Global trends in food quality: an exploratory study in fresh produce supply chains

The provision of safe food which protects customers' integrity and provides consumers with the desired taste is expected to remain the major priority in world food markets in the foreseeable future. While reducing microbial contamination, chemical contaminants and pesticide residues will gain in importance, ethical products and functional foods are the emerging priorities. Food businesses will need to give much greater attention towards minimising water use and pollution, more sustainable production systems, worker welfare and waste management. Recyclable packaging, conservation and biodiversity, food miles and reducing salinity and land degradation are the emerging environmental issues. Country-of-origin is perceived to be the most important indicator of food quality both now and in the foreseeable future. Identifying which food preservatives, food colourings and flavour enhancing compounds have been used in the food will continue to grow in importance as consumers move towards more natural, unadulterated food products. Identifying the presence of potential allergens is critically important for the growing number of susceptible consumers. The food energy content and the use of sugar and artificial sweeteners are the emerging issues, with the presence of genetically modified organisms and eco-labelling poised to become more prominent in the long-term

Factors associated with success in guide dog training

Tests of motor laterality and behavioral reactivity, as well as salivary cortisol concentrations, were examined in this pilot study to identify dogs best suited to guide dog work. Over a 14-month period, lateralization tests were conducted and cortisol concentrations were determined on 3 separate occasions, and temperament testing was performed on 2. Potential guide dogs (N = 43) involved in this study were 5 golden retrievers (4 males, 1 female) and thirty-eight Labrador retrievers (8 black males, fifteen yellow males, 5 black females, and ten yellow females). Results from these tests were then compared with the ultimate success of the dogs in the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT training program. This comparison produced evidence that motor lateralization (particularly the rate at which both paws were used during the Kong Test and the lateralization index during the Tape Test), reactions to an unfamiliar dog, the latency for dogs to drop and rest during an uninterrupted period, and the dog\u27s color and breed were predictive of ultimate success. This study also identified 14 months of age as a more accurate time to assess dogs for these traits than either 6 months of age or at the age at which they completed their training (ranging from 14 to 20 months of age)

Who backs up credence claims?: Roles for government as a competent authority in assuring quality attributes

The role of government and intergovernmental mechanisms to assure food safety is well established. However, government also has a role in establishing and verifying a range of acceptable production approaches and consequential outcomes relating to credence attributes. The role of government in providing baseline information on the supply side and competent inspection services to verify the effectiveness of control measures at the production and processing levels of the value chain is identified. A meta-accreditation process, whereby government endorses various food safety and quality certification schemes that are coupled with credence attribute assurances is the most cost effective mechanism for government to pursue

Introduction

This special issue of Kunapipi is a tribute to tlie work and career of Professor Shirley Chew, who retires in June 2003 as Professor of Commonwealth and Postcolonial Literatures in the School of English, University of Leeds, UK. She has occupied the Chair at Leeds since 1993, but her association with the School of English dates from 1974. Along with other scholars at Leeds, such as Arthur Ravenscroft, William Walsh, Lynette Hunter and David Richards — and in association with international figures such as the late Anna Rutherford — Shirley has dedicated her academic career to the teaching, researching and promoting of literatures in English from Commonwealth countries