14 research outputs found

    Effet d'un chauffage micro-ondes et conventionnel sur la thermorésistance d'une Salmonelle traitée dans un produit à basse activité d'eau. Conséquences sur la qualité du produit

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    We explored in this study the incidence of traditional heating (water bath) and microwave on the thermotolerance of one strain of Salmonella enterica arizonae treated in a low water activity product (aw = 0.51), the sesame cream bought from the Lebanese market. A sodium chloride solution with a higher water activity (aw = 0.99), was also been artificially contaminated by the same strain of bacteria and treated by the two way of treatment. In addition of water bath and microwave treatments, experiments, under the same thermal ramp were realized in the order to compare the kinetic incidence and the way of heating on the thermotolerance of the bacterial strain treated in the sesame cream. We further examined the influence of the microwave treatment on the quality of the sesame cream in order to build an optimization of the treatment. Three criteria have been studied: viscosity, color and the peroxide index. Thereafter, an optimization of this decontamination treatment was highlighted. For both treatments, the water activity seems to have an influence on the thermotolerance of bacteria: the decimal reduction time (D₅₉) of S. enterica, in the sodium chloride solution (aw = 0.99), is two times higher than that obtained in the sesame cream (aw = 0.49, rich in lipids). On the other hand, the Salmonella treated in the cream of sesame (aw = 0.49), rich in lipids, showed a thermotolerance stronger than that treated in the solution of NaCl (aw = 0.99). This protector effect of lipids was known and has previously been reported by many authors who conclude that the protective effect of lipids is attributable to increase the thermotolerance of bacteria. We noted that the thermotolerance of this strain decrease with the pH. The sesame cream has a pH of 5.80 at 20°C where the sodium chloride solution has a pH of 6.50 at 20°C: pH and aw contribute together to increase the thermotolerance of the bacteria in the sesame cream against the NaCl solution. Furthermore, according to our works, it would appear that the same thermal ramp made with two types of heat treatment: water bath or microwave, does not provide equivalent results in terms of destruction of S. enterica. Indeed, for the same temperature reached, microwave treatment systematically gives higher number of decimal reduction than the water bath treatment.Nous avons exploré dans la présente étude l'incidence des cinétiques de chauffage traditionnel (bain-marie) et micro-ondes sur la thermorésistance d'une souche de Salmonella enterica arizonae traitée dans un produit à faible activité d'eau (aw = 0,51), la crème de sésame achetée sur le marché libanais. Une solution de chlorure de sodium ayant une activité d'eau plus élevée (aw = 0,99), a été également contaminée artificiellement par la même souche bactérienne et traitée selon les 2 modes de traitement. En plus de ces traitements au bain-marie et aux micro-ondes, des expériences, pour une même rampe thermique, ont été effectuées dans le but de comparer l'incidence de la cinétique et du mode de chauffage sur la thermorésistance de la souche étudiée traitée dans la crème de sésame. L'influence du traitement micro-ondes sur la qualité de la crème a elle aussi été examinée en vue d'une optimisation du traitement micro-ondes. Pour cela, trois critères ont été étudiés : la viscosité, la couleur et l'indice de peroxydes. Pour les deux traitements, bain-marie et micro-ondes, l'activité de l'eau semble avoir une influence sur la thermorésistance de la bactérie : le temps de réduction décimale (D₅₉) de S. enterica, dans la solution de chlorure de sodium, est deux fois plus élevé que celui obtenu dans la crème de sésame. D'autre part, la Salmonelle traitée dans la crème de sésame (aw = 0,49), riche en lipides, présente une thermorésistance plus forte que celle traitée dans la solution de NaCl (aw = 0,99). Cet effet protecteur des lipides est connu et a été mis en évidence par plusieurs auteurs qui concluent que celui-ci a pour conséquence d'augmenter la thermorésistance des bactéries. Nous notons aussi que la thermorésistance de cette souche diminue avec le pH. En effet, la crème de sésame a un pH de 5,80 à 20°C, alors que la solution de NaCl a un pH de 6,50 à 20°C : pH et aw contribuent donc conjointement à augmenter la thermorésistance de la souche bactérienne dans la crème de sésame par rapport à la solution de NaCl. Par ailleurs, d'après nos travaux, il semblerait qu'une même rampe thermique réalisée avec deux modes de traitement thermique : bain-marie ou micro-ondes, ne donne pas de résultats équivalents en termes de destruction de S. enterica. En effet, à niveau de température atteinte égal, le traitement micro-onde donne systématiquement un nombre de réduction décimale supérieure à celle du traitement au bain-marie

    Nutrition and Food Literacy in the MENA Region: A Review to Inform Nutrition Research and Policy Makers

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    Background: Improving food and nutrition literacy is fundamental to tackling the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s enormous challenges, including malnutrition and food insecurity. To direct initiatives, it is crucial to assess the region’s food and nutrition literacy. Thus, we aimed to review studies on food/nutrition literacy status in the MENA countries and illuminate the region’s research gaps in these areas, in terms of assessment, policy, and program implementation. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched between 18 December and 8 May 2022, to identify relevant articles published up to 2022 in the MENA region. Results: Twelve studies were included in this review. Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran are the only three MENA countries where nutrition and/or food literacy were assessed. People in these countries mostly had inadequate food and/or nutrition literacy levels, especially in the skills rather than the cognitive domain. Food and/or nutrition literacy showed associations with food habits, food-label use, food-consumption patterns, school performance, food security, dietary diversity, and nutrient adequacy. The MENA countries developed no policies or programs to address food and nutrition literacy. Conclusion: This review is a wake-up call for researchers and policymakers to develop a robust approach to combat food and nutrition literacy concerns in the MENA region

    Breastfeeding Practices, Infant Formula Use, Complementary Feeding and Childhood Malnutrition: An Updated Overview of the Eastern Mediterranean Landscape

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    Background: With increasing global rates of overweight, obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) along with undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is no exception. This review focuses on specific nutrition parameters among under five years children, namely ever breastfed, exclusive breastfeeding, mixed milk feeding, continued breastfeeding, bottle feeding, introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft foods and malnutrition. Methodology: PubMed, Google Scholar, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) databases, World Health Organization (WHO) databases, the World Bank databases and the Global Nutrition Report databases were explored between 10 January and 6 June 2022, to review the nutrition situation among under five years children in the EMR. Results: The regional average prevalence of ever breastfed, exclusive breastfeeding, mixed milk feeding, continued breastfeeding, bottle feeding, introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft foods was estimated at 84.3%, 30.9%, 42.9%, 41.5%, 32.1% and 69.3%, respectively. Iran, Iraq, Libya and Palestine have seen a decline over time in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding. Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia reported early introduction of infant formula. Moreover, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates were seen to introduce food early to the child, at between 4–6 months of age. The estimated weighted regional averages for stunting, wasting and underweight were 20.3%, 8.9% and 13.1%, respectively. Of concern is the increasing prevalence of stunting in Libya. As for overweight and obesity, the average prevalence was reported to be 8.9% and 3%, respectively. Lebanon, Libya, Kuwait and Palestine showed an increased trend throughout this time. Conclusions: In this review, the suboptimal infant and young child feeding patterns and the twofold incidence of malnutrition in the EMR are highlighted and we urge the prioritizing of measures to improve children’s nutrition

    Household Food Insecurity, Anemia, Malnutrition and Unfavorable Dietary Diversity among Adolescents: Quadruple Whammies in the Era of Escalating Crises in Lebanon

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    Adolescence is a transitional period between childhood and adulthood. Nowadays, adolescents in Lebanon are growing during a time of unprecedented health crises and political instability. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of malnutrition, dietary diversity in adolescents’ households, and adolescents’ self-reported food insecurity in Lebanon. A national representative sample of 450 parent–adolescent dyads (parents: mean age ± standard deviation (SD) = 46.0 ± 7.0, mothers: 59.0%; adolescents: mean age ± SD = 15.0 ± 3.0, girls: 54.6%) were interviewed. Anthropometric and blood hemoglobin measurements were performed for adolescents. The Food Consumption Score, the Arab Family Food Security Scale and the Adolescent-Level Food-Security Scale were used. The overall prevalence of adolescent stunting, thinness, overweight, obesity and anemia was 6.7%, 4.7%, 19.3%, 12.9% and 16.7%, respectively. Almost 40.4% and 68% of adolescent’s households consumed undiversified diets and were food insecure, respectively. Food insecurity (FI) affected 54.0% of adolescents. Adolescents attending schools (vs. university) were eight times more likely to be stunted (p = 0.04). Boys had a 4.3 times higher thinness risk (p = 0.005) compared to girls. Households reporting an income decline since the start of the Lebanese economic crisis were three times more likely to have a thin adolescent (p = 0.01). Parental overweight/obesity (p = 0.002) and lower education level (p = 0.04) nearly doubled the risk of adolescent overweight or obesity. At a time when escalating crises in Lebanon are shifting diets for the youngest generations, the development of adolescent-responsive nutritional policies becomes a must

    Shisha microbiota: the good, the bad and the not so ugly

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    Abstract Objective Over the last decade, there has been a rapid expansion of the trendy water pipe smoking around the world especially among younger adults. The initial objective of this study was to identify the microbiota of the shisha, which may either be of no harm for the smoker or enhance the threat on his well-being. The total DNA for the metagenomics study was conducted on three different shishas from three different delivery shops in Jounieh, Lebanon. The microbiota in two solid parts of the shisha, shaft and hose, were analysed including the fresh tobacco and the water in the bowl. All samples were analysed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Results Overall, more than 40 bacterial genera were found in the three investigated shishas, some are commensal others are pathogenic. All three shishas showed similar microbial content regarding the bacteria inhabiting in water, shaft, or hose. From the results of this study it appears that a very large quantity of bacteria was found in the water pipes, some are harmful and others beneficial. We assume that the presence of gut dependent microbiota is related to the loose hygienic conditions in which the shisha is prepared
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