Search Results (1,974)

Background: Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) continues to rise alongside a growing body of epidemiological evidence linking high UPF intake to adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, in the general population. However, the factors underlying these associations remain incompletely understood, underscoring the need to examine components beyond traditional nutrient composition. In particular, food-processing additives are increasingly recognized as defining features of industrially formulated UPFs. Objective/Methods: In this study, we used a large food label database to cross-sectionally examine the presence and co-occurrence of selected additives (sorbates, benzoates, phosphate additives, and non-nutritive sweeteners [NNSs]) in sweetened beverages sold by the 25 top-selling U.S. food and beverage manufacturers in 2020. Results: We found that sweetened beverages marketed in the U.S. frequently contain multiple additive classes concurrently, supporting the concept that these products represent complex chemical exposure mixtures rather than simple combinations of water and sweeteners. Formulations containing multiple additives were substantially more common than simpler formulations, with many beverages simultaneously containing combinations of sweeteners, preservatives, and phosphate additives. Products containing NNS exhibited higher additive clustering compared to products containing added sugar. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings support the need for broader consideration of beverage formulation complexity in nutrition research, dietary guidance, and policy regulation. Full article

This study presents a critical historical, bibliometric, and technological overview of the evolution of postharvest science, emphasizing the transition from classical physiology-based approaches to emerging predictive and technology-driven systems. Scientific production related to postharvest research was analyzed using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, while bibliometric mapping and co-occurrence networks were generated using VOSviewer to identify thematic trends, emerging research areas, and structural scientific clusters. In parallel, a technological foresight analysis was conducted through the Lens.org platform to investigate the temporal evolution of patent deposits, the geographical distribution of innovation, the leading institutional applicants, and the predominant technological domains according to the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC). The results revealed a substantial global expansion of postharvest research over recent decades. This growth was accompanied by increasing technological diversification and stronger integration between scientific knowledge and intellectual property protection. The analysis also highlighted the progressive incorporation of advanced methodologies into postharvest science, including biochemical approaches, non-destructive technologies, artificial intelligence, predictive modeling, and digital tools for quality assessment and shelf-life management. Overall, the study demonstrates that postharvest science is undergoing a paradigmatic transition toward integrated, multidisciplinary, and data-driven systems aligned with current demands for sustainability, food security, innovation, and reduction of postharvest losses. Full article

Saline–alkaline land serves as a potential arable land reserve for augmenting agricultural productivity and safeguarding food security. However, long-term monitoring of saline–alkaline land conversion remains challenging because of vegetation recovery, surface changes, hydrological modification, and agricultural phenology. Compared with CCDC and LandTrendr, the proposed MK-based framework detects conversion occurrence and timing while reducing dependence on dense observations, parameter tuning, and annual classification. This study examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of saline–alkaline land converted into paddies in Da’an City, utilizing Landsat time-series data (2007–2021) from the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The analysis employed Mann–Kendall (MK) trend and mutation tests to monitor conversion processes and analyze spatiotemporal dynamics. Point-biserial correlation analysis was applied to evaluate the sensitivity of various remote sensing indices in detecting land conversion. The top fifteen indices, including the Land Surface Water Index (LSWI), Salinity Index 4 (SI4), and Salinity Index 5 (SI5), demonstrated strong correlations (|r| = 0.788–0.885) and significant pre- and post-conversion spectral differences (p < 0.01). Validation via confusion matrix confirmed that the June SI5 index attained the highest detection accuracy (overall accuracy: 94.15%; Kappa coefficient: 0.86), supporting the MK trend test’s efficacy in monitoring conversion processes. The MK mutation test achieved 80.36% temporal accuracy in determining conversion timing. The spatiotemporal analyses identified heterogeneity in saline–alkaline land conversion patterns. Spatially, large contiguous paddy fields dominated the eastern region, whereas fragmented conversion characterized the west, with minimal activity in the central zone. Temporally, the conversion area expanded rapidly before 2015 and then gradually declined, reaching a cumulative converted area of 276.29 km² by 2021. This study elucidates spatiotemporal conversion dynamics to guide sustainable land use. Full article

Pesticide residues in vegetables constitute a potential source of exposure to endocrine- and reproductive-disrupting chemicals (EDCs/RDs), particularly in vulnerable populations such as children. This study assessed pesticide occurrence in vegetables from 12 countries worldwide and evaluated associated health risks for children and adults within the framework of European legislation. Of the 390 analyzed samples, 84.7% contained 40 pesticides, including nine non-approved compounds (26% of samples). Fungicides were among the detected groups (81.7%), with boscalid (0.005–0.36 mg kg⁻¹) and propamocarb (0.005–0.87 mg kg⁻¹) being the most commonly occurring compounds. Multiresidue contamination was observed in 75.7% of samples. Tomatoes and leeks exhibited the highest concentrations, and the European Union maximum residue level (MRL) was exceeded by up to 240% for flonicamid in Chinese cabbage. Propamocarb was the most commonly identified EDC, while tomatoes showed the greatest diversity of these compounds. RDs occurred less frequently, with pyraclostrobin being the most common. Risk assessment resulting from the presence of multiple pesticides in an individual sample expressed as the hazard index (HI) exceeded acceptable levels for BE toddlers consuming tomatoes (1.345 for EDCs and 1.264 for RDs) and leeks (1.010) containing propamocarb. These findings highlight an in-depth toxicological evaluation of the combined effects of multiple hazardous pesticides occurring simultaneously, which may support future legislative measures aimed at improving food safety. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus is a major food safety concern because of its ability to produce heat-stable enterotoxins, develop antimicrobial resistance, and express virulence factors associated with persistence and pathogenicity. The present study characterised S. aureus isolates recovered from ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and food handlers’ hands in university food service establishment in northern Portugal, focusing on virulence-associated genes, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and biofilm production. A total of 261 samples were analysed, including 156 RTE food samples and 105 hand swabs. Twenty-nine coagulase-positive staphylococci isolates were recovered and confirmed as S. aureus by detection of the nuc gene, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 11.11% (29/261). Of these, 20 isolates were obtained from food handlers’ hands and 9 from RTE foods. The hla and sei genes were detected in all isolates, while seg and tst were detected in 93.10%; sed was not detected. Biofilm-forming capacity was identified in 44.83% of isolates, with most strains exhibiting weak to moderate biofilm production. Resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent was observed in 31.0% of isolates, and presumptive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus represented 13.79%, all classified as multidrug-resistant. These findings support the occurrence of handling-related contamination and reinforce the need for strict hygiene practices, temperature control, and continuous monitoring in institutional food service environments. Full article

Mycotoxins are toxic fungal secondary metabolites that can contaminate the feed of dairy animals and can be transferred into milk and dairy products. This study aims to assess the occurrence of major mycotoxins in 190 samples of milk-based infant foods commercially available in São Paulo, Brazil, and characterize the associated risks. Aflatoxins (AFs) M₁ (AFM₁), B₁ (AFB₁), B₂ (AFB₂), G₁ (AFG₁) and G₂ (AFG₂), fumonisins (FBs) B₁ (FB₁) and B₂ (FB₂), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), and T-2 toxin were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). Ninety-eight samples (51.6%) were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin, while the co-occurrence of two to four mycotoxins was observed in 32 samples (16.8%). ZEN was the most prevalent mycotoxin (60 samples; 32%), followed by FBs (FB₁ and FB₂) (42 samples; 22%), OTA (11 samples; 5.8%), DON (8 samples; 4.2%), and T-2 toxin (2 samples; 1.1%). AFs were quantified in only two samples (1.1%), one milk-based product containing 0.630 μg/kg of AFM₁ and one flavored milk powder with AFB₁ at 5.850 μg/kg. The analyzed flavored milk powder samples showed the highest maximum concentrations of DON, FBs, and OTA (165.5, 93.79, and 86.77 μg/kg, respectively), while unflavored milk powder contained the highest concentration of ZEN (17.40 μg/kg). Infant formula provided the highest estimated daily intake (EDI) value of DON (1.226 μg/kg bw/day) for infants aged ≤one year. Hazard quotient (HQ) values > 1 revealed a potential health concern for DON in only one sample of infant formula intended for infants up to six months of age. Margin of exposure (MoE) values for AFs and OTA were <10,000, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring due to their potential toxic effects. These findings emphasize the need for stringent preventive measures and regulatory compliance to prevent mycotoxin contamination in milk-based infant foods in Brazil. Full article

Climate change is intensifying droughts, heatwaves, and hydrological extremes, increasing crop vulnerability and threatening global food security. This study analyzes the scientific evolution of research on remote sensing-based crop vulnerability to climate, focusing on temporal trends, geographical patterns, thematic structures, remote sensing data, and methodological approaches. A quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, longitudinal, and retrospective bibliometric analysis was applied to 2343 Scopus-indexed documents published between 1985 and 2026. Bibliometrix 5.1.1 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 were used to assess productivity, collaboration, intellectual structure, keyword co-occurrence, thematic evolution, and Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy. Results show sustained growth, with a 4% annual growth rate and a sharp acceleration after 2015, reaching 487 publications in 2025. This trend reflects a transition from descriptive crop monitoring toward predictive and operational geospatial intelligence. China, the United States, and India lead scientific production, while specialized journals concentrate dissemination. The most common remote sensing data and indicators include NDVI, MODIS, Landsat, Sentinel imagery, SAR, drought indices, vegetation condition metrics, and Google Earth Engine. Frequent methods include bibliometric mapping, keyword co-occurrence analysis, thematic clustering, machine learning, time-series analysis, and multi-sensor integration. Overall, the field is mature but still faces challenges in interoperability, geographical representation, validation, and decision-oriented applications. Full article

Eryngium foetidum is classified as a Non-Conventional Food Plant (NCFP) with socioeconomic importance in the Amazon region, whose propagation is limited by low and irregular germination. This study aimed to evaluate methods for overcoming dormancy and promoting the germination of propagules of this species. Treatments consisted of chemical scarification with sulfuric acid (1, 2, and 3 min), mechanical scarification with sandpaper, soaking in water at room temperature, soaking in hot water, and an untreated control. Germination and seed vigor parameters were evaluated. Based on the analyses performed, chemical scarification treatments provided the best results, promoting higher germination and germination speed index, as well as a lower percentage of hard propagules and reduced mean germination time compared with the other treatments. Furthermore, the reduction in the number of hard propagules and their negative association with germination and vigor suggest the possible occurrence of physical dormancy in this species. Therefore, it can be concluded that chemical scarification with sulfuric acid is the most effective method for overcoming dormancy in Eryngium foetidum, contributing to the development of more efficient propagation protocols. Full article

Land use planning in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China must be sustainable, taking into account food security, water use, GHG emissions, and economic returns. Current crop suitability mapping and single-objective optimization studies tend to analyze crop occurrence, crop structure, and spatial allocation independently, which is of little value in spatial planning. In this study, a three-stage integrated approach is proposed, involving deep learning crop occurrence mapping, multi-objective crop structure optimization, and suitability-guided spatial allocation. During Stage I, a lightweight U-Net semantic segmentation model, BlackSoilCropNet, is developed to provide per-pixel occurrence probabilities of rice, maize, soybean, and other types of crops based on Sentinel-2 time series and auxiliary environmental predictors. In stage II, NSGA II will optimize the area structure of the crops and reduce water consumption and GHG emissions with the maximum profit under the constraints of the cropland, water, and production. Selected Pareto optimal solutions are transformed to crop allocation maps and transition hotspot outputs in Stage III. The framework resulted in three viable planning options. The economic priority scenario resulted in the highest profit (USD 27.9 billion), with higher water consumption and emissions. The environmental-priority scenario resulted in a reduction in water use to 118.2 × 10⁹ m³ and emissions to 50.9 MtCO₂e, but at the cost of lower production and profits. There was a balance between economic stability and an improved environment in the balanced scenario. The framework provides a reproducible, geospatial decision support approach for sustainable farming planning and black soil conservation overall. Full article

The common fig (Ficus carica L.) is susceptible to mycotoxin contamination, raising food safety concerns given the strict maximum levels for aflatoxins (AF) and ochratoxin A (OTA) established by Regulation (EU) 2023/915 for dried figs. We characterized the susceptibility of three commercially relevant cultivars from the Jerte Valley (‘Calabacita’, ‘Cuello Dama Blanco’, and ‘Granito’) to Aspergillus section Flavi colonization under controlled and orchard conditions. These findings were integrated with an industry surveillance dataset (2014–2023; 326 batches), with cultivar comparisons restricted to the comparable period 2020–2023 (184 batches), from a local fig-processing cooperative. Under controlled inoculation, ‘Calabacita’ consistently showed the highest internal colonization and proportion of figs colonized, whereas ‘Granito’ showed the lowest values. Sealing the ostiole reduced colonization across cultivars and abolished cultivar differences, thereby supporting the ostiole as the primary entry route. Fruit susceptibility increased with fruit size across all three cultivars. Dry conidial inoculation, emulating natural airborne spread, resulted in substantially higher colonization than inoculation with an aqueous conidial suspension, both in severity (100% vs. 3.7%) and incidence (100% vs. 7.3%). Orchard assays were consistent with the controlled inoculation results: ‘Calabacita’ showed higher section Flavi colonization than ‘Cuello Dama Blanco’ and ‘Granito’, which did not differ from each other. Fruit position did not affect colonization by section Flavi, but it significantly affected colonization by section Nigri, which was higher in dropped fruits across cultivars. AF-OTA co-occurrence was restricted to ‘Granito’ (3 batches; 2.6%) and was absent in ‘Calabacita’. Surveillance data (2020–2023) were consistent with the experimental findings. ‘Calabacita’ showed predominantly AF-related non-compliance (with AFB₁ and AFTA exceedances reaching 25.7%), whereas ‘Granito’ showed higher OTA exceedance (10.5% vs. 1.4%), reflecting distinct contamination profiles between cultivars. This study informs AF and OTA management strategies in dried figs based on cultivar susceptibility profiling, prescreening systems prior to commercialization, and reduction in fruit–soil contact during drying. Full article

Introduction: As apex and mesopredators, elasmobranchs help maintain marine ecosystem balance by shaping food-web structure and habitat connectivity, yet more than one-third of species are threatened with extinction. Identifying where and when they aggregate within atoll systems is therefore a prerequisite for spatially explicit conservation planning. Lhaviyani Atoll, in the central Maldives, lies within a recognised Indian Ocean elasmobranch hotspot and hosts two Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs), yet fine-scale information on aggregation sites, habitat partitioning and seasonal use remains limited. Objective: To map persistent activity hotspots, characterise habitat partitioning between sharks and batoids, quantify seasonal and inter-annual dynamics, and provide an ecological basis for habitat-focused conservation in Lhaviyani Atoll. Methodology: Using a seven-year (2017–2024) opportunistic dive-log dataset of 12,732 SCUBA surveys and 142,994 elasmobranch records across 94 dive sites, spatial kernel-density estimation was applied separately to sharks and batoids to identify activity hotspots and visualise spatial overlap. Habitat associations were examined across substrate types and reef geomorphic zones. Seasonal and inter-annual dynamics in relative abundance and diversity (Shannon, Pielou’s evenness) were quantified across monsoon phases and the 2017–2024 period. Results: Twenty-eight species (14 sharks, 14 batoids) were recorded, including 23 listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List (4 Critically Endangered, 12 Endangered, 7 Vulnerable). Four persistent activity hotspots were identified along the northern atoll rim, two overlapping with the Fushifaru Kandu and Kuredhu–Huravalhi–Komandoo ISRAs. Sharks were concentrated along more complex exposed and semi-sheltered slopes and high-flow channels, with significantly higher occurrence on reef and sheltered reef slopes and lower occurrence on rubble and sand substrates; batoids were distributed broadly within lagoonal habitats with no strong substrate or geomorphic preferences. Relative abundance and diversity peaked during the late southwest monsoon (August–September) and declined into the northeast monsoon (December–March); after 2021, diversity and evenness increased while overall abundance declined. Conclusions: Persistent hotspots, contrasting habitat use by sharks and batoids, and consistent monsoonal seasonality support the ecological relevance of existing ISRAs in Lhaviyani Atoll, while providing finer-scale information on habitat partitioning and additional priority areas for threatened elasmobranchs, including four Critically Endangered species. Full article

The increasing interest in plant-based diets has driven the demand for sustainable legumes such as lupins. However, their broader utilization is limited by the presence of quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs), secondary metabolites toxic to human health. Despite severe health risks, European legislation lacks harmonized maximum levels, necessitating comprehensive market surveillance. This study evaluates the occurrence of 14 specific QAs across 28 commercial samples collected from the Italian market using a validated LC-MS/MS method. Concurrently, the impact of a laboratory-scale debittering process was examined on a subset of eight dried seed samples to monitor toxin reduction efficiency. The total alkaloid content exhibited significant variability across food categories. Dried lupins samples showed the highest concentration (mean: 13,676 mg/kg), whereas lower levels were detected in lupin flours (mean: 253 mg/kg), brined lupins (mean: 86.1 mg/kg), and ready-to-use products (mean: 70.3 mg/kg), with lupanine being the predominant alkaloid across most matrices. Data on finished lupin-based products confirm the efficacy of industrial processing techniques in significantly reducing the alkaloid content. In parallel, laboratory debittering process demonstrated high QA reduction efficiency, ranging between 94% and 99%. Nevertheless, if initial QA levels were high, most of the debittered lupin seeds still retained residual alkaloid levels exceeding commonly accepted safety thresholds. This highlights the importance of establishing harmonized regulatory limits within the European Union and implementing continuous analytical monitoring programs, both at the field level and on commercial products, to guarantee consumer safety. Full article

Over the last years, incretin receptor agonists—including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and the dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide—have dramatically improved the management of type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity. However, as the use of incretin receptor agonists continues to increase worldwide, micronutrient deficiencies—including iron deficiency—have emerged as newly recognized adverse effects of these drugs. The present article aims to discuss recent preliminary observational evidence on the potential relationship between incretin receptor agonist-based therapies and the development of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), as well as the potential mechanisms by which incretin receptor agonists may affect iron homeostasis. Potential mechanisms and factors underlying the development of iron deficiency and IDA in patients treated with incretin receptor agonist-based therapies include inadequate dietary iron intake (due to incretin receptor agonist-mediated reduction in food intake and/or gastrointestinal adverse effects of incretin receptor agonists), low dietary variety, monotonous diets, and changes in food preferences, as well as impairment of intestinal iron absorption (due to delayed gastric emptying, reduced small intestinal motility and/or decreased gastric acid secretion caused by incretin receptor agonists). Moreover, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency and changes in gut microbiota composition are hypothetical mechanisms that may partly explain iron deficiency in patients treated with incretin receptor agonists, although these hypotheses require confirmation through mechanistic studies. Even though iron deficiency and IDA currently appear to be uncommon adverse effects of incretin receptor agonist-based therapies, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of their occurrence to ensure appropriate prevention and management of these nutritional complications. Nevertheless, future prospective studies are certainly needed to better establish the causal relationship between the initiation of incretin receptor agonist-based therapies and the development of iron deficiency/IDA, as well as the exact mechanisms underlying the potential development of these nutritional complications in patients treated with incretin receptor agonists. Meanwhile, the prescription of incretin receptor agonists should not be unjustifiably restricted by the possible and modest risk of iron deficiency and IDA in patients with one or more approved indications for therapeutic use of these agents. Since no established guidelines currently exist for the prevention and management of iron deficiency and IDA in patients treated with incretin receptor agonists, we herein propose practical strategies to address these possible nutritional complications of incretin receptor agonist-based therapies. These proposed strategies should only be regarded as practical clinical approaches deriving from the existing recommendations for the prevention and management of iron deficiency and IDA, although their cost-effectiveness for the prevention and management of incretin receptor agonist-associated iron deficiency/IDA should be appropriately assessed in future clinical trials. Full article

Introduction: Elasmobranchs play a vital role in marine food webs through top-down control and the structuring of ecosystem stability, yet more than one-third of species face extinction. The Maldives, a recognised Indian Ocean hotspot for shark and batoid diversity, designated its EEZ as a shark sanctuary in 2010, but multispecies elasmobranch occurrence patterns and environmental drivers remain poorly characterised in Lhaviyani Atoll in the central Maldives, which hosts two Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs). Recreational SCUBA networks can turn routine dive activity into long-term conservation evidence, already informing nearly 10% of the western Indian Ocean ISRAs. Objective: To characterise spatiotemporal patterns of elasmobranch assemblages in Lhaviyani Atoll (2017–2024), quantify how environmental and geomorphic drivers shape relative abundance, diversity, and hotspots, and provide evidence for targeted elasmobranch conservation. Methodology: A seven-year opportunistic dive-log dataset of 12,732 SCUBA surveys and 142,994 elasmobranch records across 94 dive sites was analysed. Effort-standardised relative abundance and community metrics (Shannon diversity, Pielou’s evenness) were modelled against sea surface temperature (SST), salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, zonal current velocity, substrate type, and reef geomorphology using generalised additive models (GAMs). Spatial analyses identified persistent northern-rim aggregation areas aligned with ISRAs. Results: Twenty-eight species (14 sharks, 14 batoids) were recorded, including 23 threatened on the IUCN Red List (4 Critically Endangered, 12 Endangered, 7 Vulnerable). Relative abundance and diversity peaked during the late southwest monsoon (August–September) and declined during the northeast monsoon (December–March). After 2021, diversity and evenness increased while overall abundance declined. Relative abundance was primarily driven by SST, salinity, and current velocity; for sharks, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll-a were additionally significant, whereas batoid abundance was driven mainly by temperature, oxygen, and current velocity. Four persistent hotspots along the northern atoll rim were identified, with sharks concentrated along exposed slopes and channels, and batoids distributed broadly within lagoonal habitats. Conclusions: Long-term citizen science dive-log monitoring is cost-effective for elasmobranch conservation in remote tropical seascapes. These results show how dive-industry partnerships can inform conservation governance over a decade after sanctuary designation, supporting targeted, habitat-focused management as shark and batoid conservation frameworks continue to evolve. Full article

In many industrial dairy products, yeasts are generally regarded as contaminants. However, in traditional fermented milks, they may contribute to distinctive sensory, technological, and functional properties through associations with bacterial partners, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Despite this, a structured synthesis of yeast–bacterium associations across fermented milk typologies is currently lacking. To address this gap, a PRISMA-informed literature search identified 42 studies across 24 traditional fermented milks reporting paired bacterial and fungal communities. A genus-level co-occurrence analysis was used to identify which yeast–bacterium pairs were most frequently co-detected across independently documented products. The main co-occurrence patterns selected for detailed bibliographical discussion were Kluyveromyces with Acetobacter and LAB, including Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Lentilactobacillus and Lacticaseibacillus; Pichia with LAB; Saccharomyces with LAB, especially Lactobacillus; Kazachstania with Acetobacter; Candida with Leuconostoc and Enterococcus; and Geotrichum with Pseudomonas and Enterococcus. For the selected associations, possible interaction mechanisms and implications for sensory identity, technological potential, and microbiological safety were discussed by integrating evidence from milk co-cultures, controlled model systems, and related fermented foods. Overall, this review provides a structured synthesis of yeast–bacterium associations in traditional fermented milks and identifies candidate consortia for future experimental validation. Full article