The nutritional impact of snacking on the diets of female, freshman college students between the ages of 17 and 20 years was assessed. Sixty-five women living in freshman residence halls at Oregon State University recorded their dietary intakes and eating habits for four days. Questionnaires concerning eating and activity patterns were also completed. Dietary intakes were analyzed for energy (kcal), protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid. The nutrient contents of snacks, meals, and nutrient supplements consumed by the subjects were calculated. Nutrient densities (nutrient/1000 kcal) of meals and snacks were also calculated for the above nutrients. All subjects received a Dietary Adequacy Score, which was computed from their mean daily intake over the four-day period, by assigning one point for each nutrient consumed at or above two-thirds of the RDA. All but one subject snacked during the four-day recording period. The subjects consumed a mean of 1.54 snacks daily, with means of 0.19 morning, 0.47 afternoon, and 0.88 evening snacks. With the exception of ascorbic acid, the mean nutrient desities of snacks were significantly (p<0.01) lower than that of meals. The mean nutrient densities of snacks were well below the RDA/1000 kcal for all of the calculated nutrients, again, with the exception of ascorbic acid. Snacks contributed about 20 percent of the mean total energy intake; the proportions supplied by snacks to the mean nutrient intakes were considerably lower (8 to 13 percent). Meal frequency was negatively correlated with snack frequency (r= -.24, p<0.05) and snack energy intake (r= -.40, p<0.01). Lunch was the meal most negatively correlated with snacking frequency (r = .33, p<0.01) and snack energy intake ( r= -.37, p<0.01). By examining when snacking and when missed meals occurred, it appears that snacks were often consumed as a result of missed meals rather than the cause of them. Breakfast was missed most often and dinner least often with snacking occurring most often in the evening and afternoon. Snacks consumed at these times would not have interfered with either lunch or breakfast. Despite the relatively poor nutritional value of snack foods eaten by the subjects (as evidenced by the low nutrient densities), snacks actually improved the Dietary Adequacy Scores of 28 subjects. However, 16 subjects exceeded the RDA for energy with the addition of snacks, eight of whom were not included in the above group of 28 with the improved Dietary Adequacy Scores. But in all, 20 subjects (31 percent) had their Dietary Adequacy Scores improved by snacks, without exceeding the 2100 kcal RDA for energy. The foods most commonly eaten as snacks were (in descending order): cookies, cake and pastries; candy; fruit; dairy desserts; popcorn; crackers, chips etc.; soft drinks; and alcoholic beverages. / Graduation date: 1982

During the last few decades the interest and demand for both healthy food and different beverages has increased the interest for healthy food and it is expected to continue increasing in the future. A strong reason for this is the desire among more and more people to live healthy and long lives. Because of this, the recent industry of functional foods has become increasingly popular as marketers aim to sell food products that can benefit a consumer’s health beyond a healthy or organic food products ability. “A functional food is, or appears similar to, a conventional food. It is part of a standard diet and is consumed on a regular basis, in normal quantities. It has proven health benefits…beyond its basic nutritional functions.” (Doyon and Labrecque 2008 pp.1147) In order for marketers to make the right marketing actions, a better understanding of consumer behaviour and attitudes towards functional food is needed. Without this information marketers will not be able to create effective marketing campaigns for functional food products. Consumer attitudes towards functional foods were looked at in four different factors/dimensions, reward, necessity, confidence and safety, and then each factors impact on consumer willingness to consume was measured.Purpose - The purpose of the study was to investigate consumer’s attitudes on functional foods and their willingness to consume functional foods.Method/Approach - A questionnaire was developed from a previous study (Lähteenmäki and Urala 2007) on consumer attitudes and their willingness to consume functional foods, using a combination of convenience sampling and judgment sampling.Findings- The data confirmed the results from previous studies that consumer attitudes play a role in impacting consumer willingness to consume functional foods, but also that the results cannot be generalized on all functional food groups or types.Conclusions – Each functional food category should be approached in a different way, from a marketing or advertising point of view and when marketing each functional food product. Different aspects e.g. Reward, necessity, confidence and safety should be highlighted for each individual food category in the packaging or advertisement to give the marketing strategy an advantage to increase consumer willingness to use that product. The study was found to collaborate with the previous studies conducted by Lähteenmäki and Urala (2007).Key Words – Attitudes, Consumer attitudes, Functional foods, Consumer behaviour

A microencapsulation-based technology platform for effective delivery of multiple micronutrients for food fortification has been developed. The technology, consisting of extrusion agglomeration followed by encapsulation through surface coating, has been successfully tested on three size scales in typical staple foods: as a surface treatment on salt and sugar, on 20-100µm scale; in salt on a 300-1200 μm scale; and on reconstituted rice on the 5-10 mm scale. The process results in effective delivery systems for one or more active ingredients with organoleptic properties that are unnoticeable to the average consumer. Particularly, salt double fortified with iodine and iron using the microencapsulated ferrous fumarate premix made by the extrusion-based agglomeration process had acceptable sensory properties and stability when stored at 40oC and 60% relative humidity (RH) for up to a year. In these tests >85% of iodine and >90% of ferrous iron were retained. Reconstituted Ultra Rice® grains made by extrusion stabilized by internal gelation has resulted in improved grain integrity and a much simplified process, compared to the original, patented surface crosslinking technique. The most effective internal gelation system is composed of alginate, calcium sulphate (CaSO4), and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) at a best ratio of 3%:3%:0.6% (w/w). It is feasible to incorporate folic acid into the existing fortification programs using the technology platform developed in this study. The results indicate that the potential interactions of folic acid with other added micronutrients or with the food vehicles could be prevented by incorporating folic acid as a premix made by the extrusion-based technology. Virtually no folic acid was lost after 9 months storage at 40oC and 60% RH when the folic acid premix was added into salt or sugar samples. The technical feasibility of the microencapsulation-based technology platform has been successfully demonstrated for micronutrient delivery in food vehicles of different size ranges, resulting in fortified staple foods with desired physical, chemical, nutritional, and organoleptic properties. The technology should be adaptable to formulating customized delivery systems of active ingredients for broader applications, and promises to bring immediate benefits in combatting micronutrient deficiencies, that will have far reaching effects in health and social development.

Functional foods provide positive externality benefits to society through the promotion of health benefits that lower the potential of illness for individual consumer and reduce the health care costs that are borne by governments. With strong market growth and considerable potential social benefits, functional foods appear to be an important area for future expansion in the global food market. However, pre-existing trade barriers to international commence reduce, or sometimes eliminate, trade in functional foods. Given that there are benefits associated with health-giving attributes from functional foods, retaining trade restrictions on functional foods may lead to additional forgone benefits.<p> To examine the effects of the positive health benefits arising from functional foods when pre-existing trade restrictions are in place, a comparative-static partial equilibrium trade model is modified. Four cases pertaining to import restrictions on functional foods are examined in the trade model based on two categories: trade policies and ability to produce. The theoretical framework provides an illustration of the potential welfare benefits forgone from the existence of trade barriers when a traditional food becomes a functional food.<p> Empirical case studies examined canola oil as a functional food. The value of the benefits foregone from maintaining trade barriers to canola oil in two countries: China and United Kingdom were estimated. In addition, a cost of illness model was used to estimate health care savings. The final ratio suggests that existing trade policies directly result in non-trivial costs to society. . As a result, current trade regulations might be re-evaluated by policy makers to better reflect the evolving markets for functional foods.

A microencapsulation-based technology platform for effective delivery of multiple micronutrients for food fortification has been developed. The technology, consisting of extrusion agglomeration followed by encapsulation through surface coating, has been successfully tested on three size scales in typical staple foods: as a surface treatment on salt and sugar, on 20-100µm scale; in salt on a 300-1200 μm scale; and on reconstituted rice on the 5-10 mm scale. The process results in effective delivery systems for one or more active ingredients with organoleptic properties that are unnoticeable to the average consumer. Particularly, salt double fortified with iodine and iron using the microencapsulated ferrous fumarate premix made by the extrusion-based agglomeration process had acceptable sensory properties and stability when stored at 40oC and 60% relative humidity (RH) for up to a year. In these tests >85% of iodine and >90% of ferrous iron were retained. Reconstituted Ultra Rice® grains made by extrusion stabilized by internal gelation has resulted in improved grain integrity and a much simplified process, compared to the original, patented surface crosslinking technique. The most effective internal gelation system is composed of alginate, calcium sulphate (CaSO4), and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) at a best ratio of 3%:3%:0.6% (w/w). It is feasible to incorporate folic acid into the existing fortification programs using the technology platform developed in this study. The results indicate that the potential interactions of folic acid with other added micronutrients or with the food vehicles could be prevented by incorporating folic acid as a premix made by the extrusion-based technology. Virtually no folic acid was lost after 9 months storage at 40oC and 60% RH when the folic acid premix was added into salt or sugar samples. The technical feasibility of the microencapsulation-based technology platform has been successfully demonstrated for micronutrient delivery in food vehicles of different size ranges, resulting in fortified staple foods with desired physical, chemical, nutritional, and organoleptic properties. The technology should be adaptable to formulating customized delivery systems of active ingredients for broader applications, and promises to bring immediate benefits in combatting micronutrient deficiencies, that will have far reaching effects in health and social development.

Functional foods provide positive externality benefits to society through the promotion of health benefits that lower the potential of illness for individual consumer and reduce the health care costs that are borne by governments. With strong market growth and considerable potential social benefits, functional foods appear to be an important area for future expansion in the global food market. However, pre-existing trade barriers to international commence reduce, or sometimes eliminate, trade in functional foods. Given that there are benefits associated with health-giving attributes from functional foods, retaining trade restrictions on functional foods may lead to additional forgone benefits.<p> To examine the effects of the positive health benefits arising from functional foods when pre-existing trade restrictions are in place, a comparative-static partial equilibrium trade model is modified. Four cases pertaining to import restrictions on functional foods are examined in the trade model based on two categories: trade policies and ability to produce. The theoretical framework provides an illustration of the potential welfare benefits forgone from the existence of trade barriers when a traditional food becomes a functional food.<p> Empirical case studies examined canola oil as a functional food. The value of the benefits foregone from maintaining trade barriers to canola oil in two countries: China and United Kingdom were estimated. In addition, a cost of illness model was used to estimate health care savings. The final ratio suggests that existing trade policies directly result in non-trivial costs to society. . As a result, current trade regulations might be re-evaluated by policy makers to better reflect the evolving markets for functional foods.

We hypothesized that beef patties formulated with the addition of a beef fat, plant oil and rosemary extract (antioxidant) blend would increase unsaturated fatty acid content and maintain desirable sensory attributes as compared to 10 and 20% fat control beef patties. Treatment patties were formulated by combining beef trimmings (6% fat) with a lipid blend mixture (4% or 14% addition, respectively) containing 57% beef tallow, 0.3% rosemary extract and 43% of either high oleic safflower oil (SO), olive oil (OO), or corn oil (CO) to achieve a total fat content of 10 or 20%. Treatment patties were similar to control patties for lipid oxidation at 0 and 3 d of refrigerated (2oC) storage and up to 56 d of frozen (-10oC) storage. Cooked lipid blend patties at 10 or 20% fat content were similar to or higher, respectively, than control patties for juiciness and were no different for other sensory attributes evaluated. At 10 and 20% fat levels, oleic acid (18:1) in cooked SO patties (46.1 and 50.3%, respectively) and OO patties (43.8 and 48.1%, respectively) was higher than the control (37.3 and 37.6%, respectively). Unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratios at the 10 and 20% fat levels were higher in SO (1.37 and 1.60, respectively) and CO (1.40 and 1.48, respectively) patties than the control (0.97 and 0.94, respectively). The incorporation of nutritionally enhanced lipid blends increased unsaturated fatty acid content and maintained desirable sensory attributes of beef patties while suppressing lipid oxidation.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-99). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-99). Also available on the Internet.

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health