The current contribution provides insight into the transformations occurring in food taste and in gastronomy standards, where social media contributes to assess eating out in situations of mobility. The coalition between food and new media has brought about new priorities and standards in taste, relying less on proper gastronomic expertise than on media dynamics and ‘metamorphic’ claims of social distinction in these times of cultural omnivorousness. On this basis, the paper looks into emerging taste patterns, outlined by the widespread practice of sharing restaurant reviews on travel social media. It addresses both eating out and social media as an open set of social practices that, though highly dynamic and internally differentiated, speak for collective and socially organized patterns of behaviors, so as to become entry points to grasp broader social dynamics dwelling in connectivity, gastronomy, food consumption. To this aim, the study analyses TripAdvisor’s reviews of the restaurants in the Italian region Aosta Valley in a time span of 25 months. The analysis highlights the process of food taste “re-mediation” played by social media and the emergence of a culinary capital based on plastic habitus and a plural socialization to food that ranges from TV foodtainment to digital narratives, to new patterns of aware eating.

Introduction: Despite international efforts, the number of individuals struggling with obesity is still increasing. An important aspect of obesity prevention relates to identifying individuals at risk at early stage, allowing for timely risk stratification and initiation of countermeasures. However, obesity is complex and multifactorial by nature, and one isolated (bio)marker is unlikely to enable an optimal risk stratification and prognosis for the individual; rather, a combined set is required. Such a multicomponent interpretation would integrate biomarkers from various domains, such as classical markers (eg, anthropometrics, blood lipids), multiomics (eg, genetics, proteomics, metabolomics), lifestyle and behavioural attributes (eg, diet, physical activity, sleep patterns), psychological traits (mental health status such as depression) and additional host factors (eg, gut microbiota diversity), also by means of advanced interpretation tools such as machine learning. In this paper, we will present a protocol that will be employed for a scoping review that attempts to summarise and map the state-of-the-art in the area of multicomponent (bio)markers related to obesity, focusing on the usability and effectiveness of such biomarkers.Methods and analysis: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Embase databases will be searched using predefined key terms to identify peer-reviewed articles published in English until January 2024. Once downloaded into EndNote for deduplication, CADIMA will be employed to review and select abstracts and full-text articles in a two-step procedure, by two independent reviewers. Data extraction will then be carried out by several independent reviewers. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews and Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies guidelines will be followed. Combinations employing at least two biomarkers from different domains will be mapped and discussed.Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required; data will rely on published articles. Findings will be published open access in an international peer-reviewed journal. This review will allow guiding future directions for research and public health strategies on obesity prevention, paving the way towards multicomponent interventions.

This article presents the results of a survey on sustainable food consumption in Italy during COVID-19 times. The study examines the changes triggered by the pandemic, both in sustainable food practises and in consumers’ value-based priorities. The goal is to identify the structuring of an ecological dietary habitus and even a culinary ethos as attention is paid to the reflexive, axiological dimensions of emerging eating habits. The complexity of the phenomenon has suggested a multi-paradigmatic research approach that accounts for the role of human agency in restructuring eating practises in transitional times. The results highlight an emerging nonlinear axiology in which biospheric universalism ambiguously coexists with the lionizing of locavorism and the glorification of food origins, and the direct provision of local food gains prominence despite the increasing mediatization of food choices. A deglobalizing eating style is emerging, where ecological instantiations seem to indulge culinary nationalism and conservative communitarianism. One of the challenges of the “new normal” will be to endow these dispositions with the axiological coherence of an appropriate ecological culinary ethos, as well as to create the conditions for younger generations to prioritize forward-looking ecological values over conservative gastronationalism to promote the sustainable regeneration of food systems.

This article delves into the landscape of the plant-based food industry, exploring innovative market entry strategies and their interplay with the evolving food market and shifting consumer preferences and lifestyles. Adopting a multidimensional approach, the study reflects diverse perspectives at play. Through a comparative analysis of strategic promotion and growth strategies employed by both innovative startups and established industry giants in the plant-based alternatives sector in Germany, the study aims to capture the challenges faced by the ‘newer’ wave of plant-based alternatives. This examination is particularly relevant for navigating the complexities of entering a competitive market. Striving to penetrate evolving consumer lifestyles, the study draws insightful comparisons with their “older” counterparts. In addition, through in-depth interviews with selected companies, the study investigates the entry methods of startups venturing into the German market, aiming to identify parallels and contrasts in market strategies with established brands. This provides valuable insights into innovation within the alternative food market. Furthermore, the study explores the process of brand “platformization” by scrutinizing the websites of the selected companies and analyzing customers’ online reviews of their brand experience. This comprehensive analysis unveils distinctive patterns in communication strategies, brand positioning, and consumer engagement, offering insights into the ways plant-based innovation shapes new, caring lifestyles. The main findings include a strong correlation among dimensions related to food quality, use, and taste, indicating a holistic approach to food consumption facilitated by online platforms.