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The 2008 Chinese melamine milk scandal resulted in six reported fatalities and affected around 300,000 children, of whom 54,000 were hospitalised. Previous studies have used linear approaches to examine the root causes of the melamine milk scandal.

In the present study, we applied a systems approach to the melamine milk scandal to identify the complex systems-level failures across the supply chain leading to the incident and why food fraud incidents such as this occurred in the dairy sector. Additionally, systemic failures associated with food fraud vulnerability factors were considered (i.e. opportunities, motivation and control measures).

48 contributory factors of influence were identified and grouped across six sociotechnical levels across the Chinese dairy system, from government to equipment and surroundings. Lack of vertical integration (processes and communication) contributed to the failure. When viewed from a broader perspective, the melamine milk scandal can be linked to a series of human errors and organisational issues associated with government bodies, the dairy supply chain, individual organisations and management decisions and individual actions of staff or processes.

This approach is of value to policymakers and the industry as it supports public health investigations of food fraud incidents and proactive food safety management.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to analyse a food safety or fraud incident using the AcciMap approach and the food fraud vulnerability assessment (FFVA) technique. AcciMap analysis is applied to both unintentional and intentional aspects of the incident.

Coeliac disease (CD) is a lifelong autoimmune disorder and is managed with a strict gluten-free (GF) diet. At diagnosis, an individual's nutritional status is affected by how long CD has been active, their dietary intake, intestinal inflammation and degree of malabsorption. This study explores if age and time since diagnosis affect nutritional knowledge, eating habits and emotional wellbeing of participants.

An online survey using Qualtrics was conducted. The survey consists of 4 sections exploring (1) demographics, (2) nutritional knowledge, (3) eating habits and (4) quality of life (QoL). A total of 162 valid questionnaires were completed.

Those who'd been diagnosed for more than 5 years demonstrated better knowledge about GF or gluten containing products. Social interactions are limited by concerns about becoming ill, unwanted attention and increased financial costs. Eight-eight % of participants would go hungry at social events. Those aged between 40–59 and above 60 years felt more financially restricted compared to younger adults (χ²(4) = 10.73, p = 0.01). Strong emotions were experienced by participants since diagnosed with CD. Anxiety, feelings of concern, sadness, depression and fear have declined and happiness, confidence and being accepting of CD have increased since diagnosis across all years.

This study is one of the first few studies to investigate time since diagnosis and age-related differences in nutritional knowledge, eating habits and QoL of adults diagnosed with CD. Over time, negative emotions could potentially be alleviated with improved knowledge and experience.

The demand for halal food products is increasing globally. However, fraudulent activities in halal products and certification are also rising. One strategy to ensure halal integrity in the food supply chain is applying halal blockchain technology. However, to date, a few studies have assessed the factors and variables that facilitate or hinder the adoption of this technology. Thus, this study aims to assess the significant factors and variables affecting the adoption of halal blockchain technology.

A Delphi-based approach, using semi-structured interviews, was conducted with three food companies (chicken slaughterhouses, milk processing plants and frozen food companies). The cognitive best–worst method determines the significant factors and variables to prioritise halal blockchain adoption decisions.

The results showed that the most significant factors were coercive pressure and halal strategy. Nineteen variables were identified to establish a valid hierarchical structure for halal blockchain adoption in the Indonesian food industry. The five significant variables assessed through the best–worst method were demand, regulator, supply side, sustainability of the company’s existence and main customers.

The proposed halal blockchain decision structure can assist food companies in deciding whether to adopt the technology.

This study proposes 19 variables that establish a valid hierarchical structure of halal blockchain adoption for the Indonesian food industry.

This paper argues that there is an absence of halal integrity within the conventional stages of a food chain. This paper adapts the understanding of the different stages and argues the need to develop a critical consciousness for halal integrity within the food chain to address the needs of the ever-growing Muslim consumers’ market. The purpose of this paper is to propose a definition of halal integrity using farm to fork and global food supply chain models.

The study includes a review of priori literature and media reports regarding cross-contamination of food products with haram (forbidden) components. This background will be used to conceptualise halal integrity using farm to fork and global supply chain models.

Different interpretations of halal – what is permitted and what is prohibited – exist for the different schools of Islamic legal thought and within the customs of different countries. In order to ensure that food production is embracive of the religious needs of the global Muslim customer market, this paper utilises the farm to fork and global supply chain models to foster a critical awareness of halal needs. Halal integrity should be clearly presenting the details of the halal status of the product and assuring that the requirements for halal as stated are met. Halal integrity not only deals with permitted and prohibited foods, but that the halal status of the food products (i.e. from raw materials until it reaches the consumers) should not be breached (i.e. no cross-contamination with haram products/methods and no ill intents). A formal definition of halal integrity has been proposed.

The SWOT analyses serve as a guideline as the analysis done may be outdated as the environments are constantly changing.

This research although academic is meant to have a real value in improving the integrity of the halal food supply chain, providing value to the food industry, to countries that are concerned about this supply chain and to Muslim consumers. Halal integrity is crucial to the success of the emerging halal market.

Protein-based films have good barrier characteristics against gas compared to synthetic films, but they have poor mechanical properties and high water vapour permeability (WVP) due to their hydrophilic nature. Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is available abundantly in Southeast Asian countries and can be potentially utilized for its cellulose to increase the stiffness of the film. Hence, the purpose of this study was to develop a gelatine-based film from chicken feet incorporated with SCB.

Film-forming solutions (FFS) from chicken feet gelatine with different percentages of glycerol (25 and 35 per cent) were prepared by casting 4.0 g of FFS onto a rimmed silicone resin plate (50 × 50 mm²). Cellulose from SCB was purified and used to prepare hydrolyzed SCB. Films with 35 per cent glycerol were selected to be incorporated with different weight percentages (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 per cent) of hydrolyzed SCB to increase the tensile strength (TS) and lower the WVP of the films. Mechanical properties, colour and transparency of the films were also tested.

Films containing 35 per cent glycerol have lower TS but higher elongation at break compared to films prepared with 25 per cent glycerol. There were no significant differences between the films with 25 per cent and 35 per cent glycerol in thickness, WVP and transparency value tests. Film incorporated with 5.0 Wt.% SCB had a slight increment in TS (23.07 MPa) compared to the control film (22.50 MPa). WVP was also lowered from 2.18 × 10⁻¹¹gm⁻¹s⁻¹Pa⁻¹ to 1.85 × 10⁻¹¹gm⁻¹s⁻¹Pa⁻¹. The other properties, namely, thickness, colour measurement and transparency value, were significantly different (p < 0.05) but nearer to the properties of the control film.

This study incorporates hydrolyzed SCB to study the potential mechanical benefits in protein-based bio-films. There is potential to utilize agricultural waste (chicken feet and SCB) to develop food packaging films.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world and represents a significant global-market opportunity for halal food producers. Surprisingly, halal-food consumption in Indonesia remains under-researched. Thus, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing consumers’ halal-food consumption, using an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model.

Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire distributed among 418 consumers in Surabaya, Indonesia. Multiple regression analysis was used to describe the TPB relationship and halal-food consumption.

This study successfully extended the TPB to include additional predictors: perceived awareness, habit, religious self-identity (RSI), moral obligations and trust to determine consumers’ intention in halal-food consumption. Attitudes, RSI and moral obligations were significant predictors of intention to consume halal food.

The findings can be used by the government and food producers to target specific factors, especially positive attitudes, RSI and moral obligations. Indonesia Ulama Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia), the food industry and the media play a critical role in sustaining consumers’ positive attitude towards halal-food consumption. It is critical for food manufacturers to tailor their marketing strategies and consider promoting Islamic dietary rules when promoting their food products.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first attempts to investigate the determinants of halal-food consumption, using an extended TPB in Indonesia.

Halal food market has grown significantly over the years. As consumers are becoming more aware of the significance of halal food products and certification, food industries will benefit from a model that controls and assures halal food production. Quality function deployment (QFD) is a tool to support product design and improve food quality systems. Thus, the purpose of this study is to propose a multi-phased QFD model to identify key processes and prioritise programmes to improve halal food production.

The matrix in the first phase was designed using the halal assurance system (HAS) requirements and the set of production process. The relationships between HAS requirements and a set of halal critical factors [i.e. raw material (chicken), workers, procedures and documentation, equipment and premises] were established in the second phase. In the final phase, potential problems and improvement programmes arising under each critical halal phase were identified. The QFD model was developed and applied in a chicken processing plant in Indonesia.

In Matrix 1, slaughtering, meat processing and meat delivery were identified as the key process, whilst equipment, procedures and documentation and workers were determined as the most critical halal factors in Matrix 2. The final phase of the QFD approach assisted the chicken processing plant in reducing potential issues by identifying key improvement programmes. The prioritisation of improvement programmes also supports the company in decision-making and allocating their resources accordingly.

The multi-phased QFD model can be designed and adapted to specific food industry. It can be used to assure halal food production and inform food industry which area to prioritise and to allocate resources accordingly. The improvement of halal food production will assist food companies to target and access international markets.

This study proposed a new multi-phased QFD model that can be used as a halal food assurance and prioritisation tool by the food industry. This model will benefit food industry intending to implement halal assurance scheme in their process, halal auditors and policymakers.

The purpose of this paper is to undertake a two-phase desktop review of literature sources in order to conceptualise, frame, and critique existing whistleblowing models and strategies and consider how whistleblowing strategies form part of an effective food crime management system (FCMS) especially for small and medium sized organisations.

Existing literature from academic sources, financial, healthcare, food industries has been reviewed and critiqued in order to construct a conceptual framework that can inform future empirical research.

Whistleblowing strategies can form an effective part of a FCMS. Appropriate regulatory protection of those who whistleblow is crucial to not only safeguard individuals but also to mitigate food crime and protect consumers from loss and potential harm. Barriers to whistleblowing exist and if these are not addressed then individuals will be reluctant to report food crime. Further empirical research is required to assess the influence of these and other factors identified in this research and how they can be overcome.

The framework will provide food industry practitioners with guidance on the effective application of whistleblowing strategies within a FCMS.

Coeliac disease (CD) is a life-long condition requiring strict adherence to a gluten-free (GF) diet. Due to wide claims of availability and lower costs of gluten-free food (GFF) and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England needing to save costs, access to prescriptions for patients with CD is being limited in England. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the availability and cost of GFF in an area where patients with CD have restricted access to prescriptions and to assess the nutritional composition of GFFs available in comparison with foods containing gluten (FCG).

Eight food categories that were representative of a range of commonly purchased GFFs were selected. Availability and cost of the cheapest and most expensive branded and non-branded GFFs and gluten containing equivalents were surveyed at physical stores (n=19) and online stores (n=8). The nutritional composition of some of the widely available GFFs identified (n=190) and comparable FCGs (n=218) were calculated using MyFitnessPal.

None of the budget stores or corner shops surveyed stocked any of the surveyed cereal-based GFFs. Online stores had more availability than physical stores; however, there was no significant difference in cost. GFFs cost, on average, 2.18 times more than FCG. When making nutritional comparisons with gluten-containing food, protein content was lower across 55 per cent of GFF categories. There was significantly less sugar in GF brown bread, crackers, and wholegrain pasta compared with those containing gluten (CG). Another main finding was GF ready-meals contained significantly less salt than ready-meals CG.

Limited resources and perceived wide availability of GF products resulted in reduced GF prescriptions to patients in England. The findings in this study revealed that there is no availability of cereal-based GFFs in budget stores, high cost and limited access to prescriptions can influence adherence to a GF diet and is most likely to affect patients from deprived groups. This study recommends that the prescription of GFF to patients with CD should be continued.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the understanding of halal concept among food production workers and to develop a generic Halal Control Point (HCP) Plan for the manufacturing of processed foods.

A mixed-method (interviews, surveys and microbiological analyses) approach was used to analyze the hygiene and halal practices of four food processing plants in Penang, Malaysia. In total, 200 food production workers were surveyed (and quality assurance staff were interviewed) to determine their understanding of halal concepts and attitude towards halal food products. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) swabbing tests were conducted to determine the hygiene of workers and food contact surfaces. End products were sampled and enumerated for total bacterial count.

The swabbing tests of food contact surfaces (i.e. tabletops) showed that only Company C (oat) and Company D (coffee powder) passed the ATP hygiene test (= 10 reflective light units [RLU]). The results obtained from all workers’ hands and aprons indicated a 100 per cent failure rate (>30 RLU). No ATP was detected on the packaging materials from all companies. The microbiological findings indicated that the end products are satisfactory and were below detection limits as verified by the enumeration done on the food samples. Besides, from the interview sessions conducted with the quality assurance staff, one generic Halal Control Points (HCPs) plan and four specific HCP plan tables were developed for the manufacturing process of halal food products for each company.

The HCP plans will be of value for food industry seeking to identify potential point sources of haram contamination and halal control points for their food production processes.