Using household level scanner data for 2006, 2007, and 2008, this dissertation consists of four studies, which present household- and market-level analyses of food safety issues concerning the 2007 Peter Pan recall on the demand for peanut butter at the category level and at the brand level. Findings of the first study suggested that the recall had a statistically significant positive effect on the demand for peanut butter at the category level. At the brand level, spillover effects were evident in that the demand for Jif was positively affected, while the demand for Skippy was negatively affected. The second study examined structural change in the demand for peanut butter using demand system models corresponding to the pre-recall and the post-recall periods. Matrices of own-price, cross-price, and expenditure elasticities were calculated for both recall periods, and upon comparison, there were statistical differences in the corresponding estimated elasticities. In general, most price elasticities in the post-recall period were larger in absolute value than the comparable elasticities in the pre-recall period. The third study investigated the impact of household socio-economic characteristics associated with choices to purchase peanut butter across the pre- and the post-recall periods. Four choice scenarios were no buy-no buy, buy-no buy, no buy-buy, and buy-buy. Socio-economic characteristics considered included age, employment, education, race, ethnicity, presence of male and/or female household head, region, age and presence of children in the household, household size, and income. While the results varied by brand, region was the socio-demographic characteristic that was consistently significant among the choice scenarios for the respective peanut butter brands. Conditional on households purchasing peanut butter in both the pre- and the post-recall periods, the final analysis examined the influence of the same aforementioned socio-economic variables as well as the change in the own price on the change in the quantity purchased. The results varied across brands, but the principal drivers of the conditional change in the quantity purchased were the change in the own price and the age and presence of children in the household.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 59 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-67). Also available via the Internet.

The objective of this research was to determine the acceptability and preference of peanut butter and three different flavors of soynut butter among humans. Six hundred and sixty-two volunteers (401 females, 258 males and 3 unknown) between the ages of 18 and up were randomly asked to fill out a demographic survey and taste 1 tsp. (5.33 g) of three different soynut butters (creamy, creamy with honey, and creamy with chocolate) and 1 tsp. (5.33 g) of peanut butter on saltine crackers. After taste testing the soynut butters/peanut butter, volunteers were asked to rate each product on a 9-point hedonic rating scale based on appearance, texture, and flavor; the subjects were also asked as to whether they would purchase the nut butters. Demographic information such as participants' age, gender, year in school, and ethnicity were collected, along with questions concerning their frequency of exercise, eating and smoking habits, and health status of themselves and their families.The creamy with honey and creamy soynut butters were rated highest by both genders for all variables (i.e., appearance, texture, flavor, purchase). The purchase variable determined statistical significance between females and males. The females indicated by their rating that they would be more likely to purchase the chocolate soynut butter vs. the peanut butter, while the males indicated purchasing preference of peanut butter over the chocolate soynut butter.Given that both creamy with honey and creamy soynut butters were accepted by this population based on appearance, texture, and flavor, future research in this area should focus on soy foods in humans and biochemical parameters, marketing niches, specific ethnic or age preferences, and education of the health benefits of soy. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Actualmente las personas se encuentran modificando sus hábitos de consumo, la tendencia alimenticia indica que el cuidado de las personas predomina para preservar la salud y belleza. Sin embargo, muy pocas personas conocen sobre marcas y que alimento son los adecuados para ingerir cuando uno se alimenta saludablemente. El nicho que representa para la empresa este mercado siempre encuentra los mismos productos en los puntos de venta o los mismos complementos alimenticios para los alimentos de media mañana o media tarde. Nutsfit ingresa al mercado de alimentos saludables como una propuesta variada que las personas que mantienen este estilo de vida se atrevan a consumir y conviertan a la marca como parte de su vida alimenticia. La mantequilla de maní que se oferta al mercado es a consecuencia que el público objetivo lo pidió. Se realizó un estudio de mercado encuestando a personas con el perfil adecuado para conocer sus gustos, preferencias y descubrir carencias que presentan. Ante ello, se empezó hacer pruebas de campo o degustaciones con distingos ingredientes para conocer la percepción de las personas sobre el producto piloto. Se elaboraron hipótesis e indicadores de éxito donde se mantuvieron solo 5 productos en oferta al mercado. NutsFit en una empresa que se ocupa en brindar productos de calidad y de buen sabor, predominando el estilo de vida saludable bajo la presentación de las mejores mantequillas de maní. / Currently people are changing their consumption habits, the food trend indicates that caring for people predominates to preserve health and beauty. However, very few people know about brands and what food they are suitable for when they eat healthy. The niche that this market represents for the company always finds the same products at the points of sale or the same food supplements for mid-morning or mid-afternoon food. Nutsfit enters the health food market as a varied proposal that people who maintain this lifestyle dare to consume and convert the brand as part of their food life. The peanut butter that is offered to the market is a consequence that the target audience requested. A market study was carried out surveying people with the appropriate profile to know their tastes, preferences and discover the deficiencies they present. Given this, field tests or tastings began with different ingredients to know people's perception of the pilot product. Hypotheses and success indicators were developed where only 5 products on offer to the market were maintained. NutsFit in a company that deals in providing quality products and good taste, predominantly healthy lifestyle under the presentation of the best peanut butters. / Trabajo de investigación

The purpose of this study was to observe and compare the blood glucose response of individuals with documented noninsulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) and controls after they consumed a peanut butter and cracker snack product (Austin "Toasty" crackers). Twenty-one subjects with NIDDM (15 with current NIDDM and 6 with previously abnormal glucose tolerance [prevAGT]) and 11 controls participated. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and age of subjects were recorded and statistically compared. Subjects tested their own blood glucose using the One Touch II glucometer, and participated on two separate occasions which were designated session 1 and session 2. Blood glucose was measured before eating the test food, every 15 (+3) minutes for two hours after eating, and at 150 and 180 minutes. Mean peak blood glucose value and the time at which glucose peaked were identified and compared among the groups. Repeated measures ANOV A was used to compare blood glucose response curves of the NIDDM group, the control group, and the PrevAGT group; slope of the line after the peak was of interest. The null hypothesis was that the groups would not differ in their blood glucose responses. / Master of Science

Peanut skins are a low-value byproduct of peanut blanching operations. They have been shown to contain significant levels of phenolic compounds with demonstrated antioxidant properties. The effects of two types of extraction methods: solid-liquid extraction (SLE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) on the recovery of phenolic compounds from peanut skins were investigated. Response surface methodology was used to optimize extraction conditions based on total phenolic content (TPC), ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) activity and <i>trans</i>-resveratrol content. The protective effect of peanut skin extracts (PSE) against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative stress in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) and the effect of PSE on lipid oxidation in commercial peanut butter were also evaluated. In the SLE method, EtOH was found to be the most efficient extraction solvent followed by MeOH, water and EA. Despite EtOH extracts having a higher TPC, samples extracted with MeOH demonstrated slightly higher ORAC activity. Resveratrol was identified in MeOH extracts but was not found in EtOH, water or EA extracts. In the MAE procedure, the maximum predicted TPC under the optimized conditions was 144 mg phenols/g skins compared to 118 mg/g with SLE. The maximum predicted ORAC activity was 2789 μmol TE/g as opposed to 2149 μmol TE/g with the SLE method. MAE was able to extract more phenolic compounds (with higher antioxidant activity) in a faster time than the SLE procedure. In addition, resveratrol was identified in PSE derived from MAE although at relatively low levels. PSE were found to have some protective effects against oxidative stress in HBMEC. Higher doses of PSE appeared to have a slightly cytotoxic effect. However, the data were highly variable which made it difficult to arrive at any definitive conclusions regarding the potential benefits of PSE in preventing oxidative damage to cells. In the PB experiment, hexanal levels over the storage period were not high enough for the samples to be considered oxidized. However, hexanal values of PB samples treated with PSE were lower than the control throughout storage, which suggests that PSE may provide some protection against oxidation of PB. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi. Aflatoxins and fumonisins are among the most toxic mycotoxins. They are a significant risk factor for a cocktail of chronic health conditions including cancer of the liver, oesophagus and kidney, teratogenicity, neural tube defects, interference with lipid metabolism, a weakened immune system and a negative impact on micronutrient absorption in both man and animals. This study compared natural contamination of peanuts, peanut butter and sorghum from Gaborone, Botswana and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe with aflatoxins and fumonisins. In total 34 peanut samples, 34 sorghum samples and 11 peanut butter samples were collected randomly from retail shops and informal markets in the two cities. Fungal contamination was determined using standard mycology methods. Aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination was determined using HPLC-FLD. A. flavus/parasiticus species were detected in 66% and 100% of randomly analysed peanut samples from Bulawayo and Gaborone respectively and 27% (3/11) of peanut butter samples from Bulawayo. 67% of randomly analysed sorghum samples from Bulawayo showed A. flavus/parasiticus and Fusarium species contamination while none of the randomly analysed sorghum samples from Gaborone showed any fungal contamination. Furthermore aflatoxins were not detected in any of the sorghum samples; however 61% (11/18) of the Bulawayo sorghum samples showed fumonisin contamination (Range: 8 – 187 ng/g). Three of the peanut samples from Bulawayo were contaminated with aflatoxins (range: 6.6 – 622 ng/g) and no aflatoxins were detected in Gaborone peanuts. All 11 peanut butter samples from Bulawayo were contaminated with aflatoxins (Mean: 73.5 ng/g, Range: 6.8-250 ng/g) and AFB1 was the most prevalent. These preliminary results indicate that peanut butter and peanuts from Bulawayo are contaminated with high levels of aflatoxins. Stricter policing of regulations should be implemented to ensure compliance by manufacturers and public health interventions implemented in vulnerable communities. / Life & Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi. Aflatoxins and fumonisins are among the most toxic mycotoxins. They are a significant risk factor for a cocktail of chronic health conditions including cancer of the liver, oesophagus and kidney, teratogenicity, neural tube defects, interference with lipid metabolism, a weakened immune system and a negative impact on micronutrient absorption in both man and animals. This study compared natural contamination of peanuts, peanut butter and sorghum from Gaborone, Botswana and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe with aflatoxins and fumonisins. In total 34 peanut samples, 34 sorghum samples and 11 peanut butter samples were collected randomly from retail shops and informal markets in the two cities. Fungal contamination was determined using standard mycology methods. Aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination was determined using HPLC-FLD. A. flavus/parasiticus species were detected in 66% and 100% of randomly analysed peanut samples from Bulawayo and Gaborone respectively and 27% (3/11) of peanut butter samples from Bulawayo. 67% of randomly analysed sorghum samples from Bulawayo showed A. flavus/parasiticus and Fusarium species contamination while none of the randomly analysed sorghum samples from Gaborone showed any fungal contamination. Furthermore aflatoxins were not detected in any of the sorghum samples; however 61% (11/18) of the Bulawayo sorghum samples showed fumonisin contamination (Range: 8 – 187 ng/g). Three of the peanut samples from Bulawayo were contaminated with aflatoxins (range: 6.6 – 622 ng/g) and no aflatoxins were detected in Gaborone peanuts. All 11 peanut butter samples from Bulawayo were contaminated with aflatoxins (Mean: 73.5 ng/g, Range: 6.8-250 ng/g) and AFB1 was the most prevalent. These preliminary results indicate that peanut butter and peanuts from Bulawayo are contaminated with high levels of aflatoxins. Stricter policing of regulations should be implemented to ensure compliance by manufacturers and public health interventions implemented in vulnerable communities. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)