Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety最新文献

Caffeine-containing food supplements are often used as weight loss or memory enhancement support, which increases the potential risk for overdosing the compound. Whereas the presence of iodine-containing seaweed fucus in such products may result in thyroid disorders, when permanently overdosed. The study aimed to assess the content of caffeine and iodine in food supplements. Caffeine amount in tablets and capsules ranged from 91.8 to 138.9% of the declared content, and 2.6 ± 0.3 to 21.8 ± 2.8 mg/portion for the herbal blends with undeclared caffeine content. Iodine content ranged from 10.6 ± 0.4 to 52.5 ± 3.7 µg/portion of the products. Our results, although preliminary, suggest questionable usefulness of the tested preparations as weight loss support. Likewise, a simultaneous consumption of the recommended amounts with caffeine from other sources (e.g. coffee, tea, energy drinks, etc.), is unlikely to cause adverse effects.

In the present study, a solid phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to detect difenoconazole residues in spinach, wax gourd, and summer squash was developed. In addition, field trials were conducted to investigate the dissipation and residue behavior of difenoconazole in six representative regions across China for each studied vegetable, and the dietary risk for Chinese consumers was evaluated using risk quotient methods. The average recoveries of difenoconazole in the three matrices were 81.5–97.8%, and relative standard deviations were 4.0–10.2%. Difenoconazole rapidly dissipated in spinach, wax gourd, and summer squash with half-lives of 2.3–5.9 days. The terminal residues of difenoconazole ranged from 0.029 to 4.74 mg/kg in spinach at 3, 5, and 7 days, < 0.01 to 0.036 mg/kg in wax gourd at 5, 7, and 14 days, and < 0.01 to 0.12 mg/kg in summer squash at 5, 7, and 10 days, which were all much lower than the maximum residue limits in China. The dietary risk assessment revealed that the potential risks of difenoconazole for Chinese consumers were acceptable. The risks for children were significantly higher. Therefore, the proposed preharvest intervals for managing difenoconazole in spinach, wax gourd, and summer squash were 3, 5, and 5 days, respectively.

Despite the high health relevance of fiber consumption, there is a shortfall in the recommended dietary fiber intake. The present study aimed to gain a deeper insight into the consumer perspective on dietary fiber. A quantitative consumer survey was conducted using an online questionnaire (cross-sectional study, primary study). The sample (611 German consumers) drawn from an online access panel is approximately population representative regarding the quotation variables (age, gender, and education). The associations with dietary fiber were recorded by means of an open-ended question. In addition, the preferences for naturally high-fiber foods and two types of fiber-enriched products were recorded by means of statements. In addition, diet-related health orientation, skepticism toward fiber enrichment, and sociodemographic variables were collected. A content-structuring content analysis was used to evaluate the open queried associations. A cluster analysis was performed to identify consumer segments regarding the preference for the different types of fiber-containing foods. The analyses of the openly queried associations show that 83.8% of the consumers named at least one association. The most frequently mentioned associations were related to grain (products) (29.5%), fruit/vegetables/potatoes (14.7%), and health/healthy eating (12.6%). Regarding the preference for the three types of fiber-containing foods, four consumer segments could be identified by cluster analysis. The originality of the study lies in the fact that consumer associations with dietary fiber in relation to food were recorded unaided and general consumer preferences for naturally fiber-rich and fiber-enriched foods were assessed. Based on the findings of the study on fiber-related associations and preference structures of consumers, implications for target group-specific consumer information to promote adequate fiber consumption can be derived.

Food colorants are imperative ingredients for attracting consumers and in deciding their preferences. Here we discuss the current status of natural colorants and synthetic food colorants on the Indian market by appraising the growth of the food colorant market both globally and nationally, based on published case studies on synthetic food colorants (SFCs), rules, and regulations implemented by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on natural food colorants and SFCs. The substantial lacunae in the research on the impacts of SFCs in the Indian population identified through our literature survey signify the scope and need for appraisal of the issues prevailing in the Indian food colorant market as well as the necessity of renewing the food colorant policies. The illegal use of banned food colorants, the adulteration of natural food colorants, mislabelling of SFCs as natural colorants, and the permitted use of internationally banned food colorants, as well as the unawareness among consumers are serious issues recognized. Appropriate labelling to denote natural food colorants' presence, renewed standards of policy to determine the permitted use of food colorants, comprehensive regulations for the production and use of natural food colorants, stringent rules to constrain the production of toxic SFCs are obligatory to breakdown the dilemma on the Indian food market. Most importantly, awareness and responsiveness should be generated among consumers regarding the illegal use and adulteration of colorants and the need to use natural colorants. We also recommend a logo to designate the presence of natural colorants which will aid the consumers to make the right choice.

Understanding consumers’ behavior and their handling of high-risk foods at home is essential for reducing the number of foodborne illnesses. This study shows the results of a cross-national analysis of consumers’ perception from nine countries, and the identification of customers’ clusters and its characteristics in order to understand customers’ behavior, and to build safe chilled ready-to-eat (RTE) foods prevention strategies. The cluster analysis resulted in two clusters: (1) “Precautious consumers” characterized by the orientation towards pre-packed RTE foods, with consumers mainly coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. Their attitudes and self-reported practices may be categorized as less risky in terms of food-borne illnesses connected with the consumption of RTE foods; (2) “Unconcerned consumers” preferred cutting and slicing RTE foods freshly at the point of purchase, usually sold at the delicatessen department in a supermarket or at open markets. Those consumers mostly came from Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia and their attitudes and self-reported practices were riskier. These results allow a better understating of what characterizes consumers of RTE foods in different countries.

In Germany, genetically modified organisms (GMO) analysis of food samples collected within the official food control is performed by the laboratories of the Federal States. The present report shows GMO analysis results from food samples of the years 2017 to 2021, including contaminations by unauthorized GMO, as well as genetically modified (GM) plant events authorized in the European Union. In addition to previous publications, evaluation of the aggregated food samples analysed for GMO components is shown. During this timeframe, 1077 (7.1%) out of 15,145 samples contained genetic modification. In 43 samples, DNA sequences of unauthorized GM plants were found. Additionally, for food derived from soybean, evaluations according to different product categories and the agronomic production (conventional and organic farming) are shown. Whereas in products from organic farming and in conventional soybeans labelled “without genetic engineering” GM soybeans were detected in 6.1% and 8.9%, of all tested samples, respectively, nearly 30% of all conventional soy samples yielded positive results below 0.1%. However, only in 0.7% of the overall analysed 5424 soybean samples GMO percentages of more than 0.1% were obtained. Generally, authorized GM plants were only found at low contamination levels. The labelling threshold of 0.9% for GM ingredients was exceeded only in 0.2% (maize) and 0.1% (soybean) samples, respectively. For monitoring purposes and risk evaluation, the data collection shall be continued.

Reduction of the microbial load of soiled carcasses is essential in the production of game meat. Rinsing with water is a common practice in handling game carcasses to remove any visible contamination. In this study, microbiological investigations were performed on carcasses of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), inoculated with a mixture of gastrointestinal content and then either rinsed (n = 3) or unrinsed (n = 3). Water rinsing may have short-term effects on bacterial contamination related to soiling. However, introducing water into the body cavity may promote bacterial growth during cold storage.

Antimicrobial resistance is a threat to public health. Fresh foods, especially ready-to-eat (RTE) products, can serve as vehicle for resistance dissemination if eaten directly without further processing by the consumer. This study investigated the presence of Enterobacterales resistant to clinically relevant antibiotics in RTE products acquired from 3 Portuguese supermarkets. Food samples (n = 42) were processed and plated in selective medium, followed by the identification of the isolates as well as the determination of the antibiotic resistance profile. Environmental bacteria resistant to beta-lactams and colistin were detected. Furthermore, the detection of Yersinia enterocolitica and Klebsiella oxytoca isolates was of special relevance.