Safety and Quality of Fish and Game Meats Prepared by First Nations Communities in British Columbia, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 896-901
Author(s):  
PATRICIA HINGSTON ◽  
KEELY JOHNSON ◽  
DAVID KITTS ◽  
SIYUN WANG
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Food Security ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Food Preservation ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Preservation Methods

ABSTRACT Canadian First Nations communities rely on traditional preservation methods such as the smoking, drying, and canning of fish and game meats to ensure long-term food security. Unlike commercial food production, there are no recognized official standards for these methods, rendering their efficacy in producing microbiologically safe foods relatively unknown. In this study, 81 fresh or processed fish and game samples obtained from four British Columbia First Nations communities were analyzed for quality indicator microbes, foodborne pathogens, and mineral levels. Aerobic counts, coliforms (CC), Escherichia coli (EC), lactic acid bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (STA), and yeast and molds (YM) were enumerated using the TEMPO, whereas the presence of E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella were detected using the VIDAS immunoassay system. The opportunistic pathogens Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were additionally detected using culture methods with subsequent PCR confirmation, and minerals (Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn) were detected using mass spectrometry. With the exception of STA, microbial loads were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in processed fish and meat samples compared with unprocessed samples, and game samples contained higher microbial levels than fish; however, differences were only significant (P < 0.05) for coliforms, E. coli, and STA. E. coli O157:H7 was detected in one smoked moose sample, and E. faecalis and E. faecium were isolated from 21 and 2 samples, respectively. Although smoked samples contained significantly higher Na levels, they were effective in reducing microbial levels. These results indicate that current food preservation methods practiced by British Columbia First Nations communities are infrequently effective at reducing microbial populations, and in many cases, resulted in increased microbial loads. More efforts should be made to improve the dissemination of safe food handling and processing knowledge to ensure long-term food security and well-being. HIGHLIGHTS

Multiplex Quantitative PCR Assays for the Detection and Quantification of the Six Major Non-O157 Escherichia coli Serogroups in Cattle Feces†

2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. SHRIDHAR ◽  
L. W. NOLL ◽  
X. SHI ◽  
B. AN ◽  
N. CERNICCHIARO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Cattle Feces ◽  
Before And After

ABSTRACT Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, called non-O157 STEC, are important foodborne pathogens. Cattle, a major reservoir, harbor the organisms in the hindgut and shed them in the feces. Although limited data exist on fecal shedding, concentrations of non-O157 STEC in feces have not been reported. The objectives of our study were (i) to develop and validate two multiplex quantitative PCR (mqPCR) assays, targeting O-antigen genes of O26, O103, and O111 (mqPCR-1) and O45, O121, and O145 (mqPCR-2); (ii) to utilize the two assays, together with a previously developed four-plex qPCR assay (mqPCR-3) targeting the O157 antigen and three virulence genes (stx1, stx2, and eae), to quantify seven serogroups and three virulence genes in cattle feces; and (iii) to compare the three mqPCR assays to a 10-plex conventional PCR (cPCR) targeting seven serogroups and three virulence genes and culture methods to detect seven E. coli serogroups in cattle feces. The two mqPCR assays (1 and 2) were shown to be specific to the target genes, and the detection limits were 4 and 2 log CFU/g of pure culture–spiked fecal samples, before and after enrichment, respectively. A total of 576 fecal samples collected from a feedlot were enriched in E. coli broth and were subjected to quantification (before enrichment) and detection (after enrichment). Of the 576 fecal samples subjected, before enrichment, to three mqPCR assays for quantification, 175 (30.4%) were quantifiable (≥4 log CFU/g) for at least one of the seven serogroups, with O157 being the most common serogroup. The three mqPCR assays detected higher proportions of postenriched fecal samples (P < 0.01) as positive for one or more serogroups compared with cPCR and culture methods. This is the first study to assess the applicability of qPCR assays to detect and quantify six non-O157 serogroups in cattle feces and to generate data on fecal concentration of the six serogroups.

Achieving Food Security Through Localisation, Not Aid: “De-development” and Food Sovereignty in the Palestinian Territories

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-218
Author(s):  
Yara M. Asi
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Food Aid ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Palestinian Territories ◽  
Humanitarian Crises

Food aid is a common response to the food insecurity brought by conflict and inadequate development. Yet the very well-intentioned actions that are meant to stave off immediate humanitarian crises may, in the long-term, serve as tools that promote dependence, decrease the likelihood of sustainable development, and make peace less possible. In this article, I examine food insecurity and food aid in the conflict-affected Palestinian territories. I will describe ways in which Palestinian efforts to localise food production and increase food security are actively hindered, as well as how the system of humanitarian food assistance meant to fill these gaps may in fact perpetuate them. Finally, I discuss policy recommendations for stakeholders in the conflict that can encourage Palestinian food sovereignty in a manner that increases prospects for long-term peace and development, while providing immediate benefits for Palestinian quality of life and well-being.

scholarly journals First Nations households living on-reserve experience food insecurity: prevalence and predictors among ninety-two First Nations communities across Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 112 (S1) ◽  
pp. 52-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malek Batal ◽  
Hing Man Chan ◽  
Karen Fediuk ◽  
Amy Ing ◽  
Peter R. Berti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Barriers And Enablers ◽  
Environment Study ◽  
Households With Children

Abstract Objective To describe the prevalence of food insecurity in First Nations households across Canada while identifying barriers and enablers to traditional food (TF) consumption. Methods The First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study is a cross-Canada participatory study of on-reserve First Nations from 2008 to 2018. The Household Food Security Survey Module was used to capture income-related challenges experienced by First Nations households. Households were classified as food secure, or marginally, moderately, or severely food insecure. Barriers and enablers to TF access and use were identified describing the Indigenous experience. Results Almost half of on-reserve First Nations households were food insecure and the prevalence was higher than that for non-Indigenous households in Canada. On-reserve food insecurity prevalence was higher in western regions of Canada. First Nations households with children experienced greater food insecurity than those without children. More adults experienced severe food insecurity than children. Most adults would like to have more TF in their diet but state that factors such as financial and household constraints, industrial activities, government regulations, climate change, and fear of contamination impede greater access. Food costs were substantially higher in remote First Nations communities, but remoteness was not associated with food security in multivariable analysis. Conclusion Existing systems have been unsuccessful in curbing the food insecurity in First Nations households. Improving food security hinges on achieving Indigenous Food Sovereignty, the key to long-term conservation and stewardship of the land and the co-management of these by Indigenous Peoples. Studies investigating the feasibility of increasing TF from an Indigenous perspective are required.

Evaluation of Detection Methods for Screening Meat and Poultry Products for the Presence of Foodborne Pathogens

2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 2637-2647 ◽  
Author(s):  
VALERIE M. BOHAYCHUK ◽  
GARY E. GENSLER ◽  
ROBIN K. KING ◽  
JOHN T. WU ◽  
LYNN M. McMULLEN
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Culture Method ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Processed Meat ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Poultry Products ◽  
Conventional Culture

Rapid and molecular technologies such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), PCR, and lateral flow immunoprecipitation can reduce the time and labor involved in screening food products for the presence of pathogens. These technologies were compared with conventional culture methodology for the detection of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated in raw and processed meat and poultry products. Recommended protocols were modified so that the same enrichment broths used in the culture methods were also used in the ELISA, PCR, and lateral flow immunoprecipitation assays. The percent agreement between the rapid technologies and culture methods ranged from 80 to 100% depending on the pathogen detected and the method used. ELISA, PCR, and lateral flow immunoprecipitation all performed well, with no statistical difference, compared with the culture method for the detection of E. coli O157:H7. ELISA performed better for the detection of Salmonella, with sensitivity and specificity rates of 100%. PCR performed better for the detection of Campylobacter jejuni, with 100% agreement to the culture method. PCR was highly sensitive for the detection of all the foodborne pathogens tested except Listeria monocytogenes. Although the lateral flow immunoprecipitation tests were statistically different from the culture methods for Salmonella and Listeria because of false-positive results, the tests did not produce any false negatives, indicating that this method would be suitable for screening meat and poultry products for these pathogens.

scholarly journals Analysis of Fish Commonly Sold in Local Supermarkets Reveals the Presence of Pathogenic and Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Communities

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 117863611878692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ama Okyere ◽  
Dayna Bishoff ◽  
Micah O Oyaro ◽  
Nadim J Ajami ◽  
Charles Darkoh
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Fish Samples ◽  
And Staphylococcus Aureus

Fish has been an important source of proteins, essential vitamins, and low saturated fats for centuries. However, improperly handled fish can expose consumers to infectious bacteria, including difficult to treat multidrug-resistant pathogens. With the goal to investigate the existence of disease-causing and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, we examined bacterial communities present on various types of fish purchased from supermarkets in Houston, Texas, USA. The bacterial communities were characterized by selective phenotypic culture methods, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The results revealed the presence of different bacterial communities on the fish samples examined. The bacterial communities were not significantly different between the supermarkets sampled. The following presumptive human pathogens were isolated on the fish samples: Escherichia coli (67%), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (31%), Shigella and Salmonella species (28%), Listeria species (29%), and Staphylococcus aureus (28%). Drug sensitivity assays showed resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and vancomycin. Out of a total of 99 E. coli samples tested, 41.4% were resistant to ciprofloxacin, whereas 33.3% were resistant to gentamicin. Of the total of 31 S. aureus isolates tested, 87% were resistant to ciprofloxacin, whereas 61.3% were resistant to vancomycin. Moreover, some of the E. coli strains were resistant to both ciprofloxacin and gentamicin (28%), whereas 49% of the S. aureus isolates were resistant to both ciprofloxacin and vancomycin. These results highlight the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant foodborne pathogens on fish purchased from the supermarkets and underscore the risk associated with improper handling of fish.

scholarly journals Exploring homelessness and Indigenous food Systems in northern British Columbia

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-179
Author(s):  
Julia Russell ◽  
Margot W. Parkes
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Ancestry ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Case Study Methodology

People experiencing homelessness are known to be highly food insecure, but outside of emergency aid little is known about their overall experiences with food, particularly in Canada’s northern communities. This study examined experiences that influenced access to food for people experiencing homelessness in a small city in northern British Columbia. Early findings underscored the importance of the impacts of colonization when seeking to understand food access in this context, and the value of lived experiences (including people with experiences of homelessness) when seeking to understand Indigenous food systems and food sovereignty as part of a re-emerging food system. The research drew on ethnography and case study methodology with modified community mapping to explore the food systems of the participants, who identified as First Nations, Métis or had mixed Indigenous and European ancestry. A focus group and subsequent interviews revealed a dynamic and complex food system. The flexible research design enabled participants to creatively express the food-related issues, challenges and successes most pertinent to their lives. Key food-related themes were social connections, as well as connections to the land and to culture. Participants’ experiences, actions and desires regarding food, health and well-being highlighted Indigenous food sovereignty as an overarching concept which offers an adaptable, holistic approach that can accommodate complexity. It is a valuable direction for future research and practice seeking to improve food security and health.

To log or not to log? How forestry fits with the goals of First Nations in British Columbia

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 639-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Nikolakis ◽  
Harry Nelson
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Effective Governance ◽  
Forest Tenure ◽  
Expected Benefits ◽  
The Government ◽  
Forest Values ◽  
The Individual

Commercial forestry has played an important role in the Canadian economy. Yet, First Nations (FNs) communities have not shared equitably in the benefits. Since 2002, the government of British Columbia (BC) has actively sought to address this inequity by increasing the volume of forest harvesting tenures to FNs. The rationale is that rights to harvest will also enhance economic and then social outcomes, as well as address broader legal and political disputes. However, whether these rights can translate into the expected benefits has received little attention. This paper seeks to help address this knowledge gap by interviewing FNs experts and forestry professionals in BC to understand the long-term goals of FNs in forestry, to strategically evaluate how (and if) opportunities from forestry arise, and to identify institutional factors that influence successful participation in forestry. What we found is that forest tenure can promote economic outcomes, but it often comes at the expense of other intrinsic forest values. We conclude that a rights-based approach alone will not achieve the diverse outcomes related to forestry without effective governance by FNs to evaluate and capitalize on the opportunity in ways that are legitimate to the individual community’s values.

scholarly journals A. Amarender Reddy, Sandra Ricart and Tim Cadman (2020)TRIBAL AND NON-TRIBAL FARMERS’ LAND RIGHTS AND FOOD SECURITY PROMOTION IN TELANGANA, SOUTH ASIA RESEARCH Vol. 40(1): 75–93

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Amarender Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Agricultural Productivity ◽  
Land Rights ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Private Institutions ◽  
The Status ◽  
Tribal Farmers

This article examines and compares the status of landrights and their impacts on agricultural productivity, food security and well-being in a set of tribal and non-tribal villages in Telangana. Based on an intensive field survey, the research confirms that tribals without formal land rights remain largely unable to benefit from government support and access to private institutions in terms ofgetting credit and farm extension, whereas in non-tribal villages, government organisations are pro-active in providing such support. These findings confirm the need to increase the effectiveness of land rights and title documentation in India’s tribal villages to protectlocal people’s investments in land, enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen the long-term effectiveness of government programmes, which include avoidance of migration to the big cities.

scholarly journals The Crossroads of Ecotourism Dependency, Food Security and a Global Pandemic in Galápagos, Ecuador

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13094
Author(s):  
Adam Burke
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Security Measures

International esteem for Galápagos’ natural wonders and the democratization of travel have contributed to a 300% increase in annual tourist entries to the archipelago from 2000 (68,989) to 2018 (275,817). The attendant spike in tourism-related anthropogenic impact coupled with deficient infrastructure development has put the archipelago’s natural capital and carrying capacity at risk. The complex nature of Galápagos’ food insecurity is linked to the archipelago’s geographic isolation, its diminishing agricultural workforce, international tourists’ demand for recognizable food, and a lack of investment in sustainable and innovative agricultural futures. Food security is key to the long-term well-being of Galapagueños, who sustain Galápagos’ tourism industry. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the vulnerability of human systems in Galápagos, especially the fragility of Galápagos’ ecotourism dependency. Galapagueños’ struggle to endure the tourism sector’s slow rebound following the 2020 travel restrictions points to an urgent need to implement food security measures as an indispensable component of the archipelago’s long-term sustainability plan. This article presents ethnographic data to discuss the tourism sector’s impact on local food systems, Galapagueños’ right to food sovereignty, efforts to increase agricultural production, and why strengthening institutional partnerships is vital to Galápagos’ food self-sufficiency.

scholarly journals Tribal and Non-Tribal Farmers’ Land Rights and Food Security Promotion in Telangana

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-93
Author(s):  
A. Amarender Reddy ◽  
Sandra Ricart ◽  
Tim Cadman
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Agricultural Productivity ◽  
Land Rights ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Private Institutions ◽  
The Status ◽  
Tribal Farmers

This article examines and compares the status of land rights and their impacts on agricultural productivity, food security and well-being in a set of tribal and non-tribal villages in Telangana. Based on an intensive field survey, the research confirms that tribals without formal land rights remain largely unable to benefit from government support and access to private institutions in terms of getting credit and farm extension, whereas in non-tribal villages, government organisations are pro-active in providing such support. These findings confirm the need to increase the effectiveness of land rights and title documentation in India’s tribal villages to protect local people’s investments in land, enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen the long-term effectiveness of government programmes, which include avoidance of migration to the big cities.

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