From food basket to food security. The food factor in nutritional surveillance

One important indicator of nutritional surveillance is the one devoted to monitor food security. The experience toward the development of one of such indicators is presented. This includes the development of a food basket, defined as the group of foods that meet the characteristics such as is now consumed by important population segments of the community; it contributes a substantial portion of the calories and proteins purchased, and is responsible for an important proportion of the food budget. The concept implies a dynamic food basket, the quantities of which are calculated in a way that simulates the behavior of the consumer and the best nutrition knowledge. For this purpose we use linear program techniques. A measure of the risk of being unable to buy the foods needed for a family is presented, and is used as a proxy for food security risk. In the appendix, the mathematical expressions of the model used for a linear program is also presented.     

腐殖(植)酸与食品源头安全--腐殖(植)酸是构筑食品源头安全的最佳选择

腐殖（植）酸（Humic Acid，以下简称HA）是天然有机化合物。在农业应用上十分广泛，主要有土壤改良剂、肥料、农药、植物生长剂、兽药、饲料添加剂、水产养殖剂等产品。从狭义的角度说，食品生产源头指土、水、肥、药、种等主要生产环节的硬条件。HA与食品生产源头诸要素之问关系密切。HA与土壤：土壤是种植业依赖的生命基础；HA是土壤有机质中的重要组成部分，也是最活跃的部分。HA与水：水是生命之源；HA在水生体系中普遍存在，是转运大多数生命必需物质甚至毒性物质的一种非常好的工具。HA与肥料：肥料是植物的粮食；HA在改良肥料、增加肥效、提高肥料利用率、协调各种营养等方面具有非常重要的作用。HA与农药：农药是植物的保护伞；HA具有提高农药药效、降低农药毒性、保护农业环境的基本条件。HA与种苗：种苗不好，作物不保；HA是孵化种苗的“保育剂”。除土、水、肥、药、种外，HA因其具有生理活性特征，而与种植业相关的诸多因素均有良好的协同作用。在此基础上，由HA开发的农用产品，涉足改土、活水、制肥、制药、种苗处理及其他衍生制剂等6大类产品，足以构筑起立体农业的防护体系，也是构筑食品源头安全的最佳选择。     

Household food distribution behavior in periurban communities of Guatemala: lessons for food distribution programs

Do mothers of undernourished children recognize their offspring's needs? How do they feed these target children compared to other households members when food supplements are available? Which cultural principles of intra-household food distribution are associated with feeding behavior? How do household members perceive and use food supplements that are donated for undernourished target children? Answers were sought in a dietary-ethnographic study of 45 households receiving supplements for a low-weight child between one and five years, of age in two periurban low-income communities of the City of Guatemala. The central hypothesis was that we would find four cultural principles of food distribution: contributions, need, equity, and demand. The dietary survey combined direct measure and recall techniques and was done twice for all 230 individuals conforming these households. Ethnographic interviews were carried out with mothers of all target children. T-tests determined the relation between food distribution behavior and cultural rules. Findings revealed that the cultural principles of contributions, needs, and demand are present, but instead of the equity principle, we found one of equality. In the great majority of the feeding events observed, the child's mother prepares and distributes the food. The target child does not receive preferential treatment in the intra-household distribution of food supplements and other foodstuffs. Donated milk is destined principally for the children in the household; all other supplements are distributed among all members. Adult males are favored in the distribution of kcal at regular mealtimes. Children are favored in the distribution of kcal when total daily consumption is calculated. There are significant associations between the expressions of the cultural principle favoring equal distribution and that of contribution which favors adult men, and actual food distribution behavior. These principles seem to operate at formal meal events only. It was found that feeding behavior between meals (snacks, nibbling, etc.) is not subject to these salient principles and tends to compensate those household members who are not given preferential treatment in food distribution at formal mealtimes.     

为人民提供安全食品--北京食品安全宣言(2005)

“国以民为本，民以食为天，食以安为先。”食品安全问题是事关国计民生和人们身体健康的重大问题。随着我国经济社会的发展，食品安全在继续重视粮食数量安全的同时，其质量安全问题已日益凸现出来。种植养殖、生产加工、市场流通、餐饮消费等方面存在的问题还相当突出，食源性疾病数量不断上升，恶性食品污染事件接二连三，     

Factors associated with household food security of participants of the MANA food supplement program in Colombia

The objective of this study was to explore demographic and economic characteristics associated with household food security of 2,784 low-income households with pre-school aged children receiving food supplements from the Colombian Plan for Improving Food and Nutrition in Antioquia - MANA (Mejoramiento Alimentario y Nutricional de Antioquia) in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia. Included in the study was a 12-item household food security survey was collected from a cross-sectional, stratified random sample of MANA participants in which households were characterized as food secure, mildly food insecure, moderately food insecure, and severely food insecure. It was hypothesized that household food security status would be strongly associated with demographic characteristics, food expenditure variables, and food supplement consumption by children in MANA. Food insecure households were characterized by more members, older parents, and lower income (p < 0.0001). Rural residence and female head of households had higher rates of food insecurity (p < 0.01). Food insecure households had the lowest monthly expenditures food (p < 0.0001). Severely food insecure households saved the highest percentage of per capita food expenditure from consuming MANA supplements (p < 0.0001), similarly, MANA food supplement intakes were greatest in households reporting the most food insecurity (p < 0.001). The results of this study are important to describe characteristics of the population benefiting from the MANA nutrition intervention by their unique level of household food security status.     

农村水环境污染成因与防治分析

近年来,环境问题多次成为热门话题,并且受到了社会各界的广泛关注。尤其是我国在过去30年里一直以发达城市和人口分布密集城市的环境治理为主,而忽略了对农村环境的保护,新农村建设给农村带来了一定的经济发展,然而,农村水环境污染问题也越发显现出来,严重的影响了农村居民生活质量。因此,研究农村水环境污染现状和治理水污染成为农村可持续发展的重要保障。本文简要阐述了农村水环境污染的现状及其原因,并提出了一些防治措施。     

肥料和食用农产品安全的若干问题

从农业化学角度和对某些习惯思维的反思,阐述肥料对农产品产量、品质及食用安全性的影响,说明不论是化肥或有机肥,都可能在一定条件下对食用农产品的安全产生影响。因此,迫切需要出台相应的更为科学的、可操作的法规与检测体系。     

Food insecurity and household food supplies in rural Ecuador

The objective of this research is to assess the validity of a modified US Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) through its correlation with food supply and demographic factors, and its fitness using Rasch model analysis in rural Ecuador. This study examines the relationship between household food insecurity and household food supplies in 52 Ecuadorian households. The sample was drawn from four rural communities participating in the project PLAN in Cantón Quijos. Questionnaires included a modified HFSSM, a household food shelf-inventory and demographic characteristics. Multiple ANOVA analysis resulted in statistically significant inverse relationships between household food insecurity and total food supply, as well as the supply of meat, vegetables, legumes, oils, and other food products (p=0.05). Rasch model measure values on the HFSSM illustrated food insecurity at different levels of severity. The majority of the items (>75%) presented adequate infit values. This study affirms that the proposed modified HFSSM may be useful to measure food insecurity and thus be used as a tool to monitor and evaluate programs aimed at improving quantity and variety of food items in rural Ecuador.     

腐植酸有机硒肥与食品安全及食疗健康

丽对高血压、心肌病及多种癌症有防治效果，因此，硒肥是一种功能性肥料。其施用对土壤臊酶，转化酶和磷酸酶有激活作用．能减少作物体内自由基，提高抗逆性．是一种安全肥料。施用硒肥能提高作物的含硒量，其中．粮食作物含硒量增加2.352～134.0倍，以大豆和小麦含量为最高;蔬菜作物含硒量增加6.78～74.50倍．以西兰花，菜花、红萝卜和莱豆角含量最高。硒肥的施用使玉米产量提高1１．27％～26.06％．大豆产量提高9．63％～12．00％，且能改善大豆品质，异亮氨酸、甘氪酸、缬氨酸、亮氨酸和谷氟酸等含量增加4．07％～10.00％，保健功能明显增强。     

Focusing on fast food restaurants alone underestimates the relationship between neighborhood deprivation and exposure to fast food in a large rural area

Background  

Individuals and families are relying more on food prepared outside the home as a source for at-home and away-from-home consumption. Restricting the estimation of fast-food access to fast-food restaurants alone may underestimate potential spatial access to fast food.     

Changes in food availability in metropolitan Santiago Chile according to income (quintiles) 1988-1997

Changes in household food availability from 1988-1997 obtained in a representative sample of Metropolitan Santiago were assessed; and related to observed changes in the epidemiological profile. We evaluated expenditures in food and beverages from the IV and V Household Expenditure Surveys conducted every 10 years by the National Institute of Statistics to calculate the Consumer Price Index. Food items were similarly grouped and expenditures from both surveys adjusted to concordance by assigning prices according to of food; the units consumed outside and at home were determined. Food expenditures increased, leading to greater food availability in all households and income categories; the increment was largest in the poorest quintiles. Apparent consumption of processed cereals, pastries and baked goods, poultry and pork, processed dairies, beverages and juices, dressings and mayonnaise, pre cooked meals and meals consumed "out of home" increased. Fish, vegetables and fruits increased slightly with a concomitant decrease in legumes. The present dietary pattern is also characterized by a greater availability of animal food products and processed foods; increased energy density, fat and saturated fat energy, sugars and high glycemic index foods; lower in phytochemicals, antioxidants, dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. These changes are probably having a significant impact on the epidemiological and nutritional profile of the country; as manifested by an epidemic increase in obesity and chronic disease burden related to diet and physical inactivity.     

Fertilizer use in Asian agriculture: implications for sustaining food security and the environment

This paper studies the role of chemical fertilizers in sustaining the growth in foodgrain production in the major rice growing countries in Asia. The trends in fertilizer consumption are reviewed, the yield response and change in policies in the fertilizer sector and their impact on fertilizer prices are assessed and factors affecting fertilizer demand are analyzed. The implications of sustaining food security and the environment on fertilizer use are critically examined, future projections on food and fertilizer demand are made and areas of research needed to achieve the targets are suggested.     

Relation between food habits and nutritional status of preschool children in a rural community

Food habits in regard to the nutritional status of preschool children and their socioeconomic situation were analyzed in this research. The study was carried out in Cuetzalan, State of Puebla; all families were studied and, besides the presence of a preschool child in the home, both father and mother should also be living in the same house. Forty children considered as well nourished and 40 malnourished in the opposite case, were selected, taking the limits of the Gómez classification. In order to define socioeconomic differences between the two groups, the sample population was divided into different levels, with the following results. The socioeconomic level of the well-nourished children did correlate with a good living standard of their families; in the other case, families with a low socioeconomic status, presented more nutritional problems. A questionnaire was applied to every mother selected. This included two items: a) In the first case, we tried to assess the mother's attitude towards food habits and children's illnesses. b) In the second case, the mother's knowledge concerning pregnancy, breast feeding, feeding of the child during the first year of life, taboos, beliefs and other aspects which could be related to nutrition. On the whole, the main objective of this study was attained, because significant differences were found between these two groups. Firstly, a good relationship between food habits and good nutritional status of the children was found. Secondly, mother with well-nourished children had better food habits and better socioeconomic status than mothers having children with poor health status, and therefore, of a lower socioeconomic status.     

The adaptation and validation of the food security scale in a community of Caracas, Venezuela

This paper describes the process of modifying and validating a hunger index developed in the United States by Wehler et al (1992). It is part of a research whose main objective is to develop and validate a simple method that measures both quantitative (food sufficiency) and qualitative (female self-perception) dimensions of household food insecurity. In a pilot study, the original instrument was modified from a 2 point 8 item to a 4 point 12 item scale. Precision measured with Alpha Chronbach's coefficient was high (0.871) suggesting consistency in the scale's items. The instrument was applied to a sample of 238 poor and very poor households in a peri-urban barrio of Caracas. To determine overall internal validity of the scale the relationship between possible economic, social and behavioral determinants and food security level measured with the scale, was analyzed. Construct validity of the scale was established with factor and principal components analysis. Finally, with multiple regression analysis evidence is presented for overall validity of the scale. Four determinants: predictors of food sufficiency score, monthly income per capita, social class, and number of children in the household predict in the expected direction self-perceived food security level (R2 = 0.343). Results suggest that this instrument, together with an abbreviated measure of food sufficiency, based on strategic foods may be a valid, precise, and simple method for identifying and monitoring households that suffer from some degree of food insecurity in poor urban communities.     

Management strategies for reducing soil degradation through modeling in a GIS environment in northern Ethiopia catchment

Soil degradation by erosion is the most serious threat to food security in Ethiopia. Thus, effective management strategies (scenarios) that reduce soil degradation are crucial. However, the application of models such as Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) that simulate the impact of different scenarios on soil degradation by erosion in Ethiopia condition is limited. This study is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different scenarios in reducing runoff, sediment and soil nutrients losses using the SWAT model for the Mai-Negus catchment, northern Ethiopia. The highest erosion in terms of runoff, sediment yield, total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP) losses was simulated by the baseline scenario at the catchment outlet as 168 mm, 42,000 t year⁻¹, 22,400 and 1,360 kg year⁻¹, respectively. In contrast, the lowest runoff, sediment yield, TN and TP losses were simulated by the scenario that integrated land-use redesign and conservation measures (scenario 6c) at catchmen level as 50 mm, 9,215 t year⁻¹, 6,284 and 341 kg year⁻¹, respectively. These indicate that reduction of sediment, TP, TN and runoff losses by 78, 75, 72 and 70%, respectively, can be achieved by scenario 6c compared to the baseline scenario. Thus, scenario 6c appears relatively more effective as potential management strategy in reducing soil degradation than the other scenarios. This study demonstrates that SWAT model is powerful to select the most technically effective management strategies in reducing soil degradation in a catchment. However, further research is required related to the cost-benefits of such management strategies.     

Stretching the income in the demand for food and other goods in marginal urban populations in the city of Guatemala

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of changes in income and retail prices on the consumption of foods by low income groups living in Guatemala. A representative sample of 200 low-income families living in a marginal area of Guatemala City, known as "El Milagro", was studied. Of five surveys conducted, two concerned food demand exclusively. In the first one the food consumption survey used was the 24-hr recall method, and the second survey was related to income expenditures, obtaining weekly information on expenses on foods and in other items. The expenditures were utilized to estimate the elasticity of demand, including foods. Total family expenses were used as an estimation of total income. Analyses of the data were obtained by forming three income groups: families with per capita expenses below the per capita cost of the foods basket; families with per capita expenses within the cost of the food basket, and the cost of a modified food basket (all expenses); families with an income above the modified food basket. The analyzed data clearly confirmed that: a) food expenses increase less as a response to income increases than expenses for other family needs; the income elasticity for foods high in carbohydrates content is lower with respect to food of animal origin and the income elasticity of the demand for rice and wheat bread are higher in comparison to the more basic foods such as beans, maize and maize products, roots and tubers.     

INCAP'S policies and strategies for training and capacitation of human resources in food and nutrition

The activities of the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), are focused according to the present food and nutrition situation of the Central American and Panamanian population, their conditioning factors and the prevailing political, economical and social context. According to the mandate of its Directing Council, INCAP has developed teaching activities in the field of food and nutrition at the subregional level, as a priority function. This function falls within the initiative of the plan of priority needs in health, promoted by the countries that integrate the Contadora group, the Central American area Governments and PAHO/WHO. The INCAP's human resources policy is centered on formation and training, which are closely linked to aspects such as holistic planning, recruiting, utilization and evaluation of human resources according to guidelines set up by the Central American countries and PAHO/WHO, in regard to the development of human resources in health and allied fields. The document herein discussed responds to the institutional objective of possessing an explicit guide to orient INCAP's technical cooperation in the programmatic area of human resources, pointing out priorities and fundamental aspects really effective in supporting the institutional development of the countries, thus contributing to the improvement of their food and nutrition situation. The experience accumulated by the Institute and the countries, in formation and training activities oriented to benefit the communities have also been considered in the present document. Likewise, strategies that guide the present and future actions according to the reality of the subregion have also been considered.