Animal welfare and other ethical implications of precision livestock technology

In this commentary, we explore the risks and challenges associated with Precision Livestock Farming technologies based on an online workshop with over 70 international animal welfare experts, policy-makers, NGO, students, farmers and industry staff

Food allergies and perceptions towards food allergen labelling in Mauritius

There remains a paucity of research in food allergies in Sub-saharan Africa. It is the aim of this study 4 to determine the self-reported prevalence of food allergies and consumers’ perceptions towards food 5 allergen labelling in Mauritius. A survey was conducted in four supermarkets in the Municipalities of 6 Vacoas-Phoenix, Quatre-Bornes and Moka during the period of September to November 2017. The 7 questionnaire was designed based on previous studies and administered using a face-to-face 8 interview approach to increase completion rate. Descriptive analysis and one-way ANOVA between 9 subjects design were conducted. Shellfish was reported as the most common causative agent 10 followed by fish, egg and peanut. Respondents were satisfied with the current font size and general 11 information provided in food labels. Respondents agreed that it could be problematic to identify 12 suitable foods for individuals suffering from food allergies or intolerances. Variations of PAL 13 statements and generic terms provided in food labels, and location of allergy warnings were cause for 14 concern. More than 80% of the respondents felt that allergens in ingredient list should be emphasised 15 (e.g. bold font) and plain English or French language should be used to describe allergenic 16 ingredients. The findings in this study provide practical insights on food allergen labelling issues for 17 policy makers and stakeholders in the food supply chain. Determining the prevalence of food allergies 18 in the country will inform policy makers to consider adding shellfish and other major allergenic 19 ingredients to the list of ingredients requiring mandatory allergen warning label in Mauritiu

Implementation and maintenance of infant dietary diversity in Zimbabwe: contribution of food and water insecurity

Background Inadequate food and water resources negatively affect child health and the efficiency of nutrition interventions. Methods We used data from the SHINE trial to investigate the associations of food insecurity (FI) and water insecurity (WI) on mothers’ implementation and maintenance of minimum infant dietary diversity (MIDD). We conducted factor analysis to identify and score dimensions of FI (poor access, household shocks, low availability & quality), and WI (poor access, poor quality and low reliability). MIDD implementation (n = 636) was adequate if infants aged 12 months (M12) ate ≥ four food groups. MIDD maintenance (n = 624) was categorized into four mutually exclusive groups: A (unmet MIDD at both M12 and M18), B (unmet MIDD at M12 only), C (unmet MIDD at M18 only), and D (met MIDD at both M12 and M18). We used multivariable-adjusted binary logistic and multinomial regressions to determine likelihood of MIDD implementation, and of belonging to MIDD maintenance groups A-C (poor maintenance groups), compared to group D, respectively. Results Low food availability & quality were negatively associated with implementation (OR = 0.81; 0.69, 0.97), and maintenance (ORB = 1.29; 1.07, 1.56). Poor water quality was positively associated with implementation (OR = 1.25; 1.08, 1.44), but inconsistently associated with maintenance, with higher odds of infants being in group C (OR = 1.39; 1.08, 1.79), and lower odds of being in group B (OR = 0.80; 0.66, 0.96). Conclusion Food security should be prioritized for adequate implementation and maintenance of infant diets during complementary feeding. The inconsistent findings with water quality indicate the need for further research on WI and infant feeding.Non-PRIFPRI3; DCA; CRP4; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for allPHND; A4NHCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH

Dietary predictors of urinary biomarkers of pyrethroids in the general population: A scoping review

PRIFPRI3; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all; ISINutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition Polic

Growth and growth trajectory among infants in early life: Contributions of food insecurity and water insecurity in rural Zimbabwe

Introduction Stunting or linear growth faltering, measured by length-for-age Z-score (LAZ), remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in rural low-income and middle-income countries. It is a marker of inadequate environments in which infants are born and raised. However, the contributions of household resource insecurities, such as food and water, to growth and growth trajectory are understudied. Methods We used the cluster-randomised Sanitation Hygiene and Infant Nutrition Efficacy trial to determine the association of household-level food insecurity (FI) and water insecurity (WI) on LAZ and LAZ trajectory among infants during early life. Dimensions of FI (poor access, household shocks, low availability and quality) and WI (poor access, poor quality, low reliability) were assessed with the multidimensional household food insecurity and the multidimensional household water insecurity measures. Infant length was converted to LAZ based on the 2006 WHO Child Growth Standards. We report the FI and WI fixed effects from multivariable growth curve models with repeated measures of LAZ at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months (M1–M18). Results A total of 714 and 710 infants were included in our analyses of LAZ from M1 to M18 and M6 to M18, respectively. Mean LAZ values at each time indicated worsening linear growth. From M1 to M18, low food availability and quality was associated with lower LAZ (β=−0.09; 95% −0.19 to –0.13). From M6 to M18, poor food access was associated with lower LAZ (β=−0.11; 95% −0.20 to –0.03). None of the WI dimensions were associated with LAZ, nor with LAZ trajectory over time. Conclusion FI, but not WI, was associated with poor linear growth among rural Zimbabwean infants. Specifically, low food availability and quality and poor food access was associated with lower LAZ. There is no evidence of an effect of FI or WI on LAZ trajectory.PR2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all; IFPRI3; CRP4; DCAPHND; A4NHCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH

Association between Food Worry and Self-Rated Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aimed to assess the association between food worry and self-rated anxiety and depression during the early phase of COVID-19. We recruited a cross-sectional proportional quota sample of 415 respondents from 15 May through July 2020 in New York State. A validated food access survey instrument was administered to the respondents, capturing demographic information and data on food access issues and self-rated mental health. Multiple logistic regression models were fitted to examine the relationship between food worry, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Of the respondents included in the study, 43.4% were male, and 55.4% were female. Forty-three percent reported high food worry, and 39.5% and 41.2% reported symptoms suggestive of anxiety and depression, respectively. Respondents with high food worry were more likely than respondents with low or no food worry to experience anxiety symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.80; 95% CI: 3.02, 7.62). Likewise, respondents with high food worry had higher odds of reporting depressive symptoms than respondents with low or no food worry (aOR = 3.89; 95% CI: 2.45, 6.18). Identifying the personal and contextual drivers of food worry and mental health outcomes would guide public mental health intervention efforts

Validating the disaster food security scale for rural U.S. populations

Although there is a large body of evidence on food security and food systems, similar research is limited in disaster settings. Rural areas are especially at risk for adverse disaster consequences. The goal of this project is to validate the Disaster Food Security Scale (DFSS) for rural populations. Rural population-specific validation is needed to ensure that the scale reliably measures barriers to food security in rural populations, which may have different concerns and issues during disasters when compared to the general or non-rural populations. To validate the DFSS-Rural, the DFSS survey was administered to a national U.S. sample of households that recall a disaster in their community in the past five years. Survey data were analyzed for validity and non-rural and rural populations were compared. The disaster food security construct created through the scale development process was unidimensional allowing the administration and scoring of a single composite scale to capture multiple aspects of food security in a disaster context. The DFSS scale measures food security disruption from a systems perspective, and therefore, identifies where a disruption is occurring in the food system chain and can provide information for public health and emergency management officials, communities, and community service organizations about specific opportunities for intervention to improve food security and improve health outcomes.Non-PRIFPRI5; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for allNutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition Polic

A mixed-methods approach to the development of a disaster food security framework

Background Limited research on food systems and food insecurity (FI) following disasters finds contextual differences in post-disaster food systems that shape dimensions of FI. Measurement limitations make it difficult to address FI and develop effective practices for disaster-affected communities. Objective To develop, validate, and test a Disaster Food Security Framework (DFSF). Design Mixed-methods approach was used, including in-depth interviews to understand lived experiences during disasters; expert panel input to validate DFSF designed using responses from in-depth interviews; and quantitative testing of robustness of DFSF using the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic as a disaster example. Participants and setting The in-depth interviews included participants from Vermont (n = 5), North Carolina (n = 3), and Oklahoma (n = 2) who had been living in those states during Hurricane Irene (2011), Hurricane Florence (2018), the Moore tornadoes (2013), and coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (2020). The expert panel consisted of researchers and practitioners from different US geographical regions and food-related disciplines (n = 18). For the quantitative testing survey, data from 4 US states (New York, New Mexico, Vermont, and Maryland; n = 3,228) from the National Food Access and COVID Research Team was used. Main outcome measures The outcomes from the in-depth interviews were dimensions of disaster FI, those from the expert panel was a content validity ratio, and those from the quantitative testing was the number of items and components to be included. Analyses performed Inductive and deductive reasoning were using when reporting on the in-depth interviews and expert panel results, including frequencies. The quantitative testing was conducted using multiple correspondence analysis. Results The in-depth interviews revealed four dimensions of FI: availability (supply and donation), accessibility (economic, physical, and social), acceptability (preference and health), and agency (infrastructure and self-efficacy). The panel of experts reported high content validity for the DFSF and its dimensions (content validity ratio >0.42), thus giving higher credibility to the DFSF. Multiple correspondence analysis performed on 25 food-related variables identified one component with 13 indicators representing three of the four dimensions: availability, acceptability, and accessibility, but not agency.PRIFPRI3; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; ISINutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition Polic