Non-animal-based options for animal-based foods- towards a systematic terminology.

The market has seen a rapid increase in animal-free products intended to replace animal-based foods due to concerns for human health and environmental sustainability. However, there is a lack of consistent terminology for these products, with various terms being used interchangeably, creating ambiguity. To address this issue, we propose a systematic nomenclature that defines the most commonly used terms, namely alternative, substitute, replacement, and analog, along with examples of each. In this nomenclature, a substitute primarily serves a culinary purpose, while a replacement is concerned with nutritional properties. An analog strives to satisfy both culinary and nutritional attributes to closely mimic animal-based foods in terms of sensory, nutritional, and functional characteristics. The term "alternative" serves as an umbrella term encompassing all possibilities. This work aims to promote a clearer understanding of such products and their intended use and facilitate a unified use of terminology across disciplines. This will also enable informed decision-making for consumers and greater transparency in the food industry. The health and environmental implications of these products are not discussed in this perspective.

Consumers' Attitudes towards Animal Suffering: A Systematic Review on Awareness, Willingness and Dietary Change.

Planetary and human health depend on Westerners' ability to reduce meat consumption. Meat production degrades the environment while excessive meat intake is associated with cancer and cardiovascular disease, among others. Effective reasons and motivations are needed for consumers to change their diet. The fact that modern animal agriculture inflicts a great deal of pain on animals from their birth to their slaughter, animal welfare/suffering may drive consumers to curtail their meat consumption. This systematic review examined a total of 90 papers to ascertain consumers' awareness of the pain animals experience in animal agriculture, as well as consumer attitudes towards meat reduction due to animal welfare. Results show that consumers have low awareness of animal agriculture. Awareness of animal agricultural practices and animal sentience is associated with increased negative attitudes towards animal suffering. Animal suffering due to farming practices, transportation, slaughter, and animal sentience are factors that may encourage a reduction in meat consumption, and even dietary change in the short term. There is also evidence that animal suffering may be a more compelling motivation for consumers' willingness to change their diet than for health or environmental reasons. Therefore, increasing consumers' awareness of animal suffering in meat production is paramount to contributing to reduced pressure on the environment and improved human health.

Uso de beca estatal de alimentación para estudiantes universitarios según factores sociológicos / Influence of sociological factors on the use of a state scholarship to feed Chilean university students / Influência de fatores sociológicos no uso de uma bolsa estadual para alimentar estudantes universitários chilenos

Resumen (analítico) Conocer la influencia de factores sociodemográficos en el uso de la beca de alimentación Junaeb Baes, que otorga el Gobierno chileno a estudiantes universitarios con menores ingresos, es necesario para aumentar el beneficio social de este programa estatal. Se consideraron las variables género, modo de residencia, carrera y curso, etnia y posición socioeconómica. Se aplicó una encuesta a 114 estudiantes universitarios chilenos. Los resultados muestran que la posición socioeconómica y el modo de residencia son los factores sociodemográficos más influyentes en el uso de la beca Baes. La variable género no arrojó diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Se concluye que es posible aumentar el porcentaje de gasto en alimentos saludables si se consideran factores sociológicos en el estudio y diseño de políticas de uso de la beca Baes.

Abstract (analytical) Knowing the influence of sociodemographic factors in the use of the Junaeb Baes food benefit granted by the Chilean Government to low-income university students is necessary to increase the social benefit of this state program. The variables gender, mode of residence, major and year, ethnicity and socioeconomic position were considered. A survey was applied to 114 Chilean university students. The results show that socioeconomic position and mode of residence are the most influential socio-demographic factors in the use of the Baes benefit. The gender variable did not show statistically significant differences. It is concluded that it is possible to increase the percentage of spending on healthy foods if sociological factors are considered in the study and design of policies for the use of the Baes grant.

Resumo (analítico) Conhecer a influência de fatores sociodemográficos na utilização da bolsa de alimentação Junaeb Baes concedida pelo Governo do Chile a universitários de menor renda é necessário para aumentar o benefício social deste programa estadual. Foram consideradas as variáveis sexo, modo de residência, carreira e curso, etnia e posição socioeconômica. Uma pesquisa foi aplicada a 114 estudantes universitários chilenos. Os resultados mostram que a posição socioeconômica e o modo de residência são os fatores sociodemográficos mais influentes no uso da bolsa Baes. A variável sexo não apresentou diferenças estatisticamente significantes. Conclui-se que é possível aumentar o percentual de gastos com alimentos saudáveis se fatores sociológicos forem considerados no estudo e desenho de políticas para o uso da bolsa Baes.

Chilean Digital Press Coverage of the Relation between Diet and Mental Health.

Chile has a serious public health problem due to the high prevalence of both unhealthy dietary patterns and mental illnesses. Given that dietary quality is positively associated with the quality of mental health, it is urgent that healthy dietary patterns be promoted among Chileans. The WHO recommends the use of mass media for the dissemination of knowledge about mental health. Since health news affect people's attitudes and health behaviors, this study analyzed the coverage by three Chilean online newspapers with the largest readership regarding the relation between diet and mental health in 2016. A previously constructed corpus of 2551 news items about food was analyzed quantitatively. The results show that the relevance of the topic diet and mental health was low in all three newspapers. The most frequent type of information was on "foods" and not "nutrients" that "benefit"-not that "damage"-mental health. The quality of the news was poor as a narrow range of sources was found. An individual responsibility frame predominated in the information to the detriment of a public health frame.

Consumer Attitudes Towards Environmental Concerns of Meat Consumption: A Systematic Review.

Meat consumption is a major contributor to global warming. Given the worldwide growing demand of meat, and the severe impact of meat production on the planet, reducing animal protein consumption is a matter of food security and public health. Changing consumer food behavior is a challenge. Taste preferences, culinary traditions and social norms factor into food choices. Since behavioral change cannot occur without the subject's positive attitude based on reasons and motivations, a total of 34 papers on consumer attitudes and behavior towards meat consumption in relation to environmental concerns were examined. The results show that consumers aware of the meat impact on the planet, willing to stop or significantly reduce meat consumption for environmental reasons, and who have already changed their meat intake for ecological concerns are a small minority. However, environmental motives are already appealing significant proportions of Westerners to adopt certain meat curtailment strategies. Those who limit meat intake for environmental reasons are typically female, young, simply meat-reducer (not vegan/vegetarian), ecology-oriented, and would more likely live in Europe and Asia than in the U.S.