The neonatal period: a missed opportunity for the prevention of iron deficiency and its associated neurological consequences?

Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Iron is essential for the development of multiple organ systems, most especially the developing brain. Iron deficiency, particularly during sensitive periods of brain development, such as in early childhood, is associated with long‐lasting adverse consequences for cognition, motor function and behaviour. Little consideration has been given to iron deficiency in newborn infants and its potential health consequences. Fetal iron accretion is compromised by pregnancy complications such as pre‐term birth and gestational diabetes mellitus, and our work has identified an increased risk of low iron stores at birth from maternal lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity. Early‐life events, including Caesarean section delivery, further add to the cumulative risk of neonatal iron deficiency, which can persist throughout infancy into early childhood. While investigations into the long‐term neurological consequences of neonatal iron deficiency are limited, there is evidence of poorer memory, motor function and language ability in children born iron deficient. Recently, we also identified significant behavioural consequences of neonatal deficiency persisting from 2 to 5 years of age, with effects particularly apparent in ‘high‐risk’ children born to obese or smoking mothers or delivered by Caesarean section. Interventions targeting the fetal/neonatal period could therefore represent a key opportunity for the prevention of iron deficiency and its associated long‐term health consequences. A dual approach is required, comprising public health strategies targeting prevention, to improve health in women of reproductive age, and the development of screening strategies for the early detection of iron deficiency in newborn infants

EFSA BIOHAZ Panel (EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards), 2013. Scientific Opinion on the public health hazards to be covered by inspection of meat (bovine animals).

A risk ranking process identified Salmonella spp. and pathogenic verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) as current high-priority biological hazards for meat inspection of bovine animals. As these hazards are not detected by traditional meat inspection, a meat safety assurance system for the farm-to-chilled carcass continuum using a risk-based approach was proposed. Key elements of the system are risk-categorisation of slaughter animals for high-priority biological hazards based on improved food chain information, as well as risk-categorisation of slaughterhouses according to their capability to control those hazards. Omission of palpation and incision during post-mortem inspection for animals subjected to routine slaughter may decrease spreading and cross-contamination with the high-priority biological hazards. For chemical hazards, dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls were ranked as being of high potential concern; all other substances were ranked as of medium or lower concern. Monitoring programmes for chemical hazards should be more flexible and based on the risk of occurrence, taking into account the completeness and quality of the food chain information supplied and the ranking of chemical substances, which should be regularly updated to include new hazards. Control programmes across the food chain, national residue control programmes, feed control and monitoring of environmental contaminants should be better integrated. Meat inspection is a valuable tool for surveillance and monitoring of animal health and welfare conditions. Omission of palpation and incision would reduce detection effectiveness for bovine tuberculosis and would have a negative impact on the overall surveillance system especially in officially tuberculosis free countries. The detection effectiveness for bovine cysticercosis, already low with the current meat inspection system, would result in a further decrease, if palpation and incision are removed. Extended use of food chain information could compensate for some, but not all, the information on animal health and welfare lost if only visual post-mortem inspection is applied

Checklist for food supplement establishment inspections

This document should be read in conjunction with Guidance Note No 21 Revision 1 Food Supplements Regulations and Notifications and the Food Supplement Establishment Aide Memoir

Food information for consumers at markets operated by Country Markets Ltd.

This factsheet outlines how the new Food Information for Consumers Regulation applies to food sold loose and pre-packed at markets operated by Country Markets Ltd

Official controls on import of foods of non-animal origin supervised by the Health Service Executive - corrective action plan

This plan describes audit findings and observation requiring corrective action, documents responsibility for addressing the findings and describes progress on the close out of actions

Audit of official controls in food business operations catering for high-risk population groups supervised bu environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has completed an audit of the food safety controls performed by the environmental health service (EHS) of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in hospitals and crèches1. The audit was undertaken as part of the planned programme of audits, carried out by the FSAI in 2012 to determine the level of compliance with Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 (Official Controls) and the service contract in place between the HSE and the FSAI. The project included an audit in four EHS areas - one in each of the four environmental health regions. The first part of the audit involved an audit of paperwork associated with official controls, including the establishment’s files and inspection reports. The second part involved audits of two food business operations (one crèche producing meals onsite and one hospital) in each area. The audit results were largely positive and the controls in place were generally effective

Novel food

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is a science-based, consumer protection agency operating under the aegis of the Department of Health (DoH). On January 1 2001, the FSAI assumed the role of competent authority for novel foods in place of DoH which retains the policy remit. As competent authority for novel foods, the FSAI is involved with the safety assessment of all novel foods and is the point of contact for applicants wishing to market a novel food for the first time in Ireland

Zoonosis: Disease from Animals

DISEASE FROM FARM ANIMALS Farmers, vets and others who work with animals or their products are at a higher risk of contracting certain diseases from animals than the general population. Infectious diseases that can be contacted from animals are called zoonoses. Even healthy animals can transmit zoonoses to people either directly or indirectly. Many of the diseases listed below do not usually cause serious illness in healthy adults, however, they can be extremely serious in certain groups of people including: • very young and elderly people • people with suppressed immune systems • pregnant women. Common diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans include: • Salmonella • Campylobacter • Verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC), including E.coli O157 • Listeria • Toxoplasmosis, Leptospirosis, Q Fever, Brucellosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Tuberculosis (TB)

Food service, retail and manufacturing sectors

This guide outlines the food safety skills to be demonstrated by managers and supervisors in food operations.To assist you in implementing these skills, additional information is provided in the appendices