Foods最新文献

{"title":"Consumer Perceptions and Purchase Behavior Towards Plant-Based Eggs: A Vignette Experiment.","authors":"Da Eun Kim, Brenna Ellison","doi":"10.3390/foods14101742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101742","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The plant-based eggs category is growing rapidly; however, there is limited research on consumer behavior towards plant-based eggs. We explore consumer perceptions and investigate factors affecting the likelihood of purchase for plant-based eggs by using experimental vignettes. Using data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. consumers, we find that traditional eggs were rated more favorably than plant-based eggs, though plant-based eggs were perceived more favorably on environmental impact and animal welfare for food-related attributes and on total fat and cholesterol for nutrition components. Additionally, consumers were more likely to purchase plant-based eggs at lower prices and when served as an ingredient to a main dish (pancakes) rather than on their own (scrambled eggs).</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unexpected Cow's Milk Proteins in a \"Vegan\" Easter Egg as a Cause of Anaphylaxis.","authors":"Corinne Bani, Patrizia Restani, Salvatore Tripodi, Francesca Mercogliano, Francesca Colombo, Chiara Di Lorenzo","doi":"10.3390/foods14101737","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101737","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cow's milk is the most frequent cause of food allergies in children, with caseins and β-lactoglobulin being considered the main allergens. Concerningly, numerous international agencies have highlighted a growing risk of allergic reactions in milk-allergic individuals after the consumption of products labelled as \"vegan\".</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We describe the case of a 3.5-year-old boy with a history of a food allergy to milk who complained of anaphylactic clinical symptoms after eating a vegan Easter egg. The aim of this study was to confirm the cause of the clinical symptoms, searching for the possible presence of milk proteins in the vegan chocolate.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An experimental approach based on electrophoretic (SDS-PAGE) and immunoenzymatic techniques (ELISA) was applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SDS-PAGE indicated the presence of milk proteins, which was confirmed and quantified via ELISA (3034 ± 115 mg/kg).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The data obtained demonstrate that the severe clinical symptoms were due to the unexpected presence of milk proteins in a vegan product, underlining the critical need for rigorous allergen quality control throughout the food industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of Agave Bagasse and <i>Lactococcus lactis</i> in Sourdough Production: Drying Effects on Bioactive Compounds.","authors":"Paola Itzel Bautista-Espinoza, Aniello Falciano, Rosalía Reynoso-Camacho, Everardo Mares-Mares, Silvia Lorena Amaya-Llamo, Carlos Regalado-González, Prospero Di Pierro","doi":"10.3390/foods14101748","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101748","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The wastage of by-products generated in the food industry is an issue that should be addressed by determining a second use for these products, with sourdough fermentation being the most popular technology used. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of adding agave bagasse (AB) and <i>Lactococcus lactis</i> NRRL B-50307 to sourdough that was later used in the formulation of bread rolls. Five treatments were tested: B1: wheat flour; BI2: wheat flour inoculated with <i>L. lactis</i> (1 × 10⁶ CFU/mL); C10: wheat flour + AB (10% <i>w</i>/<i>w</i>); T5: 5% AB + wheat flour inoculated with <i>L. lactis</i> (1 × 10⁶ CFU/mL); and T10: 10% AB + wheat flour inoculated with <i>L. lactis</i> (1 × 10⁶ CFU/mL). Sourdoughs were back-slopped daily for 6 days, dried in a climatic chamber, reactivated, and left to ferment for 24 h. Samples of each treatment of dried and reactivated sourdough were collected and tests for antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS), total amino acid content (OPA), and phenolic and flavonoid content were performed. Phenolic compounds and flavonoids decreased when the sourdough was dried (1.5 to 2.0 mg/g of quercetin); however, an increase in bioactive compounds was observed after reactivation, with the treatments with AB recording the highest values (2.5 mg/g). The DPPH and ABTS tests showed that T10 had the highest activity (25% and 23%, respectively). The OPA results showed an increment in amino acid content (2.0 mg lysine/g), indicating proteolysis. The fermentation curves showed that leavening time was achieved after 600 min of fermentation. AB addition did not affect the viscosity of the sourdough rolls. Sourdough with added AB and <i>L. lactis</i> provided a novel approach to achieve more sustainable baked goods. The drying process decreased the sourdough's bioactive compounds, which were recovered after reactivation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Power Ultrasound- and Organic Acid-Based Hurdle Technology to Reduce <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> and <i>Salmonella enterica</i> on Whole Apples and Peaches.","authors":"Bashayer A Khouja, Hina Mathias, Mayura Joshi, Megan L Fay, Supriya Korade, Catherine W Y Wong, Diana S Stewart, Xinyi Zhou, Wei Zhang, Joelle K Salazar","doi":"10.3390/foods14101744","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101744","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fresh produce, such as peaches and apples, are agricultural commodities, making them susceptible to contamination by foodborne pathogens such as <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> and <i>Salmonella enterica</i>. Traditional methods, such as chlorine washes, have limitations related to antimicrobial efficacy, prompting interest in alternative techniques, such as power ultrasound. This study evaluated the use of power ultrasound, alone and combined with organic acids (citric, lactic, and malic), to reduce pathogen populations on whole apples and peaches. Pathogen cocktails of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> and <i>S. enterica</i> were spot-inoculated on fruit surfaces at an initial population level of 8-9 log CFU/fruit. The fruits were then submerged in water or citric, malic, or lactic acid at concentrations of 1%, 2%, or 5% alone or with power ultrasound treatment at 40 kHz for 2, 5, or 10 min. Results revealed that treatment conditions on apples exhibited significantly greater pathogen reduction than on peaches, likely due to the smoother surface topology on apples compared to the rougher, trichome-covered peach surfaces. Between the two pathogens, <i>L. monocytogenes</i> exhibited significantly greater resistance to treatments, resulting in maximum reductions of approximately 4 log CFU/fruit. In contrast, treatments were more effective against <i>S. enterica,</i> as lactic acid alone reduced <i>S. enterica</i> populations by >6 log CFU/fruit. Malic acid was the second-most effective organic acid against <i>S. enterica, leading to >4 log CFU/fruit reduction.</i> Synergistic antimicrobial effects were observed when organic acids were used in combination with power ultrasound. For instance, an additional reduction of 2-3 log CFU/fruit was achieved for <i>S. enterica</i> compared to the use of organic acid treatments alone. These findings support the use of organic acid and power ultrasound in hurdle as an effective strategy to mitigate foodborne pathogen risks on whole fruits such as apples and peaches. Further research would be helpful to optimize and validate such hurdle treatments for inactivating a broader spectrum of microbial pathogens on diverse produce surfaces.</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Regulation of the NF-κB p65 and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathways by Fucoxanthin in Human THP-1 Monocyte Macrophages Under a Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation Model.","authors":"Linyi Zhang, Tong Li, Jingyi Liu, Jiyan Sun, Jinkun Niu, Dandan Ren, Yichao Ma, Yunhai He, Shu Liu, Qiukuan Wang","doi":"10.3390/foods14101746","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101746","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fucoxanthin (Fx), a natural carotenoid predominantly found in brown algae and certain microalgae, has garnered significant attention in recent years for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. As inflammation and oxidative stress represent fundamental physiological responses that play pivotal roles in disease pathogenesis, their intricate interplay has become a focus of scientific investigation. This study employed an LPS-induced THP-1 cell inflammation model to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of fucoxanthin and its interaction with oxidative stress pathways. Our findings demonstrate that fucoxanthin effectively suppresses the LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators, including IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α, in THP-1 cells. Mechanistically, this effect is achieved through the inhibition of IκB-α phosphorylation, thereby blocking the activation of the NF-κB p65 signaling pathway. Concurrently, fucoxanthin exhibits robust antioxidant activity, as evidenced by enhanced catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities coupled with reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) production. Furthermore, fucoxanthin activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway, leading to upregulated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and the consequent attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. These results collectively indicate that fucoxanthin exerts dual protective effects through anti-inflammatory action mediated by NF-κB pathway inhibition and antioxidant activity via Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation. The observed crosstalk between these pathways suggests that fucoxanthin's therapeutic potential stems from its ability to simultaneously modulate interconnected inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. Our study provides compelling evidence that fucoxanthin's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities are functionally interrelated, with the Nrf2 signaling pathway serving as a critical node in this protective mechanism against LPS-induced cellular damage.</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic and Preventive Potential of Plant-Derived Antioxidant Nutraceuticals.","authors":"Antia G Pereira, Javier Echave, Ana O S Jorge, Rafael Nogueira-Marques, Ezgi Nur Yuksek, Paula Barciela, Ana Perez-Vazquez, Franklin Chamorro, Maria B P P Oliveira, Maria Carpena, Miguel A Prieto","doi":"10.3390/foods14101749","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101749","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oxidative stress and its relation to the onset of several chronic diseases have been increasingly highlighted in recent years. In parallel, there has been an increasing interest in the antioxidant properties of phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are products of plant secondary metabolism, including structural polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, pigments (chlorophylls, carotenoids, and anthocyanins), or phenolic compounds. Phytochemicals can be obtained from lower and higher plants, their fruits, and even from macro- or microalgae. Their diverse structural features are linked to different beneficial effects through various molecular mechanisms, contributing to disease prevention. Beyond antioxidant activity, many phytochemicals also display anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and neuroprotective effects, which can be intertwined. Beyond these, other natural antioxidants can also be obtained from animal, fungal, and bacterial sources. Thus, a wide range of antioxidants have the potential to be used as nutraceuticals with chemopreventive effects on the onset of various diseases related to antioxidant stress. Given their enormous structural and sourcing diversity, the present work provides an updated insight into the therapeutic and preventive potential of plant-derived antioxidants and nutraceuticals.</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and Functional Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies for Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype A.","authors":"Jingmei Kang, Qingyu Lv, Wenhua Huang, Hua Jiang, Shan Gao, Qian Li, Decong Kong, Guofen Zhao, Peng Liu, Yongqiang Jiang","doi":"10.3390/foods14101743","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101743","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A), the most toxic of the seven serotypes produced by Clostridium botulinum, poses significant public health risks because of its involvement in foodborne outbreaks and potential use in bioterrorism. In this study, we developed high-affinity monoclonal antibodies for BoNT/A detection using single-cell fluorescence-activated cell sorting and nested PCR. The optimized antibody pair demonstrated exceptional sensitivity, detecting recombinant BoNT/A at concentrations as low as 0.02 ng/mL with a linear range of 0.02-10 ng/mL, while maintaining high specificity against BoNT/B, E, and F. Biolayer interferometry confirmed superior binding kinetics, and a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) demonstrated consistent performance in complex food matrices, including ham sausage and soybean paste. These rabbit-derived monoclonal antibodies enable ultrasensitive detection of BoNT/A across diverse food matrices, offering a powerful tool for food safety monitoring and biosecurity.</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Review of Reducing Cadmium Pollution in the Rice-Soil System in China.","authors":"Meiyan Guan, Yuchun Xia, Weixing Zhang, Mingxue Chen, Zhenzhen Cao","doi":"10.3390/foods14101747","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101747","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cadmium (Cd) pollution in paddy soils causes a great threat to safe rice production in China. In this review, we summarized the key advances in the research of Cd pollution sources and statuses in Chinese soil and rice, explore the mechanisms of Cd transformation in the rice-soil system, discuss the agronomic strategies for minimizing Cd accumulation in rice grains, and highlight advancements in developing rice cultivars with low Cd accumulation. Anthropogenic activity is a main source of Cd in farmland. Cd in soil solutions primarily enters rice roots through a symplastic pathway facilitated by transporters like OsNRAMP5, OsIRT1, and OsCd1, among which OsNRAMP5 is identified as the primary contributor. Subsequently, Cd translocation is from roots to grains through the xylem and phloem, regulated by transporters such as OsHMA2, OsLCT1, and OsZIP7. Meanwhile, Cd sequestration in vacuoles controlled by OsHMA3 plays a crucial role in regulating Cd mobility during its translocation. Cd accumulation in rice was limited by the available Cd concentration in soil solutions, Cd uptake, and translocation in rice plants. Conventional agronomic methods aimed at reducing grain Cd in rice by suppressing Cd bio-availability without decreasing soil Cd content have been proven limited in the remediation of Cd-polluted soil. In recent years, based on the mechanisms of Cd absorption and translocation in rice, researchers have screened and developed low-Cd-accumulation rice varieties using molecular breeding techniques. Among them, some new cultivars derived from the null mutants of <i>OsNRAMP5</i> have demonstrated a more than 93% decrease in grain Cd accumulation and can be used for applications in the next years. Therefore, the issue of Cd contamination in the rice of China may be fully resolved within a few years.</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutritional and Chemical Characterization of Red and Purple Potatoes Peels: A Polyphenol-Rich By-Product.","authors":"Debora Dessì, Giacomo Fais, Giorgia Sarais","doi":"10.3390/foods14101740","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101740","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Potato peel represents a major by-product of the potato-processing industry and a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. This study investigates the biochemical and nutritional composition of peels from five purple and two red potato cultivars, with particular attention to their phytochemical profiles and antioxidant properties. Total phenolic content, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids were quantified using UV-visible spectrophotometry. The phytochemical composition was further characterized via High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with a Diode-Array Detector (HPLC-DAD). Antioxidant and radical-scavenging capacities of the extracts were assessed through Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Significant variability was observed across cultivars for all measured parameters. While all samples were rich in carbohydrates and proteins, they shared a common phenolic profile dominated by chlorogenic acid and its derivatives, as well as caffeic acid. Anthocyanin composition, however, was highly cultivar-specific. Notably, all extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant and antiradical activities, in agreement with their high total phenolic content. These findings highlight the potential of red and purple potato peels as valuable sources of functional ingredients for food and nutraceutical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the Effect of Light Color on Albumins and Globulins Content During Bean Germination.","authors":"Victor Manuel Rivera Aguilar, José Pedraza-Chaverri, David Julian Arias-Chávez, Ruth Jaimez, Edgar Flores-Soto, Isaías E Garduño, Fernando S Chiwo, Celia Sánchez Pérez, Ana Del Carmen Susunaga Notario","doi":"10.3390/foods14101750","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101750","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The effect of different light colors on the concentration of albumins and globulins during black bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.) germination was evaluated with an RGB LED lighting system. This study aimed to determine how light of different spectral composition influences protein content across different germination stages. Black bean seeds were germinated under six different LED light sources (red, green, blue, white, violet, and cyan), and protein fractions were quantified by Bradford's method. The results showed that blue and cyan light increased the concentration of albumins. Blue, white, and cyan light for globulins increased the concentration compared to germination under solar conditions for both fractions. The positive correlation between these protein fractions under specific wavelengths suggests a metabolic adaptation to light exposure. These findings highlight the potential of controlled lighting conditions to enhance the nutritional quality of germinated beans, supporting their application as functional food ingredients. Additionally, this study underscores the importance of photobiological modulation in seed germination, opening new possibilities for optimizing plant-based protein sources. Future research could explore the mechanisms behind these protein variations and their implications for food production and nutrition.</p>","PeriodicalId":12386,"journal":{"name":"Foods","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}