The role of local seasonal foods in enhancing sustainable food consumption: a systematic literature review

This article aims to review the current literature pertaining to the effects of eating local seasonal food on sustainable consumption. To this end, we examined definitions of seasonal and local food, the methodological approaches adopted to study the impact of seasonal consumption on sustainability, and sustainability dimensions investigated in journal articles. Highlighting what seasonal and local means, it is crucial to evaluate the effect of the consumption of these foods on sustainability. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using Scopus and Clarivate’s Web of Science database in line with the recommendations from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Our findings suggest that the concept of local seasonality provides relevant information to the study of sustainable consumption. However, for better use of this concept, it is crucial to define what is local. At this point, regulation of labels based on geographic proximity or political boundaries proves pertinent.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Food Processing Innovation: A Case Study with Pressurized Passion Fruit Juice

Tropical fruit juice production shows an annual increase in volume of 15 to 20% in Brazil. Growing demand for processed fruit pulp arouses juice industry interest to search for novel technologies. High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) is an innovative technology which allows juice production with improved sensory characteristics compared to pasteurization, meeting consumer demands for fresh-like foods. Despite recognized advantages of pressurized products described in the literature, a positive consumer attitude towards them is required to guarantee their success in today’s competitive global market. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of packaging attributes on consumer expected liking and purchase intention of passion fruit juice. One hundred and twenty consumers evaluated twelve prototypes for expected liking and purchase intention. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Conjoint and Cluster Analyses. Results showed that information about benefits of used technology (HHP) presented on the package played an important role on consumer attitude, suggesting a positive contribution to his/her satisfaction, a key point for the food industry.Tropical fruit juice production shows an annual increase in volume of 15 to 20% in Brazil. Growing demand for processed fruit pulp arouses juice industry interest to search for novel technologies. High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) is an innovative technology which allows juice production with improved sensory characteristics compared to pasteurization, meeting consumer demands for fresh-like foods. Despite recognized advantages of pressurized products described in the literature, a positive consumer attitude towards them is required to guarantee their success in today’s competitive global market. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of packaging attributes on consumer expected liking and purchase intention of passion fruit juice. One hundred and twenty consumers evaluated twelve prototypes for expected liking and purchase intention. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Conjoint and Cluster Analyses. Results showed that information about benefits of used technology (HHP) presented on the package played an important role on consumer attitude, suggesting a positive contribution to his/her satisfaction, a key point for the food industry.Tropical fruit juice production shows an annual increase in volume of 15 to 20% in Brazil. Growing demand for processed fruit pulp arouses juice industry interest to search for novel technologies. High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) is an innovative technology which allows juice production with improved sensory characteristics compared to pasteurization, meeting consumer demands for fresh-like foods. Despite recognized advantages of pressurized products described in the literature, a positive consumer attitude towards them is required to guarantee their success in today’s competitive global market. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of packaging attributes on consumer expected liking and purchase intention of passion fruit juice. One hundred and twenty consumers evaluated twelve prototypes for expected liking and purchase intention. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Conjoint and Cluster Analyses. Results showed that information about benefits of used technology (HHP) presented on the package played an important role on consumer attitude, suggesting a positive contribution to his/her satisfaction, a key point for the food industry

A study to guide breeding of new cultivars of organic cherry tomato following a consumer-driven approach

AbstractAgricultural studies focusing on the development and/or improvement of new varieties of fruits and vegetables usually prioritize the productivity, disease resistance, response to fertilization, and higher nutrient content. However, new product development needs to take into account not only flavour preference, but also consumer preference for appearance since without tasting products, consumers have to make decisions based on the way a product looks. The present study evaluated the sensory characteristics and consumer preference of ten promising accessions of organic cherry tomato for fresh consumption aiming at identifying the sensory attributes related to appearance that contributed to consumer liking/disliking the fruit. More specifically, the objective of the study was to guide producers regarding the target appearance attributes that play a role on consumer acceptance of cherry tomatoes. Ten accessions of organic cherry tomatoes were evaluated by a trained panel using the QDA methodology, and also by 80 tomato consumers for the acceptance of appearance and intention to purchase. The results achieved after integrating these two data sets (from the trained panel and consumers) in a multidimensional map allowed the elucidation of consumer liking of tomatoes in relation to the appearance, i.e. drivers of liking/disliking were identified. Results revealed that tomatoes with round shape and red colour (reddish) (cultivar ENAS 1031, ENAS 1010, ‘Perinha Agua Branca’, Super Sweet, and ‘Joana’) were the most liked cherry tomatoes. Those genotypes were also liked by the smallest segment (17.5% of participants) but for them unusual shapes (oblong and pear), orange-yellow colour, and bigger size were also liked. Despite the small number of participants in this study (80 consumers), new shapes and colours for the organic cherry tomatoes could be considered promising alternatives in the Brazilian market, and can be an opportunity for the producers of the state of Rio de Janeiro

Bananas apresentadas em dedos e buquês: qualidade e preferência do consumidor

No Brasil é comum a comercialização de bananas em penca, contribuindo com as perdas pós-colheita. No entanto, buquês reduzidos e dedos individuais podem ser alternativos, desde que a qualidade e a aceitação pelo consumidor não sejam comprometidas. Objetivou-se avaliar a influência da forma de apresentação (dedos e buquês) e do genótipo de banana (BRS Princesa e Grande Naine) na qualidade dos frutos e na preferência do consumidor. A qualidade de bananas Grande Naine e BRS Princesa foi avaliada durante dez dias após a colheita (dac). As três formas de apresentação, no ponto de colheita, dedos, buquê de três (b3) ou seis frutos (b6) e a aparência dos genótipos apresentados em penca, foram avaliadas por 110 consumidores de banana em relação à aceitação e à intenção de compra. Bananas BRS Princesa e Grande Naine apresentadas em b6 tiveram menor atividade respiratória a partir do sexto e do quarto dia após a colheita, respectivamente. A mesma apresentação proporcionou menor perda de massa fresca para BRS Princesa, e Grande Naine aumentou independente da forma de apresentação. Os consumidores gostaram da aparência de bananas Grande Naine e BRS Princesa em penca, indicando que comprariam tais frutos. Para os frutos pequenos, como de BRS Princesa os consumidores declararam maior intenção de compra para as formas b3 e b6. Entretanto, os consumidores comprariam bananas maiores, como são as Grande Naine, independente da forma de apresentação. A qualidade e os aspectos sensoriais são distintos em função da forma de apresentação da banana Grande Naine e BRS Princesa.Palavras-chave: Análise sensorial. Formas de apresentação. Musa sp. Pós-colheita. Qualidade

Characteristics of green and ripe umbu marmalades and acceptance by consumers

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar formulações de doces, em massa de umbu verde e maduro, quanto às características físico-químicas e físicas, e quanto à aceitação pelos consumidores residentes no Rio de Janeiro. Quatro formulações de doces foram processadas para polpa de umbu verde: F1, 0,3% de goma xantana; F2, 5% de xarope de glicose e 0,3% de goma xantana; F3, 0,5% de amido modificado; F4, 5% de xarope de glicose e 0,5% de amido modificado; e quatro formulações para polpa de umbu maduro: F1, apenas correção de pH; F2, 0,5% de pectina; F3, 0,3% de goma xantana; F4, 5% de xarope de glicose e 0,5% de amido modificado. Foram avaliadas as seguintes características físico-químicas e físicas: sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável, pH, açúcares redutores e não redutores, atividade de água, cor, firmeza e adesividade. Cinqüenta e seis consumidores avaliaram as formulações, por meio de escala hedônica estruturada de nove pontos. As formulações F2 apresentaram maior firmeza. Os consumidores atribuíram notas superiores a seis na escala utilizada, para todas as formulações, o que indica aceitação dos produtos.The objective of this work was to evaluate green and ripe umbu marmalade formulations, in relation to physicochemical and physical characteristics, and regarding Rio de Janeiro consumers' acceptance. Four marmalade formulations were processed for green umbu pulp: F1, 0.3% xanthan gum; F2, 5% glucose syrup and 0.3% xanthan gum; F3, 0.5% modified starch; F4, 5% glucose syrup and 0.5% modified starch; and four formulations for ripe umbu pulp: F1, only pH correction; F2, 0.5% pectin; F3, 0.3% xanthan gum; F4, 5% glucose syrup and 0.5% modified starch. The physicochemical and physical characteristics evaluated were: soluble solids, titrable acidity, pH, reducing and nonreducing sugars, water activity, color, firmness and adhesiveness. Fifty-six consumers evaluated the formulations, using nine-point structured hedonic scale. The formulations F2 presented higher firmness. Consumers gave notes higher than six in the used scale, which indicates the approval of the products

Acceptability of drinks prepared with different water-soluble soy extracts

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a aceitabiliade de bebidas obtidas de extrato de soja em pó, produzido a partir de cultivar desprovida de enzimas lipoxigenases, e de dois extratos em pó comerciais. Duas bebidas do extrato da cultivar desprovida de lipoxigenases foram preparadas pela diluição em água mineral a 5 e 10%. Os extratos comerciais foram diluídos a 10%. Duzentos consumidores das cidades do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, e Londrina, PR, avaliaram a aceitação das bebidas, pela escala hedônica de sete pontos; a consistência e doçura por meio da escala do ideal de sete pontos; e a intenção de compra pela escala de três pontos. A bebida do extrato de soja da cultivar desprovida de lipoxigenases preparada a 10% obteve as maiores notas de aceitação (4,2 a 4,5), apresentou consistência próxima do valor ideal (4) e recebeu a maior porcentagem de repostas "sim" para a intenção de compras, enquanto as demais apresentaram notas inferiores nos atributos avaliados.The objective of this work was to assess the acceptability of soy drinks prepared with soymilk powder produced from lipoxygenase-free cultivar and from commercial soymilks powder. Two types of soy drinks were prepared by dissolving in water 5 and 10% null lipoxygenase soymilk powder and 10% soymilk powder for the commercial soymilks. The acceptance of soy drinks was evaluated by 200 consumers from Rio de Janeiro, RJ, and Londrina, PR, Brazil, by using a seven-point hedonic scale. The just-about-right scale of seven points was used to assess the mouthfeel and the sweetness of soy drinks. The purchase intention of soy drinks was also evaluated through the scale of three points. The soy drink of 10% null lipoxygenase soymilk powder obtained the highest acceptance (4.2 to 4.5), showed consistence near to the ideal value (4) and the highest intention of buying. The other soy drinks presented lower values for these evaluated attributes