http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/17 Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:58:49 GMT 2026-10-23T19:58:49Z https://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk:443/bitstream/id/0ec7fa94-7dfb-4007-a70f-7fc80bc39332/ http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/17 http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/22036 Foodborne illnesses, food poisoning, environmental contaminants and food safety in the world: a comprehensive mini review Jayamanne, V.S.; Bandara, S. M. Food safety remains an absolute cornerstone of global public health and socioeconomic stability. Unsafe food causes an estimated 866 million illnesses and 1.52 million deaths globally each year, resulting in an annual economic loss of US$ 310 billion across the globe. The main objective of this mini-review is to synthesize current knowledge on foodborne pathogens, food additives, heavy metals, microplastics, emerging anthropogenic hazards, and advances in diagnostic methods. A total of 1,500 research articles retrieved from Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and PubMed were systematically reviewed to compile this comprehensive review. Globally, an estimated 866 million (1 in 9 people) individuals experience illnesses annually from consuming contaminated food, resulting in approximately 1.52 million preventable deaths. This comprehensive mini-review paper critically evaluates major bacterial, viral, parasitic, chemical hazards and environmental contaminants. Furthermore, it provides a multidimensional analysis of emerging chemical threats, including microplastics in food systems, heavy metal contamination, and pesticide and fertilizer residues, as well as their potential associations with chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). Finally, the paper explores state of-the-art diagnostic paradigms under a unified One Health framework proposed and implemented by the WHO and FAO. This review may support the food industry and policymakers in adopting modern technologies within the One Health framework to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/22036 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/22035 Valorization of used rice bran oil for the production of hard and liquid soap Bandara, S. M.; Hettiarachchi, H. A.P.W.; Jayawardene, J. A. S. Used rice bran oil (URBO) represents a potential non-food feedstock for value-added soap production. This study evaluated URBO for formulating hard and liquid soaps, along with activated-carbon pretreatment to improve the spent oil's visual quality. URBO with 26% total polar materials was filtered and treated with activated carbon at 10, 20, and 40 g/100 mL. The 20 g/100 mL treatment produced the greatest improvement in visual clarity and CIELAB colour and was selected for subsequent soap preparation. Hard soaps were prepared by the cold-process method, whereas liquid soaps were produced by the hot-process method. The formulations were evaluated for total fatty matter (TFM), total alkali, pH, moisture content, foam height, and preliminary sensory acceptability. For hard soap, TFM, total alkali, pH, moisture, and foam height ranged from 25.10 – 69.46%, 1.85 – 2.69%, 9.79 – 11.45, 8.90 – 14.86%, and 7.50 – 17.50 cm, respectively. T5 showed the highest TFM and foam height and the lowest total alkali, while its pH remained within the cited acceptable range. For liquid soap, TFM, total alkali, pH, and foam height ranged from 36.03 – 67.99%, 1.33 – 2.18%, 9.25 – 12.57, and 13.00 – 18.33 cm, respectively; T3 showed the highest TFM and foam height and the lowest alkali and pH. Sensory scores indicated generally favorable preliminary acceptability. These findings demonstrate the laboratory-scale feasibility of valorizing URBO in soap formulations, while further chemical characterization, control formulations, and broader consumer testing are required before conclusions on cleansing efficacy, skin safety, or commercial applicability. The work supports circular-economy approaches for redirecting degraded frying oil toward useful non-food products. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/22035 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/21990 Impact of taxes on cost of production and input use efficiency on maize, potato, and big onion cultivation in Sri Lanka. Sandika, A. L.; Sewwandi, T. A. D.; Senarath, S. A. K. B. Maize, potato, and big onion are strategically important and politically sensitive field crops due to their high demand and income-generating potential. However, the increasing cost of production (COP) of these crops, particularly amid rising input prices and taxes embedded in agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, agrochemicals, machinery, and fuel, is a commonly expressed concern among farmers and agricultural stakeholders. This study aims to assess the exact tax burden embedded in the production systems of these three crops and evaluate its impact on cultivation costs and input-use efficiency. Utilizing secondary data for the 2024 Yala season obtained from the Department of Agriculture and Sri Lanka Customs tariff schedules, a quantitative analytical framework was established. The methodology utilizes an enterprise budgeting approach coupled with Harmonized System (HS) code-based tax extraction to algebraically estimate the total tax burden (TT), tax incidence percentages (TI), and input cost structures (ICS). Empirical results show that taxes constitute a notable component of COP, accounting for approximately 9% for maize, 11% for potato, and 8% for big onion, including imputed costs. Excluding imputed costs, cash-tax incidence rises to 12%, 16%, and 10%, respectively, concentrating heavily at 16% to 17% within purchased inputs. This fiscal burden correlates with a low expenditure share on critical inputs, contributing to sub-optimal yields (1,761 kg/acre for maize, 4,929 kg/acre for potato, and 9,976 kg/acre for big onion) compared to regional economies. The study concludes that high embedded taxes distort input structures and limit production efficiency. To lower production costs and strengthen sector competitiveness, policymakers should rationalize agricultural tariffs and help farmers use resources more efficiently. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/21990 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/21989 Impact of extension and peer learning on knowledge of food quality and safety: evidence from black pepper farmers in Sri Lanka Amarawansha, E. A. G. S.; Pham, T. Food quality and safety standards have become critical as agricultural development increasingly targets high value crops and markets. These standards govern physical characteristics, purity, and contaminant levels to meet high-value market requirements. However, limited access to relevant information and post-harvest technologies constrains farmers’ ability to acquire the knowledge necessary to maintain these standards. While prior research has largely focused on staple crops, evidence on knowledge enhancement in high-value crops such as black pepper remains limited. This study examines the effect of information provision on knowledge enhancement and retention among black pepper farmers in Sri Lanka, utilising a randomised controlled trial involving 660 farmers in the Matale District. Two interventions were compared: a government extension program on quality and safety standards, and farmer-to-farmer belief and experience sharing. Knowledge was assessed immediately after the interventions and six months later to capture retention. Results indicate that the government extension program significantly increased immediate knowledge and sustained these gains over six months, demonstrating strong retention. In contrast, farmer-to-farmer experience sharing showed no immediate effect but improved knowledge over time, suggesting gradual shifts in beliefs as farmers observed peers’ practices. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that participant characteristics, including age, gender, education, occupation, and baseline postharvest knowledge, influence intervention effectiveness, highlighting the need to tailor approaches for specific subgroups. Overall, the findings emphasise the importance of structured, expert-led extension programs in strengthening farmers’ knowledge on food quality and safety standards, while supporting knowledge retention through farmer learning. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/21989 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z