indicating a higher degree of unsaturation. Raman spectra supported these findings, with clear separation driven by differences in the 1655 cm⁻¹ and 1440 cm⁻¹ bands, corresponding to double-bond vibrations and CH₂ deformation modes, respectively. These results confirm that species differ mainly in fatty-acid unsaturation and chain-length distribution and demonstrate that vibrational spectroscopy combined with chemometrics is a rapid and non-destructive approach to differentiate and characterize milk lipid profiles according to animal origin.
{"title":"A new way to identify the composition of lipids in milk from different animal species by Raman and infrared spectroscopy","authors":"Thaís Lourenço Oliveira, Gabriela de Paula Oliveira, Luiz Fernando Cappa de Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Milk lipids, mainly triacylglycerols (TAGs) and minor phospholipids, vary significantly among animal species, affecting both the nutritional and technological properties of dairy products. In this study, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman Spectroscopy (FT-Raman), combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), were applied to characterize and compare lipid fractions extracted from raw cow, goat, sheep, and buffalo milk. Lipids were obtained using the Folch method and analyzed for their structural and compositional differences. PCA successfully differentiated the species groups, with the first two principal components explaining over 90 % of the total variance. In FTIR data, buffalo and goat milk lipids were associated with higher absorbance at ∼1740 cm⁻¹ (C<img>O stretching of esters) and 1100–1200 cm⁻¹ (C–O stretching), suggesting a higher proportion of short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids. In contrast, cow and sheep milk exhibited stronger signals around 1655 cm⁻¹ , related to C<img>C stretching, indicating a higher degree of unsaturation. Raman spectra supported these findings, with clear separation driven by differences in the 1655 cm⁻¹ and 1440 cm⁻¹ bands, corresponding to double-bond vibrations and CH₂ deformation modes, respectively. These results confirm that species differ mainly in fatty-acid unsaturation and chain-length distribution and demonstrate that vibrational spectroscopy combined with chemometrics is a rapid and non-destructive approach to differentiate and characterize milk lipid profiles according to animal origin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101009"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101008
Nafisah Musa , NorulNazilah Ab’lah
The valorisation of food-industry by-products as sources of biopolymers and functional additives offers a compelling pathway to enhance food safety, reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics, and advance circular-economy objectives. This systematic review critically evaluates the capacity of agro-food and seafood waste materials to improve the functional performance of biodegradable films used in bioactive and smart packaging. A structured search of major scientific databases was conducted, followed by rigorous screening and critical appraisal using the Catchii evaluation framework to ensure methodological robustness. Eligible studies were synthesised across four domains: phytochemical-rich plant residues, animal-derived proteins, nano-reinforced hybrid composites, and intelligent packaging systems employing waste-derived pigments and sensing agents. Findings show that plant-based by-products substantially enhance antioxidant activity, microbial inhibition, mechanical properties, and barrier performance. Proteins from animal waste strengthen tensile behaviour, water resistance, and matrix cohesion. Inorganic and carbon-based nanofillers derived from waste streams improve ultraviolet protection, tensile reinforcement, thermal stability, and antimicrobial function, while enabling controlled-release behaviour. Smart packaging systems incorporating natural pigments and carbon nanodots provide real-time visual spoilage detection, demonstrating strong potential for improving food transparency and reducing waste. Despite these advances, major gaps remain, including inconsistent testing protocols, limited real-world stability data, and insufficient toxicological and migration assessments, particularly for nano-enabled systems. Addressing these gaps through methodological standardisation, safety validation, and techno-economic evaluation is essential to transition waste-derived packaging from laboratory innovation to commercially viable, sustainable solutions.
{"title":"Bioactive packaging films derived from food industry by‑products: A systematic review","authors":"Nafisah Musa , NorulNazilah Ab’lah","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The valorisation of food-industry by-products as sources of biopolymers and functional additives offers a compelling pathway to enhance food safety, reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics, and advance circular-economy objectives. This systematic review critically evaluates the capacity of agro-food and seafood waste materials to improve the functional performance of biodegradable films used in bioactive and smart packaging. A structured search of major scientific databases was conducted, followed by rigorous screening and critical appraisal using the Catchii evaluation framework to ensure methodological robustness. Eligible studies were synthesised across four domains: phytochemical-rich plant residues, animal-derived proteins, nano-reinforced hybrid composites, and intelligent packaging systems employing waste-derived pigments and sensing agents. Findings show that plant-based by-products substantially enhance antioxidant activity, microbial inhibition, mechanical properties, and barrier performance. Proteins from animal waste strengthen tensile behaviour, water resistance, and matrix cohesion. Inorganic and carbon-based nanofillers derived from waste streams improve ultraviolet protection, tensile reinforcement, thermal stability, and antimicrobial function, while enabling controlled-release behaviour. Smart packaging systems incorporating natural pigments and carbon nanodots provide real-time visual spoilage detection, demonstrating strong potential for improving food transparency and reducing waste. Despite these advances, major gaps remain, including inconsistent testing protocols, limited real-world stability data, and insufficient toxicological and migration assessments, particularly for nano-enabled systems. Addressing these gaps through methodological standardisation, safety validation, and techno-economic evaluation is essential to transition waste-derived packaging from laboratory innovation to commercially viable, sustainable solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101008"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101006
Yoshiyasu Takefuji
This paper critically examines methodological challenges in food security research through analysis of 576 articles published in the Global Food Security journal, introducing a novel "leave-top1-out" validation approach to assess feature importance reliability. Using a public dataset of 12,564 instances with 195 features, we demonstrate how supervised models achieve high prediction accuracy while producing unstable feature importance rankings. Our empirical findings reveal that unsupervised methods and non-target-prediction approaches maintain remarkable consistency in feature rankings despite perturbation, while supervised models and their SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) variants exhibit dramatic shifts in feature importance hierarchies when top predictors are removed. These results substantiate our identification of primary methodological misapplications in ground truth challenges in model interpretation. The supervised models' focus on demographic characteristics rather than direct food security indicators further demonstrates how optimization for prediction accuracy can compromise reliable feature identification without consistency and dose-response relationships validation. To address these limitations, we advocate for a multifaceted analytical framework combining unsupervised techniques with nonlinear nonparametric methods to achieve greater stability in identifying reliable food security determinants. Our complete methodology and implementation code are publicly available on GitHub to promote reproducibility and methodological transparency in food security research.
{"title":"Methodological pitfalls in food security analytics: Addressing biases in regression, SHAP, and feature importance analyses","authors":"Yoshiyasu Takefuji","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper critically examines methodological challenges in food security research through analysis of 576 articles published in the Global Food Security journal, introducing a novel \"leave-top1-out\" validation approach to assess feature importance reliability. Using a public dataset of 12,564 instances with 195 features, we demonstrate how supervised models achieve high prediction accuracy while producing unstable feature importance rankings. Our empirical findings reveal that unsupervised methods and non-target-prediction approaches maintain remarkable consistency in feature rankings despite perturbation, while supervised models and their SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) variants exhibit dramatic shifts in feature importance hierarchies when top predictors are removed. These results substantiate our identification of primary methodological misapplications in ground truth challenges in model interpretation. The supervised models' focus on demographic characteristics rather than direct food security indicators further demonstrates how optimization for prediction accuracy can compromise reliable feature identification without consistency and dose-response relationships validation. To address these limitations, we advocate for a multifaceted analytical framework combining unsupervised techniques with nonlinear nonparametric methods to achieve greater stability in identifying reliable food security determinants. Our complete methodology and implementation code are publicly available on GitHub to promote reproducibility and methodological transparency in food security research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101006"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101004
Yassine Jaouhari , Vincenzo Disca , Francesca Carrà , Pedro Ferreira-Santos , Lorenzo Cecchi , Ioannis C. Martakos , Georgia Soultani , Nikolaos S. Thomaidis , Nadia Mulinacci , Fabiano Travaglia , Matteo Bordiga , Jean Daniel Coïsson
This study presents a comprehensive chemical and volatilomic characterization of oils exhaustively extracted from blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) pomace. Both oils are dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): linoleic acid (36.5 % in blueberry, 49.3 % in raspberry) and α-linolenic acid (32.7 % and 28.2 %, respectively), with favorable ω-6/ω-3 ratios of 1.75 (blueberry) and 1.12 (raspberry). Key unsaponifiable bioactives were quantified: raspberry pomace oil (RPO) contained 3620 mg/kg total tocopherols and 4244 mg/kg phytosterols; blueberry pomace oil (BPO) was notable for 509 mg/kg squalene. Polar phenolics (21–32 mg/kg) included p-coumaric and ferulic acids, vanillin, and flavonoids such as naringenin, enhancing antioxidant potential. Headspace SPME–GC–MS quantified 41 volatile organic compounds; BPO’s aroma was dominated by terpenes and aldehydes, whereas RPO showed a richer carboxylic acid profile. The use of an in-depth analytical approach enabled a thorough assessment of the oils’ compositional potential, offering a valuable reference for future applications. These findings provide a foundation for the optimization and improvement of extraction processes aimed at producing sustainable and bioactive-rich ingredients, aligning with circular economy principles to reduce waste and develop high-value products with health and sensory benefits.
{"title":"In-depth study of the chemical composition and volatile profile of oils extracted from blueberry and raspberry pomace","authors":"Yassine Jaouhari , Vincenzo Disca , Francesca Carrà , Pedro Ferreira-Santos , Lorenzo Cecchi , Ioannis C. Martakos , Georgia Soultani , Nikolaos S. Thomaidis , Nadia Mulinacci , Fabiano Travaglia , Matteo Bordiga , Jean Daniel Coïsson","doi":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a comprehensive chemical and volatilomic characterization of oils exhaustively extracted from blueberry (<em>Vaccinium corymbosum</em> L.) and raspberry (<em>Rubus idaeus</em> L.) pomace. Both oils are dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): linoleic acid (36.5 % in blueberry, 49.3 % in raspberry) and α-linolenic acid (32.7 % and 28.2 %, respectively), with favorable ω-6/ω-3 ratios of 1.75 (blueberry) and 1.12 (raspberry). Key unsaponifiable bioactives were quantified: raspberry pomace oil (RPO) contained 3620 mg/kg total tocopherols and 4244 mg/kg phytosterols; blueberry pomace oil (BPO) was notable for 509 mg/kg squalene. Polar phenolics (21–32 mg/kg) included <em>p</em>-coumaric and ferulic acids, vanillin, and flavonoids such as naringenin, enhancing antioxidant potential. Headspace SPME–GC–MS quantified 41 volatile organic compounds; BPO’s aroma was dominated by terpenes and aldehydes, whereas RPO showed a richer carboxylic acid profile. The use of an in-depth analytical approach enabled a thorough assessment of the oils’ compositional potential, offering a valuable reference for future applications. These findings provide a foundation for the optimization and improvement of extraction processes aimed at producing sustainable and bioactive-rich ingredients, aligning with circular economy principles to reduce waste and develop high-value products with health and sensory benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100543,"journal":{"name":"Food and Humanity","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 101004"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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