Search Results (59)

Drawing upon the TikTok platform, this study analyzes the media consumption of content dedicated to “Pandoro,” a typical sweet from Verona, Italy, identifying the most successful categories through a visual sociology approach. It then sets out to obtain a deeper understanding of the conceptualization of the sweet and the narration of Pandoro consumption among Gen Z, focusing on a small group of students in the city of Verona itself and verifying how elements of conservatism, traditionalism, and passivity emerge in the realization of content. What also appears interesting is the confirmation, which emerged from TikTok, that Pandoro is seen as an Italian symbol rather than a typical food associated with the city of Verona. Full article

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional management and social exchanges in the hospitality industry, focusing on food and beverage workers in Tel Aviv and New Orleans. Through 66 in-depth interviews conducted between 2021 and 2022, we explore how workers navigated altered social dynamics, heightened emotional labor, and moral dilemmas. Our analysis, grounded in Social Exchange Theory, dramaturgical theory, and the sociology of emotions, reveals three key themes: social and emotional distancing, crisis-driven emotional management, and the reconceptualization of hospitality between altruism and pragmatism. Despite different cultural contexts, workers in both cities faced similar challenges, highlighting the globalized nature of the industry. The pandemic disrupted traditional reciprocal exchanges, forcing a reevaluation of hospitality practices. Finally, this study stresses how emotional and moral dilemmas became central to social exchanges during the pandemic. Full article

Contemporary science and religion discourse (SRD) is a large field encompassing various topics, from creationism against evolution to theological anthropology and artificial intelligence, though historically, what is meant by “science” is Western science, and what is meant by “religion” is usually Christianity. Moreover, SRD has been driven mainly from the North American context. The scope of this paper will thus be more focused on Western science and North American Protestant Evangelical Christianity, which hereafter will be referred to as simply Christianity or religion. In this article, I argue that SRD often arises from conflict or intersections where such interdisciplinary dialogue is needed to better understand the topic. However, this also means that topics that seem to agree between religion and science are not discussed in SRD. It is as if the goal of SRD, consciously or unconsciously, is to attain some consensus. Topics that have achieved consensus are not worth interrogating using the interdisciplinary approach of SRD. In this article, I will raise the topic of the holy war on obesity as a case example. From the medical and scientific perspective, obesity is a significant epidemic and problem. Similarly, Christians also see obesity as a problem that their churches can help by reinforcing the need for self-control as a virtue. The alignment of the two fields leaves this subject primarily out of the radar of the academic SRD. Yet I argue here that this unholy alliance needs to be questioned because locating the solution to obesity simply on willpower to lose weight and battle gluttony is short-sighted at best, misleading perhaps, and harmful at worst. This paper calls for a transdisciplinary approach to the SRD on obesity, emphasizing the need to address the multifaceted nature of the problem, which spans physiology, psychology, sociology, economics, culture, and theology. In overlooking the complexity of the problem with its various intersectionalities, both science and religion in SRD have colonized bodies and health. Inherent within this transdisciplinary approach is the exercise of undisciplining SRD and decolonizing bodies. The concept of “undisciplining” involves re-evaluating the problem beyond mere weight loss, addressing interconnected issues such as food supply, government regulations, capitalism, discrimination, and mental health care. The narrative of gluttony as sin, the war metaphor, and the methodologies employed by both religious and scientific communities need to be deconstructed. In conclusion, recognizing the entangled system in which all are complicit, the paper advocates for a more nuanced and comprehensive approach, free from the constraints of traditional disciplinary boundaries and influenced narratives. Full article

The presented review concerns the cross-disciplinary approaches to the subject of blue food and blue colourants, the socio-cultural aspects of blue food and beverage consumption, human health effects, environmental impact, and economic aspects. Blue colour in relation to food is not only about improving visual appeal, to which the addition of food colouring is usually limited when the food is coloured in some way that does not encourage eating. It is also the rich and complex sociological side related to food, that is, not only the food itself but also the background, dishware, and light, depending on whether we want to encourage—to increase consumption—or discourage—to, for example, reduce the amount of food eaten for dietary purposes. The negative side of consuming and disposing of synthetic dyes and the health-promoting aspects of natural dyes are also mentioned, with the economic and environmental aspects of sourcing natural dyes being discussed. The food industry uses blue dyes not only for consumption, but also for food quality control, taking advantage of the pH-dependent colour change properties of the compound. Full article

In order to comprehend the impact of globalization on local food systems, it is crucial to consider sociohistorical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural trajectories, accompanied by long-term and cross-sectional monitoring. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to develop research protocols that enable the comparative evaluation of diets from the perspective of dietetics and nutrition, as well as local representations of food. Within the framework of an interdisciplinary and international OHM (Human-Environment Observatories) research network, a multidisciplinary team of researchers specializing in ethnoecology, health, nutrition, ecotoxicology, anthropology, and sociology was assembled. The network’s role is to conduct long-term studies on human-influenced ecosystems that are susceptible to socio-ecosystemic crises, such as those related to food and health. The consortium comprised researchers working within five OHMs, namely Estarreja (Portugal), Téssékéré (Senegal), Littoral-Caraïbes (Guadeloupe, France), Oyapock (French Guiana, France), and Nunavik (Québec, Canada), which focus on five distinct socio-ecosystems. Results: A cross-sectional data collection protocol was developed, consisting of a two-part questionnaire. Part 1 involves a structured 24 h dietary recall (24HR) that deviates from standard 24 h questionnaires by excluding portion sizes, instead focusing on food acquisition strategies and the degree of food item transformation. Part 2 encompasses a semi-structured interview guide that explores the concept of "eating well," barriers and facilitators to achieving it, changes in diet and dietary habits, and the connection between diet and health. This questionnaire captures, in a single session, the food items that individuals consumed the previous day, including their origin and level of transformation, as well as the associated perceptions regarding those food items and the overall diet. This approach enables the collection of data that facilitate the assessment of factors influencing diet from both the researchers’ point of view (i.e., etic perspective) and that of local populations (i.e., emic perspective). The questionnaire thus adopts a holistic approach, enabling us to analyze the links that populations establish between the socio-ecosystemic crises they have undergone (or are currently undergoing), their health and the evolution of their food systems. Full article

Background: Healthy nutrition of pregnant women is a powerful factor for reducing health risks during this period and for the outcome of pregnancy. The objective of the present work is to establish a preventive strategy for pregnant women in Bulgaria by means of a physiologically based nutritional model created upon national and international expert recommendations. Methods: Sociological and documentary methods were used. Results and discussion: The presented strategy concept includes 7 “steps” in the construction and individualization of nutritional regimes for pregnant women by medical professionals. The first step involves the quantitative satisfaction of the women’s increased nutritional energy needs (compared to non-pregnant women of the same age). During the first trimester, women require the following: +70 kcal/day; second trimester: +260 kcal/day; third trimester: up to +500 kcal/day. The second step involves increasing the intake of high-quality protein; during the first trimester, women require +1 g/day; second trimester: +9 g/day; third trimester: +28 g/day. For the third step, fats and carbohydrates do not require additional supplements during pregnancy. For the fourth step, a physiologically justified increase in vitamin and mineral food intake is necessary. As a percentage, the increase is as follows: vitamins A and E: +8%; C and B12: +11%; B1, B2 and niacin (B3): +30%; B6: +46%; A: +60%; folate (B9): +81%; copper: +15%; iodine: +33%; iron and zinc: +50%. The fifth step involves the selection of medico-biological criteria for proper nutrition: weight gain: from 11.5 to 16 kg in healthy women with normal body mass (BMI from 18.5 to 24.9) before the beginning of pregnancy. Overweight women (BMI from 25 to 29.9) should not gain more than 7 to 11 kg; obese women (BMI over 30) should not gain more than 6 to 8 kg; underweight women (BMI < 18.5) should not gain more than 12.5 to 18 kg. The sixth step involves performing a medical assessment for pregnancy-related health problems. The seventh step includes the development of practical recommendations for a healthy diet with a set of products adapted to the specific metabolic needs of the pregnant women and distribution of food intake during the day. Conclusion: The experts in this field should provide medical professionals (involved in the healthcare of pregnant women) with the necessary skills and techniques to implement this preventive strategy in their counseling practices. Full article

Antibiotics have emerged as ground-breaking medications for the treatment of infectious diseases, but due to the excessive use of antibiotics, some drugs have developed resistance to microorganisms. Because of their structural complexity, most antibiotics are excreted unchanged, polluting the water, soil, and natural resources. Additionally, food items are being polluted through the widespread use of antibiotics in animal feed. The normal concentrations of antibiotics in environmental samples typically vary from ng to g/L. Antibiotic residues in excess of these values can pose major risks the development of illnesses and infections/diseases. According to estimates, 300 million people will die prematurely in the next three decades (by 2050), and the WHO has proclaimed “antibiotic resistance” to be a severe economic and sociological hazard to public health. Several antibiotics have been recognised as possible environmental pollutants (EMA) and their detection in various matrices such as food, milk, and environmental samples is being investigated. Currently, chromatographic techniques coupled with different detectors (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS) are typically used for antibiotic analysis. Other screening methods include optical methods, ELISA, electrophoresis, biosensors, etc. To minimise the problems associated with antibiotics (i.e., the development of AMR) and the currently available analytical methods, electrochemical platforms have been investigated, and can provide a cost-effective, rapid and portable alternative. Despite the significant progress in this field, further developments are necessary to advance electrochemical sensors, e.g., through the use of multi-functional nanomaterials and advanced (bio)materials to ensure efficient detection, sensitivity, portability, and reliability. This review summarises the use of electrochemical biosensors for the detection of antibiotics in milk/milk products and presents a brief introduction to antibiotics and AMR followed by developments in the field of electrochemical biosensors based on (i) immunosensor, (ii) aptamer (iii) MIP, (iv) enzyme, (v) whole-cell and (vi) direct electrochemical approaches. The role of nanomaterials and sensor fabrication is discussed wherever necessary. Finally, the review discusses the challenges encountered and future perspectives. This review can serve as an insightful source of information, enhancing the awareness of the role of electrochemical biosensors in providing information for the preservation of the health of the public, of animals, and of our environment, globally. Full article

Alternative food networks (AFNs) represent local food systems and short supply chain networks alternative to global food systems. These networks are often developed within rural–urban interfaces and take various forms, due to the high propensity towards the innovative organization of the network. The aim of our study is to map the currently applied, distinctive innovative organizational models of alternative food networks by identifying the organizational innovations of these networks in available case studies. Adopting the lens of organizational sociology and using space-filling visualization, the study compares various forms of localized and spatially extended AFNs. The results of our comparative analysis suggest that main aspects of AFNs’ differentiation are the models of network organization, applied coordination models, competences structures of the involved actors, nature of the intermediaries and their roles within the AFNs, and the level of customer engagement. Innovation processes within short food networks can be driven by the producer, intermediaries, and communities of consumers. We identified three types of AFNs defined with regard to the predominant direction of flows in the urban–rural interface: (1) AFNs localized within the borders of the city, (2) AFNs based on interconnecting the rural farmers located within rural settlements adjacent to the city and to the consumers in cities, and also (3) AFNs localized in peri-urban interfaces with distant customers. Full article

Facing the problem of increasing waste, scientists, foundations, and companies around the globe resulted in ideas and invented technologies to slow down the process. Sources of waste range from industrial waste (e.g., construction and demolition materials, hazardous wastes, ashes) to municipal solid waste (e.g., food wastes, paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles). Modern solutions do not focus only on technological aspects of waste management but also on sociological ones. Thanks to the Internet and social media platforms, scientists can influence ecological consciousness and awareness on a much larger scale. This research was conducted using the search keywords related to modern technologies for waste management. This paper presents a spectrum of selected modern solutions that changed in recent years and how they have impacted waste management. It also discusses challenges and future directions of waste management in the context of the circular economy. The use of modern solutions in waste management allows to achieve selected goals of sustainable development. Full article

The paper presents the result of assessing the antiradical status of consumers (in the context of Russia) in connection with their well-being. This approach is based on a multistage study, in which the results of sociological surveys were applied, as well as estimates of the antiradical potential (ARP) of diets obtained using neural networks, bootstrapping the chemical composition of diets, and calculating reference values using mathematical models. The paper presents data collected from residents living in the territories of at least 21 regions and cities of Russia: Magadan, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Krasnodar, Lipetsk, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Voronezh, etc. A total of 1001 people were interviewed, which, according to our calculations, gives a margin of error in value of approximately 3.1%. To calculate the lack of vitamins in the diets of residents of the Russian Federation, data on the chemical composition of food products from the FNDDS database were used. The assessment of dietary habits showed a lack of vitamins below the recommended level in 73% of Russians for vitamin D, 59% for retinol, 38% for β-carotenes, 13% for vitamin E, and 6% for ascorbic acid. The study showed that at least 36% of the Russian population has a low antiradical status, while it was found that “poor” consumers are more likely to consume economically more expensive foods (in terms of their nutritional value). The “poor” segments of the population consume 180–305% more canned food and 38–68% more sweet carbonated drinks than other social groups, but their consumption of vegetables is 23–48% lower. On the contrary, “wealthy” consumers consume 17–25% more complex (varied) dishes, 10–68% more fresh vegetables, and 8–39% more fish. From the obtained values it follows that consumers with low levels of ARP in their diets are in a group with an increased probability of a number of “excess” diseases (diseases of the cardiovascular system, obesity, etc.). In general, the ARP values of food consumed for low-income segments of the population were 2.3 times lower (the ratio was calculated as the percentage of consumers below the level of 11,067 equivalents necessary for the disposal of free radicals generated in the human body per day) than for those who can afford expensive food (consumers with high income). A simple increase in consumption of unbalanced foods, in our opinion, will only contribute to the entry of these consumers into the “average diet trap”. All this makes it imperative to develop comprehensive measures to create a new concept of public catering; otherwise, we can expect a reduction in both the health of the population and the performance of the economy of the whole country. Full article

The widespread development of hydropower dams has led to involuntary displacement, which has become a significant global issue. In Vietnam, around 70,000 households were displaced in 2020, causing uncertainty and social disruption. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of resettlement on the livelihood and food security of displaced households, explore the underlying challenges and causes of these effects, and recommend policy implications for sustainable livelihood development and poverty alleviation. This study conducted a decade-long sociological examination of three displaced communities in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. Our research reveals that resettled households are unable to regain their former standard of living due to the loss of cultivated land and restricted access to public property, which exacerbates food insecurity. Unemployment, illiteracy, and low income further perpetuate poverty. These findings highlight the deficiencies in current policies and planning approaches and call for implementing socially responsible resettlement processes guided by principles of equity. Addressing the inequalities arising from displacement and enabling affected communities to participate in growth is economically justified and morally imperative. Full article

The university stage is a good time to promote healthy eating strategies. The sociological and cultural changes experienced by students lead them to skip meals, increase their intake of fast food and energy-dense foods, decreasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD). Professionals related to food such as nutritionists and dietitians are also considered a population at risk of developing eating disorders due to the extensive knowledge they possess, which can be used for both good and bad practice. The objective was to analyze the impact of a 4-month educational program promoting the Mediterranean diet on risky eating behaviors, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and body composition in nutrition and dietetics students, studying the differences according to the group investigated (control group and educated group). The context of the research was 196 students (49 males and 147 females) from two consecutive years. The control group did not receive any type of intervention, while with the control group (educated) an educational program was carried out. Results showed that women with greater control over energy intake, carbohydrates, and sugar had a lower percentage of fat mass, while in men, the relationship was established with weight. Regarding adherence to the Mediterranean diet, at post, it is adequate in both men (8.25 ± 2.87) and women (7.90 ± 2.89), with no significant differences between the intervention groups. Full article

Using secondary analysis of data from the Malaysian Food Barometer (MFB), this article highlights ethnocultural dimensions and social functions of breakfasts in the Malaysian population. MFB uses a 24-h dietary recall that lets the interviewee give the name of the food intake. It shows that breakfasts from the Asian food register dominate with 50.7% (Malays, 50.4%; Indians, 51.9%; Chinese, 47.6%; non-Malay Bumiputra 50.1%), whereas 26.1% eat a westernised breakfast and 17.6% eat no breakfast. If we add those who just have a beverage, 20% do not eat a “proper” breakfast. The Asian breakfasts are characterised by including cooked dishes. These sometimes require real craftmanship to prepare. Therefore, they are mostly purchased outside and consumed either at home, at the workplace, or outside, in restaurants or food courts, such as “mamaks” or “nasi kandar “. Breakfast dishes can be attached to the food culture of the three main ethnic groups of Malaysia, but the boundaries between breakfast cultural styles are fluid and there is a sort of pooling of the breakfast dishes. This porosity of the boundaries between culinary styles is one of the main characteristics of Malaysian breakfast culture. It is so important that when asked, “What could represent Malaysia the best for submission to UNESCO’s intangible heritage list?”, the sample of a national representative population places two breakfast dishes first (nasi lemak and roti canai). This knowledge of the ethno-cultural dimensions of breakfast will help public health nutritionists and policymakers consider cultural characteristics and avoid the risk of a (non-conscious) neo-colonial attitude in promoting western style breakfasts. However, bearing in mind the influence of the British colonisation, the so-called westernised breakfast could also be considered as part of a cosmopolitanised breakfast culture. Finally, the understanding of breakfast culture will feed the debate around, and the progress towards, sociocultural sustainable healthy diets. Full article

Algorithms are increasingly used instead of humans to perform core management functions, yet public health research on the implications of this phenomenon for worker health and well-being has not kept pace with these changing work arrangements. Algorithmic management has the potential to influence several dimensions of job quality with known links to worker health, including workload, income security, task significance, schedule stability, socioemotional rewards, interpersonal relations, decision authority, and organizational trust. To describe the ways algorithmic management may influence workers’ health, this review summarizes available literature from public health, sociology, management science, and human-computer interaction studies, highlighting the dimensions of job quality associated with work stress and occupational safety. We focus on the example of work for platform-based food and grocery delivery companies; these businesses are growing rapidly worldwide and their effects on workers and policies to address those effects have received significant attention. We conclude with a discussion of research challenges and needs, with the goal of understanding and addressing the effects of this increasingly used technology on worker health and health equity. Full article

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is one of the greatest global health concerns. The growth of food animal farming has challenged efforts to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use (ABU) and is linked to the rapid increases in ABR. This mixed-methods sociological study was conducted between 2016 and 2017, in a sample of 100 animal farmers in southern Vietnam, aiming to characterize their perception of ABU and identify factors influencing their practice. Data were collected from a structured questionnaire investigating characteristics of social demographics and farm style, farmers’ ABU perception and practices, sources of ABU information and the intention to reduce ABU. Generalized linear models were built to investigate potential influencing factors associated with ABU perception and practices. The results show a majority of farmers had an unfavourable perception of ABU. Only 13% correctly knew antibiotics were used for treating bacterial infections. The inappropriate practice of ABU for non-therapeutic purposes was found in almost two-thirds of the farmers (59.4%). Data from the multivariate analysis showed: (1) a significant association between an unfavourable perception of ABU and inappropriate practices, (2) an inverse influence of participation in training workshops to a favourable perception of ABU, but also (3) an inverse influence of participation in training workshops to inappropriate practices of ABU. The results suggest that the local training events that are usually put on by commercial companies do not assist farmers to effectively reduce ABU. On the contrary, these events seem to promote their use. We recognize the complexity of effectively managing appropriate ABU on farms in order to reduce ABR in Vietnam. We conclude that legislation and enforcement needs to be tightened to reduce sale of antibiotics to farmers without veterinarian prescription, and advertising and influence of commercial stakeholders needs to be highly moderated so that they do not unduly promote the unregulated use of antibiotics on farms. Household farmers are important stakeholders in the efforts to reducing ABU and preventing ABR, and therefore should be engaged more effectively. Full article