Mycotoxins, the unknowns: trends in food availability and consumer perceptions

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 813-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ragona
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Dietary Exposure ◽  
Consumer Perceptions ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Western Africa ◽  
Food Commodities ◽  
Increasing Trends ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High

Food consumption habits have been changing rapidly over the last decades, and the impact of these changes on the levels of dietary exposure to mycotoxins could be relevant. In this paper, trends in availability of specific foods that are most affected by mycotoxins were analysed, and comparisons were made among different world regions. The food commodities that have been registering very high availability levels and annual increases over the last 20 years are groundnuts and nuts in Africa and Asia, and maize in Africa, which represent an important part of the diets in those regions. Other foods, which are regularly consumed only by subgroups of populations, show increasing trends in many high- or medium-income regions. Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Australia & New Zealand, Western Africa and Eastern Asia are the regions experiencing the most dynamic changes in availability for selected foods. As individual food consumption is determined, among others, by personal risk perceptions, a literature review on the level and drivers of awareness and perception of mycotoxin risks was conducted. The scarce evidence found show a very low level of awareness and a generally moderate perception of risks derived from mycotoxin exposure, lower than risk perceptions associated with other foodborne hazards. Among the determinants of perceived risks, the education level emerges as being inversely related to the risk perception. More research is needed on these aspects, in order to better inform risk management and communication strategies related to mycotoxins.

scholarly journals The Impact of Household Preparations on the Residues of Pesticides in Selected Agricultural Food Commodities Available in India

1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 725-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atmakuru Ramesh ◽  
Muthukrishnan Balasubramanian
Keyword(s):  
Organophosphorus Pesticides ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Green Beans ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Organonitrogen Pesticides ◽  
Food Commodities ◽  
Chennai City ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High

Abstract Gas chromatographic multiresidue methods for simultaneous determination of organophosphorus, organochlorine, and organonitrogen pesticides were used to study the exposure of the Indian population to pesticide contamination at their actual dietary intakes. Selected agricultural commodities—5 kinds of vegetables (tomato, potato, okra, cabbage, and green beans), 6 kinds of cereals and pulses (rice, maize, wheat, red gram, black gram, and green gram), and 6 kinds of fruits (mango, orange, guava, banana, apple, and grapes)—readily available in Chennai City local markets—were studied for this purpose. Samples were fortified with known concentrations of various pesticides and subjected to household preparation methods commonly used in India. The impact of household preparation is very high, resulting in 65–95% decontamination of pesticides at different stages. Of 512 raw market samples analyzed, the organo chlorine and organophosphorus pesticides present in 12 samples were removed during household preparations, resulting in residues well below the toxicologically acceptable limits.

Klára Buzássyová V Kontexte Sémantizácie Slovenskej Lexiky Cudzincom

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 616-625
Author(s):  
Jana Pekarovičová
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Foreign Students ◽  
Summer School ◽  
European Language ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Communication Needs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Slovak Language

Abstract This paper deals with the characteristics of the scientific research of the renowned Slovak linguist Klára Buzássyová who – as a lecturer at the Studia Academica Slovaca summer school of Slovak language and culture – presented to foreign students the specifics of Slovak lexis and their function in speech within the context of intraand interlingual relationships. In her lectures, she helped students to see Slovak as a developped and modern Central European language which has its own genetic and typological properties and as a language capable of reacting to dynamic changes emerging from the communication needs of language users while respecting current trends in European language policy. Klára Buzássyová presented students with the latest results of her linguistic research and discussed the issues regarding the dynamics of vocabulary with an emphasis on the methods of wordformation, motivation, and the impact on the semantic and stylistic value of lexical units. Her papers, published in the Studia Academica Slovaca proceedings from 1980 to 2001 presented her scientific orientation and became an inspiration for the linguistic and didactic conception of Slovak as a foreign language in the context of the development of Slovak studies in Slovakia as well as abroad.

1033 REDUCING NITROGEN FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS BY BALANCING THE NITROGEN SULFUR RATIO

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 576d-576
Author(s):  
Ellen T. Paparozzi
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Contamination ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Nutrient Balance ◽  
Ornamental Plants ◽  
Consumer Perceptions ◽  
Consumer Acceptance ◽  
Statistical Techniques ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Future Plans

Fertilizer particularly nitrogen is part of the concern about groundwater contamination. Many floricultural and ornamental plants do not need the high rates of nitrogen that are typically recommended. However, whenever one alters the quantity of a given nutrient the overall nutrient balance, as well as other physiological processes, changes. A brief overview of our research on poinsettias, roses, and chrysanthemums will be presented. Suggested ratios, critical S levels and nutrient problems associated with incorrect balances will be shared. Limitations due to statistical methods and the impact nutrient balance has on certain plant processes such as flowering and coloring and thus, consumer acceptance will be summarized. Future plans in this area may focus on the need for new statistical techniques, nutrient acquisition by roots and consumer perceptions of plant quality.

scholarly journals Do Prospective Teachers Care About PISA Studies? A Pilot Study among University Students in Germany

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Ioannidou ◽  
Despoina Georgiou ◽  
Andreas Obersteiner ◽  
Nilufer Deniz Bas ◽  
Christine Mieslinger
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
International Student ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
International Student Assessment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High ◽  
Expected Outcomes

The results of international comparison studies such as the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) have initiated intense discussions about educational reforms in Germany. Although in-service and pre-service teachers are an essential part of such reforms, little is known about their attitudes towards PISA studies. The present study aims to fill this gap through the investigation of pre-service teachers’ awareness, interest, perception, and attitudes towards PISA. A questionnaire was used to survey a sample of 107 university students who were participating in a teacher education program. The results reveal that 100% of the participants are aware of PISA. Nearly 69% of the participants think that the impact of PISA is rather high or very high, while 41% of them believe that PISA results are reliable. Accordingly, half of the participants seem to be interested in PISA results for their country. The present study discusses these findings in the light of the expected outcomes as proposed in standards for teacher education.

FAO/WHO GIFT: increasing the availability, harmonization and use of individual quantitative food consumption data worldwide

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Ferreira de Sousa ◽  
A Balcerzak ◽  
T Bevere ◽  
V Padula de Quadros
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Dietary Exposure ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Consumption Data ◽  
Food Consumption Data

Abstract Introduction Understanding the various eating habits of different population groups, according to the geographical area, is critical to develop evidence-based policies for nutrition and food safety. The FAO/WHO Global Individual Food consumption data Tool (FAO/WHO GIFT) is a novel open-access online platform, hosted by FAO and supported by WHO, providing access to harmonized individual quantitative food consumption (IQFC) data, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods FAO/WHO GIFT disseminates IQFC data as ready-to-use food-based indicators in the form of infographics, and as microdata. The infographics intend to facilitate the use of these data by policy makers, providing an overview of key data according to population segments and food groups. The microdata is publicly available for download, and is intended for users that would like to do further analysis of the data. Results FAO/WHO GIFT is a growing repository. By June 2020, 14 datasets were available for dissemination and download, and an additional 44 datasets will be made available by 2022. FAO/WHO GIFT also provides an inventory of existing IQFC data worldwide, which currently contains detailed information on 268 surveys conducted in 105 countries. Conclusions FAO/WHO GIFT collates, harmonizes and disseminates IQFC data collected in different countries. This harmonization is aimed at enhancing the consistency and reliability of nutrient intake and dietary exposure assessments globally. FAO/WHO GIFT is developed in synergy with other global initiatives aimed at increasing the quality, availability and use of IQFC data in LMICs to enable evidence-based policy-making for better nutrition and food safety.

scholarly journals A multilevel carbon and water footprint dataset of food commodities

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tashina Petersson ◽  
Luca Secondi ◽  
Andrea Magnani ◽  
Marta Antonelli ◽  
Katarzyna Dembska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Footprint ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Dietary Shifts ◽  
Food Commodities ◽  
The Impact

AbstractInforming and engaging citizens to adopt sustainable diets is a key strategy for reducing global environmental impacts of the agricultural and food sectors. In this respect, the first requisite to support citizens and actors of the food sector is to provide them a publicly available, reliable and ready to use synthesis of environmental pressures associated to food commodities. Here we introduce the SU-EATABLE LIFE database, a multilevel database of carbon (CF) and water (WF) footprint values of food commodities, based on a standardized methodology to extract information and assign optimal footprint values and uncertainties to food items, starting from peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. The database and its innovative methodological framework for uncertainty treatment and data quality assurance provides a solid basis for evaluating the impact of dietary shifts on global environmental policies, including climate mitigation through greenhouse gas emission reductions. The database ensures repeatability and further expansion, providing a reliable science-based tool for managers and researcher in the food sector.

scholarly journals Quit Experiences among Primary Care Patients Enrolled in a Smoking Cessation Pilot RCT Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1011
Author(s):  
Andrea A. Joyce ◽  
Grace M. Styklunas ◽  
Nancy A. Rigotti ◽  
Jordan M. Neil ◽  
Elyse R. Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Primary Care Patients ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US adults’ smoking and quitting behaviors is unclear. We explored the impact of COVID-19 on smoking behaviors, risk perceptions, and reactions to text messages during a statewide stay-at-home advisory among primary care patients who were trying to quit. From May–June 2020, we interviewed smokers enrolled in a 12-week, pilot cessation trial providing text messaging and mailed nicotine replacement medication (NCT04020718). Twenty-two individuals (82% white, mean age 55 years), representing 88% of trial participants during the stay-at-home advisory, completed exit interviews; four (18%) of them reported abstinence. Interviews were thematically analyzed by two coders. COVID-19-induced environmental changes had mixed effects, facilitating quitting for some and impeding quitting for others. While stress increased for many, those who quit found ways to cope with stress. Generally, participants felt at risk for COVID-19 complications but not at increased risk of becoming infected. Reactions to COVID-19 and quitting behaviors differed across age groups, older participants reported difficulties coping with isolation (e.g., feeling disappointed when a text message came from the study and not a live person). Findings suggest that cessation interventions addressing stress and boredom are needed during COVID-19, while smokers experiencing isolation may benefit from live-person supports.

scholarly journals Social Networks, Trust, and Disaster-Risk Perceptions of Rural Residents in a Multi-Disaster Environment: Evidence from Sichuan, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaijing Xue ◽  
Shili Guo ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Shaoquan Liu ◽  
Dingde Xu
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Mountainous Areas ◽  
Rural Residents ◽  
Response Efficacy ◽  
The Impact

Individual perception of disaster risk is not only the product of individual factors, but also the product of social interactions. However, few studies have empirically explored the correlations between rural residents’ flat social networks, trust in pyramidal channels, and disaster-risk perceptions. Taking Sichuan Province—a typical disaster-prone province in China—as an example and using data from 327 rural households in mountainous areas threatened by multiple disasters, this paper measured the level of participants’ disaster-risk perception in the four dimensions of possibility, threat, self-efficacy, and response efficacy. Then, the ordinary least squares method was applied to probe the correlations between social networks, trust, and residents’ disaster-risk perception. The results revealed four main findings. (1) Compared with scores relating to comprehensive disaster-risk perception, participants had lower perception scores relating to possibility and threat, and higher perception scores relating to self-efficacy and response efficacy. (2) The carrier characteristics of their social networks significantly affected rural residents’ perceived levels of disaster risk, while the background characteristics did not. (3) Different dimensions of trust had distinct effects on rural residents’ disaster-risk perceptions. (4) Compared with social network variables, trust was more closely related to the perceived level of disaster risks, which was especially reflected in the impact on self-efficacy, response efficacy, and comprehensive perception. The findings of this study deepen understanding of the relationship between social networks, trust, and disaster-risk perceptions of rural residents in mountainous areas threatened by multiple disasters, providing enlightenment for building resilient disaster-prevention systems in the community.

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