Journal articles on the topic 'Grain freshness'

Abstract It is assumed that close to the margins of ice-sheets, glacial, fluvial and aeolian processes overlap, and combined with weathering processes, produce numerous sediments, in which quartz is a common mineral. Quartz grains, if available, may serve as a powerful tool in determining the depositional history, transportation mode and postdepositional processes. However, quartz grain studies in some modern glacial areas are still sparse. In this study, we examine for the first time quartz grains sampled from the modern glacial and proglacial environments of the Russell Glacier, southwest Greenland in binocular microscope and scanning electron microscope, to analyze their shape, character of surface and microtextures. We debate whether the investigated quartz grains reveal glacial characteristics and to what extent they carry a signal of another transportation and sedimentary processes. Although glacial fracturing and abrasion occur in grain suites, most mechanical origin features are not of a high frequency or freshness, potentially suggesting a reduced shear stress in the glacier from its limited thickness and influence of the pressurized water at the ice-bed. In contrast, the signal that originates from the fluvial environment is much stronger derived by numerous aqueous-induced features present on quartz grain surfaces. Aeolian-induced microtextures on grain surfaces increase among the samples the closest to the ice margin, which may be due to enhanced aeolian activity, but are practically absent in sediments taken from the small scale aeolian landforms. In contrast, aeolian grains have been found in the bigger-size (1.0–2.0 mm) investigated fraction. These grains gained the strongest aeolian abrasion, possibly due to changes in transportation mode.

Introduction. The article deals with the results of the mycotoxicological analysis of feed samples of pond fish. There were found the T2-toxin and aflatoxins.The combined presence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 and T2-toxin was found in all samples of fish feed. Was also studied the impact of combination of several mycotoxins on organoleptic and physico-chemical characteristics of fish carcasses. Fish, affected by mycotoxins, can be classified to the category of doubtful freshness. Materials and methods of research. The studies were conducted between May and October 2019. The investigated materials were a large number of grain and grain mixtures, for feeding fish in six ponds in Nikolaevska settlement community of Sumy region. Preparation of grain samples were made according resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, June 14, 2002, No. 833 «The order of the selection of samples animal, plant and biotechnological origin». The studies of the toxicity and persistent T2-toxin and full amount of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 are conducted on the basis of the Sumy Regional Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine. Feed toxicity was investigated by bioassay on the Tetrahymena piriformis infusorium used the DSTU 3570-97. The RIDASCREEN test systems were used to investigate the aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in grains and grain mixtures. Ichthyopathological studies were conducted in the department of Veterinary and Sanitary Examination, Microbiology, Zooghygiene, Safety and the Guality of Livestock Products of the Sumy National Agrarian University by the accepted methods. Results of research and discussion. In the territory of the Nikolaevska settlement community of Sumy region there are six ponds, in which hold fish, mainly crucian and carp. The fish are fed once a week. Feed mainly consists of grain waste (barley, wheat), which is supplied by local farmers. Food is stored in unsuitable premises. In the feed we noted the presence of remains of substandard grain, which was thrown out during separation. Grain samples are not sampled and laboratory tests are not carried out. The feed is shipped by transport to ponds, dumped from the shore into a pond, immersed in to the water, where consumed by the fish. Totaly 19 samples of feed were examined during this period. Organoleptic evaluation of grain and grain mixtures revealed that the color of the grain was natural, the smell of all the samples had a certain tinge of moldy-musty, some samples had signs of fermentation and mold. Aqueous solutions of the grain extracts and mixtures of the test samples caused a stopping of movement and death of all Tetrahymena piriformis infusions up to 60 minutes in 7 samples, that indicates the toxicity of these feeds. Low toxicity was detected in 11 samples of experimental feed. The absence of toxicity was evidenced by the activity of Tetrahymena piriformis infusoriums, which persisted for 1 hour after the action of aqueous extracts of the samples. The results of the determination of the toxicity of grain feed using infusorium Tetrahymena piriformis. To analyze the content of major mycotoxins was used competitive enzyme immunoassay. The RIDASCREEN FAST Aflatoxin test system and the RIDASCREEN FAST T-2 Toxin test system have a high sensitivity of 0.0017 mg / kg and 0.05 mg / kg, respectively, which made it possible to determine the content of T-2 toxin, the amounts of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in their lowest concentration. The results of analysis of feed samples using the amount of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 That in all samples of grain and grain mixtures was established the presence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2. In 7 samples its content exceeds the maximum permissible concentrations. In 10 samples, the combined presence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 and T2-toxin was found, in 5 samples - exceeding the maximum levels. It is known that the combination of several mycotoxins can lead to their synergistic interaction, which will have a more pronounced toxic effect. Unfortunately, it was not possible to determine the maximum content of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 and T2-toxin, so further test kits with different reading ranges should be used, since highly sensitive mycotoxin detection kits make it impossible to determine up to 1 mg / kg. In the following research, we studied the chemical properties of fish meat: reaction to peroxidase (benzidine sample), amount of amino-ammonia nitrogen, reaction with copper sulfate, reaction with Eber reagent, determination of hydrogen sulfide, pH and reaction with Nesler reagent. When muscle is damaged by mycotoxin, the products protein breakdown appears, which promotes rapid breakdown of tissue elements and leads to rapid deterioration of fish. Analyzing changes in veterinary-sanitary and physico-chemical parameters of fish affected by mycotoxicosis, we can classify the affected fish in the category of doubtful freshness. Conclusions and prospects for further research. During the investigate of grain and grain mix for feeding pond fish it was found that 19 samples were highly toxic and 36.8% were law toxoc. 2. Using the competitive enzyme immunoassay the combined presence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 and T2-toxin was found in all samples In 7 samples its content exceeds the maximum permissible concentrations. T2-toxin was found was found in 16 samples, and in 10 samples its content exceeds the maximum permissible concentrations. Fish affected by mycotoxins for organoleptic and physico-chemical characteristics can be classified to the category of doubtful freshness.

To establish the deadline for freshness and shelf life of wheat during long-term storage, the indicator is considered — acid number of fat (ANF) mg KOH per gram of fat in the stored grain sample. To study the nature of the change of this indicator from temperature and relative humidity of the air, the present studies were performed. Samples of grain, harvest 2017, were placed in a desiccator over salt solutions, which were used to set a certain relative air humidity above the surface of the solution in the range from 35% to 75%. In each desiccator were placed two samples of wheat grain III and IV class weighing about 500 g each. The grain layer in the desiccators was 70–80 mm. To monitor the state of the samples, the Logger 100 TV temperature and relative humidity recorders were placed inside the grain layer with a recording interval of readings after 2 hours. Periodically sampled grain from each desiccator for the determination of ANF and humidity. Acid number of fat was determined by the accepted standard method.The uniformity of humidity values in the desiccators 60% and 75% occurred after two months of storage. For a relative humidity of 35%, 44% arrived after approximately one month of storage. Some fluctuations in relative humidity values are associated with temperature changes at the storage location (laboratory room), as well as with the opening of a desiccator when taking grain samples to determine humidity and ANF. Fluctuations in relative humidity did not exceed 3%. Significant changes (growth) of ANF were observed in the fourth to fifth month of storage the samples at temperatures above 20 °C, at a storage temperature of 10 °C, practically no significant changes in ANF were observed during 9 months of storage.

The determination of food freshness along manufacturer-to-consumer transportation lines is a challenging problem that calls for cheap, simple, reliable, and nontoxic sensors inside food packaging. We present a novel approach for oxygen sensing in which the exposure time to oxygen—rather than the oxygen concentration per se—is monitored. We developed a nontoxic hybrid composite-based sensor consisting of graphite powder (conductive filler), clay (viscosity control filler) and linseed oil (the matrix). Upon exposure to oxygen, the insulating linseed oil is oxidized, leading to polymerization and shrinkage of the matrix and hence to an increase in the concentration of the electrically conductive graphite powder up to percolation, which serves as an indicator of food spoilage. In the developed sensor, the exposure time to oxygen (days to weeks) is obtained by measuring the electrical conductivity though the sensor. The sensor functionality could be tuned by changing the oil viscosity, the aspect ratio of the conductive filler, and/or the concentration of the clay, thereby adapting the sensor to monitoring the quality of food products with different sensitivities to oxygen exposure time (e.g., fish vs grain).

Задача производства экологически чистых продуктов питания стоит в ряду важнейших мировых проблем. Она обусловлена целым рядом вопросов медицинского, социального, экологического и экономического порядка, объединенных актуальностью сохранения здоровья населения. Решение задач обеспечения сохранности продовольственного зерна пшеницы может осуществляться не только на базе действующих нормативных правил, но и с учетом результатов новых исследований. Разработана методика определения норм свежести (безопасного хранения) и годности зернопродуктов по значению кислотного числа жира (КЧЖ). Огромное влияние на зерно оказывают микроорганизмы, при этом количество плесеней хранения не нормируется для продовольственного зерна. Учитывая, что в любой зерновой массе присутствуют микроорганизмы, которые при определенных условиях развиваются по экспоненциальной кривой, авторами статьи была экспериментально установлена зависимость изменения КЧЖ от микробиологического показателя. Приведены результаты изменения биохимических, физико-химических и микробиологических показателей качества продовольственного зерна пшеницы урожаев 2015 и 2018 гг. при длительном лабораторном хранении в условиях повышенных (+30 °С), умеренных (+20 °С) и пониженных (+10 °С) температур. Установлено, что при хранении продовольственного зерна пшеницы при различных влажностно-температурных режимах в течение 24 мес происходит линейное увеличение показателя КЧЖ. Хранение зерна происходило в лабораторных условиях, определена зависимость изменения КЧЖ от температуры хранения зерна, а также неизменность показателя от развития плесеней хранения, что свидетельствует о возможности использования этого показателя для установления объективных и достоверных сроков безопасного хранения и годности. The task of producing organic food is one of the most important global problems. It is due to a number of medical, social, environmental and economic issues, united by the relevance of preserving the health of the population. The solution of the problems of ensuring the safety of food grain of wheat can be carried out not only on the basis of the current regulatory rules, but also taking into account the results of new research. A method has been developed for determining the norms of freshness (safe storage) and the suitability of grain products by the value of fat acidity value indicator (FAV). Microorganisms have a huge impact on grain, while the number of storage molds is not standardized for food grain. Considering that in any grain mass there are microorganisms that, under certain conditions, develop along an exponential curve, the authors of the article experimentally established the dependence of the change in the FAV on the microbiological indicator. The results of changes of the biochemical, physico-chemical and microbiological indicators of the quality of wheat food grain of the 2015 and 2018 harvests were given during long-term laboratory storage in conditions of increased (+30 °C), medium (+20 °C) and reduced (+10 °C) temperature. It is established that during the storage of wheat food grain under various humidity and temperature conditions a linear increase of the FAV arises within 24 months, change dependency FAV on grain storage temperature and indicator permanence on storage mold development are determined, which indicates the possibility of using this indicator to establish objective and reliable terms of safe storage and validity. Grain storage took place in laboratory conditions.

Purpose China’s expanded rice imports offer a profitable business opportunity for both domestic and international grain marketers. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of select variables on Chinese consumers’ rice choices, specifically focusing on country-of-origin, price, organic, brand, freshness, and taste. The study concludes with suggestions for domestic and international rice marketers to help them develop more efficient rice marketing plans. Design/methodology/approach This study developed a conditional logit model to analyze survey data gathered from Chongqing and Chengdu, two of China’s largest rice consumption cities. Findings Chinese consumers are price sensitive in their rice choices. Country-of-origin is the most imperative factor affecting rice selection for lower food expense consumers but branded rice attracts the attention of higher food expense consumers. Furthermore, these higher food expense consumers are willing to pay a small premium of $0.22 for a pound of organic rice. Research limitations/implications A general trend in demand for organic rice from higher food expense consumers was identified, and this trend predicts a profitable market for organic rice sellers. However, these research findings are geographically limited and may only represent a consumption trend from the two sampled cities rather than all of China. Originality/value The study concludes with meaningful recommendations to rice marketers to aid in developing profitable market entrance strategies to China.

Two experiments were carried out in order to study the effect of the ash content of poultry litter (PL) on its nutritional value. In Expt 1, broiler PL was incorporated in the proportions of 30 and 45% into diets based on wheat straw supplemented with 20% maize grain. The PL was either fresh (containing 19% ash) or had been heated in a stack (giving 26% ash). There were also two additional diets containing 45% fresh PL to which either ground limestone or wood ash had been added to provide the same ash content as the diets containing 45% stored, high ash PL. An in vivo digestibility and nitrogen balance trial was carried out. Storing the PL, which resulted in heating and an increase in ash content, reduced dry matter intake significantly. The largest and most significant effect on the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein can be ascribed to the freshness of the PL. Stored, heated PL had a highly negative effect on crude protein digestibility and on nitrogen retention. No negative effect of adding extrinsic ash was recorded. In Expt 2, the nutritional value of layer PL (LPL), compared with that of broiler PL (BPL), was examined using ten beef cows before and after calving. The diet was composed of 45% PL, 35% wheat straw (WS) and 20% maize grain. Daily dry matter intakes were 12·7 and 16·2 g/kg liveweight (LW) before calving and 15·5 and 22·8 g/kg LW after calving, for cows fed LPL and BPL, respectively. Owing to the combined effect of the lower dry matter intake, lower gross energy content and lower digestibility of LPL, the digestible energy intake of BPL diets was almost three-fold, and nitrogen absorption (g/kg LW0·75) on the BPL was 2·4-fold higher than on the LPL diets. Because the ash intake of both diets was similar, it is suggested that the main inhibiting factor of intake after calving was the rumen's ability to mobilize the large amounts of ash-rich complexes of ash and organic matter to the reticular omasal orifice and, consequently, out of the rumen.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine households’ acceptability of local (Ofada) rice by identifying the quality attributes influencing marginal implicit prices (MIPs) paid by rice consumers’ households in South-West, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The data used for this study were collected from a survey of 600 rice-consuming households in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select the respondents. Well-structured questionnaires were used to collect information on general households’ socioeconomic characteristics, their desirability and preference for local (Ofada) rice, and market prices of Ofada rice. Kendall’s concordance test was performed to confirm agreement among respondents in their rankings of the rice quality attributes. Hedonic price function was used to examine the relationship between implicit prices paid by consumers based on quality attributes of local (Ofada) rice, as observed in the market. Findings The result of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance revealed that there is 73.74 per cent agreement in ranking quality attributes of local (Ofada) rice consumers’ households in the study area. Colour, perceived nutrient level, taste, grain shape and rate of breakage were the most ranked quality attributes with mean attribute ranking scores of 1.56, 1.69, 3.12, 5.53 and 5.86, respectively. The result of the hedonic pricing model revealed that households are willing to pay MIPs of ₦71.03 ($0.20), ₦45.23 ($0.13), ₦32.98 ($0.09), ₦21.06 ($0.06) and ₦14.41($0.04) per kg for colour, grain cohesion, grain shape, perceived nutrient level and perceived chemical storage, respectively, while discounting MIPs of ₦60.55 ($0.17), ₦19.36 ($0.05), ₦17.14 ($0.05) and ₦6.00 ($0.02) for texture, rate of breakage, perceived freshness and low swelling capacity per kg of local (Ofada) rice, respectively. Research limitations/implications Continuous importation of rice into the country has many negative implications such as worsening of the poverty status of local rice farmers, unemployment of teeming youths engaged in rice value chain, and exposure to soaring and unpredictable price bringing unsustainable development. Lastly, over-dependency on rice importation, if not checked, can also permit dumping of low quality and sometimes expired rice into the country. All aforementioned reasons will make it difficult for local rice to compete favourably with imported varieties. Practical implications Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and Hedonic model were used as a diagnostic tools. These diagnostic tools show the need for government and relevant stakeholders to focus on improving the quality of local (Ofada) rice, especially the undesirable attributes. This could be achieved by adopting modern processing technology, that will enhance production and consumers’ acceptability, which could make local (Ofada) rice have good market share against imported brands. Social implications The economic value of a good is revealed by the consumer’s willingness to pay for the good, consequently increasing production through consumers’ acceptability, and improve living standard of farmers and processors through increased earnings. Originality/value The choice of a particular local rice, especially local (Ofada) rice, is made to estimate the effect of different attributes on the price paid by rice consumers’ households and to help in the development of effective technologies and policy that enhance better rice quality using both Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and Hedonic model to achieve the objective. For the first time this research has given clarity on the monetary value attached to local (Ofada) rice consumption by rice consumers’ households through quality attributes.

Abstract. Bottom trawling in the deep sea is one of the main drivers of sediment resuspension, eroding the seafloor and altering the content and composition of sedimentary organic matter (OM). The physical and biogeochemical impacts of bottom trawling were studied on the continental slope of the Gulf of Castellammare, Sicily (southwestern Mediterranean), through the analysis of two triplicate sediment cores collected at trawled and untrawled sites (∼550 m water depth) during the summer of 2016. Geochemical and sedimentological parameters (excess 210Pb, excess 234Th, 137Cs, dry bulk density, and grain size), elemental (organic carbon and nitrogen) and biochemical composition of sedimentary OM (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids), as well as its freshness (phytopigments) and degradation rates were determined in both coring locations. The untrawled site had a sedimentation rate of 0.15 cm yr−1 and presented a 6 cm thick surface mixed layer that contained siltier sediment with low excess 210Pb concentrations, possibly resulting from the resuspension, posterior advection, and eventual deposition of coarser and older sediment from adjacent trawling grounds. In contrast, the trawled site was eroded and presented compacted century-old sediment highly depleted in OM components, which were between 20 % and 60 % lower than those in the untrawled site. However, the upper 2 cm of the trawled site consisted of recently accumulated sediments enriched in excess 234Th, excess 210Pb, and phytopigments, while OM contents were similar to those from the untrawled core. This fresh sediment supported protein turnover rates of 0.025 d−1, which doubled those quantified in surface sediments of the untrawled site. The enhancement of remineralization rates in surface sediment of the trawled site was associated with the arrival of fresh particles on a chronically trawled deep-sea region that is generally deprived of OM. We conclude that the detrimental effects of bottom trawling can be temporarily and partially abated by the arrival of fresh and nutritionally rich OM, which stimulate the response of benthic communities. However, these ephemeral deposits are likely to be swiftly eroded due to the high trawling frequency over fishing grounds, highlighting the importance of establishing science-based management strategies to mitigate the impacts of bottom trawling.

Determination of electrical properties is utilized in a wide range of disciplines and industries. A brief compendium of agricultural materials and food electrical properties exploitation is presented in this paper. The measurement of electrical conductivity or resistivity can be utilized at investigation of cell membrane properties on microscopic level. Moreover the electrical conductivity have utilization at the salinity of soils and irrigation water determination. Biological material properties are determined from their leachates too. The conductivity measurement are applied for determination of various characteristics of agricultural materials and food, for example for determination of the frost sensitiveness, of chilling and freezing tolerance, of moisture content, of seeds germination, of mechanical stress, of pasteurization, of other properties of grains, seeds, meat, sugar, milk, wood, soil, fruit and vegetable, infected food, … The utilization of dielectric properties are also described; for example in agricultural materials and food quality sensing (moisture content, maturity of fruit, freshness of eggs, potential insect control in seeds, radio frequency heating, …). The classification of permittivity measurement techniques at the low frequencies is mentioned.

β-Glucan is biologically active polysaccharide, ubiquitously found in many grains, bacteria, and fungi and much yeast. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of substituting wheat flour by 1, 2, and 4% yeast isolated β-glucan in cookies on the sensory acceptance, antioxidants, oxidative stability, and quality evaluation which were investigated. According to the results, cookies supplemented at 2% yeast β-glucan were proved satisfactory on sensory quality perspective. During the storage study it was found that cookies made with 2 and 4% β-glucan have effectively (p>0.05) kept the peroxide value (PV) within acceptable range, demonstrating the promising role of β-glucan in deterring oxidative. It is further noted that 2 or 4% β-glucan incorporated cookies assimilated highest absorption spectra, suggesting the retardation in freshness losses, with having minimum microbial loads, showing microbiological safety. β-Glucan fortification in foods is technologically and economically feasible, suggesting that a significant prospect of β-glucan as low-cost food ingredient in formulating cookies at 2% offers exciting new use of β-glucan of yeast origin.

There is a clear need for application of proper methods for measuring food quality and safety in the globalized food-webs. Numerous instrumental methods have been established in the course of the 20th century and are developing further, together with data analysis techniques, for such purposes. Among them, near-infrared and fluorescence spectroscopic methods and chemical sensor arrays called electronic noses show particular promise for rapid, non-destructive, non-invasive and cost-effective ways for assessing changes and enhancing control during processing and storage of foods. Their key advantages as analytical tools are 1) their relatively high speed of analysis, 2) the lack of a need to carry out complex sample preparation or processing, 3) their relatively low cost, and 4) their suitability for on-line monitoring or quality control. The present survey attempts to demonstrate examples from the above areas, limiting itself mainly to monitoring some quality indices which contribute to the functionality or acceptability of foods as affected by alternative processing technologies, or loss of freshness/microbial safety, or developing spoilage during storage and marketing. These instrumental methods are correlative techniques: they must be calibrated first against (traditional) reference properties, and the instrumental data are evaluated with the help of chemometric methods. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can be used in either the reflectance or the transmittance mode. NIR spectra transformed to mathematical derivatives allows subtle spectrum changes to be resolved. Selected examples from the extensive NIRS literature relate to assessment of the quality of frozen fish, predicting cooking loss of chicken patties, detecting complex physico-chemical changes of minced meat as a function of the intensity of high hydrostatic pressure treatment, comparing changes of NIR spectrometric “fingerprints” caused by gamma radiation or high pressure pasteurization of liquid egg white. Changes of NIR spectra reflect several parameters which suit the evaluation of loss of freshness, and onset of spoilage of various foods. NIR spectroscopy shows an application potential for rapid detection of bacterial or mould contamination. It may serve as a tool for detecting initial stages of mobilization processes during germination of cereal grains, or even for GMO screening. Spectrofluorometic measurements have shown potential, e.g. to monitor lipid oxidation and development of meat rancidity, to differentiate between raw and processed milks, and to monitor fish and egg freshness. Electronic noses containing chemical sensor arrays offer a rapid method for evaluation of head-space volatiles of food samples, important for characterizing quality and safety. Such gas sensors may be able to classify storage time, and determine spoilage, either earlier or at the same time as the human senses, or “sniffing out” bacterial pathogens or (toxigenic) fungal growth on certain foods. Electronic nose sensing is also a promising method for detecting quality changes of fruit- and vegetable products non-destructively. In relation to some examples to be presented in the paper, certain software developments as qualitative classification tools made by Hungarian scientists will be pointed out.

AbstractIn this study, varying concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids in goat’s milk were obtained by supplementing goat feed rations with maize dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). In comparison to the control group, the milk of goats that received DDGS contained about 25% more polyunsaturated fatty acids, 30% more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and had more favorable values of the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices. The diverse composition of fatty acids present in the goat’s milk correlated with the olfactory perception of the milk and its volatile compound profile. The level of unsaturated fatty acids significantly affected the odors detected in the processed goat’s milk. The volatile compound profile of the milk was mostly differentiated by the concentrations of aldehydes (hexanal and furfural) and furanones (furaneol), which exceeded their odor threshold values. The total concentration of identified aldehydes was highest in pasteurized milk samples from the goats of the experimental group, as a result of heating. Furfural was found in pasteurized samples of both the control and experimental milk at concentrations exceeding its odor threshold (3 mg·kg−1). Feeding goats with DDGS did not change the animal, cooked, dairy fat, lack of freshness, light-oxidized, or overall dairy flavors of the raw milk. After pasteurization, milk from goats fed with DDGS retained its characteristic animal odor and gained a very intense cooked flavor.

Su, B., Wang, L., Wang, H., Shi, B., Shan, A. and Li, Y. 2013. Conjugated linoleic acid and betain prevent pork quality issues from diets containing distillers’ dried grains with solubles. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 477–485. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or betaine (BET) in diets containing distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on the fatty acid profile and the shelf-life attributes of pork. Thirty-two (60±2 kg) crossed-bred barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshine) were randomly assigned to one of four diets: (1) the control diet containing no corn DDGS (control group); (2) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS (DDGS-fed group); (3) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 10 g kg−1 CLA (CLA-fed group); (4) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 1 g kg−1 BET (BET-fed group). Dietary DDGS decreased the proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (P<0.05), and increased the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (P<0.05) in pork with respect to the control group, whereas dietary CLA and BET decreased the proportion of PUFA and increased the proportion of SFA in pork compared with DDGS-fed group. Pork treated with DDGS alone had higher total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) value (P<0.05) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value (P<0.05) with respect to the control diet during display, whereas CLA-fed group and BET-fed group had lower TVB-N concentration and TBARS value (P<0.05) in pork than DDGS-fed group. There was no significant difference of instrumental color (L*, a*, b*) between DDGS-fed group and the control group (P>0.05). However, CLA-fed and BET-fed groups maintained lower L* values and higher a* values (P<0.05), but did not affect b* values with respect to the DDGS-fed group and the control group. Results confirmed that diets containing 30% DDGS have some adverse effects on pork freshness and lipid peroxidation; However, supplementation with CLA or BET can partially reverse these effects and improve color image of pork during display.

The article reveals the research results of freshness and safety of sprouted wheat bread made with the use of water additionally treated with nonequilibrium low-temperature contact plasma. Prospects of the use of dispersion of wheat grain for the wholegrain bread production are shown which allow decreasing the grain raw materials loss along the food chain. The ways of prolongation of bread freshness during storage and slowdown of bread staling are analyzed. It is shown that in case of usage of plasma-chemically activated water in the technology wheat grain soaking duration decreases by 30%. The additional water treatment also promotes bread freshness prolongation up to two days. It is determined that water gets the characteristics relevant for the technology after 30–40 minutes of treatment with nonequilibrium low-temperature contact plasma. According to our findings, usage of plasma-chemically activated water provides slowdown of water migration and moisture loss by the crumb. It is determined that the usage of additional water treatment in the technology results in 17–60% increase in hydrophilic properties of the crumb and slows down their reduction during storage of sprouted wheat bread. Results of differential thermal analysis showed changes in various forms of moisture binding in the product during storage and increase in the part of adsorptionally bound moisture by 6–8%, when additional water treatment is used for grain soaking and dough making in sprouted wheat bread making technology. The rate of moisture removal from crumb of sprouted wheat bread made with the use of water subjected to nonequilibrium low-temperature contact plasma was determined through mathematical processing of data and construction of piecewise linear model. It is proved that safety level of usage of plasma-chemically activated water in sprouted wheat bread technology meets the requirements to the content of heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, copper, lead, cadmium, zinc, and mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone).

ObjectivesMeat color is extremely influential in purchasing decisions as consumers associate a bright-red color with freshness. The type of finishing diet can influence beef color. Previous studies have shown that grass-finished cattle have darker muscle color than grain-finished cattle. With the use of modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), beef purveyors are able to vary the gas compositions within a package and enhance beef color. However, limited studies have determined the effects of modified atmospheric packaging on grass-finished beef color. The objective of this study was to determine how finishing diet and packaging type affects the color of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle.Materials and MethodsDuring the stocker period, all of the cattle were on a forage diet. Cattle were then randomly assigned to either a conventional grain-based diet or an alfalfa pasture diet for finishing. Both conventionally and pasture-finished cattle were fed for 91 d. Cattle were slaughtered on the same day at a commercial beef processing facility under normal conditions and chilled for approximately 30 h. After grading, one strip loin from each carcass was collected and transported to Oklahoma State University. At 11 d postmortem, one steak (n = 60) from each strip loin was vacuum packaged and randomly assigned to display. Those steaks were then randomly assigned to PVC, HiOx-MAP (80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide), or CO-MAP (0.4% carbon monoxide, 69.5% nitrogen, and 30% carbon dioxide) packaging and were displayed under retail conditions for 5 d. Muscle darkening (MD), muscle color (MC), and surface discoloration (SD) were all analyzed by a trained panel (n = 6). MD was evaluated only on d 0 and MC and SD were scored once every 24 h for 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 d. Lipid oxidation was measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay on d 4. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Procedure of SAS.ResultsThere was a significant display day by finishing diet by packaging interaction (P < 0.05) for muscle color and surface discoloration. There was also a significant finishing diet by packaging interaction (P < 0.05) for muscle darkening. Steaks packaged in HiOx-MAP remained the most stable in color and the brightest cherry-red colored throughout display time (P < 0.05) compared with other packaging types. PVC was the most discolored (P < 0.05) on d 3 and 4 when compared to HiOx-MAP and CO-MAP with the grain-finished PVC packaged steaks showing the most discoloration on d 4. Pasture-finished steaks packaged in CO-MAP displayed the darkest colored muscle (P < 0.05) on d 0. Steaks packaged in PVC had a higher amount of lipid oxidation (P < 0.05) compared with other packaging types.ConclusionThese results indicate that HiOx-MAP more effectively maintains the desired beef color of bright cherry-red for pasture-finished beef. The results also indicate that the use of appropriate packaging type can minimize the losses due to discoloration of steaks from either grain or grass-finished beef.

This study provides a snapshot of the largely understudied meiobenthic and nematode communities in the Prince Gustav Channel (PGC) and Duse Bay (DB). We compared five stations sampled at different water depths along the shelf and investigated their meiobenthic community structure. We approached nematode biodiversity combining traditional taxonomic identification and high throughput sequencing (HTS), with the use of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs). Additionally, we characterized the environment by primary production proxies, grain size and seasonal ice conditions. Our results suggest that the availability of organic matter and its freshness are responsible for the high densities found at all depths. However, potential factors influencing the high local and regional variability of meiofauna density and biodiversity are less clear. A bathymetric transect consisting of three stations in DB (200, 500, and 1,000 m depth) showed increasing pigment concentrations in the first centimeters of the sediment vertical profile with increasing water depth, whereas the meiofauna densities showed the opposite trend. The deepest station of DB seems to function as a sink for fine material as supported by the higher silt fraction and higher organic matter concentrations. When comparing the two basins in the PGC (1,000 and 1,250 m) and the one in DB (1,000 m), differences in terms of environmental variables, meiofaunal densities, and composition were observed. The deepest basin in PGC is located further South (closer to the highly unstable Larsen area), and marked differences with the other basins suggest that it might be experiencing different conditions as a result of its presence near the summer ice margin and its more elongated topography. Both, the shallowest and the deepest stations showed the highest number of unique sequences, suggesting a more biodiverse nematode assemblage. The morphological identification did not show significant differences in the biodiversity of all stations, differently from the ASVs approach. However, the lack of reference sequences in online databases and the thickness of nematode’s cuticule are still important issues to consider as they potentially lead to underestimations of biodiversity and functional traits.

Treatment of slaughter animal meat with detergents and disinfectants to eliminate signs of spoilage and extend its shelf life - is one of the pressing issues to establish falsification of meat during the state risk-oriented control of chemical hazards at production facilities, storage and sales of meat of slaughter animals. Therefore, our research was the first test to establish the microstructural characteristics of beef for treatment with detergents and disinfectants. To detect the falsification of beef with detergents and disinfectants used patented express techniques, which had a probability of 99.9% in the test. The essence of detecting falsification of meat with a solution of formaldehyde (10%) was to use a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids, which was applied to the surface of muscle tissue and set the color change: purple-red (in the presence of falsification) or yellow-brown (in the absence of falsification) ). The essence of detecting falsification of meat with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (5%) was the use of solutions of concentrated sulfuric acid and potassium iodide-starch, which were applied to the surface of muscle tissue and established the presence of light blue color (in the presence of falsification) or absence (for no falsification). The essence of detecting falsification of meat with acetic acid solution (10%) was the use of solutions of sodium hydroxide with a mass concentration of 0.1 mol/dm3 and alcohol solution of phenolphthalein with a mass concentration of 1%, which was applied to the surface of muscle tissue and established the presence of pink color (in the presence of falsification) or absence of pink color (in the absence of falsification). The essence of detecting falsification of meat with chlorine solution (chlorine activity 3%) was the use of solutions of potassium iodide with a mass concentration of 5.0%, water-soluble starch with a mass concentration of 2%, concentrated hydrochloric acid, which were successively added to the meat-water extract in a ratio of 1: 2 and set the presence of blue (in the presence of falsification) or the absence of blue (in the absence of falsification). The essence of detecting falsification of meat with a solution of potassium permanganate (5%) was to use a solution of sulfuric acid with a mass concentration of 0.5 mol/dm3, which was applied to the surface of muscle tissue and established the presence of a pale pink color (in the presence of falsification) or no pink color (in the absence of falsification). The essence of detecting adulteration of meat with alkaline detergents was to use an alcoholic solution of rosolic acid with a mass concentration of 0.25%, which was applied to the surface of muscle tissue and established the presence of light crimson color (in the presence of adulteration in the detection of alkaline detergents to 5.0%) or crimson-red color (in the presence of falsification in the detection of alkaline detergents more than 5.1%) and the presence of light yellow or brown-yellow color (in the absence of falsification). Various changes in the morphological characteristics of fresh beef of questionable degree of freshness during treatment with detergents and disinfectants, especially pathognomonic when treated with a solution of formaldehyde, potassium permanganate, acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, and when treated with a solution of chlorine and chlorine solutions. The article presents the results of analysis of microstructural characteristics of fresh beef sold in supermarkets at a temperature of 4±2 ºC for 2 days and questionable freshness for 3−4 days, as well as treated with detergents and disinfectants. Isolated foci of coccal microflora were found in fresh beef; the structure of the nuclei of muscle fibers is clearly expressed, the color is uniform, moderate, the striation of muscle fibers is clearly expressed, the color is uniform; and in the meat of dubious freshness − noted the presence of coccal and rod-shaped microflora in the form of diffuse and focal deposits in the loose connective tissue of superficial fascia, in premixes and endomysias, the structure of muscle fiber nuclei in the state of dissolution, unevenly colored, in places muscle fibers. During the treatment of fresh and dubious fresh beef with formaldehyde solutions (10%) it was found: the appearance in the cytoplasm of cells of small dark brown-yellowish grains of crystalline form; hydrogen peroxide (5%): discoloration of pigments in cells, destruction of muscle fibers, their corrugation, accumulation of fine-grained porous protein mass in the intermuscular space; acetic acid (10%): violation of tissue architecture, in places destruction and lysis of myofibrils and diffuse accumulation between them of a homogeneous mass of protein origin with its subsequent "gelatinization" and partial solution; chlorine solution (chlorine activity 3%): in places microcracks and defibering of myofibrils with formation of cavities between them, insignificant discoloration of pigments in cells were noted; potassium permanganate (5%): the structure of muscle fibers is not preserved, the color is uneven, saturated, there are areas of lysis, sometimes microcracks and fragmentation, edema of intermuscular connective tissue; alkaline detergents: slight discoloration of cell pigments, the presence of microcracks of muscle fibers, edema of connective tissue elements. It should be noted that the timely detection by express methods at the facilities for the circulation of beef, which was treated with detergents and disinfectants, was confirmed by microstructural studies. Therefore, due to food fraud due to accidental contamination or intentional treatment with chemical reagents, it is necessary to assess these risks through the VACCP system.

IntroductionNordic mythology, also known as Norse mythology, is a term used to describe Medieval creation myths and tales of Gods and otherworldly realms, told and retold by Northern Germanic and Scandinavian tribes of the ninth century AD (see for example Gaiman).I discuss a new type of Nordic mythology that is being created through popular culture, social media, books, and television shows. I am interested in how contemporary portrayals of the Nordic countries has created a kind of mythological place called Scandinavia, where things, people, and ideas are better than in other places.Whereas the old myths portray a fierce warrior race, the new myths create a utopian Scandinavia as a place that is inherently good; a place that is progressive and harmonious. In the creation of these new myths the underbelly of the North is often neglected, producing a homogenised representation of a group of countries that are in actuality diverse and inevitably imperfect.ScandimaniaGenerally the term Scandinavia always refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. When including Finland and Iceland, it is more accurate to refer to the five as the Nordic countries. I was born and grew up in Denmark. My observations are skewed towards a focus on Denmark, rather than Scandinavia as a whole. Though I will use the term Nordic and Scandinavia throughout the article, it is worth noting that these definitions describe a group of countries that despite some commonalities are also quite different in geography, and culture.Whether we are speaking strictly of Scandinavia or of the Nordic countries as a whole, one thing is certain: in recent years there has been a surge of popularity in all things Nordic. Scandinavian design has been popular since the 1950s, known for its functionality and simplistic beauty, and globalised through the Swedish furniture chain IKEA. Consequently, Nordic interior design has become a style widely praised and emulated, as has Nordic fashion, architecture, and innovation.The fact that Scandinavian people are often represented as being intelligent and beautiful adds to the notion of stylish and aesthetically pleasing ideals. This is partly why sperm from Danish sperm donors is the most sought after and widely distributed in the world: perhaps prospective parents find the idea of having a baby of Viking stock appealing (Kale). Nordic countries are also known for their egalitarian societies, which are described as “the holy grail of a healthy economy and society” (Cleary). These are countries where the collective good is cherished. Tax rates are high (in Denmark between 55 per cent and 60 per cent of income), which leads to excellent welfare systems.In recent years other terms have entered the collective Western vocabulary. New Nordic Cuisine describes a trend that has taken the culinary world by storm. This term refers to food that is created with seasonal, local, and foraged ingredients. The emphasis being a renewed connection to nature and old ways. In 2016 the Danish word hygge was shortlisted by the Oxford Dictionary as word of the year. A word, which has no direct English translation, it means “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)”. Countless books were published in the United Kingdom, and elsewhere, explaining the art of hygge. Other Scandinavian words are now becoming popular, such as the Swedish lagom, meaning “just enough”.In the past two years, the United Nations’ World Happiness Report listed Denmark and Norway as the happiest places on earth. Other surveys similarly put the Nordic countries on top as the most prosperous places on earth (Anderson).Mythologies and Discursive FormationsThe standard definition of myth is a “traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.” Or “A widely held but false belief or idea” (Oxford Dictionaries, Myth).During what became known as the “discursive turn”, both Barthes and Foucault expanded the conception of myth by placing it within a wider socio-political and historical contexts of power and truth. “Discursive formations” became a commonly accepted way of describing a cluster of ideas, images, and practices that define particular “truths” within a given cultural context (Hall 6). In other words, myths serve specific purposes within given socio-cultural constructions.I argue that the current idolisation of Scandinavia is creating a common global narrative of a superior society. A mythical place that has “figured it out”, and found the key to happiness. The mythologised North is based on an array of media stories, statistics, reports, articles, advertising, political rhetoric, books, films, TV series, exhibitions, and social media activity. These perpetuate a “truth” of the Nordic countries as being especially benign, cultured, and distinguished. The Smiling PolicemanIn his well-known essay Myth Today, Barthes analyses an image of a North African boy in uniform saluting the French flag on the front cover of a magazine. Barthes argues that by analysing the semiotic meaning of the image in two stages, one can identify the “myth”.The first level is the signifiers (what we see), a dark skinned boy, a uniform, a raised arm, a flag. The signified is our recognition of these as a North African boy raising his arm to the French flag. The second level of interpretation is the wider context in which we understand what we see: the greatness of France is signified in the depiction of one of her colonial subjects submitting to and glorifying the flag. That is to say, the myth generated by the image is the story of France as a great colonial and military nation.Now take a look at this image, which was distributed the world over in newspapers, online media, and in turn social media (Warren; Kolff). This image is interesting because it epitomises much of what is believed about Scandinavia (the new myths). If we approach the image through the semiotic lens of Barthes, we firstly describe what is seen in the picture (signifiers): a blonde policeman, a girl of dark complexion, a road in the countryside, a van in the distance, and some other people with backpacks on the side of the road. When we put these elements together in context, we understand that the image to be depicting a Danish policeman, blonde, smiling and handsome, playing with a Syrian refugee girl on an empty Danish highway, with her fellow refugees behind her.The second level of interpretation (the myth) is created by combining the elements into a story: A friendly police officer is playing with a refugee girl, which is unusual because policemen are commonly seen as authoritarian and unfriendly to illegal immigrants. This policeman is smiling. He is happy in his job. He is healthy, good-looking, and compassionate.This fits the image of Scandinavian men as good fathers (they have paternity leave, and often help equally with child rearing). The image confirms that the happiest people on earth would of course also have happy, friendly policemen. The belief that the Scandinavian social model is one to admire would appear to be endorsed.The fact that this is in a rural setting with green landscapes adds further to the notion of Nordic freshness, naturalness, environmentalism, and food that comes from the wild. The fact that the policeman is well-groomed, stylish, well-built, and handsome reinforces the notion that Scandinavia is a place of style and taste, where the good Viking gene pool produces fit and beautiful people.It makes sense that in a place with a focus on togetherness and the common good, refugees are also treated well. Just as the French image of a dark-skinned boy saluting the French flag sent out messages of French superiority, this image sends out messages of inherent Nordic goodness in a time where positive images of the European refugee crisis are few and far between.In a discursive discussion, one asks not only what meanings does this image convey, but why is this image chosen, distributed, shared, tweeted, and promoted over other images? What purpose does its proliferation serve? What is the historical context in which it is popularised? What is the cultural imagination/narrative that is served? In the current often depressing socio-political situation in Europe, people like to know that there is a place where compassion and play exists.Among other news stories of death, despair, and border protection, depictions of an idealised North can help calm anxieties by implying the existence of a place that is free of conflict. Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen writes:The flood of journalistic and popular ethnographic explorations of the Nordic region in the UK is an expression, perhaps, of a search for a lost sense of identity, a nostalgic longing for an imagined past society more in tune with pre-Thatcherite welfarist values, by way of consuming, appropriating and exoticising proximate cultural identities such as the now much hyped Danish or Nordic utopias. (Nordic Noir, 6)In The Almost Nearly Perfect People, British writer Michael Booth wonders: “one thing in particular about this new-found love of all things Scandinavian … which struck me as particularly odd: considering all this positive PR, and with awareness of the so-called Nordic miracle at an all-time high, why wasn’t everyone flocking to live here [in Denmark]?” (7).In actuality not many people in the West are interested in living in the Nordic countries. Rather, as Barbara Goodwin writes: “utopias hold up a mirror to the fears and aspirations of the time in which they were written” (2). In other words, in an age of anxiety, where traditional norms and stabilities are shifting, to believe that there is a place where contemporary societies have found a way of living in happiness and togetherness provides a sense of hope. People are not flocking to live in Scandinavia because it is not in their interests to have their utopian ideals shattered by the reality that, though the North has a lot to offer, it is inevitably not a utopia (Sougaard-Nielsen, The Truth Is).UnderbellyParadoxically, in recent years, Scandinavia has become well known for its “Nordic Noir” crime fiction and television. In the documentary TV series Scandimania, British TV personality Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall travels through Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, exploring the culture, scenery, and food. He finds it curious that Denmark has become so famous for its sombre crime series, such as The Killing and The Bridge, because it seems so far removed from the Denmark he experiences riding around the streets of Copenhagen on his bike.Fearnley-Whittingstall ponders that one has to look hard to find the dark side of Denmark, and that perhaps it does not actually exist at all. This observation points to something essential. Even though millions of viewers worldwide have seen shows such as The Killing, which are known for their dark story lines, bleak urban settings, complex but realistic characters, progressive gender equality, and social commentary, the positive mythologising of Scandinavia remains so strong that it engenders a belief that the underbelly shown in Nordic Noir is perhaps entirely fictional.Stougaard-Nielsen (see also Pitcher, Consuming Race) argues that perhaps the British obsession with Nordic Noir (and this could be applied to other western countries) can be attributed to “a more appropriate white cosmopolitan desire to imagine rooted identities in an age of globalisation steeped in complex identity politics” (Nordic Noir, 8). That is to say that, for a segment of society which feels overwhelmed by contemporary multiculturalism, there may be a pleasure in watching a show that is predominantly populated by white Nordic protagonists, where the homes and people are stylish, and where the Nordic model of welfare and progressive thinking provides a rich identity source for white people as a symbolic point of origin.The watching/reading of Nordic Noir, as well as other preoccupations with all things Nordic, help build upon a mythological sense of whiteness that sets itself apart from our usual notions of race politics, by being an accepted form of longing for the North of bygone ages: a place that is progressive, moral, stylish, and imbued with aspirational ways of living, thinking, and being (Pitcher, Racial Politics).The image of the Danish police officer and the refugee girl fits this ideal of a progressive society where race relations are uncomplicated. The policeman who epitomises the Nordic ideal is in a position of power, but this is an authority which is benevolent. The girl is non-threatening in her otherness, because she is a child and female, and therefore does not fit the culturally dreaded Muslim/terrorist stereotype. In this constellation the two can meet beautifully.The reality, of course, is that the race relations and issues surrounding immigration in Denmark, and in other Nordic countries, are as complicated and often messy and hateful as they are in other countries. In Sweden, as Fearnley-Whittingstall touches upon in Scandimania, there are escalating problems with integration of the many new Swedes and growing inequalities in wealth. In Norway, the underlying race tensions became acutely topical in the aftermath of the 2011 massacre, where right-wing extremist Anders Breivik killed 77 people. Denmark has one of the harshest anti-immigration laws in Europe, laws that are continuously being tightened (Boserup); and whenever visiting Denmark I have been surprised to see how much space and time discussions about immigration and integration take up in the news and current affairs.If we contrast the previous image with the image above, taken within a similar timeframe on the same Danish highway, we can see the reality of Danish immigration policies. Here we are exposed to a different story. The scene and the location is the same, but the power dynamics have shifted from benign, peaceful, and playful to aggressive, authoritarian, and conflict ridden. A desperate father carries his daughter, determined to march on towards their destination of Sweden. The policeman is pulling his arm, attempting to detain the refugees so that they cannot go further, the goal being to deport the Syrians back to their previous place of detention, just over the border in Germany (Harticollis). While the previous image reflects the humanity of the refugee crisis, this image reflects the politics, policies, and to a large extent public opinion in Denmark, which is not refugee-friendly. This image, however, was not widely distributed, partly because it feeds into the same depressing narrative of an unsolvable refugee crisis seen so often elsewhere, and partly because it does not fit into the narrative of the infallible North. It could not be tweeted with the hashtag #Humanity, nor shared on Facebook with a smiley face and liked with an emoji heart.Another image from Denmark, in the form of a politically funded billboard, shows that there are deep-seated tendencies within Danish society that want to promote and retain a Denmark which adheres to its traditional values and ethnic whiteness. The image was displayed all over the country, at train stations, bus stops, and other public spaces when I visited in 2016. It was issued by Dansk Folkeparti (the Danish People’s Party); a party which is anti-immigration and which was until recently the country’s second largest party. The title says “Our Denmark”, while the byline cleverly plays with the double meaning of passe på: it can mean “there is so much we need to take care of”, but also “there is so much we need to beware of.” In other words, the white working-class family needs to take care of their Denmark, and beware of anyone who does not fit into this norm. Though hugely contested and criticised (Cremer; see a counter-reaction designed by opponents below), the fact that thinly veiled anti-immigration propaganda can be so readily distributed speaks of an underbelly in Danish society that is not made of the dark murder mysteries in The Killing, but rather of a quietly brewing distain for the foreigner that reigns within stylishly designed living rooms. ConclusionMyths are stories cultures tell and retell until they form a belief system that becomes a natural part of our collective narrative. For Barthes, these stories were intrinsically connected to our understanding of language and our ability to read images, films, artifacts, and popular culture more generally. To later cultural theorists, the notion of discursive formations expands this understanding, to see myth within a broader network of socio-political discourses placed within a certain place and time in history. When connected, small narratives (images, advertising, film, music, news stories, social media sharing, scientific evidence, etc.) come together to form a common narrative (the myth) about how things are and should be in relation to a particular topic. The culminating popularity of numerous Nordic themes (Nordic television/film, interior design, fashion, cuisine, architecture, lifestyle, sustainability, welfare system, school system, gender equality, etc.) has created a grand narrative of the Nordic countries as a type of utopia: one that shows the rest of the world that an egalitarian society of togetherness and progressive innovation is possible. This mythologisation serves to quell anxieties about the flux and uncertainty of contemporary times, and may also serve to legitimise a yearning for a simple, benign, and progressive whiteness, where we imagine Nordic families sitting peacefully at their beechwood dining tables, candles lit, playing board games. 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