Encyclopedia, Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2025) – 58 articles

Listeria monocytogenes is a major public health concern in milk and ready-to-eat dairy products. To meet consumer demand for fresher, minimally processed foods with high nutritional and sensory quality, several non-thermal technologies are being explored as alternatives to conventional heat treatments. This systematic review (2020–2025), following PRISMA guidelines, examines recent applications of selected non-thermal technologies to control Listeria in milk and dairy matrices. Peer-reviewed studies available in full-text, in English or Spanish, focusing on applications at laboratory or pilot plant scales, with milk or dairy produced onsite or purchased, containing Listeria sp., were included. Studies with applications to plant-based or non-dairy products or those not inoculated with Listeria, were excluded. Conference abstracts, corrections, editorials, letters, news, and scientific opinions were excluded as well. The databases searched were Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest, which were last consulted in April 2025. Given the naturality of the review, the risk of bias was assessed through independent screening by two of the researchers, focusing on clear objectives, analytical validity, statistical analysis, and methodology. The results are presented in tabulated format. Of the 157 records identified, 22 were included in this review. Seven of the records reported hurdle technologies, while fifteen reported single technology applications, with high-pressure processing being the most frequent. Limitations observed are primarily the use of unreported strains, a lack of information regarding the initial load of inoculum, and expected log reductions. The equipment used is mostly at the laboratory scale, except for HPP. Non-thermal technologies present a promising option for the control of Listeria in dairy products. The basic principles of GMP, HACCP, and cold-chain control in dairy processing are of special importance in safety assurance. This research was funded by Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad de Costa Rica, grant number 735-C3-460. Full article

Digital transformation is the process by which businesses adopt use of digital technologies to fundamentally change operations and customer interactions in order to optimize delivery and service. The UK refers to the United Kingdom which is shorthand for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which is a European country that primarily includes England, Wales and Scotland together with the northern part of Ireland. The retail sector includes businesses that sell goods or services directly to consumers for their personal use, opposed to selling to other organizations for business applications. Generation refers to a series of broad age groups that are considered to demonstrate different generalized characteristics. Full article

The basic structural concepts in the study of monatomic fluids at equilibrium are presented in this entry. The scope encompasses both the classical and the quantum domains, the latter concentrating on the diffraction and the zero-spin boson regimes. The main mathematical objects for describing the fluid structures are the following n-body functions: the correlation functions in real space and their associated structure factors in Fourier space. In these studies, the theory of linear response to external weak fields, involving functional calculus, and Feynman’s path integral formalism are the key conceptual ingredients. Emphasis is placed on the physical implications when going from the classical domain (limit of high temperatures) to the abovementioned quantum regimes (low temperatures). In the classical domain, there is only one class of n-body structures, which at every n level consists of one correlation function plus one structure factor. However, the quantum effects bring about the splitting of the foregoing class into three path integral classes, namely instantaneous, total thermalized-continuous linear response, and centroids; each of them is associated with the action of a distinct external weak field and keeps the above n-level structures. Special attention is given to the structural pair level $n=2$, and future directions towards the complete study of the quantum triplet level $n=3$ are suggested. Full article

The intensified exposure to high temperature in urban areas, resulting from the combination of heat waves and the urban heat island (UHI) effect, necessitates a deeper understanding of the climate–health relationship. This knowledge directly influences the strategies employed by policy makers and urban planners in their efforts to regenerate cities and protect their population. Nature-based solutions and the widely accepted 15 min city model, characterized by a polycentric structure, should drive the implementation of effective adaptation policies, especially given the persistent delay in mitigation efforts. However, it is less clear whether current or future policies are adequately structured to broadly address the complex forms of social vulnerability. A prime example of this complexity is the demographic shift observed since the mid-20th century, characterized by a relative increase in the elderly population, and a shrinking youth demographic. While extensive literature addresses the physiological impacts of heat wave on human health, evidence regarding the neuro-psychological and cognitive implications for elderly individuals, who frequently suffer from chronic diseases, remains less comprehensive and more fragmented. The purpose of this concise review is to emphasize that crucial findings on the climate–health relationship, particularly concerning the elderly, have often been developed within disciplinary silos. The lack of comprehensive interdisciplinary integration coupled with an incomplete understanding of the full spectrum of vulnerabilities (encompassing both physiological and cognitive) may lead to urban policies that are egalitarian in principle but fail to achieve true equity in practice. This review aims to bridge this gap by highlighting the need for a more integrated approach to urban policy and regeneration. Full article

The Metaverse Territorial Scale is a novel category of spatial analysis, extending beyond conventional physical scales. It conceptualizes the metaverse as a distinct territory, shaped not only by geographical contiguity but also by power relations that emerge through digital interactions, code infrastructures, and platform-based governance in an immersive space undergoing continuous co-production. This concept is rooted in the theory of territory, which defines it as a space produced by the action of social actors. However, the theory is expanded to a domain where territorialization transcends physical materiality and generates new forms of territorialities. Consequently, the scale proposed is considered a valuable addition to the existing array of scales, including traditional categories such as local, regional, national, and global scales. This phenomenon differs fundamentally from geographical scales due to the absence of physical barriers, which endows it with unparalleled adaptability and scalability. This allows the overlapping of multiple spatial logics within the same virtual environment, characterized by a high degree of immersion. The “Metaverse Territorial Scale” is therefore a conceptualization of a virtual-immersive spatial dimension that is not static; it is continuously shaped and redefined by user interactions and underlying technological innovations. Consequently, analysis from the perspective of this scale is essential for understanding the spatial and power dynamics that manifest themselves in cyberspace. Full article

Mathematical modeling is a cyclical process in which mathematics is used to represent, explore, and better understand real-world situations by mathematizing a problem and validating the results. Unlike traditional word problems, modeling tasks require learners to make assumptions, define quantities, apply mathematics, interpret results, and revise solutions within authentic contexts. Mathematical modeling is increasingly recognized as essential in mathematics education, highlighted in standards such as the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics through mathematical practice 4 (MP4): model with mathematics. This entry explores the evolving landscape of mathematical modeling education. First, it reviews the diverse conceptions of modeling and the various frameworks used to describe the modeling process, including distinctions between holistic and atomistic approaches. Second, it examines the current state of research, including the documented benefits of modeling for student engagement and access, as well as the challenges teachers face in enacting modeling tasks. Finally, the entry discusses implications for future research and practice, emphasizing the need for targeted teacher preparation and continued theoretical refinement to better support the integration of modeling into mathematics instruction. Full article

This entry presents a comprehensive overview of the computational study of Old English that surveys the evolution from early digital corpora to recent artificial intelligence applications. Six interconnected domains are examined: textual resources (including the Helsinki Corpus, the Dictionary of Old English Corpus, and the York-Toronto-Helsinki Parsed Corpus), lexicographical resources (analysing approaches from Bosworth–Toller to the Dictionary of Old English), corpus lemmatisation (covering both prose and poetic texts), treebanks (particularly Universal Dependencies frameworks), and artificial intelligence applications. The paper shows that computational methodologies have transformed Old English studies because they facilitate large-scale analyses of morphology, syntax, and semantics previously impossible through traditional philological methods. Recent innovations are highlighted, including the development of lexical databases like Nerthusv5, dependency parsing methods, and the application of transformer models and NLP libraries to historical language processing. In spite of these remarkable advances, problems persist, including limited corpus size, orthographic inconsistency, and methodological difficulties in applying modern computational techniques to historical languages. The conclusion is reached that the future of computational Old English studies lies in the integration of AI capabilities with traditional philological expertise, an approach that enhances traditional scholarship and opens new avenues for understanding Anglo-Saxon language and culture. Full article

Glass inhomogeneities represent variations in the structural or compositional uniformity of glass, traditionally associated with process-related defects such as striae, bubbles, stones, and inclusions that impair transparency and mechanical stability. These “technological” inhomogeneities emerge during melting, forming, or annealing, and have long been the focus of industrial elimination strategies. However, recent developments in glass science and nanotechnology have reframed inhomogeneity as a potential asset. When precisely engineered at the nanoscale, inhomogeneities, such as nanocrystals, metal or semiconductor nanoparticles, and nanopores, can enhance glass with tailored optical and photonic functionalities, including upconversion luminescence, plasmonic response, nonlinear refractive behavior, and sensing capabilities. This entry provides an integrated perspective on the evolution of glass inhomogeneities, tracing the shift from defect suppression to functional nanostructuring. It discusses both the traditional classification and mitigation of detrimental defects, and the design principles enabling the intentional incorporation of beneficial nanoinhomogeneities, particularly in the context of optics and photonics. The utilization of engineered inhomogeneities in nuclear waste glasses is also discussed. Full article

Metaverse tourism refers to the application of immersive digital technologies—such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and blockchain—within tourism experiences. It enables users to explore destinations, participate in cultural experiences, and interact socially within persistent, 3D virtual environments. While it offers new ways of experiencing tourism beyond physical boundaries, it also introduces novel ethical, technological, and social dilemmas. This entry is written as an encyclopedia entry rather than a systematic review or empirical study. It is intended as a conceptual and integrative overview of current knowledge and debates, informed by peer-reviewed research, industry reports, and illustrative case examples. Full article

Medical sociology is an applied research subfield within the field of sociology that was developed in the 1800s. It uses theories and research to examine the social, cultural, and political factors associated with health, illness, and healthcare and to provide solutions to social problems associated with aspects of health, illness, and healthcare. Full article

Emerging research has shown that pharmacist-led comprehensive medication management (CMM) can be an effective strategy for controlling hypertension. A synthesis of the evidence on the overall effects of CMM on clinical, quality, and economic outcomes could help inform and contribute to improvements in programming and practice. Presently, such a synthesis is limited in the literature. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review of CMM effects on these outcomes, organized by 4 domains: therapeutic, humanistic, safety and economic. Using predefined search terms for articles on studies published between 2010 and 2024, we performed a literature search utilizing these terms to search the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and CINAHL databases. For each of the identified studies, we applied a multi-stage screening process to extract data, chart results, and synthesize findings. The process took into account methodology of study design, patient population involved, CMM implementation, relevance of outcomes to clinical improvement, and factors that were deemed relevant to study selection. In total, 49 experimental, observational, and simulation-based studies were included in the scoping review. The synthesis focused on outcomes most frequently reported and those rigorously evaluated by the studies in the review. They included clinical measures of blood pressure reduction and control, frequency and duration of healthcare visits, and changes in medication therapy regimen and medication adherence. Overall, CMM interventions were found to have significantly favorable effects on systolic blood pressure reduction, hypertension control, and medication changes. Other outcomes, which showed positive effects, included self-reported patient experience and behaviors, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, mortality, and program costs and related savings from implementing a CMM program. Some results, however, were mixed. For example, a number of studies reported outcomes data without significance testing and many generally lacked consistent characterization of their programming and implementation processes. Future research and practice evaluations should include these elements in their documentation. Furthermore, a more consistent approach to implementing CMM in the field may lead to better support of program delivery fidelity, helping to optimize CMM, moving it from demonstrated efficacy to intervention effectiveness in the real world. Full article

The number of students studying outside their home countries has increased in recent years, and the United Kingdom has long been positioned as a leading destination, consistently being ranked among the top five English-speaking countries for international education. However, in 2024, the UK experienced a significant decline in international student enrolments, with Australia surpassing the UK to take second place globally. This decline coincided with an increasingly restrictive political climate, particularly reflected in changes to student visa policies and new limitations on dependents. The reduction in international student numbers poses serious financial risks to UK universities, many of which rely heavily on tuition from overseas students, and brings broader organizational challenges, including staffing cuts, programme restructuring, and reduced support services. Societally, it impacts local economies, reduces cultural diversity, and weakens the UK’s soft power and global educational influence. This entry explores the current state of the UK’s international student supply chain, examines emerging post-2024 challenges, and outlines key implications to inform institutional and policy-level responses. Full article

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered instruction approach focused on skills development in problem-solving, interaction, autonomy, and critical thinking to learn and act to co-create new knowledge and solutions. Rarely, but authors sometimes identify the benefits of PBL for educators, for example, by allocating instructional time more flexibly for monitoring student performance and discussing issues. However, in the era where collaboration among universities and industries is emphasized, the authors pay little attention to contextualizing PBL in a broader context, such as bringing benefits for relationship management with the industry and alumni, promoting regional development, corporate and social responsibility, marketing of educational organizations, and talent development to create a mutual benefit-based ecosystem. Academic discussions about PBL planning and implementation also neglect the needs and motivation of industry stakeholders to get involved, thus narrowing not only the possibilities for cooperation between both parties but also negatively affecting student learning outcomes, which also directly depend on industry partners. Full article

Among the leading causes of bacteremia are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. E. coli and K. pneumoniae are increasingly exhibiting resistance to last-resort antibiotics, such as carbapenems. Rapid and accurate identification of these pathogens is critical for timely treatment and infection control. This paper aimed to develop a computer-aided bacterial morphometric technique for identifying and classifying wild-type E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus in a field guide fashion. A 3D laser scanning confocal microscope was used to gather key parameters of each organism: length (L, µm), circular diameter (CD, µm), volume (V, µm³), surface area-to-cross-sectional area ratio (SA/CSA, unitless), surface uniformity ratio (Str), and surface texture ratio (Sdr). Microscope images and measurement results showed that S. aureus was spherical with the shortest length (1.08 µm) and smallest volume (0.52 µm³). E. coli and K. pneumoniae were rod-shaped with lengths >2.0 µm and volumes >1.0 µm³. Carbapenem-resistant (CR) strains exhibited larger volumes than their wild-type counterparts. Surface parameters further differentiated strains: wild-type E. coli had a greater surface texture or a less smooth surface (larger Sdr) than K. pneumoniae (lower Sdr) did. CR E. coli had more surface uniformity (lower Str) than CR K. pneumoniae did. A dichotomous key based on shape, circular diameter, volume, length, and surface characteristics was developed to classify the species using a series of paired, contrasting features. This morphometric analysis can aid researchers in quickly identifying bacteria, leading to faster diagnosis of life-threatening diseases and improved treatment decisions. Full article

This entry is based on the premise that pressing issues of climate change, social injustice, and post-COVID practices appear to have superseded some essential values of architectural and design pedagogy, leading to improvements in content that may be offset by a loss of focus on the core curriculum. The entry reimagines architectural pedagogy by arguing for a transformative shift from traditional product-based education to a process-oriented, inquiry-driven approach that cultivates critical thinking and empirical making, predicated upon experiential learning. It aims to integrate rigorous critical inquiry into both studio-based and lecture-based settings, thus critiquing assumed limitations of conventional approaches that prioritise final outcomes over iterative design processes, dialogue, and active engagement. Employing a comprehensive qualitative approach that incorporates diverse case studies and critical reviews, the analysis is divided into two main threads: one that places emphasis on the studio environment and another that focuses on lecture-based courses. Within these threads, the analysis is structured around a series of key themes central to experiential learning, each of which concludes with a key message that synthesises the core insights derived from case studies. The two threads instigate the identification of aligned areas of emphasis which articulate the need for active engagements and reflection, for bridging theory and practice, and for adopting interdisciplinary and experiential approaches. Conclusions are drawn to establish guidance for a future direction of a strengthened and pedagogically enriched architectural education. Full article

This paper attempts to clarify some of the aspects and dynamics that appear particularly significant when embarking on a path that can lay the foundation for a broader reflection on the “sociology of hope”. This path will be outlined starting from the development of the concept of hope in the social sciences through an analysis of the existing literature within a specific field of study. It will continue with a systematic synthesis of those sociological studies that have led to a “dialogue” with the concept of hope and that, most often directly or indirectly, have considered hope as a force that mobilizes individuals and social groups to action. The final stage of this path will be reserved for presenting the debate that has opened in recent years around the sociology of hope, both critically and constructively, to provide recommendations for future research that, in line with this perspective, aims to study how to improve the world. Full article

Character toys are toys identifiable by name, personality, and visual traits. They represent specific characters derived from or associated with popular culture. This entry explores adult engagement with character toys, or toy play, through a multidisciplinary lens, emphasizing playability, materiality, affect, creativity, and sociocultural meaning. Drawing on earlier toy research on dolls, action figures, figurines, and soft toys—those with a face and assigned personality—it considers how adults collect, customize, create stories, and critique societal conditions through toys for personal enrichment, identity work, and community formation. The toy play of adults is framed as a legitimate and complex form of self-expression and cultural participation that intersects with object play, creative fandoms, and political resistance. Full article

Philosophical genealogy constitutes a mode of inquiry that investigates either (a) the historical emergence of contemporary ideas, institutions, religions, moral norms, and even affective dispositions by tracing them to the intersection of diverse and often heterogeneous historical practices, beliefs, customs, and technologies or (b) demonstrates how a phenomenon could have emerged by providing a pragmatic reconstruction of the object under investigation. The following entry endeavors to explore various formulations of the genealogical method. Full article

This study reviews the role of epidemiology in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century, which led to recognition that poliomyelitis is an infectious disease and set the stage for subsequent developments in virology and immunology, the development of inactivated and live attenuated polio vaccines, and a dramatic worldwide decrease in poliomyelitis mortality and morbidity. Epidemiological studies in the United States were systematically reviewed from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Isolated cases and scattered small outbreaks of poliomyelitis in the mid-19th century led to epidemics of increasing size by the end of the century, causing public consternation, especially as the disease was considered “new” and had a predilection for young children. By the 1890s, the seasonal pattern of epidemics suggested that poliomyelitis might have an infectious etiology, but direct evidence of communicability or contagiousness was lacking, so an infectious etiology was not widely suspected until the early 20th century. Reports of bacterial isolations from spinal fluid and postmortem tissues suggested that poliomyelitis might be a bacterial disease, and simultaneous outbreaks of paralytic disease in humans and animals suggested a possible zoonotic basis. Although experimental studies showed that it was theoretically possible for flies to serve as vectors of poliovirus, and occasional cases of polio were likely caused by fly-borne transfer of poliovirus from human feces to human food, a fly abatement field trial showed convincingly that flies, whether biting or non-biting, could not explain the bulk of cases during polio epidemics. In conclusion, the early application of epidemiological evidence beginning in the late 19th century strongly suggested the infectious nature of the disease, distinct from previously identified conditions. Subsequent advances in virology and immunology from 1909 to 1954 proved that poliomyelitis was a viral disease with no natural animal host and made feasible the development of an inactivated trivalent poliovirus vaccine by Salk, and, subsequently, a live-attenuated trivalent poliovirus vaccine by Sabin. Full article

Archard’s wear law is among the first and foremost wear models derived from contact mechanics that relates key operating conditions and material hardness to sliding wear through a multifaceted wear coefficient. This entry explores the development, generalization, and critique of the Archard model—a foundational model in wear prediction. It outlines the historical origins of the model, its basis in contact plasticity, and its use of a constant wear coefficient. The discussion highlights modern efforts to extend the model through variable exponents and empirical calibration. Key limitations such as the oversimplification of wear behavior, exclusion of factors like sliding velocity, and scale sensitivity are examined through both theoretical arguments and experimental evidence. The critiques reflect the model’s constrained applicability in diverse wear conditions across varied operating conditions and material phenomena. Full article

This entry addresses the ongoing challenge of defining innovation within the social sciences, particularly in organizational theory. It conceptualizes innovation as a dynamic and embedded organizational phenomenon. Innovation is central to contemporary discourse, yet it remains fluid, contested, and context-dependent. Rather than viewing innovation as a fixed technical process, the entry examines how it emerges through shifting configurations of meaning, organizational structures and institutional environment. It draws on institutional, processual, and configurational perspectives. These perspectives emphasize the role of ambiguity and clarity as co-existing forces that shape innovation across multiple levels. The entry aims to clarify this ambiguity through a synthesis of typologies, theoretical frameworks, and empirical insights. In doing so, it offers a configurational lens on how innovation is shaped and interpreted across diverse organizational and institutional contexts. Full article

Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming the entrepreneurial landscape by reshaping how start-ups and established firms ideate, operate, and compete. This entry explores the intersection of these technologies with entrepreneurship, highlighting how they enhance decision-making, customer insights, and operational efficiency. While the benefits are substantial, integrating these technologies presents challenges related to data ethics, privacy, algorithmic bias, sustainability, accessibility, and implementation complexity. Through analysis of current literature, critical perspectives, and illustrative case studies, this entry emphasises the need for strategic alignment, ethical considerations, and adaptive organisational cultures. The entry contributes to existing research by synthesising trends, critiquing over-optimistic narratives, and suggesting a conceptual framework for future empirical inquiry. Full article

One Health Observatories operationalize the One Health approach. The One Health Joint Plan of Action drafted by the Quadripartite (WHO, FAO, WOAH, and UNEP) insists on the need to strengthen scientific evidence-based knowledge and its translation into data for evidence, technical tools, protocols, guidelines, and information and surveillance systems for the effective implementation of One Health at all levels. One Health Observatories are crucial for this task. Drawing from the experience of the existing One Health Observatory in Thailand—a unique, on-the-ground initiative—we outline the key features of this model for potential replication in other regions or countries. Such observatories play a critical role in advancing ecosystem-based innovations and locally adapted solutions, which are necessary to improve the prevention of disease transmission at the interface between human, animal, and ecosystem health. Full article

This entry provides a brief introduction to some of the main aspects of the work of C.G. Jung, followed by a description of how his work was developed by others during his lifetime and afterward. This entry provides an overview of the Jungian tradition in Depth Psychology. It begins with a discussion of how Jung’s ideas differed from those of Freud and opened a distinct tradition of analytic (Jungian) psychology. By identifying the other influential people who contributed to the amplification of Jung’s work, this article then details how these ideas expanded beyond the work of training analysts to become a more influential, impactful, and widespread phenomenon. Full article

Scientific misinformation refers to false, misleading, or inaccurate information that contradicts, ignores, or misrepresents established scientific evidence or consensus. It can stem from accidental misunderstanding or ignorance of facts, as well as from their deliberate distortion (generally referred to as “disinformation”). Unlike rigorous scientific evidence, misinformation typically lacks a credible evidential basis and does not rely on the scientific method. Often spread through mass media, social networking platforms, or informal communication, scientific misinformation can undermine public trust in science, influence health and policy decisions, and contribute to confusion or harmful behaviours at both personal and societal levels. Full article

Wigner functions are a distribution function on phase space that allow to represent the state of a quantum-mechanical system. They are in many ways similar to classical phase space probability distributions, but can, in contrast to these, be negative. A description of a quantum system in terms of Wigner functions is equivalent to the more widely used one in terms of density operators or wave functions, but has advantages in visualizing properties of a quantum state and in studying the quantum–classical transition. Full article

Faces are the most important social signal in our society. Nevertheless, there is a problem with faces: they are all made up of the same features in the same general order (the eyes are above the nose, which is above the mouth). To process faces one uses a special kind of processing, which is holistic, considering the integration of the face’s features and their relative distances. One may distinguish the recognition of known faces and the processing of unfamiliar faces. Face processing abilities may be lost due to either a lesion or developmental reasons, i.e., prosopagnosia. To further explore these reasons, one could consider pictorial representations of faces—such as faces in paintings. These are particularly interesting because different art styles differ in how realistic/distorted they are relative to real faces, which allows for exploring people’s sensitivity to face-likeness. In a way, individuals are not sensitive to face-likeness. In face matching part–whole tasks, performance does not differ across art styles. Still, individuals are not fully impervious to distortion: early markers of face processing (N170 component) are sensitive to face-likeness, with more realistic (vs. distorted) art styles eliciting responses more in line with those of real faces. Full article

Narrative methods are increasingly recognized in science teaching for their potential to deepen conceptual understanding and foster meaningful connections to scientific content. This review explores their educational significance by examining three main formats—historical narratives, realistic fiction, and science fiction or fantasy—highlighting how each can render complex scientific principles more accessible and memorable. Special attention is given to chemistry education, a field where abstract, multilevel concepts often pose significant challenges for students. Furthermore, the review explores the integration of narratives into gamified environments, examining how storytelling functions as both a motivational engine and a cognitive scaffold to support deeper learning in science. Finally, the review proposes directions for future research, underscoring the need for empirically grounded narrative resources that balance imaginative appeal with scientific accuracy across diverse educational settings. Full article

Geographical Indication labels are an increasingly popular alternative among producers and governments seeking to protect the products and producers of their countries. This trend has grown due to the opening of markets and consumers’ increasing desire to know the origin of the products they purchase. A bibliographic review was conducted, including studies on the feasibility of applying quality labels, the associated challenges, and examples. This review identifies the processes involved in obtaining Designation of Origin and presents a positive perspective on their application. It was concluded that obtaining a differentiated quality label can improve production and quality of life, provided that it is the result of an evaluation of the area’s context and the main actors in production chains. Full article

Background: Current food systems contribute significantly to poor public health and environmental degradation. With increasing rates of chronic disease and undernutrition globally and in the United States of America (U.S.), transforming food systems toward sustainability is a critical public health priority. Objectives: This narrative review aimed to summarize U.S. policies from the past decade relevant to sustainable food systems, focusing on four domains—availability, accessibility, affordability, and desirability—proposed by the 22nd Annual Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, U.S. Congress websites, and Google searches. Studies and policies published between 2013 and 2023 that addressed at least one of the four domains were included. Policies were reviewed according to their alignment with the policy lifecycle framework, encompassing formulation through implementation. Results: A review of the final 632 articles explained that, despite growing interest in sustainable food systems, there is a lack of comprehensive U.S. policies that address the four domains in an integrated manner. Most initiatives were limited in scope, often school-based, and not explicitly sustainability-focused. Food availability and accessibility policies exist but remain fragmented, while affordability and desirability domains are severely underrepresented. Few laws or bills have been enacted or evaluated for population-level or environmental outcomes. Conclusions: Transforming U.S. food systems requires more robust evidence-based policy development and evaluation. There is an urgent need for integrated multisectoral policy frameworks to ensure health, equity, and sustainability across all food system domains. Full article