A hybrid approach to oil structuring - combining wax oleogels and capillary suspensions

There is continuing interest in finding new approaches to gel liquid oil for processed food applications. Here, we combined oleogels and capillary suspensions to generate model oil-continuous networks consisting of a wax oleogel and a water-bridged, glass particle network. The composition map tested comprised 30 vol% polar or non-polar glass beads dispersed in a 70 vol% non-particle phase consisting of water (≤9 vol%) as well as 2 wt% hexatriacontane as oleogelator in canola oil. While the hexatriacontane wax alone gelled the oil, presence of the glass beads (but no water) prevented oleogelation. Self-supporting capillary networks formed with polar particles and 1 vol% water or non-polar glass beads and 3 vol% water in canola oil. The capillary suspensions demonstrated significant differences in rheological behaviour as the polar particles yielded much higher elastic moduli than their non-polar particle counterparts. Polar hybrids were weakened by inclusion of the wax whereas the non-polar particle hybrid network displayed elastic moduli greater than the respective contributions of both capillary and wax gel networks. This hybrid method of oleogelation can be applied to virtually any food particles and uses minimal water and wax.

Exploring Cold plasma technology: Enhancements in Carob seed germination, phytochemical Composition, and antioxidant activity

The cultivation of carob tree does not need many climatic and ecological requirements. The main limit to its large-scale cultivation is the defects for propagation with seeds. Addressing this, our study evaluated the effect of cold plasma pretreatment on carob seed germination. Impressively, cold plasma showcased beneficial effects by significantly increasing water uptake in seeds (CS: 1.71 ± 0.59; PS/3.99 ± 1.56) and decreasing the contact angle from 80.7° to 57.9°, enhancing the seed surface's hydrophilicity. While the germination rate enhancement was subtle, the treatment presented an innovative route to modifying the seed's physiochemical properties. Specifically, storage proteins like albumin, globulin, and prolamin were notably reduced (Albumin (from 7.67 to 4.95 mg/g DW), Globulin (from 8.52 to 5.80 mg/g DW) and Prolamin (from 3.53 to 1.66 mg/g DW)). Additionally, there was a decline in the overall content of polyphenols (from 846.88 to 760.94 mg GAE/100g DW) and flavonoids (from 790.93 to 502.95 mg GAE/100g DW) and a decrease in the ferric reducing power (from 34.48 to 26.39 mg AAE/g DW). However, radical scavenging activity remained consistent. Intriguingly, FTIR-ATR spectral analysis post plasma treatment indicated oxidative alterations in the seed coat, marked by a distinctive intensity at 1732 cm⁻1. This investigation suggests that the application of eco-friendly technology could provide improvements in seed surface's hydrophilicity, but appropriate conditions could be chosen to increase germination efficiency.

A Potentially Ecosustainable Hazelnut/Carob-Based Spread

Commercial cocoa and hazelnut-based sweet spreads typically present a poor nutribiochemical level due to their ingredients and recipes, while nowadays, there is the need of developing sustainable food products addressing both an improved nutritional and environmental profile. The aim of this work was then to develop an innovative hazelnut/carob-based spread with potential high sustainability and nutritional profile, including the exploitation of grape-processing residues (grape skin flour and grapeseed oil) and carob pulp as cocoa surrogate. Rheological (rotational/oscillatory), oxidative, and thermal features of the spread were assessed and compared with two commercial nut-cocoa-based products. Tribology was used to mimic and evaluate the spreads' behavior during oral consumption, and sensory profile (by quantitative descriptive analysis) was also assessed. All products exhibited a pseudoplastic behavior, with the elastic component prevailing over the viscous one. The innovative product showed the highest lubricity from both rheological and sensory analysis, thus well correlating to the obtained lowest viscosity and friction factor trends. Grapeseed oil provided a better nutritional profile, but the largest amount of unsaturated fatty acids promoted oxidation, despite the higher total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity coming from the use of carob and grape skin powders. The sensory perception investigation revealed a characteristic mouthfeel/flavor for the new spread identified having a more fluid consistency and a bitter/sour taste, together with a greater stickiness and a poorer smoothness due to a higher fiber content and solid fat absence.

Photodynamic Inactivation of Foodborne Bacteria: Screening of 32 Potential Photosensitizers

The development of novel antimicrobial technologies for the food industry represents an important strategy to improve food safety. Antimicrobial photodynamic disinfection (aPDD) is a method that can inactivate microbes without the use of harsh chemicals. aPDD involves the administration of a non-toxic, light-sensitive substance, known as a photosensitizer, followed by exposure to visible light at a specific wavelength. The objective of this study was to screen the antimicrobial photodynamic efficacy of 32 food-safe pigments tested as candidate photosensitizers (PSs) against pathogenic and food-spoilage bacterial suspensions as well as biofilms grown on relevant food contact surfaces. This screening evaluated the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC), and colony forming unit (CFU) reduction against Salmonella enterica, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas fragi, and Brochothrix thermosphacta. Based on multiple characteristics, including solubility and the ability to reduce the biofilms by at least 3 log10 CFU/sample, 4 out of the 32 PSs were selected for further optimization against S. enterica and MRSA, including sunset yellow, curcumin, riboflavin-5'-phosphate (R-5-P), and erythrosin B. Optimized factors included the PS concentration, irradiance, and time of light exposure. Finally, 0.1% w/v R-5-P, irradiated with a 445 nm LED at 55.5 J/cm2, yielded a "max kill" (upwards of 3 to 7 log10 CFU/sample) against S. enterica and MRSA biofilms grown on metallic food contact surfaces, proving its potential for industrial applications. Overall, the aPDD method shows substantial promise as an alternative to existing disinfection technologies used in the food processing industry.

Exploring Disease Management and Control through Pathogen Diagnostics and One Health Initiative: A Concise Review

The "One Health" initiative is a critical strategy that recognizes the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health in the spread and containment of infectious pathogens. With the ease of global transportation, transboundary disease outbreaks pose a significant threat to food safety and security, endangering public health and having a negative economic impact. Traditional diagnostic techniques based on genotypic and phenotypic analyses are expensive, time-consuming, and cannot be translated into point-of-care tools, hindering effective disease management and control. However, with advancements in molecular methods, biosensors, and new generation sequencing, rapid and reliable diagnostics are now available. This review provides a comprehensive insight into emergent viral and bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, highlighting the importance of "One Health" in connecting detection and effective treatment. By emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between human and animal health, this paper underscores the critical role of "One Health" initiatives in preventing and controlling infectious diseases.

Combining AI Tools with Non-Destructive Technologies for Crop-Based Food Safety: A Comprehensive Review

On a global scale, food safety and security aspects entail consideration throughout the farm-to-fork continuum, considering food's supply chain. Generally, the agrifood system is a multiplex network of interconnected features and processes, with a hard predictive rate, where maintaining the food's safety is an indispensable element and is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has led the scientific community to develop advanced applied analytical methods, such as machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques applied for assessing foodborne diseases. The main objective of this paper is to contribute to the development of the consensus version of ongoing research about the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the domain of food-crop safety from an analytical point of view. Writing a comprehensive review for a more specific topic can also be challenging, especially when searching within the literature. To our knowledge, this review is the first to address this issue. This work consisted of conducting a unique and exhaustive study of the literature, using our TriScope Keywords-based Synthesis methodology. All available literature related to our topic was investigated according to our criteria of inclusion and exclusion. The final count of data papers was subject to deep reading and analysis to extract the necessary information to answer our research questions. Although many studies have been conducted, limited attention has been paid to outlining the applications of AI tools combined with analytical strategies for crop-based food safety specifically.

One Health Perspectives on Food Safety in Minimally Processed Vegetables and Fruits: From Farm to Fork

While food markets and food production chains are experiencing exponential growth, global attention to food safety is steadily increasing. This is particularly crucial for ready-to-eat products such as fresh-cut salads and fruits, as these items are consumed raw without prior heat treatment, making the presence of pathogenic microorganisms quite frequent. Moreover, many studies on foodborne illnesses associated with these foods often overlook the transmission links from the initial contamination source. The prevention and control of the dissemination of foodborne pathogens should be approached holistically, involving agricultural production, processing, transport, food production, and extending to final consumption, all while adopting a One Health perspective. In this context, our objective is to compile available information on the challenges related to microbiological contamination in minimally handled fruits and vegetables. This includes major reported outbreaks, specific bacterial strains, and associated statistics throughout the production chain. We address the sources of contamination at each stage, along with issues related to food manipulation and disinfection. Additionally, we provide potential solutions to promote a healthier approach to fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. This information will be valuable for both researchers and food producers, particularly those focused on ensuring food safety and quality.

A Century of Influences on Parental Feeding in America

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Childhood obesity, food deserts, food prices, and a lack of nutritional knowledge are rising concerns in the USA. Parental feeding goals and practices have shifted greatly in the past century and families now rely almost solely on the corporate food industry. Industrial farming and corporate production of food stuffs can be damaging to the environment, animal ethics, and the health of children and families. This review examines how the history of the USA intertwines with parental feeding along with maternal and child health and well-being.

RECENT FINDINGS

Grass roots efforts are underway to educate the public in nutrition and gardening. Knowledge of food basics, cooking, and animal husbandry can have a positive influence on the health of children and families, especially those living in food deserts. The proliferation of farmers' markets may provide a safe-hold for those wishing to feed local, ethically produced foods to their families. Historical information on how US families became dependent upon factory farmed foods and lost their knowledge of food growth may help guide future communities on educational programming. Children who are educated on healthy foods have more interest in eating nourishing, clean foods. Family education and school programming on nutrition and gardening may work to ease absolute dependence on factory farmed foods and help to lower childhood obesity and related diseases.

Predicting Disparity between ASF-Managed Areas and Wild Boar Habitats: A Case of South Korea

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting both domestic and wild boars. Since its first outbreak in South Korea in 2019, substantial efforts have been made to prevent ASF transmission by reducing the wild boar population and eliminating infected carcasses; however, the persistence of ASF transmission has posed challenges to these efforts. To improve ASF management strategies, the limitations of current management strategies must be identified by considering disparities between wild boar habitats and ASF-managed areas with environmental and anthropogenic characteristics of wild boars and their management strategies. Here, ensemble species distribution models were used to estimate wild boar habitats and potential ASF-managed areas, with elevation, distance to urban areas, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index as important variables. Binary maps of wild boar habitats and potential ASF-managed areas were generated using the maxSSS as the threshold criterion. Disparity areas of ASF management were identified by overlying regions evaluated as wild boar habitats with those not classified as ASF-managed areas. Dense forests near urban regions like Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do were evaluated as disparity areas having high risk of ASF transmission. These findings hold significant potential for refining ASF management strategies and establishing proactive control measures.

Quantifying Enteropathogen Contamination along Chicken Value Chains in Maputo, Mozambique: A Multidisciplinary and Mixed-Methods Approach to Identifying High Exposure Settings

BACKGROUND

Small-scale poultry production is widespread and increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Exposure to enteropathogens in poultry feces increases the hazard of human infection and related sequela, and the burden of disease due to enteric infection in children < 5 y in particular is substantial. Yet, the containment and management of poultry-associated fecal waste in informal settings in LMICs is largely unregulated.

OBJECTIVES

To improve the understanding of potential exposures to enteropathogens carried by chickens, we used mixed methods to map and quantify microbial hazards along production value chains among broiler, layer, and indigenous chickens in Maputo, Mozambique.

METHODS

To map and describe the value chains, we conducted 77 interviews with key informants working in locations where chickens and related products are sold, raised, and butchered. To quantify microbial hazards, we collected chicken carcasses (n = 75 ) and fecal samples (n = 136 ) from chickens along the value chain and assayed them by qPCR for the chicken-associated bacterial enteropathogens C. jejuni/coli and Salmonella spp.

RESULTS

We identified critical hazard points along the chicken value chains and identified management and food hygiene practices that contribute to potential exposures to chicken-sourced enteropathogens. We detected C. jejuni/coli in 84 (76%) of fecal samples and 52 (84%) of carcass rinses and Salmonella spp. in 13 (11%) of fecal samples and 16 (21%) of carcass rinses. Prevalence and level of contamination increased as chickens progressed along the value chain, from no contamination of broiler chicken feces at the start of the value chain to 100% contamination of carcasses with C. jejuni/coli at informal markets. Few hazard mitigation strategies were found in the informal sector.

DISCUSSION

High prevalence and concentration of C. jejuni/coli and Salmonella spp. contamination along chicken value chains suggests a high potential for exposure to these enteropathogens associated with chicken production and marketing processes in the informal sector in our study setting. We identified critical control points, such as the carcass rinse step and storage of raw chicken meat, that could be intervened in to mitigate risk, but regulation and enforcement pose challenges. This mixed-methods approach can also provide a model to understand animal value chains, sanitary risks, and associated exposures in other settings. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11761.

On-farm investments into dairy cow health: evidence from 15 case study countries

Managing investments in dairy cow health at a national and global scale, requires an improved understanding of current on-farm expenses for cow health (e.g., expenditure for medicine and veterinary consultations). The aim of this study was to assess on-farm health investments for typical dairy farms in 15 case study countries, including Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, India, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, New Zealand, Uganda, UK, Uruguay, and USA. The study was conducted using a descriptive analysis of a secondary data set that was obtained from the International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN). The results suggest that health expenditures take up a relatively small proportion (<10%) of the annual total production costs per cow across all countries in the sample. The means of production costs (e.g., feed, machinery) can take up to 90% of the total production costs for highly intensive systems, while these costs can be as low as 9% for extensive systems. This study highlights the importance of understanding on-farm animal health investments as a contribution to improved national and global decision making about animal health in the dairy sector.

One Welfare: Assessing the Effects of Drought and the COVID-19 Pandemic on Farmers' Well-Being and Their Perception of Goats' Welfare

Considering the interconnections between human well-being, animal welfare, and the environment, this study aimed to investigate the impacts of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic on small-scale goat farmers' well-being and their perception of goats' welfare following the One Welfare framework. Using a telephone survey, close-ended questions, and Likert scales, we assessed the impacts of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic on human well-being and animal welfare in the Coquimbo region of Chile. The DASS-21 questionnaire was used to evaluate farmers' mental health. Goat farmers perceived the scarcity of water and food for animals as factors that negatively affected animal productivity and welfare and caused an increase in farmers' stress levels. Farmers who had not been visited by a veterinarian showed higher levels of stress than those who received one visit during the year (M = 10 vs. 2, p = 0.025). Additionally, farmers who perceived better welfare of their animals showed lower levels of depression (rs = -0.17, p = 0.048), anxiety (rs = -0.21, p = 0.016), and stress (rs = -0.33, p < 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of addressing farmers' mental health and veterinary support as crucial aspects to ensure both goat welfare and farm productivity.

Aflatoxins Contamination in Feed Commodities: From Occurrence and Toxicity to Recent Advances in Analytical Methods and Detoxification

Synthesized by the secondary metabolic pathway in Aspergilli, aflatoxins (AFs) cause economic and health issues and are culpable for serious harmful health and economic matters affecting consumers and global farmers. Consequently, the detection and quantification of AFs in foods/feeds are paramount from food safety and security angles. Nowadays, incessant attempts to develop sensitive and rapid approaches for AFs identification and quantification have been investigated, worldwide regulations have been established, and the safety of degrading enzymes and reaction products formed in the AF degradation process has been explored. Here, occurrences in feed commodities, innovative methods advanced for AFs detection, regulations, preventive strategies, biological detoxification, removal, and degradation methods were deeply reviewed and presented. This paper showed a state-of-the-art and comprehensive review of the recent progress on AF contamination in feed matrices with the intention of inspiring interests in both academia and industry.

Assessing food security performance from the One Health concept: an evaluation tool based on the Global One Health Index

BACKGROUND

Food systems instantiate the complex interdependencies across humans, physical environments, and other organisms. Applying One Health approaches for agri-food system transformation, which adopts integrated and unifying approaches to optimize the overall health of humans, animals, plants, and environments, is crucial to enhance the sustainability of food systems. This study develops a potential assessment tool, named the global One Health index-Food Security (GOHI-FS), aiming to evaluate food security performance across countries/territories from One Health perspective and identify relevant gaps that need to be improved for sustainable food systems.

METHODS

We comprehensively reviewed existing frameworks and elements of food security. The indicator framework of GOHI-FS was conceptualized following the structure-process-outcome model and confirmed by expert advisory. Publicly available data in 2020 was collected for each indicator. The weighting strategy was determined by the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process. The data for each indicator was normalized and aggregated by weighted arithmetic mean. Linear regressions were performed to evaluate the associations of GOHI-FS with health and social-economic indicators.

RESULTS

The GOHI-FS includes 5 first-level indicators, 19 second-level indicators and 45 third-level indicators. There were 146 countries/territories enrolled for evaluation. The highest average score of first-level indicators was Nutrition (69.8) and the lowest was Government Support and Response (31.3). There was regional heterogeneity of GOHI-FS scores. Higher median scores with interquartile range (IQR) were shown in North America (median: 76.1, IQR: 75.5-76.7), followed by Europe and Central Asia (median: 66.9, IQR: 60.1-74.3), East Asia and the Pacific (median: 60.6, IQR: 55.5-68.7), Latin America and the Caribbean (median: 60.2, IQR: 57.8-65.0), Middle East and North Africa (median: 56.6, IQR: 52.0-62.8), South Asia (median: 51.1, IQR: 46.7-53.8), and sub-Saharan Africa (median: 41.4, IQR: 37.2-46.5). We also found significant associations between GOHI-FS and GDP per capita, socio-demographic index, health expenditure and life expectancy.

CONCLUSIONS

GOHI-FS is a potential assessment tool to understand the gaps in food security across countries/territories under the One Health concept. The pilot findings suggest notable gaps for sub-Saharan Africa in numerous aspects. Broad actions are needed globally to promote government support and response for food security.

Food Risk Analysis: Towards a Better Understanding of "Hazard" and "Risk" in EU Food Legislation

For risk communication, it is important to understand the difference between "hazard" and "risk". Definitions can be found in Codex Alimentarius and the European Union (EU) General Food Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002. The use of these terms as synonyms or their interchange is a recurrent issue in the area of food safety, despite awareness-raising messages sent by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and other interested entities. A quick screening of the EU's food regulations revealed several inconsistencies. Hence, it was considered necessary to further investigate if regulations could act as a source for this problem. A software tool was developed to support the detection and listing of inconsistent translations of "hazard" and "risk" in certain EU food regulations. Subsequently, native-speaking experts working in food safety from each EU country were asked to provide their individual scientific opinion on the prepared list. All data were statistically analysed after applying numerical scores (1-5) describing different levels of consistency. Results showed that the most common problem was the interchange of "hazard" with "risk" and vice versa. This lack of consistency can create confusion that can further translate into misjudgments at food risk assessment and communication levels.

Can Traditional Food Product Communication Convey Safety to the Younger Generations? The Role of Sustainable Packaging

Traditional food products (TFPs) represent a defining part of one's culture, identity, and heritage with crucial economic, cultural, and environmental benefits in society. Younger generations have a positive idea of TFPs, even if this does not lead to actual purchase, possibly due to the fact that they are often perceived to not meet safety criteria. This study focuses on product communication (CP) and packaging referring to the territory (PT) and to sustainability (SP) in order to verify if these have a direct or mediated impact on perceived product safety (PPS). A structural equation model was conducted on a sample of 1079 young Italian cheese consumers. The results allowed us to confirm the hypothesized impact of CP on PPS through the mediation of PT and, particularly, SP. SP has a crucial communicative role in the model, demonstrating the ability to enhance the perception of the safety of TFPs. This research adds to the knowledge in the field of TFPs, focusing on communication and sustainable packaging as crucial factors conveying healthiness, nutritiousness, and perceived safety, consequently leading to a greater diffusion of the products themselves in the market.

Halobacteria-Based Biofertilizers: A Promising Alternative for Enhancing Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity under Biotic and Abiotic Stresses-A Review

Abiotic and biotic stresses such as salt stress and fungal infections significantly affect plant growth and productivity, leading to reduced crop yield. Traditional methods of managing stress factors, such as developing resistant varieties, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, have shown limited success in the presence of combined biotic and abiotic stress factors. Halotolerant bacteria found in saline environments have potential as plant promoters under stressful conditions. These microorganisms produce bioactive molecules and plant growth regulators, making them a promising agent for enhancing soil fertility, improving plant resistance to adversities, and increasing crop production. This review highlights the capability of plant-growth-promoting halobacteria (PGPH) to stimulate plant growth in non-saline conditions, strengthen plant tolerance and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors, and sustain soil fertility. The major attempted points are: (i) the various abiotic and biotic challenges that limit agriculture sustainability and food safety, (ii) the mechanisms employed by PGPH to promote plant tolerance and resistance to both biotic and abiotic stressors, (iii) the important role played by PGPH in the recovery and remediation of agricultural affected soils, and (iv) the concerns and limitations of using PGHB as an innovative approach to boost crop production and food security.

Agro-Food Waste as an Ingredient in Functional Beverage Processing: Sources, Functionality, Market and Regulation

Waste generated from the agro-food industry represents a concerning environmental, social and economic issue. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations defines food waste as all food that decreases in quantity or quality to the extent that it is thrown out by food service providers and consumers. The FAO reports that 17% of worldwide food production may be wasted. Food waste may include fresh products, food close to the expiration date discarded by retailers and food products from household kitchens and eating establishments. However, food waste offers different possibilities to extract functional ingredients from different sources, such as dairy, cereals, fruits, vegetables, fibers, oils, dye and bioactive compounds. The optimization of agro-food waste as an ingredient will help in the development and innovation of food products to generate functional food and beverages to prevent and treat several diseases in consumers.

An Impedimetric Biosensor for Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds in Food

The demand for a wide choice of food that is safe and palatable increases every day. Consumers do not accept off-flavors that have atypical odors resulting from internal deterioration or contamination by substances alien to the food. Odor response depends on the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and their detection can provide information about food quality. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is the most powerful method available for the detection of VOC. However, it is laborious, costly, and requires the presence of a trained operator. To develop a faster analytic tool, we designed a non-Faradaic impedimetric biosensor for monitoring the presence of VOCs involved in food spoilage. The biosensor is based on the use of the pig odorant-binding protein (pOBP) as the molecular recognition element. We evaluated the affinity of pOBP for three different volatile organic compounds (1-octen-3-ol, trans-2-hexen-1-ol, and hexanal) related to food spoilage. We developed an electrochemical biosensor conducting impedimetric measurements in liquid and air samples. The impedance changes allowed us to detect each VOC sample at a minimum concentration of 0.1 μM.

Effects of microbial biostimulants (Trichoderma album and Bacillus megaterium) on growth, quality attributes, and yield of onion under field conditions

Microbial biostimulants (MBs) promote plant growth and stress tolerance in a sustainable manner. However, precise field trials of MBs are required in natural setting with a range of crop varieties to harness the benefits of biostimulants on crop yield improvement. This study investigated the effects of two MBs, Trichoderma album and Bacillus megaterium, on an onion cultivar's growth, nutritional qualities, antioxidant properties, and yield potentials under field conditions for two successive years. Before transplantation, onion bulbs were gelatin-coated with 2.0 and 4.0 g L^-1 of each of the MB. Results revealed that MBs-pretreated onion plants exhibited better growth indices, photosynthetic pigment contents, and yield-attributing features like bulb weight than control plants. Nutraceutical analysis demonstrated that T. album-pretreated (by 2.0 g L^-1) onion cultivar enhanced the level of K⁺ (by 105.79%), Ca²⁺ (by 37.77%), proline (by 34.21%), and total free amino acids (by 144.58%) in bulb tissues over the control plants. Intriguingly, the pretreatment with both T. album and B. megaterium (by 2.0 g L^-1) increased the levels of total soluble carbohydrates (by 19.10 and 84.02%), as well as antioxidant properties, including increased activities of superoxide dismutase (by 58.52 and 31.34%), catalase (by 164.71 and 232%), ascorbate peroxidase (by 175.35 and 212.69%), and glutathione-S-transferase (by 31.99 and 9.34%) and improved the contents of ascorbic acid (by 19.1 and 44.05%), glutathione (by 6.22 and 33.82%), and total flavonoids (by 171.98 and 56.24%, respectively) in the bulb tissues than control plants. Although both MBs promoted the growth and nutraceutical qualities of onion bulbs, T. album pretreatment showed better effects than that of B. megaterium in the field settings. Based on the morphophysiological attributes and biochemical properties, a low dose (2.0 g L^-1) was more effective than a high dose (4.0 g L^-1) of T. album in promoting onion growth. Overall, the current research findings imply that T. album might be a potential MB in improving growth and quality attributes, and hence the productivity of onion cultivars under field circumstances.

Survey of wild boar hunter interactions with pig farming in central Europe

African swine fever (ASF) is a fatal animal disease without zoonotic potential but greatly impacts human well-being, especially in the most vulnerable human communities. In Europe, ASF concerns mostly the wildlife domain of health. The main vector of the disease is confirmed to be the wild boar, though long-distance jumps of the infection are due to anthropogenic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the potential role of hunting assistant personnel (beaters and carcass handlers) in ASF spread in Hungary. Based on a personal interview survey, we attempted to identify the epidemiological risk caused by hunting activities and the hunting personnel. The interviews with 58 hunting workers confirmed that an extent backyard pig sector (13 pig farmers) and pork production system (31 pork producers) existed within the study region out of the authorities' sight. Two pig farmers did not wear special working clothes for pig caring, seven pork producers disposed of slaughter offal in the settlements periphery, and six persons regularly contacted distant pig farms. The revealed knowledge, attitude, and practice of the questioned pig farmers suggested that this sector would be very vulnerable in an epidemic situation; moreover, backyard farms would cause a great risk for wildboar populations. Considering that the study region is the third poorest region of Hungary, these findings called attention to the high epidemiologic risk of socioeconomic inequality between different regions within the European Union.

Systemizing a rural livelihood diversification framework for sustainable community-based agritourism: A participatory approach to ensure resilience

Introduction

Situated approaches of rural livelihood diversification, such as community-based agritourism, can localize sustainable food systems at the regional level. This research advances an integrated framework of indicators to assess the interdisciplinary benefits of rural livelihood diversification practices for sustainable local food systems and community resilience.

Methods

We built a framework on four dimensions deducted from secondary data: (1) environmental, (2) sociocultural, (3) economic, and (4) health. These were validated with an inductive analysis of primary data, which we collected from a panel of experts with a content validity index and tested in three rural case studies with shadow observation and qualitative interviews. We conducted both in-depth interviews with community leaders (n = 10) and semi-structured interviews with multi-sectoral stakeholders (n = 40).

Results

Findings (1) identify a comprehensive list of indicators to assess environmental, sociocultural, economic, and health dimensions of rural livelihood diversification practices and (2) advance a participatory approach to prioritize indicators according to their regional relevance (co-developed with stakeholders involved in Bangkok's local food systems). Food tourism connects the four dimensions by (1) preserving local agrobiodiversity (2) preserving rural communities' traditions (3) creating new capacity building opportunities for community-driven socio-economic development and (4) recognizing the health benefits of indigenous foods.

Discussion

This study contributes to a value-added conceptualization of community-based agritourism as a rural livelihood diversification practice. Such research effort highlights the importance of co-producing and ground-truthing indicators for rural livelihood diversification practices localizing sustainable development goals.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and One Health - a call for action to integrate

One Health (OH) has gained considerable prominence since the beginning of the 21^st century, among others, driven by the recent epidemics and the increasing importance of zoonotic diseases. Yet, despite the holistic and multidimensional nature of OH, to date, most emphasis has been on the interactions between animal and human health, with considerably less attention to environmental and plant health. However, there is growing evidence that the challenges of climate change, growing food and nutritional insecurity, and biodiversity loss can best be addressed within the context of the OH framework. Conceptionally, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) could perfectly fit into such an approach, but historically, IPM has been practiced very much in a compartmentalized manner. New approaches such as Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification offer solutions to how to successfully embed IPM into a OH framework.

The Multifaceted Relationship between the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Food System

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is being questioned for its possible food transmission, due to several reports of the virus on food, outbreaks developed in food companies, as well as its origins linked to the wet market of Wuhan, China. The purpose of this review is to analyze the scientific evidence gathered so far on the relationship between food and the pandemic, considering all aspects of the food system that can be involved. The collected data indicate that there is no evidence that foods represent a risk for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. In fact, even if the virus can persist on food surfaces, there are currently no proven cases of infection from food. Moreover, the pandemic showed to have deeply influenced the eating habits of consumers and their purchasing methods, but also to have enhanced food waste and poverty. Another important finding is the role of meat processing plants as suitable environments for the onset of outbreaks. Lessons learned from the pandemic include the correct management of spaces, food hygiene education for both food workers and common people, the enhancement of alternative commercial channels, the reorganization of food activities, in particular wet markets, and intensive farming, following correct hygiene practices. All these outcomes lead to another crucial lesson, which is the importance of the resilience of the food system. These lessons should be assimilated to deal with the present pandemic and possible future emergencies. Future research directions include further investigation of the factors linked to the food system that can favor the emergence of viruses, and of innovative technologies that can reduce viral transmission.

From the Intersection of Food-Borne Zoonoses and EU Green Policies to an In-Embryo One Health Financial Model

The European Union (EU) adopts the One Health (OH) approach, based on the relationships between human, animal, and environmental health. OH concerns a multitude of aspects, some of which are discussed here. OH overlaps the European Green Deal plan and its relaunched Farm to Fork Strategy, which aims at spreading organic farms adopting the circular economy, in order to improve human health through both better environmental conditions and healthier food. Nevertheless, zoonoses cause sanitary cost in terms of infected farm personnel, lower productivity, and lower fertility of infected farm animals. In such scenarios, the decreased breeding yield and the lower income induce higher cost of farm products, meaning that the market price rises, becoming uncompetitive when compared to the prices of industrial products. Consequently, lower revenues can hinder the farm growth expected in the framework of the EU Green Deal. Since zoonosis control is a key element in aligning EU policies aimed at achieving the EU Green Deal goal of “ZERO environmental impact” by 2050, the authors suggest the inclusion of the parameter economic health in the OH approach, in order to individuate EU Member States (MSs) economically unable to conduct eradication programmes and to finance them. Economic health is here considered as a starting point of the new ethical and science-based One Health Financial Model that the authors suggest as an in-embryo model, in which specific rules should regulate public funds, private investments, and trading, which should exclusively concern public services and private enterprises complying with most of the OH parameters. In this way, economic losses due to collateral negative effects deriving from human activities can be progressively decreased, and the entire planet will benefit from the process. Despite the considerable efforts being carried out in the context of the OH approach, war causes tragic and devastating effects on the physical and mental health of human beings, on their lives, on pandemic and zoonotic threats, on animals, on plants and, last but not least, on the environment. War is incompatible with OH. Enormous efforts for peace are therefore urgently needed.

Trace Elements in Beef Cattle: A Review of the Scientific Approach from One Health Perspective

The objective was to investigate the context, approach and research topics present in the papers that analysed trace elements in beef cattle to identify gaps and scientific perspectives for the sustainable management of trace elements in livestock. The main research groups came from the United States, Spain, Japan, Brazil, India and Slovakia, which represented 31% of the papers produced. Only 37% of studies addressed aspects that integrated animal, environmental and human health. The reviewed papers concerned 56 elements and 15 bovine tissues (Cu, Zn, Pb, liver, muscle and kidney highlighted). The main gaps were (1) lack of research in developing countries, (2) the need to understand the impact of different environmental issues and their relationship to the conditions in which animals are raised, and (3) the need to understand the role of many trace elements in animal nutrition and their relationship to environmental and human health. Finally, we highlight possible ways to expand knowledge and provide innovations for broad emerging issues, primarily through expanding collaborative research networks. In this context, we suggest the adoption of the One Health approach for planning further research on trace elements in livestock. Moreover, the One Health approach should also be considered for managers and politicians for a sustainable environmental care and food safety.

Fungi, P-Solubilization, and Plant Nutrition

The application of plant beneficial microorganisms is widely accepted as an efficient alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It was shown that annually, mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria are responsible for 5 to 80% of all nitrogen, and up to 75% of P plant acquisition. However, while bacteria are the most studied soil microorganisms and most frequently reported in the scientific literature, the role of fungi is relatively understudied, although they are the primary organic matter decomposers and govern soil carbon and other elements, including P-cycling. Many fungi can solubilize insoluble phosphates or facilitate P-acquisition by plants and, therefore, form an important part of the commercial microbial products, with Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma being the most efficient. In this paper, the role of fungi in P-solubilization and plant nutrition will be presented with a special emphasis on their production and application. Although this topic has been repeatedly reviewed, some recent views questioned the efficacy of the microbial P-solubilizers in soil. Here, we will try to summarize the proven facts but also discuss further lines of research that may clarify our doubts in this field or open new perspectives on using the microbial and particularly fungal P-solubilizing potential in accordance with the principles of the sustainability and circular economy.

Socioeconomic Characteristics Associated with Farming Practices, Food Safety and Security in the Production of Fresh Produce—A Case Study including Small-Scale Farmers in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

Farmer practices may influence the microbial quality and safety of fresh produce. The increasing demands to create ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh produce while providing potential niche markets for smallholder farmers might be contributing to increased numbers of fresh produce-associated foodborne disease outbreaks. This study determined the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and farmer hygiene practices of farmers using open-ended questionnaires and key informant interviews. Additionally, the relationships between farmer socioeconomic characteristics and hygiene practices were statistically analyzed. The semi-organic smallholder farmer population and the farmworkers of the organic farm were female-dominated. Tertiary education was a predominant characteristic in the organic and semi-conventional workforces. While the semi-organic and semi-conventional farms relied on a combination of ‘store-bought’ synthetic and composted organic fertilizers, the organic farm owner only used composted organic fertilizer. The irrigation water sources varied amongst the farm types. However, most of the semi-organic farmers did not pre-treat irrigation water prior to use. The irrigation water source and fertilizer type selected by farmers varied and might affect the microbial quality and safety of fresh produce. Socioeconomic factors such as gender and education may influence farmer hygiene practices. These characteristics should therefore be considered when planning farmer support interventions.

Dietary Change and Global Sustainable Development Goals

Food production for human consumption is a leading cause of environmental damage in the world and yet over two billion people suffer from malnutrition. Several studies have presented evidence that changes in dietary patterns across the world can lead to win-win outcomes for environmental and social sustainability and can complement ongoing technological and policy efforts to improve the efficiency of agricultural production. However, the existing evidence have been compiled in “silos” by a large range of researchers across several disciplines using different indicators. The aim of this quantitative review is to bring together the existing knowledge on heterogeneity of current dietary patterns across the world and how a transition toward healthy diets in different countries can aid in progress toward multiple global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We first summarize the nutritional quality, economic cost, and environmental footprint of current diets of over 150 countries using multiple indicators. Next, we review which shifts in dietary patterns across different world regions can help toward achievement of SDG2 (Zero hunger), SDG3 (Good health and wellbeing), SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation), SDG13 (Climate action), SDG14 (Life below water), and SDG15 (Life on land). Finally, we briefly discuss how to enable the shift toward sustainable dietary patterns and identify the research and data gaps that need to be filled through future efforts. Our analysis reveals that dietary change is necessary in all countries as each one has unique priorities and action items. For regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, increased intake of nutrient dense foods is needed to address deficiency of essential nutrients like folate, potassium, and vitamin A. For North America and Europe, shifting toward more plant-based diets would be healthier and simultaneously reduce the per capita environmental footprints. The results can be useful for policymakers in designing country-specific strategies for adoption of sustainable dietary behaviors and for food industry to ensure the supply of sustainable food items customized with regions' need.

A Comparative Photographic Review on Higher Plants and Macro-Fungi: A Soil Restoration for Sustainable Production of Food and Energy

The Kingdom of Plantae is considered the main source of human food, and includes several edible and medicinal plants, whereas mushrooms belong to the Kingdom of fungi. There are a lot of similar characteristics between mushrooms and higher plants, but there are also many differences among them, especially from the human health point of view. The absences of both chlorophyll content and the ability to form their own food are the main differences between mushrooms and higher plants. The main similar attributes found in both mushrooms and higher plants are represented in their nutritional and medicinal activities. The findings of this review have a number of practical implications. A lot of applications in different fields could be found also for both mushrooms and higher plants, especially in the bioenergy, biorefinery, soil restoration, and pharmaceutical fields, but this study is the first report on a comparative photographic review between them. An implication of the most important findings in this review is that both mushrooms and plants should be taken into account when integrated food and energy are needed. These findings will be of broad use to the scientific and biomedical communities. Further investigation and experimentation into the integration and production of food crops and mushrooms are strongly recommended under different environmental conditions, particularly climate change.

Farm and Companion Animal Organoid Models in Translational Research: A Powerful Tool to Bridge the Gap Between Mice and Humans

Animal organoid models derived from farm and companion animals have great potential to contribute to human health as a One Health initiative, which recognize a close inter-relationship among humans, animals and their shared environment and adopt multi-and trans-disciplinary approaches to optimize health outcomes. With recent advances in organoid technology, studies on farm and companion animal organoids have gained more attention in various fields including veterinary medicine, translational medicine and biomedical research. Not only is this because three-dimensional organoids possess unique characteristics from traditional two-dimensional cell cultures including their self-organizing and self-renewing properties and high structural and functional similarities to the originating tissue, but also because relative to conventional genetically modified or artificially induced murine models, companion animal organoids can provide an excellent model for spontaneously occurring diseases which resemble human diseases. These features of companion animal organoids offer a paradigm-shifting approach in biomedical research and improve translatability of in vitro studies to subsequent in vivo studies with spontaneously diseased animals while reducing the use of conventional animal models prior to human clinical trials. Farm animal organoids also could play an important role in investigations of the pathophysiology of zoonotic and reproductive diseases by contributing to public health and improving agricultural production. Here, we discuss a brief history of organoids and the most recent updates on farm and companion animal organoids, followed by discussion on their potential in public health, food security, and comparative medicine as One Health initiatives. We highlight recent evolution in the culturing of organoids and their integration with organ-on-a-chip systems to overcome current limitations in in vitro studies. We envision multidisciplinary work integrating organoid culture and organ-on-a-chip technology can contribute to improving both human and animal health.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Integrated Studies on Salmonella and Campylobacter Prevalence, Serovar, and Phenotyping and Genetic of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Middle East—A One Health Perspective

Background:Campylobacter and Salmonella are the leading causes of foodborne diseases worldwide. Recently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the most critical challenges for public health and food safety. To investigate and detect infections commonly transmitted from animals, food, and the environment to humans, a surveillance–response system integrating human and animal health, the environment, and food production components (iSRS), called a One Health approach, would be optimal. Objective: We aimed to identify existing integrated One Health studies on foodborne illnesses in the Middle East and to determine the prevalence, serovars, and antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and genotypes of Salmonella and Campylobacter strains among humans and food-producing animals. Methods: The databases Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed were searched for literature published from January 2010 until September 2021. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were included and assessed for risk of bias. To assess the temporal and spatial relationship between resistant strains from humans and animals, a statistical random-effects model meta-analysis was performed. Results: 41 out of 1610 studies that investigated Campylobacter and non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) in the Middle East were included. The NTS prevalence rates among human and food-producing animals were 9% and 13%, respectively. The Campylobacter prevalence rates were 22% in humans and 30% in food-producing animals. The most-reported NTS serovars were Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium, while Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were the most prevalent species of Campylobacter. NTS isolates were highly resistant to erythromycin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, and ampicillin. C. jejuni isolates showed high resistance against amoxicillin, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, nalidixic acid, azithromycin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin. The most prevalent Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs) in isolates from humans included tetO (85%), Class 1 Integrons (81%), blaOXA-61 (53%), and cmeB (51%), whereas in food-producing animals, the genes were tetO (77%), Class 1 integrons (69%), blaOXA-61 (35%), and cmeB (35%). The One Health approach was not rigorously applied in the Middle East countries. Furthermore, there was an uneven distribution in the reported data between the countries. Conclusion: More studies using a simultaneous approach targeting human, animal health, the environment, and food production components along with a solid epidemiological study design are needed to better understand the drivers for the emergence and spread of foodborne pathogens and AMR in the Middle East.

Prevalence and Diversity of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcal Enterotoxins in Raw Milk From Northern Portugal

Staphylococcus aureus and staphylococcal enterotoxins are a serious public health concern associated with hospital and community-acquired illnesses. Dairy animals frequently shed S. aureus into the milk supply which can lead to food poisoning in humans. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of S. aureus and staphylococcal enterotoxins in raw milk from the main dairy region of mainland Portugal. S. aureus was found in 53.0% (95% CI: 40.6-65.4%) of 100 raw cow's milk samples collected from bulk cooling tanks. The highest contamination level was 3.4 log10 CFU.mL^-1, and in some samples more than one S. aureus strain was identified. Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEA-SEE) were detected in one sample. Spa typing revealed 62 distinct S. aureus isolates, being t529 (17.7%, 95% CI: 8.2-27.3%) and t1403 (16.1%, 95% CI: 7.0-25.3%) the predominant types, commonly associated with livestock infection or carriage. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that 35.5% of the S. aureus isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, with resistance to penicillin being the highest (32.3%, 95% CI: 20.6-43.9%) followed by tetracycline (24.2%, 95% CI: 13.5-34.9%), ciprofloxacin (16.1%, 95% CI: 7.0-25.3%) and chloramphenicol (16.1%, 95% CI: 7.0-25.3%). Moreover, five isolates (8.1%, 95% CI: 1.3-14.8%) were identified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, cefoxitin resistant). Regarding virulence/resistance genes, 46,8% (95% CI: 34.4-59.2%) isolates harbored at least one enterotoxin-encoding gene, and the seg gene was the most frequently detected (41.9%, 95% CI: 29.7-54.2%) followed by the sei (40.3%, 95% CI: 28.1-52.5%), sec (6.5%, 95% CI: 0.3-12.6%), seh (4.8%, 95% CI: 0.0-10.2%), and sea (1.6%, 95% CI: 0.0-4.7%) genes. Five (8.1%, 95% CI: 1.3-14.8%) non-enterotoxigenic isolates carried the mecA gene (corresponding to isolates phenotypically classified as MRSA), and 4.8% (95% CI: 0.0-10.2%) enterotoxigenic strains also had the tsst-1 gene. Our study confirm that raw milk can be a zoonotic source of S. aureus, including enterotoxigenic and MRSA strains. Furthermore, the majority of enterotoxigenic isolates were found to contain genes encoding SEs (SEG, SEH and SEI) not routinely screened. This shows the need for a broader SE screening in food safety control, as well as the relevance of risk mitigation measures to control S. aureus transmission along the food chain in Portugal.

Emerging cold plasma treatment and machine learning prospects for seed priming: a step towards sustainable food production

Seeds are vulnerable to physical and biological stresses during the germination process. Seed priming strategies can alleviate such stresses. Seed priming is a technique of treating and drying seeds prior to germination in order to accelerate the metabolic process of germination. Multiple benefits are offered by seed priming techniques, such as reducing fertilizer use, accelerating seed germination, and inducing systemic resistance in plants, which are both cost-effective and eco-friendly. For seed priming, cold plasma (CP)-mediated priming could be an innovative alternative to synthetic chemical treatments. CP priming is an eco-friendly, safe and economical, yet relatively less explored technique towards the development of seed priming. In this review, we discussed in detail the application of CP technology for seed priming to enhance germination, the quality of seeds, and the production of crops in a sustainable manner. Additionally, the combination treatment of CP with nanoparticle (NP) priming is also discussed. The large numbers of parameters need to be monitored and optimized during CP treatment to achieve the desired priming results. Here, we discussed a new perspective of machine learning for modeling plasma treatment parameters in agriculture for the development of synergistic protocols for different types of seed priming.

Exact Bayesian inference of epidemiological parameters from mortality data: application to African swine fever virus

Pathogens such as African swine fever virus (ASFV) are an increasing threat to global livestock production with implications for economic well-being and food security. Quantification of epidemiological parameters, such as transmission rates and latent and infectious periods, is critical to inform efficient disease control. Parameter estimation for livestock disease systems is often reliant upon transmission experiments, which provide valuable insights in the epidemiology of disease but which may also be unrepresentative of at-risk populations and incur economic and animal welfare costs. Routinely collected mortality data are a potential source of readily available and representative information regarding disease transmission early in outbreaks. We develop methodology to conduct exact Bayesian parameter inference from mortality data using reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo incorporating multiple routes of transmission (e.g. within-farm secondary and background transmission from external sources). We use this methodology to infer epidemiological parameters for ASFV using data from outbreaks on nine farms in the Russian Federation. This approach improves inference on transmission rates in comparison with previous methods based on approximate Bayesian computation, allows better estimation of time of introduction and could readily be applied to other outbreaks or pathogens.

Food security and emerging infectious disease: risk assessment and risk management

Climate change, emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and food security create a dangerous nexus. Habitat interfaces, assumed to be efficient buffers, are being disrupted by human activities which in turn accelerate the movement of pathogens. EIDs threaten directly and indirectly availability and access to nutritious food, affecting global security and human health. In the next 70 years, food-secure and food-insecure countries will face EIDs driving increasingly unsustainable costs of production, predicted to exceed national and global gross domestic products. Our modern challenge is to transform this business as usual and embrace an alternative vision of the biosphere formalized in the Stockholm paradigm (SP). First, a pathogen-centric focus shifts our vision of risk space, determining how pathogens circulate in realized and potential fitness space. Risk space and pathogen exchange are always heightened at habitat interfaces. Second, apply the document-assess-monitor-act (DAMA) protocol developing strategic data for EID risk, to be translated, synthesized and broadcast as actionable information. Risk management is realized through targeted interventions focused around information exchanged among a community of scientists, policy practitioners of food and public health security and local populations. Ultimately, SP and DAMA protect human rights, supporting food security, access to nutritious food, health interventions and environmental integrity.

An Exploratory Study of the Role of Dietary Proteins in the Regulation of Intestinal Glucose Absorption

Several studies have demonstrated that high protein diets improve glucose homeostasis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying this effect remain elusive. This exploratory study aims to screen and compare the acute effects of dietary proteins from different sources on intestinal glucose absorption. Six dietary proteins from various sources were thus selected and digested thanks to the INFOGEST static gastrointestinal digestion protocol. The digested proteins were able to decrease intestinal glucose absorption in vitro and ex vivo. Moreover, acute ingestion of casein and fish gelatin led to improved glucose tolerance in Wistar rats without significant effect on insulin secretion. In parallel, GLUT2 mRNA expression in enterocytes was decreased following short-term incubation with some of the digested proteins. These results strengthen the evidence that digested protein-derived peptides and amino acids are key regulators of glucose homeostasis and highlight their role in intestinal glucose absorption.

The Concentration-Dependent Effects of Essential Oils on the Growth of Fusarium graminearum and Mycotoxins Biosynthesis in Wheat and Maize Grain

The presence of Fusarium fungi and their toxic metabolites in agricultural crops contributes to significant quantitative and qualitative losses of crops, causing a direct threat to human and animal health and life. Modern strategies for reducing the level of fungi and mycotoxins in the food chain tend to rely on natural methods, including plant substances. Essential oils (EOs), due to their complex chemical composition, show high biological activity, including fungistatic properties, which means that they exhibit high potential as a biological plant protection factor. The aim of this study was to determine the fungistatic activity of three EOs against F. graminearum, and the reduction of mycotoxin biosynthesis in corn and wheat grain. All tested EOs effectively suppressed the growth of F. graminearum in concentrations of 5% and 10%. Cinnamon and verbena EOs also effectively reduced the ergosterol (ERG) content in both grains at the concentration of 1%, while at the 0.1% EO concentration, the reduction in the ERG amount depended on the EO type as well as on the grain. The degree of zearalenone (ZEA) reduction was consistent with the inhibition of ERG biosynthesis, while the reduction in deoxynivalenol (DON) was not consistent with this parameter.

Unpacking the Theory Behind One Health Food Safety Programs: A Vietnam Case Study

Many One Health programs are inherently complex, characterized by multiple perspectives from multiple sectors, delivery across various scales, and a focus on complex problems at the convergence of people, animals, and the environment. This complexity makes them difficult to conceptualize, requiring frameworks to organize the different program components. Evaluation frameworks that unpack the sequence of events linking program activities to outcomes (e.g., Theory of Change) and track outcomes (e.g., Outcome Mapping) show promise in supporting the development of One Health programs. While widely used in international development and health contexts, there has been little reflection on the use of Theory of Change and Outcome Mapping within One Health efforts. This paper reflects on the process of applying these frameworks to conceptualize a One Health food safety program in Vietnam. We find Theory of Change fostered the characterization of a change pathway toward safer pork, while Outcome Mapping kept us informed of where along the change pathway we were. One Health programs considering evaluation frameworks should adopt elements that make sense to them, be intentional about co-designing the evaluation, and view evaluation as a process, not a product.

Climate Change and Emerging Food Safety Issues: A Review

ABSTRACT

Throughout the past decades, climate change has been one of the most complex global issues. Characterized by worldwide alterations in weather patterns, along with a concomitant increase in the temperature of the Earth, climate change will undoubtedly have significant effects on food security and food safety. Climate change engenders climate variability: significant variations in weather variables and their frequency. Both climate variability and climate change are thought to threaten the safety of the food supply chain through different pathways. One such pathway is the ability to exacerbate foodborne diseases by influencing the occurrence, persistence, virulence and, in some cases, toxicity of certain groups of disease-causing microorganisms. Food safety can also be compromised by various chemical hazards, such as pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metals. With changes in weather patterns, such as lower rainfall, higher air temperature, and higher frequency of extreme weather events among others, this translates to emerging food safety concerns. These include the shortage of safe water for irrigation of agricultural produce, greater use of pesticides due to pest resistance, increased difficulty in achieving a well-controlled cold chain resulting in temperature abuse, or the occurrence of flash floods, which cause runoff of chemical contaminants in natural water courses. Together, these can result in foodborne infection, intoxication, antimicrobial resistance, and long-term bioaccumulation of chemicals and heavy metals in the human body. Furthermore, severe climate variability can result in extreme weather events and natural calamities, which directly or indirectly impair food safety. This review discusses the causes and impacts of climate change and variability on existing and emerging food safety risks and also considers mitigation and adaptation strategies to address the global warming and climate change problem.

HIGHLIGHTS

Supplementation of Aloe vera extract in lactating goats' diet: effects on rumen fermentation efficiency, nutrient utilization, lactation performance, and antioxidant status

The present work was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing Aloe vera extract on rumen fermentation efficiency, nutrient utilization, lactation performance, and antioxidant status of goats. Twenty-four crossbreed lactating goats (Alpine × Beetal) were divided into three experimental groups (AV0, AV2, and AV4). AV0 had no supplementation, groups AV2 and AV4 received ready to feed aqueous extract of Aloe vera at 20 and 40 g/kg dry matter intake, respectively, along with basal diet and experiment lasted for 100 days. Average DMI did not vary (P > 0.05) among treatment groups; however, the metabolic bodyweight of AV4 was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the AV0 and AV2 groups (AV0 = AV2 > AV4). Intake and digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, and EE were unaffected (P > 0.05) by Aloe vera supplementation. The milk production, yield of milk fat, protein, lactose, and solid not fat (SNF) of goats in the AV4 group were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than other groups (AV4 > AV2 = AV0). The activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes and levels of plasma ferric reducing total antioxidant power were high (P < 0.01) in the Aloe vera supplemented group (AV4 = AV2 > AV0). There was no significant difference (P = 0.979) in the pH, acetic acid (P = 0.449), and butyric acid (P = 0.864) concentration of the rumen liquor among the treatment groups. The propionic acid concentration was similar between AV2 and AV4 and significantly higher (P = 0.024) than the AV0 group (AV4 = AV2 > AV0). Moreover, C2:C3 values were significantly lower (P = 0.037) in the AV4 group compared to the control (AV0). Thus, Aloe vera supplementation enhanced milk yield, propionic acid production, and antioxidant status without affecting nutrient utilization; however, results were better in the AV4 group. The inclusion of Aloe vera at 40 g/kg of DMI would improve the rumen fermentation efficiency, lactation performance, and overall health status of the dairy goats.

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) and the African swine fever pandemic: Its role is controversial but not negligible (a diet analysis study)

Background

In Europe, the African swine fever (ASF) pandemic mostly affects the environmental domain of health, which is a strongly human‐impacted ecosystem. However, the current control strategies focus solely on the wild boar and tend to disregard other epidemiologically relevant elements of the ecosystem.

Objectives

This study investigated the potential impact of the golden jackal on the surveillance effort and disease transmission.

Methods

For this reason, the authors analysed the content of 277 stomachs of this canid species within its westernmost inhabitant population, in order to determine the amount of suid remains, disposed.

Results

The findings confirmed that in a densely populated wild boar habitat, the main diet component of jackals was wild boar all the year round. The jackals disposed of 0.3–0.6 kg/km²/day offals that potentially contained suid remains. On the other hand, the scavenging activity removed the most important target objects on which the passive surveillance of ASF should be based.

Conclusions

This study cannot determine whether canid scavengers positively or negatively influence the control efforts; however, the impact of the jackal should not be disregarded. The results warn the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach to complex epidemiological situations within different ecosystems.