SALVATORE PARISI ¹, SUNI MARY VARGHESE ¹, CARMELO PARISI²
1. Lourdes Matha Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Kerala, India
2. University of Palermo, Italy

Abstract

The main and current challenge for food and beverage producers is a four-level fight. The consumer wants to receive reliable news and information concerning health, authenticity, traceability, and sharing. Consequently, an innovative approach based on these factors – the HITS strategy – could be suggested. Traceability and authenticity issues are critical points of the HITS approach. 

Could the recognition of any peculiar food or food typology be realised with chemical or microbiological data? The answer may be positive when speaking of chemometric analyses. Microbial profiles may be useful when speaking of HITS strategies and quality assurance if used with other data in the ambit of chemometrics.

INTRODUCTION. THE HITS STRATEGY IN THE CURRENT FOODS AND BEVERAGES INDUSTRY

It has been reported that the main and current challenge for food and beverage producers is a four-level fight. The consumer wants to receive reliable news and information concerning health, authenticity, traceability, and the possible sharing of food and beverage products. Consequently, the hygiene, integrity, traceability, and sharing (HITS) approach to the problem of quality assurance could be suggested (1).

In general, the food consumer seems to be extremely concerned when speaking of menaces for the human safety, and the current situation - the SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 pandemics - is correlated with similar worries, even if there are not reliable demonstrations concerning possible coronavirus contamination by means of produced foods and beverages (2). However, more attention is required when speaking of improved Prerequisite Programs (PRP) and Food Safety plans (3). On the other side, food frauds are not in lockdown… As a result, adulteration facts should be expected, and the food industry may be probably exposed to another season of food scandals (4). ...