Development of a Latin American Native Food Composition Database

Food composition data have a fundamental function in studies on nutrition, health, and agriculture, among others. Many factors affect the nutrient content of food, and for this reason, it is essential to have updated and reliable data on the composition of the main foods consumed. The objective of this work was to develop a food composition database (FCDB) that compiles the composition of native foods of Latin America, mainly grains/seeds, tubers, and derivatives. An interdisciplinary work group of compilers was formed. A search of various sources was carried out (scientific publications, laboratory and technical reports, and theses), and a total of 78 publications were collected. For compilation, a form composed of eight worksheets was prepared. The initial sheet contains general data and food identification; the remaining ones contain information on the proximal composition, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Each section has an evaluation of data quality, which determines whether it will be included in the FCDB or not. After an exhaustive analysis based on compliance with the minimum requirements previously established, 58 publications and laboratory reports were selected. The main reason for rejection was the lack of moisture information (60%), followed by low data quality (30%). Information is available on the composition of at least 26 grains and derived products (i.e., quinoa, amaranth, and kañiwa) and five tubers and roots (Andean potatoes and ocas), which are currently being uploaded to the website (http://insibio.org.ar, accessed on 16 December 2021) for user availability. This database will provide information on the composition of regional foods generated and compiled using international standards.

DEVELOPMENT OF LIMÃO-CRAVO (Citrus limonial Osbeck) CURD: VIABILITY ANALYSIS THROUGH SENSORY EVALUATION

Lemon curd is a traditional English pastry cream originally made with lemon juice. This article deals with the proposal to replace, in its preparation, with another species of fruit that best represents the native foods of Brazil and reveals itself as a relevant alternative for the consumer market. The sensorial analysis was used in the process to aid the development of this new product from the adaptation of a traditional recipe, using the affective test of preferential ordering. This preliminary test was applied using three samples prepared with different proportions of sugar from the original formulation. These samples were coded and submitted to the analysis of 25 adult judges, students of the discipline NUTA174 - Sensorial Analysis, of the Federal University of Bahia, who ordered decreasingly according to their individual preferences. The objective of the test was to determine which proportion of sugar would be the most adequate for a better acceptance of the product by consumers, given the formula to be used in the manufacture of the new version of the lemon curd product, made from limão-cravo. After the submission of the elaborated formulations to the affective ordering test, it was concluded that the sample with intermediate sugar content was liked by most of the judges, showing that it has the most appropriate formulation for the product launch to the consumer market.

Reintroduction of the Golden Conure (Guaruba guarouba) in Northern Brazil: Establishing a Population in a Protected Area

Brazil has the highest number of parrots in the world and the greatest number of threatened species. The Golden Conure is endemic to the Brazilian Amazon forest and it is currently considered as threatened by extinction, although it is fairly common in captivity. Here we report the first reintroduction of this species. The birds were released in an urban park in Belem, capital of Para State, where the species was extinct more than a century ago. Birds were trained to recognize and consume local food and to avoid predators. After the soft-release, with food supplementation and using nest boxes, we recorded breeding activity in the wild. The main challenges before the release were the territorial disputes within the aviary and the predation by boa snakes. During the post-release monitoring the difficulties were the fast dispersion of some individuals and the dangers posed by anthropic elements such as power lines that caused some fatalities. Released birds were very successful at finding and consuming native foods, evading predators, and one pair reproduced successfully. Monitoring continues and further releases are programmed to establish an ecologically viable population.

Certification marks for Australian native foods: A proposal for Indigenous ownership of intellectual property

Recently, interest in ‘bush tucker’ foods has surged. Indigenous Australians should be empowered to determine how their knowledge is used when these products are commercialised. To exercise control over the development of the native foods industry, Indigenous Australians could establish a certification regime to ensure that their knowledge is appropriately converted into commercial products. This could be done through the strategic use of intellectual property, specifically through certification trade marks. Creating a certification mark for native foods could represent an important part of a decolonial policy agenda aimed at reimagining the regulation of native biodiversity and cultural knowledge in Australia.

Critical vulnerabilities of nutrient content claims under U.S. FDA per serving size, CAC per 100 g or mL, CAC per serving size, and CAC per 100 kcal and the nutrient content of foods based on the proposed method

We revealed critical vulnerabilities of nutrient content claims under FDA per serving size (serving), CAC per 100 g or mL, CAC per serving, and CAC per 100 kcal and developed the proposed method to remove all vulnerabilities. We calculated the nutrient content of foods based on nutrient content claims under the proposed method. Then, we determined nutrient content claims for foods and food groups, and specified similarities between nutrient content claims in food groups. Also, we ranked foods and food groups based on met claims of the nutrient content. Nutrient content claims based on the proposed method, including free, very low, low, source, and high claims were determined in 8596 food items, 29 nutrients, and 25 food groups of the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, release 28. Source and high claims are used for positive nutrients (including vitamins, minerals except sodium, protein, and dietary fiber). The very low claim is used for sodium, and free and low claims are used for cholesterol, energy, saturated fat, sodium, and total fat (also known as negative nutrients). In general, critical vulnerabilities of nutrient content claims under FDA and CAC can cause: (1) excessive energy intake based on FDA and CAC per serving and CAC per 100 g or mL; (2) exceeding the DV (NRV) for low nutrients under FDA per serving and CAC per 100 g or mL by consuming small amounts of foods per day; (3) the presence of nutrient free, but not low nutrient, foods based on FDA per serving and CAC per 100 g or mL; (4) the calculation of nutrient content in inappropriate amounts of foods based on FDA per serving, CAC per 100 g or mL, CAC per 100 kcal, and CAC per serving; and (5) determination of energy from total fat and saturated fat for relevant claims in inappropriate portions based on FDA per serving and CAC per 100 g or mL. Breakfast cereals, baby foods, pork products, lamb, veal, and game products, poultry products, and beef products had the highest average of scores for source and high nutrients. Restaurant foods, fast foods, and sausages and luncheon meats had the lowest average of scores for free, very low, and low nutrients. Nutrient source or high nutrient foods for all 24 positive nutrients were found in seven food groups (American Indian/Alaska Native foods; baby foods; beverages; dairy and egg products; legumes and legume products; meals, entrees, and side dishes; vegetables and vegetable products). There were very few source and high foods for potassium and vitamin D. Also, there were very few energy free foods.

The 1840 Western Port journey and Aboriginal fire history in the grassy ecosystems of lowland, mesic south-eastern Australia

The historic influence of human fire and the role of ‘top-down’ vs ‘bottom-up’ drivers on ecosystems globally is highly contested, and our knowledge of regime diversity is poor. This paper uses an early European account as a case study to describe Aboriginal fire history in south-eastern Australia based on links between fire and: grasslands, native foods and culture. The route and observations detailed in Assistant Protector William Thomas’ 1840 account of a journey led by Aborigines to Western Port, Victoria, were overlayed with grass-tree boundaries compiled from historic plans. The narrative provides direct evidence of up to moderate-scale and intensity burns (with minimal fine-scale patchiness), undertaken in the height of the dry season, opportunistically linked to rainfall. The fires targeted open grassy ‘plains’ to maintain and access preferred hunter-gathering grounds. A synthesis of the earliest records supports high frequency anthropogenic burning maintaining alternative vegetation states with dynamic boundaries on elevated alluvial plains and, in places, adjoining swamps. The narrative represents an important primary source for studying traditional society, including the description of a local historic fire regime (‘koyuga burning’). Establishing such a fire regime ‘benchmark’ has the potential to stimulate new interdisciplinary research around the complex processes controlling grass-tree patterns, and build confidence that fire-stick farming was potentially instrumental in grassland formation, and integral to grassland maintenance throughout this region.