Food disgust sensitivity influences food avoidance and behavior, yet cross-cultural validation of its measures remains limited. The Food Disgust Picture Scale (FDPS) was designed for cross-cultural assessment of food disgust sensitivity using 8 food-related pictures. This study tested the construct validity, reliability, measurement invariance, and convergent validity of the FDPS in 3 countries with partial cultural overlap and potentially different food disgust elicitors. Adult participants were recruited through online procedures in Spain (n = 653), Italy (n = 290), and Mexico (n = 251). Confirmatory factor analyses showed acceptable model fit in all 3 samples. The FDPS demonstrated good reliability and positive associations with food neophobia. Women reported higher food disgust sensitivity than men. These findings support the FDPS as a valid and reliable measurement for assessing food disgust sensitivity in Spain, Italy, and Mexico. Practically, the scale’s picture-based format reduces translation challenges, facilitating cross-cultural research and aiding identification of consumers prone to reject unfamiliar foods or novel food technologies.
Conventional meat production is resource-intensive and raises ethical concerns, prompting interest in cultured meat produced via growing stem cell cultivation in bioreactors with specialized media. However, cultured meat faces challenges in media formulation including high costs, reliance on non-food-grade components, and regulatory approval hurdles. This review presents a risk-based framework for media components, analyses regulatory landscapes across selected regions, and identifies opportunities for innovation including serum-free media development, and sustainable low-cost ingredients. It highlights that while non-food-grade media components pose potential risks, these can be mitigated through rigorous assessment, manufacturing controls, and wash procedures. Our findings suggest that adopting food-grade and serum-free media formulations can enhance sustainability, reduce costs, and facilitate regulatory compliance. This review emphasizes the importance of systematic safety evaluations and regulatory harmonization to support the commercial viability and consumer acceptance of cultured meat products.
The widespread use of pesticide mixtures in agriculture may result in multiple residues in food commodities, raising concerns regarding consumer exposure and regulatory compliance. Acetamiprid and pyridaben, commonly applied insecticides, have limited data on their combined residue behavior in peppers. This study investigated the residue dissipation behavior, calculated pre-harvest interval estimates, processing factors, and dietary risk of acetamiprid and pyridaben when applied individually or in combination (mixture application) to pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in open-field conditions at 2 locations. Field experiments were conducted under single and mixture application scenarios at recommended and double doses. Residue analysis was performed using a validated QuEChERS extraction method followed by LC–MS/MS determination in accordance with SANTE/11312/2021 guidelines. The dissipation of both insecticides followed single first-order kinetics. Half-lives ranged from 4.13 to 6.36 days for acetamiprid and 2.72–8.87 days for pyridaben. Mixture applications resulted in longer persistence and higher calculated pre-harvest interval estimates compared with single applications. Sun-drying led to residue concentration, with processing factors of 1.47 for acetamiprid and 3.72 for pyridaben. Based on dietary risk assessment results, the evaluated residue levels did not pose an unacceptable risk to consumers. Overall, these results provide a comprehensive understanding of how single and combined applications of acetamiprid and pyridaben influence residue behavior in pepper, indicating that, under the tested agricultural conditions, dietary exposure is unlikely to exceed established safety thresholds.
Sampling-based lot disposition plans are essential to verify compliance with microbiological criteria in food safety management. Although lot-level quantitative microbiological records are routinely stored in auditable food safety systems, limited research has examined how recent comparable records can be formally incorporated into sampling-based lot disposition decisions. To bridge this gap, this study develops a historical-record-informed inspection plan (HRIP) based on a microbial safety index, which systematically incorporates historical lot-level data into current lot disposition decisions. Comparative analyses show that HRIP enhances cost-effectiveness and discriminatory power compared to existing single sampling plans. Furthermore, a cloud-computing solver was developed to facilitate optimal plan design, ensuring practical applicability. Finally, an illustrative example demonstrates the method's use in verifying Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods.
The consumption of vegan-labelled foods has increased due to ethical, environmental, and health motivations, yet comprehensive evaluations of their microbiological safety and undeclared animal-derived allergens remain limited. This study analyzed 34 vegan products from Turin, Italy, using microbiological assays alongside biomolecular and immunoenzymatic techniques to detect crustacean and vertebrate DNA, as well as milk and egg proteins. Results showed no presence of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, milk, egg, or crustacean allergens; Enterobacteriaceae were detected within acceptable limits in 2 samples, and vertebrate DNA was found in one non-dairy cheese alternative. Overall, these findings indicate generally good hygienic quality and effective allergen management in the analysed products. These results provide baseline evidence to support future risk assessments and regulatory considerations in the plant-based food sector.
This longitudinal case study examines the combined use of Nutri-Score and nutrition claims on breakfast cereals in Dutch supermarkets before (2022, n = 257) and after (2024, n = 236) the Nutri-Score algorithm update. Nutri-Scores shifted towards less favourable classifications in 2024, with increased proportions mainly for D and E scored products. Concurrently, the prevalence of nutrition claims rose from 64.6
The aim of is study was to evaluate the occurrence and parasitological profile of contamination in crisp lettuce marketed in Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil. A total of 139 samples were collected from 45 supermarkets across 17 neighborhoods and analyzed using a spontaneous sedimentation technique, with identification based on morphological and morphometric criteria. Overall, 35.25
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether ensiling reduces tropane alkaloid concentrations in whole-plant maize contaminated with Datura stramonium, a concern for animal feed safety. Whole-plant maize silages were prepared with 10
Antimicrobial resistance poses a critical global health threat requiring a coordinated One Health approach across human, animal, and environmental sectors. Monitoring antibiotic sales and use in veterinary medicine is essential to assess and guide mitigation efforts. Here, we present 15 years of systematic antibiotic sales data collection in Germany, initiated in 2011 and aligned with European regulations by 2022. Using validated, regionally detailed data reported by pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers, we observed a 67
Mobile slaughter is increasingly used to improve animal welfare by reducing transport stress, but concerns remain about microbiological contamination due to delayed evisceration. This study assessed internal abdominal cavity surfaces of 58 cattle carcasses under routine mobile slaughter conditions in Germany by swabbing and analyzing total viable count (TVC) and the presence of Escherichia (E.) coli. Of 99 swabs, 46.5
In July 2023, the European Commission presented a draft regulation on plants obtained by certain New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). Following initial intra- and subsequent inter-institutional negotiations, the Council, Parliament and Commission agreed on a final draft version in December 2025 as part of the usual legislative procedure. It sets out rules for the categorisation and regulation of NGT plants. Here, we summarise the key points of the regulatory proposal and provide a critical analysis on the conflicting combination of two divergent sets of categorisation criteria. In this article potential challenges of the current regulatory proposal and its implementation are highlighted.
The increasing interest in mobile slaughter as a welfare-oriented alternative to conventional methods necessitates evaluation of its microbiological safety. This study assessed carcass surface contamination and bacteriological status of organ tissues from mobile slaughtered cattle across four German farms. Surface swabs (n = 62) and organ samples (n = 84) were analysed for total viable counts (TVC), Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia (E.) coli. Results showed all carcass surfaces met EU process hygiene criteria, with no significant association between visible hide contamination and microbial load. Bacteriological examination revealed 85.0
This study describes a full decade of outbreak reporting data in Germany. Over the 10-year period from 2015 to 2024, a total of 3,021 foodborne outbreaks were investigated by the German Federal States. Annual trends in outbreak frequency, causative agents, and clinical outcomes, including case numbers, hospitalisations, and deaths, are presented and discussed. Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. were the leading causes of outbreaks. Of all reported outbreaks, only 9.9
Harmonised models have been developed in the European Union for standard spray applications of plant protection products, which are mandatory for non-dietary human exposure assessment within the Member States. However, in contrast to the underlying calculations, the implementation of risk mitigation measures remains inconsistent among Member States. Here, we present the German system of risk mitigation measures for workers entering fields treated with pesticides. This system has been developed over recent years and is based on harmonised exposure assessments using EFSA guidelines and the OPEX-Calculator tool. This tiered system prescribes specific personal protective equipment and work time restrictions based on crop groupings, exposure scenarios, and residue dissipation, ensuring clear and enforceable safety instructions. The German approach balances effective worker protection with practical feasibility and may serve as a model approach for further harmonisation of risk mitigation measures within the European Union.
Many countries rely on hazard assessments rather than risk-based evaluations to ensure the safety of pesticide operators, partly because existing exposure models do not adequately represent the handheld application scenarios common in these regions. The International Center for Personal Protective Equipment for Pesticide Operators and Re-entry Workers (ICPPE) Risk Assessment and Mitigation Tool was developed in response to the need for a user-friendly and robust model for handheld pesticide application. The tool is the result of a multi-stakeholder initiative based on a global database of 55 handheld operator exposure studies, updated default dermal absorption values, and equivalencies between the study garments and ISO 27065-compliant personal protective equipment (PPE). Pilot testing in Africa demonstrated the usability and suitability of the beta versions, and the tool has been submitted to FAO for inclusion in the Pesticide Registration Toolkit. This article provides an overview of the development process, key tool features, and its relevance for supporting pesticide operator safety.
The new International Center for Personal Protective Equipment (ICPPE) operator exposure tool, like tools used in Europe and the United States, relies on passive dermal dosimetry exposure data to support risk assessment for the professional use of pesticides via handheld spraying equipment in regions where locally appropriate safety tools have been lacking. The objective of this study was to derive dermal absorption values for use with the tool when substance-specific data are unavailable. Using a database of 680 human in vitro studies covering 23 formulation types and 217 active ingredients, 4 statistical models were applied to derive fixed percentage absorption values for concentrated and diluted pesticide formulations. Furthermore, individual linear dose-absorption equations were generated based on the statistical relationship between applied dose and absorbed dose per µg/cm2 for the same formulation groups. As fixed percentages of the applied dose, 75th percentile values for concentrated products were 2.2
Cultured meat is emerging as a sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional meat, yet consumer acceptance varies globally. In Türkiye, where meat consumption is culturally significant, awareness and acceptance remain underexplored. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between December 2023 and September 2024 among 1,169 adults residing in Türkiye to assess familiarity, perception, willingness to try, eat, and pay for cultured meat, and attitudes toward its perceived benefits and risks. Results showed limited familiarity (46
Authentication of dairy product composition is vital for consumer protection and food safety. This study validated 4 real-time PCR methods targeting mitochondrial DNA from cattle, sheep, goat, and total mammals in a collaborative ring trial. Twelve well-characterised dairy samples – including milk, yoghurt, Picodon-type cheese, and Feta-type cheese ‒ were produced from sheep and goat milk with 1–33.3
Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), is a severe foodborne illness predominantly affecting high-risk groups, and has a high case fatality rate. Switzerland has experienced several outbreaks, but a national overview of implicated foods is lacking. We reviewed foodborne listeriosis in Switzerland, investigating Lm presence in food and foods linked to outbreaks. Epidemiological data, data on official sampling, reporting and outbreaks were collected from government agencies and the literature. Between 2015 and 2024, on average 53 listeriosis cases were reported annually (incidence 0.61/100,000), with highest incidences in adults over 65 years old and children under one year old. Official sampling found Lm most commonly in meat and meat products (38
