We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Emerging risk identification in the food chain using text mining–supported monitoring of food safety news: insights from 2022 to 2023
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers applied automated text-mining of European food-safety news from 2022–2023 to identify emerging food-chain risks, finding that microplastics, PFAS, and pesticide-related signals increased markedly compared to 2020–2021 and that combining algorithmic topic detection with expert evaluation provides an effective early-warning system for regulators.
The identification of emerging risks in the food chain is essential for proactive food safety management in a rapidly evolving global environment. In this study, we applied a structured emerging risk identification framework supported by text mining of food safety news collected from the Europe Media Monitor (EMM) to analyse signals from 2022 to 2023. The workflow combines automated news collection, topic detection, and expert evaluation within a multi-stage filtering system. Using this approach, 164 emerging risks and drivers were identified during the study period. Chemical risks-including pesticide-related issues, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and microplastics-were among the most frequently detected topics, while sustainability-related developments such as alternative proteins and novel packaging technologies emerged as major drivers of change. Comparison with the 2020-2021 period indicates a marked increase in signals related to chemical contaminants and sustainability. These findings highlight the value of combining automated text mining of food safety news with expert-based evaluation to support timely emerging risk identification in the food chain.
More Papers Like This
Identifying Emerging Issues in the Seafood Industry Based on a Text Mining Approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used text mining and keyword analysis of news application programming interfaces to identify emerging issues in the seafood industry, moving beyond traditional literature-based or expert-judgment approaches. The method revealed patterns in topics such as microplastics, food safety, and sustainability that are gaining attention in industry news coverage.
Information Extraction from Unstructured Data on Microplastics through Text Mining
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used text mining and natural language processing to analyze unstructured news and social media data about microplastic pollution. The approach revealed hidden trends and public concerns that are not always captured in academic literature, offering a new way to track how awareness of microplastics is evolving.
Microplastics as unexplored emerging contaminant: A challenge for food safety
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles called microplastics are showing up in seafood, salt, drinking water, fruits, veggies, and packaged foods, working their way up the food chain from small organisms all the way to the food on our plates. This review of existing research shows these particles can also carry harmful chemicals and germs, and early studies link them to inflammation and cell damage, but scientists still don't know exactly how much exposure is risky or what long-term effects to expect. The takeaway: microplastics in our food are a real and growing concern worth watching, even though researchers are still figuring out just how worried we should be.
Microplastics in Foods: An Emerging Food Safety Threat
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined microplastics as an emerging food safety threat, cataloging their presence across food categories including seafood, salt, bottled water, beer, and fresh produce, and reviewing ingestion risks for human consumers. With microplastics now detected in human blood, lungs, and tissues, understanding dietary exposure routes—particularly through processed and packaged foods—is increasingly urgent for public health risk characterization.
Microplastics: A Rising Global Concern Impacting Food Safety and Human Well-Being
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the distribution of microplastics and nanoplastics as emerging contaminants in marine and freshwater ecosystems, detailing how they bioaccumulate through trophic transfer and pose growing risks to food safety and human health via dietary exposure.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.