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This thesis investigates the economic impact of food safety recalls on the capital share returns of publicly traded meat processing firms using the 2008 Listeria monocytogenes recall in Canada as a case study. The event study method was applied to this study to identify the size, direction and duration of abnormal returns to Maple Leaf Foods Inc. and Premium Brands Holdings which may have resulted from the Listeria recall. Results show that capital share returns to Maple Leaf Foods Inc. and Premium Brands Holdings were negatively impacted by the recall during the event window. Abnormal returns calculated during the post-event window provided evidence that Maple Leaf’s reaction to the announcement may have restored investor confidence in Maple Leaf shares to some degree and that Premium Brands Holdings lack of communication about their meat processing safety protocols may have negatively impacted Premium Brands share returns.

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Orientador: Denise Fecchio / Resumo: O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o envolvimento das prostaglandinas no crescimento tumoral, influxo inflamatório e secreação de citocinas durante a evolução do Tumor Ascítico de Ehrlich (TAE). Para tanto, camundongos foram inoculados com 1 x 103 células tumorais (ip) e tratados com indometacina (1mg/Kg,1x/dia,ip) ou com diluente (0,1 ml,1x/dia,ip). Decorridos 1, 3, 6, 10 e 13 dias os animais foram sacrificados e avaliados quanto ao influxo inflamatório diferencial, secreção de TNF-a, IL1-a, IL-2, IL- 4, IL-6, IL-10 e IL-13 e níveis de PGE2 no lavado peritoneal.. Dois grupos controle adicionais foram constituídos de animais não portadores de TAE tratados com indometacina ou diluente, seguindo o mesmo protocolo. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o implante do TAE induz produção de PGE2 durante toda sua evolução; aumento do número de células neoplásicas a partir do 10o dia e diminuição do influxo de células mesoteliais no 10º dia e de basófilos no 10º e 13º dia pós implante neoplásico. Em relação as citocinas o TAE induziu produção de IL-6 no 10º e 13º dia e de IL 2 no 13º dia, não alterando de modo significativo o perfil das outras citocinas estudadas. O tratamento de animais portadores de TAE com indometacina, foi eficaz em inibir o crescimento tumoral e a síntese de PGE2 a partir do 10o dia de crescimento neopásico, e promoveu aumento significativo no influxo de neutrófilos segmentados e de células nucleadas, apenas em tempos iniciais da evolução tumoral. Ainda, o tratamento com indometacina promoveu síntese de IL-13 e inibição significativa de IL-6 no 13o dia de crescimento tumoral, não alterando as outras citocinas analisadas. No grupo não portador de tumor tratado com indometacina observamos aumento no influxo de neutrófilos segmentados no 1º dia... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo). / Abstract: The aim of the present study was investigate the prostaglandin involvement during the growth of Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT), using as parameters: tumoral growth, inflammatory influx and cytokine profile. Mice were inoculated with 1 x 103 tumor cells (ip) and treated with indomehacin (1mg/Kg,1x/day,ip) or diluent (0,1ml,1x/day,ip). After 1, 3, 6, 10 and 13 days the animals were sacrificed and evaluated in relation to inflammatory influx, secretion of TNF -a , IL1-a, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 and PGE2 level, in peritoneal cavity. Two groups no bearing EAT were treated with indomethacina or diluent as control ,following the same protocol. The results demonstrated that EAT implant induces PGE2 production during all evolution; increases tumoral cells number from the 10th day and decreases the mesotelial cells on 10th day and basophils cells on 10th and 13rd day.The cytokine profile showed EAT induces production of IL 6 from 10th day and of IL 2 on 13rd day, the other studied cytokines were not affected in a significant way. The indomethacin treatment of EAT bearing mice inhibited the tumoral growth and PGE2 synthesis from the 10th day and promoted significant increase on the neutrophils influx and total inflammatory cells, just in initial times of the tumoral evolution. Indomethacin treatment also promoted IL-13 synthesis and significant inhibition of IL-6 on 13rd day of EAT growth, but did not altered the others cytokines. The indomethacin treatment of animals do not bearing EAT increases neutrophils influx on the 1st day, lymphocytes on the 3rd day, eosinophils on 10th day; and no detected alteration was detected on cytokine profile Taken together, the results suggest that EAT growth is modulate by PGE2 and the inhibition of the tumoral growth could be partly related with suppression of IL-6 and liberation of IL-13. / Mestre

This dissertation consists of three essays examining household energy decisions and behavior. The first essay examines the adoption of energy efficient Energy Star home appliances by U.S. households. Program effectiveness requires that consumers be aware of the labeling scheme and also change their purchase decisions based on label information. The first essay examines the factors associated with consumer awareness of the Energy Star label of recently purchased major appliances and the factors associated with the choice of Energy Star labeled appliances. The findings suggest that eliminating identified gaps in Energy Star appliance adoption would result in house electricity cost savings of \$164 million per year and associated carbon emission reductions of about 1.1 million metric tons per year. The second essay evaluates household energy security and the effectiveness of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the single largest energy assistance program available to poor households within the United States. Energy security is conceptually akin to the well-known concept of food security. Rasch models and household responses to energy security questions in the 2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey are used to generate an energy insecurity index that is consistent with those found in the food insecurity literature. Participating in LIHEAP is found to significantly reduce household energy insecurity score in the index. Further, simulations show that the elimination of the energy assistance safety net currently available to households increases the number of energy insecure households by over 16 percent. The third essay develops a five equation demand system to estimate household own-price, cross-price and income elasticities between electricity, natural gas, food at home, food away from home, and non-durable commodity groups. Household cross-price elasticities between energy and food commodities are of particular importance. Energy price shocks reduce food expenditures for low-income households, as indicated by negative cross-price elasticity estimates for food and energy commodities. Additionally, low-income households reduce energy expenditures more than other households, further indicating ``heat or eat'' behavior. Results from all three essays provide policy makers with helpful information to shape future federal energy programs. / Ph. D.

Objective: To examine associations between eating disorder (ED) risk and dietary habits. Also, to determine if ED risk changes after exposure to nutrition education and to investigate how the dietary habits in both at-risk (AR) and not-at-risk (NAR) college students compare the Dietary Guidelines (DG). Design: A longitudinal observational study over one academic year. Self-reported dietary intake was collected via seven-day food records. The Eating Attitudes Test 26 (EAT-26) was used to assess ED risk. Subjects underwent measurements of height, weight, skin fold, waist circumference and hip circumference. Subjects/Setting: Data from 507 students enrolled in one of two fall 2005 nutrition/health courses at a land grant university in southwest Virginia were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures: ED risk, mean daily intake of fruits, vegetables, fiber, whole grains, protein, total calories, and changes in ED risk over one academic year. BMI, weight change, percent body fat, and waist circumference were also evaluated. Statistical Analysis Performed: Associations between ED risk and mean daily intake of dietary variables were assessed using independent samples t-tests (p<0.05). Changes in mean EAT-26 scores were assessed using paired-t tests. Changes in the proportion of subjects categorized as AR and NAR were evaluated using Chi-square analysis. Results: This study was completed by 192 subjects. Those AR consumed significantly fewer calories than NAR subjects in both September. In April, AR subjects consumed significantly fewer fried vegetable servings than NAR subjects. Chi-square analysis in April revealed that the size of the NAR group increased thus reducing the size of the AR group. Overall, subjects' diets failed to meet the DG for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dietary fiber. Conclusion: Overall dietary intake did not vary significantly between AR and NAR subjects, excepting lower caloric intake and fewer fried vegetable servings in those AR. Both groups failed to meet the DG for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dietary fiber. Application: Educational interventions emphasizing the DG may improve ED risk but warrant more specific targeting of poor dietary habits in order to increase the college population's compliance with the DG. / Master of Science

Eating disorders ha ve increased over the last few years, as well as the age range of their initialonset which includes younger people. Food-related anxiety, fear of gaining weight, and obsession with thinness are associated with variables of age, sex, social leve!, body mass index, distortion and dissatisfaction with body image are considered risk factors for eating disorders. This research examined the relationship among these factors and analyzed their predictive value. The participants were 200 adolescents (104 boys and 96 girls), aged between 14 and 17 years. The testsused werc the STAI, EDI-2, EAT and two experimental tests. The results indicated that underlying these disorders were distorted body-image perception and dissatisfaction. The risk for girlsincreased between 15 and 16 years. Dissatisfaction with global physical aspect, distortion of body size, age, and trait anxiety were revealed as predictive factors. / La ansiedad con relación a la comida, el temor a aumentar de peso y la obsesión por la delgadez van asociadas a variables de edad, sexo, nivel social, índice de masa corporal, distorsión einsatisfacción con la imagen corporal y se consideran factores de riesgo de los trastornos alimenticios.Se investigan y analizan las relaciones entre dichos factores así como su valor predictivo. Los participantes fueron 200 adolescentes de 14 a 18 años (104 chicos y 96 chicas). Se administraron el Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado/Rasgo (STA!), el Inventario de Trastornos dela conducta Alimentaria (EDI-2) el Eating Altitudes Test (EAT) y dos instrumentos en construcción.Los resultados revelaron que la percepción distorsionada de la imagen del propio cuerpo,vinculada a la insatisfacción, se halla a la base de estos trastornos. La edad más sensible paralas chicas está entre los 15 y 16 años y los factores predictivos encontrados son: insatisfacción con el aspecto físico global, distorsión del tamaño del cuerpo, edad y ansiedad rasgo.

Master of Science / Food Science Institute -- Animal Science & Industry / Daniel Y.C. Fung / In February 2008, the FDA released a draft Compliance Policy Guide (CPG) on Listeria monocytogenes and proposed that ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that do not support the growth of L. monocytogenes may contain up to 100 CFU/g of this pathogen. Frozen foods such as ice cream fall in that category since they are consumed in the frozen state. However, other frozen foods, such as vegetables and seafood that are thawed and served at salad and food bars, may support the growth of Listeria and would not be allowed to contain 100 CFU/g according to the draft CPG. In the current study, growth curves were generated for L. monocytogenes inoculated onto four thawed frozen foods - corn, green peas, crabmeat, and shrimp - stored at 4, 8, 12, and 20ºC. Growth parameters, lag phase duration (LPD), and exponential growth rate (EGR) were determined using a two-phase linear growth model and the Square Root Model. The results demonstrated that L. monocytogenes has a very short LPD on these thawed frozen foods during refrigerated storage and that there would be several orders of magnitude of growth (i.e., more than 1.7 log increase at 4 ºC) of the organism before the product is found to be organoleptically unacceptable. Although it would not be possible to take advantage of any extended lag phase duration caused by freeze injury to the organism, frozen foods containing less than 100 CFU/g of L. monocytogenes that are thawed, or thawed and cooked, and then consumed immediately, should not represent a public health hazard.

Master of Science / Food Science / Kelly J.K. Getty / Listeria monocytogenes has the potential to contaminate ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products. Listeria monocytogenes contamination is a hazard that can potentially occur after post-lethality treatment in a processing environment during slicing or packaging of RTE meat products. United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) requires facilities to have intervention strategies to demonstrate control of this pathogen in RTE meat and poultry products. FSIS categorizes different intervention strategies into Alternative 1, 2, or 3. If an establishment chooses Alternative 1, it must use a post-lethality treatment that reduces or eliminates microorganisms on the product and an antimicrobial agent or process that suppresses or limits the growth of L. monocytogenes. If an establishment chooses Alternative 2, it can either use a post-lethality treatment or an antimicrobial agent or process that suppresses or limits growth of L. monocytogenes. Under Alternative 3, the establishment must have a detailed sanitation program as its intervention strategy. As establishments increase the number of interventions or change from Alternative 3 to 2 to 1, the frequency of FSIS sampling of RTE meat and poultry products for safety and wholesomeness decreases. The effectiveness of post-package decontamination technologies such as high-pressure processing, ultraviolet C light, and pre/post-package surface pasteurization have been researched for controlling L. monocytogenes in RTE products. Formulating meat products with antimicrobial additives such as lactates, sodium lactate and sodium diacetate, potassium lactate and sodium diacetate, sodium levulinate, lauric arginate, glucono-delta-lactone, or organic acids is another common approach to control L. monocytogenes in RTE meat products. Also, a combination of sodium lactate and sodium diacetate in a formulation is an acceptable antimicrobial strategy to provide Alternative 2 status. Bacteriocins such as nisin can also be added to the formulation of RTE meat and poultry products for controlling L. monocytogenes. In addition nisin can be applied as packaging film coating. Another approach for controlling L. monocytogenes in products such as jerky, kippered steaks, snack sticks and turkey tenders is the use of packaging environments and holding times prior to shipping. In conclusion, there are various approaches for controlling L. monocytogenes in RTE meat and poultry products post-lethality and processors should consider these options rather than relying on sanitation alone.