Survival and growth of Cronobacter species (Enterobacter) sakazakii in wheat-based infant follow on formulas

Aim: To determine the survival and growth characteristics of Cronobacter species (Enterobacter sakazakii) in infant wheat-based formulas reconstituted with water, milk, grape juice or apple juice during storage. Methods and Results: Infant wheat-based formulas were reconstituted with water, UHT milk, pasteurized grape or apple juices. The reconstituted formulas were inoculated with C. sakazakii and C. muytjensii and stored at 4, 25 or 37°C for up to 24h. At 25 and 37°C, Cronobacter grew more (>5 logio) in formulas reconstituted with water or milk than those prepared with grape or apple juices (ca. 2-3 logio). The organism persisted, but did not grow in any formulas stored at 4°C. Formulas reconstituted with water and milk decreased from pH 6.0 to 4.8-5.0 after 24h, whereas the pH of the formulas reconstituted with fruit juices remained at their initial pH values, ca. pH 4.8-5.0. Conclusion: C sakazakii and C muytjensii can grow in reconstituted wheat-based formulas. If not immediately consumed, these formulas should be stored at refrigeration temperatures to reduce the risk of infant infection. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results of this study will be of use to regulatory agencies and infant formula producers to recommend storage conditions that reduce the growth of Cronobacter in infant wheat-based formulas

Nomenclature updates resulting from the evolution of avian influenza A(H5) virus clades 2.1.3.2a, 2.2.1, and 2.3.4 during 2013-2014.

AIM: The A/goose/Guangdong/1/96-like hemagglutinin (HA) genes of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses have continued to rapidly evolve since the most recent update to the H5 clade nomenclature by the WHO/OIE/FAO H5N1 Evolution Working Group. New clades diverging beyond established boundaries need to be identified and designated accordingly. METHOD: Hemagglutinin sequences deposited in publicly accessible databases up to December 31, 2014, were analyzed by phylogenetic and average pairwise distance methods to identify new clades that merit nomenclature changes. RESULTS: Three new clade designations were recommended based on division of clade 2·1·3·2a (Indonesia), 2·2·1 (Egypt), and 2·3·4 (widespread detection in Asia, Europe, and North America) that includes newly emergent HPAI virus subtypes H5N2, H5N3, H5N5, H5N6, and H5N8. CONCLUSION: Continued global surveillance for HPAI A(H5) viruses in all host species and timely reporting of sequence data will be critical to quickly identify new clades and assess their potential impact on human and animal health.The Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Wiley via http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/irv.1232

Household food insecurity in Mexico is associated with the coâ occurrence of overweight and anemia among women of reproductive age, but not female adolescents

We aimed to determine the association between household food insecurity (HFI) and the coâ occurrence of overweight and anemia among women of reproductive age in the Mexican population. We analyzed data on 4,039 nonpregnant female adolescents (15â 19 years) and 10,760 nonpregnant adult women of reproductive age (20â 49 years) from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey of Mexico. The survey uses a twoâ stage sampling design, stratified by rural and urban regions. The Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale was used to assess HFI. We assessed overweight and obesity in women based on World Health Organization classifications for body mass index, and BMIâ forâ age Zâ scores for female adolescents, and defined anemia as an altitudeâ adjusted hemoglobin (Hb) concentration < 120 g/L based on measurement of capillary Hb concentrations. In multiple logistic regression models adjusting for potential confounding covariates, HFI was not associated with the coâ occurrence of anemia and overweight among female adolescents. The adjusted odds of women of reproductive age from mildly and moderately foodâ insecure households, respectively, experiencing concurrent anemia and overweight were 48% (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.91) and 49% (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.06) higher than among women from foodâ secure households. Severe HFI was not associated with concurrent overweight and anemia among female adolescents or women. HFI may be a shared mechanism for dual forms of malnutrition within the same individual, simultaneously contributing to overconsumption and dietary inadequacy.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138908/1/mcn12396_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138908/2/mcn12396.pd

Dietary Iron bioavailability: A simple model that can be used to derive country-specific dietary reference values for adult men and women

Background: Reference intakes for iron are derived from physiological requirements, with an assumed value for dietary iron absorption. A new approach to estimate iron bioavailability, calculated from iron intake, status, and requirements was used to set European dietary reference values, but the values obtained cannot be used for low- and middle-income countries where diets are very different. Objective: We aimed to test the feasibility of using the model developed from United Kingdom and Irish data to derive a value for dietary iron bioavailability in an African country, using data collected from women of child-bearing age in Benin. We also compared the effect of using estimates of iron losses made in the 1960s with more recent data for whole body iron losses. Methods: Dietary iron intake and serum ferritin (SF), together with physiological requirements of iron, were entered into the predictive model to estimate percentage iron absorption from the diet at different levels of iron status. Results: The results obtained from the 2 different methods for calculating physiological iron requirements were similar, except at low SF concentrations. At a SF value of 30 µg/L predicted iron absorption from the African maize-based diet was 6%, compared with 18% from a Western diet, and it remained low until the SF fell below 25 µg/L. Conclusions: We used the model to estimate percentage dietary iron absorption in 30 Beninese women. The predicted values agreed with results from earlier single meal isotope studies; therefore, we conclude that the model has potential for estimating dietary iron bioavailability in men and nonpregnant women consuming different diets in other countries

Soil type influences crop mineral composition in Malawi

Food supply and composition data can be combined to estimate micronutrient intakes and deficiency risks among populations. These estimates can be improved by using local crop composition data that can capture environmental influences including soil type. This study aimed to provide spatially resolved crop composition data for Malawi, where information is currently limited. Six hundred and fifty-two plant samples, representing 97 edible food items, were sampled from N150 sites in Malawi between 2011 and 2013. Samples were analysed by ICP-MS for up to 58 elements, including the essential minerals calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn). Maize grain Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se and Zn concentrations were greater from plants grown on calcareous soils than those from the more widespread low-pH soils. Leafy vegetables from calcareous soils had elevated leaf Ca, Cu, Fe and Se concentrations, but lower Zn concentrations. Several foods were found to accumulate high levels of Se, including the leaves of Moringa, a crop not previously been reported in East African food composition data sets. New estimates of national dietary mineral supplies were obtained for non-calcareous and calcareous soils. High risks of Ca (100%), Se (100%) and Zn (57%) dietary deficiencies are likely on non-calcareous soils. Deficiency risks on calcareous soils are high for Ca (97%), but lower for Se (34%) and Zn (31%). Risks of Cu, Fe and Mg deficiencies appear to be low on the basis of dietary supply levels

Cost-effectiveness analyses of self-harm strategies aimed at reducing the mortality of pesticide self-poisonings in Sri Lanka:a study protocol

INTRODUCTION: An estimated 803,900 people worldwide died as a result of self-harm in 2012. The deliberate ingestion of pesticides has been identified as the method most frequently used to commit fatal self-harm globally. In Sri Lanka, it is estimated that up to 60% of all suicides are committed using this method. The aim of the present study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of an ongoing safe storage intervention currently taking place in a rural Sri Lankan district and to model the cost-effectiveness of implementing the safe storage intervention as well as four potential interventions (legislative, medical management, follow-up contact and mobile phone contact) on a national level. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Study design for all the strategies is a cost-effectiveness analysis. A governmental perspective is adopted. The time horizon for tracking the associated costs and health outcomes of the safe storage intervention on district level runs over 3 years. The time horizon is extended to 5 years when modelling a full national roll-out of the respective interventions. The discounting of costs and health outcomes are undertaken at the recommended real rate of 3%. Threshold analyses of the modelled strategies are employed to assess the strategies potential for cost-effectiveness, running scenarios with health outcome improvements ranging from 1% to 100%. Sensitivity analyses are also performed. The main outcome measures of the safe storage intervention are incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was granted for the safe storage project from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in March of 2008. An amendment for the present study was granted from Rajarata University of Sri Lanka in November of 2013. Findings will be disseminated to public and private stakeholders in local and national government in Sri Lanka as well as the wider academic audience through peer-reviewed publications and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The safe storage cluster trial is registered with the Clinical Trials, ref: NCT1146496 (http://clinicaltrialsfeeds.org/clinical-trials/show/NCT1146496)

Spray drying conditions for orange juice incorporated with lactic acid bacteria

This work aimed to develop an orange juice powder by spray drying with lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum 299v and Pediococcus acidilactici HA‐6111‐2), testing their survival both during drying and storage (room temperature and 4 °C). Initially, the best conditions for spray drying were chosen to allow the best survival of each LAB: (i) inlet air temperature of 120 °C and (ii) 0.5:2 ratio of the orange juice soluble solids and drying agent added (prebiotics: 10 DE maltodextrin or gum Arabic). Survival of LAB was not affected by drying process, and it was higher when cultures were stored at 4 °C. A slightly higher protection was conferred by 10 DE maltodextrin, in the case of L. plantarum and at 4 °C. Pediococcus acidilactici was more resistant during storage at 4 °C, with logarithmic reductions lower than 1 log‐unit. It was demonstrated that it is possible to produce a functional nondairy product, orange juice powder supplemented with prebiotic compounds, containing viable LAB for at least 7 months, when stored at 4 °C.info:eu-repo/semantics/submitedVersio

Local Foods Can Increase Adequacy of Nutrients Other than Iron in Young Urban Egyptian Women: Results from Diet Modeling Analyses

BACKGROUND: Nutrition transition and recent changes in lifestyle in Middle Eastern countries have resulted in the double burden of malnutrition. In Egypt, 88% of urban women are overweight or obese and 50% are iron deficient. Their energy, sugar, and sodium intakes are excessive, while intakes of iron, vitamin D, and folate are insufficient. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to formulate dietary advice based on locally consumed and affordable foods and determine the need for fortified products to meet the nutrient requirements of urban Egyptian women. METHODS: Food intakes were assessed using a 4-d food diary collected from 130 urban Egyptian women aged 19-30 y. Food prices were collected from modern and traditional markets to calculate diet cost. Population-based linear and goal programming analyses (Optifood tool) were used to identify "limiting nutrients" and to assess whether locally consumed foods (i.e., consumed by >5% of women) could theoretically improve nutrient adequacy at an affordable cost (i.e., less than or equal to the mean diet cost), while meeting recommendations for SFAs, sugars, and sodium. The potential of hypothetical fortified foods for improving intakes of micronutrients was also assessed. RESULTS: Iron was the most limiting nutrient. Daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, milk or yogurt, meat/fish/eggs, and tahini (sesame paste) were likely to improve nutrient adequacy for 11 out of 12 micronutrients modeled. Among fortified foods tested, iron-fortified rice, milk, water, bread, or yogurt increased the minimized iron content of the modeled diet from 40% to >60% of the iron recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: A set of dietary advice based on locally consumed foods, if put into practice, can theoretically meet requirements for most nutrients, except for iron for which adequacy is harder to achieve without fortified products. The acceptability of the dietary changes modeled needs evaluation before promoting them to young Egyptian women