scholarly journals Hygienic conditions in Quick Service Restaurants during Covid-19 Pandemic: A Customers Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
Remon Samir Fouad ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Industry ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Specific Focus ◽  
Disastrous Effect ◽  
Quick Service ◽  
Customers Perspective ◽  
Hygienic Conditions ◽  
Paper Cups

COVID-19 crisis has hit many QSRs hard. There are numerous problems which are faced by these restaurants due to the high competition in the market. Nowadays, there is an even major problem to be faced in the food industry, which is Coronavirus pandemic. It has a disastrous effect on the food industry. There have been dramatic declines in sales for many Quick Service Restaurants. Some of them have permanently closed their doors. The aim of this research is to examine the hygiene and health conditions in quick service restaurants (QSRs) from customers perspective during Covid-19 Pandemic with a specific focus on international chains in Egypt. Moreover, examining QSR’ customers information about COVID-19. In order to achieve this aim, a questionnaire was designed and distributed to a convenience sample of QSR’s customers in order to illustrate to what extent QSR chains are maintain the proper hygienic and health conditions during pandemic. The results interestingly showed that QSRsgoers are moderately satisfied with the hygienic procedures that maintained in these chains. In this regard, it is recommended that QSR chains should struggle to increase the level of their customers satisfaction regarding this subject e.g., provision of disinfection materials, wearing and providing protective face masks, gloves, and disposable cutlery and paper cups.

scholarly journals Beyond the high: Mapping patterns of use and motives for use of cannabis as medicine

2021 ◽  
pp. 145507252098596
Author(s):  
Sinikka L. Kvamme ◽  
Michael M. Pedersen ◽  
Sagi Alagem-Iversen ◽  
Birgitte Thylstrup
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Mental Health Conditions ◽  
Patient Organisations ◽  
Patterns Of Use

Background: In Denmark the boundaries between cannabis as an illicit drug and licit medicine have shifted rapidly in recent years, affecting also policy. However, the vast majority of Danes, who use cannabis as medicine (CaM) continue to rely on the unregulated market for supply. This study explores patterns of use and motives for use of CaM in Denmark. Methods: An anonymous online survey was made available to a convenience sample of users of CaM from July 14, 2018 to November 1, 2018. Participants were recruited through patient organisations, social and public media, and the illegal open cannabis market. Results: Of the final sample ( n = 3,021), a majority were women (62.6%) and the mean age was 49 years. Most had no prescription for CaM (90.9%), a majority had no or limited previous experience with recreational cannabis use (63.9%), and had used CaM for two years or less (65.0%). The most common form of intake was oil (56.8%) followed by smoke (24.0%). CBD oil (65.0%) was used more than hash, pot or skunk (36.2%). Most frequent conditions treated were chronic pain (32.0%), sleep disturbances (27.5%), stress (23.7%), osteoarthritis (22.7%), anxiety (19.6%), and depression (19.6%). Overall, users experienced CaM to be effective in managing somatic and mental health conditions and reported relatively few side-effects. CBD oil only users were more likely to be women, older, have limited recreational experience and have initiated use recently. Conclusions: A new user group has emerged in Denmark that, for the most part, use illegally sourced CaM to treat a broad range of somatic and mental health conditions, often with experienced effect and relatively low level of side-effects. The prevalent use of low-potency CBD oil indicates an interest in effects beyond the high normally associated with cannabis use. More clinical research into the effects and side-effects of CaM is needed to draw the boundaries of the medical utility of cannabis.

scholarly journals Assessment of the impact of the European food industry on obesity and population nutrition

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Van Dam ◽  
O Allais ◽  
S Vandevijvere
Keyword(s):  
Food Environment ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Alcoholic Beverage ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Quick Service ◽  
Packaged Food ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Our food environment is becoming increasingly dominated by ultra-processed foods and big industry players often escape accountability through self-regulation and vague commitments. Methods Applying the 'Business Impact Assessment' (BIA-Obesity), as proposed by INFORMAS, the commitments and performance of the biggest companies among packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers, quick-service restaurants and supermarkets were assessed at a European level and in Belgium as a case study. The tool consists of six different domains comprising the corporate nutrition strategy, food formulation, labelling, marketing, accessibility of (un)healthy products and relationships with other organisations. Results Preliminary results for Belgian companies based on publicly available information show a median score of < 30% and a maximum score of < 60% for comprehensiveness, specificity and transparency of commitments. Hardly any commitments are in place to increase accessibility to healthier products. Even though several commitments are made regarding advertisement towards children below 12 years, on average 36% of sales is for products not-permitted to be marketed to children (WHO) and 71% for products that are ultra-processed (NOVA). Throughout Europe, companies selling ultra-processed foods on average generate 85% (77%-90%) of their sales from ultra-processed foods of which 50% (35%-74%) is not-permitted to be marketed to children. Conclusions Even though many commitments are made, they are not sufficiently specific or comprehensive and do not link well with performance. To reach the goals set out by the Sustainable Development goals and to improve the food environment it is crucial to ensure that commitments don't get lost in translation, but are strengthened and transformed into results. Key messages Food industry players make several nutrition and health related commitments, but these don’t always translate into performance. The BIA-tool clearly distinguishes between the comprehensiveness, specificity and transparency of nutrition related commitments made by the food industry.

scholarly journals When Problems Only Get Bigger: The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experience on Adult Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcia Novais ◽  
Teresa Henriques ◽  
Maria João Vidal-Alves ◽  
Teresa Magalhães
Keyword(s):  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Sexual Life ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Childhood Trauma Questionnaire ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that adverse childhood experiences negatively impact child development, with consequences throughout the lifespan. Some of these consequences include the exacerbation or onset of several pathologies and risk behaviors.Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 398 individuals aged 20 years or older from the Porto metropolitan area, with quotas, was collected. The evaluation was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire that included sociodemographic questions about exposure to adverse childhood experiences, a list of current health conditions, questions about risk behaviors, the AUDIT-C test, the Fagerström test and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–brief form. Variables were quantified to measure adverse childhood experiences, pathologies, and risk behaviors in adult individuals for comparison purposes.Results: Individuals with different forms of adverse childhood experiences present higher rates of smoking dependence, self-harm behaviors, victimization of/aggression toward intimate partners, early onset of sexual life, sexually transmitted infections, multiple sexual partners, abortions, anxiety, depression, diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, hypertension, and stroke. Different associations are analyzed and presented.Discussion and Conclusions: The results show that individuals with adverse childhood experiences have higher total scores for more risk behaviors and health conditions than individuals without traumatic backgrounds. These results are relevant for health purposes and indicate the need for further research to promote preventive and protective measures.

scholarly journals Microbiological quality of ice and ice machines used in food establishments

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamparsun Hampikyan ◽  
Enver Baris Bingol ◽  
Omer Cetin ◽  
Hilal Colak
Keyword(s):  
Food Industry ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽  
Psychrophilic Bacteria ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Quality Water ◽  
Ice Production ◽  
Hygienic Conditions

The ice used in the food industry has to be safe and the water used in ice production should have the quality of drinking water. The consumption of contaminated ice directly or indirectly may be a vehicle for transmission of pathogenic bacteria to humans producing outbreaks of gastrointestinal diseases. The objective of this study was to monitor the microbiological quality of ice, the water used in producing ice and the hygienic conditions of ice making machines in various food enterprises. Escherichia coli was detected in seven (6.7%) ice and 23 (21.9%) ice chest samples whereas E. coli was negative in all examined water samples. Psychrophilic bacteria were detected in 83 (79.0%) of 105 ice chest and in 68 (64.7%) of 105 ice samples, whereas Enterococci were detected only in 13 (12.4%) ice samples. Coliforms were detected in 13 (12.4%) water, 71 (67.6%) ice chest and 54 (51.4%) ice samples. In order to improve the microbiological quality of ice, the maintenance, cleaning and disinfecting of ice machines should be carried out effectively and periodically. Also, high quality water should be used for ice production.

scholarly journals A detailed mapping of the food industry in the European single market: similarities and differences in market structure across countries and sectors

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Van Dam ◽  
Benjamin Wood ◽  
Gary Sacks ◽  
Olivier Allais ◽  
Stefanie Vandevijvere
Keyword(s):  
Market Structure ◽  
Market Power ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Alcoholic Beverage ◽  
Single Market ◽  
Food Industries ◽  
European Single Market ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Quick Service ◽  
Packaged Food

Abstract Background Food environments are influenced by food industries (packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers; supermarkets and quick service restaurants). An important source of this influence is the significant market power held by a limited number of food companies. Market structure analysis, as part of a broader market power research agenda, has received limited attention from the public health community. The aim of this study was to analyse similarities and differences in market structure across countries and industries in the European Single Market. Methods The companies with the largest market share at the national level for each industry were identified from Euromonitor sales data in 2017/18. The market structure was assessed by the following metrics: the number of global brand owners with ≥1% market share per country, the number of companies unique for one European Single Market member state, the most sold packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage categories, the number of quick-service restaurants and supermarkets per 1000 inhabitants and market concentration by means of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) and the four firm concentration ratio (CR4). CR4-values > 40% and HHI-values > 2000 indicate concentrated markets with limited competition. Results The leading packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers and the most sold food and beverage product categories were similar across countries in Europe. The observed levels of concentration were however different. Average CR4-values ranged from 21 to 72% among packaged food product markets and 60 to 76% for non-alcoholic beverage product markets. Average CR4-values for quick service restaurants and supermarkets were 50 and 60%, respectively. Across European countries the same leading quick-service restaurants were identified, while this was not the case for supermarkets. Conclusions This study forms an important basis to understand key aspects of market structure of the European food industry, observing clear differences between food industries and European Single Market member states. This has potential implications for the implementation of food environment policies at different levels of jurisdiction.

scholarly journals Evaluation of quality of life in adults with chronic health conditions: the role of depressive symptoms

2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neusa Sica da Rocha ◽  
Marcelo P. Fleck
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Statistical Control ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Chronic Health

OBJECTIVE: The negative impact of depressive symptoms on quality of life has been the focus of increasing attention, yet this relation remains unstudied in samples from developing countries. The objective of this study was to determine whether the occurrence of depressive symptoms is associated with impaired quality of life and whether this association remains significant after adjustment for some variables. METHOD: A convenience sample was selected and the measures used were the WHOQOL-100, to assess quality of life, the Beck Depression Inventory, to screen for depressive symptoms, and the Economic Classification Criterion - Brazil, to evaluate socioeconomic status. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen healthy adults (community) and 122 adult patients (tertiary hospital) from Brazil were assessed. Depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with all the domains of quality of life, even after statistical control for age, socioeconomic status, and presence of chronic health conditions. Socioeconomic status was positively correlated with the social relationships and environmental domains of quality of life. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that depressive symptoms and socioeconomic status are important elements affecting the relationship between chronic health conditions and quality of life in Brazil.

Assessment Criteria and Approaches for Rapid Detection Methods To Be Used in the Food Industry

2014 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 670-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN WIEDMANN ◽  
SIYUN WANG ◽  
LAURIE POST ◽  
KENDRA NIGHTINGALE
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Pathogen Detection ◽  
Assessment Criteria ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Specific Focus

The number of commercially available kits and methods for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens continues to increase at a considerable pace, and the diversity of methods and assay formats is reaching a point where it is very difficult even for experts to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of different methods and to decide which methods to choose for a certain testing need. Although a number of documents outline quantitative criteria that can be used to evaluate different detection methods (e.g., exclusivity and inclusivity), a diversity of criteria is typically used by industry to select specific methods that are used for pathogen detection. This article is intended to provide an overall outline of criteria that the food industry can use to evaluate new rapid detection methods, with a specific focus on nucleic acid–based detection methods.

scholarly journals Faecal contamination and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in street-vended chili sauces in Mexico and its public health relevance

2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. ESTRADA-GARCIA ◽  
J. F. CERNA ◽  
M. R. THOMPSON ◽  
C. LOPEZ-SAUCEDO
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Health Relevance ◽  
Hygienic Conditions

The street-vended food industry provides employment and cheap ready-to-eat meals to a large proportion of the population in developing countries like Mexico, yet little is known about its role in the transmission of food borne diseases (FBD). Because of its wide consumption, street-vended chili sauces in Mexico are potential vehicles of FBD. An observational study was performed in Mexico City collecting 43 street-vended chili sauces. These sauces were prepared under poor hygienic conditions of handling and selling. Consumers add 4–8 ml of chili sauce per taco, ingest 2–5 tacos per meal and on average, 50 consumers frequent a stall per day. Seventeen (40%) samples were faecally contaminated and 2(5%) sauces harboured sufficient enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli to cause disease. We estimate that the consumption of only one of these chili sauces could result in ETEC disease in at least 21000 consumers per year, making them important potential vehicles of FBD.

Mental health and its correlates: perspectives from two countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-112
Author(s):  
H.T. Xie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Mental Health Recovery ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Usa

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe and compare the attributes of community dwelling adults with serious mental health illnesses in the USA and Singapore in terms of perception of mental health recovery and its correlates, namely, strengths self-efficacy, resourcefulness and stigma experience. Design/methodology/approach A convenience sample of 100 participants from each country participated in the study by completing self-administered questionnaires. Findings The results showed high overall scores in mental health recovery, strengths self-efficacy and resourcefulness in both countries with only a statistically significant difference between both countries in mental health recovery. Participants in both countries also experienced stigma. Research limitations/implications The study not only enhanced the focus on mental health and its correlates but also suggested the need for efforts to de-stigmatize mental health conditions which could impact on mental health recovery. Originality/value This paper is original and adds on to the knowledge base on mental health recovery and its correlates through the unique opportunity to review information from both countries.

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