Commercially available SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR diagnostic tests need obligatory internal validation.

Although infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) does not appear to be as serious a threat to public health as it was in 2020-2021, the increased transmissibility of multiple Omicron descendants may constitute a continuous challenge for health care systems, and reliable detection of new variants is still imperative. This study evaluates the performance of three SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests: Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real Time Multiplex RT-PCR Kit (Liferiver); Vitassay qPCR SARS-CoV-2 (Vitaassay) and TaqPath COVID­19 CE-IVD RT-PCR Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The analytical sensitivity of the assays as well as their specificity were determined with the use of synthetic nucleic acid standards and clinical samples. All assays appeared to be 100% specific for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in general and the Omicron variant in particular. The LOD determined during this validation was 10 viral RNA copies/reaction for Liferiver and TaqPath and 100 viral RNA copies for Vitassay. We cannot exclude that the LOD for the Vitassay might be lower and close to the manufacturer's declared value of ≥ 20 genome copies/reaction, as we obtained 90% positive results for 10 viral RNA copies/reaction. Mean Ct values at the concentration of 10 viral RNA copies/reaction for the Liferiver, Vitassay and TaqPath kits (35, 37 and 33, respectively) were significantly lower than the cutoff values declared by the manufacturers (≤ 41, ≤ 40 and ≤ 37, respectively). We suggest reporting outcomes based on LOD and cutoff Ct values determined during internal validation rather than those declared by the assays' producers.

Comparison of the Purchasing Behaviour of Polish and United Kingdom Consumers in the Organic Food Market during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The main objective of the study was to compare young consumer purchasing behaviour towards organic food in Poland (PL) and the United Kingdom (UK), countries with different levels of organic market maturity. The study was conducted by means of an online survey questionnaire during the COVID-19 pandemic between December 2020 and February 2021. The sample consisted of 862 PL and 161 UK consumers. 31% of PL respondents and 58.4% of UK respondents indicated they purchase organic products. Descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test and the two proportion Z test were used for statistical analyses. The results indicate that young consumers pay particular attention to the freshness and quality of consumed products. Concern for their own health and that of their loved ones, as well as the desire to eat better-quality products were the main motivations for the respondents to purchase organic products. Organic vegetables and fruits, eggs, dairy products, and meat and meat products, were among the most frequently purchased products in the studied cohorts. Experts (e.g., a dietitian, physician) were declared to be the first source of information concerning food products for young consumers. Next, family members were indicated. Social media content (PL respondents) and information from websites managed by institutions (UK respondents) were mentioned as the third source. UK consumers preferred short supply chains. The present study can be used by government bodies and companies to select the most effective communication channels for education and advertising and to develop effective commercial strategies aimed at young consumers.

Considering Fraud Vulnerability Associated with Credence-Based Products Such as Organic Food.

Organic foods carry a premium price. They are credence-based foods, i.e., it is difficult for consumers to evaluate the premium aspects of organic food under normal use. In global supply chains, organic food is purchased on institutional trust (certification, logos, standards) rather than on relational trust. Relying on institutional trust makes consumers vulnerable to criminals who intentionally label conventional product as organic or develop sophisticated organized crime networks to defraud businesses and consumers. The aim of this research is to explore cases of organic fraud that are emergent from academic and gray literature searches to identify ways to strengthen future capabilities to counter illicit activities in a globalized food environment. Each case is considered in terms of perpetrator motivations (differentiated as economic, cultural, and behaviorally orientated drivers), the mode of operation (simple or organized), the guardians involved/absent, and the business and supply chain level vulnerabilities the cases highlight. The study finds that institutional trust is particularly vulnerable to fraud. Supply chain guardians need to recognize this vulnerability and implement effective controls to reduce the likelihood of occurrence. However, in some cases considered in the study, the guardians themselves were complicit in the illicit behavior, further increasing consumer vulnerability. Future research needs to consider how additional controls can be implemented, without increasing supply chain friction that will impact on food trade and supply, that can ensure consumers are purchasing what they believe they are paying for.

Illicit Alcohol: Public Health Risk of Methanol Poisoning and Policy Mitigation Strategies.

Illicit (unrecorded) alcohol is a critical global public health issue because it is produced without regulatory and market oversight with increased risk of safety, quality and adulteration issues. Undertaking iterative research to draw together academic, contemporary and historic evidence, this paper reviews one specific toxicological issue, methanol, in order to identify the policy mitigation strategies of interest. A typology of illicit alcohol products, including legal products, illegal products and surrogate products, is created. A policy landscape matrix is produced that synthesizes the drivers of illicit alcohol production, distribution, sale and consumption, policy measures and activity related signals in order to inform policy development. The matrix illustrates the interaction between capabilities, motivations and opportunities and factors such as access, culture, community norms and behavior, economic drivers and knowledge and information and gives insight into mitigation strategies against illicit alcohol sale and consumption, which may prove of value for policymakers in various parts of the world.