Animal Consumption Research Articles

Investigation of human anthrax outbreak in Koraput district of Odisha, India

BackgroundAnthrax is a zoonotic infection resulting from the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Humans contract cutaneous anthrax by coming into contact, and gastrointestinal (GI) anthrax by consumption of infected animals or animal products. An outbreak investigation was conducted to confirm the occurrence of the anthrax outbreak, comprehend its extent, understand the epidemiological characteristics, identify the outbreak's cause, and propose control measures. MethodsA descriptive epidemiology was carried out for this outbreak investigation. We defined a suspected human cutaneous anthrax case as appearance of skin lesions and symptoms (itching/redness/swelling) and a suspected case of GI anthrax as appearance of diarrhoea/abdominal pain/vomiting in a resident of Koraput district after being associated with slaughtering and/or consumption of carcass during 5th April to 15th May 2023. The etiological hypothesis was formulated using descriptive epidemiological methods. Laboratory confirmation was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 25. ResultsA total of 47 clinically suspected anthrax cases were identified during the outbreak in five villages of Koraput district in Odisha. The epidemic curve indicated multiple point-source exposures starting from 13th April 2023. About 10 cases were identified by RT-PCR testing as confirmed cases of anthrax. No death was recorded in this outbreak investigation. ConclusionsBased on a thorough examination of epidemiological survey results and laboratory findings, we conclude that the outbreak was of human cutaneous and GI anthrax. Exposures from handling dead animals were associated with cutaneous anthrax, whereas eating uncooked meat of dead sheep was associated with gastrointestinal anthrax.

Animal welfare as a public good

We study a simple model of consumption of animals in which consumers exhibit altruism towards animals. Consumers can choose both the quantity and the quality of animal lives. This model gives rise to a public good problem: at the market equilibrium, quality is too low, and quantity is too high when animal lives are not worth living. We discuss some implications of our results and the significance of our modeling choices for the future landscape of economic research on animal welfare.

Dino Fix

In this essay, I combine ecofeminism, critical animal studies, and vegan studies to analyse the depictions of dinosaurs in a vegan picturebook, Robert Neubecker’s Linus the Vegetarian T. Rex. Because picturebook dinosaurs, like the titular Linus, can mobilize the intense “conceptual interest” in dinosaurs found among young children, I argue that a co-reading of Linus can help initiate conversations and facilitate learning about difficult “adult” concepts, such as evolution, extinction, and the Anthropocene, in children primarily but not limited to ages four to six. As compared to largely anthropocentric mainstream children’s literature, a vegan picturebook like Linus can also intervene in early childhood education before children are socialized into dominant anthroparchal ideologies that normalize the consumption of animals and contribute to global warming; moreover, it can promote positive attitudes toward science and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. Due to its ambiguous and open-ended messaging, as well as its imaginative approach of enlivening dinosaur fossils at a natural history museum, Neubecker’s Linus arguably encourages an ethical stance toward living nonhuman animals and thus offers a blueprint for “a picturebook for the Anthropocene”: challenging the more obviously reductive instrumentalist depiction of dinosaurs in mainstream children’s literature; raising awareness about the climate crisis by promoting veganism and vegetarianism while also interrogating gendered assumptions about plant-eating; and combating sexist and adultist attitudes toward science education.

A just transition in animal agriculture is necessary for more effective and equitable One Health outcomes

Abstract The world’s large and growing appetite for meat and other animal products has profound implications for One Health, given its impacts on human health, the environment and animal health and welfare. Accordingly, there is robust evidence that a reduction of animal product consumption is urgently needed in regions where these consumption levels are currently high. A shift away from industrial animal production should be prioritized, given the high levels of animal product consumption this kind of system enables, its relatively high environmental toll, linkages to increasing risks of antimicrobial resistance and zoonoses emergence and harm to animal welfare. Until recently, however, few governments addressed the issue. On the contrary, many governments actively support industrial animal agriculture through subsidies and other measures. Now, motivated by both environmental and public health concerns, policy makers in several countries are adopting regulatory and financial measures to address the overconsumption of animal products. Although these changes are clearly necessary and long overdue, it is crucial that they are planned carefully and inclusively to ensure a just transition. In lower-resourced and food-insecure settings, meat and other animal products can be a vital source of nutrients – particularly during infancy and childhood. In addition, meat supply chains support many livelihoods, and meat is an important part of many people’s social and cultural traditions. This means that policies that curtail common production practices, reduce meat output and raise meat prices could have significant impacts across society. A just transition approach can help ensure that the costs and benefits of the transition are more equitably distributed and protect the most vulnerable stakeholders. By doing so, it can also help increase public support for the transition. The concept of just transitions is well established in the energy sector but is only starting to be recognized in the context of the food system. Governments in the Global North should take the lead in this area, given these countries have very high levels of animal product consumption and more resources available to support a transition. In this Policy Forum, we lay out the case for a just transition in animal agriculture and identify five principles to guide policy makers in promoting a just transition away from systems of industrial meat production and overconsumption. One Health impact statement Drawing on expertise from health, climate, biodiversity and animal welfare policy and science across several regions, this Policy Forum demonstrates how current levels of animal product production and consumption threaten One Health. Although a transition to a healthier, more sustainable and more compassionate food system is clearly needed, such a transition will necessarily involve both costs and benefits for affected stakeholders. Identifying lessons from international and national climate policy, and energy policy in particular, the authors highlight the value of an approach that is holistic and centred on just transition principles to support a transition away from large-scale animal product production and consumption that is in line with the One Health approach, with an emphasis on transitioning away from the consumption and production of industrially-produced meat. This Policy Forum is relevant to policy makers, companies and civil society seeking to promote a shift towards food systems that emphasize public and planetary health.

Exploring Tannery Solid Wastes as a Source of Animal Feed

This review delves into the processing of tannery solid waste, emphasizing fleshings and chromium-tanned leather waste. This paper centers on fat recovery, chromium elimination, and protein preservation, aiming to make them apt for animal consumption. This paper also assesses the potential of introducing such recycled products to the global market. Drawing on the literature from the past two decades, sourced comprehensively from Scopus and Web of Science, 36 articles were selected because of their significant contributions from leather production powerhouses such as India and Brazil. Fleshings have shown immense potential as animal feed, and the extraction of tallow and collagen from rawhide trimmings yields up to 98% and 93%, respectively. Fermented tannery fleshings, notably with Enterococcus faecium HAB01, also demonstrate strong antioxidant capabilities. The overarching consensus emphasizes the need for rigorous purification when dealing with chromium-containing wastes, addressing concerns tied to Cr (III) and Cr (VI). Furthermore, raw tannery fleshings stand out as a sustainable, cost-effective, and globally marketable solution for animal feed production.

Quantitative Trait Loci and Candidate Genes That Control Seed Sugars Contents in the Soybean 'Forrest' by 'Williams 82' Recombinant Inbred Line Population.

Soybean seed sugars are among the most abundant beneficial compounds for human and animal consumption in soybean seeds. Higher seed sugars such as sucrose are desirable as they contribute to taste and flavor in soy-based food. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to use the 'Forrest' by 'Williams 82' (F × W82) recombinant inbred line (RIL) soybean population (n = 309) to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes that control seed sugar (sucrose, stachyose, and raffinose) contents in two environments (North Carolina and Illinois) over two years (2018 and 2020). A total of 26 QTLs that control seed sugar contents were identified and mapped on 16 soybean chromosomes (chrs.). Interestingly, five QTL regions were identified in both locations, Illinois and North Carolina, in this study on chrs. 2, 5, 13, 17, and 20. Amongst 57 candidate genes identified in this study, 16 were located within 10 Megabase (MB) of the identified QTLs. Amongst them, a cluster of four genes involved in the sugars' pathway was collocated within 6 MB of two QTLs that were detected in this study on chr. 17. Further functional validation of the identified genes could be beneficial in breeding programs to produce soybean lines with high beneficial sucrose and low raffinose family oligosaccharides.

The relative benefits for environmental sustainability of vegan diets for dogs, cats and people.

Environmental impacts of the livestock sector are proportional to consumption levels. To assess the relative consumption of livestock animals within the diets of dogs, cats and people, this study examined their dietary energy needs within the US in 2020, and globally in 2018. Also studied were US pet food ingredients, and environmental sustainability indicators for plant- and animal-based foods consumed globally. Relative consumptions of average livestock animals were: US: dogs- 17.7%, cats- 2.3%, humans- 80.0%; and globally: dogs- 7.7%, cats- 1.2%, humans- 91.1%. Full transition to nutritionally-sound vegan diets would spare from slaughter the following numbers of terrestrial livestock animals annually (billions): US: dogs- 1.7, cats- 0.2, humans- 7.8, and globally: dogs- 6.0, cats- 0.9, humans- 71.3, as well as billions of aquatic animals in all dietary groups. Very large impact reductions were also associated with land and water use, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), acidifying and eutrophifying gases, and biocide use, in all dietary groups. If implemented globally, nutritionally-sound vegan diets would free up land larger than the following nations: dogs-Saudi Arabia or Mexico, cats-Japan or Germany, humans-Russia-the world's largest country-combined with India. Such diets would save freshwater volumes greater than all renewable freshwater in the following nations: dogs-Denmark, cats-Jordan, humans-Cuba. Such diets would reduce GHGs by amounts greater than all GHG emissions from following nations: dogs-South Africa or the UK, cats-Israel or New Zealand, humans-India or the entire EU. The numbers of additional people who could be fed using food energy savings associated with vegan diets exceeded the 2018 human populations of the following nations: dogs-the entire European Union, cats-France or the UK, humans-every single nation or collective region on Earth, as defined by the World Bank. All of these estimates are conservative.

An integrated multimedia fate modeling framework for identifying mitigation strategy of antibiotic ecological risks: A case study in a peri-urban river

Antibiotics have been heavily used over the past decades, resulting in their frequent detections in rivers and increasing ecological risks. Recognizing characteristics of antibiotic ecological risks (AERs) and making effective strategies to mitigate the AERs are essential to ensure the safety of aquatic ecosystem and public health. In this study, an integrated technological framework has been proposed toward identifying management options for reducing AERs by jointly utilizing multimedia fugacity modelling and ecotoxicological risk assessment, and applied to characterize the AERs in a peri-urban river in Beijing. Specifically, a level III fugacity model has been successfully established to simulate the fate of antibiotics in the environment, and the manageable parameters have been screened out via sensitivity analysis of the model. Then the validated fugacity model has been used for scenario modellings to optimize mitigation strategies of AERs. Results show most of the antibiotics considered are frequently detected in the river, and pose medium or high risks to aquatic organisms. Relatively, the macrolides and fluoroquinolones present higher ecotoxicological risks than sulfonamides and tetracyclines. Furthermore, the mixture risk quotient and predictive equation of concentration addition suggest joint and synergistic/antagonistic effects of AERs for multiple or binary antibiotics in the environment. Largely, the concentrations of antibiotics in the river are determined by the source emissions into water and soil. Scenario modellings show the improvement of antibiotic removal rates would be considered preferentially to mitigate the AERs. Also, controlling human consumption is conducive to reducing the risks posed by tetracyclines, macrolides and trimethoprim, while controlling animal consumption would benefit the reduction for sulfonamides. Overall, the joint strategy presents the greatest reduction of AERs by reducing antibiotic consumption and together improving sewage treatment rate and antibiotic removal rate. The study provides us a useful guideline to make ecological risk-based mitigation strategy for reducing AERs in environment.

Stages of Change toward Meat Reduction: Associations with Motives and Longitudinal Dietary Data on Animal-Based and Plant-Based Food Intakes in French Adults

BackgroundReducing meat consumption is advocated for healthier and more sustainable diets. However, behavioral studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying meat-reducing dietary changes. ObjectivesThe main aim of this study was to compare the motives associated with stages of change toward meat reduction in French adults, using the transtheoretical model (TTM). A second aim was to investigate the associations between stages of change and adherence to dietary patterns favoring a better balance of animal and plant food consumption over time. MethodsThis longitudinal study included 25,143 non-vegetarian participants of the web-based NutriNet-Santé cohort with a mean follow-up of 6.2 (SD = 2.6) y. Dietary data were obtained from 24-h dietary records over the period 2009–2019. The contribution of meat to total energy intake and scores measuring the contribution of healthy and unhealthy plant-based foods to the diet were computed. A questionnaire completed in 2018 allowed us to identify the TTM stages of change related to meat reduction (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance), and recorded motives related to meat consumption. We used multivariate linear mixed models for repeated data to assess associations between food intake changes and stages, and logistic regression for motives, presented as adjusted frequencies. ResultsParticipants in later stages were characterized by a significantly higher decrease in meat intake over time, compared with the earliest stage (for example, βmaintenance ∗ time = −0.08, P < 0.0001), and a higher increase in the healthy plant-based food consumption score over time (for example, βmaintenance∗time = 0.11, P < 0.0001). Concerns about health, nutrition, and the environment were the most frequently cited motives for reducing meat consumption at all stages. ConclusionsIndividuals who had already initiated meat reduction adhered to healthier and more sustainable diets than meat continuers. Characterizing motives according to readiness to reduce meat consumption could support tailored public health campaigns. Trial registration numberThe study protocol is registered at clinicaltrials.gov with Clinical Trial Registry number NCT03335644 available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03335644.

Food and Health Safety of Prebiotics: A Review of Current Evidence

Food substances or carbohydrates which are indigestible but energize the growth and/or activity of useful bacteria in the digestive system and make the digestive system work more efficiently are referred to as prebiotics. Prebiotics support the growth of good gut bacteria and the association of various potential health benefits. They are a safe dietary addition that, when consumed in the correct amounts, offer many health benefits. This review article sums up the current research on the safety of prebiotics. Prebiotics may have some positive results, but there have been some safety worries about their use, which has called more attention to learning more about their safety characteristics. Reports have been published on a few possible aftereffects, which include dilate and gastrointestinal agony. After the consumption of prebiotics for some days, these negative effects are usually moderated. Prebiotics are governed by several organizations, including the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority. Before prebiotics are placed on the shelf on sale, the manufacturers ensure compliance with regulations and instructions. People with preexisting medical conditions or those taking medications are advised to consult their doctor before ingesting prebiotics. Although some people may experience slight gastrointestinal discomfort, human and animal consumption of prebiotics is generally considered harmless. People with particular medical conditions might even benefit from prebiotics.

Fecal carriage of extended spectrum beta-lactamase and fluoroquinolone resistant gene in non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica isolates from food-producing animals and humans

This study seeks to determine the feacal carriage of extended spectrum beta-lactamase and fluoroquinolone resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica isolates from food-producing animals and humans. A total of three hundred (300) fecal samples were collected using sterile universal containers from food-producing animals namely (Chicken [100], Pig [100] and humans (100) from Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and analyzed for the presence of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica using standard microbiological techniques. Phenotypic detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) were done by disc diffusion and Double Disk Synergy Test. Molecular characterization for ESBL and fluoroquinolone-resistant genes were done by PCR with specific primers. The result shows that non-typhoidal Salmonella species (NTS) accounted for 25 % and 17 % in poultry and pig fecal sample respectively while 60 % and 40% were phenotypic ESBL producers respectively. When compared statistically there is significant difference among isolates confirmed ESBL-positive (P˂ 0.05). Also, none of the 16 (58 %) NTS isolated from humans harbored ESBL phenotype. PCR analysis with β-lactam specific primer detected the presence of blaOXA 50 % and 50 %, blaSHV 36 %, and 64 %, blaTEM 43 % and 57 %, blaCTX-M 36 % and 64 % in poultry and pig respectively. Fluoroquinolone resistant gene QnrA was present in 0 and 100 % of poultry and pig respectively. QnrB was 40 % and 60 % in poultry and pig isolates respectively. QnrS was present in 64 % isolates of poultry and 13 % isolates in pig. The high prevalence of genes encoding beta-lactamases and fluoroquinolone resistance (TEM, SHV, CTX-M and OXA, (qnrA, qnrB and qnrS) were present more in poultry and pig than in humans and demonstrate a significant public health threat from consumption of food-producing animal harboring such pathogenic resistant genotype if not properly controlled.&#x0D; Keywords: Extended spectrum beta-lactamase, Fluoroquinolone, non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica, feacal carriage

Animal Consumption at Hospital de San Martín (Gran Canaria): First Zooarchaeological Analysis in the Modern Era of the Canary Islands (Fifteenth-Eighteenth Centuries CE)

AbstractThe Canary Islands were initially colonized around 200 CE by North African Berber populations who brought with them domestic plants and animals. These communities remained isolated until the arrival of Europeans in the Late Middle Ages which triggered the conquest of the archipelago. Its geostrategic location in the framework of Atlantic expansion facilitated the arrival of people, knowledge, goods, plants, and animals which served to shape the new Canarian society. This study explores the dietary practices of this period through the zooarchaeological analysis of the faunal remains recovered at the Hospital de San Martín (fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Spain). Our results suggest that caprines were the main taxa consumed. This follows both the pre-colonial Indigenous tradition and, according to historical sources, the subsequent European period. The faunal assemblage recovered also reveals the first directly radiocarbon-dated cases in the Canary Islands of three hitherto unknown species: cattle, chicken, and rabbit. Moreover, the results evidence a progressive increase throughout the Modern Era of chicken and rabbit, and that translocating these new species to the archipelago during the European expansion led to a diversification of meat resources.

Presence, Co-Occurrence, and Daily Intake Estimates of Aflatoxins and Fumonisins in Maize Consumed in Food-Insecure Regions of Western Honduras.

Foodborne mycotoxins are a significant food safety risk in developing countries. Our objective was to determine the occurrence of and exposure levels to aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) in maize intended for human and animal consumption in food-insecure regions of western Honduras. Total AFs and FBs were quantified with a monoclonal antibody-based affinity spectrofluorimetric method. FBs were detected in 614/631 samples of maize destined for human consumption at 0.3 to 41 mg/kg (mean, 2.7 mg/kg). Of the 614 positive samples, 147 had FB levels exceeding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory threshold of 4.0 mg/kg. AFs were detected in 109/631 samples of maize for human consumption with concentrations between 1.0 and 490 µg/kg (mean, 10 µg/kg). AF levels in 34 samples exceeded the FDA regulatory limit (i.e., 20 µg/kg). The average probable daily intake of AFs in western Honduras ranged from 0 to 260 ng/kg body weight/day, and for FBs, the average probable daily intake ranged from 17 to 53 μg/kg body weight/day. AFs and FBs co-occurred in 106/631 samples with 60 samples containing both toxins at levels greater than the FDA regulatory levels. Samples of maize intended for animal feed had significantly higher AF (mean, 22 µg/kg) and FB (mean, 7.6 mg/kg) contamination levels than those observed in samples destined for human consumption. Thus, the maize supply chain in western Honduras is contaminated with mycotoxins at levels that pose health risks to both humans and livestock. More effective mycotoxin surveillance and implementation of effective mitigation strategies are needed to reduce mycotoxin contamination and exposure.

Exposure to Mycotoxins and Its Importance in Public Health

There are a wide variety of toxic compounds that are produced by fungi, known as mycotoxins, which are extremely important because they are found as contaminants in food for human and animal consumption, mycotoxicoses are diseases caused by mycotoxins, exposure to it occurs by ingestion, by skin contact and inhalation, which cause adverse damage to human and animal health, these effects cost millions of dollars annually in global losses in human and animal health, as well as in agricultural products, some mycotoxins of importance in public health they include aflatoxins, trichothecenes, fumonists, ochratoxins, among others.&#x0D; Objective: The objetive was describe the state of the art on exposure to microtoxins and its importance in public health. The state of the art allows us to conclude that exposure to food contaminated with this type of toxin.&#x0D; Methodology: A search was carried out in information sources indexed in Crossref, Google scholar Web of Science and in some specific journals such as toxins, Biomedical Journal, and Public Health Journal, using the keywords: mycotoxins, mycotoxigenic foods, aflatoxins, aflatoxigenic foods.&#x0D; Results and Conclusions: Has a negative impact on public health. In conclusion it is also urgent to search for alternatives to inhibit the growth of said toxigenic fungi and guarantee food quality, free of mycotoxins. and therefore, risks to human health.

Almarai’s Dilemma: Introducing Planted-based Milk

Almarai has more than four decades supplying the market with quality products. Almarai’s product line includes milk, juices, bakery items, and poultry. The business has been successful in introducing new products to the market. Dairy milk is a highly consumed, and demanded nutritional food product in the GCC and mainly in Kuwait, but the latest trends concentrate on lowering the consumption of animal products.The food industry is aiming toward the plant-based milk options, such as soy, almond, oat, rice, and coconut milk. This case study explores the difficulties encountered by Almarai, a leading dairy company in Kuwait, as it considers whether to introduce plant-based milk to its product portfolio.

Use of insects in feeding of fish (review)

Aquaculture is the fastest growing sector of the global food industry, signaling a paradigm shift in how we meet the growing demand for fish. The current aquaculture production system relies heavily on fishmeal, which is becoming increasingly unsustainable due to stagnant or declining fish catches, especially wild marine fish stocks. A significant percentage of fish stocks are already almost completely used. This situation, combined with the increasing demand for fish, suggests that fishmeal will become a more limiting ingredient, both from a production and price perspective. In response to these pressing issues, there has been a notable surge in research to explore potential alternatives, such as insect meal, which is one of the critical means to ensure the sustainability of aquaculture and overcome the limitations of fishmeal. Insects hold significant promise in the field of animal nutrition, and further research is needed to fully understand their nutritional value in the context of animal feed applications. Insect farming can be effectively done on human by-products or waste, allowing them to convert this rich, cheap organic waste into protein-rich animal biomass suitable for animal consumption. Analytical review found that insect meal has sufficient nutrient composition suitable for potential inclusion in fish feed as a versatile protein source to create individual nutrient profiles. It is worth noting that a wide range of insect species, their various habitats, developmental stages, feeding behavior and other characteristics can affect the nutritional value of insect meal. This diversity makes insect meal an attractive target for further research as an alternative to fish meal.

Feeling morally troubled about meat, dairy, egg, and fish consumption: Dissonance reduction strategies among different dietary groups

A largescale shift towards plant-based diets is considered a critical requirement for tackling ethical, environmental, and global health issues associated with animal food production and consumption. Although previous research has identified psychological strategies that enable meat-eaters to justify and continue meat consumption and feel less morally conflicted about it, research on the psychological strategies that enable consumers to continue dairy, egg, and fish consumption is scarce. We conducted an online survey study using an adjusted version of the Meat-Eating Justification Scale to investigate the use of psychological strategies to cope with cognitive dissonance related to meat, dairy, egg, and fish consumption in omnivores (n = 186), pescatarians (n = 106), vegetarians (n = 143), vegans (n = 203), and flexitarians (n = 63). Results indicated greater use of meat-related dissonance reduction strategies among omnivores as compared to other dietary groups, greater use of fish-related dissonance reduction strategies among fish consumers (omnivores, flexitarians and pescatarians) compared to vegetarians and vegans, and greater use of dairy and egg-related dissonance reduction strategies among dairy and egg consumers (omnivores, flexitarians, pescatarians, and vegetarians) as compared to vegans. This pattern was particularly clear for justifications used to defend animal product consumption, denial of animal suffering, and use of dichotomization when considering meat and fish consumption. These findings highlight the importance of extending the research on dissonance reduction strategies beyond meat consumption and studying the consumption of a range of animal products. This can help in identifying the psychological barriers to adopting a plant-based diet and informing interventions for behaviour change.

Livestock keeping and consumption in improving nutritional status of 6 to 59 months old children in Kasulu rural households

Livestock keeping and consumption of Animal Source Foods (ASF) in Kasulu rural households is relatively poor, thus posing a higher risk of under-five children malnutrition. Therefore, the study examined if livestock keeping and consumption contributes to nutritional status among 6 to 59 months old children. A cross-sectional study design was employed involving 413 households using a semi-structured questionnaire to obtain socio-demographic data using a standardized procedure. The study found a strong relationship between livestock ownership, Animal Source Food consumption, and improved nutritional status. Chicken (p = 0.000), goat (p = 0.025), sheep (p = 0.026), and duck (p = 0.000) showed a strong association in terms of consumption. Animals like chicken (p = 0.011), and pigeons (p = 0.000) consumption showed a strong association with being underweight. Pigeon (p = 0.000) consumption showed a strong association with wasting and no animal consumption showed a strong association with stunting. Binary regression showed a higher odd ratio with goat (OR = 2.576, 95%CI: 0.909-4.076) and (OR = 2.915, 95%CI: 0.334-2.055) led to stunting and underweight respectively. The study concludes that livestock keeping and Animal Source Food consumption improve children’s nutritional status and households in the study area. Therefore Kasulu rural households are encouraged to keep more livestock and consume regularly animal-sourced foods. Keywords: Contribution, animal source food, under five, Kasulu rural households.

"Friends, not food": Depictions of Animals in Vegan Picturebooks

Abstract: Like mainstream children's literature, vegan picturebooks teach children fundamental cultural messaging about food, what (or whom) to eat or not to eat. In doing so, many of these books use some iteration of animals as "friends, not food" to recalibrate the human-animal relationship. Such framing of animals as "friends" or "food" is integral to telling the truth about animal use and consumption by humans, but it can also be problematic because it risks reducing ethical veganism to a dietary practice alone, rather than a holistic philosophy and praxis of animal empowerment. To expose the realities of animal consumption, moreover, some vegan picturebooks include graphic depictions of cruelty to animals, which may not be age-appropriate for younger readers. Informed by critical animal studies (CAS) and vegan studies, this paper analyzes two discursive strategies found in popular vegan picturebooks: encouraging empathy through interspecies similarities ("friends") and foregrounding the impact of what we eat on humans, animals, and the environment ("food"). Vegan picturebooks are selected from recommended lists on vegan blogs, and their popularity is qualitatively analyzed based on reader feedback in online customer reviews. The conclusion reflects on the broader influence of vegan picturebooks on younger readers, provides more context for their focus on animals as food, and considers whether a gentler message of interspecies compassion and an aspirational, rather than identity-based, veganism might be more persuasive in spreading veganism, given its potential to reach vegan allies and other non-vegans.

Early Detection and Classification of Potato Leaf Disease Using an Efficient Deep Learning Model

Plant diseases impact the availability and safety of plants for human and animal consumption, as well as the safety of food, limiting food availability and access and crop output and quality. Especially plants that contribute to the national economy as well as the food needs of its own people. Manual diagnosis of disease in early stages requires so much of expertise, technology assisted automatic disease classification approaches are becoming new norm now a days. In this study, an effort is made to detect potato leaf disease as India is second largest country producing potato. In this research a novel deep learning model for potato leaf disease classification has developed using CNN models and tested on PlantVillage dataset. The proposed model is trained to accurately classify potato leaf disease in 3 classes &amp; the method achieved 99.61% accuracy. The outcome of the experiment demonstrates that, the proposed model outperforms pre-trained model i.e. VGG16 and InceptionV3. The proposed method also tested with respect to its consistency and reliability. Keywords: potato leaf disease classification, deep learning, crop health, convolutional neural network, supervised learning