Effects of Plant-Based Antioxidants in Animal Diets and Meat Products: A Review

The perceived level of risk associated with a food product can influence purchase and consumption decisions. Thus, current trends in food safety address an issue of general interest-the identification of healthy and economical alternatives to synthetic antioxidants that may have harmful effects on human health. Still, the processors' target is to increase the shelf life of food products using preserving substances. Natural antioxidants can be extracted and used in the food industry from different plants, such as blueberry, broccoli, chokeberry, cinnamon, ginger, olives, oregano, etc. The identification of the main natural antioxidant types that have been used in the food industry is very important in order to provide a comprehensive analysis of the researched topic. In this regard, the aim of this paper was to illustrate the positive aspects of using natural antioxidants with preservative roles in meat products, while, at the same time, highlighting the potential risks induced by these compounds. All of those aspects are correlated with the impact of sensorial attributes and the improvement of the nutritional value of meat products.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance: A Latent Class Analysis of a Romanian Population

Considering the major limitations of the latest studies conducted in Romania on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, we conducted this study to assess this major public health threat. A cross-sectional survey based on a validated questionnaire was conducted among the general population of Romania for a period of 5 months, i.e., September 2021-January 2022. The questionnaire was distributed using Google Form and it covered demographic characteristics and KAP assessments consisting of 12 items on knowledge, 10 items on attitudes and 3 items on practices. Latent class analyses (LCAs) were conducted to group respondents based on their responses. The response rate was 77%, of which females responded in a greater number (n = 1251) compared to males (n = 674). For most of the respondents (67.32%, n = 1296), the education level was high school, while 23.58% (n = 454) of respondents were college graduates. One in three Romanians (33.3%) know the WHO predictions related to this topic. Overall, the Romanian population is less disciplined when it comes to completing antibiotic treatments, as 29.19% of the respondents stop the course of antibiotic administration if their symptoms improve. The key findings from the present study may help policy makers in designing targeted interventions to decrease confusion, ambiguity or misconceptions about antibiotic use.

Determination of Acrylamide in Selected Foods from the Romanian Market

Several processed food products may contain toxic compounds considered risk factors for human health. Known for its possible carcinogenic effects, acrylamide is an organic compound periodically analyzed by the entities responsible for consumer safety. Knowing the acrylamide content of food offers the possibility of implementing corrective measures when needed, targeted at lowering its level. The aim of the paper was to screen for the presence of acrylamide in four products consumed almost daily in Romania and calculate acrylamide exposure by consuming one serving. Expressed in µg/kg coffee has the highest average acrylamide content (199), followed by potato chips (134), pretzels (120), and bread (14). Results regarding the acrylamide content in one serving showed the highest levels of acrylamide in pretzels (10.20 µg/serving), followed by potato chips (4.00 µg/serving), coffee (2.20 µg/cup), and bread (0.40 µg/slice). The calculation of the acrylamide content for one serving of the studied products will facilitate the following studies on the dietary acrylamide intake of the Romanian population, studies which, to our knowledge, have not been performed so far.