Background: Food security and sustainability are interconnected, yet the integration of nutritional and environmental metrics into food security assessments remains insufficiently explored. Objectives: This scoping review maps the literature on the integration of nutritional and sustainability metrics in food security, investigating the methods used, existing findings, and research gaps. A special focus is placed on Eastern Europe, including the Republic of Moldova, due to shared challenges in food security and the potential for adapting validated methodologies from this region. Eligibility Criteria and Sources of Evidence: His study includes articles from Web of Science and Scopus (2015–2025), published in English and Romanian, that analyze food security alongside nutritional and sustainability factors, following the Population, Concept, Context (PCC) framework. Charting Methods: The extracted data were synthesized narratively and visualized thematically, analyzing temporal trends and the geographical distribution of studies. Results: Out of 247 identified publications, 115 were included. The use of sustainability indicators has increased since 2020; however, economic and social dimensions remain underexplored. Conclusions: Developing an integrated methodological framework is essential for correlating the nutritional, ecological, and economic impact of food consumption. Future research should prioritize the development of standardized methodologies and broaden the scope of analysis, particularly in underrepresented regions such as Eastern Europe.

Background: Since 2018, World Duchenne Organization, Dutch Duchenne Parent Project, and Duchenne Data Foundation have been championing efforts to make Duchenne-related data reusable in combination with data contained in other registries. Transforming human language into a coded language that machines can understand (“FAIRification”; FAIR, Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) offers a solution. Purpose: To recount and reflect on the process and challenges encountered during the FAIRification of a patient-registry, the Duchenne Data Platform. Methods: The FAIRification plan was developed by a multidisciplinary team that was coordinated by a FAIR project manager. It focused on FAIRifying common data elements for rare disease registrations and patient-related outcome data. Protecting patient privacy and autonomy were at the forefront throughout the process. FAIR data transformation was accomplished through a combination of open-source and custom-written software. Data access for federated exploration was enabled through a privacy-preserving “data-visiting” approach. Results: The plan consisted of 10 main steps and addressed social, legal, ethical, and technical issues. Proof-of-concept testing for interoperability between the Duchenne Data Platform and four other registries demonstrated that FAIR data discovery and reuse was possible. Misconceptions about FAIR data persist, which act as barriers to scaling-up community-level FAIR efforts. Suggestions for overcoming these barriers are provided. Conclusions: Data visiting and federated analyses between registries is possible. Actions to help mitigate hesitation to implement FAIR in practice include seeking out existing FAIR training opportunities, addressing misconceptions as needed, contacting FAIR experts for advice and using the open-source resources that we have shared.

In a global context marked by food insecurity and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, this study proposes a healthy food basket (HFB) model tailored to the demographic, cultural, and economic specificities of the Republic of Moldova which is aligned with international standards. The research employed a comprehensive methodology, including estimations of daily energy requirements using revised Harris–Benedict equations, food selection based on nutritional value, economic availability, and cultural relevance, and nutritional validation through the mean adequacy ratio (MAR), which was derived from nutrient adequacy ratios (NARs) and dietary reference values (DRVs) established by the EFSA. Nutrient intake calculations were based on food composition data and not population-level dietary surveys. Fat-soluble vitamins were excluded due to insufficient available data. The results indicate adequate intake levels of vitamins (B₁, B₂, B₃, and C) and minerals (iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium) while highlighting deficiencies in calcium and sodium that require dietary adjustments. The inclusion of traditional foods, such as kefir and salted or raw pork fat, underscores the model’s cultural acceptability and economic relevance, strengthening the integration of global nutritional principles with regional dietary habits. This study’s limitations, including the use of secondary data and the lack of empirical validation, highlight the need for longitudinal studies. The HFB model offers a replicable solution for other regions facing similar challenges, contributing to global efforts to reduce malnutrition and promote sustainable diets.

Background: Dietary patterns in Eastern Europe are unevenly characterized despite their relevance for public health, food policy, and the sustainability of regional food systems. Objective: This study aimed to identify and compare the main dietary patterns across Eastern European countries (2010–2022) using FAOSTAT food balance data, and to examine their implications for public health and sustainable food systems. Methods: We conducted a comparative ecological analysis of FAOSTAT Food Balance Sheets for ten Eastern European countries (2010–2022). Multi-annual means were standardized as Z-scores. We applied principal component analysis (PCA) to major food groups and to selected subgroups (cereals, meat, vegetable oils), followed by agglomerative hierarchical clustering (Ward, Euclidean). EFSA macronutrient ranges and fiber cut-offs were used solely as descriptive benchmarks. Results: The PCA of major food groups identified two dominant axes separating plant-based patterns (cereals, vegetables) from animal/lipid-centered diets; subgroup analyses reproduced these oppositions (e.g., sunflower vs. rapeseed oils). Hierarchical clustering revealed a stable Central–Eastern core with higher lipid profiles (Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, partially Poland) and a second pattern with higher carbohydrates and energy (Romania, Ukraine; proximity of Moldova, Belarus, Russian Federation). Countries differed markedly in fiber and energy: Romania showed the highest energy intake, while Slovakia had the lowest fiber, and Ukraine combined very high carbohydrates with low lipids. These structures were robust to sensitivity checks and consistent across biplots, heatmaps, and dendrograms. Conclusions: Eastern Europe comprises coherent dietary subgroups rather than a homogeneous profile. Beyond their public health relevance, these typologies provide an operational map for tailoring dietary guidelines, strengthening food security, and supporting the transition toward sustainable food systems. Future work should link food availability data with individual consumption, environmental indicators, and resilience metrics to inform long-term strategies for sustainable and equitable nutrition.

This study explores the rise of mukbang—the audiovisual practice of watching others eat large quantities of food—within the sociocultural context of Eastern Europe between 2020 and 2025. Objective: To quantify the 2020–2025 Europe-wide dynamics of YouTube-based interest in mukbang and to characterise Eastern Europe’s thematic query profile. Methods: Combining an infodemiological analysis of YouTube search behavior with a thematic synthesis of scientific literature, the research highlights how digital commensality has emerged as both a form of sensory gratification and a coping mechanism in socially fragmented environments. While most scholarly attention on mukbang has focused on East Asia, this study addresses a critical regional gap by analyzing interest patterns across 44 European countries and identifying distinct thematic preferences in Eastern Europe. Results: Findings show that Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response-driven content dominates the mukbang landscape in the region, revealing a platform-mediated transformation of social rituals around food. Implications: The study contributes to the understanding of how algorithmic cultures and platform consumption reshape food-related behaviors and public perceptions, emphasizing the need for regionally adapted literacy, regulation, and further sociological inquiry.