Salt Contents in Fermented Dairy Products: A Strategic Blueprint for Healthier Intake.

This study aimed to estimate the quantity and trends of salt intake from industrial fermented dairy products, develop strategies to reduce salt content, and inform policymakers on promoting public health through healthier dairy options. A cross-sectional study was conducted on fermented dairy products. Seventy-nine random samples were selected, and the salt (NaCl %) content was determined by potentiometric titration after sample preparation and homogenization; also samples were analyzed for their moisture (oven drying method).

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in black tea infusion by Monte Carlo simulation.

Tea leaves and their infusion have been interested in the populations because of their therapeutic and relaxing effects. However, tea plant is prone to heavy metals' bioaccumulation. Regarding the high consumption of tea infusion, concentration of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in black tea infusion was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Effect of soaking in plasma-activated liquids (PALs) on heavy metals and other physicochemical properties of contaminated rice.

In this study, plasma-activated liquids (PALs) were produced by a cold plasma gliding arc device at two different exposure times (7.5 and 15 min) and compared with deionized water (DW) as a control. The results showed that the amount of arsenic (As: 98 %), cadmium (Cd: 93 %), and lead (Pb: 93.

The Prevalence of Spp. in Dairy Products in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Brucellosis, a significant zoonotic disease, threatens food safety substantially, particularly in developing nations such as the Middle East. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence of spp. in Iranian milk and dairy products through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Propolis as a functional food and promising agent for oral health and microbiota balance: A review study.

Bee Propolis has been used for its therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and immune-stimulating properties, for centuries as a functional food. This study reviewed the effectiveness of propolis as a functional food on oral-related diseases as a rich bioflavonoid produced by honey bees. A literature search was conducted to identify studies published that investigated the effects of propolis on oral health and its ability to treat related diseases.

Fresh Leafy Vegetables and Parasitic Contamination: Practical Solutions.

This study aimed at investigating the parasitic contamination of fresh leafy vegetables in Tehran, Iran, during 2020-2021. A cross-sectional study was conducted and 180 fresh leafy vegetables (including leek, watercress, mint, spring onion, radish, basil, parsley, lettuce, and spinach) were collected randomly in the five regions of Tehran, Iran. Each 200-g sample was soaked with tap water containing detergent, and the obtained sediment was centrifuged and examined for parasitic stages using a light microscope.

Health risk assessment of heavy metal pollutants in Iranian hen eggs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eggs are a high-quality, nutrient-dense source of protein that is available at a relatively low price and the contamination of eggs by heavy metals is an important issue in public health. This review aimed to assess the risk of heavy metal pollutants in Iranian hen eggs. Original full-text available studies in Iran, detecting levels of Pb, Cd, As, and Hg in whole or part of the egg, and published between January 2000 and March 2023 were selected based on the inclusion criteria.

The influence of carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose on physicochemical, texture, and sensory characteristics of gluten-free pancake.

In this study, gluten-free pancakes were prepared using rice flour and potato starch at a ratio of 50:50. Due to a lack of gluten networks in these ingredients, the hydrocolloid gums including carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) at 0.5%, 1%, and 1.

Consumer health risk assessment of Arsenic and Mercury in hen eggs through Monte Carlo simulations.

Background: This study was conducted to assess the concentration of heavy metals (arsenic and mercury) and estimate the probability that consumption of hen egg products collected in Iran has carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic consequences.

Methods: A total of eighty-four hen eggs from 21 major brands were randomly selected from among thirty local supermarkets in two seasons (winter (January) and summer (August) 2022). Arsenic (As) and Mercury (Hg) was determined by using ICP-MS.

Risk assessment of lead and cadmium concentrations in hen's eggs using Monte Carlo simulations.

The hen egg is one of the main sources of cheap, great quality, and nutritious food. This study aimed at determining the level of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in hen eggs and at assessing the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks caused by the consumption of hen eggs collected in Iran. A total of 42 hen eggs from 17 major brands were randomly sampled from supermarkets.

Why has the taxing policy on sugar sweetened beverages not reduced their purchase in Iranian households?

Objective: This study aimed at analyzing the effectiveness of the policy of taxing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) on their purchases during the last decade in Iranian households.

Methods: The present mixed method study was done in 2017 in four phases: (1) A meta-review of the fiscal policies during the last decade, (2) Collecting existing data on soft drinks' production, price, and household expenditure during the last decade, (3) Conducting 19 semi-structured interviews with key informants, and (4) Facilitating a national meeting to achieve a consensus on the recommendations and future implications.

Results: Document reviews showed that based on the Permanent Provisions of National Development Plans of Iran, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) should announce the list of health threatening products to increase taxation for them.

Economic Sanctions Affecting Household Food and Nutrition Security and Policies to Cope With Them: A Systematic Review.

Background: This review was conducted to identify the impact of economic sanctions on household food and nutrition security and policies to cope with them in countries exposed to sanctions.

Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines 2020 were used to identify, select, appraise, and synthesize studies. Electronic databases in addition to Persian ones have been systematically searched for all related documents published until March 2022.

Analysis of fat, fatty acid profile, and salt content of Iranian restaurant foods during the COVID-19 pandemic: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis.

This study aimed to analyze the fat, fatty acid profile, and salt content of restaurant foods (RFs) and find out strategies to lower them using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). Five types of common foods ( = 70) were collected from restaurants in Tehran, Iran. The fat, fatty acid profile, and salt content of samples were analyzed by acid hydrolysis method, gas chromatography, and Charpentier Volhard methods, respectively.

A quasi-experimental study on the effect of health and food safety training intervention on restaurant food handlers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The restaurant business has turned into a dynamic and ever-growing industry. So, food safety must be a priority for these establishments, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of training intervention on the health and food safety knowledge, attitude, and self-reported practice (KAP) of restaurant food handlers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Mixed-Method Study on COVID-19 Prevention in Iranian Restaurants.

In the face of the COVID-19, as a public health emergency, the restaurant industry is struggling to organize itself. The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice and also the perceptions of restaurants' customers and managers toward COVID-19 prevention. This cross-sectional study was conducted using the mixed-method approach.

Policy challenges of food advertisements from the viewpoints of Stakeholders: A qualitative study.

This study aims to explore the stakeholders' views and suggestions about the policy challenges of food advertisements. Sixteen semistructured interviews were held with media and the food industry experts. Directed content analysis and constant comparison methods were used to obtained categories until subthemes were extracted, and the results were shared as member checking with the stakeholders.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of lead and cadmium concentrations in cow milk in Iran and human health risk assessment.

The aim of the current research was to systematically review and summarize the studies that evaluated the concentration of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in cow milk in different regions of Iran and to perform a meta-analysis of the findings. Moreover, the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of Pb and Cd through milk consumption in adult and child consumers were assessed. As a result of a systematic search in the international and national databases between January 2008 and October 2018, 17 reports involving 1874 samples were incorporated in our study for meta-analysis.

Home Food Safety Practice and Household Food Insecurity: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach.

Background: Food safety and food security are interrelated concepts with a profound impact on the quality of human life. The current study, for the first time, was set to identify associations between home food safety practice and household food insecurity a structural equation modeling approach.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, urban households were selected from among 10 health centers of five districts of Tehran, Iran (2015).

Evaluating the rancidity and quality of discarded oils in fast food restaurants.

This cross-sectional study attempts to determine the rancidity and quality of discarded oils in fast food restaurants. Samples of the discarded frying oils were collected randomly from 50 fast food restaurants in Tehran, Iran. Their physicochemical properties were assessed and compared to the standard values.

Challenges of Edible Oils From Farm to Industry: Views of Stakeholders.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore stakeholders' views about quality and safety of edible oils from farm to industry and propose policy options to address these challenges.

Methods: Semistructured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 11 experts in the edible oil industry. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling.

Development of a Home Food Safety Questionnaire Based on the PRECEDE Model: Targeting Iranian Women.

Food safety is an essential public health issue for all countries. This study was the first attempt to design and develop a home food safety questionnaire (HFSQ), in the conceptual framework of the PRECEDE (predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling constructs in educational diagnosis and evaluation) model, and to assess its validity and reliability. The HFSQ was developed by reviewing electronic databases and 12 focus group discussions with 96 women volunteers.

Schools' Cafeteria Status: Does it Affect Snack Patterns? A Qualitative Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate patterns of students' snacks habits regarding to their schools' cafeteria status in Tehran by focus group discussion (FGD) technique.

Methods: Participants were 240 students (12-15 years old), selected from12 middle-schools in Tehran. The field study consisted of 24 FGDs sessions; involving 8-10 participants.

Major dietary patterns in relation to stunting among children in Tehran, Iran.

To the best of our knowledge, no information is available to link major dietary patterns to stunting during childhood, although dietary patterns are associated with chronic diseases. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between major dietary patterns and stunting in the first grade pupils of Tehran in 2009. In this case-control study, 86 stunted children (defined as height-for-age of less than the 5th percentile of CDC2000 cutoff points) were enrolled from among 3,147 first grade pupils of Tehran, selected using a multistage cluster random-sampling method.