Search Results (200)

Japanese sake, a traditional alcoholic beverage, contains several organic acids that may contribute to its sour taste. To identify these, a precolumn derivatization reagent, benzyl 5-(2-aminoethyl)-3-methyl-4-oxoimidazolidine-1-carboxylate (CIM-C₂-NH₂), developed for labeling carboxyl groups, was synthesized and applied to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of organic acids in six commercial sake samples. The majority primarily contained lactic acid (LA), and dicarboxylic acids, such as succinic acid (SA), malic acid (MA), and citramalic acid (CMA). The organic acid concentrations and compositions in the sake differed among brands. Notably, both l- and d-forms of LA were detected in all samples, while only d-CMA was present. To estimate the total acidic content, neutralization titration with sodium hydroxide was performed. In four of the six samples, titration results closely matched LC-MS/MS data, suggesting that l-LA, d-LA, SA, MA, and d-CMA were the primary contributors for the sour taste in these sakes. The discrepancy between titration and LC-MS/MS data for the other samples was attributed to the presence of other organic acids, which will be investigated in future studies. Full article

This study investigates the influences of the packaging design of not from concentrate (NFC) orange juice on consumer sensory preferences and purchase intention. We conducted a laboratory experiment with eighty-one individuals, combining physiological measurements (eye-tracking to assess attention levels) and sensory evaluation (tasting and rating their overall satisfaction with the taste). Participants evaluated different bottles featuring three design elements (transparency, color, label) but with the same juice inside. In line with the literature on the design of packaging, we show that the position of the transparency, color, and text label consistently alters consumer attention levels and sensory preferences for NFC orange juice. We believe that such findings may guide brand managers and product designers to create more appealing beverage packaging to optimize potential market success. Full article

Vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder causing depigmented skin patches, includes two types, segmental (SV) and non-segmental (NSV). Previously, NSV was off-label treated using Calcineurine inhibitors (Tacrolimus and Pimecrolimus). In 2022, the FDA approved Ruxolitinib cream, targeting the JAK/STAT pathway for NSV treatment based on promising results. This research conducts a retrospective descriptive safety assessment of Tacrolimus, Pimecrolimus, and Ruxolitinib safety in vitiligo treatment, utilizing the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database spanning the period from 2013 to 2023 and including patients aged 2 years and above, encompassing both brand and generic names. A total of 844 adverse event reports involving 388 patients were extracted and categorized into dermatological and systemic groups for analysis. Tacrolimus resulted in 12 hospitalizations, two life-threatening events, and four disabilities. Pimecrolimus exhibited urticaria and pigmentation disorders, with tooth fracture as the primary systemic event. Pericarditis was the predominant systemic side effect of Ruxolitinib, followed by anemia, headache, and urosepsis. Local dermatological side effects reported were generally mild, not warranting treatment cessation. In conclusion, vitiligo significantly impacts patients’ psychological well-being, necessitating continuous post-marketing safety monitoring for topical medications. Full article

Despite the economic importance of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheeses in Italy, little research has examined how label attributes affect price premiums. For Italian cheese producers, especially those investing in PDO certification, understanding which attributes generate premiums is crucial for sustainable business strategies. This study examined attributes displayed on 420 validated cheese labels collected across Italy in 2022, focusing on hard cheese, fresh soft cheese, and string cheese. A content analysis was conducted to identify and categorize the attributes displayed on cheese labels. Following this, the hedonic pricing method, supported by multiple linear regression analysis, was used to assess the impact of these attributes—along with brand and distribution channel—on product pricing. Our findings reveal that sustainability attributes show particularly strong effects on price premiums. PDO certification generates significant premiums prominently for hard and fresh soft cheeses, cow breed information for string cheese, while specialized retail channels create higher prices for fresh soft and string cheeses. While brand–price relationships are heterogeneous, the study provides evidence of their impact. These insights enable cheese producers, marketers, and retailers to strategically prioritize product attributes, optimize distribution channels, and make informed decisions about brand positioning to maximize value in competitive cheese markets. Full article

Digital food-ordering apps make it simple to buy indulgent drinks yet hard to judge their health risks. We conducted five online experiments (N = 1048) to compare two messages for sugary beverages: self-promotion that stresses taste and self-disclosure that plainly warns “high sugar/high calories”. Brands that chose self-disclosure were seen as more socially responsible and transparent, which in turn raised trust and lifted purchase intent. These gains were strongest for users who care deeply about the category or the brand and remained robust even among highly health-conscious shoppers. The results show that, for “vice” foods, honest warnings can outperform glossy claims. Our study extends signaling and attribution theories to digital food markets and offers managers a straightforward playbook for complying with new labeling rules while still driving sales. Full article

With the rapid development of the digital economy and the evolving shopping preferences of consumers, e-commerce platforms have been enhancing their competitiveness by launching private label brands and optimizing their sales channel strategies. This study focuses on an online sales system comprising a strong brand and an e-commerce platform. Four game modes were constructed: agency selling only (NN), agency selling combined with reselling (NS), agency selling combined with private labels (IN), and reselling combined with agency selling under the introduction of private labels (IS). Under the coupon promotion strategy, this study focused on the introduction strategy for private labels (PLs) and the selection strategy for platform sales modes. Our research produced the following findings: (1) Regardless of whether the platform introduces its own brand, adopting a reselling mode can significantly enhance the profits of both the brand owner and platform. (2) Irrespective of whether the reselling mode is implemented, the platform’s profits are always increased when introducing its own brand. (3) When the coupon redemption rate is higher, the brand owner achieves greater profitability in the absence of PL introduction. Conversely, when the coupon redemption rate is low, an increase in the commission rate leads to reduced profit margins for the brand owner due to competition from a private label. (4) When the coupon redemption and commission rate are both high, the coupon face value without a PL is larger. Otherwise, when these rates are both low, the coupon face value is higher under the introduction of a PL. This study offers a theoretical foundation and decision-making support for e-commerce platforms to optimize sales mode selection, introduce private-label brands, and develop coupon strategies. Full article

Background: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) represent a substantial part of modern diets, with a growing prevalence in food environments worldwide. Their unfavourable nutritional composition and adverse health effects present growing public health concerns. Methods: This study examines the prevalence of UPFs in the Slovenian food supply, their nutritional quality and the use of different food symbols and labelling schemes on food packaging. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the representative Slovenian branded foods database. A total of 23,173 prepacked foods and beverages were categorised into levels of processing according to the NOVA classification system. The nutritional composition of UPFs was compared to less processed products within 16 narrow subcategories. Additionally, the prevalence in the use of front-of-package nutrition labelling (FOPNL) and subjectively nutrition-related elements (SNREs) (such as EU Organic, Vegan labels etc.) were assessed across different food categories and processing levels. Results: Results show that UPFs represent 54.5% of the available products in the Slovenian food supply, with the highest prevalence in Confectionery (93%), Bread and bakery products (83%), Meat, meat products and alternatives (77%) and Convenience foods (74%). Comparison of nutritional composition indicated that UPFs had significantly poorer nutritional composition compared to less processed counterparts, including higher levels of sugar, salt and saturated fats, and a lower protein content. Breakfast cereals, Snack foods, Meat alternatives and Pre-prepared salads and sandwiches showed the most significant differences between UPFs and less processed counterparts. Analysis of the prevalence of symbols and labelling schemes revealed that 33.8% of products carried at least one FOPNL (15.0%) or SNRE (19.1%), with SNREs being more prevalent on less processed products and FOPNL predominantly used on UPFs (p < 0.05). The most prevalent SNRE was the EU Organic logo (12.7%), followed by the Vegan (4.7%) and Non-GMO (3.1%) logos, whereas the most frequent FOPNL was Reference Intakes (RI), presenting only energy value RI-Energy (12.5%), followed by nutrient-specific RI (1.6%), while other FOPNL were scarce and limited to certain categories. An additional comparison of visual presentation highlighted the potentially selective use of voluntary FOPNL to improve product framing. This raises concerns about their role in guiding consumer choices versus serving as marketing tools, especially when it comes to UPFs. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for monitoring UPFs in the food supply together with harmonised, mandatory labelling regulations to ensure transparency and empower consumers to make healthier choices. Full article

With the rise of omnichannel (OC) retailing in food e-retail, understanding how OC retailing and product quality attributes influence consumer purchasing behaviour and value perceptions is crucial for developing e-retail strategies and enhancing consumer services. This study examined their impacts on Chinese consumers’ purchases of Australian beef (brisket) through a discrete choice experiment in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and analysed 872 valid responses using multinomial logit, random parameter logit, and latent class models. Our findings reveal that Chinese consumers prefer buying Australian brisket via OC apps and offline stores, paying approx. 44% and 134% more per 500 g, respectively, compared to self-operated e-commerce stores. Brand, manufacturer and origin traceability are key quality attributes, with additional paid for brisket manufactured and packaged in Australia (under Australian brands) and featuring the MLA “True Aussie Beef” label over QR codes. This study also identified four distinct consumer clusters: (i) premium shoppers, (ii) channel and traceability-oriented shoppers, (iii) omnichannel and price-oriented shoppers and (iv) tech-savvy and discerning shoppers, highlighting varying sensitivities to e-retail channels and product attributes. These findings offer strategic and actionable insights for Australian beef exporters and OC retailers seeking to optimise consumer engagement and value creation in China’s evolving e-retail landscape. Full article

This study evaluated the flow and textural characteristics of commercial baby food in order to increase clinical knowledge to support patients with pediatric dysphagia. Samples from three organic and non-organic brands included four labeled stages and a variety of ingredients. A standardized method for evaluating the characteristics of room-temperature baby foods was utilized in order to compare, across two geographic regions, the brands and the labeled stages. Based on the manufacturing stages, no logical progression in thickness or texture was observed in relation to labeled food stages. Regardless of the stage, our results reveal that 75% of the baby foods samples are categorized as moderately thick liquid or liquidized food. Furthermore, two-thirds of products categorized as “large variability” foods were labeled as Stage 1. Caregivers and clinicians bear the burden for the presentation of safe and appropriate transitional foods during a child’s milk-weaning process. Current “staged” guidelines on baby foods do not accurately convey information about the product’s textural characteristics (i.e., thickness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, etc.), which can influence the safety and efficiency of oral intake. Full article

When it comes to wine communication, winery names can serve as multidimensional communication mechanisms. Their various aspects of communication concern the historical context, tourism geography, socio-economic tourism development, wine knowledge, and even gastronomy. On this basis, a whole communication strategy could be developed, which could lead to progressive interaction and networking with consumers. Quality needs to be fully and properly communicated through multiple channels. This paper aims to reveal the importance of the way in which wine producers in Northern Greece construct their brand identity through strategic naming choices—such as Estate, Ktima, Château, or the producer’s family name—as opposed to more neutral or descriptive labels. The findings suggest that winery names contribute significantly to consumer perception, place branding, and the development of wine tourism. The choice of a winery name influences regional identity, strengthens the connection with local traditions, and enhances the commercial success and tourism appeal of the region. Full article

Deodorants and antiperspirants available on the market are designed to reduce the discomfort associated with sweating. This study examined the types of active substances contained in deodorants and antiperspirants from international cosmetic brands available in Poland (part of the EU market) and the frequency of their use. Product compositions were analysed based on INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) product labels. The investigation included the following 170 cosmetic products: 50 spray deodorants (from 50 different brands); 50 roll-on deodorants (from 50 brands); 20 stick deodorants (from 20 brands); 40 roll-on antiperspirants (from 40 brands); and 10 stick antiperspirants (from 10 brands). The most popular active components were Triethyl Citrate (51/120 formulations; 42.5%), followed by Alcohol (25.8%), Ethylhexylglycerin (25.0%), Caprylyl Glycol (12.5%), and Potassium Alum (10.0%). Antiperspirant products were dominated by aluminium-based compounds, with the most frequently used being the following aluminium-based salts: Aluminium Chlorohydrate (67.5%), Aluminium Sesquichlorohydrate (25.0%), and Aluminium Chloride (12.5%). In contrast, aluminium–zirconium complexes, such as Aluminum Zirconium Tri-, Penta-, and Octachlorohydrex Gly, were rarely used by cosmetic manufacturers. Additionally, composition complexity, i.e., the number of deodorizing and anti-sweating ingredients per single formulation, was examined for roll-on deodorants, stick deodorants, and roll-on antiperspirants. All tested antiperspirants and most deodorants contained fragrance-imparting ingredients; the most popular were Parfum/Fragrance, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, and Geraniol. Full article

This study examined the diverse factors influencing green consumption behavior among Chinese consumers through a comprehensive, data-driven approach that integrated multiple machine learning models, including Gaussian naïve Bayes, K-nearest neighbor, multilayer perceptron, and XGBoost models. By analyzing emotional, product-related, cultural, social, and personal dimensions, this research identified key determinants that shape consumer engagement in sustainable consumption. Unlike conventional studies that rely on linear models or survey-based analyses, this study leveraged machine learning to uncover complex, nonlinear interactions between these factors. The findings reveal that emotional drivers, particularly guilt and pride, play a pivotal role in green consumption decisions, while cultural and product-related factors also exhibit significant influence. This study contributes methodologically by employing a multidimensional, multilevel analytical framework, enhancing the robustness of the findings. Furthermore, the results underscore the importance of policy and marketing strategies that effectively target emotional and social influences to cultivate a sustainable consumer culture. These insights provide actionable recommendations for policymakers and businesses seeking to promote green consumption and advance global sustainability efforts. Full article

The vast amount of social media and web data offers valuable insights for purposes such as brand reputation management, topic research, competitive analysis, product development, and public opinion surveys. However, analysing these data to identify patterns and extract valuable insights is challenging due to the vast number of posts, which can number in the thousands within a single day. One practical approach is topic clustering, which creates clusters of mentions that refer to a specific topic. Following this process will create several manageable clusters, each containing hundreds or thousands of posts. These clusters offer a more meaningful overview of the discussed topics, eliminating the need to categorise each post manually. Several topic detection algorithms can achieve clustering of posts, such as LDA, NMF, BERTopic, etc. The existing algorithms, however, have several important drawbacks, including language constraints and slow or resource-intensive data processing. Moreover, the labels for the clusters typically consist of a few keywords that may not make sense unless one explores the mentions within the cluster. Recently, with the introduction of AI large language models, such as GPT-4, new techniques can be realised for topic clustering to address the aforementioned issues. Our novel approach (AI Mention Clustering) employs LLMs at its core to produce an algorithm for efficient and accurate topic clustering of web and social data. Our solution was tested on social and web data and compared to the popular existing algorithm of BERTopic, demonstrating superior resource efficiency and absolute accuracy of clustered documents. Furthermore, it produces summaries of the clusters that are easily understood by humans instead of just representative keywords. This approach enhances the productivity of social and web data researchers by providing more meaningful and interpretable results. Full article

With the growing interest in health and fitness, whey protein supplements are becoming increasingly popular among fitness enthusiasts and athletes. The surge in demand for whey protein supplements highlights the need for cost-effective methods to characterise product quality throughout the food supply chain. This study presents a rapid and low-cost method for authenticating sports whey protein supplements using smartphone video imaging (SVI) combined with machine learning. A gradient of colours ranging from purple to red is displayed on the front screen of a smartphone to illuminate the sample. The colour change on the sample surface is captured in a short video by the front-facing camera. Then, the video is split into frames, decomposed into RGB colour channels, and converted into spectral data. The relationship between video data and sample labels is established using machine learning models. The proposed method is tested on five tasks, including identifying 15 brands of whey protein concentrate (WPC), quantifying fat content and energy levels, detecting three types of adulterants, and quantifying adulterant levels. Moreover, the performance of SVI was compared to that of hyperspectral imaging (HSI), which has an equipment cost of around 80 times that of SVI. The proposed method achieves accuracies of 0.933 and 0.96 in WPC brand identification and adulterant detection, respectively, which are only around 0.05 lower than those of HSI. It obtains coefficients of determination of 0.897, 0.906 and 0.963 for the quantification of fat content, energy levels and milk powder adulteration, respectively. Such results demonstrate that the combination of smartphones and machine learning offers a low-cost and viable preliminary screening tool for verifying the authenticity of whey protein supplements. Full article

This study investigates the role of information boundaries in organic food packaging and their impact on consumers’ purchase intentions, aiming to uncover how packaging information design can drive sustainable consumption. Although previous research has extensively explored factors such as background color, shape, and positioning, the influence of information boundaries has received less attention. Through three experiments involving 766 participants, this study delves into the psychological mechanisms influencing sustainable consumption. Experiment 1 explores how information boundaries (presence vs. absence) affect purchase intention and confirms that health perception mediates this relationship. Experiment 2, using virtual brands to eliminate brand familiarity bias, further validates the positive effect of information boundaries on purchase intention through heightened health perceptions. Experiment 3 investigates the moderating role of certification label structures, showing that information boundaries enhance purchase intentions when ingredient-level cues are presented, whereas boundary-free designs are more effective for product-level cues. Our research demonstrates that driving consumer purchases of organic products through strategic packaging design contributes significantly to achieving sustainability goals. These findings provide actionable insights for businesses and policymakers aiming to develop packaging strategies that promote long-term sustainability and environmentally responsible consumer behavior, ultimately contributing to the achievement of global sustainable development goals. Full article