Convergent technologies to tackle challenges of modern food authentication.

The authentication process involves all the supply chain stakeholders, and it is also adopted to verify food quality and safety. Food authentication tools are an essential part of traceability systems as they provide information on the credibility of origin, species/variety identity, geographical provenance, production entity. Moreover, these systems are useful to evaluate the effect of transformation processes, conservation strategies and the reliability of packaging and distribution flows on food quality and safety. In this manuscript, we identified the innovative characteristics of food authentication systems to respond to market challenges, such as the simplification, the high sensitivity, and the non-destructive ability during authentication procedures. We also discussed the potential of the current identification systems based on molecular markers (chemical, biochemical, genetic) and the effectiveness of new technologies with reference to the miniaturized systems offered by nanotechnologies, and computer vision systems linked to artificial intelligence processes. This overview emphasizes the importance of convergent technologies in food authentication, to support molecular markers with the technological innovation offered by emerging technologies derived from biotechnologies and informatics. The potential of these strategies was evaluated on real examples of high-value food products. Technological innovation can therefore strengthen the system of molecular markers to meet the current market needs; however, food production processes are in profound evolution. The food 3D-printing and the introduction of new raw materials open new challenges for food authentication and this will require both an update of the current regulatory framework, as well as the development and adoption of new analytical systems.

Modelling Food Substitution Using the Ofcom Nutrient Profiling Model on Population Intakes from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition 2015.

This study aimed to model how substituting foods consumed by Canadians for alternatives with more favourable nutrient profiling (NP) scores would impact dietary intakes. The Ofcom NP system, developed to help the UK Office of Communication differentiate foods that can be advertised to children, was applied to foods consumed by Canadians aged 2 years and older in the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) (n = 19,447). Foods were substituted for similar options from the Euromonitor branded food composition database (Scenario 1) or from the primarily aggregated food profiles in the CCHS survey food composition database (Scenario 2) with either the most favourable (optimistic; 1A and 2A) or a more favourable Ofcom score (realistic; 1B and 2B). Mean intakes of Ofcom scores, calories, saturated fat, sugars, and sodium from these scenarios were compared to baseline. Only 2.9% of foods consumed had a similar Euromonitor option with a lower Ofcom score. Scenarios 1A, 1B, and 2A had lower Ofcom scores, calorie, sodium, saturated fat, and sugar intakes compared to baseline. Scenario 2B had lower levels of all outcome measures, except for an increase in calories compared to baseline. Selection of foods with more favourable NP scores has the potential to decrease the Canadian intake of nutrients of concern.

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for sustainability assessment in food sector. A systematic literature review on methods, indicators and tools.

In the last decades, several studies have highlighted the significant impacts of the food sector. Therefore, enhancing sustainability within this sector has become of paramount importance. A crucial step towards achieving this goal involves the definition and implementation of effective sustainability metric and measurements. In this regard, the adoption of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods can be seen as one of the most suitable and promising approach to comprehensively capture the complex and broad-ranging effects of agricultural practices and food supply chains. In such context, a systematic review of the scientific literature on multi-criteria approaches and tools for measuring the sustainability of food supply chains (harvest and post-harvest stages) has been carried out, resulting in the selection and analysis of 42 articles. To delve into the selected articles, three main areas of focus have been identified. The first about MCDA methods and their features, revealing the most adopted methods for sustainability assessments of food supply chains. The second, focusing on the participatory approach, led to the definition of a stakeholder's engagement map, highlighting the typology of stakeholders involved, the reasons of their involvement and engagement methods. Lastly, the third focus is related to the analysis and classification of indicators adopted in each study and the sustainability dimensions to which they refer to. The results of the present review study provide a comprehensive overview of the essential aspects to be considered when developing a MCDA for sustainability assessment in the food sector, serving as a valuable resource for both scholars and practitioners.

Promoting Slhánay̓ Skwálwen (Indigenous Women's Heart Health): Findings From Sharing Circles With Squamish Nation.

OBJECTIVE: To gather knowledge and experiences from Squamish Nation citizens to codevelop a model of foraging walks for Indigenous women's heart health. DESIGN: Qualitative study (sharing circles). SETTING: Vancouver, Canada (virtual). PARTICIPANTS: Squamish Nation community members (n = 9), Elders or Knowledge Keepers (n = 5), and researchers (n = 2). INTERVENTION: Community-led foraging walks as a culturally safe nutrition education strategy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Perspectives and experiences. ANALYSIS: Content analysis and narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Personal experiences of foraging walks or knowledge of traditional plants were limited for most participants, and all desired to learn more about traditional foods using land-based activities. Participants identified a lack of nutrition education surrounding heart health and common mistreatment and judgment from health professionals. Participants identified important elements of a future Squamish program, including who should be involved, how to implement it, and the most effective temporal and physical setting. All agreed foraging walks help promote 5 dimensions of heart health (physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and social) through physical activity, purposeful nutrition, and connection to community and culture. Findings from the sharing circles were used in the creation of a template for future foraging sessions and contributed to plant identification cards for the whole community. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Community-based pilot studies to test foraging walks as a culturally safe and environmental approach to nutrition education and cardiovascular health awareness for Indigenous communities are warranted. Research to examine the similarities and differences across Indigenous groups related to understanding heart health and land-based practices for nutrition education and heart health awareness is needed.

Leucocytozoon Infection Does Not Influence the Survival of Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus Nestlings.

Leucocytozoon infection has been observed to impact the reproductive ecology and physiology of avian hosts, but its influence on nestling survival remains unclear. We investigated the effect of Leucocytozoon infection intensity, determined through triplicate PCR sample analyses, on the survival of 256 boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) nestlings during an 8-yr study. Contrary to our expectations, the survival probability of boreal owl nestlings was not influenced by their Leucocytozoon infection intensity. Nestling age and Leucocytozoon infection intensity in male and female parents also did not impact nestling survival. Instead, food abundance and hatching order were the key factors influencing nestling survival. Additionally, we observed a significantly higher Leucocytozoon infection intensity in male parents compared to female parents and nestlings. We suggest a distinct division of parental roles may lead females and nestlings staying within the nest boxes (cavities) to experience lower exposure to potential vectors transmitting blood parasites than their male counterparts. Our study shows that Leucocytozoon disease may not be lethal for boreal owl chicks, exhibiting a below-average infection intensity compared to their male parents.

La infección por Leucocytozoon no influye en la supervivencia de los polluelos de mochuelo boreal Aegolius funereus. Se ha observado que la infección por Leucocytozoon afecta la ecología y fisiología reproductiva de las aves hospedadoras, pero su influencia en la supervivencia de los polluelos aún no está completamente determinada. Se investigó el efecto de la intensidad de la infección por Leucocytozoon, determinada mediante análisis de muestras de PCR por triplicado, sobre la supervivencia de 256 polluelos de mochuelo boreal (Aegolius funereus) durante un estudio de ocho años. Contrariamente a nuestras expectativas, la probabilidad de supervivencia de los polluelos de mochuelo boreal no se vio influenciada por la intensidad de la infección por Leucocytozoon. La edad de los polluelos y la intensidad de la infección por Leucocytozoon en los padres machos y hembras tampoco afectaron la supervivencia de los polluelos. En cambio, la abundancia de alimento y el orden de eclosión fueron los principales factores que influyeron en la supervivencia de los polluelos. Además, se observó una intensidad de infección por Leucocytozoon significativamente mayor en los padres machos en comparación con las hembras y los polluelos. Se sugiere que una clara división de los roles parentales puede llevar a que las hembras y los polluelos que permanecen dentro de las cajas nido (cavidades) experimenten una menor exposición a vectores potenciales que transmitan parásitos sanguíneos en comparación con los individuos adultos masculinos. Nuestro estudio muestra que la enfermedad de Leucocytozoon puede no ser letal para los polluelos de mochuelo boreal, ya que exhiben una intensidad de infección por debajo del promedio en comparación con sus padres machos.

Postprandial Antioxidative Response to Ingestion of Formulated Date- and Fruit-Based Nutritional Bars by Healthy Individuals.

Nutritional bars (NBs) are gaining popularity among healthy and athletic individuals, but postprandial antioxidative response has not been investigated. Therefore, the current study examined the postprandial alterations in total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the plasma of healthy individuals after the ingestion of 140 g (510 Kcal) from formulated date-based bars (DBBs) or fruit-based bars (FBBs). Firstly, the free and bound phenolic contents (PCs) were determined to be 10.15 and 12.98 and 6.19 and 3.57 mg GAE g-1, respectively. FBBs were significantly higher in free PC than DBBs, while DBBs were considerably higher in bound PC than FBBs. Secondly, twenty participants with age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and fat-free mass averages of 21.4 years, 170.0 cm, 66.3 kg, 22.9 kg m2, 14.5, and 29.2 kg, respectively, were subjected to metabolic experiments (ISRCTN19386758). Ingestion of 140 g of FBB or DBB resulted in 288.50 or 302.14 µg TPC mL-1 blood, respectively. Postprandial TPC content increased with time progression and peaked after 120 min. T-AOC contents averaged 22.63 and 23.61 U mL-1 before ingestion of FBBs or DBBs, respectively. The T-AOC content increased significantly 120 and 180 min after ingestion of DBBs, while no significant change was noted after consuming FBBs. A significant decrease in MDA content was observed 180 min after consuming DBBs, while no significant change was noted after consuming FBBs. SOD concentrations ranged from 193.99 to 201.07 U L-1 in FBBs and DBBs, respectively. No considerable response was noted up to 3 h after ingestion of FBBs. On the contrary, a significant response was found 120 min after consuming DBBs. Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated a highly significant positive correlation coefficient (p < 0.01) between T-AOC and either MDA or SOD, as well as between MDA and SOD. The principal component analysis demonstrated a strong and positive relationship between SOD and TPC at 60 and 120 min after DBB ingestion. In conclusion, the relative changes in postprandial responses in T-AOC and MDA did not significantly (p > 0.05) differ between DBBs and FBBs, except for TPC (p = 0.04, paired t-test) and SOD (p = 0.003, paired t-test). Further studies with an extended experimental time are needed to confirm the current findings.

Folate and synthetic folic acid content in Canadian fortified foods two decades after mandatory fortification.

In 1998, Health Canada mandated folic acid fortification of white flour and enriched grain products to prevent neural tube defects. At the time, neither the Canadian Nutrient File (CNF) nor product labels reflected the actual folate content of foods. We aimed to assess if 20 years post-fortification, the CNF values for total folate and synthetic folic acid accurately reflect amounts determined by direct analysis. Using the 2001 Food Expenditure Survey and ACNielsen Company data, we identified 10-15 of the most purchased fortified foods across seven food categories in Canada. Total folate concentrations were determined by tri-enzyme digestion and microbial assay. Folic acid concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Except for "cooked pastas", mean total folate content of foods (n = 89) were significantly higher than CNF values across categories (p < 0.05), reflecting 167% ± 54% of CNF values. Similarly, mean folic acid content of foods was higher than CNF values for all categories except "cooked pastas" (p < 0.05), with a mean of 188% ± 94% of CNF values; the latter CNF values included uncooked pasta. In sum, 20 years post-fortification, and 10 years since the last direct measurement, CNF and product label values still underestimate actual total folate and the folic acid content of foods. These findings emphasize that dietary estimates established using the CNF may significantly underestimate actual intakes and thus caution should be exercised when interpreting estimates of nutritional adequacy based on these values.

Intentional Adulteration of Foods with Chemicals: Snapshot for 2009-2022.

Global occurrences of the intentional adulteration of food with a chemical toxicant culled from the literature and news reports from 2009 to 2022 were analyzed in terms of their ability to cause mass public health harm. A total of 76 intentional adulteration events that involved over 27 chemicals and 16 foods were identified. The chemicals used included pesticides, rat poisons, illicit drugs, and commercial chemicals. A total of 253 deaths and 4,887 illnesses were attributed to intentional adulteration events; there were deaths in 20% and illnesses in 50% of the events. Intentional adulteration during manufacturing, which accounted for 21 events (28%), resulted in 205 deaths (81%) and 3,572 illnesses (73%). Intentional adulteration at the food preparation node, which accounted for 17 events (22%), resulted in 39 deaths (15%) and 387 illnesses (8%). On-farm intentional adulteration, eight events (10%) resulted in 843 illnesses (17%) and no deaths. The perpetrators who were identified generally had legitimate access to the food, although in 63% of the cases studied, the perpetrator was not identified. Economically motivated adulteration and revenge resulted in over 80% of the deaths and illnesses.

Safe Food Supply Chain as Health Network: An Evolutionary Game Analysis of Behavior Strategy for Quality Investment.

There is a natural relation between human health and the quality of their food and drinks, and elevating the quality input level of food production for all enterprises within the food supply chain system forms the foundation for preventing various potential food safety risks that may be encountered. Unlike the previous research on quality investment of food production by enterprises, this paper probes into the evolutionary routes of the behavior strategy selection of subjects in the food supply chain and the preconditions for the equilibrium points of the social co-governance system. It takes the approach of establishing a tripartite evolutionary game model of food suppliers, food manufacturers and consumers on the basis of the social co-governance framework, in view of the above, this paper focuses on the influence of the reputation mechanism and the market contracts among supply chain subjects on the selection of a behavior strategy for quality investment by enterprises under the condition of lawful regulation by government. The results show that every subject selects their own behavior strategy on the basis of the balance of their respective interests. The net disbursement incurred by enterprises for quality investment and the costs of participation in governance by consumers constitute the dominant factors that influence both enterprises' selection of a behavior strategy and the level of social co-governance. Compared with the increase in economic punishment imposed on suppliers for production of risky food raw materials, it is more efficient to control food safety risks by lowering the costs of quality investment by suppliers. Accordingly, this paper proposes advice on policy in an attempt to provide inspiration for preventing and controlling food safety risks.

Assessing the Healthfulness of University Food Environments: A Systematic Review of Methods and Tools.

The availability, promotion, and price of healthy foods within the university food environment may impact students' dietary choices. This systematic review summarizes the tools and methods used to assess the healthfulness of university food environments where many students spend a significant portion of their emerging adulthood. Thirty-six global studies published between 2012 and 2022 were sourced from PubMed (NNLM), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Web of Science (Clarivate), APA PsycInfo (EBSCO), CINHAL Complete (EBSCO), ProQuest Nursing, and Allied Health, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Of the included studies, 58% were institutional-level audits, 17% examined individual-level perceptions, and 25% combined both. Most institutional-level audits focused on one aspect of the food environment (e.g., eateries, vending machines). For studies examining multiple spaces within the campus environment (38%), comprehensive assessments were limited, and most studies had to employ a combination of assessment tools. Surveys were most often used to gather individual perceptions about the food environment. The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS) was the most commonly used tool across all studies. This review highlights the need for a standardized tool, method, or a "healthy" benchmark for specific use at universities to improve methodological rigor and comparability of findings across institutions.

Biosecurity risks to human food supply associated with plant-parasitic nematodes.

Biosecurity in agriculture is essential for preventing the introduction and spread of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) which threaten global food security by reducing crop yields and facilitating disease spread. These risks are exacerbated by increased global trade and climate change, which may alter PPN distribution and activity, increasing their impact on agricultural systems. Addressing these challenges is vital to maintaining the integrity of the food supply chain. This review highlights significant advancements in managing PPN-related biosecurity risks within the food supply chain, particularly considering climate change's evolving influence. It discusses the PPN modes of transmission, factors increasing the risk of infestation, the impact of PPNs on food safety and security, and traditional and emerging approaches for detecting and managing these pests. Literature suggests that implementing advanced biosecurity measures could decrease PPN infestation rates by up to 70%, substantially reducing crop yield losses and bolstering food security. Notably, the adoption of modern detection and management techniques, (molecular diagnostics and integrated pest management) and emerging geospatial surveillance and analysis systems (spectral imaging, change-detection analysis) has shown greater effectiveness than traditional methods. These innovations offer promising avenues for enhancing crop health and securing the food supply chain against environmental shifts. The integration of these strategies is crucial, demonstrating the potential to transform biosecurity practices and sustain agricultural productivity in the face of changing climatic conditions. This analysis emphasizes the importance of adopting advanced measures to protect crop health and ensure food supply chain resilience, providing valuable insights for stakeholders across the agricultural sector.

Fresh bell peppers consumed in cities: Unveiling the environmental impact of urban and rural food supply systems.

Agriculture and its supply chain pose significant environmental threats. This study employs Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to explore the environmental impact of fresh bell pepper production and distribution, comparing Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture (UPA) with Rural Long-Distance Food Supply Systems (RLDFS). Four UPA scenarios (hydroponics, soil-based greenhouse, open-field conventional, and organic) and two RLDFS scenarios (soil-based greenhouse and open-field conventional) are evaluated using SimaPro, incorporating inputs from UPA practitioners and rural farmers. Results reveal an energy demand range of 0.011 to 5.5 kWh/kg eq., with urban greenhouses exhibiting the lowest consumption and hydroponics the highest due to lighting, ventilation, and irrigation. Hydroponics exhibits a global warming potential of 7.24 kg of CO2 eq·kg-1, with energy demand contributing over 95 %, surpassing other scenarios by 7-25 times, necessitating reduction for sustainability. RLDFS's environmental impact is dominated by transportation (over 70 %), meanwhile other UPA systems are influenced by irrigation, infrastructure, and fertilizers. Despite challenges, UPA-hydroponics proves to be 1.7 to 4.3 times more land-use-efficient than other scenarios, emphasizing its potential. The study highlights the need to address electricity usage in UPA-hydroponics for carbon footprint reduction. Despite challenges, hydroponics could contribute to sustainable food security, and RLDFS does not significantly lag in environmental performance compared to UPA other than Ozone layer depletion criteria attributed to fossil fuel usage in transportation. These insights offer valuable guidance for urban development and policy formulation, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and supporting policies for agronomic and supply chain sustainability.

Benefits and Difficulties of Implementing Family-Farming Food Purchases in the Brazilian National School Feeding Program.

Objectives: To explore the opinions of Brazilian National School Feeding Program (NSFP) nutritionists concerning the benefits and difficulties of implementing family-farming food purchases for the school feeding program. Methods: Exploratory and descriptive qualitative study conducted through the analysis of inductive content of open interviews carried out with technically responsible nutritionists of the School Feeding Program of 21 municipalities in Southern Brazil. Results: The qualitative analysis of the interviews resulted in 17 codes grouped into four categories that show the opinion of nutritionists on the benefits and difficulties of purchasing family-farming food: 1. increasing the visibility of rural areas and 2. improving the quality of food provided in school meals; 3. low product availability and 4. limited infrastructure for production and delivery. Conclusion: According to nutritionists, purchasing family-farming food in NSFP can increase the supply of healthy food in schools and stimulate rural development. However, efforts are needed to adjust institutional food demands for local food production and improve infrastructure for food production and distribution.

Wasted Food, Wasted Resources? A Critical Review of Environmental Impact Analysis of Food Loss and Waste Generation and Treatment.

Food loss and waste (FLW) comes with significant environmental impacts and thus prevents a sustainable food system transition. Here we conducted a systematic review of 174 screened studies that assessed the environmental impacts of FLW generation and treatment. We found that the embodied impacts of FLW along the supply chain and impacts from FLW treatment received equal attention, but few studies have included both. The reviewed studies show narrow geographical (mostly conducted in industrialized countries) and food supply chain (mostly focused on the consumption stage) coverage. Life cycle analysis (LCA), material flow analysis (MFA), or their combination are the most commonly used to quantify FLW related environmental impacts. More method standardization, integration, and innovation and better FLW data with regional and stage resolution from a first-hand source are badly needed. Among the various proposed mitigation strategies covering technology, economy, behavior, and policy aspects, process optimization and waste management options are the most discussed. Our review calls for a more holistic environmental impact assessment of FLW generation and treatment and analysis of the trade-offs among different environmental impact categories and between supply chain stages, which would better inform relevant policy on effective environmental impact mitigation strategies toward sustainable food systems.

Carbon footprint of synthetic nitrogen under staple crops: A first cradle-to-grave analysis.

More than half of the world's population is nourished by crops fertilized with synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers. However, N fertilization is a major source of anthropogenic emissions, augmenting the carbon footprint (CF). To date, no global quantification of the CF induced by N fertilization of the main grain crops has been performed, and quantifications at the national scale have neglected the CO2 assimilated by plants. A first cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment was performed to quantify the CF of the N fertilizers' production, transportation, and application to the field and the uses of the produced biomass in livestock feed and human food, as well as biofuel production. We quantified the direct and indirect inventories emitted or sequestered by N fertilization of main grain crops: wheat, maize, and rice. Grain food produced with N fertilization had a net CF of 7.4 Gt CO2eq. in 2019 after excluding the assimilated C in plant biomass, which accounted for a quarter of the total CF. The cradle (fertilizer production and transportation), gate (fertilizer application, and soil and plant systems), and grave (feed, food, biofuel, and losses) stages contributed to the CF by 2%, 11%, and 87%, respectively. Although Asia was the top grain producer, North America contributed 38% of the CF due to the greatest CF of the grave stage (2.5 Gt CO2eq.). The CF of grain crops will increase to 21.2 Gt CO2eq. in 2100, driven by the rise in N fertilization to meet the growing food demand without actions to stop the decline in N use efficiency. To meet the targets of climate change, we introduced an ambitious mitigation strategy, including the improvement of N agronomic efficiency (6% average target for the three crops) and manufacturing technology, reducing food losses, and global conversion to healthy diets, whereby the CF can be reduced to 5.6 Gt CO2eq. in 2100.

Knowledge, attitude and behaviours towards food sustainability in a group of Italian consumers. A cross-sectional study.

Sustainability is crucial for transforming the food system, addressing environmental and nutrition issues and depends on consumer perceptions and values. This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between sustainability attitudes, knowledge, and eating behaviours. Nearly half reported high level of knowledge regarding food sustainability while 24% expressed high attitude towards food sustainability. Women reported higher levels of knowledge and attitude towards food sustainability. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex, and education, revealed that using public transport, biking, or walking was significantly associated with higher odds of having a more positive overall attitude towards food sustainability (OR = 1.77). The overall knowledge score was a strong predictor of a positive overall attitude score (OR = 2.11). Examining individual knowledge-related items, almost all were associated with higher levels of knowledge, except those regarding food and environment interaction. These findings underline a complex scenario where consumers' awareness and knowledge highly influence the applicability of sustainable food choices.

Avenues of decarbonisation in the dynamics of processed food supply chains: Towards responsible production consumption.

Nowadays, the demand for processed food items is surging. To fulfil the enhanced demand, a significant impact is laid on the environment, which enhances the carbon footprint being generated. Hence, to overcome this, the avenues of decarbonisation need to be explored. The presented work is aimed at promoting the decarbonisation of the existing practices within the processed food supply chains. It finds strong compliance with the sustainable development goal (SDG-12), focusing on responsible production-consumption mechanisms. For the same, key enactors of decarbonisation are identified and mapped with the practices at various stages of food supply chains, i.e. upstream, downstream, and other allied practices. Based upon these enactors, a relational, hierarchical framework is developed to provide a comprehensive perspective on complex intricacies. This framework is analysed with an innovative approach which comprises the fundamentals of Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Hesitant Fuzzy Set with the Entropy measures. It results in the outranking of the enactors relative to its importance in the decarbonisation of processed food supply chains. Furthermore, the empirical findings are validated by the sensitivity analysis to felicitate robust decision-making. The outcomes of the presented work provide a roadmap and stepped approach to achieve the decarbonisation goals and make production-consumption mechanisms sustainable. It finds implications in the development of the framework, policy formulation, and decisional attributes for the decarbonisation of food supply chains. It focuses on the adoption of strategies that align with global efforts to mitigate climate change and promote a sustainable future.

Assessing the vulnerability of food supply chains to climate change-induced disruptions.

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges worldwide. There is strong evidence from research that climate change will impact several food chain-related elements such as agricultural output, incomes, prices, food access, food quality, and food safety. This scoping review seeks to outline the state of knowledge of the food supply chain's vulnerability to climate change and to identify existing literature that may guide future research, policy, and decision-making aimed at enhancing the resilience of the food supply chain. A total of 1526 publications were identified using the SCOPUS database, of which 67 were selected for the present study. The vulnerability assessment methods as well as the adaptation and resilience measures that have been employed to alleviate the impact of climate change in the food supply chain were discussed. The results revealed a growing number of publications providing evidence of the weakening of the food supply chain due to climate change and extreme weather events. Our assessment demonstrated the need to broaden research into the entire food supply chain and various forms of climatic variability because most studies have concentrated on the relationships between climatic fluctuations (especially extreme rainfall, temperatures, and drought) and production. A lack of knowledge about the effects of climate change on the food supply chain and the underlying socio-economic consequences could result in underperformance or failure of the food supply chain.

In Vitro Digestibility Assessment of Whey from Goat and Camel Milk Fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus for Use as a Base in Formulating Follow-On Formula.

Follow-on formulas are necessary for newborns that are unable to breastfeed. Thus, the development of formulas more tailored to infants' needs is highly important. Recently, using camel milk, goat milk, and sweet milk whey in the formulation of follow-on formulas has gained researchers' attention. Moreover, developing postbiotic systems to create formulas that mimic human milk, are easy to digest, improve compatibility with an infant's gut, and boost immunity is crucial. Thus, this study aimed to create and assess different formulations using fermented whey from camel and goat milks. The fermentation process involved the use of Lactobacillus helveticus as a probiotic and proteolytic lactic acid bacterium strain. The study monitored the proteolytic activity and antioxidant properties of sweet whey produced from cow, camel, and goat milks during the fermentation process with L. helveticus. Also, three different milk fat blends were recombined using edible vegetable oils (coconut oil, rice bran oil, and canola oil) and then they were used to formulate follow-on formulas with a similar fat composition to human milk. Finally, the prepared formulas were tested for their in vitro digestibility and antioxidant activity before and after digestion. The L. helveticus strain had high proteolytic activity towards whey proteins from all the types of milk used in the study. A fermentation time of 6 h produced a higher proteolytic degree and antioxidant activity than 2 and 4 h of fermentation. No significant differences were observed for proteolytic degree and antioxidant activity between 6 and 12 h of fermentation for the cow, camel, and goat whey samples. Regarding the fat blends, animal milk fat, rice bran oil, and canola oil in a fat combination were essential to provide the required amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the follow-on formulas, especially the linoleic acid-α-linolenic acid (LA:ALA) ratio. Adding coconut oil in small amounts to the follow-on formulas provided the required amounts of saturated fatty acids, especially lauric and meristic acids. The follow-on formula based on cow or goat milk whey fermented with L. helveticus released more free amino acids (mmol tyrosine equivalent mL-1) with high levels of antioxidants compared to unfermented ones. The release of free amino acids in the follow-on formula based on camel milk whey was not affected by fermentation. Our results recommend using L. helveticus in the fermentation of follow-on formulas based on camel and goat whey instead of formulas based on cow milk proteins.