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This study focuses on assessing the toxicity levels in fruits and vegetables based on the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), particularly in regions affected by industrial and vehicular pollution where the particulate matter deposits on the plant surfaces. Traditional methods, including Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and HighPerformance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), are used to measure PAH levels in fruits and vegetables, which are found to be valuable but expensive and time-consuming. However, the detection of toxicity relies on either expert knowledge or experimental analysis when compared with the limitations set by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). Therefore, in this study, artificial intelligence techniques have been employed to evaluate the toxicity levels based on 16 PAHs. The PAH concentrations in fruits and vegetables were collected from different articles corresponding to safe and unsafe datasets and then validated through statistical analysis. The validated dataset is classified using different machine learning algorithms. Based on the output from the neural network, the level of toxicity is also scaled and compared with the targeted outputs. The promising results of the classification of toxicity using artificial intelligence methods are substantiated by an experimental study and validated through statistical methods. From the results, it can be observed that the machine learning algorithm has given classification accuracy of more than 90% along with their degree of harmfulness. This research holds implications for food safety and public health, offering a novel approach to the interdisciplinary understanding of climate change by addressing the impact of environmental contaminants on the edibility of fruits and vegetables.

The present study examines the impact of Health Bucks, a farmers' market incentive programme, on awareness of and access to farmers' markets, and fruit and vegetable purchase and consumption in low-income New York City neighbourhoods. The evaluation used two primary data collection methods: (i) an on-site point-of-purchase survey of farmers' market shoppers; and (ii) a random-digit-dial telephone survey of residents in neighbourhoods where the programme operates. Additionally, we conducted a quasi-experimental analysis examining differential time trends in consumption before and after programme introduction using secondary Community Health Survey (CHS) data. New York City farmers' markets and communities. Farmers' market shoppers (n 2287) completing point-of-purchase surveys in a representative sample of New York City farmers' markets in 2010; residents (n 1025) completing random-digit-dial telephone survey interviews in 2010; and respondents (n 35 606) completing CHS interviews in 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2009. Greater Health Bucks exposure was associated with: (i) greater awareness of farmers' markets; (ii) increased frequency and amount of farmers' market purchases; and (iii) greater likelihood of a self-reported year-over-year increase in fruit and vegetable consumption. However, our CHS analysis did not detect impacts on consumption. While our study provides promising evidence that use of farmers' market incentives is associated with increased awareness and use of farmers' markets, additional research is needed to better understand impacts on fruit and vegetable consumption.

Pectins are polysaccharides present commonly in dicotyledonous and non-grass monocotyledonous plants. Depending on the source, pectins may vary in molecular size, degrees of acetylation and methylation and contents of galacturonic acid and neutral sugar residues. Therefore, pectins demonstrate versatile gelling properties and are capable of forming complexes with other natural compounds, and as a result, they are useful for designing food products. This review focuses on the structure-related mechanisms of pectin gelling and linking with other natural compounds such as cellulose, hemicellulose, ferulic acid, proteins, starch, and chitosan. For each system, optimal conditions for obtaining useful functionality for food design are described. This review strongly recommends that pectins, as a natural biocomponent, should be the focus for both the food industry and the bioeconomy since pectins are abundant in fruits and may also be extracted from cell walls in a similar way to cellulose and hemicellulose. However, due to the complexity of the pectin family and the dynamic structural changes during plant organ development, a more intensive study of their structure-related properties is necessary. Fractioning using different solvents at well-defined development stages and an in-depth study of the molecular structure and properties within each fraction and stage, is one possible way to proceed with the investigation.

Though fruit and vegetable consumption is essential for disease prevention and health maintenance, intake among children fails to meet dietary recommendations. Limited access to and the affordability of fresh produce, particularly among low-income youth, are barriers to adequate intake. To address these challenges, researchers and pediatricians in Flint, Michigan, expanded a successful fruit and vegetable prescription program that provides one $15 prescription for fresh fruits and vegetables to every child at every office visit. Vendors include the downtown farmers’ market and a local mobile market. This study describes baseline characteristics, dietary patterns, food access, and food security among 261 caregiver–child dyads enrolled August 2018–March 2019. The child-reported mean daily intake of vegetables (0.72 cups ± 0.77), dairy products (1.33 cups ± 1.22), and whole grains (0.51 ounces ± 0.49) were well below recommendations. Furthermore, 53% of children and 49% of caregivers who completed the food security module indicated low or very low food security. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the child consumption of fruits and vegetables between households that reported high versus low food security (p > 0.05). Results validate and raise deep concerns about poor dietary patterns and food insecurity issues facing Flint children, many of whom continue to battle with an ongoing drinking water crisis. Additional poverty-mitigating efforts, such as fruit and vegetable prescription programs, are necessary to address these gaps.

We examined associations between access to food venues (farmers’ markets and supermarkets), shopping patterns, fruit and vegetable consumption and health indicators among women of reproductive age in eastern North Carolina, U.S.A. Access to food venues was measured using a Geographic Information System incorporating distance, seasonality and business hours, to quantify access to farmers’ markets. Produce consumption was assessed by self-report of eating five or more fruits and vegetables daily. BMI and blood pressure were assessed by clinical measurements. Poisson regression with robust variance was used for dichotomous outcomes and multiple linear regression was used for continuous outcomes. As the study occurred in a university town and university students are likely to have different shopping patterns from non-students, we stratified analyses by student status. Eastern North Carolina. Low-income women of reproductive age (18–44 years) with valid address information accessing family planning services at a local health department (n 400). Over a quarter reported ever shopping at farmers’ markets (114/400). A larger percentage of women who shopped at farmers’ markets consumed five or more fruits and vegetables daily (42.1%) than those who did not (24.0%; P < 0.001). The mean objectively measured distance to the farmers’ markets where women reported shopping was 11.4 (SD 9.0) km (7.1 (SD 5.6) miles), while the mean distance to the farmers’ market closest to the residence was 4.0 (SD 3.7) km (2.5 (SD 2.3) miles). Among non-students, those who shopped at farmers’ markets were more likely to consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Future research should further explore potential health benefits of farmers’ markets.

This study developed a natural composite preservative (FCCP) based on Moringa leaf flavonoids and chitosan and evaluated its physicochemical interactions, antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity, and preservation efficacy on fresh‐cut produce. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the successful integration of flavonoids into the chitosan matrix via hydrogen bonding and other intermolecular interactions. Antioxidant assays (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP) demonstrated that FCCP, particularly at 1.5 mg/mL flavonoid concentration (FCCP‐2), exhibited potent radical scavenging and reducing power, comparable to ascorbic acid. Antibacterial tests revealed significant inhibitory effects of FCCP‐2 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, indicating a synergistic enhancement from the composite system. In preservation trials on fresh‐cut stem lettuce, lotus root, and blueberries, FCCP‐2 effectively maintained firmness, reduced weight loss, delayed browning, and preserved color quality during 7‐day refrigerated storage. Furthermore, FCCP‐2 significantly lowered malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and sustained superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, highlighting its role in mitigating oxidative stress. These results demonstrate the efficacy and broad‐spectrum applicability of the Moringa flavonoid–chitosan composite as a safe, eco‐friendly preservative for extending the shelf life and quality of fresh‐cut fruits and vegetables. Application of Moringa leaf flavonoids‐chitosan composite preservative in fruits and vegetables preservation.

The present store-based intervention was designed to promote sales of fruits and vegetables (F&V) to increase intake among store customers--specifically customers of tiendas, small-to-medium-sized Latino food stores. Four tiendas were randomized to a 2-month environmental change intervention or a delayed treatment control condition. Employees and managers were trained to promote F&V sales, including how to implement a food marketing campaign and installing store equipment to promote fresh fruits and vegetables. The primary outcome was self-reported daily intake of F&V among a convenience sample of customers (at least forty per store) collected at baseline prior to randomization and then 4 months later. In addition, changes in availability of F&V in the tiendas, using unobtrusive observational methods, provided evidence of intervention fidelity. Tiendas in central North Carolina. Participants included 179 customers who were recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America. A group-by-time interaction approached significance on daily servings of F intervention customers reported an increase in F&V intake over time and as a function of the intervention (P < or = 0.06). Unexpectedly, self-efficacy for consuming more fruits (P < or = 0.01) and more vegetables (P < or = 0.06) decreased. In our store-level analyses, a group-by-time interaction was observed for availability of fresh and canned vegetables; the intervention increased availability of vegetables but not fruit. Environmental change strategies to promote healthy eating are needed given the rates of obesity and diabetes in the Latino population. A store-based intervention was moderately effective at increasing customers’ reported F&V intake. Such strategies can have a public health impact on underserved populations.

Empirically assessing sanitary and phytosanitary regulations has proven difficult because most data sources indicate whether a regulation exists but provide no information on the type or importance of the respective measure. In this article, we construct a novel database of U.S. phytosanitary measures and match these to 47 fresh fruit and vegetable product imports from 89 exporting countries over the period 1996–2008. A product-line gravity equation that accounts for zero trade flows is developed to investigate the trade impact of different pest-mitigation measures. While the results suggest that phytosanitary treatments generally reduce trade, the actual restrictiveness of these measures diminishes dramatically as exporters accumulate experience, and it vanishes when exporters reach a certain threshold. The results have important policy implications considering the number of empirical studies that find a negative impact of non-tariff measures on trade.

IntroductionLittle is known about consumer acceptability of African Indigenous Fruits and Vegetables (IFV), despite their contribution to nutrition, cultural heritage, and food security.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review to identify attributes of IFV that are associated with consumer acceptability among adults in sub-Saharan Africa. PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched for studies published up to October 2024. Only articles published in English were included, with eligibility criteria defined using the Sample [S], Phenomenon of Interest [PI], Design [D], Evaluation [E], and Research type [R] (SPIDER) tool. Study quality was appraised using Quality Assessment for Diverse Studies (QuADS) tool. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise publication trends. Inferential statistics, presented through effect direction plots, compared acceptance of IFV-containing foods with that of control versions. Thematic analysis explored determinants of acceptance and preference.ResultsA total of 55 studies were included in this review. The majority (69%) of studies were quantitative, 25% were mixed methods, the rest were qualitative. Over 61% of studies focused on vegetables, 28% focused on fruits, and 11% on both vegetables and fruits. Studies reported consumer acceptance as liking after tasting a food, with preference defined as liking expressed in response to its name. Greater acceptance of meals without IFV was observed compared to those that included them. The findings reveal that sensory appeal can be enhanced through careful selection of preparation techniques. Consumer acceptance and preference for IFV were reported to be shaped by social perceptions, with some studies linking their consumption or sale to poverty and backwardness, especially among younger and urban populations. Certain vegetables, such as red amaranth, were associated with intra-household conflict. Perceived nutritional and medicinal benefits, such as the treatment and prevention of anaemia, diarrhoea, childhood malnutrition, and functional properties of species like spider plant, moringa, and amaranth, serve as strong facilitators of acceptance.DiscussionOverall, although meals without IFV were preferred, acceptance of IFV-containing foods could be enhanced through better preparation techniques and appropriate food pairings. Despite social stigma, the recognised health benefits of IFV offer opportunities for promotion of these foods.Clinical trial registrationThis study was registered on PROSPERO as CRD42024599899.

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for more than 63% of all deaths globally. Intake of fruits and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of NCDs. Objectives: (a) to describe the socio-demographic, psychosocial, environmental and socio-economic profile of adults aged 18-64 years (study participants) in Alfred Duma Local Municipality (ADLM), (b) to assess the level of consumption of fruits and vegetables, and (c) to investigate association between socio-demographic, psychosocial, socio-economic factors and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Methodology: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study involving 164 households from six selected municipal wards in ADLM was conducted. A structured questionnaire using a combination of 24-hour recall method and food frequency was used to collect data (Appendix). Multivariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with consumption of 2-3 or more servings of vegetables daily and 2 or more servings of fruit daily. Binary logistic regression was used to measure the strength of the associations between daily consumption and other variables. Results: Only 0.6% (n = 1) participants were found to be consuming an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables daily. Employment was associated with consumption of 2-3 daily servings of vegetables and two of fruits (OR 2.37; p-value 0.01 and OR 5.22; p-value < 0.001 for vegetables and fruits respectively). Local availability of vegetables was associated with consumption of vegetables (OR 2.35; p-value 0.014) but not fruits. Conclusion: Improving local availability of vegetables and employment may improve consumption in this municipality and help prevent NCDs. Summary: This study was conducted to assess consumption of fruits and vegetables in ADLM, and to identify factors associated with consumption. The study found that consumption of fruits and vegetables in ADLM is extremely poor. Local availability and employment were the main factors associated with consumption of fruits and vegetables. Supporting households in having vegetable gardens, and advocating for local vendors to sell fruits and vegetables on commute routes are key recommendations of this study.