Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety最新文献

In 2019, Germany introduced a uniform, voluntary labeling system for housing conditions of animal products, in order to enhance transparency in this regard. However, these labels are often overlooked. In this context, the present experimental study conducted a virtual supermarket and investigated whether a stronger emphasis on housing condition would lead to an increase in sales of meat products with higher animal welfare standards. To increase consumer attention, various interventions were tested. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups, distinguished by the design of the virtual supermarket as follows: (Group 1) Placement of additional banners above the shelves with housing condition labeling cues; (Group 2) Placement of banners as in Group 1 plus additional positioning of housing condition labels next to the price tag; (Group 3) No specific measures. The developed virtual supermarket provided a realistic research infrastructure for data collection, allowing to test the effectiveness of interventions without the need for direct integration into the operations of a real supermarket. Participants showed a very high level of acceptance for both interventions, which resulted in a slight but non-significant increase in the purchase of meat products with higher housing standards. Most participants found the virtual supermarket highly realistic and user-friendly. Future studies can build upon these findings and further enhance the user-friendliness of the virtual supermarket infrastructure, as well as develop the nature of interventions implemented in virtual supermarkets.

Several studies have shown that farmers' perceptions of livestock production are influenced by a variety of factors. This paper examines farmers' perceptions of livestock production and animal welfare based on survey data. It was found that farmers see themselves as having the greatest responsibility for ensuring animal welfare, for which they would like to see a stable political framework and support from society. Furthermore, organic livestock production (except for dairy and suckler cows) got better ratings than conventional livestock production. The aspects perceived as the most important for animal welfare varied according to species and type of farming. This survey design approach indents to serve as a long-term tool for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, in order to monitor the situation in livestock production.

When approving plant protection products, exposure data are required for risk analysis. Exposure data can be collected for various exposure pathways, such as dermal, inhalation or ground sediment. For measuring exposures, pyranine, a fluorescent dye, and a collector can be used. However, the choice of collector material depends on the specific exposure pathway. This study aims to determine the most suitable collector, in combination with the tracer pyranine, for recording exposure through different pathways in practical trials.

Seven different collectors (Tyvek^®, labels, plastic patches, paper patches, nylon filters, fibreglass filters, petri dishes) were subjected to laboratory and field tests to assess various quality parameters. Blank values, recovery rates, storability, and fluorescence degradation under UV-radiation were measured. Based on the results, a matrix was created summarizing which collector might be best suited to capture each exposure pathway. Almost all collectors demonstrated high recovery rates (Tyvek^® 100%; labels 100%; plastic patches 100%; paper patches 100%; nylon filters 95%; fiberglass filters 60.9%) as well as good storability. Furthermore, all plastic-based collectors (labels, Tyvek^®, plastic patches, petri dishes) showed a very good recovery rate above 95% when exposed to UV-radiation. However, nylon filters were not suitable for utilization under field conditions due to the rapid degradation of fluorescence under UV-radiation (recovery rate: 20–56%). Nevertheless, nylon filters showed stable recoveries under protected conditions and can be used to assess inhalation exposures under these conditions. Fibreglass filters, with recovery rates of 84–86%, were well-suited for testing inhalative exposures outdoors when a correction factor was applied. Tyvek^® was the most suitable material for detecting total dermal exposure under field conditions. This is due to its quality characteristics and availability in a variety of sizes. Finally, petri dishes were ideal for collecting ground sediments.

The diversity of genetically modified plants used for food and feed is increasing worldwide. For the detection and control of these products, efficient and reliable analytical tools are a prerequisite. This can be done by screening for specific DNA-elements and constructs characteristic of transgenic plants. In the past, numerous methods have already been published. However, several genetically modified plants are not covered by common screening methods. Here, a new qualitative triplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is presented, detecting two transgene flanking sequences and the transition between the Cassava Vein Mosaic Virus Promotor (P-CsVMV) and the phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase (pat) gene. These sequences are present in several transgenic plants and therefore, the described triplex method can be used as a screening tool to guide further analysis and increase the efficiency of the analysis strategy for GMO detection. The method is characterized by high specificity, sensitivity and robustness and is provided as a ring-trial validated method in the Official Collection of Methods according to the German Food and Feed Act.

Antimicrobials used in chicken farming for therapeutic and/or prophylactic purposes may result in unacceptable levels of edible residues, if withdrawal periods are not respected. To evaluate the risk in Vietnam, we validated an analytical method to detect antimicrobial residues from chicken meat samples and carried out a pilot cross-sectional study to identify optimal sampling strategies. A total of 45 raw meat samples were collected from 4 markets, 1 slaughterhouse and 4 farms (5 per site) in Northern Vietnam, between March and April 2021. Farmers were asked about antimicrobials used during sampled production cycles (5 chickens sampled per batch). Samples were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the presence of 68 antimicrobials at a pre-defined validation concentration. 7 compounds were identified from 4 classes (tetracyclines, sulphonamides, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones). In markets, where the source of sampled chickens was unknown, a diverse pool of residual antimicrobials was detected in 20% (4/20) of the meat samples. No residues were detected in samples from the slaughterhouse. No residues were detected in chickens from the one farm that reported using antimicrobials, whereas sulfadimethoxine, doxycycline and tilmicosin residues were identified from the other 3 farms reporting no antimicrobial use. The probability of detecting antimicrobial residues present in a flock based on sampling a single chicken was estimated at 0.93 (highest density interval 0.735–0.997). The preliminary results suggest a disparity between farmers’ reports on antimicrobial drug use and actual usage, and that the analysis of a single sample per farm has a high probability of detecting antimicrobial residues, if present.

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant pathogen associated with various illnesses, including food poisoning. The development of effective treatments is challenging, necessitating the exploration of novel antimicrobial options. Bacteriophages (phages) have emerged as promising candidates in this regard. In this study, a virulent phage called mSA4 was isolated and characterized. Furthermore, its efficacy in combating S. aureus biofilms and growth in various food products was evaluated. Phage mSA4 demonstrated a broad host range, targeting both S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains. Belonging to the Myoviridae family, it exhibited rapid adsorption (over 50% in 3 min), a short latent period (20 min), and a burst size of 97 phage particles per infected bacterial cell. Furthermore, phage mSA4 displayed stability across a wide range of pH values and temperatures, and effectively degraded established biofilms. Its performance was evaluated in chocolate milk, beef meat, and iceberg lettuce, resulting in significant reductions in bacterial counts (2.1 log CFU/mL, 2.8 log CFU/cm², and 3.2 log CFU/cm², respectively). These findings underscore the potential of phage mSA4 as a natural biocontrol agent against S. aureus.

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