ALBERT

Description: Soil sustainability implies maintaining the balance between soil erosion and production. While it is known how to assess soil erosion, only recently we have been able to estimate rates of soil and saprolite (namely regolith) production using uranium-series isotopes. This method assesses the time elapsed since rock-forming minerals start fractionating the U-series isotopes. In this study, we assess a sample pre-treatment protocol that has the potential to improve the method used to estimate regolith production rates. We propose that removal (or partial removal) of secondary phases precipitated from solution during pedogenesis (solution-derived phases) and organic matter from regolith may improve the accuracy of this method. This is tested using sequential extraction followed by etching as sample pre-treatment. Here, we assess their effect on the U-series isotopic composition of regolith and infer whether they minimize the presence of solution-derived phases and organic matter. We applied sequential extraction and etching to a basaltic weathering profile (bedrock, saprolite and soil) and compared the U-series isotopic composition before and after treatment. We also measured major elements concentrations and assessed mineralogy. The bedrock was in secular equilibrium and sequential extraction resulted in unchanged (234U/238U) activity ratios, while increased (230Th/238U). In contrast, etching resulted in increased (234U/238U) and (230Th/238U) activity ratios, which is attributed to the removal of primary minerals. Relative to the untreated bedrock, the untreated saprolite showed no changes in U and Th concentrations, and activity ratios. We hypothesise that during the conversion of bedrock into saprolite U and Th budgets are unaffected. Moreover, major element and mineralogical analyses suggest that during this process rock-forming minerals are converted into secondary phases (clays). We hypothesise that during this conversion the U-series isotopes are not fractionated; therefore, the removal of these secondary phases is not necessary. Relative to the saprolite, the soil showed gains of U and Th, (234U/238U) 〉 1 and (230Th/238U) 〈 1. This could result from precipitation of solution-derived phases from soil-pore water and/or nuclide adsorption onto organic matter. These phases were removed by sequential extraction, which resulted in a residue with (234U/238U) 〈 1 and (230Th/238U) 〉 1. To minimize the presence of solution-derived phases and organic matter in basaltic weathering profiles we suggest that only soil samples should undergo sequential extraction, because only these are significantly affected by solution-derived phases and organic matter. Additionally, our experiments show the existence of fractionation processes that are often overlooked in U-series isotopic studies, i.e. implantation of 234U and 230Th recoiled from U-rich mineral (i.e. glass) into adjacent, U-poor phases (e.g. pyroxene and feldspar).

Description: Seafood products are important sources of protein and components of a healthy and sustainable diet. Understanding consumers’ preferences for fish products is crucial for increasing fish consumption. This article reports the consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for different fish species and attributes on representative samples in five European countries (n = 2509): France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Consumer choices were investigated for fresh fish in a retail market under hypothetical situations arranged by a labelled choice experiment conducted for seven fish species: Cod, herring, seabass, seabream, salmon, trout, and pangasius. The results show the highest premiums for wild-caught fish than farm-raised alternatives. Ready-to-cook products are generally preferred to whole fish, whereas fish fillet preference is more species-specific. The results show positive premiums for a sustainability label and nutrition and health claims, with high heterogeneity across countries and species. With consumers’ preferences and WTP being largely country- and fish-dependent, businesses (fish companies, retailers, and others) should consider the specific market context and adapt their labelling strategies accordingly. Public authorities campaigns should inform consumers about the tangible benefits related with health and environmental labels.

Description: Health messages may be an important predictor in the selection of healthier food choices among young adults. The primary objective of our study is to test the impact of labeling whole grain pasta with a health message descriptor displayed at the point-of-purchase (POP) on consumer choice in a campus dining setting. The study was conducted in a large US college dining venue during lunch service; data were collected during a nine-week period, for a total of 18 days of observation. Each day, an information treatment (i.e., no-message condition; vitamin message; fiber message) was alternated assigned to whole grain penne. Over the study period, the selection of four pasta options (white penne, whole grain penne, spinach fettuccine, and tortellini) were recorded and compiled for analysis. Logistic regression and pairwise comparison analyses were performed to estimate the impact of health messages on diners’ decisions to choose whole grain penne among the four pasta types. Our results indicate that only the message about vitamin benefits had a significant effect on this choice, with a 7.4% higher probability of selecting this pasta than the no-message condition and 6.0% higher than the fiber message condition. These findings suggest that psychological health claims (e.g., reduction of fatigue) of whole grains seem more attractive than physiological health claims (e.g., maintaining a healthy weight) for university students. In line with the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, our results suggest that small changes made at the POP have the potential to contribute to significant improvements in diet (e.g., achieving recommended levels of dietary fiber). These findings have important implications for food service practitioners in delivering information with the greatest impact on healthy food choices.

Description: This study provides a framework of the factors predicting the intention of eating an insect-based product. As part of the study, a seminar was carried out to explore how the provision of information about ecological, health, and gastronomic aspects of entomophagy would modify consumer beliefs regarding insects as food. Before and after the informative seminar, two questionnaires about sociodemographic attributes and beliefs about the consumption of insects as food were given. Participants were then asked to carry out a sensory evaluation of two identical bread samples, but one was claimed to be supplemented with insect powder. Results showed that perceived behavioral control is the main predictor of the intention, followed by neophobia and personal insect food rejection. The disgust factor significantly decreased after the participants attended the informative seminar. Sensory scores highlighted that participants gave “insect-labelled” samples higher scores for flavor, texture, and overall liking, nevertheless, participants indicated that they were less likely to use the “insect-labelled” bread in the future. Our findings provide a better understanding of insect food rejection behavior and help to predict the willingness to try insect-based products based on some important individual traits and information.

Description: This paper investigates consumers’ preferences for egg purchase in two European countries, Hungary and Italy. We utilize random parameter logit models to interpret the results of discrete choice experiments (DCE) for the elicitation of preference of the egg consumers. A sample of 403 in the Hungarian survey and 404 in the Italian survey were recruited in summer 2018. The DCE questionnaire includes the following product and process characteristics: organic labels, nutrition and health claims, and price. Our results show that for Hungarian and Italian consumers, the price is the most important attribute, followed by the nutrition and health claim and the organic production labelling. Three egg consumer segments can be identified via latent class models for each country. In both countries, we found similar consumer groups, the Price Sensitive and Quality Optimizing Opportunist Consumers and Health Conscious Buyers, respectively. Particularly, compared to the other segments the Health Conscious Buyers (46% in Hungary and 49% in Italy) exhibited stronger preference for and are willing to pay a higher price premium for eggs with organic label and nutrition claims. In Italy, we identified a third segment with consumers preferring simpler labelling approach, whilst in Hungary we found a consumer segment distrusting the EU organic logo.