A mini review of healthy bars – purchasing motives and challenges: towards Halalan Toyyiban approach

Nowadays, the consumption of healthy bars has increased worldwide due to the nutritional values and versatility of the products. The latest study explains these different healthy bars, their typical ingredients, and consumers’ growing awareness on food safety and quality simultaneously demanding halal-certified products. This review article compares different healthy bars that influence consumers’ purchasing motives and elaborates on the obstacles producers encounter while producing these healthy bars using halal and toyyib. The review was carried out by going through information from 98 publications related to four types of nutritious bars: (i) cereal-based bars, (ii) energy bars, (iii) fruit-based bars and (iv) vegetable-based bars. Meanwhile, the packaging attribute is the most crucial component influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions. Manufacturers discovered the most challenging tasks are keeping up with the demand for unique ingredients in healthy bars and not forgetting consumers’ demand for halalan toyyiban food products

Impact of date powder, sacha inchi oil, and moringa powder in a novel cognitive-enhancing health bar: an evaluation of physicochemical properties and functional benefits

Recent trends show a growing preference for healthy snacks in diets, particularly among health-conscious consumers, with snack bars gaining popularity among youth. This study aimed to develop and analyse a nutritious health bar to enhance cognitive performance. The health bar's formulation was created using design expert software. Comprehensive testing included proximate analysis, fatty acid profiling, and vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant evaluations, complemented by texture and colour assessments. Findings reveal these bars to be nutritionally rich, featuring excellent physical characteristics. They are notably abundant in essential fats (omega-3 and omega-6), vitamins, and minerals. The bars' high essential fat content, varied vitamin and mineral composition, and strong antioxidant properties align with the Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) for Malaysian children and adolescents. This composition suggests that these health bars could effectively boost cognitive performance in this group

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

A review of healthy bars - purchasing motives & challenges: towards Halalan Toyyiban approach

Healthy bars come in various shapes and sizes, each catering to a particular group of people. A detailed guideline and information available will help customers choose and decide which healthy bars suit them and their activities the most. The research of healthy bar's functional properties has been receiving much attention too recently. The latest study aims to explain these different healthy bars and their typical ingredients used in producing them. This review article compares different healthy bars that influence consumers' purchasing motives and elaborates on obstacles producers encounter while producing these healthy bars. Manufacturers of healthy bars commonly encounter numerous challenges, which will be extensively discussed here. The review was carried out by going through 98 publications and extracting information related to four types of nutritious bars: (i) cereal-based bars, (ii) energy bars, (iii) fruit-based bars and (iv) vegetable-based bars. Meanwhile, the packaging attribute is the most crucial component influencing consumers' decisions to buy a healthy bar. Manufacturers discovered the most challenging task: keeping up with the ever-changing demand for unique ingredients in healthy bars and not forgetting their approach in choosing halalan toyyiban food products

A bibliometric analysis on halal cosmetics over twenty years

Purpose – Halal cosmetics area is progressively increasing these days. This bibliometric analysis is intended to systematically evaluate the research to brief researchers about the trend of halal cosmetics field. This paper also discloses the limitations of the studies in the area. Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopted bibliometric and network analysis to evaluate the research area. A total of 82 documents obtained from the Scopus database are extracted and analysed. Findings – The paper reports the type of documents available, the years published, authorship and geographical distribution of the published documents in the halal cosmetics area. From the keyword analysis, it is found that the most used words are halal cosmetics, halal, cosmetics, purchase intention, Malaysia, and Islamic marketing. Research limitations/implications – This bibliometric study is conducted using Scopus database; however, Scopus might possibly omit some publications, thus, authors might not report the missing studies. Halal cosmetics are still in the early years of publications, and only 82 published documents were analysed in the study. Originality/value – There is no study reported on the network analysis and bibliometric study techniques in the area of halal cosmetics

Clean extraction of pectin from dragon fruit peels, pomelo peels, okra, and pineapple peels using deep eutectic solvents and ionic liquids

Pectin is the main constituent of fruit peels that contributes to the fruit's solid and firm shape. Having wide applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries, its extraction from bioresources would mark a sustainable advancement in biotechnology. The biomaterials for pectin extraction targeted in the study were dragon fruit peels (Hylocereus costaricensis), Pomelo peels (Citrus grandis), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and pineapple peels (Ananas comosus). Aqueous extractions of pectin from fruit peels were performed in a sono-reactor using deep eutectic solvents (DESs). Ionic liquids such as (Choline acetate ≥ 95%) [Ch][Ac] and (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ≥ 97%) [EMIM][Ac] were also employed as extraction solvents. Morphological screening with the electron microscope (SEM) and FTIR showed that the extracted pectin had a similar surface as commercial pectin. The extracted pectin can completely dissolve in water to form a homogenous suspension. The pectin yield from dragon fruit peels was 60±2.00 wt% with a degree of esterification at about 66-72%. This study introduces a clean extraction that can potentially substitute solvents in the pectin industry

Abstracts of the International Halal Science Conference 2023

This book presents the extended abstracts of the selected contributions to the International Halal Science Conference, held on 22-23 August 2023 by the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), IIUM, Malaysia in collaboration with Halalan Thayyiban Research Centre, University Islam Sultan Sharif (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam. With the increasing global interest in halal products and services, this conference is timely. Conference Title:  International Halal Science ConferenceConference Acronym: IHASC23Conference Theme: Halal Industry Sustainability Through ScienceConference Date: 22-23 August 2023Conference Venue: International Islamic University (IIUM), MalaysiaConference Organizer: International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), International Islamic University (IIUM), Malaysi