Tell Me What You Waste and I’ll Tell You Who You Are: An Eight-Country Comparison of Consumers’ Food Waste Habits

Using an original survey conducted in eight countries in 2021 (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, the UK, and the USA), this study explored the relationship between household food waste and dietary habits through a cross-country comparative perspective. In total, 8000 questionnaires were recorded from samples representative of the adult population of each country through an online survey conducted between the 13th and the 24th of August. The questionnaires were developed from the Waste Watcher International Observatory on Food and Sustainability, an international study of the social, behavioral, and lifestyle dynamics behind household food waste. The relationships between the per capita self-reported amount of food waste (expressed in kilocalories) and self-declared dietary habits (traditional, healthy and sustainable, vegetarian, smart, and confused) were estimated using multiple linear regression models. The results showed that smart diets are associated with higher values of food waste in Canada, Spain, the UK, and the USA. Vegetarian diets are associated with lower food waste values in China, Germany, the UK, and the USA, but not in Italy, Russia, and Spain. The share of the population adopting a smart diet was, on average, 2.7% of the sample; therefore, interventions for food waste reduction should focus on these specific types of consumers, who are often associated with larger amounts of food waste

Nanostructured metal oxide gas sensors, a survey of applications carried out at SENSOR lab, brescia (Italy) in the security and food quality fields

8partially_openopenPonzoni A. ; Comini E. ; Concina I. ; Ferroni M. ; Falasconi M. ; Gobbi E.; Sberveglieri V. ; Sberveglieri G.Ponzoni, Andrea; Comini, Elisabetta; Concina, Isabella; Ferroni, Matteo; Falasconi, Matteo; Gobbi, Emanuela; Sberveglieri, V.; Sberveglieri, Giorgi

Electronic nose predicts high and low fumonisin contamination in maize cultures

The ability of an electronic nose, based on a 6 metal oxide semiconductor chemical sensors array, to diagnose fungal contamination, to detect high fumonisin content and to predict fumonisin concentration was evaluated in vitro. Maize cultures were inoculated with Fusarium verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. oxysporum, F. semitectum, F. solani and F. subglutinans. Sterilised maize cultures were used as reference. Fungal colonies and fumonisin content of the maize samples were used as covariates for statistical analyses and for electronic nose training. Univariate and multivariate exploratory data analysis showed that the electronic nose discriminated the inoculated maize culture samples according to their fumonisin content. Partial Least Square was also implemented to build a multivariate regression model based on EN signals for quantitative fumonisin prediction. The EN could correctly recognize high and low fumonisin content of maize cultures and provide a fair quantitative estimation. The validity of EN technology to perform a rapid screening of maize cultures in order to identify levels of fumonisin contamination below the acceptability threshold was established. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Geographic origin differentiation of Philippine civet coffee using an Electronic nose

An increasing interest in geographical indication of origin has emerged to achieve legal protection of specialty coffee in international market. Civet coffee which is considered as the most expensive and best specialty coffee in the world, is one of the important indigenous export products of the Philippines. Thus, geographical origin differentiation of Philippine civet coffee and their control coffee beans (not eaten by civet) using electronic nose (E-nose) was performed. The E-nose instrument was based on six semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) sensor array. Results showed that the sensors exhibited different responses towards civet coffees and non-civet (control) coffees of different provenance. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Heirarchical cluster analysis (HCA) demonstrated a clearly separated civet coffees from their control beans. The cluster separation among civet coffee samples indicated that geographic origins dictate the aroma and flavor variations in coffee. This remarkable performance of E-nose provides proof that it is an excellent tool for authentication of the provenance of civet coffee and non-civet coffee samples

FUSIONS Definitional Framework for Food Waste

none21To develop reliable food waste estimates, which can be accurately repeated over time, it is necessary to produce data within a robust methodological framework. This must comprise a consistent definition of food waste and its components, and consistent system boundaries for the food supply chain. The absence of a framework for defining food waste to date has led to the production of datasets that are not always comparable or transparent as to which fractions are included. A common definitional framework will support policy-makers at both EU and Member State level, and stakeholders across the food supply chain, by enabling them to accurately track the rate of food waste reduction, and the effectiveness of their waste prevention strategies. The development of this framework for defining food waste signals a key step towards improving our understanding of the food waste challenge in Europe and its consistent use will help measure progress towards both resource efficiency and food security goals.openKarin Östergren; Jenny Gustavsson; Hilke Bos-Brouwers; Toine Timmermans; Ole-Jørgen Hansen; Hanne Møller; Gina Anderson; Clementine O’Connor; Han Soethoudt; Tom Quested; Sophie Easteal; Alessandro Politano; Cecilia Bellettato; Massimo Canali; Luca Falasconi; Silvia Gaiani; Matteo Vittuari; Felicitas Schneider; Graham Moates; Keith Waldron; Barbara RedlingshöferKarin Östergren; Jenny Gustavsson; Hilke Bos-Brouwers; Toine Timmermans; Ole-Jørgen Hansen; Hanne Møller; Gina Anderson; Clementine O’Connor; Han Soethoudt; Tom Quested; Sophie Easteal; Alessandro Politano; Cecilia Bellettato; Massimo Canali; Luca Falasconi; Silvia Gaiani; Matteo Vittuari; Felicitas Schneider; Graham Moates; Keith Waldron; Barbara Redlingshöfe

Does packaging matter? Energy consumption of pre-packed salads

Purpose \u2013 Packed salads are popular in many countries of the world. The purpose of this paper is to assess the energy footprint of these products from farm gate to retail gate, compared with unpacked produces distributed by retailers and farmers\u2019 markets in Italy. Design/methodology/approach \u2013 Life cycle assessment served as methodological background, even if the analysis was focused on direct and indirect energy consumption. Three supply chains were analysed: packed (P-S) and unpacked (U-S) sold in supermarkets, and unpacked produce sold locally (U-L). Energy inputs were accounted for processing, packaging, refrigeration, transport, and distribution. Data were collected from available literature and from interviews with key experts in the transformation, packaging, and retail sectors. Energy inputs were computed for 1 kg of finished edible product (kgp). Findings \u2013 Packed salads require an elevated energy input ranging from 16 to 37 MJ kgp 121. Input energy is mostly required for packaging and refrigeration. By comparison, the U-L chain requires about one tenth of the energy (1.8-2.6 MJ.kgp 121), but local sold produces attain the best performance with only 0.6-1.2 MJ.kgp 121, since they do not need processing, refrigeration, and disposable packages. Packed products mainly rely on the availability of cheap fossil fuels and all the sector has significantly suffered after the oil shock of 2008. Increasing energy costs may lead the price of the commodity out of the market. Originality/value \u2013 The paper addresses the subject of energy consumption in a popular sector of processed food to which at present little attention has been paid in the domain of food research. \ua9 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Electronic Noses as Flexible Tools to Assess Food Quality and Safety: Should we Trust Them?

This paper presents three different applications of an electronic nose (EN) based on a metal oxide sensor array, in order to illustrate the broad spectrum of potential uses of the technique in food quality control. The following scenarios are considered: 1) the screening of a typical error that may occur during the processing of tomato pulp, which leads to sensory damage of the product; 2) the detection of microbial contamination by Alicyclobacillus spp. (ACB) affecting soft drinks; and 3) the proof of evidence of extra virgin olive oil fraudulently adulterated with hazelnut oil. In each case, the EN is able to identify the spoiled product by means of the alterations in the pattern of volatile compounds, reconstructed by principal component analysis of the sensor responses

Are questionnaires a reliable method to measure food waste? A pilot study on Italian households

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the reliability of questionnaires as a method of quantifying household food waste (FW), thus providing context regarding the validity of existing Italian estimates. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 30 households were involved in a diary study that was conducted for one week. The participating households were first asked about their FW quantities in a questionnaire. Half of the households who filled their diaries properly were then audited through waste sorting analysis performed on their garbage. Non-parametric tests were used to test for differences in FW estimates between audited and non-audited households, as well as differences among estimates obtained through different quantification methodologies. Findings: Edible FW was estimated to be 489 grams per week based on questionnaires, and 1,035 grams per week based on diaries. In the audited sub-sample of households, FW estimates were 334 grams per week based on questionnaires, 818 grams per week based on diaries and 1,058 grams per week based on waste sorting analysis. Research limitations/implications: Given the small sample size in the present study, future studies can utilize larger samples to assess whether the differences identified in estimates can be replicated. Future studies can also inquire into the behavioral biases that led consumers to underestimate their FW. Practical implications: Results of the present study point against the use of questionnaires to quantify household FW, hence raising some doubt on the reliability of existent Italian estimates. Where waste sorting is unfeasible, the use of adjustment methods or diaries is suggested to better inform policies. Originality/value: This study is one of the first on FW quantification that tests three different methodologies on the same sample, and is the first to do so in Italy, where estimates are still very poor