Relationship of Mothers’ Food Preferences and Attitudes with Children’s Preferences

Because early childhood is the most important time for establishing eating habits, controlling the likes and dislikes of children is significant. This study investigated the relationship between mothers’ food preferences as well as their attitudes toward food and their children’s preferences. A questionnaire was answered by 244 mothers of children aged 3-5 years who attended a private kindergarten in Japan. The mothers were asked questions relating to their own current food preferences and those during their childhoods, their eating and cooking habits, and the likes and dislikes of their children. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relative importance of mothers’ preferences and habits for their children’s likes and dislikes. The children’s preferences were significantly related to their mothers’ likes and dislikes during childhood, rather than to their current preferences, and to the children’s breakfast times during holidays and the frequency with which the mothers used takeout meals. This suggests that mothers’ likes and dislikes during childhood and their food habits affect their children’s preferences. Therefore, to improve children’s food preferences, mothers may need to improve their food habits and consider their own food preferences during childhood.

Consumer Preference and Willingness to Pay for Non-Plastic Food Containers in Honolulu, USA

Expanded polystyrene (EPS), a petroleum based plastic polystyrene, has an immense environmental impact with a degradation rate of over 500 years, and is a possible human carcinogen that may cause cancer in humans. Nonetheless, EPS is the most commonly used material to produce takeout food containers, a single use item that is quickly discarded. With growing recognition of the high environmental costs of EPS products and their pressure on landfill resources, EPS food container bans have become increasingly popular in jurisdictions across the globe. Similar legislation has been introduced in the state of Hawaii, USA. However, since EPS is currently more cost effective than its alternatives, the widespread adoption of food containers produced with biodegradable materials remains a challenge. This study employs Conjoint Choice Experiment (CCE) to determine consumer preference and willingness to pay for plant-based EPS alternative takeout food containers and their various product attributes in the urban center of Honolulu, Hawaii. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) is used to cluster respondents into four distinct classes based on their observable attributes of choice. Results show that the majority of respondents (81.0%) are in favor of a ban on EPS takeout food containers. As an alternative, the majority of respondents prefer a container constructed out of a sugarcane material (66.49%) that is microwaveable (88.94%), water resistant (100%), and locally produced (51.23%). Moreover, this study demonstrates an increase in consumer’s willingness to pay for more environmentally friendly food containers, which may allow businesses to offset the costs of substituting EPS for biodegradable materials. These findings provide valuable information for farmers, manufacturers, and natural resource managers, and can help to guide decision makers when considering socially responsible and environmentally sustainable policies.

Food preferences by birds using bird-feeders in winter： a large-scale experiment

Background: Intentional winter bird feeding in gardens is one of the most common interactions between birds and humans. Because feeding may have both desired effects(provisioning of nutritious food for under-nourished birds) and undesired effects(favouritism of competitively superior species, transmission of disease), management of supplementary sites should be optimized from an ecological and conservation perspective. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to experimentally test winter food preferences of birds, with underlying potential influence of habitat(rural vs. urban) on realised food preferences pattern.Methods: We conducted an experimental analysis of food preferences of wintering birds by provided bird-feeders in urban and rural environments across Poland. Data were collected twice during winter 2013–2014 across Poland, in total with 80 experimental trials.Results: Sunflower seeds were the most preferred food supplement both in urban and rural habitats, significantly more exploited than any other food simultaneously available in feeders(animal fat, millet seed and dry fruits of rowanberry). However, no significant differences were recorded between urban and rural habitats in use of food.Conclusions: The degree of use of a particular type of food at bird-feeders depended on the overall use of food in a bird-feeder—consumption of each of the four types of food was significantly positively correlated with that of the others, and it was positively correlated with the number of birds observed at the feeders.

Nutritional Status, Food Consumption at Home, and Preference-Selection in the School

To assess the relationship between food consumption at home, nutritional status, gender preference and the preference-selection of natural products (fruits and vegetables) and industrialized (candies and chips) in a situation of free access for a population of Mexican schoolchildren. 115 children participated in the test, 59 boys and 56 girls from second, fourth and sixth grade of elementary school. We have taken measures of weight, size and the 24-hour consumption record during over five days, at which time also we evaluated the preference and selection of a group of ten products (naturals and industrialized). According to the results 60% of children had normal weight, 23.47% overweight, 14.8% risk of overweight an 1.73% underweight. There were no significant differences with X2 test between nutritional status and gender. Multivariate analysis was applied between gender, consumption by food groups and nutritional status, the interaction was significant in all cases. The Pearson correlation between preference and food choice in the situation of open access is high in the school students at risk of overweight. The preferred and selected products for consumption are those with the highest content of saturated fat, sugars and salt, the less preferred and selected products were fruits and vegetables. We could conclude that the population is at risk for their low consumption of fruits and vegetables;situation that is reflection of the home consumption this document.

Temperature acclimation affects thermal preference and tolerance in three Eremias lizards(Lacertidae)

We acclimated adult males of three Eremias lizards from different latitudes to 28℃,33℃ or 38℃ to examine whether temperature acclimation affects their thermal preference and tolerance and whether thermal preference and tolerance of these lizards correspond with their latitudinal distributions.Overall,selected body temperature(Tsel)and viable temperature range(VTR)were both highest in E.brenchleyi and lowest in E.multiocellata,with E.argus in between;critical thermal minimum(CTMin)was highest in E.multiocellata and lowest in E.brenchleyi,with E.argus in between;critical thermal maximum(CTMax)was lower in E.multiocellata than in other two species.Lizards acclimated to 28℃ and 38℃ overall selected lower body temperatures than those acclimated to 33℃;lizards acclimated to high temperatures were less tolerant of low temperatures,and vice versa;lizards acclimated to 28℃ were less tolerant of high temperatures but had a wider VTR range than those acclimated to 33℃ and 38℃.Lizards of three species acclimated to the three temperatures always differed from each other in CTMin,but not in Tsel,CTMax and VTR.Our results show that:temperature acclimation plays an important role in influencing thermal preference and tolerance in the three Eremias lizards,although the degrees to which acclimation temperature affects thermal preference and tolerance differ among species;thermal preference rather than tolerance of the three Eremias lizards corresponds with their latitudinal distributions.

Comparative Study of <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>(Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Preference for Bt and Non-Bt Soybean Cultivars

Studies on the behavior of Helicoverpa armigera in relation to soybean cultivars expressing Bt proteins are fundamentally important for IPM. We determine the no-choice and feeding choice of H. armigera, the no-choice and oviposition choice in different Bt and non-Bt soybeans cultivars. In the first step it was carried out the experiment to determine the no-choice and food choice in test for 12 Bt and non-Bt soybean cultivars. Simultaneously the consumption was determined. In a second step it was evaluated the no-choice and oviposition choice in different soybean cultivars. Helicoverpa armigera caterpillars showed neither attractiveness and preference for food nor attractiveness and oviposition preference for Bt and non-Bt soybean leaves when simultaneously contrasting the tested cultivars. This study showed that Bt toxin did not influence the oviposition preference, and H. armigera adults did not differentiate Bt and non-Bt soybean cultivars for oviposition indicating no behavioral preference. Third instar caterpillars showed no discrimination between Bt and non-Bt soybean leaves. Research in this area must focus on the possibility of widespread planting of genetically modified soybeans containing the Bt protein, which is associated with selection pressure and the behavior of pest species in relation to their hosts, as well as on the adequacy of management tactics that is able to prevent the loss of technology efficiency.

风险偏好如何影响农户“粮改饲”参与行为?——基于信贷的中介效应和风险感知的调节效应

“粮改饲”政策是优化农业结构、助推草食畜牧业高质量发展的重要途径,也是推动农业供给侧结构性改革的着力点之一。运用实验经济学方法测度农户的风险偏好,依据农牧交错带1479个农户的微观调研数据,采用两阶段回归模型,系统剖析风险偏好对农户“粮改饲”参与行为的作用与差异化影响。研究发现:(1)风险偏好显著促进了农户的“粮改饲”参与行为,农户风险偏好程度越高,参与“粮改饲”的可能性和规模越大;(2)风险偏好通过促进农户参与信贷而影响其“粮改饲”参与行为;(3)风险偏好对农户“粮改饲”参与行为的促进作用具有明显的风险感知情境依赖特征。据此,从重视全株青贮玉米技术培训、构建全株青贮玉米种植保险体系、增加信贷支持、加强全株青贮玉米种植风险信息宣传等方面提出政策建议。

Research on the Feeding Habits and Food Range of Periplaneta fuligiosa

[ Objective] This study aimed to investigate the feeding habits and food range of Periplanetafuligiosa. [ Method] Common insects, foods, daily necessities, plants and fruits were used to feed P. fuligiosa ; one food or item was put into the culture bottle each time in a small amount, to observe the feeding habits of P. fuligiosa. Foods or items uneaten after three days were excluded from its food range. Subsequently, P. fuligiosa was fed with random combinations of two or more foods according to the food range, to observe and record the feeding order. [Result] P. fuligiosa has a relatively wide food range, which dislikes dead bodies of hard-shelled insects such as Cyrtotrachelus longimanus and Popillia quadriguttata. P. fuligiosa is an omnivorous insect but tends to be carnivorous. [ Conclusion] This study provided the basis for the cultivation, prevention and control of P. fuligiosa.

Determinates That Influence Food Comsumption among Older Members of a Midwest Community

The goal of this study was to record Muncie, Indiana residents’ change in eating habits over time. Objectives: 1) Identify key determinants that influence a change in participants’ eating habits;2) Analyze the data for convergent themes among participants and draw patterns;and 3) Compare patterns found in this study population with existing literature and/or accepted theories within the field. Hypotheses on changes in food patterns included: 1) Socio-economic status in the middle-class population maintained daily food production to remain inside the home;2) Women working outside the home reduced labor hours allotted to home cooking;and 3) Social norms valued home cooking resulting in home prepared meals. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional, oral-history, interview format. The study sample consisted of 25 seniors (65y - 100y old) from a convenience sample taken from one, medium-sized, mid-western town, Muncie, Indiana. The study involved use of a semi-structured, questionnaire/interview script, (approved by Ball State University’s IRB committee). Results: Economics greatly influenced, and continues to influence, food consumption patterns for depression-era born adults. Women who grew up on home-only cooked meals, but entered the workforce adjusted traditional meals in favor of convenience. Implications: Health care providers trying to change dietary habits of older residents residing in the Midwest will need to consider foods and food preparatory methods introduced in childhood;these remained key components of the diet later in life and removing them may be met with resistance.

Big Data Study for Gluten-Free Foods in India and USA Using Online Reviews and Social Media

Celiac disease, gluten-allergy or gluten-sensitivity is caused due to glutamine protein from the grains like wheat, rye and barley (collectively called gluten). This protein damages the small intestine and causes stomach pain, bloating, weakness etc. Celiac disease, gluten-allergy or gluten-sensitivity has never really been taken seriously in developing countries like India. However, in developed nations like UK, USA, Canada and other parts of Europe, gluten-free foods have become quite popular. With a prevalence rate of about one in 100 - 133 people worldwide, celiac disease is widespread across the globe and life-long consumption of gluten-free food is recommended treatment for this allergy. Apart from celiac-disease patients, gluten-free foods are also consumed by health conscious people for weight management and high protein diet and by the patients for diabetes, autism and food allergies. Apart from gluten-free flour, biscuits, cookies and snacks, product innovations like gluten-free beers are becoming very popular. Big data including online blogs, articles, and reviews have played a major role in increased sales of gluten-free foods. Thus, analysis of editorial and social media content becomes essential to understand the leading trends in gluten-free foods. This study provided deep insights about positive, negative and neutral sentiments related to gluten-free foods using the data from Perspectory Media Insights and Google Trends. This study also revealed that most of the consumers talked and expected product innovation in food sections like snacks, fast food (pizza, pasta and noodles) and desserts through comments on social and editorial media. Searches were divided into developed (e.g., U.S.A.) and developing nations (e.g., India) to get more details about the consumer preferences. This study would help manufacturers of gluten-free foods to develop food products according to the choices and preferences of consumers. The study is very unique in itself since it combines big data to niche food market of gluten-free foods to draw the valuable consumer preferences using online platforms.

Avoidance of potentially harmful food cannot be socially transmitted between rats

The social transmission of food preferences(STFP) is a behavioural task of olfactory memory, in which an observer rat learns safe food odours from a demonstrator rat, and shows preference for this odour in a subsequent choice test. However, previous studies have failed to detect the transmission of information about food of potential danger and food aversion using STFP test. In this study, we tested how demonstrators' health affects the exchange of odour information and whether observers can learn danger information from an unhealthy demonstrator. As expected, the observer rat formed an odour preference after interacting with a demonstrator rat that had just eaten food containing a new odour, however, odour preference rather than aversion was also formed after interacting with a demonstrator rat injected with LiCl(used to induce gastric malaise). Furthermore, anaesthetized demonstrator rats and half-anaesthetized demonstrator rats, which showed obvious motor deficits suggesting an unhealthy state, also socially transmitted food preferences to observers. These results suggest that the social transmission of food preferences task is independent of a demonstrators' health, and that information about dangerous foods cannot be transmitted using this behavioural task.

突发事件下应急食品需求紧迫性分级研究

为实现突发紧急事件下应急管理的快速响应、缓解应急食品筹集压力、保障食品应急供给,需要对应急食品需求紧迫性优先级进行探讨。针对分级问题,建立了需求紧迫性评价指标体系,提出了基于熵权法和马氏距离-灰色关联改进TOPSIS算法的分级模型。结果表明:以应急食品为研究对象,根据评价指标体系及分级方法将需求紧迫性分为四级是可行的,可为科学制定应急食品调度方案、快速筹措应急物资、有效开展应急管理工作提供参考。

减重代谢术后患者食物偏好改变特征及预测因素分析

背景 减重代谢术后患者食物偏好的改变是影响其术后体质量减轻的重要原因,客观评估术后患者食物偏好改变的具体特征,并分析其预测因素尤为重要,基于现有研究结果间较大的差异性,难以指导术后体质量维护。目的 对减重代谢术后患者的食物偏好改变特征及其对减重结局的影响进行调查,分析减重代谢术后食物偏好改变的预测因素。方法 2022年2—8月,采用便利取样法抽取南京医科大学第一附属医院减重随访门诊收治的245例减重代谢术后患者,使用一般资料调查表、减重结局指标调查表、减重代谢术后患者食物偏好改变特征调查问卷对其进行调查。采用独立样本t检验比较减重代谢术后食物偏好改变对减重结局的影响,采用单因素分析及无序多分类Logistic回归分析探究术后食物偏好改变的预测因素。结果 回收有效问卷237份(96.7%),97.0%的减重代谢术后患者食物偏好与术前相比发生改变。减重代谢术后食物偏好改变组患者的术后体质量及体质指数(BMI)下降值、总体体质量丢失率(TWL)与食物偏好不变组患者比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。无序多分类Logistic回归分析结果显示:术后时间是减重代谢术后患者对蔬菜水果偏好改变的预测因素(P<0.05);婚姻状况、术前合并症是减重代谢术后患者对优质蛋白食物偏好改变的预测因素(P<0.05);长期居住地是对减重代谢术后患者辛辣食物偏好改变的预测因素(P<0.05);性别、长期居住地、手术方式是对减重代谢术后患者咸味零食偏好改变的预测因素(P<0.05);性别、手术方式是对减重代谢术后患者高脂肪肉类偏好改变的预测因素(P<0.05);性别、术后时间是对减重代谢术后患者甜食偏好改变的预测因素(P<0.05);性别、手术方式是对减重代谢术后患者不含酒精的甜味饮料偏好改变的预测因素(P<0.05)。结论 减重代谢术后患者食物偏好改变的发生率高,表现为对高热量食物偏好降低,对健康食物偏好增加的特点。性别、婚姻状况、长期居住地、术前合并症、手术方式及术后时间是减重代谢术后患者不同食物偏好改变特征的预测因素,减重专科医护人员须早期识别目标人群,加强术后饮食教育和指导,改善术后饮食体验,切实保障减重代谢术效果。

A comparison of food habits and prey preferences of Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)at the southwest Primorskii Krai in Russia and Hunchun in China

A small,isolated Amur tiger population ranges across the southwest Primorskii Krai region in Russia and Hunchun region in China.Many individuals,with“dual nationality,”cross the border frequently.Formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger food requirements in both countries.While the diets of tigers ranging in Russia is clearly understood,little is known of the tigers’feeding habits in China..We used scat analysis combined with data on the abundance of 4 prey species to examine Amur tiger diet and prey preferences in Hunchun.We examined 53 tiger scat samples from 2011 to 2016 and found that tigers preyed on 12 species(11 species in winter),4 of which were domestic animals with 33.58%biomass contribution;this was the first record of Amur tigers eating lynx in this area.Tigers showed a strong preference for wild boar(Jacobs index:+0.849),which were also the most frequently consumed prey,and a strong avoidance of roe deer(Jacobs index:–0.693).On the Russian side,domestic animals(just dog)were rarely found in tiger scat,and tigers did not show strong avoidance of roe deer,but of sika deer.We also found red deer footprints during winter surveys and that tigers ate red deer on the Chinese side,while there was no record of red deer feeding on the Russian side.Reducing or eliminating human disturbance,such as grazing,is essential to recovering tiger prey and habitat in this area and the Sino–Russian joint ungulate annual survey is indispensable for prey estimates of this small,isolated Amur tiger population.

Euborellia annulipes Mortality and Predation on Diatraea saccharalis Eggs after Application of Chemical and Biological Insecticides

Chemical and biological insecticides have been frequently used in sugarcane fields to control insects-pests, including the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis. Among the products used, those based on chlorantraniliprole and Metarhizium anisopliae entomopathogenic fungus, stand out. Euborellia annulipes is an insect of the order Dermaptera considered a potential predator of sugarcane borer eggs. This study aimed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of the bioinsecticide based on M. anisopliae (Metarril®) and the chemical insecticide chlorantraniliprole (Altacor®) on the mortality of E. annulipes nymphs and adults, the predation and feeding preference of earwigs in eggs treated with the formulated products. Predator mortality was evaluated for seven days after treatment, while the effect on predation was analyzed by preference tests with and without choice, using prey eggs. The products tested were selective to the predator, causing ≤ 2% mortality and not affecting predation. The application of M. anisopliae on sugarcane borer eggs favored the food preference of fourth-instar nymphs, males, and females of the predator. Our results show that Metarril® and Altacor® can be used to control D. saccharalis when associated with the predator E. annulipes.

ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES AND CONSUMER PREFERENCE FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY BEVERAGE PACKAGING:THE ROLE OF INFORMATION PROVISION AND IDENTITY LABELING IN INFLUENCING CONSUMER BEHAVIOR

This study examined whether urban Chinese consumers with stronger environmental values have higher valuations for plastic beverage bottles that are made of post-consumer recycled material(rPET)or that come in large sizes that use plastic more efficiently.It also assesses the effectiveness of environmental information provision and green identity labeling in increasing consumer willingness to pay for environmentally-friendly packaging.The results suggest that urban Chinese consumers are willing to pay a premium for rPET bottles,indicating that there is a potential market for rPET food and beverage packaging in China that calls for manufacturing guidelines,safety standards,or regulations.Providing environmental information and attaching green identity labels increases consumer valuations of rPET bottles,with their joint use exerting the largest effect.Pro-environmental consumers are more responsive to environmental information and green identity labeling and thus are willing to pay a higher premium for rPET bottles.However,in terms of choosing large bottles as a means to reduce plastic use in product packaging,consumers were found to be indifferent about plastic bottle sizes even after receiving environmental information.It is suggested that the inconvenience of carrying or storing large bottles might have offset their perceived environmental benefits.

2020年我国鸡蛋消费选择偏好调查统计数据集

我国是世界范围内鸡蛋生产和消费的第一大国,鸡蛋也是我国居民膳食结构中主要的蛋白质来源之一,了解我国消费者对鸡蛋的偏好具有现实意义。本研究旨在了解中国消费者对鸡蛋的生产方式、认证标准和其他相关属性的偏好,以提供市场定位策略和科学依据,并为相关政策制定和饮食健康教育提供指导。问卷设计以离散选择实验设计为主体,结合对受访者相关食品安全知识的了解程度和人口学特征变量等数据的收集。最终课题组通过在线问卷平台收集到了全国30个省级行政区共1085份鸡蛋消费者样本数据,形成了2020年我国鸡蛋消费选择偏好数据集。数据集包括消费者鸡蛋消费过程中购买频率、购买来源,以及对鸡蛋价格、饲养方式、蛋鸡种类、食品安全认证属性的偏好等13个方面的内容。该数据集表明消费者对鸡蛋的生产方式、认证标准等属性有明确的偏好。这份数据集为我国禽蛋产品的消费偏好提供了基础数据,对于了解居民的消费习惯与偏好,保障国家食品安全,为食品企业制定市场策略,以及为政府科学制定决策提供了有力支持。

食品安全事件下考虑消费者风险偏好的供应链定价决策

针对当前研究较少考虑到食品安全事件下消费者具有风险偏好行为的供应链定价问题的现状,构建了食品安全事件下消费者风险规避的效用函数。运用Stackelberg博弈逆序求解法,求解食品安全事件曝光后不同模式下供应链的最优决策,并分析消费者估值、制造商质量努力成本和消费者风险规避度等参数对供应链最优决策及利润的影响。结果表明:消费者估值越大,供应链利润也越大;消费者的风险规避行为会给供应链带来不利影响;过高的质量努力成本,会使需求量和供应链利润下降;采取集中决策模式对供应链的整体收益更加有利。

基于潜在类别分析的中国≥18岁人群膳食知识与食物偏好的关联性分析

目的分析中国≥18岁人群食物偏好特征,探讨膳食知识与食物偏好的关联,为促进健康饮食提供参考依据。方法基于2015年中国健康与营养调查横断面数据,采用潜在类别分析对8783名≥18岁人群食物偏好进行分类,采用多因素无序多分类Logistic回归评价膳食知识与食物偏好潜类别的关联性。结果中国≥18岁人群食物偏好可分为少蔬菜(3.28%)、欠缺(11.20%)、多样(4.19%)、健康偏好(81.33%)4种潜类别。研究对象具备膳食知识的比例为36.87%(3238/8783)。4类食物偏好者的膳食知识知晓情况差异有统计学意义(P均<0.001)。调整性别、年龄、城乡分布、文化程度和家庭年收入后,膳食知识知晓评分每增加1分,研究对象的食物偏好为少蔬菜、欠缺、多样偏好的可能性分别降低22%(OR=0.78,95%CI=0.76~0.80,P<0.001)、13%(OR=0.87,95%CI=0.86~0.89,P<0.001)、3%(OR=0.97,95%CI=0.94~1.00,P=0.030)。此外,与不具备膳食知识者相比,具备膳食知识者的食物偏好为少蔬菜、欠缺、多样偏好的可能性分别降低77%(OR=0.23,95%CI=0.16~0.32,P<0.001)、55%(OR=0.45,95%CI=0.39~0.53,P<0.001)、23%(OR=0.77,95%CI=0.61~0.96,P=0.023)。结论中国≥18岁人群食物偏好可分为少蔬菜、欠缺、多样和健康偏好4种类别,其中健康偏好的比例最高;膳食知识知晓水平越低,越有可能为非健康食物偏好。

Behavioral Switch of Food Preference upon Sugar Deficiency Is Regulated by GPCRs in Drosophila

Sugar and protein are the major macronutrients＇ sources, and their balanced intake is important for animal＇s health. It has been observed that animals are able to change food preference in an imbalanced nutritional condition to selectively consume nutrients that are deficient in the body （Dethier, 1976）. Early studies in both Drosophila and mouse have demonstrated that animals exhibit food rejection to imbalanced diets lacking essential amino acids （Hao et al., 2005; Bjordal et al., 2014）. Furthermore, the food preference change upon protein depri- vation has been characterized using a two choice assay in Drosophila （Ribeiro and Dickson, 2010; Vargas et al., 2010）. Different from protein food, sugar is the main energy source, and sugar deficiency severely affects animal survival （Lee et al., 2008）. However, whether animals adopt a strategy of fast food preference switch upon sugar deprivation had not been investigated, and the neural mechanisms underlying this behavior regulation remain poorly understood.