Browsing by Author "Anjos, O."
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- An Insight into the Level of Information about Sustainability of Edible Insects in a Traditionally Non-Insect-Eating Country: Exploratory StudyPublication . Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Florença, Sofia De Guiné E; Anjos, O.; Correia, Paula; Ferreira, Bruno; Costa, Cristina Amaro DaInsects have been reported as a possible alternative solution to help feed the growing world pop-ulation with less stress on the planet, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment and natural ecosystems. However, the consumption of edible insects (EIs), although culturally ac-cepted for some communities, is not readily accepted for others. Hence this work explores the lev-el of information that people in a traditionally non-insect-eating country have about the sustaina-bility issues related with EIs, and also some possible reasons that could motivate their consump-tion. The study was based on a questionnaire survey and the results were explored by descriptive statistic tools, tree classification analysis, factor analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed that the level of information is still low in general, with most people not manifesting an opinion. However, some aspects are relatively familiar to the participants (88.9% know that the ecological footprint of insects is smaller than other meats and 86.9% know that they efficiently convert or-ganic matter into protein). Factor and cluster analysis showed three classes: cluster 1—people not informed about the facts disclosed through the true statements and also not able to distinguish the false information; cluster 2—people not informed about the facts disclosed through the true statements but who were able to distinguish the false information; and cluster 3—people well in-formed about the facts disclosed through the true statements but who were marginally unable to distinguish the false information. It was also found that education, sex and professional area are the most relevant sociodemographic factors associated with the level of information, and the highest motivations to consume EIs are their contribution to preserve the environment and natu-ral resources followed by being a more sustainable option (for 64.7% and 53.4% of participants, respectively). Hence it was concluded that, although some work still needs to be done to better inform people about EIs, there is already some conscientiousness that they constitute a good and more sustainable alternative to other types of meat.
- Apple Fermented Products: An Overview of Technology, Properties and Health EffectsPublication . Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Barroca, Maria João; Coldea, T. E.; Bartkiene, E.; Anjos, O.As an easily adapted culture, with overloaded production in some parts of the globe, ap- ples and their by-products are being redirected to pharmaceutical, canning and beverages indus- tries, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Fermentation is generally considered to increase the bioa- vailability of bioactive compounds found in apple, by impacting, through a high degree of changes, the product’s properties, including composition and health-promoting attributes, as well as their sensory profile. Probiotic apple beverages and apple vinegar are generally considered as safe and healthy products by the consumers. Recently, contributions to human health, both in vivo and in vitro studies, of non-alcoholic fermented apple-based products have been described. This review highlighted the advances in the process optimization of apple-based products considering vinegar, cider, pomace, probiotic beverages and spirits’ technologies. The different processing impacts on physical-chemical, nutritional and sensory profiles of these products are also presented. Addition- ally, the harmful effects of toxic compounds and strategies to limit their content in cider and apple spirits are illustrated. New trends of fermented apple-based products applicability in tangential in- dustries are summarized.
- Are Edible Insects Sustainable?A Consumer PerspectivePublication . Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Anjos, O.; Florença, Sofia De Guiné E
- Breakfast habits and knowledge: Study involving participants from Brazil and PortugalPublication . Guiné, Raquel; Gonçalves, C.; Carpes, S. T.; Vieira, V. L.; Florença, S. G.; Gonçalves, J. C.; Anjos, O.Breakfast has been considered one of the most important meals of the day. While breakfast habits and their consequences on children’s health and performance are well documented, studies on the adult population are still lacking. The aim of this study is to observe the breakfast consumption habits of Portuguese and Brazilian adults to understand the importance attributed to this meal, which leads people to have breakfast or to skip it, and also what types of food are consumed. To achieve these objectives, a questionnaire survey was carried out in both countries, and the data were collected through the internet. A convenience sample consisting of 694 participants (380 from Brazil and 314 from Portugal) were used in this study, all were adults who gave informed consent to participate in the research. The results showed that the majority of participants consumed breakfast every day (74.4% in Brazil and 78.3% in Portugal), and they did it at home (94.4 and 94.3% for Brazilians and Portuguese, respectively). The results also showed that the reasons for consuming breakfast and skipping it are very similar in both countries. People say they do not have breakfast because they do not want to eat in the morning or they do not have time. The reasons to always have breakfast include providing energy, satiety from night fasting, preventing hunger until lunch, because they like it, or simply because it is a habit. The level of knowledge was slightly higher among Portuguese than Brazilian participants and was found to vary according to the habits of having breakfast or skipping it and also according to country, sex, BMI class, and school level. In conclusion, breakfast habits were found to be very similar in both countries’, but the knowledge was higher among the Portuguese than the Brazilian participants. Breakfast is linked to a healthy lifestyle, and individuals’ behaviours and beliefs must be taken into account to promote health and well-being, thus diminishing the burden of noncommunicable diseases related to improper eating habits and dietary patterns.
- Consumer perception about edible insects’ relation with environment and sustainabilityPublication . Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Klava, D.; Straumite, E.; Kruma, Z.; Florença, S. G.; Anjos, O.; Djekic, I.; Chuck-Hernandez, C.; Matek Saric, M.; Bartkiene, E.; Boustani, N. M.; Papageorgiou, M.; Baro, J. M. F.; Korzeniowska, M.; Cernelic-Bizjak, M.; Tarcea, M.; Damarli, E.; Ferreira, V.The interest in adopting more sustainable diets can be a driver for consumers to engage the consumption of edible insects, even in countries where they are not culturally accepted as food. This work aimed to study the perceptions and knowledge of consumers in different countries towards edible insects and their relation with environment and sustainability. The present investigation was based on a questionnaire survey (11 questions) and this descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on a non-probabilistic sample of 7221 participants from 14 countries. The participants in the survey revealed high knowledge (over 50%) about the sustainability issues related with edible insects as food. The sociodemographic variables education, sex and age are influential, by decreasing order of importance. Regarding living environment, rural areas have the lowest percentage of informed participants. Comparing countries, statistically significant differences were observed for all questions, making this the most important predictor for information about sustainability of edible insects. This is expected, having in mind that cultural influences are highly variable among the set of countries included in the study, with a high number of European countries, but also with Latin American countries like Mexico or Brazil, or Middle East countries like Turkey or Lebanon.
- Edible Flowers, Old Tradition or New Gastronomic Trend: A First Look at Consumption in Portugal versus Costa RicaPublication . Guiné, Raquel; Florença, S. G.; Moya, K. V.; Anjos, O.Abstract: This study investigated the knowledge and use of edible flowers (EF) in two countries, Portugal, in Europe, and Costa Rica, in Latin America, and aimed to evaluate the similarities and/or differences regarding the utilization of EF in gastronomy. This work consisted of a questionnaire survey, undertaken on a sample of 290 participants. The results indicate that most people surveyed (87%) have heard about EF but believe there is not enough information about them (96%). Only one third of participants consider there are risks associated with the consumption of EF, being those related to toxicity and pesticides. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between participants from the two countries but not with different professional areas. About half (48%) of the participants had already consumed EF, mostly for decoration or confection of dishes (77% positive answers) and in salads (75%). The flowers consumed most frequently were chamomile and rose, respectively, in Costa Rica and Portugal. Reasons pointed out to consume EF include decoration, taste, novelty and aroma, while aspects such as nutritional value or antioxidant capacity are prized by fewer consumers. EF were mostly acquired in supermarkets, cultivated at home or collected in the wild. In general, most participants (85%) consider the use of EF in gastronomy interesting, but less than one third (27%) believe we should eat EF more often. Finally, discriminant function analysis revealed that country was the variable for which the differences in the consumption of EF was more pronounced, while education level and age group showed the lowest variability between groups.
- Edible insects, a sustainable option? Perceptions of a sample of Portuguese citizensPublication . Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Florença, S.; Anjos, O.; Correia, Paula; Costa, Cristina Amaro DaPURPOSE Edible Insects (EI) have been pointed by many as a sustainable option to provide animal protein, thus contributing to a more sustainable food system. However, not all societies are prone to consume this type of food (Florença et al., 2021). So, this study intended to evaluate to what extent the Portuguese are informed about the sustainability issues related with EI. METHODS This study was based on a questionnaire developed by the team of the project FZ (Ref. PROJ/IPV/ID&I/013) and was approved by the Ethics Committee at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (Ref. N.º 06/SUB/2020). The online tool Google Forms was used to collect the data anonymously. At the beginning of the form the respondents were presented with the declaration of informed consent, and only those who gave explicit consent and were legally adult citizens, were able to access the questionnaire to give their answers. The data collection took place between September and October 2020, and the number of responses obtained was 213. The data were explored by descriptive statistic tools, tree classification analysis, factor analysis and cluster analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results revealed that the Portuguese people’s level of information about the sustainability issues related with EI is still low in general, with an expressive percentage of “no answer”. Still, there are some particular aspects that are already familiar to the participants (89% know that EI have a lower ecological footprint than other meats and 87% know that EI efficiently convert feed into protein). Factor and cluster analysis showed three classes of participants: first cluster - participants not informed about the facts presented, regardless of being true or false); second cluster - participants not informed about the true statements but who were able to identify the false statements; and third cluster - participants well informed about the true statements but who were marginally unable to distinguish the false information. Additionally, it was observed that sociodemographic variables such as education, sex and professional area were the most important influencing factors on the level of information. IMPLICATIONS Although there is already among the Portuguese some awareness that EI can be a more sustainable alternative to other types of meat, there is still a need to better inform the general population about the consequences of more sustainable food choices, to motivate them into innovative trends. Producers and brands should provide information to educate and inform possible future consumers about EI, their advantages and other issues related to this type of food to promote it on not typical markets. Nevertheless, industrials and other actors in the food chain must be conscious that part of the consumers will continue to feel aversion or disgust towards EI, as a result of personal traits and cultural imprints.
- Enhancing Honey Quality Control Using Vibrational Spectroscopy TechniquesPublication . Anjos, O.; Paula, Vanessa B.; Guiné, Raquel; Estevinho, L.M.Ensuring the quality of honey is vital for consumer safety, product authenticity, and maintaining its market value. Given honey's economic importance, developing a rapid and cost-effective method to certify its quality is essential. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR) and FT-RAMAN techniques have been extensively used in food analysis, particularly for honey. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of these two techniques in the quality control of honey. Calibration models were performed using Partial Least Squares Regression models for the parameters of total acidity, reducing sugars, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), electrical conductivity, ash content, proline content, diastase index, total flavonoids and phenolic compounds content. The calibration models for each parameter demonstrated determination coefficients greater than 0.965 for FTIR-ATR and greater than 0.983 for FT-RAMAN. The residual prediction deviation (RPD) values were higher than 5.5 for FTIR-ATR and higher than 7.6 for FT-RAMAN. Although both techniques provided excellent results, it can be concluded that FT-RAMAN is a more accurate technique compared to FTIR-ATR for the evaluation of the physicochemical characteristics of honey.
- Estudo sobre atitudes, perceções e conhecimentos relativos a insetos comestíveis em PortugalPublication . Florença, Sofia De Guiné E; Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Anjos, O.; Correia, PaulaOs insetos têm sido apontados como uma fonte alternativa e mais sustentável de proteína animal, que pode ajudar a alimentar a crescente população mundial. Devido à menor pegada e impacto ambiental, a substituição parcial da proteína animal por insetos pode contribuir para a preservação do meio ambiente e dos ecossistemas naturais. No entanto, o consumo de insetos comestíveis, embora culturalmente aceite em algumas comunidades, não é prontamente aceite noutras. Assim, este trabalho investigou o conhecimento, atitudes, hábitos de consumo e grau de aceitabilidade de insetos ou produtos derivados entre consumidores portugueses. Este estudo foi baseado numa pesquisa por questionário, realizada numa amostra de 213 participantes. Os resultados mostraram que os portugueses tendem a ter perceções corretas sobre as questões de sustentabilidade relacionadas com a utilização de insetos como alternativa a carnes convencionais. No entanto, o grau de conhecimento sobre o valor nutritivo dos insetos e possíveis efeitos na saúde é baixo. Entre os indivíduos pesquisados, apenas uma pequena percentagem indicou já ter comido insetos, consumidos maioritariamente no estrangeiro, por iniciativa própria, seja em restaurantes ou em festas/eventos sociais. Não surpreendentemente, observou-se que há uma maior relutância em consumir insetos inteiros do que em ingeri-los como ingredientes utilizados em preparações alimentares. Assim, em conclusão, a investigação revelou que os portugueses ainda apresentam alguma resistência para aderir ao consumo de insetos como alternativa a outros produtos cárneos, mas não se descarta que o mercado de produtos à base de insetos possa ser uma forma de ultrapassar a neofobia associada a este tipo de alimentos num país tradicionalmente não comedor de insetos.
- Evaluation of FT - Raman and FTIR – ATR spectroscopy for the quality evaluation of Lavandula spp. HoneyPublication . Anjos, O.; Guiné, Raquel; Santos, A. J. A.; Paula, V. B.; Pereira, H.; Estevinho, L. M.Mono fl oral Lavandula spp. honey is very appre - ciated by consumers due to its characteristic and pleasant aroma and fl avor. Given the economic importance of this type of honey, it is important to develop a rapid and non - expensive methodology that allows certifying its quality. In this context, this study aimed to compare the applic - ability and accuracy of FTIR - ATR and FT - Raman techni - ques for the quality evaluation of Lavandula spp. honey. Calibration models, with PLS regression models, were obtained for both methodologies concerning the following parameters: total acidity, reducing sugars, hidroximetil - furfural ( HMF ) , electrical conductivity, ash, proline con - tent, diastase activity, apparent sucrose, total fl avonoids, and total phenolic contents. The calibration models had high regression coe ffi cients, r 2 ( FTIR - ATR: 0.965 – 0.996; FT - Raman: 0.983 – 0.999 ) , high ratios of performance to deviation, RPD ( FTIR - ATR: 5.4 – 15.7; FT - Raman: 7.6 – 53.7 ) , and low root mean square errors ( RMSEs; FTIR - ATR: 0.005 – 3.0; FT - Raman: 0.004 – 1.02 ) . These results corrobo - rate the potentiality of FTIR - ATR and FT - Raman for quality evaluation and evaluation of the chemical properties of Lavandula spp. honey even though FT - Raman technique provided more accurate models.