High adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD) is favourable for its sustainability and beneficial effects on health. The available questionnaires, according to the MD dietary pattern, include the assessment of moderate alcohol consumption; but some groups, such as young adults and pre-conceptional and pregnant women, are not allowed to consume it. The aim of this study was to validate a new short questionnaire (MedQ-Sus) excluding alcohol consumption, to measure the adherence to the MD and to evaluate the nutritional adherence to a sustainable diet. The Harvard validated questionnaire was used for the validation study. A total of 316 subjects (20 to 70 YOA) completed both questionnaires. A high Spearman correlation coefficient (rho = 0.69; p < 0.01) was found between the MedQ-Sus and Harvard scores; a statistically significant positive correlation was found for all eight food groups. The MedQ-Sus had a significant discriminative capacity between adherence and non-adherence to the MD (optimal cut-off point = 9.5, sensitivity 0.86, specificity = 0.65). A very high nutritional adherence to a sustainable diet was found in the subjects for olive oil (97%), dairy food (90%), fresh vegetables (89%), fish and fish products (73), fresh fruit (56%), and cereals and cereals products (42%). A very low adherence was found for legumes (22%) and meat and meat products (9%). The results showed MedQ-Sus is a valid and quick assessment instrument for the evaluation of the adherence to the MD in all population groups, and could also be useful to evaluate the nutritional sustainability of the diet.

The aim was to investigate, among pregnant women, (1) the use of food supplements and (2) the awareness of food supplement recommendations and beliefs about food supplement use in four European countries: Finland, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The participants (n = 1804) completed an online questionnaire with predefined statements. Daily intakes of vitamins and minerals were calculated using uploaded pictures or weblinks of the supplement packages. Country differences were assessed. Most participants (91%) used at least one food supplement during pregnancy. A prenatal multivitamin was the most commonly used supplement type (84% of the users), and 75% of the participants thought consumption of multivitamin is recommended. Of the participants, 81% knew that folic acid is recommended during pregnancy while 58% knew the recommendation for vitamin D. In 19% of the supplement users, the daily safe upper intake limit of at least one nutrient was exceeded. Nevertheless, most participants agreed that they knew which supplements (91%) and doses of supplements (87%) needed to be used during pregnancy. To conclude, the majority of the participants used food supplements, but lower proportions knew and adhered to the recommended intakes. Between-country differences were observed in the use and knowledge of and beliefs regarding supplements. The results suggest a need for assessment and monitoring of supplement use in antenatal care to ensure appropriate use.

The widespread practice of multiple harvests is known to significantly affect the quality of rocket leaves. Thus, ready-to-eat wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.) was produced under commercial conditions using leaves from five different varieties, harvested at both the first and the second cut, with a 21-day interval between cuts. Both the sensory and nutritional quality of rocket leaves were evaluated one day after packaging (beginning of shelf-life) and after an additional six days of storage at 6 °C (end of shelf-life). At the beginning of the shelf-life, first-cut leaves generally exhibited a more intense flavor, corresponding to a higher level of isothiocyanates, compared to second-cut leaves. At the end of shelf-life, first-cut leaves showed a greater susceptibility to off-flavor development, corresponding to the release of higher levels of sulfur compounds within the packages. First-cut leaves showed higher content of ascorbic acid and folate with respect of second-cut leaves, both at the beginning and the end of the shelf-life. The commonly held assumption that successive cuts yield leaves with more intense flavor compared to the first cut does not appear to be confirmed. It is likely that the differences in quality observed between leaves from the first and second cuts are not attributable solely to the cutting process or to the sequence of multiple harvest per se, but rather to significant variations in environmental conditions, particularly temperature and light, during the leaf growth period between the two harvests.