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The purpose of this paper is to explore the history, classification, regulation, the current market and consumer trends and health effects of alcopops.

The articles reviewed were selected based on the following key descriptors such as alcopop, history, classification, types, production and consumption trend, health benefits and adverse effect.

“Alcopop” is a collective term used to refer to flavored alcoholic beverages (FAB), also known as malt alcoholic beverage; ready-to-drink beverage (RTD); pre-packaged spirit or premium packaged spirit; high-strength (HS) pre-mixed beverage; pre-mixed caffeinated alcoholic beverage or alcoholic energy drink, etc. Alcopops were introduced into the market in 1990s. Starting with the introduction of FAB in the form of wine coolers, a large number of alcoholic beverages have been introduced. FAB are sweet, containing relatively low alcohol content and especially designed for the young drinkers also called the “entry-level” drinkers. They are popular among young and underage drinkers, teenage girls particularly, and the industries use packaging materials and marketing strategies that appear to target the youth. These products are now marketed globally, and their production, classification and marketing vary by country based on national regulatory restrictions. In countries such as USA and Australia, the industry represents that the products were malt beverages for regulatory purpose which were found to be false as other products were derived from distilled spirits. The product has no health benefits so far, the government need to reform their regulations and include new definitions of alcopops with available restrictions that would be practice at both national and state levels until and unless there have been another scientifically approved method of production through which the beverage could be beneficial for human consumption.

This is a unique and comprehensive review that will provide a brief overview of alcopops, i.e., a global perspective on the new category of alcoholic beverage.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the health effects and safety aspects regarding the consumption of energy drink (ED).

A wide variety of publications was identified through electronic databases (ScienceDirect, PubMed, SciELO, Google Scholar, Link springer and ResearchGate) on the basis of different keyword such as composition, market status, consumption pattern, health effects, consequences and policies related to ED consumption.

Owing to its popularity, various brands of EDs have been introduced in the market along with a wide variety of modifications to attract the consumers of all age groups. EDs comprise majorly active ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, guarana, L-carnitine and glucoronolactone, ginseng and sweeteners. EDs are well known to have good taste, enhance energy levels, physical alertness and performance, but they also pose risk of certain health hazards, i.e. caffeine intoxication. Because of this, different policies have been formulated by various regulatory bodies of respective countries regarding the composition, labelling, distribution and sale of EDs.

This review will provide a brief overview of composition, market status, consumption pattern, health effects, consequences and policies related to ED consumption.

Malnutrition is a serious public health problem, which occurs because of an inadequate supply of nutrients and therefore affects many children and women (especially pregnant and lactating women of low economic class) worldwide. There is a great need to develop cost-effective fortified food supplements to overcome this problem. Therefore, this study aims to examine the factors that should be considered in the development of low-cost supplementary foods for breastfeeding women.

A wide variety of relevant publications were identified through search in electronic databases (ScienceDirect, PubMed, SciELO, Google Scholar, SpringerLink and ResearchGate) based on different keywords such as malnutrition, specific considerations, supplementary foods and breastfeeding women, which were published before 2020. After looking for adequate literature, 71 articles were examined, which provided an overview of these aspects.

Various food supplements and food products already available in the market are generally expensive and go beyond the purchasing power of lower- or middle-class families. Traditionally, efforts have been made to prepare such supplements at home, but the composition of these products varies based on the economic status of consumers. Therefore, the nutritional status is clearly compromised because of the low standard of living, which requires a great need to develop low-cost nutritious food products, accessible to all and that meet the appropriate nutritional, sensory and economic attributes without ignoring the regulatory guidelines.

This review is majorly focused on the specific considerations, alternative sources, ensuring nutritional and sensorial attributes and economic aspects for the development of supplementary low-cost food products for breastfeeding women with the goal of eliminating malnutrition.