HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and modern quality management systems have a significant impact on public health in the food industry. These systems ensure that food products are safe for consumption by identifying and managing potential hazards at every stage of the production process. To stimulate ongoing studies in both developing and underexplored areas of inquiry, this research synthesizes and organizes the contributions made in this field. It examines more than 40 years of studies from Scopus data base on HACCP and modern quality management systems in the food industry using the VOSviewer software version 1.6.18 (Leiden University, The Netherlands) and bibliometrix R-package. This represents, to the authors’ knowledge, the first bibliometric analysis undergone in this direction. The graphical framework demonstrates the highest developments in research and the literature review investigates barriers and opportunities of implementing HACCP in food industry organizations. Findings indicate that until the beginning of the 1990s, there was not a large number of scientific production in the field of HACCP and modern quality management systems in the food industry. The USA were the most prolific affiliation terms of scientific production until 2012, when studies from Italy, the United Kingdom, China and Greece intensified. Currently, the most prolific country in terms of publications is Italy. In terms of global cooperation, the United Kingdom, The United States and The Netherlands represent most active nations on this topic Motor themes that reflect the main interest of the researchers include food diseases, quality control, hazards or food supply. The study also provides future research directions regarding food quality and safety management. These should be focused on improving the safety, quality, and sustainability of food products, while also adapting to changing consumer demands, emerging risks, and regulatory requirements.

It is a matter of common knowledge in the literature that engineered metal oxide nanoparticles have properties that are efficient for the design of innovative food/beverage packages. Although nanopackages have many benefits, there are circumstances when these materials are able to release nanoparticles into the food/beverage matrix. Once dispersed into food, engineered metal oxide nanoparticles travel through the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently enter human cells, where they display various behaviors influencing human health or wellbeing. This review article provides an insight into the antimicrobial mechanisms of metal oxide nanoparticles as essential for their benefits in food/beverage packaging and provides a discussion on the oral route of these nanoparticles from nanopackages to the human body. This contribution also highlights the potential toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles for human health. The fact that only a small number of studies address the issue of food packaging based on engineered metal oxide nanoparticles should be particularly noted.

The meat adulteration scandal has led to numerous controversies in the press and among consumers concerning the effects of horse meat consumption, its nutritional characteristics, the confidence in foodstuffs, and the frauds and ethics issues in food production. The present article proposes a scientific evaluation of the physical, chemical and nutritional characteristics of the horse meat with a comparison between the meat coming from other species of domestic animals focusing also on its production for human consumption, the traditional consumption in different areas of the world, arguments for consumption, the reaction of the European Commission and the measures taken in order to avoid critical situations of such kind. The materials and methods used for research consisted in treaties and scientific articles regarding the characteristics and nutritional facts of the horse meat, statistical databases, data about its production and consumption, studies among consumers and media items on the horse meat scandal, and official documents concerning the food fraud. Although the horse meat scandal has affected the European consumer behavior, the main problems are not nutritional or food safety. This type of meat is a valuable new foodstuff, with physical, chemical and nutritional characteristics higher or closer to those of other domestic animals, being a part of the traditional diet in many communities. Yet, the main problems are those related to ethics, such as the attempts of fraud of some producers or traders. The European Union reacted promptly to the scandal of beef substitution with horse meat, proposing measures for strengthening the system of control and food fraud prevention

The present study focuses on heat-induced structural changes and the degradation kinetics of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of red grape skin extract. The thermal degradation of anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidant activity followed a first-order kinetic model, increasing with temperature due to the intensification of the degradation process. The activation energy (Ea) highlighted this phenomenon. Likewise, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters certified the irreversible degradation of the bioactive compounds from the skin of the Băbească neagră grape variety. Both temperature and duration of heating had a significant impact on the content of bioactive compounds. In addition, the red grape skin extract inhibited certain enzymes such as α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, and lipoxygenase, which are associated with metabolic syndrome and inflammation. Further knowledge on the possible inhibition mechanisms exerted by the major anthocyanins found in red grape skin extract on the metabolic syndrome-associated enzymes was gathered upon running molecular docking tests. Detailed analysis of the resulting molecular models revealed that malvidin 3-O-glucoside binds in the vicinity of the catalytic site of α-amylase and lipase, whereas no direct contact with catalytic amino acids was identified in the case of α-glucosidase and lipoxygenase.