Search Results (2,747)

Recirculating organic byproducts like food waste, wastewater and manure efficiently and at scale in a circular bioeconomy will be critical to ensuring future food security, energy security, climate resilience, water security and environmental health. Ultimately, we will not be able to live within the safe operating space of our planetary boundaries if we do not stop our wasteful and inefficient habits. Our food, waste, energy and water sectors are starting to transform towards circularity, driven by a diverse range of drivers, from net zero emissions targets, to food waste policies, and to rising fertiliser prices and geopolitical risks. However, these sectors are often not transforming in a coordinated manner, risking unintended consequences like competition between end-uses, technology lock-in, the prevention of scalability, or failure to achieve key sustainability targets, causing rebound effects. For example, society’s organic waste is being earmarked for the production of bioenergy, sustainable aviation fuels, biomaterials, and biofertilisers; however, it is not clear if there will be a sufficient supply of organic waste to meet these diverse demands. Phosphorus flow analyses indicate that we will need to secure almost all of the nutrients in organic waste as fertiliser raw material to produce food. There are some existing pockets of innovation within sectors related to food waste, water and wastewater, fertilisers and agriculture, and bioenergy. However, many initiatives are being driven by short-term challenges, are not operating at scale, or are not sufficiently integrated across sectors. In this paper, we provide examples of innovations and challenges from around the world, including Italy, Australia, Sri Lanka, the UK, Japan, and Malawi. This paper identifies a pathway to navigate tensions to achieve co-existing sustainability goals, including key enablers and barriers, ranging from overcoming regulatory fragmentation to a lack of capital investments. Creating a truly viable circular economy for organic byproducts requires the integration of policies, markets, technologies and people. This means engaging diverse stakeholders, from local councils and private waste contractors, farmers, and fertiliser companies to energy retailers and wastewater utilities, NGOs, informal collectors, and environmental regulators and policy-makers. Full article

This narrative review examines the influence of social networks on dietary habits and physical activity, and their relationship to overweight and obesity in adolescents. The study is based on a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases, covering the period 2009–2022, and is complemented by a critical analysis of contemporary evidence. The included studies involved adolescents aged 12 to 19 and assessed associations among social networks, body weight, diet, and physical activity, using statistical methods based on social network analysis (SNA). No language restrictions were applied. The results demonstrated that friendship networks significantly influence adolescents’ body weight, eating behaviors, and physical activity levels. Specifically, boys exhibited similar unhealthy food consumption patterns within their networks, while girls’ networks showed similarities in sedentary activities. This review highlights that adolescents’ social networks play a relevant role in weight-related behaviors, with their influence varying based by gender. These findings underscore the need to consider such gender-specific effects when developing prevention and treatment strategies for obesity in this age group. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity, food and nutrient intake, and physical activity (PA) have been linked to the occurrence of various types of cancer. However, evidence regarding their relationship with melanoma is limited. We aimed to assess whether body mass index (BMI), diet quality, food cooking methods, and PA influence the risk of developing melanoma. Methods: This case–control study compared the demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and PA of 130 melanoma patients from the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona with 166 control subjects of similar age and sex distribution. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire, administered between January 2016 and February 2020. The association between these factors and melanoma was assessed using odds ratios for binary variables with 95% confidence intervals. Results: BMI was not found to be associated with the diagnosis of melanoma. However, restricting foods and limiting sugary products did show a correlation with lower melanoma risk, while dairy product restriction was associated with an increased risk. Consumption of processed meats and unhealthy cooking methods were also associated with an increased risk of melanoma development. Lastly, an inverse association between PA practice and frequency and melanoma risk was observed in women, while vigorous-intensity PA showed an inverse association regardless of sex. Conclusions: This study identifies specific dietary patterns and PA behaviors that may play a role in melanoma risk, highlighting the potential for personalized lifestyle-based prevention strategies. Full article

Background/Objective: Highly palatable foods are pleasurable and motivational stimuli that activate the brain’s reward system and can induce overeating in the absence of physiological needs. This study investigated how different access patterns to a cafeteria diet influence food intake, body weight-related parameters, and metabolic and neurobehavioral outcomes. Methods: At postnatal day 31, forty male Wistar rats were assigned to a standard diet or a cafeteria diet with continuous, predictable intermittent, or unpredictable intermittent access. After 10 weeks, the open-field and sucrose-preference tests assessed exploratory and anxiety-like behaviors and reward-related responses, respectively. Body composition, serum biochemical parameters, neurotransmitter content, and mRNA and protein levels were analyzed in reward-related brain regions. Results: Intermittent access increased food intake on cafeteria days compared with continuous access, with unpredictable access yielding the highest intake. Continuous-access rats exhibited higher final body weight and fat accumulation than chow-fed Control rats. Despite similar body weight, both intermittent-access groups had higher visceral adiposity, obesity indices, and adverse metabolic outcomes than the Control group. All cafeteria-fed rats displayed anxiety-like behavior, and all groups preferred sucrose except the continuous-access group. Molecular analyses revealed region-specific differences in gene expression related to neuroplasticity, stress response, and epigenetic regulation that varied with access pattern and predictability. Conclusions: Our results suggest that, beyond diet composition, the pattern and predictability of food access are key determinants of feeding behavior. Intermittent access increases the motivational value of the cafeteria diet, promoting overeating and driving reward- and stress-related neuroadaptations with potential metabolic and mental health implications. Full article

Background/Objectives: In Croatia, national data on adolescents’ dietary habits are limited, resulting in a lack of evidence-based food-based dietary guidelines and public health interventions. This study aims to conduct an in-depth evaluation of dietary habits in a national sample of Croatian adolescents stratified by region, sex and age, from the National food consumption survey on adolescents and adults (NIPNOD 2018–2023). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 258 adolescents (50.4% boys; aged 10 to < 18) from the NIPNOD 2018–2023 survey (OC/EFSA/DATA/2017/01), conducted according to the EU Menu methodology. For analysis, the sample was divided into two age groups (10–13 and 14–17 years). To assess dietary intake, two 24 h recalls were analyzed using NutriCro^® v. 3.0 software. Dietary intake was compared with European Food Safety Authority dietary reference values (DRV). The contribution of 14 food groups to daily energy intake was analyzed. Diet quality was assessed using the Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (DQI-A). Results: The mean daily energy intake was 1820 ± 529 kcal, consisting of 45.5 ± 7.0% carbohydrates, 37.8 ± 6.3% fats, and 15.1 ± 3.1% protein. The observed two-day mean intake suggested that 51.6% of adolescents had carbohydrate intake within the EFSA DRV range, while 5.4% and 32.2% had protein and fat intake within the EFSA DRVs, respectively. The main contributors to daily energy intake were grains and grain products (31.5%), meat, poultry, fish, and eggs (18.1%), and cakes, confectionery, sweets, and sugar (14.9%). Frequent breakfast skipping and snack consumption were common, particularly among older adolescents. Adolescents had moderate overall diet quality (57.4 ± 11.6% DQI-A), with no differences between age groups. Conclusions: Analysis of the dietary habits of adolescents in Croatia indicates that most have inadequate macronutrient intake, irregular meal frequency, and moderate overall diet quality. These results highlight the need to develop public health strategies and interventions to improve dietary habits among adolescents in Croatia. Full article

Chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) has historically been divided into food-responsive chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE-FR), immunosuppressant-responsive chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE-IR), non-responsive chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE-NR) and antibiotic-responsive chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE-AR). Given the rising concern for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the effects of antibiotics on the microbiome, replacement of CIE-AR with microbiota-modulation-responsive enteropathy (MrMRE) has been suggested, and antibiotic use questioned. The objective of this study was to assess the prescribing habits of antibiotics for dogs with CIE prior to referral. This was a single-centre retrospective study of cases between 2020 and 2024 assessing antibiotic prescription for CIE in the six months prior to referral. Data including signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, antibiotic administration and the antibiotics used were recorded. A total of 144 dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy were included, of which 128 had CIE without protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) and 16 had PLE. Overall, 57.6% of dogs with CIE referred for investigation were prescribed antibiotics in the six months prior to referral. Of the dogs prescribed antibiotics, metronidazole was the most prescribed (74.7%), followed by amoxicillin-clavulanate (36.1%). Dogs with diarrhoea were more likely to be prescribed antibiotics overall and were also more likely to receive metronidazole. Antibiotic use differed across the years, with the lowest rate prescribed in 2024 (26/46 [56.5%] in 2020/2021, 24/33 [72.7%] in 2022, 22/35 [62.9%] in 2023, and 11/30 [36.7%] in 2024; p = 0.031). Further work is required to understand continued antibiotic use in CIE and inform antimicrobial stewardship strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Plant-based dietary patterns like the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) reduce cardiovascular risk, which is a leading cause of mortality globally and in Spain. Diet is also a major environmental determinant, highlighting the need to evaluate public health alongside environmental sustainability. The aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of adherence to the DASH dietary pattern in Spain between 2006 and 2023 and evaluate its relationship with environmental sustainability indicators. Methods: This was an ecological epidemiological study. Food consumption data were harmonized into daily servings to calculate annual DASH scores using a standard 80-point methodology. Environmental impact was assessed by calculating the comprehensive Ecological Footprint (EF) using the Agribalyse^® 3.2 database. The study utilized open data from the Spanish Household Budget Surveys, capturing the consumption habits of approximately 24,000 randomly selected Spanish households annually from 2006 to 2023. The primary measures evaluated were the annual DASH adherence index score and the overall environmental Ecological Footprint. Temporal trends were evaluated using segmented regression models selected via the Akaike Information Criterion and Davies test. Pareto analysis determined individual food group environmental contributions, and correlations assessed the relationship between DASH scores and the EF. Results: DASH adherence increased by 8.26% over the study period, peaking in 2020. The EF demonstrated an overall decrease over time, largely driven by reduced consumption of meat, fish, and eggs. A strong inverse correlation was found between the DASH score and the EF (r = −0.8237 (95% CI: −0.932 to −0.580; p < 0.001)). Conclusions: A shift toward the DASH dietary pattern in Spain demonstrates potentially convergent health and environmental associations, promoting population cardiovascular health potential while simultaneously mitigating environmental impacts. Full article

Background: Regional dietary variations in China are well-documented, but their mortality associations in local populations, particularly among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or hypertension, remain unclear. This study aimed to identify dietary clusters in Suzhou and investigate their associations with mortality. Methods: This prospective analysis included 53,269 participants aged 30–79 years from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) Suzhou Wuzhong subcohort. The baseline diet was assessed via a food frequency questionnaire, and three dietary clusters were identified by K-means clustering of 10 food groups. Multivariable Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes-related, and cancer mortality, stratified by baseline health status, T2D, and hypertension. Results: During follow-up, 1263 deaths occurred among healthy adults, 351 in T2D, and 2410 in hypertension. The Traditional/Preserved-Heavy cluster was characterized by lower intake frequencies across most food groups and more frequent preserved vegetable intake; the Meat-Centric cluster by relatively moderate intake frequencies and higher meat and poultry intake; and the Plant-and-Dairy-Abundant cluster by relatively abundant overall dietary intake, more frequent intake of fresh fruit, dairy products, and soybean products, and less frequent preserved vegetable intake. With the Meat-Centric cluster (cluster 2) as the reference, the Plant-and-Dairy-Abundant cluster (cluster 3) in T2D was associated with lower all-cause (HR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.44–0.85), CVD (0.47, 0.24–0.91), and diabetes-related mortality (0.25, 0.09–0.71). BMI modified the association with all-cause mortality in T2D (p interaction = 0.033). In hypertension, cluster 1 was linked to higher all-cause (1.13, 1.03–1.23) and CVD mortality (1.17, 1.00–1.37), whereas cluster 3 was associated with a lower risk of diabetes-related mortality (0.40, 0.16–0.98). Conclusions: A dietary habit rich in fruit, dairy products, soybean products, and less frequent preserved vegetable intake was associated with lower mortality risk, particularly in T2D patients, whereas a habit with lower overall intake and more frequent preserved vegetable intake was linked to higher mortality in hypertension participants. These findings should be interpreted in light of the accompanying socioeconomic and lifestyle differences across dietary clusters. Full article

Recently, the Japanese government has introduced ambitious policies for agricultural sustainability, specifically the MIDORI Strategy, aimed at reducing chemical fertilizer use, expanding organic farmland, and increasing calorie-based food self-sufficiency. To evaluate the feasibility of these goals, this study quantified nitrogen and phosphorus flows within the 2021 food and feed system using a normalized “Nutrient Index”. A scenario analysis was conducted using policy targets as parameters, where currently non-circulated waste streams were modeled as potential sources for domestic nutrient recovery. The results indicate that Scenario A (a 30% reduction of chemical fertilizers) is the most feasible, achieving significant improvements in circulation ratios through recovery of nutrients from sewage and livestock waste. While Scenario B (increasing organic farmland) shows similar trends, its success depends on technological advancements to mitigate the yield gap between organic and conventional systems. Scenario C (increasing calorie-based food self-sufficiency) presents the greatest challenge: maintaining current dietary patterns requires a great shift in nutrient recovery from waste. However, shifting dietary habits toward higher domestic rice consumption (Scenario C-2) significantly mitigates land and fertilizer demand. Achieving these targets requires a holistic approach that integrates technological infrastructure with socio-political shifts in land use planning and consumer behavior. Full article

Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758) is considered one of the major pests affecting global pome fruit production due to its wide distribution, cryptic feeding habit, high economic impact, and continuous evolution of insecticide resistance. Historically, management of this species has relied on repeated pesticide applications, which have been associated with environmental impacts, occupational exposure, pesticide residues in food, and compromised sustainability of pesticide-dependent agricultural systems, reinforcing the relevance of integrated One Health approaches. This narrative review analyzed global management strategies for C. pomonella published between 2014 and 2024 and indexed in the Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases. The reviewed studies demonstrate a gradual transition from predominantly chemical-based programs toward integrated strategies involving pheromone-based monitoring, mating disruption, biological control, and preventive plant biosecurity measures. Behavioral and biological approaches showed potential to reduce dependence on recurrent insecticide applications, particularly when associated with phytosanitary surveillance and integrated pest management programs. However, the effectiveness of these approaches remains influenced by insecticide resistance, climatic variability, and local ecological conditions. The evidence also suggests that the impacts of C. pomonella management are not limited to phytosanitary protection, involving interactions related to environmental sustainability, food safety, and human exposure to pesticides. Despite the relevance of the One Health approach, its operational incorporation into agricultural pest management remains limited, especially regarding the integration of research conducted under the One Health perspective. In this context, the sustainable management of Cydia pomonella requires integrated strategies capable of connecting phytosanitary surveillance, preventive plant biosecurity, and agricultural and ecological sustainability in order to ensure food security and population health. Full article

The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the oral health habits, dietary practices, and knowledge regarding cariogenic diet among University Dental students. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among students attending the integrated undergraduate and graduate Dental Medicine (DM) program. Data analysis was performed by stratifying students according to the year of study. In total, 114 questionnaires were collected. Three questionnaires were subsequently excluded, resulting in a final sample size of 111 students for analysis. Results: Over 75% of students from the 2nd (83.3%) to 6th (91.3%) year used a combination of a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, whereas 50% of 1st-year students reported using fluoride-free toothpaste (p < 0.05). The majority of senior students (34.8–100%) correctly identified xylitol and sorbitol as non-cariogenic (p < 0.05). However, a notable knowledge gap persisted in the final year, with over 30% of sixth-year students failing to identify them. Furthermore, over 60.0% of third-year and 90.0% of fifth-year students recognized the protective dental effects of hard cheese, cranberry, and green tea (p < 0.05). Regarding cariogenic potential, 45.8% of first-year and 57.1% of second-year students were unable to identify the most cariogenic saccharide (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study reveals an improvement in oral health habits and knowledge, particularly regarding the use of fluoride toothpaste and the identification of cariogenic saccharides. However, significant knowledge gaps persist across all years, most notably the high prevalence of fluoride-free toothpaste use among first-year students and the inability of a substantial portion of senior students to identify non-cariogenic sugar substitutes and protective foods. Full article

Over the past decade, Portugal has increasingly focused on public policies that promote healthy eating, driven by growing concerns about the population’s health and its social, economic, and political effects. These policies aim to reduce unhealthy eating habits, which are major risk factors for disease, and to reduce the overall disease burden. Tax measures are specifically intended to curb the consumption of foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats to prevent chronic non-communicable diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This article analyzes the measures adopted in Portugal to reduce sugar consumption and examines their effects on tax revenue and consumption volume. Using document analysis, the results indicate a decrease of 3853 tons in sugar consumption and tax revenue of 432 million euros from taxing sugary drinks and sweeteners since 2017. Although significant progress has been made, including product reformulation to reduce sugar content, challenges remain. It is essential to continue and expand these policies to other products, along with ongoing impact assessments, to foster a healthier future in line with the World Health Organization’s guidelines for 2030. Full article

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) exhibit reduced serum levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Alterations in fatty acid profiles may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk and potentially accelerate CKD progression. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess whether fatty acid profiles measured a decade earlier predicted CKD progression and cardiovascular events. Additionally, the impact of dietary patterns at baseline was evaluated. Methods: The study comprised 77 patients with CKD whose serum fatty acid profiles had been assessed approximately a decade earlier. Follow-up data on CKD progression, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality were collected. Dietary habits were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. The composite endpoint was defined as renal replacement therapy initiation or occurrence of stroke, myocardial infarction, or death. Results: Higher n-3 PUFA content was significantly associated with a lower risk of the composite endpoint in Cox regression analysis (HR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40–0.99; p = 0.044). Significant differences in event-free survival were observed in patients with higher n-3/n-6 PUFA ratios (log-rank test, χ² = 4.58, p = 0.032). Patients who experienced stroke or myocardial infarction had significantly higher levels of n-6 PUFA (32.85% vs. 29.94% Mann–Whitney U test, p = 0.037) and lower n-3/n-6 PUFA ratios (0.07 vs. 0.08, Mann–Whitney U test, p = 0.045). Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content was significantly lower at baseline in patients who required renal replacement therapy during follow-up compared with those who did not experience this outcome (0.66% [0.48–0.82] vs. 0.88% [0.64–1.13], Mann–Whitney U test, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Lower serum n-3 PUFA levels were observed in patients who reached the composite endpoint during follow-up. A higher n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio showed a protective effect in survival analysis, and higher EPA content was associated with a lower risk of renal replacement therapy initiation. A more favorable fatty acid profile may be linked to improved cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of fatty acid profiles in long-term outcomes among patients with CKD, in whom cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death. Full article

Background/Objectives: The rising prevalence of overweight and obesity reflects a trend towards worsening eating habits and reduced physical activity, with significant implications for public health and life expectancy. This pilot survey aimed to evaluate weight status, food habits and lifestyle in primary school children from under-researched rural areas of the Lazio region, Italy. Methods: A total of 182 children aged 6–10 years from the municipalities of Monte Romano and Tolfa were enrolled. Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated from measured weight and height, was classified by IOTF and WHO definitions. Food habits, socioeconomic factors and lifestyle were evaluated by a standard questionnaire, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) was assessed by the KIDMED test. Results: Data showed a high prevalence of overweight, including obesity (33.3%), based on IOTF criteria, with slightly higher rates in boys than girls (38.3% vs. 26.9%). According to the WHO definition, the rate of overweight/obesity was 39.5% with significant differences between males and females (46% vs. 30.8%). Only 19.9% of children had high adherence to MD (67.3% moderate, 12.9% low), and 29.5% of the sample did not eat breakfast every day. In addition, 25.4% met international physical activity recommendations, while around 40% exceeded the recommended screen time on weekend days, and 19.3% did not sleep the recommended hours. Conclusions: Preliminary data show high rates of excess weight, poor diet quality and unhealthy lifestyles. Extending the sampling to other municipalities in the study area will help validate these findings and provide deeper insights to inform targeted intervention strategies. Full article

Food waste presents a significant challenge to sustainable development, resulting in annual economic losses of more than USD 1 trillion. It contributes to 8–10% of global human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for nearly 30% of agricultural land use. Households are responsible for over half of this waste, with fruits and vegetables being the most frequently discarded items. This highlights the urgent need to promote sustainable consumption habits. This 2024 study surveyed a sample of 923 individuals who consume at least one of four categories: fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, processed fruits, or processed vegetables. It used cluster analysis to segment consumers based on the amount of food waste and fruit and vegetable losses. Three distinct segments were identified. Cluster 1 (Proactive & aware, 56%): Characterised by high environmental awareness (approximately 75%) and efficient food management skills, such as frequent shopping list preparation (48%), resulting in the lowest wastage levels. Cluster 2 (Convenient & situational, 38%): Driven by “convenience waste” mechanisms, where lack of time, poor portioning (44%), and a lack of culinary ideas lead to moderate waste levels despite mid-range awareness. Cluster 3 (Disorganised & wasteful, 6%): Reveals a significant attitude–behaviour gap; despite declaring a desire to limit waste, this group reported the highest perceived levels of waste. This is partly explained by the reverse sunk cost fallacy, where produce from own cultivation is devalued due to the absence of a market price. The findings emphasise that food waste is not a monolithic phenomenon but results from diverse behavioural deficits. The results provide a foundation for tailored behavioural interventions (nudges) and educational strategies to enhance food management skills and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Full article