Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety最新文献

Conventional meat production is resource-intensive and raises ethical concerns, prompting interest in cultured meat produced via growing stem cell cultivation in bioreactors with specialized media. However, cultured meat faces challenges in media formulation including high costs, reliance on non-food-grade components, and regulatory approval hurdles. This review presents a risk-based framework for media components, analyses regulatory landscapes across selected regions, and identifies opportunities for innovation including serum-free media development, and sustainable low-cost ingredients. It highlights that while non-food-grade media components pose potential risks, these can be mitigated through rigorous assessment, manufacturing controls, and wash procedures. Our findings suggest that adopting food-grade and serum-free media formulations can enhance sustainability, reduce costs, and facilitate regulatory compliance. This review emphasizes the importance of systematic safety evaluations and regulatory harmonization to support the commercial viability and consumer acceptance of cultured meat products.

Digital twins offer a wide range of potential applications throughout the food supply chain, as demonstrated by the example of determining the suitability for human consumption of pre-packaged minced pork through AI-driven shelf-life assessment. As food business operators, official food control authorities and consumers are open to the use of new technology, there is currently no regulatory need for action regarding the use of AI throughout the food supply chain. However, future regulatory changes, particularly in the area of food labelling, should take into account the specific features arising from the intelligent determination of the use-by date by AI.

Sampling-based lot disposition plans are essential to verify compliance with microbiological criteria in food safety management. Although lot-level quantitative microbiological records are routinely stored in auditable food safety systems, limited research has examined how recent comparable records can be formally incorporated into sampling-based lot disposition decisions. To bridge this gap, this study develops a historical-record-informed inspection plan (HRIP) based on a microbial safety index, which systematically incorporates historical lot-level data into current lot disposition decisions. Comparative analyses show that HRIP enhances cost-effectiveness and discriminatory power compared to existing single sampling plans. Furthermore, a cloud-computing solver was developed to facilitate optimal plan design, ensuring practical applicability. Finally, an illustrative example demonstrates the method's use in verifying Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods.

This longitudinal case study examines the combined use of Nutri-Score and nutrition claims on breakfast cereals in Dutch supermarkets before (2022, n = 257) and after (2024, n = 236) the Nutri-Score algorithm update. Nutri-Scores shifted towards less favourable classifications in 2024, with increased proportions mainly for D and E scored products. Concurrently, the prevalence of nutrition claims rose from 64.6% to 89.0%, including an increase in products with low Nutri-Scores displaying claims (2% in 2022 to 10.6% in 2024). No significant improvements were observed in energy, sugar, saturated fat, salt, fibre, or protein content over time. These findings reveal that consumers are exposed to potentially conflicting front-of-pack food information, highlighting the need for better alignment of food information policies to support informed and healthier food choices.

The consumption of vegan-labelled foods has increased due to ethical, environmental, and health motivations, yet comprehensive evaluations of their microbiological safety and undeclared animal-derived allergens remain limited. This study analyzed 34 vegan products from Turin, Italy, using microbiological assays alongside biomolecular and immunoenzymatic techniques to detect crustacean and vertebrate DNA, as well as milk and egg proteins. Results showed no presence of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, milk, egg, or crustacean allergens; Enterobacteriaceae were detected within acceptable limits in 2 samples, and vertebrate DNA was found in one non-dairy cheese alternative. Overall, these findings indicate generally good hygienic quality and effective allergen management in the analysed products. These results provide baseline evidence to support future risk assessments and regulatory considerations in the plant-based food sector.

The aim of is study was to evaluate the occurrence and parasitological profile of contamination in crisp lettuce marketed in Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil. A total of 139 samples were collected from 45 supermarkets across 17 neighborhoods and analyzed using a spontaneous sedimentation technique, with identification based on morphological and morphometric criteria. Overall, 35.25% (49/139; 95% CI: 27.3–43.9) of the samples were positive for at least one parasitic structure, including coccidian oocysts (16.5%), larvated nematode eggs (12.2%), strongylid-type eggs (5.0%), and Toxocara spp. (1.4%). Morphometric analysis revealed significant variations in length and width among the detected parasitic structures (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.001), supporting their differentiation. These results suggest that the contamination of lettuce by parasites remains a significant food safety concern and highlight the importance of adequate hygiene practices and surveillance along the production and retail chain.