Foodborne Outbreak investigation: Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, 2021. A retrospective cohort study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND On 10 September 2021, Al-Ahsa General Health Directorate reported unexpected number of patients had presented with gastrointestinal symptoms. All the patients gave a history of sharing a common meal as they ate from dinner was served at the mother's house the day before. OBJECTIVE We investigated to verify the outbreak, determine its magnitude, identify the source and implement control measures. METHODS A retrospective cohort design was conducted. Cases were defined as any person who ate dinner at the family gathering on the 9th of September 2021 and developed any or a combination of the following symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal pain within 26 hours of food consumption. We collected information on demographics, symptoms, and food history using a semi-structured questionnaire. We reviewed hospital records for symptoms and Vital sings. We reviewed available laboratory results for cases, we conducted active case search to identify more cases. statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21.0. RESULTS Twenty subjects were defined as cases (74%) and seven as non-cases (26%). among cases, 16 were females (80%), and 4 were males (20%). The ages ranged between 2–70 years. Among cases (59.3%) had vomiting, (59.3%) had a fever, (48.1%) developed diarrhea, (25%) abdominal pain. The incubation period ranged from 10-26 hours (mean 17.8). The relative risks and p- value were calculated for food items to assess the association between consumption of individual food items and subsequent illness. Among 8 food items consumed, red pasta with chicken (Relative Risk RR= 3.14, 95% CI = 3.2-424.6) and pizza (RR= 1.73, 95% CI = 1.74-42.2) were significantly associated with illness. CONCLUSIONS According to the epidemiological investigation, symptoms, incubation period, and laboratory results there might be some differential diagnosis, but we were unable to more definitively identify the source of the outbreak. We recommend more education to the households about food safety

Protective Roles of Some Leafy and Non-leafy Vegetables against the Severity of Arsenic-induced Skin Lesions among Women Living in Rural Bangladesh: A Case Control Study

Arsenicosis is common among villagers as they drink more contaminatedwater since the arsenic-crisis in Bangladesh. Supplementation of vitamins and micronutrients in counteracting arsenic toxicity has been proved for arsenic treatment. This study was intended to assess protective and beneficial roles of some commonly eaten vegetables on the development and severity of arsenicinduced skin lesions. A case-control study among (N=122) adult rural-women (62 cases had various forms of arsenical skin-lesions e.g. melanosis/keratosis/ mixed-lesions and 60 sex-age-matched healthy-controls) was conducted in Shaharstee Upazilla of Chandpur district, Bangladesh. Socio-demographic data recorded in a pre-tested-questionnaire, ‘per-day vegetables ingestion’ of cases and controls were measured qualitative and quantitatively (24-hour recall-methods, food-frequency/week and food history-record/week). Multiple logistic regression/MLR analyses were performed to find out protective roles of some dietary leafy-vegetables/LVs and non-leafy vegetables/NLVs on arsenicosis and their influences on the degree of severity of arsenicosis also determined. Abstinence from taking some LVs/NLVs among cases than controls is associated with increased risk for arsenicosis (P<0.05). Amongst all most-frequently eaten vegetables (n=17) per day Momordica diocia has the highest skin protective role on arsenicosis [Adjusted odds ratio/AOR 8.2, 95% CI (2.11-31.9), P=<0.01], followed by Ipomoea acquatica (AOR:7.3), Basella alba (AOR:6.2), Solanum tuberosum (AOR:4.0), Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis (AOR:3.2), Trichosanthes anguina (AOR:1.2) and Abelmoschus esculentus (AOR:1.2). Moreover, severe skin lesion was observed as compared to non-severe cases (mild/moderate) for less intake frequencies of vegetables. This study outlined that commonly eaten vegetables have protective and beneficial roles on arsenic-induced skin lesions. Large samples longitudinal study of this important field of therapeutic-intervention is warranted

Examining child obesity risk level using fuzzy inference system

The doctor will determine the risk level of childhood obesity by using standard calculations, namely measuring the child's weight and height, and many other factors. Then the doctor will calculate the child's body mass index (BMI). The results of calculations made by the doctor will be compared with standard/normal values set by FAO/WHO, to obtain the level of risk of obesity in children. This study aims to analyze the risk level of obesity in children using the Sugeno method of Fuzzy Inference system, using the trapezoidal membership function and involving six input variables such as exercise habits, consumption of fast food, history of obesity of parents, and others. The application of the fuzzy inference system Sugeno method can help doctors to analyze the risk level of childhood obesity quickly and accurately with an accuracy rate of 85%. The results of the implementation of the Sugeno method of Fuzzy Inference system showed that out of 140 children who were the object of the study, 119 children received a diagnosis of the level of risk of obesity which was the same as the diagnosis made by a doctor.

Analysis of the health effects of the transition of traditional Chinese food on the emergence of nontraditional eating behaviors

Background Traditional Chinese food has been believed to be closely associated with affecting salubrious health outcomes, enhancing longevity, and interoperating with traditional Chinese medicine. Over the past several decades, traditional Chinese food has been going through significant evolution and qualitative transition of nontraditional eating behaviors. This food transition and eating pattern transformation are propelled by China’s vast population size, rapid socioeconomic development, lifestyle changes, and global influence. Inevitably, these dietary shifts are having a considerable impact not only on public health in China but also globally. Purpose The purpose of the present study is to examine the socioeconomic and health effects of the shift from consuming traditional Chinese food into increasingly consuming Western-style processed foods, fast foods, saturated fats, snacks, sugary beverages, and eating out more often than the traditional home cooking. This study also investigates the prevalence, health effects, and sociodemographic implications of food transition and adopting Western-style eating patterns. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of primary data collected from 1292 adult male and female participants was performed. Participants responded to a cross-sectional self-administered paper-and-pencil-based food history and beverage intake questionnaire. Chi-square analyses were employed to analyze data obtained from the nonparametric variables, whereas t tests were performed to analyze data obtained from the parametric variables. Results There were significant differences in snack food shopping distributions between gender and marital status factors. Females were more likely to purchase more snacks than males, whereas singles were more likely to purchase more snacks than married. Pooled data suggest that 79.67% of the respondents consumed fast food with wide-ranging frequencies. There were significant differences between water and all other typical drinks, as water recorded the highest consumption rate by 65.31%. There were significant differences between the three meal-eating locations, as 48.45% of the respondents were more likely to consume most of their daily meals at home, whereas, combined, 51.55% were more likely to consume most of their daily meals out-of-home. Baking food scored 77.94% compared with all other food preparation methods. Overall healthy eating behaviors results indicated that 49.67% of the respondents consumed a healthy diet most of the time, whereas combined, 50.33% either consumed a healthy diet sometimes or not at all. Conclusions Traditional Chinese eating practices have been transitioning into nontraditional eating behaviors that may be associated with a multitude of chronic non-communicable diseases and high mortality rates. As these rates have been projected to continue rising, there is a need to focus on introducing public health promotion policies, including health education and lifestyle-enhancing initiatives aimed at promoting nutritive balance and adopting healthier eating behaviors. These policies can be tailored to support the most affected groups among the lower- and middle-income Chinese, as well as similar populations in developing countries.

Food History and Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Any account of women and food history in sub-Saharan Africa must be complicated by two main factors: first, the multitude and complexity of African societies and their interactions with the different colonial powers over five centuries, and, second, by an underestimation of the importance of women’s activities by researchers imbued with colonial patriarchal ideologies. In prehistoric and precolonial times, only glimpses of women’s roles in food production and gathering can be seen, drawing on evidence from historical linguistics, ethnography, anthropology, and archaeology. What evidence there is suggests that women’s participation in these tasks was important. The written account of Ibn Battutah and the oral epic of Sundiata provide some information about what was eaten and Sundiata does point to women’s major role in growing food and in cooking. During the colonial period, from about 1500 to the 1960s, many accounts from different parts of sub-Saharan Africa stress how women played a dominant part in the farming, processing, preparation, and cooking of food. There was a varied and often complex division of labor between men and women. Instead of the more rigid gendered private/public divide often seen in the West, women in Africa have engaged in wider roles in the public sphere, for example, in the processing of food for sale. There are some indications that women’s work was changed by the introduction of new crops from Asia and the Americas. Colonial governments favored men working on cash crops so that women focused even more on the provision of food for the family. Women also showed great adaptability in assessing and using new technologies such as peanut processing machines. Cooking has remained predominantly a woman’s occupation in sub-Saharan Africa and a divide between a “high” cuisine, mainly in the hands of men outside Africa, and a “low” or humble cuisine, has not developed. Cookery books are very useful sources for evidence of the history of women’s domestic role. Those published for European settler wives in the colonial period were focused on the housewife rooted in the home and this ideology of domesticity can be found in the cookery books of postcolonial Africa. After independence, the ruling elites of African nations set about constructing discourses of national identity, flags and anthems particular to each nation, and women have contributed to this nation-building by assembling national cuisines. Since the 1980s, an epidemic of obesity has occurred in many African urban areas, with associated chronic disease, which women have suffered more than men. An ideal image of a plumper body, along with the introduction of “fast food,” has contributed to this situation. Women have also been disadvantaged by cultural food taboos in which certain foods are prohibited to them.

Risk of Factor on History Disease with Nutritional Status on Toddlers Aged 24-59 Months in Pidie Jaya District

ABSTRACTThe nutritional problem has happened in Indonesia. One of them is toddler malnutrition. Children who are malnourished have a low immune system. Thus it is susceptible to infectious diseases. Factors that can prevent nutritional problems in toddlers include the age of weaning and the toddler's immune system. Breastfeeding until the two-years-old, weaning, and body resistance will also affect the toddler's nutritional status. The research aimed to identify the risk factors of disease history on toddler stunting's nutritional status in Pidie Jaya District. The research's implementation was descriptive-analytic with a cross-sectional research design with a sample size of 34 people—data on weaning patterns and disease history obtained through interviews with questionnaires. Anthropometry measurements obtained the nutritional status data of toddlers. Analysis used chi-square test. Based on the results, most of the 14.7% of toddlers had a history of fever, 52.95% of unwilling toddlers. Toddlers with well nutritional status with weight-for-age index 64.7%, skinny nutritional status with weight-for-height index 55.9%, short nutritional status with height-for-age 52.9%, and regular dietary status with BMI-for age index 73.5%. Conclusion there was an influence of children's history disease in the last three months on nutritional status in the index height-for-age P-value = <0.015 (<0.05) with OR 6.0, but there was no influence of sick history on nutritional status with index weight-for-age, weight-for-age and BMI-for-age (P-value >0.05). It was important for the mother to implement a healthy lifestyle, environmental hygiene, and hygiene of the food history to become better.

Novel Food legislation and consumer acceptance - importance for the food industry

Novel foods are defined as food and food ingredients that have not been used to any significant extent in a particular country. This paper offers a brief overview of the current novel food legislation in European Union, Great Britain, USA, Australia and New Zealand, Canada and China. Prior to sale, food business operators (manufacturers or importers) are required, under different regulations and procedures, to submit information to Food Safety Authority about the product in question for a safety assessment. The approaches and specific information used to assess the safety of novel foods are outlined in national Guidelines. Generally, applicant should provide a detailed description of the novel food (identity of the novel food, production process, compositional data, proposed uses and use levels and anticipated intake of the novel food, history of use of the novel food and/or of its source, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, nutritional information, toxicological information and allergenicity) for the safety assessment and market approval of a novel food.

Effect Analysis of Protein Intake of Pedicab Driver in Surabaya

Approximately 64 million people suffer from copd and 3 million people die from copd. No exception to pedicab rickshaw drivers, which is one job that has a high risk of copd. From workplace factors that are always exposed to vehicle fumes and dust pollution and also lifestyles such as smoking habits. Pedal rickshaw drivers are also classified as low economic groups, so their daily food intake is sometimes insufficient. Thus making daily protein intake also reduced, protein intake is very important in copd disease. Where protein can improve the performance of respiratory muscles and improve immune function. This study uses a 24-hour recall method by recording the respondent's food history in the last 24 hours to see how daily food protein intake. In this study lung function measurements were also performed using spirometry where the normal value is if fev1 / fvc> 70%. Obtained a total of 124 respondents with a total of 62 in the lung function disorder group and 62 non-impaired groups of respondents aged an average of 55-64 years with a history of working as a pedicab driver for approximately 5 years. In the different test the asymp sig has a result of 0.000 where the conclusions in this study are as follows: there is a significant difference between daily food protein intake in the pedicab rickshaw driver group with impaired pulmonary function and non pedestrian pedicab driver.