Browsing by Author "Monica Tarcea"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- A cross-cultural study of unwillingness to consume insects in Croatia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, and MexicoPublication . Rosa María Mariscal-Moreno; Anayansi Escalante-Aburto; César Ozuna; Guiné, Raquel; Cristina Chuck-Hernández; Marijana Matek Sarić; Elena Bartkiene; Monica Tarcea; Lucio Rodríguez-SifuentesIntroduction Insects are a nutritious and environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional animal proteins. Because of this, their use as human food is being implemented in Europe, although this practice is not well-received in the countries of that continent. On the other hand, there are countries like Mexico, with a long tradition of insect consumption, which can serve as a model for increasing insect consumption in European countries. Methods A survey on insect consumption was conducted in Mexico, Croatia, Lithuania, Portugal, and Romania, and focused on people who had never consumed insects. The Chi-square test was performed for demographic variables; multinomial logistic regressions were used to establish relations between sociodemographic variables and respondents who had not consumed insects. Data from surveyed individuals from Mexico who have not included insects in their diet were analyzed to propose strategies to boost insect consumption in European countries. Results and discussion The percentage of respondents who had not consumed insects in Mexico was 29.7%, whereas in European countries, it ranged from 70.5 to 89.3%. The Chi-square test revealed a statistically significant difference for all analyzed sociodemographic factors. Gender, age, educational level, geographical area, and income all influenced a person to be a non-consumer of insects. We suggest using isolated insect protein or insect flour to formulate/develop food products, inform about the nutritional and health benefits of insects, integrate insects into the countries’ traditional cuisine, and reduce the costs of insects to increase their consumption in European countries.
- Edible Insects – Exotic Food or Gastronomic Innovation? Study Involving 14 CountriesPublication . de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, Raquel; Elena Bartkiene; Monica Tarcea; Cristina Chuck-Hernández; Ilija Djekic; Marijana Matek Sarić; Nada M. Boustani; Malgorzata Korzeniowska; Dace Klava; Maria Papageorgiou; José Maria Fresno Baro; Maša Cernelic Bizjak; Emel Damarli; Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Costa, Cristina Amaro da; Correia, Paula; Ferreira, Manuela; Cardoso, Ana Paula; Margarida Campos, Sofia; Anjos, Ofélia; Ferreira, VanessaThis study explores the perceptions about edible insects and their usage in modern gastronomy. Data were collected through questionnaire survey in 14 countries, and 7222 responses were obtained. ANOVA and factor analysis were used, respectively to evaluate differences between groups and to analyze the scale items. The results showed that participants showed higher agreement toward insects being considered exotic foods and being associated with taboos and neophobia. Some sociodemographic factors (country, age class, education level and income) were proven to significantly influence with the perceptions. while sex and living environment did not. Factor analysis extracted three factors, one associated with the uses of insects in gastronomy, another associated with insects as foods and a third about insects not being proper for human consumption. In conclusion, the work revealed differences between countries in the perceptions about edible insects, and that these perceptions were also significantly influenced according to other sociodemographic variables.
- The interplay between body mass index, motivation for food consumption, and noncommunicable diseases in the European population: A cross-sectional studyPublication . Marija Ljubičić; Marijana Matek Sarić; Tamara Sorić; Ana Sarić; Ivo Klarin; Boris Dželalija; Alan Medić; Ivo Dilber; Ivana Rumbak; Jasmina Ranilović; Maria Papageorgiou; Viktória Szűcs; Elena Vittadini; Dace Klava; Lucia Frez Muñoz; Małgorzata Korzeniowska; Monica Tarcea; Ilija Djekić; Maša Černelič Bizjak; Guiné, Raquel; Leonardo RoeverIntroduction Consuming unhealthy foods in emotional states can increase body mass index (BMI), contribute to becoming overweight, and lead to the development of chronic diseases. This study aims to investigate the associations between BMI, emotional motivation for food consumption, and health outcomes. Materials and methods “The Motivations for Food Choices” (EATMOT) questionnaire was used to assess the emotional components of food consumption in 9,036 individuals from 12 European countries. The multivariate analysis included linear and logistic regression to examine associations between variables. Results Regression models confirmed associations between BMI, emotional motivation for food consumption (β = 0.13; p < 0.001), obesity (β = 0.35; p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension (β = 0.04; p < 0.001 for both). Using food as a coping mechanism for stress contributed to an increase in BMI [OR = 1.31 (95% CI 1.14–1.51); p < 0.001]. Emotional consolation was associated with a higher likelihood of an increased BMI [OR = 1.22 (95% CI 1.03–1.44); p = 0.020] and obesity [OR = 1.47 (95% CI 1.06–2.06); p = 0.022]. Participants with obesity had a greater likelihood of developing noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases [OR = 2.18 (95% CI 1.45–3.28); p < 0.001], diabetes mellitus [OR = 2.02 (95% CI 1.31–3.12); p = 0.001], hypercholesterolemia [OR = 1.62 (95% CI 1.13–2.32); p = 0.009], hypertension [OR = 1.85 (95% CI 1.36–2.52); p < 0.001], and gastric disorders [OR = 1.81 (95% CI 1.16–2.85); p = 0.010]. Conclusion These results underscore the need for targeted public health interventions that address emotional eating behaviors and promote healthier coping strategies to mitigate the risk of obesity and related health complications.