Water activity and glass transition temperature concepts were used to investigate the connection between the two distinct criteria of food stability. The data on sorption isotherms and glass transition temperatures were obtained from the literature. Two most commonly used models i.e. GAB and Gordon-Taylor equations were used to model water activity/moisture content and glass transition temperatures/solids content relationships. The models' (GAB and Gordon-Taylor) parameters were used to estimate water activity and glass transition temperature at given moisture/solids content. Results indicate that there is a considerable discrepancy in the temperature-related stability criteria predicted by the concepts of water activity (aw) and the glass phenomenon (Tg). A greater understanding of water sorption properties and Tg is required to establish a sound processing and storage stability criteria.

Increasing income and urbanization are triggering a rapid change in food consumption patterns in India. This report assesses India's changing food consumption patterns and their implications on future food and water demand. According to the projections made in this study, the total calorie supply would continue to increase, but the dominance of food grains in the consumption basket is likely to decrease by 2050, and the consumption of non-grain crops and animal products would increase to provide a major part of the daily calorie supply. Although the total food grain demand will decrease, the total grain demand is likely to increase with the increasing feed demand for the livestock. The implications of the changing consumption patterns are assessed through consumptive water use (CWU) under the assumptions of full or partial food self-sufficiency.

Promoting household food security and reducing malnutrition rates of a growing population with the same amount of water is a challenge facing South African nutritionists and agriculturalists alike. Apart from non-food related effects of agriculture in general, the crop and livestock production practices of the South African smallholder farmer may have nutritional implications, primarily when practised on residential land and resulting in home consumption. Yet, few studies have systematically investigated the impact thereof. It appears that crop diversification, gender issues and nutrition education are among the important factors that strengthen the link between agriculture and nutrition. Since food production is the most water-intensive activity in society, nutritional water productivity (i.e. nutrition per volume water) of foods and the nutritional water footprint of diets should be investigated in order to achieve a sustainable solution. This implies that both the demand for a diet consisting predominantly of water-productive plant products, as well as the supply thereof, be addressed.

Lundqvist, J.; de Fraiture, Charlotte; Molden, David., 'From field to fork: wastage of water in the food chain', Stockholm Water Front, pp.14-15, 2007

Increasing income and urbanization are triggering a rapid change in food consumption patterns in India. This report assesses India's changing food consumption patterns and their implications on future food and water demand. According to the projections made in this study, the total calorie supply would continue to increase, but the dominance of food grains in the consumption basket is likely to decrease by 2050, and the consumption of non-grain crops and animal products would increase to provide a major part of the daily calorie supply. Although the total food grain demand will decrease, the total grain demand is likely to increase with the increasing feed demand for the livestock. The implications of the changing consumption patterns are assessed through consumptive water use (CWU) under the assumptions of full or partial food self-sufficiency.

Douthwaite, 'Use of Impact Pathways in Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF)', Presented at the IRRI Thursday Seminar, June 28, 2007. 42 p.

Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. | A total of 94 Salmonella isolates were collected from three catchments areas in Eritrea. These isolates were recovered from clinical and environmental sources. Biochemical tests using gelatin hydrolysis and tartrate utilization test were employed to differentiate between Salmonellasubspecies. All Salmonellaisolates were identified as Salmonellasubspecies I and were then subjected to molecular characterization. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were employed to identify and establish possible relationships between the clinical isolates and environmental sources. Two sets of oligonucleotide primers specific for genes from S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis were used for the PCR reaction. Of the 94 Salmonellaisolates characterized only 6 were S. Typhimurium strains. To type the Salmonellaisolates AFLP was used. Clustering the AFLP patterns using the un-weighed pair-group method using arithmetic means (UPGMA) revealed 15 clusters. Of the 94 Salmonellaisolates collected, 48 (51%) strains were serologically identified. These serotypes include, 21 SalmonellaEmek (43.7%), 19 SalmonellaHeidelberg (39.5%), 7 of the 13, 22, 23; z undetermined serotype (14.5%), and 2 SalmonellaTyphimurium strains (4.1%). The AFLP data in the present study indicated a possible relationship between the clinical isolates and those obtained from environmental sources. | Microbiology and Plant Pathology | unrestricted

This study investigates food trade patterns in relation to water resources availability in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries (SEMED). Examinations show that most of these countries have a high dependence on the import of water intensive crops -- cereal, vegetable oil and sugar, in the domestic food supply. The region as a whole is marginally a net exporter of fruits and vegetables, while variations are substantial across countries. Multi-variable regression analyses show that intensification of water scarcity is an important factor in explaining the increase in food import in the SEMED countries during the past two decades. It also finds that while GDP per capita has a strong influence on the level of food import in a country, its impact on changes in the import during the same period is rather modest. No significant relationship is found between the trade of fruits and vegetables and water resources availability. The projection on food import with respect to the decline in per capita water resources availability results in an increase of 40%, 39% and 14%, respectively, for cereal, vegetable oil and sugar by 2020 in the region, holding other factors constant. The European Union (EU) is the major food trade partner of the SEMED countries, except for cereal. About 70% of the fruit export and 55% of the vegetable export of the region currently go to the EU market. Expanding the export of fruits and vegetables is conducive to improving the value of water use in the SEMED countries. However, the expansion is constrained partly by the barriers in the destination markets, notably the EU.

"Any professional examination of existing or potential new toxins in a population must account for those already present from past problems and natural conditions.Toxic Legacy provides extensive information on the occurrence of chemical hazards and their potential dangers in combinations in the food, water and air in cities around the United States. The book illustrates consumer preferences for specific food and water products, as well as particular diets and discusses the toxicity and risks associated with our exposure to synthetic chemicals. The authors offer unique guidance to environmental engineers, scientists, process engineers, and planners and specify what steps can be taken to limit exposure to complex chemical mixtures."--Publisher's description.