Economic determinants of differences in the composition of seemingly identical branded food products in the EU

This report provides an econometric estimation of the economic determinants of differences in the composition of seemingly identical branded food products (DC-SIP) in the European Union. The analyses of this report is based on the results from the EU wide testing campaign (European Commission, 2019) in combination with economic data collected from different statistical sources (e.g. Eurostat, Eurobarometer, World Bank, Global Dietary Database). Econometric estimation — probit estimator — is performed on these combined dataset to quantitatively identify drivers of DC-SIP. The estimated results show that the difference in income levels between two Member States has a statistically significant positive effect on the probability of the two MS having a different version of seemingly identical branded food products. The estimation of this report also show that other factors—such as heterogeneous consumer preferences across MS, distance, company size, price level and product complexity—also contribute to a firm’s incentive to offer different versions of seemingly identical branded food products in different MS. Further, specific characteristics of different product categories and country-specific factors are also found to impact the presence of DC-SIP between MS.JRC.D.4-Economics of Agricultur

Retail alliances in the agricultural and food supply chain

This report summarizes the content and discussions of the JRC-DG AGRI workshop on "The role of Retail Alliances in the Food supply chain" that was held in Brussels on 4-5 November 2020. It presents a typology of retail alliances, describes their functioning and activities, and analyses the impact of retail alliances on the food supply chain, from an economic and legal point of view.JRC.D.4-Economics of Agricultur

A group intervention for individuals with obesity and comorbid binge eating disorder : results from a feasibility study

Purpose: A common challenge among a subgroup of individuals with obesity is binge eating, that exists on a continuum from mild binge eating episodes to severe binge eating disorder (BED). BED is common among bariatric patients and the prevalence of disordered eating and ED in bariatric surgery populations is well known. Conventional treatments and assessment of obesity seldom address the underlying psychological mechanisms of binge eating and subsequent obesity. This study, titled PnP (People need People) is a psychoeducational group pilot intervention for individuals with BED and obesity including patients with previous bariatric surgery. Design, feasibility, and a broad description of the study population is reported. Material and Methods: A total of 42 patients were from an obesity clinic referred to assessment and treatment with PnP in a psychoeducational group setting (3-hour weekly meetings for 10 weeks). Of these, 6 (14.3%) patients had a previous history of bariatric surgery. Feasibility was assessed by tracking attendance, potentially adverse effects and outcome measures including body mass index (BMI), eating disorder pathology, overvaluation of shape and weight, impairment, self-reported childhood difficulties, alexithymia, internalized shame as well as health related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: All 42 patients completed the intervention, with no adverse effects and a high attendance rate with a median attendance of 10 sessions, 95% CI (8.9,9.6) and 0% attrition. Extent of psychosocial impairment due to eating disorder pathology, body dissatisfaction and severity of ED symptoms were high among the patients at baseline. Additionally, self-reported childhood difficulties, alexithymia, and internalized shame were high among the patients and indicate a need to address underlying psychological mechanisms in individuals with BED and comorbid obesity. Improvement of HRQoL and reduction of binge eating between baseline and the end of the intervention was observed with a medium effect Conclusion: This feasibility study supports PnP as a potential group psychoeducational intervention for patients living with BED and comorbid obesity. Assessments of BED and delivery of this intervention may optimize selection of candidates and bariatric outcomes. These preliminary results warrant further investigation via a randomized control trial (RCT) to examine the efficacy and effectiveness of PnP

International sourcing decisions in the wake of a food scandal

This research investigates whether and how the 2013 Horsemeat Scandal has altered European food retailers’ efforts to mitigate fraud in the international agri-food supply chain. We construct an econometric model that matches fraud alert data from the European Union (EU) Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) from 2006 to 2016 with annual data on bilateral trade flows. We find that—prior to the horsemeat scandal—detection of fraud along the supply chain induced a small amount of trade diversion toward third-country sources, but did not substantially affect total trade into the EU. In contrast, in the years after the scandal, the detection of fraud by international suppliers was substantially trade destructive. Detection of fraud reduced trade, not only with the country from which the fraudulent product originated, but also from third-country exporters of the same product. These findings extend beyond trade in meat products and to importing countries outside Western and Northern Europe

Retaliatory Use of Public Standards in Trade

This research investigates the extent to which countries use public standards as a means of political retaliation in the international policy arena. We construct a dataset that matches the adoption of public standards between 1996–2015 with annual, bilateral trade flows and the initiation of antidumping and countervailing duty (ADCV) proceedings. Our results indicate that—over the period of analysis—public standards were frequently used for retaliatory purposes. The imposition of a public standard or the instigation of an ADCV proceeding by one country against another country increased the probability that the target country would adopt a standard of its own. Retaliation commonly occurred outside the product group of the original measure. At the 2-digit product level, we find that about 4,000 bilateral trade flows were subject to retaliatory standards. Under reasonable assumptions, this equates to trade losses in the range of $30–$40 billion per year. However, implications may not be exclusively trade destructive. Retaliation may also have induced the withdrawal of non-tariff barriers in partner countries

Hazard Mitigation in EU Food Trade

This research investigates the extent to which retailers' responses to detection of food hazards in the international supply chain hinge on whether the specific hazard detected represents an acute (versus chronic) health risk. We construct an econometric model that matches data on EU border rejections noticed under the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) from 20062015 with 6-digit-level data on bilateral fruit and vegetable trade flows to analyze the effects of mycotoxin detection relative to the detection of excess pesticide residues on international sourcing. We find that the presence of mycotoxins - which can present acute human health risks - reduces future shipments into the EU by approximately 32% and has cost suppliers more than $43 billion in lost trade over the sample period. In contrast, border rejections due to pesticide residues - primarily a chronic health risk - do not have a statistically significant effect on international trade flows