Search Results (2,372)

Functional foods are gaining increasing prominence in emerging markets as consumers respond to growing health concerns, urbanization, and evolving dietary patterns. However, little is known about how consumers in developing economies interpret safety-focused communication, nutritional claims, and packaging innovation when evaluating functional foods. Pakistan represents an important context due to its rapidly growing functional food sector, weak regulatory environment, and heightened consumer concerns about product safety. This study examines how safety-focused communication, nutritional claims, and innovative packaging influence consumer trust, perceived product safety, and purchase intention within Pakistan’s developing functional food sector. Data were collected from 418 consumers across five major Pakistani cities and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that safety communication, nutritional claims, and packaging innovation significantly enhance perceived product safety and trust, with trust emerging as the strongest predictor of purchase intention. Moreover, communication highlighting technological advancements in packaging strengthens trust and improves perceptions of product quality. Consumer trust mediates the relationship between marketing communication and purchase intention, while health consciousness moderates these effects. The results underscore the vital role of transparent and credible marketing communication in building consumer trust and encouraging the adoption of functional foods in emerging markets. Managerially, integrating explicit safety and packaging cues into marketing strategies can enhance consumer acceptance, while policymakers should ensure regulatory oversight of nutritional and packaging-related claims. Full article

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental health conditions often beginning in adolescence and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although previous research has focused on medical staff, little is known about how EDs are recognised and managed by non-medical mental health professionals within community-based systems. This study examined their awareness, knowledge, and stigmatising beliefs toward EDs in Türkiye, highlighting implications for training and policy development. Methods: A study-specific questionnaire adapted from a validated tool previously used with general practitioners was administered to 42 non-medical professionals (95.2% female; mean age = 33.2 ± 5.6 years) working in community mental health services in Ankara, Türkiye. Participants were randomly assigned to one of six clinical vignettes depicting a young person with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), depression, or type-1 diabetes. The questionnaire assessed illness perception, causal attributions, emotional reactions, professional knowledge, and stigmatising beliefs. Results: Only 28.6% (n = 12) correctly identified the disorder in their assigned vignette. BED had the highest diagnostic accuracy (50%), while AN and ARFID were most frequently misidentified. Participants commonly believed that EDs mainly affected females, had a short duration, and were less responsive to treatment. Stigmatising beliefs—such as personal blame—were also noted. Conclusions: Findings revealed limited awareness and knowledge of EDs—particularly AN and ARFID—among non-medical mental health professionals. Misconceptions that EDs are self-inflicted may delay recognition and referral. The results underscore the need for targeted education, anti-stigma interventions, and integration of ED content into professional training to improve early detection and community-based support. Full article

The study investigates Greek consumers’ beliefs and their assessment of the risks associated with consuming potatoes they perceive as contaminated with pesticide residues, aiming to understand the relationship between perceived risk and actual dietary exposure. A survey of 1318 participants was conducted, employing latent profile analysis to identify two distinct consumer profiles: Concerned Consumers, who prioritize certified products and exhibit lower potato consumption, and Confident Consumers, who demonstrate higher consumption levels and lower risk perception. Data from the consumer survey and the two-category grouping were benchmarked against data from the Greek report on pesticide residue monitoring in food to estimate exposure against established toxicological reference values. The results indicate that pesticide residues on potatoes in Greece remain significantly below established toxicological reference values, with mean exposures well within safety limits for both consumer groups. Despite the higher consumption among Confident Consumers, their exposure levels are still negligible. The findings highlight a disconnect between consumer perceptions of pesticide risk and actual exposure, suggesting that current agricultural practices are effective in safeguarding public health. This study underscores the importance of evidence-based risk communication to bridge the gap between consumer concerns and scientific reality, reinforcing the role of potatoes as a safe and essential food source. Full article

Blockchain technology plays a critical role in strengthening traceability in food supply chains (FSCs), particularly in relation to transparency, authenticity, food safety, and sustainability. This study conducts a systematic review of 518 journal articles retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science and applies latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling to identify dominant research trends. The analysis reveals eight key themes, including blockchain adoption enablers and challenges, consumer perceptions, supply chain traceability systems, sustainability, and food safety applications. The findings highlight significant growth in academic interest and demonstrate how blockchain improves visibility and efficiency across supply chain actors. The review offers theoretical insights into blockchain’s interdisciplinary role in FSC traceability and provides practical guidance for farmers, food industries, policymakers, and technology developers, while outlining future research opportunities. Full article

Instant noodles have become a staple convenience food worldwide, with rising consumption particularly among younger, busier populations. This study investigates consumer perceptions, health concerns, consumption habits, and purchasing behaviors related to pre-packaged noodles in Kosovo. A structured questionnaire was administered to 400 participants, exploring attitudes toward health impacts, ingredient awareness, product preferences, and purchasing motivations. Findings revealed mixed perceptions of noodle healthiness, with older and more educated individuals significantly more likely to view them as unhealthy (p < 0.001). Although most respondents expressed concern about ingredients such as fat, calories, and salt, awareness of additives like monosodium glutamate (MSG) remained low (p < 0.001), indicating a gap in consumer knowledge. Consumption patterns varied notably by age, gender, income, and health status. Younger and lower-income groups consumed noodles more frequently (p < 0.001), often driven by time constraints rather than taste or nutritional value. One-third of participants reported a sense of addiction, strongly linked to both frequency and portion size. When purchasing, consumers prioritized label clarity, origin, and natural ingredients over sensory appeal, and advertising exerted only a moderate influence on choices. These results suggest that while practical needs drive consumption, health concerns and demographic factors strongly shape perceptions and behavior. Efforts to reduce unhealthy consumption should focus on clearer labeling, accessible nutrition education, and promoting healthier, convenient alternatives. Full article

Drought is one of the most severe abiotic stresses limiting agricultural productivity and threatening global food security. As the central organelle responsible for photosynthesis and stress perception, the chloroplast is highly sensitive to drought, and its structural and functional stability directly determines plant adaptability. Recent studies have revealed that chloroplasts undergo pronounced ultrastructural alterations under drought stress, including thylakoid membrane shrinkage, disorganization of grana stacks, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excessive ROS production causes oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, whereas moderate ROS levels act as retrograde signals to regulate nuclear gene expression. In parallel, calcium (Ca²⁺) oscillations and retrograde signaling pathways—such as those mediated by GENOMES UNCOUPLED PROTEIN1 (GUN), 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphate (PAP), and Methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MecPP)—integrate chloroplast-derived stress cues with nuclear responses. To counteract drought-induced damage, plants activate a series of antioxidant systems—both enzymatic (Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX), Catalase (CAT)) and non-enzymatic (Ascorbic Acid (ASA), (Glutathione) GSH, tocopherols, carotenoids)—along with protective proteins such as fibrillins (FBNs) and WHIRLYs that stabilize thylakoid and membrane structures. In addition, autophagy and plastid degradation pathways selectively remove severely damaged chloroplasts to maintain cellular homeostasis. Exogenous substances, including melatonin, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), and Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, have also been shown to enhance chloroplast stability and antioxidant capacity under drought stress. In this review, we discuss the structural and functional changes in chloroplasts, signaling networks, and protective repair mechanisms under drought stress. Furthermore, we highlight future research prospects for enhancing plant stress resilience through multi-omics integration, application of functional regulators, and molecular design breeding. Full article

This study moves beyond the static view prevalent in hospitality loyalty research by developing and longitudinally testing a process-oriented model of loyalty formation. Recognizing that loyalty is a dynamic outcome, we employ a three-wave panel design with a three-month lag, surveying 562 customers of organic restaurants within green-certified hotels. Data are analyzed using a Cross-Lagged Panel Model (CLPM) to meticulously map the temporal interplay among key antecedents, controlling for autoregressive effects and covariates. The findings provide robust evidence for a specific cognitive-to-affective sequence: perceptions of food quality at one time point shape subsequent judgments of perceived value, which in turn drive customer satisfaction, ultimately fostering loyalty in a succeeding period. Crucially, the CLPM also reveals that food quality and price fairness exert significant, direct time-lagged effects on loyalty, suggesting the presence of dual psychological pathways. By establishing temporal precedence and mapping sequential mediation, this study offers a more causally robust and managerially actionable understanding of how customer loyalty evolves. Full article

Background/Objectives: The beliefs about a disease and its treatment determine how patients and caregivers manage and adapt to the illness. The study aimed to explore the QoL and mental health of children with food allergy (FA), and parental illness perception, analyzing influences of sociodemographic and clinical factors and associations between constructs. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 79 parents of children (3–12 years) with FA, who completed the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire—Parent Form (FAQLQ_PF), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regressions were performed. Results: FAQLQ score was positively associated (0.28) with SDQ score, particularly internalizing problems (0.33), and with B-IPQ score (0.64), consequences for the child and parents (0.66), timeline (0.43), and emotional representation (0.63). SDQ score was negatively associated with parental control (−0.27) and coherence (−0.24), while internalizing problems were negatively associated with parental control (−0.23) and positively associated with timeline (0.24). A greater number of allergens was associated with a worse QoL (p < 0.05). Previous anaphylaxis was associated with higher illness identity (p < 0.05). An age between 7 and 12 years was associated with lower control and coherence. In the final model, higher scores on internalizing problems, timeline, and emotional representation were associated with poorer child QoL (p < 0.001). Conclusions: It is crucial to understand and explore illness perception, as well as focus on psychosocial–emotional aspects of FA in both children and parents. A multidisciplinary approach addressing medical and psychological aspects of FA should be implemented to ensure optimal QoL. Full article

This study aimed to compare the phenolic profiles and bioactive properties of powdered aqueous (AVOE) and methanolic (MVOE) Viburnum opulus L. fruit extracts and compare the effect of increasing concentrations of these extracts on the physicochemical, sensory, and bioactive properties of wheat waffles. The polyphenol content and bioactivity of the extracts and waffles were assessed based on their water–ethanol and phosphate-buffered saline extracts, as well as on samples after in vitro digestion. MVOE and MVOE-enriched waffles showed superior, statistically significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity compared to AVOE and AVOE-enriched waffles. Functional analyses revealed that the enrichment level affected water absorption, texture, and sensory perception, with reduced acceptability at high aqueous extract levels. Overall, methanolic extract enrichment provided the best balance between functionality and bioactivity, and waffles enriched with the highest amount of MVOE were characterized by having the highest potentially bioavailable polyphenol fraction (17.47 ± 1.01 mg GAE/gDW) as well as the strongest ability to inhibit LOX and XO activity (EC₅₀ = 8.55 ± 0.16 and 9.25 ± 0.01 mgDW/mL, respectively) with simultaneous high consumer acceptability. These results confirm the applicability of VO extracts in food formulations and potential health benefits, offering a basis for future clinical studies on VO-enriched functional foods. Full article

Traditional foods (TFs) represent a key component of regional cultural identity and gastronomic heritage, particularly within the hospitality sector. The growing interest of tourists in authentic, locally sourced and sustainable food underscores the importance of understanding the perceptual and socio-demographic factors that shape their preferences and choices regarding TFs. The aim of this study is to identify and explain the factors that influence tourist attitudes toward dishes prepared with TFs in the hospitality sector, as well as to examine the extent to which socio-demographic characteristics predict tourists’ purchasing decisions. For this purpose, the Tourist Perception and Preferences Model in the Context of Traditional Foods (TPP-TF model) and the Perceptual Factors Scale for Traditional Food Consumption (PFS-TFC) were developed. The research was conducted on a sample of 507 respondents in the A.P. Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia), employing both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, which identified the following three key factors: socio-cultural, ecological, and economic. The results of the logistic regression analysisshowed that income level and place of residence significantly influenced the decision to purchase dishes based on traditional foods (TFs). Tourists with higher income levels were substantially more likely to purchase TFs, highlighting the role of economic affordability in shaping consumer choices. Conversely, individuals residing in urban areas showed a significantly lower likelihood of purchasing TFs compared to rural respondents, suggesting that traditional food consumption remains more rooted in rural environments and is closely associated with cultural proximity. Full article

The valorization of agricultural by-products such as beetroot stalks (BSs) offers a sustainable strategy for reducing food waste while enhancing nutritional value of staple foods. This study investigates the incorporation of BS powder, an agricultural waste rich in phenolics, betalains, and dietary fibers, into durum wheat semolina pasta. Pasta containing 5–20% BS were evaluated for bioactive compounds, cooking performance parameters, texture, color, and sensory acceptance. Enrichment increased total phenolics, antioxidant activity, and betalain concentration in a dose-dependent manner, with 20% BS pasta reaching 2.24 mg gallic acid equivalents/g phenolics and 1.53 mg/g betalains. Although drying and boiling reduced bioactive retention, enriched pasta maintained up to eightfold higher antioxidant activity than the control. Cooking performance showed increased water uptake and swelling index at higher substitution levels, while texture analysis revealed reduced hardness and cohesiveness above 15% BS substitution. Color analysis confirmed intense red hues from betalain pigments, enhancing consumer perception. Sensory evaluation indicated that control pasta was preferred for flavor and texture, but 10–15% BS samples were well accepted for their appealing color and mild vegetal notes. Overall, BS powder demonstrates strong potential for upcycling agricultural waste into functional, sustainable pasta with enhanced nutritional quality and alignment with circular economy practices. Full article

This study investigated how consumers’ food consumption needs and perceptions influence their attitudes and behavioral intentions toward food truck dining. Drawing on the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework, perceived risks and benefits were conceptualized as external stimuli; food consumption needs (necessity vs. enjoyment) and attitudes represented the organism; and behavioral intentions denoted the response. Data were collected via Amazon Mechanical Turk and analyzed using structural equation modeling and multigroup comparisons based on prior food truck experience. Perceived benefits and food enjoyment positively influenced attitudes, whereas perceived risks negatively influenced attitudes. Attitude significantly predicted future behavioral intentions, whereas food as a necessity did not. The multigroup analysis revealed that prior experience moderated these relationships; perceived benefits and risks primarily guided inexperienced consumers, whereas experienced consumers formed attitudes mainly through hedonic needs. These findings contribute to the literature by integrating the SOR and value–attitude–behavior hierarchies to explain cognitive and motivational mechanisms underlying food truck patronage. They also highlight the moderating role of prior experience, which reshapes the strength of the model’s key paths. The study offers practical implications for food truck operators seeking to balance risk mitigation with perceived benefits to encourage repeat patronage. Full article

Urban agriculture, particularly homegarden-based urban agriculture, has gained recognition as a valuable tool for promoting sustainability in rapidly urbanizing cities. This study investigates community perceptions of the ecosystem services provided by homegarden-based urban agriculture in Bandung City, Indonesia. The research aims to assess how urban residents perceive the contributions of homegardens to food security, environmental sustainability, and social well-being. Using a mixed-methods approach, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with key informants, while quantitative data were obtained from a survey of members of the urban agriculture community. The results revealed that homegardens play a supplementary role in food production, providing fresh produce but contributing only minimally to overall food security. They were recognized for their role in biodiversity conservation, microclimate regulation, disaster risk reduction, social cohesion, and improving mental well-being. Despite these benefits, challenges such as limited space, lack of knowledge, and competing land uses hinder the full integration of homegardens into urban systems. The findings suggest that enhancing education and policy support for urban agriculture can help maximize the utilization of the potential of homegardens in urban sustainability. Future research should focus on overcoming these barriers and exploring strategies for expanding homegarden practices in urban areas. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sensory properties of food, such as taste and smell, are the main factors influencing the preference or rejection of a given food product, especially among children. The aim of this study was to compare the food preferences of teenagers with diabetes to those of a group of healthy children. Additionally, we assessed the influence of children’s taste perception on food preferences. Methods: The study involved 102 adolescents with type 1 diabetes aged 11–15, including 55 girls and 47 boys. We used a questionnaire that consisted of 63 photos of various food products, dishes, and drinks. For the taste evaluation, we used paper strips impregnated with four basic tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, and salty). Results: Healthy teenagers were more likely to self-report preferences for sweet foods. The overall preference score for sweet products included in the study was higher in the control group. The median score for this group was 4.21 (3.92–4.42), and for the diabetes group, the median score was 4.03 (3.68–4.26) (p = 0.0008). Preferences for bitter-tasting vegetables and fruits were clearly higher in teenagers with type 1 diabetes. The overall preference score for bitter taste products included in the study was higher in the diabetes group. The median score for this group was 3.71 (3.00–4.14), and for the control group, the median score was 2.86 (2.14–3.50) (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Adolescents with diabetes showed greater acceptance of certain bitter-tasting foods compared to their healthy peers. Lower preferences for sweet and higher preferences for bitter foods can be taken into account in establishing nutritional plans for adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Telogen effluvium (TE) is a common, non-scarring hair loss condition characterized by excessive shedding due to disruptions in the hair growth cycle. It is often triggered by stress, hormonal changes, or nutritional deficiencies and is often associated with impaired quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel once-a-day drinkable food supplement in women experiencing TE. Methods: A monocentric, open-label, single-arm pilot study was conducted, enrolling 37 female subjects aged 20 to 45 years with self-perceived hair shedding and diagnosed with TE. Subjects refrained from using products with similar effects throughout the study. Evaluations included hair density, hair shedding, anagen to catagen/telogen (A:C/T) ratio, and self-perception after 1, 3, and 6 months. Statistical analyses were performed using Linear Mixed-effects Models (LMMs) and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: At 1, 3, and 6 months, a statistically significant increase in hair density compared to baseline was observed under the regimen of the tested product. After 6 months, this translated into a 12% increase vs. baseline (p < 0.001). Hair shedding decreased significantly from baseline to each subsequent visit, with a 28% reduction in shedding after 6 months (p < 0.05). The A:C/T ratio significantly increased after both 3 and 6 months, from 3.39:1 to 6.96:1 (p < 0.001). Self-perception questionnaires indicated high satisfaction with hair improvements. Conclusions: This single-arm pilot study suggests that the novel, drinkable food supplement improves hair density and hair shedding in women experiencing TE and underscores the potential of supplement intervention for managing female hair thinning, mainly by reducing TE through increased density of growing hairs. Whilst these preliminary results are encouraging, we recognize that a larger, placebo-controlled, blinded, randomized trial using the product is necessary to corroborate these findings and further explore the underlying hair cycle effects. Full article