Measuring and comparing the carbon footprints of different procurement models for primary school meals:Analysis of cases across five European countries

Sustainable Public Food Procurement (PFP) represents a key game changer for food systems transformation. It can influence both food consumption and food production patterns. It can deliver multiple social, economic and environmental benefits towards sustainable food systems for healthy diets. This publication aims to contribute to the improved understanding, dissemination and use of PFP as a development tool in particular in the case of school meals programmes. In Volume 1, researchers, policymakers and development partners can find evidence on how PFP can be used as a development tool and deliver multiple benefits for multiple beneficiaries. It argues that PFP can provide a market for local and smallholder farmers, promote the conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity, and improve the nutrition and health of children and communities. Volume 2 of this publication, available at https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7969en, presents further analysis of the instruments, enablers and barriers for PFP implementation. It also provides case studies with local, regional and national experiences from Africa, Asia, Europe and North and South America

Eating patterns and fat intake in school children in Croatia

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the quality of children's daily diet and some nutritional habits with regard to fat, cholesterol and saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) with weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI) and body fat as anthropometric parameter was used in children aged 7-10 years. The average energy intake in almost all subgroups was below the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) level while protein intake was double the RDA. The intake of vitamins and minerals correlated with fat intake. Iodine, selenium and vitamin D intake was not sufficient in all the children. In subgroups of children with low fat, cholesterol and SFA intake, the intake of calcium was below RDA. According to BMI, the population was considered as non-obese. The total energy, fat, cholesterol and SFA intake showed no or weakly significant correlation with antropometric factors in all the subgroups. The results showed that high fat intake in children's diet was not accompanied with dietary patterns that were all considered as unhealthy

Evaluation of infant formula protein quality. Preliminary communication

Infant formulas are designed to simulate not only the content but also the performance of human milk as much as possible in order to be an adequate replacement of human milk. The most common sources of protein in infant's formula are either cow's milk or soy protein (isolate). From this point of view the aim of this study was to determine the nutritive value of these proteins sources in powdered infant formulas present in the Croatian market. Protein quality has been evaluated in vivo - feeding young growing rats, and in vitro by multienzyme systems. The results showed that protein digestibility (D) of both formulas are high and not significantly different according to methodology (in vivo and in vitro). Biological value (BV) and net protein utilisation (NPU) of milk protein based formula are lower than that found in the literature. The same bioassays for soy protein isolates based formula are extremely low, while PER and NPR values are higher than that of proteins in milk based formula. The data indicate that protein qualities of both powdered infant formulas evaluated in vivo are not satisfying and can not provide nutritional support to healthy infants. At this point further investigations should be done in order to identify the factors affecting protein quality

Scientific opinion on labeling of natural mineral water can have a laxative effect and can have a diuretic effect

In accordance with Regulation on natural mineral, natural spring and table waters (Official Journal no. 81/13), labelling of natural mineral water with claim "can have a laxative effect" and "can have a diuretic effect", require conditions under which this claims can be used. These conditions must meet certain microbiological and physicochemical parameters. Setting microbiological and physicochemical parameters are based on the standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex Stan 108-1981-rev. 1997) for natural mineral water, Croatian Regulation on natural mineral, natural spring and table waters (Official Journal no. 81/13), and data available from the literature. Presence of certain chemical elements or their compounds in certain concentrations in mineral water can cause a laxative or diuretic effect. Based on the available scientific literature, the Working group of Croatian Food Agency for issuing scientific opinion on labeling of natural mineral water „can have a laxative effect" and "can have a diuretic effect", concluded as follows: - researches indicate that the laxative effect was observed at the consumption of mineral water with sulphate proportions above 1000 mg / L - researches indicate that the diuretic effect was observed at the consumption of mineral water with lower proportions of minerals (less than 500 mg / L) - with regard to the perceived adaptation of the human body, increased shares of sulfate, and reduced content of minerals in mineral water, which ultimately induce the lack of occurrence of both of the above mentioned effects, Working Group recommends establishing the Commission within the relevant institutions (Ministry of Agriculture) to review each individual requirements for the use of statements "may have laxative effects" and "may have a diuretic effect"

Photoacoustic and optothermal studies of tomato ketchup adulterated by the red beet (Beta vulgaris)

Photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy and optothermal window (OW) technique were used to explore their potential to detect red beet added as a colorant to tomato ketchup. The associated changes of colour resulting in the changes of absorbance (and hence of PA and OT signals) were monitored in the 500 nm region corresponding to the absorption maximum of lycopene. Both methods were shown capable of quantifying about 1% of red beet (by mass) in the mixture of ketchup and red beet

Manjak vitamina B12 u djece - podcijenjena opasnost u svjetlu spoznaja

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has two active forms, adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin which have a key role in two important metabolic pathways in humans and their deficiency is responsible for clinical problems. Cobalamin is essential during whole life, but its sufficient amount is extra important in fetal and neonatal period, when it is essential for normal child growth and development as well as for normal development of the central nervous system. Because of very complex transport and metabolism, its deficiency can be manifested in numerous congenital and acquired disorders. Vitamin B12 deficiency mostly has non-specific clinical features, it carries a great risk of permanent consequences, but most frequently it is easily curable if diagnosed on time. In Croatia cobalamin deficiency in children has been diagnosed too rarely. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to point to the recently gained knowledge on cobalamin metabolism, present typical case reports and to provide guidelines for rapid and proper diagnostic and therapeutic approach

Measuring and comparing the carbon footprints of different procurement models for primary school meals: analysis of cases across five European countries

The study presented in this chapter sought to assess the sustainability outcomes of different procurement models for primary school meals services in five European countries. Based on environmental impact analysis, this chapter reports on the size and composition of the carbon footprints of the procurement models and analyses the contributions to overall carbon emissions of the various activities in the supply chains for meals services. It was found that while the transportation of food by suppliers to schools contributed somewhat to overall carbon footprints, other variables have a more significant impact, in particular the amount of meat on the menu and the choice of waste disposal method. The chapter concludes by discussing which actions stakeholders should prioritize to improve the environmental impacts of public food procurement. The research for this chapter was funded under European Union H2020 grant agreement 678024