Using Imaging Tech To Track Plant Infection, Consumers Prioritize Chocolate Purchases

RESEARCH

Tracking plant infection with imaging

Researchers at the Delft University of Technology have developed a method to monitor infections in lettuce in real time. They hope this research will help improve crop yields and bolster food security.

The study, which was published in Nature Communications, used dynamic optical coherence tomography (dOCT) to measure the spread of downy mildew infections in samples of lettuce. Traditionally, this process would involve killing the plant to determine pathogen growth.

“Compared to the state-of-the-art, trypan blue staining, we can image noninvasively and in 3-D,” said associate professor and co-author Jeroen Kalkman in an interview with Food Technology. “This enables tracking of the infection over time in the same plant. Also, it makes micro-phenotyping, or looking at details of the infection process, much easier.”

Using dOCT, the research team measured the fluctuations of the light signals detected by the instrument. The location of the infection shows enhanced fluctuation, most likely caused by the infection’s metabolic activity, creating a visual contrast in the scan.

According to the researchers, the crops monitored with this imaging technique will need fewer pesticides and will be more resilient to extreme weather conditions, thus improving yield. The research team has also demonstrated that this method works on other crops, such as radishes and peppers. Kalkman believes that this instrument can help improve the overall food system.

“We envision the most important impact of our work [will be] to enable biologists [to conduct] more thorough investigations of the infection process,” he explained. “These investigations will reveal more detailed information about the infection process, thereby enabling more efficient breeding of crops with better disease resistance.”

Kalkman said the next steps in this research will be to apply their method to more systematic plant resistance studies and to investigate the plant-pathogen interactions via other optical coherence tomography–based techniques.

CONSUMERS

Consumers prioritize chocolate purchases

Consumers are adjusting their chocolate purchasing habits to match inflation patterns, but they continue to seek out affordable treats, according to a new report from the National Confectioners Association (NCA).

The report, Getting to Know Chocolate Consumers, is based on a survey of 1,595 consumers who were asked about their chocolate purchasing habits and attitudes toward product claims. More than nine out of 10 (94%) reported that they purchase chocolate just for their own enjoyment.

Two-thirds of the survey participants said they had made changes in their chocolate purchasing behaviors because of inflation’s impact. These changes include buying chocolate on sale, buying it less often or in smaller sizes, and economizing by buying larger pack sizes in order to save over time.

The majority of consumers surveyed stated that they enjoy chocolate one to two times per week. And nearly three-fourths (72%) said they feel that chocolate belongs in a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Two-thirds of those polled said they appreciate portion-size varieties, and seven in 10 say it’s easy to find calorie information on chocolate.

Most consumers (88%) purchase mainstream chocolate brands, but 71% of mainstream purchasers sometimes purchase premium chocolate. Milk chocolate is U.S. consumers’ top choice, preferred by 40% of those surveyed.

Chocolate sales make up 56% of total sales in the confectionery category in the United States, or $21.4 billion. NCA analysts predict that U.S. chocolate sales will reach $37.6 billion by 2029, and that the slowdown in volume sales growth caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will end by 2026.

DIET & NUTRITION

Most Americans have a pro-inflammatory diet

More than half of American adults surveyed have diets that promote inflammation in the body, according to a new study from The Ohio State University.

Ohio State researchers examined the diets of more than 34,000 American adults from 2005 to 2018 using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They compared the diets listed to the dietary inflammation index and scored the diets on a scale of -9 to 8, with 0 representing a neutral diet in terms of inflammation. Research has shown that pro-inflammatory diets increase the risk of health problems, including heart disease and cancer.

“Overall, 57% of U.S. adults have a pro-inflammatory diet, and that number was higher for Black Americans, men, younger adults, and people with lower education and income,” said lead author Rachel Meadows in a press release.

The results also showed that approximately 34% of those studied had anti-inflammatory diets and the remaining 9% had neutral diets. Meadows pointed out that older dietary measures focus on the intake of certain food groups or macronutrients that are aligned with national dietary recommendations or specific dietary regimens like keto or paleo. She emphasized that overall diet balance should be a priority and a diet’s inflammation impact should be considered.

“Even if you’re eating enough fruits and vegetables, if you’re having too much alcohol or red meat, then your overall diet can still be pro-inflammatory,” she pointed out. “Inflammation is an important element to consider, and the overall balance of diet is most important.”

Meadows and her research team hope this study can be used to help educate consumers on the importance of a balanced diet and possibly encourage them to incorporate positive interventions.

“Moving toward a diet with less inflammation could have a positive impact on a number of chronic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even depression and other mental health conditions,” she said.

INDUSTRY

Survey identifies new product emphasis

The majority of food and beverage operators surveyed earlier this year say that they plan to invest more in new product development, according to a report from technology company TraceGains.

The TraceGains online survey of 261 leaders at small and large food and beverage brands from around the globe included questions on overall investment in new product development as well as drivers and complicating factors.

According to the report, 76% of respondents said they are planning to invest more in new product development in the next year, a 12% increase from 2023. Specifically, 60% of brand leaders surveyed stated they believe healthy, “better-for-you” formulations have the most potential to drive industry change.

Several factors contribute to the increased push for new product development. TraceGains’ analysts hypothesize that the industry has moved past the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling a heightened emphasis on research and development. Competition is a key driver, with 51% of respondents citing competitive pressure as a driving force to stay innovative. Additionally, 46% of respondents want to use innovative approaches to reduce ingredient and manufacturing costs.

However, there are also hurdles to brands increasing their investment in new product development. These hurdles include the availability of ingredients and materials, fluctuating demand and commodity pricing, and rising production and labor costs.

SUSTAINABILITY

Rockefeller Foundation supports climate-friendly school meals

The Rockefeller Foundation has announced a partnership with the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty to expand school meal programs to include products made with climate-resilient crops.

Through this partnership, The Rockefeller Foundation will commit financial resources and technical support to the production, purchase, and consumption of nutritious and sustainable foods in school programs in at-risk countries. The foundation also stated that it will support large-scale implementation of such programs.

Previous research from the World Food Programme has shown that school meal programs can have positive effects on agriculture, education, health and nutrition, and social protection. The World Food Programme estimates that school meal programs are associated with an average 9% increase in school enrollment.

“Everyone deserves access to healthy food and economic opportunity,” said Rockefeller Foundation President Rajiv J. Shah in a press release. “As part of the Alliance, we hope to help countries expand their school meal programs, which can help improve nutrition for millions of children while driving demand for more locally grown, regenerative agriculture.”

The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty was formed to raise awareness and gather resources related to hunger and poverty across the world. Members of the Alliance hope that The Rockefeller Foundation will help further efforts to address two of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.ft