A food market (also called a marketplace) is a physical or virtual place where different types of food and culinary products are bought and sold. Most of the time, the atmosphere is lively and bustling, vendors engage in lively sales pitches, and customers enjoy the tactile experience of examining the goods before they buy. The history of food markets in Europe goes back thousands of years and is long, complex and varied. They are an integral part of European societies and important centers for trade, commerce and social interaction. The development of food markets in Europe spans many historical periods, from ancient to modern times. Today the way organic food markets work influences many areas of society including: the economy, promoting sustainability, supporting farmers and local producers, promoting loyalty between producers and consumers in society and more. Although there have been cases of fraudulent and misleading labelling, EU law makes it important that organic products go through a certification process. On the other hand, conventional markets have the advantage of being able to produce larger and more consistent yields of food products. In 2018, 13.4 million hectares of land were farmed in the EU and four countries together (Spain, France, Italy, Germany) account for 55.5% of the total EU organic area. The aim of this review is to collect and present data on the role of food markets in the EU and to conduct a competitive analysis of the organic and conventional markets. The study concludes that both conventional and organic markets have their advantages and disadvantages, but also (as mentioned above) food markets are an integral part of European societies and a healthy, balanced society needs both suppliers that cater to the regulators respond.

Backgrounds: obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation due to an energy imbalance that presents a risk to health. Childhood obesity is a major public health crisis over the world and it's a growing problem across the globe including in low and middle-income countries. childhood obesity in children persisting in adulthood puts the person at risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Objectives: To assess the Magnitude of childhood obesity and associated factors among school children in Adama town, East show zone Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2022

Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among primary schoolchildren from February to March. The study subjects were randomly selected by 497 students by systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire Data were entered into EPI-info version 7 statistical packages and analyzed using SPSS version 20. In the analysis process, the frequency distributions of variables were calculated. To ascertain the association between dependent and independent variables, an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was calculated. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the magnitude impact of each predictor variable on the outcome variable after adjusting for all other predictors in the model.

Results: The overall prevalence of childhood obesity was found to be 8.7% with 95% CI: 6.2, 11.3]. The finding of this study revealed that being female [AOR = 4.4; 95% [CI 1.747, 11.152], family size [AOR = 3.4; 95% CI 1.315, 8.812] and learning in private school [AOR= 3; 95%CI 1.144, 7.949]. Children who had no fruits consumption and vegetables consumption per week were three times [AOR=2.6; 95%CI: 1.149, 6.445] and almost three times higher [AOR=2.864, 95%CI: 1.140, 7.198] were obese respectively. Not performing sports activities [AOR= 4.37; 95%CI: 1.490, 12.823] were significantly associated].

Conclusion and Recommendation: The magnitude of childhood obesity was higher in the current study area. School type, small family size, fast foods, snack intake, poor fruit and vegetable intake, and Physical inactivity were significantly associated factors for childhood Obesity. Therefore, promoting a healthy lifestyle such as improving fruit and vegetable intake and regular physical activity is essential.

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus sp) is an exotic and attractive fruit with promising consumption due to its nutritional qualities and its flavor and color. However, knowledge about this fruit and its nutritional benefits for the human diet is not widespread. This paper compared biometric and physicochemical characteristics, mineral elements, nutrients and bioactive compounds of dragon fruit with white and red pulps (Hylocereus undatus and H. polyrhizus). The centesimal composition was analysed according to Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Minerals elements were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. Nutrients and bioactive compounds were analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Total phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity DPPH were determined by spectrophotometry. Dragon fruit red pulp showed higher vitamin E, antioxidant capacity, eriodictyol and anthocyanins. The α-carotene was more expressive in white pulp. Total phenolic was similar in both fruits. Pitaya consumption (white and red pulp) should be encouraged due to the presence of nutrients and bioactive compounds relevant to our basic nutrition.

Umbu (Spondias tuberosa) is a Brazilian Caatinga native fruit that has an economic-social importance since its cultivation increases the income of the local population. Pulp is the main product of its agro-industrialization. However, depulping gives rise to about 25% of residue. It is known that fruit peels and seeds are composed of macro and micronutrients as well as bioactive compounds, becoming the use of umbu residue an opportunity to add value to the fruit agro-chain. As the recovery of bioactive compounds from umbu seeds has not yet been optimized, this work aimed to evaluate their recovery through a more sustainable approach, using propylene glycol as solvent in microwave-assisted solid-liquid extraction. For that, an experimental design varying the propylene glycol percentage (15-85%) and temperature (59-201 °C) was adopted. The power in the microwave device was automatically adjusted by the system in the range of 0–600 W to maintain the working temperature during extraction (10 min). The total phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant capacity by DPPH• were evaluated as responses. The highest values were found at 201 °C and 50% propylene glycol (3242 mg AGE/100 g and 162 µmol Trolox/g for TPC and DPPH•, respectively). The values observed were, at least, 8 times higher than those obtained in the worst experimental condition (25% propylene glycol and 80 °C), showing that the independent variables had effect on the evaluated responses (p<0.05). All models were significant as the calculated F-values (36 and 295 for TPC and DPPH•, respectively) were higher than the listed F-value (F5,5=5.05) at α=0.05. No lack of fit was observed. Adjusted R² values of the models were higher than 0.95, accounting for, at least, 95% of data variability. Thus, microwave-assisted extraction employing propylene glycol as solvent can be a more sustainable way for the use umbu seeds.

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are ubiquitous wine spoilage microorganisms causing significant economic damage to winemakers by producing acetic acid which affects organoleptic and physicochemical properties of wine thus decreasing its quality. Considering difficulties in their isolation by traditional microbiological methods, it would be advantageous to detect them at all stages of winemaking and prevent wine spoilage.

In this research, we analyzed wines, musts and grapes of 17 varieties grown in different regions of the Republic of Moldova. The DNA was extracted and analyzed by PCR with home-designed primers to detect Acetobacter aceti and Acetobacter pasteurianus. Volatile acidity was determined in wine by steam distillation/titration.

Only one grape (Rara Neagra) had detectable amounts of AAB (A. paseurianus) at all analyzed stages (grape, must, wine), and this sample had the highest amount of volatile acidity (2.11 g/dm³), exceeding the maximum acceptable limit for red wines of 1,2 g/dm³. In general, A. paseurianus was more common than A. aceti both in musts and wines. Generally, samples with no detectable amounts of AAB in either musts or wine (3 samples) had volatile acidity within the acceptable limits. Wine samples positive for AAB but containing low amounts (Ct value >35) did not have volatile acidity above the acceptable. Samples with wine negative but must positive for AAB had volatile acidity close to the acceptable limit.

This research shows the perspective of PCR diagnostics for predicting the risks of wine spoilage by AAB.

Grape pomace (GP) is a by-product of the wine industry, containing about 50% grape skins, 25% grape seeds and 25% stems. These wastes are of great value and great potential as a source of biologically active compounds. This opens up new prospects for the rational use of GP in the food industry. It is no coincidence that numerous new technologies for processing these by-products have recently emerged to create a wide range of diverse new food products by enriching traditional foods with antioxidants, dietary fiber and mineral compounds. The most popular GP processing products are extracts and powders. Powders do not require special storage conditions, they are highly adaptable, mixing well with other types of food raw materials, especially loose ones. Therefore, they are widely used in such products as bread, cookies, pasta, muffins, etc. Grape powders improve the structure of the dough, slow down the oxidation of fats, for example, in cookies, and increase the nutritional value of flour products. Finally, we will discuss these perspectives on the use of grape pomace as an ingredient in the formulation of flour-containing food products.

Changes in consumer’s eating patterns have promoted the employment of new processes focused in the generation of functional foods that provide health benefits to people. Lately Krill oil (KO) has gained attention due to their multiple health benefits such as enhanced brain function, reduced cardiovascular problems, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, cancer, etc., all of them derived from its long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and astaxanthin which is a powerful antioxidant. On the other hand, solute impregnation has been utilized for enriching food matrices with bioactive compounds, however most of them are lipophilic which difficult its addition into water rich food systems. In this article the impregnation process of Krill oil microcapsules was studied in order to enhance the cell matrix of Golden apple slices. KO was impregnated using a hypertonic sucrose solution at different process temperatures (35, 45 and 60 °C) for 180 min. The kinetics of water loss and solids gain were obtained as well as astaxanthin concentration was quantified. According to the results it was observed that the increase in temperature causes a greater removal of water and penetration of important solutes into apple tissue. When the process temperature was 60 °C, changes in the volume of the samples were more evident as well as the highest astaxanthin concentration was achieved (1.4 mg/g). Through impregnation process it’s possible to produce a new food product with potential functional properties that serves to promote a better health of consumers.

Grapevine bunch rot, caused by Botrytis cinerea, causes important economic losses every year in grape production [1]. However, indiscriminate use of pesticides to control this disease leads to serious problems such as consumer intoxication and the emergence of populations of pathogens resistant to fungicides. In this sense, the development of new natural ingredients against B. cinerea is of paramount relevance. Plant extracts are a valuable source of a wide variety of biologically active chemical defense constituents. Several plant bioactive compounds have been identified as possible antifungal agents, also associated with their antioxidant properties [2]. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of plant extracts rich in phenolic compounds (concentration of 10 mg/mL, each) on mycelial growth of B. cinerea in vitro. In this study, three formulations of plant extracts were evaluated (PreVine 1, PreVine 2 and PreVine 3). Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) medium was prepared with agar and enriched with the three formulations of plant extracts. Negative control (CTR -) was treated only with water, and the positive control (CTR +) was treated with the conventional fungicide Teldor® (active substance fenhexamid), concentration of 0.075 mg/mL. The obtained results demonstrated that all plant extracts formulations revealed the capacity to inhibit the growth of B. cinerea. The inhibitory potential was greater for PreVine 1, being responsible for inhibiting the growth of B. cinerea by 64% at 9 days of incubation, when compared to the control samples. As regards to the growth rate, plant extracts were able to reduce this parameter from 1.8391 (CTR -) to 1.2051 cm/day (PreVine 1). The positive antifungal activity of the plant extracts assessed, especially for the PreVine 1, could be attributed to their varied bioactive composition, such as several classes of phenolic compounds (i.e., flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins). In fact, these plant extracts have been described as source of compounds with biological activity against grape pathogens, by promoting a disruption of fungal cell membranes, inhibiting fungal enzymes and/ or inducing oxidative stress in fungal cells [3,4]. Considering the potential antifungal properties of these plant extracts formulations, these natural formulations could be candidates for application grape and wine industries as biofungicides, acting against grape pathogens, such as B. cinerea, decreasing, or avoiding the use of chemical fungicides.

β-casomorphin 7 (BCM7) is a bioactive peptide that is released during the digestion of some β-casein variants (A1 and B) present in cow’s milk. BCM7 has been linked to several health concerns such as gastrointestinal disorders. Thermal processing alters the composition of milk which in turn may affect its digestion thus affecting the amount of BCM7 that is released. Although filtered milk (this milk undergoes microfiltration and pasteurisation) is widely available from many UK retailers, there is no information about the effect of microfiltration on the release of this peptide. Most of the reported BCM7 quantification studies were based on isolated casein as opposed to whole milk and hence may not accurately represent commercially processed milk. When studying BCM7 formation in commercial milk, limiting protein purification before digestion is ideal as separating milk protein fractions may result in the loss of β-casein in the whey fraction.

This study aimed to understand the impact of microfiltration on BCM7 release after in vitro digestion (mimicking in vivo digestion) of semi-skimmed filtered milk compared to pasteurised milk and pasteurised Jersey milk (which does not contain A1 β-casein, the main source of BCM7). BCM7 peptide was quantified by LC/MS.

Results indicated that the β-casein variants present in milk rather than the milk treatments themselves are the key factors for the release of BCM7. Similar BCM7 levels were found in filtered and pasteurised milk samples, whereas Jersey milk released just half the amount.

Plant sterols (PS) have reported benefits in alleviating colitis in mice, but the mechanisms involved require further investigation¹. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of a dietary supplement containing PS (PS-DS, 87% of PS and maltodextrin and sucrose ester as excipients) on inflammation biomarkers in a mice model of chronic ulcerative colitis (UC) as a step prior to a study involving UC patients in remission phase. C57BL/6J mice (n = 34) were exposed to 1.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for three 5-day periods, with 10-day rest intervals in between. The mice received PS-DS (35 mg PS/kg) daily or placebo by oral gavage, either simultaneously with the DSS exposure (treatment) or 30 days before the first DSS exposure (pre-treatment). After euthanasia, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and the levels of pro- (TNF-α and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) in the colonic tissue were analyzed. The treatment with PS-DS reduced MPO activity (by 19%) compared to control group. This agrees with prior studies that used colitis model induced by DSS (28-43%)² or TNBS (28-43%)³. In addition, the production of TNF-α and IL-6 was attenuated by PS-DS (by 56 and 42%, respectively), as observed in other studies (TNF-α, 45-56%; IL-6, 56-60%)^2-4, while colon levels of IL-10 were increased (1.8-fold). On the other hand, pre-treatment with PS-DS provided additional benefits in UC, since the inhibition of MPO (by 19 vs. 40%) and TNF-α (by 56 vs. 63%) and the increase of IL-10 (1.8 vs. 2.5-fold) were greater compared to PS-DS treatment. These findings suggest that PS-DS has the potential to alleviate UC in mice by modulating the inflammatory response and reducing oxidative stress. However, studies in humans are required to validate and fully understand its anti-inflammatory effect and its safety in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

This study is part of the project PID2019-104167RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. Mussa Makran holds an FPU19/00156 grant from the Ministry of Universities (Spain). The experiment complied with European and Spanish regulations (2010/63/EU and RD 53/2013) and was approved by the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain (2022/VSC/PEA/0256).

References: ¹Salehi et al. Front Pharmacol. 2021; 11:599959. ²Kim et al. 2014. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014, 58, 963-972. ³Lee et al. Planta Med. 2012, 78, 896-898. ⁴Awaad et al. Phytother Res. 2013, 27, 1729-1734.