BackgroundThe neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) is a novel inflammatory marker. This study explores its association with cognitive impairment (CI) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 152 PD patients were categorized into CI (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score <26) or non-CI (MoCA ≥26) groups.ResultsCI was present in 66.45% of PD patients. Patients in the CI group had older age (63.01 ± 10.88 vs. 49.75 ± 12.74 years, p < 0.001), a high proportion of female individuals (43.56% vs. 23.53%, p = 0.016), and a higher NPAR (1.94 ± 0.24 vs. 1.80 ± 0.24, p = 0.001). In addition, patients in the CI group had lower levels of education (8.24 ± 2.97 vs. 11.55 ± 3.45 years, p < 0.001), serum albumin (36.29 ± 3.56 vs. 37.75 ± 2.60 g/L, p = 0.010), potassium (4.30 ± 0.71 vs. 4.51 ± 0.53 mmol/L, p = 0.039), creatinine (865.79 ± 274.38 vs. 1099.92 ± 293.86 umol/L, p < 0.001), and phosphorus (1.43 ± 0.41 vs. 1.68 ± 0.44 mmol/L, p = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that NPAR, age, serum phosphorus levels, and education were significant independent determinants of CI. The area under the curve (AUC) for NPAR in predicting CI was 0.657, with a sensitivity of 0.496 and a specificity of 0.745 (p = 0.002). When age, NPAR, blood phosphorus levels, and education were combined, the AUC increased to 0.861, with a sensitivity of 0.822 and specificity of 0.745 (p < 0.001).ConclusionCI in PD patients was found to be independently associated with elevated NPAR. The NPAR may serve as a potential biological indicator for identifying prevalent cases of CI, providing a basis for further exploration of early intervention strategies for CI.
Khushbu Bishnoi, Pallavi Moudgil, Deepak Soni
et al.
Antibiotics are extensively used in layer flocks for the prevention of diseases and to enhance their growth and production. However, their nonprudent use is leading to the occurrence of residues in eggs. The present study aimed at the detection of tetracycline group residues in egg samples collected from layer farms located in Haryana, India, and human health risk assessment. A total of 100 pooled egg samples were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet detector for the detection of tetracycline group residues. Out of 100 pooled samples, 13 (13%) were found to be contaminated with tetracycline residues (12 for chlortetracycline and one for tetracycline). Of these, five (38.5%) samples (one for tetracycline and four for chlortetracycline) exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL) established by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The risk assessment based on the per capita availability of eggs in Haryana revealed that the current levels of residues in eggs pose no significant toxicological effects on the consumer’s health. The residues exceeding MRL indicate nonprudent use of antibiotics in veterinary practices, which could lead to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. There is a need to generate awareness among farmers toward judicious antibiotic usage in layer birds and adherence to withdrawal periods to prevent the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance.
Food processing and manufacture, Nutrition. Foods and food supply
IntroductionPolyphenol-rich sugarcane extract (PRSE) contains bioactive compounds with potential hypoglycemic properties, but its direct interaction with α-glucosidase has not been explored.MethodsThis study investigated the inhibitory mechanism of PRSE on α-glucosidase using enzyme kinetics. Bioactive compounds with α-glucosidase-binding affinity were identified through biolayer interferometry-mass spectrometry (BLI-MS), and the binding mechanisms were further explored via molecular docking analysis.Results and discussionPRSE was found to inhibit α-glucosidase through a mixed-type mechanism. A total of 29 compounds, including 4 coumarins, 9 phenolic acids, and 16 flavonoids, were identified in the PRSE dissociation solution. Representative compounds included coumarin, kaempferol, apigenin 7-o-neohesperidoside, and vicenin 3. Notably, apigenin 7-o-neohesperidoside and vicenin 3 were identified for the first time as potential α-glucosidase inhibitors.These compounds interacted with key residues of α-glucosidase, such as Asp and Glu, via hydrogen bonding, π-anion interactions, and hydrophobic forces. These findings suggest that PRSE could serve as a promising natural source of α-glucosidase inhibitors. The application of BLI-MS proved effective for screening target bioactive compounds in plant extracts. PRSE may have potential applications in functional foods for postprandial glycemic control and type 2 diabetes prevention.
Divek V. T. Nair, Kumar Venkitanarayanan, Anup Kollanoor Johny
Salmonella enterica is one of the most ubiquitous enteropathogenic bacterial species on earth, and comprises more than 2500 serovars. Widely known for causing non-typhoidal foodborne infections (95%), and enteric (typhoid) fever in humans, Salmonella colonizes almost all warm- and cold-blooded animals, in addition to its extra-animal environmental strongholds. The last few decades have witnessed the emergence of highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant Salmonella, causing greater morbidity and mortality in humans. The emergence of several Salmonella serotypes resistant to multiple antibiotics in food animals underscores a significant food safety hazard. In this review, we discuss the various antibiotic-resistant Salmonella serotypes in food animals and the food supply, factors that contributed to their emergence, their antibiotic resistance mechanisms, the public health implications of their spread through the food supply, and the potential antibiotic alternatives for controlling them.
Gianluca Rizzo, Maximilian Andreas Storz, Gioacchino Calapai
Recently, there has been a renewed interest in Cannabis sativa and its uses. The recreational use of inflorescences as a source of THC has led to the legal restriction of C. sativa cultivation to limit the detrimental effects of psychotropic substance abuse on health. However, this has also limited the cultivation of textile/industrial varieties with a low content of THC used for textile and nutritional purposes. While previously the bans had significantly penalized the cultivation of C. sativa, today many countries discriminate between recreational use (marijuana) and industrial and food use (hemp). The stalks of industrial hemp (low in psychotropic substances) have been used extensively for textile purposes while the seeds are nutritionally versatile. From hemp seeds, it is possible to obtain flours applicable in the bakery sector, oils rich in essential fatty acids, proteins with a high biological value and derivatives for fortification, supplementation and nutraceutical purposes. Hemp seed properties seem relevant for vegetarian diets, due to their high nutritional value and underestimated employment in the food sector. Hemp seed and their derivatives are a valuable source of protein, essential fatty acids and minerals that could provide additional benefit to vegetarian nutrition. This document aims to explore the information available in the literature about hemp seeds from a nutritional point of view, highlighting possible beneficial effects for humans with particular attention to vegetarian nutrition as a supplemental option for a well-planned diet.
Abstract The inappropriate marketing and aggressive promotion of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) undermines breastfeeding and harms child and maternal health in all country contexts. Although a global milk formula ‘sales boom’ is reportedly underway, few studies have investigated its dynamics and determinants. This study takes two steps. First, it describes trends and patterns in global formula sales volumes (apparent consumption), by country income and region. Data are reported for 77 countries, for the years 2005–19, and for the standard (0–6 months), follow‐up (7‐12 m), toddler (13‐36 m), and special (0‐6 m) categories. Second, it draws from the literature to understand how transformations underway in first‐food systems – those that provision foods for children aged 0–36 months – explain the global transition to higher formula diets. Total world formula sales grew by 115% between 2005 and 2019, from 3.5 to 7.4 kg/child, led by highly‐populated middle‐income countries. Growth was rapid in South East and East Asia, especially in China, which now accounts for one third of world sales. This transition is linked with factors that generate demand for BMS, including rising incomes, urbanisation, the changing nature of woman's work, social norms, media influences and medicalisation. It also reflects the globalization of the baby food industry and its supply chains, including the increasing intensity and sophistication of its marketing practices. Policy and regulatory frameworks designed to protect, promote and support breastfeeding are partially or completely inadequate in the majority of countries, hence supporting industry expansion over child nutrition. The results raise serious concern for global child and maternal health.
Abstract Current food production faces a tremendous challenge due to the growing human population. The global population is estimated to reach 9 billion by 2050 with 70% more food being required. Safe food is an important dimension of food security, and food traceability across the supply chain is a key component of this. However, current food traceability systems are challenged by frequent occurrences of food safety incidents and food recalls that have damaged consumer confidence, caused huge economic loss, and put pressure on food safety agencies. This review focuses on smart food traceability that has the potential to significantly improve food safety in global food supply chains. The basic concepts and critical perspectives for various detection strategies for food safety are summarized, including portable detection devices, smart indicators and sensors integrated on food packages, and data-assisted whole-genome sequencing. In addition, new digital technologies, such as Internet-of-things (IoTs) and cloud computing, are discussed with the aim of providing readers with an overview of the exciting opportunities in smart food traceability systems.
B. Belton, Leah U. Rosen, Lucinda Middleton
et al.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a shock affecting all areas of the global food system. We tracked the impacts of COVID-19 and associated policy responses on the availability and price of aquatic foods and production inputs during 2020, using a high frequency longitudinal survey of 768 respondents in Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Myanmar, Nigeria. We found the following: (1) Aquatic food value chains were severely disrupted but most effects on the availability and accessibility of aquatic foods and production inputs were short-lived. (2) Impacts on demand for aquatic foods, production inputs, and labor have been longer lasting than impacts on their supply. (3) Retail prices of aquatic foods spiked briefly during March-May 2020 but trended down thereafter, whereas prices of production inputs rose. These trends suggest a deepening ‘squeeze’ on the financial viability of producers and other value chain actors. (4) Survey respondents adapted to the challenges of COVID-19 by reducing production costs, sourcing alternative inputs, diversifying business activities, leveraging social capital, borrowing, seeking alternative employment, and reducing food consumption. Many of these coping strategies are likely to undermine well-being and longer-term resilience, but we also find some evidence of proactive strategies with potential to strengthen business performance. Global production of aquatic food likely contracted significantly in 2020. The importance of aquatic food value chains in supporting livelihoods and food and nutrition security in Asia and Africa makes their revitalization essential in the context of COVID-19 recovery efforts. We outline immediate and longer-term policies and interventions to support this goal.
Jeffery L Heileson, Michael J Macartney, Nora L Watson
et al.
Summary: Background: Accumulating evidence has highlighted the acute and chronic impact of repetitive subconcussive head impacts (rSHIs) in contact sports. Neurofilament-light (Nf-L), a brain-derived biomarker of neuroaxonal injury, elevates in concert with rSHI. Recently, long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC ω-3 PUFAs) supplementation has been suggested to mitigate brain injury from rSHI as reflected by attenuation of Nf-L concentrations within contact sport athletes. Objective: Using a systematic review with a meta-analysis, we aimed to determine the effect of LC ω-3 PUFA supplementation on Nf-L concentrations in athletes routinely exposed to rSHI. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed and CINAHL) were searched from inception through January 2024. One-stage meta-analysis of individual participant-level data was used to detect changes in Nf-L concentrations between LC ω-3 PUFA and control/placebo (PL) groups from baseline to midseason (MS) and postseason (PS). Least square means (±SE) for Nf-L change from baseline were compared by treatment group for MS/PS using contrast t tests. Significance was set a priori at adjusted P ≤ 0.05. Results: Of 460 records identified, 3 studies in collegiate American football players (n = 179; LC ω-3 PUFA = 105, PL = 71) were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with PL, the change in Nf-L concentrations was statistically similar at MS [mean difference (MD) = –1.66 ± 0.82 pg·mL–1, adjusted P = 0.09] and significantly lower at PS (MD = –2.23 ± 0.83 pg·mL–1, adjusted P = 0.02) in athletes following LC ω-3 PUFA supplementation. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate preliminary support for the prophylactic administration of LC ω-3 PUFA in contact sport athletes exposed to rSHI; however, further research is required to determine the effective dosage required.This trial was registered at OSF (DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/EY5QW).
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme events, posing challenges to food security. Corn, a staple crop for billions, is particularly vulnerable to heat stress, a primary driver of yield variability. While many studies have examined the climate impact on average corn yields, little attention has been given to the climate impact on production volatility. This study investigates the future volatility and risks associated with global corn supply under climate change, evaluating the potential benefits of two key adaptation strategies: irrigation and market integration. A statistical model is employed to estimate corn yield response to heat stress and utilize NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 climate data to project future production volatility and risks of substantial yield losses. Three metrics are introduced to quantify these risks: Sigma ( σ ), the standard deviation of year-on-year yield change, which reflects overall yield volatility; Rho ( ρ ), the risk of substantial loss, defined as the probability of yield falling below a critical threshold; and beta ( β ), a relative risk coefficient that captures the volatility of a region’s corn production compared to the globally integrated market. The analysis reveals a concerning trend of increasing year-on-year yield volatility ( σ ) across most regions and climate models. This volatility increase is significant for key corn-producing regions like Brazil and the United States. While irrigated corn production exhibits a smaller rise in volatility, suggesting irrigation as a potential buffer against climate change impacts, it is not a sustainable option as it can cause groundwater depletion. On the other hand, global market integration reduces overall volatility and market risks significantly with less sustainability concerns. These findings highlight the importance of a multidimensional approach to adaptation in the food sector. While irrigation can benefit individual farmers, promoting global market integration offers a broader solution for fostering resilience and sustainability across the entire food system.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Agriculture (General)
Jorinda Steenkamp, E. Cilliers, S. Cilliers
et al.
Food and nutrition security has been neglected in the planning field for reasons of a lack of connection between food and planning and the perception that agricultural activities have no place in the modernizing world. However, considering increasing climate change impacts and implications on industrialized agriculture, there is a clear need to establish shorter, more sustainable agricultural production practices and food supply chains. Urban agriculture is proposed as a potential method of intervention for planners to support sustainable food production and supply chains. The paper utilized a multiple-case study design to analyze four best practice examples of urban agriculture in the Global South to uncover its potential to address food security associated risks and contribute to sustainable development objectives. The results delivered evidence of the potential to harness the multifunctionality of urban agriculture to not only improve the food security of the most at-risk populations, but to also address other urban risks such as unemployment, community decline and food deserts. The recommendations for this paper relate to establishing a food security department, mapping and encouraging more sustainable food supply chains, creating land uses and zonings specific to urban agriculture and to utilize its multifunctionality to address other urban risks.
The food processing industry is currently facing challenges in delivering safe, healthy, and high-quality food. Constant monitoring at each step of the supply chain of food is vital to resolve the issue of food contamination. To achieve this aim and to meet consumer prospects, the technologies promoting the concept of clean label food have been widely cherished. Ozonation is one such advanced technology that assists in maintaining food product quality and safety. Its manifold approach and zero-by-product production make it a promising food disinfectant technique. Ozone due to its oxidative property has been widely used in sanitizing, washing, odor removal, water treatment, and in equipment, fruits, vegetable, and meat processing disinfection. Ozonation in foods is done in such a way that no nutritional, sensory, and physicochemical characteristics are altered. In this review, an attempt is made to give an overview of the impact and contribution of ozone as a disinfectant in food processing while comparing it with conventional disinfectants and its overall application in the food industry.
Articles published in Food Security in 2021 are reviewed, showing a wide range of topics covered. Many articles are directly linked with "food" and associated terms such as "nutritive", "nutrition", "dietary", and "health". Another important group is linked with (food) "production" and a range of connected terms including: "irrigation", "cultivated", "organic", "varieties", "crop", "vegetable", and "land". A third group of terms refers to the scales at which food security is considered: "household", "farmer", "farm", "smallholder", "community", "nation" and "region". A few themes of Food Security are considered: (1) food supply and demand, food prices, and global trade; (2) food security in households; (3) food production; (4) value chains and food systems; (5) the evolution of the concept of food security; and (6) global nutrition. In a last section, perspectives for Food Security are discussed along four lines of thoughts: the level of inter-disciplinary research published in Food Security; the importance of the Social Sciences for food security as a collective good underpinned by other collective goods within food systems; the balance between the Global South and the Global North in Food Security; and a warning that urgent global challenges that vitally interact with food security may be left unattended as a result of the current public health emergency.
Background: Food allergy can represent a serious human health issue. The observed rise in regional incidence and global prevalence of food allergies raise, among other, also questions about the risks related to the consumption of new, modified, and alternative protein sources. Scope and approach: As we strive towards transforming food systems to match our need for sustainability, food security and adequate nutrition, we cannot lose sight of the importance of food safety. Population growth , socioeconomic development, and urbanization, among other factors is putting increasing pressure on the global food supply in general, and on protein sources in particular. New protein sources, such as plant-based meat alternatives and edible insects, while promising to be sustainable protein sources, can also potentially expose allergic and non-allergic consumers to new food allergens . Therefore, it is essential to investigate the new drivers and trends influencing the patterns of protein consumption while exploring the capacity of existing monitoring and regulatory systems to manage increases in allergy incidence , to new and existing food allergens. Key findings and conclusions: This article focuses on key drivers for new food allergy, reviews the latest developments in risk assessment, reporting and monitoring; and outlines possible actions from national authorities, food business operators, clinicians and consumers to proactively address these challenges, ensuring safe food for everyone
Food systems that deliver healthy diets without exceeding the planet’s resources are essential to achieve the worlds’ ambitious development goals. Healthy diets need to be safe, accessible, and affordable for all, including for disadvantaged and nutritionally vulnerable groups such as of smallholder producers, traders, and consumers in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, food systems are experiencing rapid and drastic changes and are failing to fulfil these multiple duties simultaneously. The international community therefore calls for rigorous food systems transformations and policy solutions to support the achievement of healthy diets for all. Most strategies, however, are essentially supply- and market-oriented. Incorporation of a healthy diet perspective in food system transformation is essential to enable food systems to deliver not only on supplying nutritious foods but also on ensuring that consumers have access can afford and desire healthy, sustainable, and culturally acceptable diets. This paper argues that this should be guided by information on diets, dietary trends, consumer motives, and food environment characteristics. Transformational approaches and policies should also take into account the stage of food system development requiring different strategies to ensure healthier diets for consumers. We review current knowledge on drivers of consumer choices at the individual and food environment level with special emphasis on low- and middle income countries, discuss the converging and conflicting objectives that exist among multiple food-system actors, and argue that failure to strengthen synergies and resolve trade-offs may lead to missed opportunities and benefits, or negative unintended consequences in food system outcomes. The paper proposes a menu of promising consumer- and food-environment- oriented policy options to include in the food systems transformation agenda in order to shift LMIC consumer demand towards healthier diets in low- and middle income countries.
Abstract The food system, and those who depend on it, have been strongly but unevenly affected by COVID‐19. Overall, the impacts on food systems, poverty, and nutrition have been caused by a combination of a generalized economic recession and disruptions in agri‐food supply chains. This paper provides an overview of the contributions to this Special Issue of Agricultural Economics. The papers in this volume confirm that both income shocks and supply disruptions have affected food security and livelihoods the most where supply chains were more poorly integrated, and poverty and market informality had greater presence before COVID‐19. Yet, as the pandemic still has societies worldwide in a stranglehold, outcomes remain uncertain and reliable data are still sparsely available. This Special Issue of Agricultural Economics provides new insights of the pandemics impact on food systems, household welfare, and food security, building on both model‐based scenario analysis and new survey data. These methods have proven helpful in providing these insights amidst the unprecedented shock that the pandemic has caused to production systems and livelihoods worldwide. However, they also suffer from obvious limitations identified in this editorial overview paper and require substantial improvement in order to understand the changes in economic behavior and functioning of food supply chains induced by the pandemic.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has emerged as an exogenous shock to global food supply chains, which foreshadows worrying impacts on Africa’s food security and nutrition, and threaten to derail national and global efforts to end hunger and poverty and to achieve sustainable development goals on the continent. This article provides an early assessment of the implications of the invasion for Africa’s food supply chains and food security. Two particularly aggravating factors, which explain the current and likely future impact of the invasion on Africa’s food security are discussed: the timing of the invasion and the two parties involved in the conflict. The article underlines four major channels by which the invasion disrupts African food supply chains: energy markets and shipping routes, availability and prices of agricultural production inputs, domestic food price inflation, and trade sanctions and other financial measures. In addition, the article considers the risk of social and political unrest that disruption to food supply chains and spikes in domestic food prices may inflame. Finally, the paper briefly discusses options for short- and long-term responses by African governments and their development partners to mitigate the repercussions of the conflict on food supply chains, boost food and nutrition security, and build resilience of Africa’s food systems.
EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW), Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez
et al.
Abstract Vector or reservoir species of three diseases of crustaceans listed in the Animal Health Law were identified based on evidence generated through an extensive literature review, to support a possible updating of Regulation (EU) 2018/1882. Crustacean species on or in which Taura syndrome virus (TSV), Yellow head virus (YHV) or White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) were identified, in the field or during experiments, were classified as reservoir species with different levels of certainty depending on the diagnostic tests used. Where experimental evidence indicated transmission of the pathogen from a studied species to another known susceptible species, the studied species was classified as vector species. Although the quantification of the risk of spread of the pathogens by the vectors or reservoir species was not part of the terms of reference, such risks do exist for the vector species, since transmission from infected vector species to susceptible species was proven. Where evidence for transmission from infected crustaceans was not found, these were defined as reservoirs. Nonetheless, the risk of the spread of the pathogens from infected reservoir species cannot be excluded. Evidence identifying conditions that may prevent transmission by vectors during transport was collected from scientific literature. It was concluded that it is very likely to almost certain (90–100%) that WSSV, TSV and YHV will remain infective at any possible transport condition. Therefore, vector or reservoir species that may have been exposed to these pathogens in an affected area in the wild or aquaculture establishments or by water supply can possibly transmit WSSV, TSV and YHV.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Chemical technology
EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), Vasileios Bampidis, Giovanna Azimonti
et al.
Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of 27 compounds to provide a milky‐vanilla flavour belonging to different chemical groups, when used as sensory additives in feed for all animal species. Fifteen of the 27 compounds were tested in tolerance studies in chickens for fattening, piglets and cattle for fattening. No adverse effects were observed in the tolerance studies at 10‐fold the intended level. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the 15 tested compounds were safe for these species at the proposed use level and conclusions were extrapolated to all animal species. For the remaining 12 compounds, read‐across from structurally similar compounds tested in tolerance trials and belonging to the same chemical group was applied. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that these 12 compounds were safe for all animal species at the proposed use level. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of the 27 compounds up to the highest levels considered safe for target animals. No new data were submitted on the safety for the user that would allow the FEEDAP Panel to change its previous conclusion for 5‐methylhept‐2‐en‐4‐one [07.139], 5‐methylfurfural [13.001] and 4‐phenylbut‐3‐en‐2‐one [07.024]. The concentrations considered safe for the target species are unlikely to have detrimental effects on the environment for all the compounds.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Chemical technology