Handheld Multispectral Fluorescence Imaging System to Detect and Disinfect Surface Contamination

Contamination inspection is an ongoing concern for food distributors, restaurant owners, caterers, and others who handle food. Food contamination must be prevented, and zero tolerance legal requirements and damage to the reputation of institutions or restaurants can be very costly. This paper introduces a new handheld fluorescence-based imaging system that can rapidly detect, disinfect, and document invisible organic residues and biofilms which may host pathogens. The contamination, sanitization inspection, and disinfection (CSI-D) system uses light at two fluorescence excitation wavelengths, ultraviolet C (UVC) at 275 nm and violet at 405 nm, for the detection of organic residues, including saliva and respiratory droplets. The 275 nm light is also utilized to disinfect pathogens commonly found within the contaminated residues. Efficacy testing of the neutralizing effects of the ultraviolet light was conducted for Aspergillus fumigatus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the influenza A virus (a fungus, a bacterium, and a virus, respectively, each commonly found in saliva and respiratory droplets). After the exposure to UVC light from the CSI-D, all three pathogens experienced deactivation (> 99.99%) in under ten seconds. Up to five-log reductions have also been shown within 10 s of UVC irradiation from the CSI-D system.

ALIMENTAL FOOD CONSUMPTION AMONG URBAN HOUSEHOLDS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF GHANA

In developing countries, problems such as malnutrition and food insecurity are shifting from rural to urban areas because of rapid urbanization. However, regional variations in alimental food consumption within urban settings have often been ignored. Using survey data, our study examines regional patterns of expenditure on fresh vegetables, fruits, and peanut products in urban households of Ghana. After accounting for socioeconomic and demographic factors, food expenditure on fresh vegetables and peanut products and income elasticity vary significantly across major cities. Food distributors may adjust their marketing strategies, while policy makers should pay attention to possible disparities in urban areas.

The effect of sales promotions on consumers’ organic food response

Purpose Owing to the wave of consumers concern about food quality, the organic food market has grown rapidly. However, how organic food promotions outweigh the negative impacts of high prices has become a pressing issue scholars need to discuss. Hence, with the value perspective as the basis, the purpose of this paper is to attempt to understand whether or not organic food consumers have preferences for specific promotional programs as opposed to other promotional programs. Design/methodology/approach The two-stage study design was adopted to explore these issues. In the first stage, 225 copies of promotional program documents were collected, and middle-ranking and high-ranking supervisors from seven organic food distributors were interviewed. According to the value perspective, the promotional programs were divided into four types: discount category, member category, free giveaway category, and limited time offer category, which were used to develop the questionnaire questions. In the second stage, 1,017 copies of valid questionnaires were recovered. Findings The logistic regression analysis was adopted to discuss the impact of the various promotional program actions on consumers’ choices. The empirical results indicate that the consumers preferred the programs in the discount category and the free giveaway category, while the programs in the member category and limited time offer category reduced the purchase intention. Originality/value The stringent qualitative and quantitative design in this study shall serve as a reference for follow-up research. The important implications of the operators’ promotion practices are covered in the discussion.

Gaps and barriers along the North Carolina agri-food value chain

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to formulate an exhaustive list of the issues, gaps, and barriers at each level of the agri-food value chain in North Carolina (NC), and second, to identify the issues of greatest importance to its members. Design/methodology/approach – This research employed the Delphi technique in two stages of input. The first round of input was designed to create a comprehensive list of issues for each of nine “stages” of the agri-food value chain. In round two, the issues were prioritized. Findings – The top ten responses of each stage were aggregated into themes that represent the most critical issues identified by respondents: connectedness within the value chain, access to markets and marketing, affordability/availability of food and food distribution, farm profitability, societal awareness, and education about healthy, local food, and supporting institutions. Originality/value – The findings could be used by practitioners to inspire innovation in food-related products, programs, processes, organization, and marketing. The findings can help farmers, institutions, food distributors, policy makers, and other members of the agri-food value chain to make decisions about food distribution and access in NC and in other states facing similar issues and circumstances. The findings of this research also have further reaching implications, such as the connectivity of members along the agri-food value chain, the impact of a strong agri-food value chain on agritourism and the potential value of state marketing initiatives.

Corporate philanthropy and channel impact in food security

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss how corporate philanthropy influences channel behaviour in the context of food security. Design/methodology/approach – The authors chose an exploratory case-study design to guide the investigation, based on Yin’s (1994) argument that case studies are the preferred strategy when “how” or “why” questions are being posed, and when the focus is on a modern phenomenon within a real-life context. A survey study was focused on formal interviews onsite where product development and marketing occurred. Findings – It is known that the concepts of power and dependency are central to channel relationships. In food distribution, it has been argued that food distributors hold more power than food processors due to end-user proximity (Ruyter et al., 1996). For corporate altruism acts to have an impact when generated by functions other than distribution and retailing, one can only argue that channel members would require a significant number of antecedents to be successful. In Campbell’s case, as shown in Table I, many became enabling to a successful outcome while others arguably made the project more challenging. Research limitations/implications – With food security, the authors would need to consider other relationships within the marketing channel. The macro-environment of the marketing channel could also be incorporated in a future study. This study also does not compare other campaigns related to a similar product. In fact, it is believed that Nourish is unique in that it is the first ready-to-eat, ready-to-ship food product which was developed with the intent to serve the greater good. Practical implications – Philanthropic acts by one company can influence other channel members when intent is driven by clear altruistic and politically strategic motives, and reflects individualistic and paternalistic attitudes. Campbell’s was paternalistic but attempted to serve many causes at once. Committing to only one cause in the future may help consolidate resources and corporate energy around one single cause. Social implications – Corporate philanthropy describes the action when a corporation voluntarily donates a portion of its resources to a societal cause. Nourish’s case is different in that it is not just a linear transactional gift between a corporation and an organization actively involved in the cause. The project relies on the active participation of other channel members, including consumers, to support the campaign led by Campbell’s. It was a form of an extendable altruistic venture which allowed all channel members to contribute to the cause. Originality/value – Food processors that want to address the issue of food security or any other societal causes, domestically or abroad, will not cease. The challenge for food processors lies in the functional nature of their role within marketing channels. Since they do not transact with consumers directly, they depend on distributors and retailers to relay their philanthropic convictions to consumers. Based on the Nourish case, this study set out a series of antecedents which would support similar initiatives.

Enthusiastically consuming organic food

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to integrate food-related lifestyle (FRL) approaches and perspectives from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate the profiles of consumers who purchase organic food online and to analyze differences in the related behaviors of consumers with different FRLs. Design/methodology/approach – A link to a web site explaining the content and presenting an online questionnaire was provided through the e-newsletters of five well-known Taiwanese organic food distributors. Respondents were given NT$50 e-gift coupons after they had completed the questionnaire. A total of 950 questionnaires were distributed, and 753 valid samples were obtained. Findings – Attitudes toward purchasing organic food online had the greatest positive influence on purchase intentions, followed by cognitive control and, finally, subjective norms. Populations with different FRLs were divided into traditional food, uninvolved food, and enthusiastic food shoppers, and these all showed significant differences with respect to the TPB model, their online organic food purchasing profiles, and demographic variables. Originality/value – Organic food businesses draw on various features of the internet to solve issues such as the difficulty of storing and transporting perishable food items. However, few studies have combined theories of online consumer behavior with food characteristics and psychographic approaches to analyze the overall consumer profiles of purchasers of organic food. The author believes that the conclusions of this study may be used by the food industry to analyze consumer demand, draw inferences about organic food-related habits in consumers’ everyday lives, and design more appropriate internet marketing strategies.

Evaluating Six Sigma methodology to improve logistical measures of food distribution SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of the Six Sigma methodology as a systematic business strategy and quality initiative to improve the critical logistical measures within small-to-medium-sized food distributors. Design/methodology/approach – The first stage was the conducting of structured questionnaires to verify the applicability in terms of capability, resources and culture in the targeted industry. The second stage was the implementation of two industrial case studies to investigate the impacts of Six Sigma on logistical measures. Findings – It was found that Six Sigma is applicable and beneficial in small-to-medium-sized food distributors. It was also found that required training, personal characteristics of managers, size of the organisation, education level and workplace of the employees are the most effective elements to adopt Six Sigma for these organisations. Research limitations/implications – Cultural factors including high level of secrecy in information exchange, ambiguity and lack of knowledge, sampling population and requirement of ISO9000 were found as key issues in implications of this research programme. Practical implications – Six Sigma programme can be used as a problem solving practice, a performance measurement tool and a business strategy in small food distributors through more simplified approach to improve the ultimate food supply chain. Originality/value – This research paper studies the application of Six Sigma in food logistics SME sector by having integrated research approach, and also provides a practical scientific and rigorous quality and profitability improvement methodology for smaller food distribution organisations with limited resources.

Gli standard privati di sicurezza alimentare: un modello di teoria dei contratti per l'analisi degli aspetti organizzativi e promozionali

In recent years, large food distributors poured considerable effort in the definition of private standards of food safety for their products. Despite these efforts, medium and large retailers have yet to begin advertising to their consumers the adoption of such standards and, in doing so, do not actively pursue a diversification strategy for their products. This behavior seems paradoxical as large retailers would benefit from product differentiation. This article focuses on the role of standards in the coordination of the supply channels and proposes a theoretical model that gives an economic motivation to the current behavior of large retailers. The first objective of this study is to demonstrate how the adoption of standards is a rational choice for large retailers, even in the case in which consumers are not willing to pay for food safety. The reason is that standards can also be used to solve information asymmetry problems and organize the supply chain. Secondly, the theoretical model of contracts suggests that, investments related to the promotion of standards to the consumers, might, under certain conditions, undermine the profits of the large distribution.