Critical reviews in food science and nutrition最新文献

Poultry eggs represent a globally prevalent and nutritious protein source and are regarded as excellent raw materials for food products. However, their persistent allergenicity and instability of functional properties during processing, severely limit their deep-processing applications. Non-enzymatic glycation emerges as an energy-efficient and food-safe chemical modification method that affects the proteins' structures and then regulates their functional properties, suggesting its potential to simultaneously mitigate allergenicity and enhance functionalities in egg-based products. The review systematically overviews the methods and the influencing factors of glycation. Subsequently, it carefully summarizes the change induced by glycation in structures and functional properties, involving processing performance and biological activities, of egg proteins, and demonstrates that glycation improves the functional properties. Particularly, the review highlights emerging applications of glycated egg proteins in precision nutrient delivery systems and intelligent antimicrobial packaging matrices. And current research limitations and the perspectives for the future development of glycated egg proteins are further proposed. The review deepens the understanding of glycated egg proteins and provides theoretical foundations for egg protein derivatives with tailored functionalities.

Food choice decisions and dietary habits contribute significantly to the current global epidemic of obesity. Designing healthful shopping environments is key to supporting consumers in making informed food choices and addressing diet-related health issues such as obesity. This systematic review aimed to consolidate and synthesize extant literature on nudging and the role of technology on healthy food choice decisions and address the research question of how nudging techniques, particularly those enabled by technologies, are used to influence healthy decisions in food retail environments. The review included studies published between 2011 and 2024 across five databases. It followed the PRISMA structure to systematically identify, screen, and synthesize, the literature. Through the searches, 11,662 papers were identified. Overall, twenty-five papers met the inclusion criteria and are included within this review. Three contributions are made. First, a novel and rigorous systematic literature review process synthesizes studies of nudging techniques in shaping food choice with gaps in knowledge for further research highlighted. Second, the review identifies the importance of nudging interventions on consumers' health-related food choices in retail environments. Existing nudging taxonomies are introduced to provide new frameworks for future research. Third, the review provides new insights and future research opportunities pertaining to digital technology-enabled nudging for consumer food choice decisions. Examples of technology include virtual reality, mobile applications, and augmented reality.

With heightened awareness of cardiovascular health and obesity-particularly visceral adiposity-contemporary consumers prioritize dietary lipid quality and quantity. Substituting triacylglycerol (TAG)-based fat sources with diacylglycerol (DAG)-based sources in meat products without compromising the sensory and technological properties can fulfill consumers' demand for healthier meat products. This review delineates the metabolic pathway distinctions between DAGs and TAGs, summarizes the health benefits of DAGs, and documents their synthesis methodologies. Furthermore, it contrasts animal-derived and plant-derived DAGs while examining recent advances in plant-derived DAG emulsions. Building on this foundation, emerging research on the interaction between DAGs and myofibrillar proteins (MPs) positions them as promising fat replacers in meat products, warranting further exploration for effective quality preservation. Application prospects and implementation barriers for DAGs in emulsified meat systems are also examined. Ultimately, this comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights and guidance for developing healthier meat products and advancing the application of DAGs in the food industry.

Probiotics have gained a great attention due to their potential health benefits and are extensively used in food and medical sectors, including dairy food products, dietary supplements, and medicines. These beneficial microorganisms support gut health by enhancing mucosal integrity, promoting nutrient absorption, and balancing the gut microbiota. However, the misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the development of antibiotic resistance in gut microflora as repeated selective pressures lead to the development of resistant strains. Probiotics, when exposed to antibiotics, can acquire antibiotic resistance, which may contribute to the intra- and inter-species dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This transfer of ARGs to the pathogens indicates a significant threat, potentially resulting in therapeutic failures and raising important safety concerns. Although probiotics provide various health benefits, their use requires careful control to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance. This review discusses the potential risks associated with probiotics, focusing on the impact of antibiotic resistance and the importance of evaluating probiotics for their safety to protect public health.

Post-harvest diseases pose a considerable threat to food safety and quality, and there is an urgent need for strong strategies to prevent and control them. In order to manage postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables more efficiently, this review first describes various biocontrol agents (BCAs), including bacterial, fungal, and viral entities, and their basic principles in biocontrol. It then discusses the role of nontraditional chemical approaches, such as chemoinducers, plant extracts, essential oils, microbial metabolites, volatile compounds, and nanotechnology-based approaches, in postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables. In addition, how nontraditional chemical methods can be utilized to enhance the effectiveness of BCAs is highlighted. The combination of nontraditional chemical methods and BCAs provides an innovative and effective strategy for preventing and controlling postharvest diseases. By utilizing the synergistic effects of various BCAs and nontraditional chemical methods, researchers have made significant progress in disease management. Notably, nanotechnology offers promising new avenues for the preparation and delivery of BCAs. Prospects for this research include the development of complex BCAs, international collaboration in the field of sustainable agriculture, and addressing regulatory challenges.

Research and clinical experience in nutrition have emphasized the merits of some dietary patterns, e.g., the Mediterranean diet, to obtain health-related benefits. This has also been the case of specific foods such as yogurt which has been tested using different approaches and under various conditions. As described in this paper, there is a quasi-consensus among population studies about the protective relationship of regular yogurt consumption with incidence of overweight and type 2 diabetes. This is concordant with laboratory-based experimentation and clinical trials showing that yogurt consumption induces favorable effects on many key components of metabolic homeostasis and energy balance. The benefits of yogurt consumption also seem to be partly explained by its status of fermented food which involves the influence of yogurt on the gut microbiota and the reciprocal role of some bacterial-derived molecules on metabolic regulation. In clinical nutrition, novel education approaches benefit from the versatility of yogurt and its high nutrient density to promote healthy eating behaviors and habits as well as cardiometabolic benefits. In summary, yogurt, especially plain yogurt, should be part of healthy eating habits because of its high nutritional value, its flexible food matrix, its beneficial bacterial components, and its versatility under usual feeding conditions.

Hyperlipidemia is a prevalent metabolic disorder that can lead to other illnesses. Natural products in food, such as active peptides, can help alleviate hyperlipidemia. This study seeks to elucidate the mechanism through which food-derived active peptides (FDAPs) mitigate hyperlipidemia. Through comprehensive literature analysis, we estimated the efficacy and mechanism of FDAPs in reducing blood lipid levels. The results indicate that the structure-activity relationship (SAP) of FDAPs, the ability to regulate intestinal flora, and the regulation of relevant gene expression serve as the primary mechanisms. We leverage bioinformatics methods to analyze the lipid-lowering mechanism of FDAPs. By utilizing the OMIM database, GeneCard database, and TTD database, we identified the differential expressed genes (DEGs) that intersect with FDAPs, linked to hyperlipidemia. String, GO, and KEGG analysis reveal the further mechanism. Furthermore, we screened out the 22 molecular targets. String, GO, and KEGG analysis revealed that FDAPs likely achieve lipid reduction by regulating the expression of HMGCR, CYP7A1, and FAS. The strong correlation between lipid reduction by FDAPs and metabolic pathways, PPAR signaling pathway, and alcoholic liver disease provides valuable insights for the development of novel drugs.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), cultivated for its low THC content (<0.3%), is increasingly valued for its nutrient-rich seeds and broad applications in human nutrition. This review offers a holistic analysis of hemp seed utilization, covering agronomic, nutritional, processing, and economic aspects. Agronomic practices and environmental factors considerably influence the seed's nutritional profile, which includes high levels of complete proteins, essential fatty acids with an optimal ω-6 to ω-3 ratio, dietary fiber, and micronutrients. Hemp seeds also contain bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties providing further health benefits and economic value. Advancements in processing methods, such as germination, fermentation, and cold pressing have enhanced nutrient bioavailability and reduced antinutritional factors, supporting the development of functional foods. Economically, the hemp seed market shows strong growth potential, driven by consumer demand for plant-based, sustainable food sources. However, challenges persist in scaling production and standardizing quality across supply chains. Hemp seeds represent a sustainable, nutrient-dense food ingredient with momentous potential to support health and diversify agricultural economies. Continued interdisciplinary research and supportive policy frameworks are essential to unlock their full value in the human diet.

Economically motivated adulteration (EMA) has become a critical issue in authentication of animal-origin food, as it poses serious threat to consumer benefits and health, industry development, and religious concerns. Efficient detection technologies are urgently needed to ensure food authenticity. However, conventional authentication technologies are limited in their capabilities for portable and highly sensitive detection. Emerging biosensors, with distinct advantages of simple operation, portable device, and super sensitivity, have become effective toolboxes to meet the demands of reliable on-site detection. This review systematacially summarizes the applications of advanced biosensors (mainly including colorimetric, fluorescence, electrochemical and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors) for authentication of animal-origin food. Significant recognition elements and their principles, the commonly coupled signal output platforms, as well as their applications in the detection of various animal-origin foods are comprehensively reviewed. Furthermore, we also discuss the current challenges and future prospects in this research field.

Saffron, the world's most valuable spice, faces pervasive threats from food fraud, compromising its authenticity, economic value, and consumer safety. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 23 studies to evaluate the prevalence, methods, impacts, and detection strategies of saffron adulteration. Following PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed articles from PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect (2015-2025) were analyzed. Findings reveal that 20-30% of commercial saffron is adulterated globally, though with significant regional disparities (e.g., 3.5% in regulated EU markets vs. 60% in India), driven by economic incentives and regulatory gaps. Common fraudulent practices include substitution with safflower, marigold, or turmeric; dilution with extraneous plant materials; and the addition of hazardous synthetic dyes such as Sudan compounds and auramine-O. Advanced detection technologies including DNA barcoding, spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, and machine learning demonstrate high accuracy but face barriers in cost, accessibility, and real-world applicability. Health risks, such as exposure to carcinogenic dyes, and economic losses for legitimate producers underscore the urgency of addressing supply chain vulnerabilities. The review highlights fragmented regulatory frameworks and emphasizes the need for harmonized ISO standards, blockchain-enabled traceability, and consumer education to combat fraud. Emerging portable tools, such as smartphone-based spectroscopy and AI-driven platforms, offer promising solutions for on-site authentication.