Indigenous food ingredients for complementary food formulations to combat infant malnutrition in Benin: a review

This paper reviews indigenous Beninese food resources as potential ingredients for complementary infant foods with the aim to develop affordable formulations for low‐income households in each agro‐ecological zone of the country. Potential ingredients were selected on their documented nutritional value. The selected foods encompass 347 food resources, namely 297 plant products from home gardens or collected from natural vegetation and 50 animals, either domesticated or from the wild. The compiled data reveal that the distribution of the available food resources was unbalanced between agro‐ecological zones. Only a few animal ingredients are obtainable in northern Benin. Most resources are seasonal, but their availability may be extended. A high variation was observed in energy and nutrient contents. Antinutritional factors were identified in some resources, but processing techniques were reported to reduce their presence in meals. In general, ingredients from local tree foods (Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa) were adequate as sources of nutrients for complementary infant foods. Based on this review, local foods for the development of complementary food formulas for Beninese infants and children may be selected for each agro‐ecological zone. The approach used is exemplary for other sub‐Saharan African countries in need of complementary infant foods. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

On-farm maize storage systems and rodent postharvest losses in six maize growing agro-ecological zones of Kenya

Rodents are one of the major postharvest pests that affect food security by impacting on both food availability and safety. However, knowledge of the impact of rodents in on-farm maize storage systems in Kenya is limited. A survey was conducted in 2014 to assess magnitudes of postharvest losses in on-farm maize storage systems in Kenya, and the contribution of rodents to the losses. A total of 630 farmers spread across six maize growing agro-ecological zones (AEZs) were interviewed. Insects, rodents and moulds were the main storage problems reported by farmers. Storage losses were highest in the moist transitional and moist mid-altitude zones, and lowest in the dry-transitional zone. Overall, rodents represented the second most important cause of storage losses after insects, and were ranked as the main storage problem in the lowland tropical zone, while insects were the main storage problem in the other AEZs. Where maize was stored on cobs, total farmer perceived (farmer estimation) storage weight losses were 11.1 ± 0.7 %, with rodents causing up to 43 % of these losses. Contrastingly, where maize was stored as shelled grain, the losses were 15.5 ± 0.6 % with rodents accounting for up to 30 %. Regression analysis showed that rodents contributed significantly to total storage losses (p < 0.0001), and identified rodent trapping as the main storage practice that significantly (p = 0.001) lowered the losses. Together with insecticides, rodent traps were found to significantly decrease total losses. Improved awareness and application of these practices could mitigate losses in on farm-stored maize.     

Assessment of infant exposure to food chemicals: the French Total Diet Study design

As part of the previous French Total Diet Studies (TDS) focusing on exposure to food chemicals in the population aged 3 years and older, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) launched a specific TDS on infants to complete its overall chemical food safety programme for the general population. More than 500 chemical substances were analysed in food products consumed by children under 3 years old, including nutrients, several endocrine disruptors resulting from human activities (polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins and furans, brominated flame retardants, perfluoroalkyl acids, pesticide residues, etc.) or migrating from food contact materials such as bisphenol A or phthalates, but also natural substances such as mycotoxins, phytoestrogens and steroids. To obtain a representative and general view of infant food consumption, food items were selected based on results of a national consumption survey conducted specifically on this population. Moreover, a specific study on food was conducted on 429 households to determine which home-cooking practices are employed to prepare food consumed by infants. Overall, the targeted chemical substances were analysed in more than 450 food samples, representing the purchase and home-cooking practices of over 5500 food products. Foods included common foods such as vegetables, fruit or cakes as well as specific infant foods such as infant formula or jarred baby food. The sampling plan covered over 80% of the total diet. Specificities in infant food consumption and habits were therefore considered to define this first infant TDS. This study, conducted on a large scale and focusing on a particularly sensitive population, will provide accurate information on the dietary exposure of children under 3 years to food chemicals, especially endocrine disruptors, and will be particularly useful for risk assessment analysis under the remit of ANSES’ expert committees.     

Impacts of HIV / AIDS on food consumption and wild food use in rural South Africa

HIV/AIDS can affect household food consumption in many ways, including through reductions in availability and quality of labour, reductions in earned income, and increased expenditure on medications. In rural South Africa, these negative effects can be buffered by social safety net programs provided by government and collection of wild foods. Despite some acknowledgement of the potential safety net role of wild foods, however, their contribution relative to other food sources in the context of HIV/AIDS remains underexplored. Here we report empirical findings from two rural communities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to characterise food sources, intake and calories from 68 HIV/AIDS afflicted households and 87 non-afflicted households every quarter over 12 months. Results show that diets were moderately well-balanced though limited in variety, with cereal items contributing 52 % to total calorie intake. The bulk of food consumed by households was purchased, with supplementation from own production, collected wild vegetables and collected wild fruits. Up to 20 % of respondents from both HIV/ AIDS afflicted and non-afflicted households had insufficient daily caloric intake. Multivariate analyses show that, all else equal, individuals living in households afflicted by HIV/AIDS consumed fewer calories, had less diverse diets, and were more dependent on wild foods than those living in non-afflicted households. Given the detrimental effects of HIV/AIDS on income and home production, wild foods represent a free and readily available food source for vulnerable households.     

Potential health hazards due to the occurrence of the mycotoxin tenuazonic acid in infant food

The mycotoxin tenuazonic acid (TA) was analyzed in different infant foods and beverages including tea infusions (fruit, herbal and fennel tea), puree infant food in jars (complementary food and side dishes) and infant cereals (for preparation of meals after addition of water or milk) by means of a stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA). The median content of TA in infant tea infusions (n = 12) was 2 μg/L, but values up to 20 μg/L were found in fennel tea infusions. In puree infant food in jars (n = 12), the median content of TA was 7 μg/kg, but higher values were detected in products containing tomato (25 μg/kg), banana and cherry (80 μg/kg) and sorghum (20 μg/kg). Infant cereals on the basis of wheat and/or oats, rice, spelt and barley (n = 4) did not contain TA in values higher than 30 μg/kg, but if sorghum was the major ingredient (n = 12), the mean content of TA was 550 μg/kg and the maximum level was 1,200 μg/kg. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluated the toxicological potential of TA by following the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) approach yielding a TTC value of 1,500 ng TA/kg body weight per day. Although long-term studies are needed to enlarge the database on TA contamination of sorghum-based infant food, our preliminary study points out to a tendency that the TTC value may be exceeded by infants consuming predominantly sorghum-based food. Nevertheless, further toxicity data on TA are required with high priority to assess potential health hazards.     

Potential of selected infant food formulas for production of Bacillus cereus emetic toxin, cereulide

Cereulide producing Bacillus cereus was isolated from randomly chosen commercial infant foods. The cereulide production in infant food formulas was investigated. When the reconstituted foods were inoculated with >10(5) cfu ml(-1) of cereulide producing B. cereus, 2 to 200 microg of cereulide per 100 ml of food accumulated during 24 h of non-refrigerated storage. The amount of cereulide measured in the foods by the accurate chemical assay (LC-MS) matched with that found by sperm micro assay, proving the cereulide was the sole heat stable toxin in the foods and present in its toxic form. The infant formulas containing both cereal and dairy ingredients were the most supportive for cereulide production. Cereulide accumulation was affected by the infant food composition as well as by the handling of the food. Diluting the reconstituted food with water resulted in increased toxin production expressed as mug per volume. More cereulide was accumulated when the food was incubated stationary compared with moderate shaking. The amount of cereulide accumulated within 24 h at room temperature per 100 ml of cereal and dairy or in rice-nondairy reconstituted infant formulas, inoculated with >or=10(5) cfu ml(-1) of B. cereus strain F4810/72, was higher or similar to the amounts reported for foods implicated in emetic type of food poisonings. Thus mishandling and temperature abuse of infant foods may cause food poisoning when emetic B. cereus is present.     

Iron sources used in food fortification and their changes due to food processing∗

The effect of food processing on the biological availability of iron in iron‐fortified foods is critically reviewed. Studies on changes in the chemistry of the iron in processed foods are examined. Various iron sources currently used in food fortification in the U.S. are defined with emphasis on their biological availabilities under various conditions. The availability of iron in foods depends upon numerous factors, most of which are not fully understood. A factor which is often overlooked is the interaction of the iron with the food during events such as cooking or processing. Evidence is presented of significant changes in the available iron from food due to common types of food processing. Chemical changes in the iron compounds occur which may correlate with changes in the biological availability.     

Iron sources used in food fortification and their changes due to food processing.

The effect of food processing on the biological availability of iron in iron-fortified foods is critically reviewed. Studies on changes in the chemistry of the iron in processed foods are examined. Various iron sources currently used in food fortification in the U.S. are defined with emphasis on their biological availabilities under various conditions. The availability of iron in foods depends upon numerous factors, most of which are not fully understood. A factor which is often overlooked is the interaction of the iron with the food during events such as cooking or processing. Chemical changes in the iron compounds occur which may correlate with changes in the biological availability.     

Observations of entomophagy across Benin – practices and potentials

Food security is a critical issue for many low-income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Appropriately identifying and utilising local resources can provide sustainable solutions to food security problems. Insects, which are traditionally consumed in many regions of the world, represent one such resource. Insects can be nutritionally rich and therefore could be used to address issues of malnutrition. A first step towards utilising insects as a resource is identifying which ones are traditionally consumed. We present data collected between 2005 and 2012 on insects eaten by communities across Benin, West Africa. A combination of literature research, field collections, community focus groups and targeted interviews were employed. Data on four ethnic groups is presented: the Anii, Fon, Nagot and Waama. Twenty-nine arthropods species are eaten across Benin. The predominant orders are Orthoptera (48 %) and Coleoptera (41 %). New families of edible arthropods in West Africa include: Bradyporidae (Orthoptera), Coreidae (Hemiptera), Dytiscidae (Coleoptera), Ixodidae (Acari). Insect collection is an ancestral tradition in all the described communities: however, there are considerable differences in preferences and collection methods among ethnic groups. Currently there is little valorisation of insects as a food product in Benin, in contrast to neighbouring countries. In light of considerable malnutrition in Benin among young children, promoting this tradition and implementing small scale captive rearing of selected species could improve food security.     

石家庄市市售婴幼儿食品中蜡样芽胞杆菌的监测及溶血素基因的分析

了解目前市售婴幼儿配方奶粉、谷基辅助食品样品中蜡样芽胞杆菌的污染及其毒素基因的携带情况。方法 采集石家庄市23个区县市售婴幼儿配方粉、谷基辅助食品共399份,依照国家标准 GB/T 4789.14—2003《食品卫生微生物学检验 蜡样芽胞杆菌检验》和《食源性致病菌监测工作手册》进行蜡样芽胞杆菌检测并计数,应用荧光PCR方法检测蜡样分离株的溶血素基因和非溶血素基因。结果 399份样品中蜡样芽胞杆菌检出85份,其中婴幼儿配方奶粉检出36份,检出率22.8%(36/158);谷基辅助食品检出49份,检出率20.3%(49/241)。85份阳性样品中有48份呈溶血素基因阳性,检出率56.5%,非溶血素基因均为阴性。结论 婴幼儿食品中蜡样芽胞杆菌的污染较严重,存在潜在的食品风险。分析结果可为婴幼儿食品卫生学检验标准及监督管理等方面提供参考。     

Trans fatty acid content in Malaysian supermarket foods: a field-to-laboratory approach in assessing food risk

The extent of industrial trans fatty acids (TFA) in the food supply is unknown in Malaysia, whilst TFA disclosure on food labels is not mandatory by Malaysian food standards. Supermarket foods such as dairy products, fats and oils, meat products, snack foods, soups, and confectionery are commonly cited to be major contributors of TFA in the diet. A consumer survey (n = 622) was used to develop a food listing of these ‘high risk’ foods. TFA content of high-risk foods were analysed by gas chromatography. Food samples (n = 158) were analysed and their total TFA content were compared with Malaysian Food Standards. A wide variation in TFA content within food categories was indicated. Of the foods containing TFA, many food labels did not cite TFA content or the use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO) as an ingredient. Hypothesised estimates of TFA intake from these supermarket foods in a sample day’s menu providing 2000 kcal projected a minimum intake of 0.5 g and a maximum intake of 5.2 g TFA. This study found there was no voluntary disclosure of TFA content on food labels or identifying PHVO as an ingredient. It appears that health education targeting consumers to minimise TFA consumption is required supported by mandatory PHVO disclosure on the food label.     

Organic food.

"Organic" or "organically grown" foods are commonly represented as "food grown without pesticides; grown without artificial fertilizers; grown in soil whose humus content is increased by the additions of organic matter; grown in soil whose mineral content is increased with applications of natural mineral fertilizers; has not been treated with preservatives, hormones, antibiotics etc." The substitution of "organic" for "chemical" fertilizers during the growth of plants produces no change in the nutritional or chemical properties of foods. All foods are made of "chemicals." Traces of pesticides have been reported to be present in about 20 to 30% of both "organic" and conventional foods. These traces are usually within the official tolerance levels. Such levels are set low enough to protect consumers adequately. Indeed, there is no record of a single case of injury to a consumer resulting from the application of pesticides to food crops at permitted levels.     

Organic food

“Organic” or “organically grown” foods are commonly represented as “food grown without pesticides; grown without artificial fertilizers; grown in soil whose humus content is increased by the additions of organic matter; grown in soil whose mineral content is increased with applications of natural mineral fertilizers; which has not been treated with preservatives, hormones, antibiotics, etc.” The substitution of “organic” for “chemical” fertilizers during the growth of plants produces no change in the nutritional or chemical properties of foods. All foods are made of “chemicals.” Traces of pesticides have been reported to be present in about 20 to 30% of both “organic” and conventional foods. These traces are usually within the official tolerance levels. Such levels are set low enough to protect consumers adequately. Indeed, there is no record of a single case of injury to a consumer resulting from the application of pesticides to food crops at permitted levels. There is no method for distinguishing between “organic” and conventional foods. The use of the term “organic” is a promotional device. Prices of “organic” foods tend to be higher than those of their conventional counterparts. A series of controlled tests showed that conventional foods were superior to corresponding “health foods” in terms of odor, color, texture, and flavor.     

Culture based fisheries in Asia are a strategy to augment food security

Fish account for nearly 30 % of the animal protein intake in developing countries. Until very recently the great bulk of food fish supplies were of hunted origin, although farmed supplies have been growing at a steady rate of about 6 % per year over the last two decades. It is estimated that nearly 40 million t of food fish will be required to meet the increasing demand by the year 2050. The shortfall in supplies are unlikely to be met through intensive aquaculture alone as the drain on primary resources, physical and biological, will be excessive and environmental integrity will also be at stake. On the other hand, it is estimated that there are nearly 67 million ha of small water bodies in Asia alone, that are primarily irrigational. Small water bodies are ideal for culture based fisheries (CBF) development, a form of extensive aquaculture practice based on the principle of stock and recapture, and often managed communally. Significantly higher production levels have been obtained in developing countries that have adopted CBF, such as, for example, China. If 20 % of the available area of small water bodies were mobilised for CBF in the next decade, with the aim of achieving 50 % of the mean yield attained in CBF practices in China (1746 kg/ha/yr), the food fish production in Asia alone would be increased by approximately 10.72 million t /yr. The pros and cons of adopting CBF practices to augment the global food fish supplies are discussed and the advantages of CBF over intensive aquaculture in the context of use of natural resources and maintaining environmental integrity are also dealt with. Furthermore, small water bodies suited for CBF development are often located in rural areas of developing countries where the local populations, which often tend to be impoverished compared to their urban counterparts, stand to benefit most.     

Distribution of mycotoxins and risk assessment of maize consumers in five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria

Many individuals are not only food insecure but chronically exposed to high levels of mycotoxins through their diets in many developing countries. Seventy composite samples of stored maize grains were collected from farmers’ storage structures in five agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Nigeria where maize is predominantly produced between August 2011 and February 2012. The grains were analysed for mycotoxin contamination with the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method and mycotoxin occurrence maps constructed from the database of the distribution of the toxins. A risk assessment was also carried out in order to provide information on the extent of human exposure to the toxins. Twelve regulated mycotoxins with negative economic and public health consequences were detected in the maize grains across the AEZs at concentrations exceeding the maximum allowable limits including AFM₁ that was detected for the first time in Nigerian maize. There is a high risk of contamination of the stored grains by Nigerian consumers especially in the Derived and Southern Guinea Savannas, resulting in a national burden of between 126.85 and 38,682.29 DALYs. Intervention strategies are therefore needed across the AEZs to ensure that safe and wholesome foods are made available to the populace.     

2016~2017年全国食品安全监督抽检结果分析

目的 分析我国当前食品安全的整体情况。方法 对2016~2017年全国食品安全监督抽检结果进行汇总, 分析各季度监督抽检完成情况及抽检发现的主要食品安全问题。结果 2016~2017年全国共完成3863983批次食品样品的监督抽检, 其中检验项目合格的样品3773847批次, 总体合格率为97.7%, 检出不合格样品90136批次。监督抽检样品涉及33个食品类别, 其中粮、油、肉、蛋、乳、食用农产品等大宗食品的合格率普遍较高, 婴幼儿配方食品合格率为99.4%, 但淀粉及淀粉制品、蔬菜制品、餐饮食品和酒类的合格率偏低。抽检发现的主要食品安全问题是超范围、超限量使用食品添加剂和微生物污染, 且微生物污染问题在每年的第3季度更为严重。结论 我国当前的食品安全形势总体平稳, 存在的主要问题是超范围、超限量使用食品添加剂和微生物污染。     

Furan in commercial baby foods from the Spanish market: estimation of daily intake and risk assessment

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of furan in commercial baby food samples from the Spanish market was evaluated using an automated headspace solid-phase microextraction method coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). A total of 76 baby food samples including infant formula, baby cereals, fruit in cans and/or jars, vegetables, meat, and fish, were surveyed for furan content. The lowest concentration of this compound was found in infant formula (<0.02–0.33 ng ml^?1), and cereal-based food (0.15–2.1 ng g^?1) while baby food containing fish showed the highest concentrations (19–84 ng g^?1). Following recommendation of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the effect on furan content was evaluated of consumer home preparation of foods, heating and handling. Furan concentrations were reduced by up to 35% when samples were heated in a dish using microwave oven and by up to 53% when a hot water bath was used. Finally, we estimated the furan intake from baby food consumption (0.002–1.18 µg kg^?1 body weight day^?1) and we calculated the margin of exposure (MOE) from samples as purchased and also after home preparation of the food. For infant formula and cereal baby foods, the MOEs (26,278–412,776) indicated no infant health concern or priority, while for meat and fish-based baby foods the values pointed to a potential public health risk, even considering the furan losses during preparation at home.     

韩国的健康功能食品

随着经济的发展，消费者对功能性食品的需求越来越高，迫使各国相继出台相关法规以完善对产品市场的管理。借鉴各国的经验，健康功能食品（health／function food，HFF）的概念在韩国应运而生。这类食品在韩国市场上有两类：一类是日常健康功能食品，另一类是特种健康功能食品。健康功能食品的原料可以来自传统膳食、药用植物或新资源，可以是纯化的合成产物、天然产物或介于两者之间的组合。在健康功能食品的安全性评价中，原料的临床使用史受到很高的重视。     

旅游区地方特色食品产业标准化管理模式研究

针对目前旅游区地方特色食品产业良莠不齐的局面,提出以地方特色食品产业发展为源头,结合多部门,挖掘一方食品特色文化,建立旅游区地方特色食品标准体系及地方特色食品保护与管理机制,多层次打造当地特色食品工业化、产业化发展的链条,形成地方特色食品连锁化经营,完善当地特色食品的管理模式,为当地的餐饮行业及特色食品加工产业挖掘新的经济增长点,为当地旅游业发展提供一条新思路。     

Improvement and Validation of Phytate Determination in Edible Seeds and Derived Products,as Mineral Complexing Activity

The analysis of phytates, as antinutrients that naturally occur in edible seeds, is important due to its interaction with certain minerals (Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe) essential for health, especially for children or other groups at risk of deficiency diseases. Although several analytical methods for phytates use complex techniques, complexometric methods are recently applied since they provide the knowledge of real mineral complexing activity of different phytates in foods, which is of great relevance for nutritional studies. A reliable method for phytate quantification in terms of cation binding activity has been optimized, based on previous complexometric methods, with the improvement of quantification through calibration with standards instead of estimation through equations. The methodology was optimized for different matrices of seeds and seed-derived food products, including infant foods, and it was validated according to AOAC standards to assess reliability. Due to the presence of different phytate forms in foods, and the different ability of complexation of each one, the expression of results of phytates as phytic acid equivalents (PAE) is proposed. With this methodology, phytates were found in all the samples analyzed, showing a higher amount in seeds (4029 mg PAE/100 g in dehulled hemp seed) than in infant foods (231 mg PAE/100 g in rice formula). From the validation protocol, the method showed good linearity, accuracy, and precision for food samples over 80 mg PAE/100 g, not requiring high-cost equipment, and providing high reliability and practical applicability for routine laboratories, with the purpose of monitoring of food quality.