Prevalence and determinants of dietary practices among pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia

Introduction Appropriate dietary practices in pregnancy are critical to meet the increased metabolic and physiological demands; however, information about dietary practices among pregnant women, particularly rural residents, is limited. The study aimed to assess the level of appropriate dietary practices and associated determinants among pregnant women in Haramaya District, eastern Ethiopia, 2021. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 448 pregnant women in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews by trained research assistants, using a validated frequency questionnaire. The pregnant women were labeled as “appropriate dietary practice” when they consumed at least four meals daily, had a good food variety score, high dietary diversity score, and high consumption of animal source foods during the reference period. Otherwise, they were defined as “inappropriate.” A Poisson regression model with robust variance estimation was used to investigate the association of the independent variables with the dietary practice. An adjusted prevalence ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported to show an association using a p-value < 0.05. Results The appropriate dietary practice among the study participants was 15.2% (95% CI = 12–18%). Of the respondents, 29.46, 37.5, and 24.7% had a high dietary diversity, high food variety score, and high consumption of animal source foods. The appropriate dietary practice was more prevalent among merchant women (APR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.07–4.02) and those whose husbands have at least a high school educational level (APR = 1.96; 95% CI 1.06–3.46). However, the prevalence of appropriate dietary practice was significantly lower among those who chewed khat (APR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.37–0.90) and among respondents who reported restriction of the intake of some foods (APR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.20–0.65). Conclusion We found sup-optimal appropriate dietary practice among pregnant women in this predominantly rural setting. Additionally, the lower appropriate dietary practice was observed among women who reported chewing khat and experienced restriction of dietary consumption during pregnancy. Therefore, nutrition policy programs and interventions aimed at encouraging maternal nutritional guidance and counseling are recommended.

Circularity in animal production requires a change in the EAT-Lancet diet in Europe

It is not known whether dietary guidelines proposing a limited intake of animal protein are compatible with the adoption of circular food systems. Using a resource-allocation model, we compared the effects of circularity on the supply of animal-source nutrients in Europe with the nutritional requirements of the EAT-Lancet reference diet. We found the two to be compatible in terms of total animal-source proteins but not specific animal-source foods; in particular, the EAT-Lancet guidelines recommend larger quantities of poultry meat over beef and pork, while a circular food system produces mainly milk, dairy-beef and pork. Compared with the EAT-Lancet reference diet, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by up to 31% and arable land use reduced by up to 42%. Careful consideration of the feasible substitutability between animal-source foods is needed to define potential roles of animal products in circular human diets.

Color measurement of animal source foods

Rapid and objective assessment of food color is necessary in quality control. The color evaluation of animal source foods using a computer vision system (CVS) and a traditional colorimeter is examined. With the same measurement conditions, color results deviated between these two approaches. The color returned by the CVS had a close resemblance to the perceived color of the animal source foods, whereas the colorimeter returned not typical colors. The effectiveness of the CVS is confirmed by the study results. Considering these data, it could be concluded that the colorimeter is not representative method for color analysis of animal source foods, therefore, the color read by the CVS seemed to be more similar to the real ones.

Improvement of Growth Retardation and Related Immunodeficiency by Dietary Intervention with Crackers Containing Animal Source Ingredients in Malnourished Rats

Hidden hunger is a risk factor for many health problems, including stunting, which is one of the globally prevalent signs of malnutrition. Stunting can be reduced through feeding on animal source foods. In our study, some animal source foods (egg, butter, yoghurt, and white cheese) in addition to other nutritious ingredients (wheat flour, minced fresh carrot, wheat germ, yeast, and iodine salt) were used to prepare four samples of crackers, with different taste (cumin, paprika, tomato, and cheese). The dough from all ingredients was prepared, flattened, cut then baked to prepare the crackers. These crackers were organoleptically and physically evaluated. Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid contents of the crackers’ samples were determined. The cumin-flavored crackers (the highest in TPC, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity) was evaluated for its macro-and micronutrients and studied in malnourished rats. Two groups of rats (each of 12) were fed on a balanced diet and a protein-deficient diet, respectively for 3 weeks. Six rats from each group were sacrificed and the remaining rats were fed on a balanced diet and diet supplemented with the cumin-flavored crackers, respectively for 5 weeks. The cumin-flavored crackers (100 g) contained 15.64 g protein, 231.00 mg calcium, 4.00 mg zinc, 83.75 µg iodine, arginine (16.53 mg/g protein), and lysine (19.30 mg/g protein). Malnutrition, immunodeficiency (as evidenced by a drop in cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8) and CD4/CD8 ratio), and stunting (as evidenced by a decrease in rat length, femur length, and insulin growth factor-1) were all observed in rats fed a protein-deficient diet for 3 weeks. Also, femur calcium and magnesium decreased in the malnourished rats. The dietary intervention with the cumin-flavored crackers reversed the reduction in aforementioned parameters in the malnourished rats. The cumin-flavored crackers may improve growth retardation and related immunodeficiency in previously malnourished rats.

Cross-scale trade-off analysis for sustainable development: linking future demand for animal source foods and ecosystem services provision to the SDGs

Dietary transition towards higher consumption of animal source foods (ASF) associated with higher incomes across low and middle-income countries could have negative impacts on environmental systems and their potential in the long run to provide services necessary for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this article, we integrate economic, land use allocation, and biophysical models to investigate trade-offs between the five ecosystem services and their contributions to various SDGs associated with agricultural expansion to meet future demand for ASF, using Tanzania as a case study. Our results show that under the scenario of sustainable socio-economic development, between 2010 and 2030 in Tanzania, per capita income grows by 169% and the share of population at risk of hunger declines from 34.8% to 23%. These changes can be associated on a macro-level with positive contributions to achievement of SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). To satisfy feed demand for increased livestock production domestically, an increase by 21.4% of biomass production as compared to 2010 is needed. Analysis of alternative scenarios for meeting this new demand shows potential threats on a landscape level to achieving numerous SDGs and more generally to attaining sustainable food systems. Ecosystem-based contributions primarily decline to SDGs: SDG 3 (Health), SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), SDG 13 (Climate) and SDG 15 (Terrestrial Life). We find that higher crop productivity and redesign of agro-ecosystems to increase on-farm tree cover could significantly limit these losses. Alternatively, the growing demand for ASF could be satisfied with imports, which would allow for reducing the trade-offs locally. However, this would result in at least partially only displacing ecosystem service losses to the exporting countries.

The future of animal-source food demand and supply in Africa

Demand for animal-source foods (ASF) has grown substantially in Africa over the last four decades, fueled mainly by population growth, urbanization, and modest gains in per capita incomes. Further growth over the medium and longer terms is expected as these trends in external drivers continue, with implications of this growth reflecting a multitude of economic, environmental, and public health trade-offs. This paper provides a focused, forward-looking perspective on key emerging issues around changes in ASF consumption and supply in Africa.

Macronutrient Intake in Adults Diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome: Using the Health Examinee (HEXA) Cohort

Macronutrient intake is important in the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to evaluate total energy and macronutrient intake of participants diagnosed with MetS at recruitment of the health examinees (HEXA) cohort, considering the plant and animal sources of each macronutrient. We included 130,423 participants aged 40–69 years for analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated to evaluate the intake of macronutrients stratified by gender. Energy and macronutrient intake were estimated by linking food frequency questionnaire data to the Korean food composition database, and were calculated separately for plant and animal foods. Low energy (men: OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.98; women: OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99), and fat intake (men: OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.90–0.96; women: OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.77–0.83) were observed. Only postmenopausal women had lower intake of total energy (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.97), whereas low fat intake was observed in all women (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.77–0.83). For carbohydrate intake, the OR were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.08–1.22) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.08–1.27) among women in their 50s and 60s, respectively. Protein intake was low (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86–0.95; and OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82–0.94) among women in their 50s and 60s, respectively. High intake of plant carbohydrates in women (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.12–1.20), and plant protein in both genders (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05–1.13) were observed, but low intake of total energy, fat, and animal-source carbohydrates in both genders was also observed. Fat intake was low regardless of food source. In conclusion, high consumption of plant-source macronutrients, and low consumption of animal-source macronutrients was observed in Korean adults diagnosed with MetS. Attention should be directed to plant sources of carbohydrates and proteins when designing population interventions for metabolic syndrome reduction in Korea.

Assessment of Compliance to Animal Source Foods Quality and Safety Standards in Uganda. A Case of Kampala and Mbarara Districts

Animal source foods (ASFs) can be sources of illness when poorly handled both at the farms and during processing. Efforts have been undertaken by government to promote good food standards, quality and safety but have not paid off due to limited holistic involvement of all ASFs value chain actors like the farmers, transporters, traders, and the consumers. An assessment was conducted in Kampala and Mbarara districts to determine the level of compliance to existing food control standards.The findings are to help inform policies to adapt, promote and implement standards and quality of ASF products free or with minimal contamination, services to promote local industries and protect consumers as well as facilitate access to international markets. This assessment was carried out in Kampala and Mbarara district with major objective of mapping various institutions involved in designing and implementing food control standards with the core mandate lying with Uganda National Bureau of Standards and assessing of compliance to food control standards along the ASFs value chain.The studies were conducted in Kampala, Uganda’s capital and Mbarara, the second biggest city in the country. These districts constitute the major market hub of agricultural products due to their high consumer population. The ASFs value chain assessments were conducted through workshops using focus group discussions with stakeholders in the meat, milk, poultry and fish value chains.A number of organisations along the food chain were involved in designing and implementing of food safety standards and regulations, as well as regulatory norms for setting and controlling of quality standards for animal source foods in Uganda. These included; farmers, transporters, processors, academia, researchers, trade organisations, government institutions, private organisations, international bodies and consumers’ organisations.Majority of the outlet operators had both operating certificates and health certificates, however the remaining proportion that was noncompliant is still significant considering that they still distribute ASFs products. The study also observed that most of the measures required to ensure safety of ASFs are not followed along the food chain such as; poor transportation of animals and their products and use of antibiotics in animal feeds. It was also observed that product quality and cost of the product greatly contribute to the consumers’ demand and confidence for a particular animal source product.

Wheat and White Sorghum Supernatants as Alternatives to Calotropis procera Extract in Making Cheese

Plant coagulant, animal rennet and microbial coagulant are used as milk coagulating agents resulting in different cheese products. However, emphasis has been on the use of plant coagulant as opposed to that from animal source, rennet. Alternative milk coagulants are therefore investigated instead of animal enzymes. The use of vegetable extracts as milk coagulants has evolved in soft cheese processing. This study explored the potential of plant coagulants as an ideal choice in the production of cheese. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the coagulants on the yield and proximate composition of cheese. To compare them with cheese coagulated with supernatants from fermented white sorghums (WSS) and wheat (WS) in the laboratory. The results were also compared with cheese coagulated with Calotropis procera leaf extract (CPE) in terms of yield, the percentage composition of total solids (TS), fat, protein, lactose ash and the pH of the cheeses. The same parameters were evaluated in the whey (by-product). The minerals, pH and the proximate components in WS and WSS were also compared. Maximum cheese yield was recorded at equal volumes of milk and coagulants. CPE was superior to these other two considering the constituents in all three cheeses. The chemical composition of CPE coagulant was superior to WS and WSS in terms of TS, fat, protein and ash but lower in moisture content compared with the other two. Protein content was higher in cheese prepared with CPE (22%) about six times the amount in raw milk and the least was WSS (12%). Moreover, the cheese made with CPE had the highest yield (31.76g) and differed significantly (P< 0.05) from WSS (28.87g) and WS (29.70g). Also, cheese made with WS (30.57g/ml) had the highest whey volume compared with WSS (28.11g/ml). However, increasing levels of each supernatant with a constant volume of raw milk (100ml) produced higher cheese yield at 100ml of the supernatant and 100ml of milk. Whey from WSS was the most acidic (5.85) of all the three produced but with increased acidity as the storage days increased. The study revealed that cheese with high nutritional quality can be produced with CPE, WSS and WS. The use of equal volume of coagulant (WSS or WS) to raw milk would give optimal cheese yield. This will promote the utilization of WSS and WS, which is naturally left as the waste product.