[en] Globally, the consumption of herbal supplements is on an upward trend. As the food supplement industry thrives, so does the need for consumers' awareness of health risks. This contribution is grounded on two assumptions. Firstly, not always "wild" is a food quality attribute, and secondly, the food chain is judged as a noteworthy route for human exposure to soil contamination. Sea buckthorn (SBT) was selected for investigation due to its versatility. In addition to its wide therapeutic uses, it is present in ecological rehabilitation which may raise concerns regarding its safety for human consumption as a consequence of the accumulation of contaminants in the plant. The study aims to discover if the objective contamination of SBT with toxic residues is congruent with people's subjective evaluation of SBT consumption risk. A quantitative determination of heavy metals was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The metals abundance followed the sequence Fe > Cu > Zn > Mn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd. Quantitative data on consumers' subjective risk evaluations were collected through an online survey on 408 Romanians. Binary logistic shows that the consumption of SBT is predicted by the perceived effect of SBT consumption on respondents' health. The study confirms that the objective contamination of wild and cultivated SBT is in line with the perceived contamination risk. It is inferred that a joint effort of marketers, media, physicians, and pharmacists is needed to inform consumers about the risks and benefits of SBT consumption.
Vermeir, Iris ; Department of Marketing, Innovation and Organization, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium ; BE4LIFE, Research Center on Sustainable, Healthy and Ethical Consumption, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Roba, Carmen; Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Petrescu, Dacinia Crina ; Department of Marketing, Innovation and Organization, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium ; Faculty of Business, Babes-Bolyai University, 7 Horea Street, 400174 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Bican-Brisan, Nicoleta; Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Martonos, Ildiko Melinda; Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Language :
English
Title :
Is "Wild" a Food Quality Attribute? Heavy Metal Content in Wild and Cultivated Sea Buckthorn and Consumers' Risk Perception.
Publication date :
08 September 2021
Journal title :
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Funding: The APC was partially funded by Babes-Bolyai University: AGC grant and Seed grant no. GS-UBB-BUSS-PetrescuDaciniaCrina, UBB 2020 Development Fund.
Vilas-Franquesa, A.; Saldo, J.; Juan, B. Potential of Sea Buckthorn-Based Ingredients for the Food and Feed Industry—A Review. Food Prod. Process. Nutr. 2020, 2, 1–17. [CrossRef]
Yang, Z.; Paudel, K.P.; Wen, X.; Sun, S.; Wang, Y. Food Safety Risk Information-Seeking Intention of WeChat Users in China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2376. [CrossRef]
Ekor, M. The Growing Use of Herbal Medicines: Issues Relating to Adverse Reactions and Challenges in Monitoring Safety. Front. Pharmacol. 2014, 4, 177. [CrossRef]
Statista. Value of the Dietary Supplements Market in Europe in 2015 and 2020, by Country; 2020. Available online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/589452/value-dietary-supplements-markets-europe-by-country/(accessed on 30 June 2021).
Smith-Hall, C.; Larsen, H.O.; Pouliot, M. People, Plants and Health: A Conceptual Framework for Assessing Changes in Medicinal Plant Consumption. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2012, 8, 1–11. [CrossRef]
Aronson, J.K. Defining ‘Nutraceuticals’: Neither Nutritious nor Pharmaceutical. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 2017, 83, 8–19. [CrossRef]
Rousi, A. The Genus Hippophae L. A Taxonomic Study. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 1971, 8, 177–227.
Heinaaho, M.; Hagerman, A.E.; Julkunen-Tiitto, R. Effect of Different Organic Farming Methods on the Phenolic Composition of Sea Buckthorn Berries. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2009, 57, 1940–1947. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Masoodi, K.Z.; Wani, W.; Dar, Z.A.; Mansoor, S.; Anam-ul-Haq, S.; Farooq, I.; Hussain, K.; Wani, S.A.; Nehvi, F.A.; Ahmed, N. Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Inhibits Cellular Proliferation, Wound Healing and Decreases Expression of Prostate Specific Antigen in Prostate Cancer Cells in Vitro. J. Funct. Foods 2020, 73, 104102. [CrossRef]
Olas, B. Sea Buckthorn as a Source of Important Bioactive Compounds in Cardiovascular Diseases. Food Chem. Toxicol. 2016, 97, 199–204. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Tang, X.; Tigerstedt, P.M. Variation of Physical and Chemical Characters within an Elite Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Breeding Population. Sci. Hortic. 2001, 88, 203–214. [CrossRef]
Ciesarová, Z.; Murkovic, M.; Cejpek, K.; Kreps, F.; Tobolková, B.; Koplík, R.; Belajová, E.; Kukurová, K.; Daško, L.; Panovská, Z. Why Is Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) So Exceptional? A Review. Food Res. Int. 2020, 133, 109170. [CrossRef]
Ko, J.-H.; Sethi, G.; Um, J.-Y.; Shanmugam, M.K.; Arfuso, F.; Kumar, A.P.; Bishayee, A.; Ahn, K.S. The Role of Resveratrol in Cancer Therapy. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, 2589. [CrossRef]
Yang, B.; Kallio, H. Composition and Physiological Effects of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae) Lipids. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 2002, 13, 160–167. [CrossRef]
Zielińska, A.; Nowak, I. Abundance of Active Ingredients in Sea-Buckthorn Oil. Lipids Health Dis. 2017, 16, 95. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Giacomelli, L.; Moglia, A.; Losa, G.; Quaglino, P. Clinical Use of Capilen, a Liposomal Cream Based on Fresh Plant Extracts Enriched with Omega Fatty Acids. Drugs Context 2020, 9. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Zhuang, P.; McBride, M.B.; Xia, H.; Li, N.; Li, Z. Health Risk from Heavy Metals via Consumption of Food Crops in the Vicinity of Dabaoshan Mine, South China. Sci. Total Environ. 2009, 407, 1551–1561. [CrossRef]
Oliver, M. Soil and Human Health: A Review. Eur. J. Soil Sci. 1997, 48, 573–592. [CrossRef]
Liang, Y.; Yi, X.; Dang, Z.; Wang, Q.; Luo, H.; Tang, J. Heavy Metal Contamination and Health Risk Assessment in the Vicinity of a Tailing Pond in Guangdong, China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 1557. [CrossRef]
Wang, Z.; Bao, J.; Wang, T.; Moryani, H.T.; Kang, W.; Zheng, J.; Zhan, C.; Xiao, W. Hazardous Heavy Metals Accumulation and Health Risk Assessment of Different Vegetable Species in Contaminated Soils from a Typical Mining City, Central China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 2617. [CrossRef]
Lacatusu, R.; Rauta, C.; Carstea, S.; Ghelase, I. Soil-Plant-Man Relationships in Heavy Metal Polluted Areas in Romania. Appl. Geochem. 1996, 11, 105–107.
Kumar, A.; MMS, C.-P.; Chaturvedi, A.K.; Shabnam, A.A.; Subrahmanyam, G.; Mondal, R.; Gupta, D.K.; Malyan, S.K.; Kumar, S.S.; A Khan, S. Lead Toxicity: Health Hazards, Influence on Food Chain, and Sustainable Remediation Approaches. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2179. [CrossRef]
Schroeder, T.C.; Tonsor, G.T.; Pennings, J.M.; Mintert, J. Consumer Food Safety Risk Perceptions and Attitudes: Impacts on Beef Consumption across Countries. BE J. Econ. Anal. Policy 2007, 7, 1–27. [CrossRef]
Schulp, C.J.; Thuiller, W.; Verburg, P.H. Wild Food in Europe: A Synthesis of Knowledge and Data of Terrestrial Wild Food as an Ecosystem Service. Ecol. Econ. 2014, 105, 292–305. [CrossRef]
Pérez, A.P.; Eugenio, N.R. Status of Local Soil Contamination in Europe; Technical Report; European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2018.
European Commission. The Environmental Implementation Review 2019; Country Report Romania; European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2019; pp. 1–34.
Faur, F.; Lazăr, M.; Dunca, E.; Ciolea, D.-I. Opportunity of Recovery and Capitalization of Useful Minerals from Waste Dumps in Jiu’s Valley. Int. Multidiscip. Sci. GeoConference SGEM Surv. Geol. Min. Ecol. Manag. 2013, 2, 595–602.
Brasovan, A.; Codrea, V.; Arghir, G.; Campean, R.F.; Petean, I. Early Processes in Soil Formation on the Old Dump from Western Vulcan Coalfield. Carpathian J. Earth Environ. Sci. 2011, 6, 221–228.
Buia, G.; Nimară, C.; Tofan, G.-B.; Bold, O.-V.; Luca, S. Changes of Petrosani Basin’s Landscape as a Result of Coal Mining Activities and Development of the Anthropic Landforms. Int. Multidiscip. Sci. GeoConference SGEM 2017, 17, 145–152.
Zhao, Z.; Shahrour, I.; Bai, Z.; Fan, W.; Feng, L.; Li, H. Soils Development in Opencast Coal Mine Spoils Reclaimed for 1–13 Years in the West-Northern Loess Plateau of China. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 2013, 55, 40–46. [CrossRef]
Zhang, L.; Xu, Y.; Oosterveer, P.; Mol, A.P. Consumer Trust in Different Food Provisioning Schemes: Evidence from Beijing, China. J. Clean. Prod. 2016, 134, 269–279. [CrossRef]
Small, E.; Catling, P.; Li, T. Blossoming Treasures of Biodiversity: 5. Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)—An Ancient Crop with Modern Virtues. Biodiversity 2002, 3, 25–27. [CrossRef]
Eeva, T.; Holmström, H.; Espín, S.; Sánchez-Virosta, P.; Klemola, T. Leaves, Berries and Herbivorous Larvae of Bilberry Vaccinium Myrtillus as Sources of Metals in Food Chains at a Cu-Ni Smelter Site. Chemosphere 2018, 210, 859–866. [CrossRef]
Ettler, V. Soil Contamination near Non-Ferrous Metal Smelters: A Review. Appl. Geochem. 2016, 64, 56–74. [CrossRef]
Salemaa, M.; Vanha-Majamaa, I.; Derome, J. Understorey Vegetation along a Heavy-Metal Pollution Gradient in SW Finland. Environ. Pollut. 2001, 112, 339–350. [CrossRef]
Raynor, D.K.; Dickinson, R.; Knapp, P.; Long, A.F.; Nicolson, D.J. Buyer Beware? Does the Information Provided with Herbal Products Available over the Counter Enable Safe Use? BMC Med. 2011, 9, 1–9. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Klepser, T.B.; Doucette, W.R.; Horton, M.R.; Buys, L.M.; Ernst, M.E.; Ford, J.K.; Hoehns, J.D.; Kautzman, H.A.; Logemann, C.D.; Swegle, J.M. Assessment of Patients’ Perceptions and Beliefs Regarding Herbal Therapies. Pharmacother. J. Hum. Pharmacol. Drug Ther. 2000, 20, 83–87. [CrossRef]
Nafiu, M.; Hamid, A.; Muritala, H.; Adeyemi, S. Preparation, Standardization, and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants in Africa. In Medicinal Spices and Vegetables from Africa; Academic Press: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2017; pp. 171–204.
Tnah, L.; Lee, S.; Tan, A.; Lee, C.; Ng, K.; Ng, C.; Farhanah, Z.N. DNA Barcode Database of Common Herbal Plants in the Tropics: A Resource for Herbal Product Authentication. Food Control 2019, 95, 318–326. [CrossRef]
Crighton, E.; Coghlan, M.L.; Farrington, R.; Hoban, C.L.; Power, M.W.; Nash, C.; Mullaney, I.; Byard, R.W.; Trengove, R.; Musgrave, I.F. Toxicological Screening and DNA Sequencing Detects Contamination and Adulteration in Regulated Herbal Medicines and Supplements for Diet, Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Health. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 2019, 176, 112834. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Hakim, M.P.; Zanetta, L.D.; de Oliveira, J.M.; da Cunha, D.T. The Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods in Brazil: Consumer’s Knowledge, Trust, and Risk Perception. Food Res. Int. 2020, 132, 109053. [CrossRef]
Zhu, W.; Yao, N.C.; Ma, B.; Wang, F. Consumers’ Risk Perception, Information Seeking, and Intention to Purchase Genetically Modified Food: An Empirical Study in China. Br. Food J. 2018, 120, 2182–2194. [CrossRef]
Chen, M.-F. Modeling an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model to Predict Intention to Take Precautions to Avoid Consuming Food with Additives. Food Qual. Prefer. 2017, 58, 24–33. [CrossRef]
Siegrist, M.; Sütterlin, B. Importance of Perceived Naturalness for Acceptance of Food Additives and Cultured Meat. Appetite 2017, 113, 320–326. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Verbeke, W.; Van Loo, E.J.; Vanhonacker, F.; Delcour, I.; Spanoghe, P.; van Klaveren, J.D. Stakeholder Attitudes towards Cumulative and Aggregate Exposure Assessment of Pesticides. Food Chem. Toxicol. 2015, 79, 70–79. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Ditlevsen, K.; Sandøe, P.; Lassen, J. Healthy Food Is Nutritious, but Organic Food Is Healthy Because It Is Pure: The Negotiation of Healthy Food Choices by Danish Consumers of Organic Food. Food Qual. Prefer. 2019, 71, 46–53. [CrossRef]
Petrescu, D.C.; Petrescu-Mag, R.M.; Burny, P.; Azadi, H. A New Wave in Romania: Organic Food. Consumers’ Motivations, Perceptions, and Habits. Agroecol. Sustain. Food Syst. 2017, 41, 46–75. [CrossRef]
Petrescu, D.C.; Vermeir, I.; Petrescu-Mag, R.M. Consumer Understanding of Food Quality, Healthiness, and Environmental Impact: A Cross-National Perspective. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 169. [CrossRef]
Google Maps Romania 2021. Available online: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Romania/@45.8615432,20.5297455,10634 17m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x40b1ff26958976c3:0x84ef4f92a804b194!8m2!3d45.7981695!4d24.9719238?hl=en (accessed on 30 June 2021).
Berdegué, J.A.; Balsevich, F.; Flores, L.; Mainville, D.Y.; Reardon, T. Case Study—Supermarkets and Quality and Safety Standards for Produce in Latin America; International Food Policy Research Institute: Washington, DC, USA, 2003; pp. 1–2.
Nagy, I.D.; Dabija, D.-C. The Transition from Natural/Traditional Goods to Organic Products in an Emerging Market. Information 2020, 11, 227. [CrossRef]
Food and Agriculture Organization. WHO General Standards for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CODEX STAN 193–1995); Food and Agriculture Organization: Rome, Italy, 2019.
Cherfi, A.; Achour, M.; Cherfi, M.; Otmani, S.; Morsli, A. Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals through Consumption of Vegetables Irrigated with Reclaimed Urban Wastewater in Algeria. Process Saf. Environ. Prot. 2015, 98, 245–252. [CrossRef]
Cherfi, A.; Cherfi, M.; Maache-Rezzoug, Z.; Rezzoug, S.-A. Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals via Consumption of Vegetables Collected from Different Supermarkets in La Rochelle, France. Environ. Monit. Assess. 2016, 188, 136. [CrossRef]
Rodriguez-Iruretagoiena, A.; Trebolazabala, J.; Martinez-Arkarazo, I.; de Diego, A.; Madariaga, J.M. Metals and Metalloids in Fruits of Tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum) and Their Cultivation Soils in the Basque Country: Concentrations and Accumulation Trends. Food Chem. 2015, 173, 1083–1089. [CrossRef]
European Commission. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 Setting Maximum Levels for Certain Contaminants in Foodstuffs 2006; European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2006.
European Commission. Commission Regulation(EU) 2015/1005 Amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as Regards Maximum Levels of Lead in Certain Foodstuffs 2015; European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2015.
Dudarev, A.A.; Chupakhin, V.S.; Vlasov, S.V.; Yamin-Pasternak, S. Traditional Diet and Environmental Contaminants in Coastal Chukotka III: Metals. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 699. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Gutzeit, D.; Winterhalter, P.; Jerz, G. Nutritional Assessment of Processing Effects on Major and Trace Element Content in Sea Buckthorn Juice (Hippophaë Rhamnoides L. Ssp. Rhamnoides). J. Food Sci. 2008, 73, H97–H102. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Hembrom, S.; Singh, B.; Gupta, S.K.; Nema, A.K. A Comprehensive Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination in Foodstuff and Associated Human Health Risk: A global perspective. In Contemporary Environmental Issues and Challenges in Era of Climate Change; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2020; pp. 33–63.
Di Vittori, L.; Mazzoni, L.; Battino, M.; Mezzetti, B. Pre-Harvest Factors Influencing the Quality of Berries. Sci. Hortic. 2018, 233, 310–322. [CrossRef]
Alarcón, R.; Pardo-de-Santayana, M.; Priestley, C.; Morales, R.; Heinrich, M. Medicinal and Local Food Plants in the South of Alava (Basque Country, Spain). J. Ethnopharmacol. 2015, 176, 207–224. [CrossRef]
Kilchling, P.; Hansmann, R.; Seeland, K. Demand for Non-Timber Forest Products: Surveys of Urban Consumers and Sellers in Switzerland. For. Policy Econ. 2009, 11, 294–300. [CrossRef]
Schunko, C.; Vogl, C.R. Factors Determining Organic Consumers’ Knowledge and Practices with Respect to Wild Plant Foods: A Countrywide Study in Austria. Food Qual. Prefer. 2020, 85, 103960. [CrossRef]
Pawera, L.; Khomsan, A.; Zuhud, E.A.; Hunter, D.; Ickowitz, A.; Polesny, Z. Wild Food Plants and Trends in Their Use: From Knowledge and Perceptions to Drivers of Change in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Foods 2020, 9, 1240. [CrossRef]
Verbeke, W.; Sioen, I.; Brunsø, K.; De Henauw, S.; Van Camp, J. Consumer Perception versus Scientific Evidence of Farmed and Wild Fish: Exploratory Insights from Belgium. Aquac. Int. 2007, 15, 121–136. [CrossRef]
Hartmann, C.; Hübner, P.; Siegrist, M. A Risk Perception Gap? Comparing Expert, Producer and Consumer Prioritization of Food Hazard Controls. Food Chem. Toxicol. 2018, 116, 100–107. [CrossRef]
Green, J.; Draper, A.; Dowler, E. Short Cuts to Safety: Risk and’rules of Thumb’in Accounts of Food Choice. Health Risk Soc. 2003, 5, 33–52. [CrossRef]
Saini, M.; Tiwari, S.; Prasad, J.; Singh, S.; Kumar, M.Y.; Bala, M. Hippophae Leaf Extract Concentration Regulates Antioxidant and Prooxidant Effects on DNA. J. Diet. Suppl. 2010, 7, 60–70. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
De Jonge, J.; Frewer, L.; Van Trijp, H.; Renes, R.J.; De Wit, W.; Timmers, J. Monitoring Consumer Confidence in Food Safety: An Exploratory Study. Br. Food J. 2004, 106, 837–849. [CrossRef]
Liu, R.; Pieniak, Z.; Verbeke, W. Food-Related Hazards in China: Consumers’ Perceptions of Risk and Trust in Information Sources. Food Control 2014, 46, 291–298. [CrossRef]
Nardi, V.A.M.; Teixeira, R.; Ladeira, W.J.; de Oliveira Santini, F. A Meta-Analytic Review of Food Safety Risk Perception. Food Control 2020, 112, 107089. [CrossRef]
Bieberstein, A.; Roosen, J. Gender Differences in the Meanings Associated with Food Hazards: A Means-End Chain Analysis. Food Qual. Prefer. 2015, 42, 165–176. [CrossRef]
Eagly, A.H. Sex Differences in Social Behavior: A Social-Role Interpretation; Lawrence Erlbaum, Inc.: Hillsdale, NJ, USA, 1987; ISBN 0-89859-804-4.
Seo, K.H.; Lee, J.H. Understanding Risk Perception toward Food Safety in Street Food: The Relationships among Service Quality, Values, and Repurchase Intention. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 6826. [CrossRef]
Leahu, A.; Hretcanu, C.E.; Rosu, A.I.; Ghinea, C. Traditional Uses of Wild Berries in the Bukovina Region (Romania). Food Environ. Saf. J. 2019, 18, 279–286.