Animal Offal Research Articles

Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of heavy metals in the offal of animals from Felele Abattoir, Lokoja, Nigeria

The consumption of metal-contaminated offal of animals will affect the health of humans. Thus, the research determined the concentrations of heavy metals in the offal and muscle tissues of cows, goats, and ram slaughtered at the main abattoir in Lokoja, northcentral Nigeria. Furthermore, an evaluation was carried out to assess the potential health hazards faced by the indigenous population due to the consumption of heavy metals from these animals. The mean concentrations of metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) in the kidney, liver, and muscle of cows, goats, and rams were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. Estimated daily intake of the metals, hazard quotient, hazard index, and cancer risk were calculated. All internal organs had Ni levels above the regulatory threshold limit. The average concentration of Pb in the muscle tissue and liver of the tested animals exceeded the permissible limits by the WHO. Similarly, the concentration of Cd in the muscle tissues was above the Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) of 0.05 mg kg−1. Except for cow kidneys, all internal organs contain Cr levels below the MPL (1.0) limit. The THQ value for the metals was < 1 except Cd. It indicates potential health risks due to Cd. The calculated HI values were > 1. The percentage contribution of Cd to the HI value was the highest. The observed sequence is Cd > Ni > Cr > Pb > Al. The results show that eating the offal and muscle under investigation has a carcinogenic effect.

Comparison study of food, energy and nutrient intake by 24-hour dietary recall method on two consecutive days versus three consecutive days

To compare the differences in estimated food, energy, and nutrient intakes between the consecutive 3 days 24-hour dietary recall(24HR)(referred to as the 3-day method) and consecutive 2 days 24HR(referred to as the 2-day method) to provide a basis for the use of consecutive 2 days 24HR in China nutrition surveillance. Using objective sampling to select participants in northern and southern provinces, dietary data were obtained through consecutive 3 days 24HR, and the average intakes of food, energy and nutrients were calculated for three days from Thursday to Saturday and two days on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The 3-day method was considered as the reference standard method to evaluate the performance of the 2-day method for estimating food, energy and nutrient intakes. Among 778 participants aged 18-60 years in urban and rural areas of two provinces, the errors of the mean and median of 2-day method for estimating the intake of four major food categories less than 6% compared with the 3-day method, and there were significant equivalencies(P&lt;0.025) and no significant differences in four major food categories group(P&gt;0.05). Of the 24 food groups estimated by the 2-day method, 17 had mean errors within 5%, the largest error was in animal offal(13.45%) and the smallest in fruit(0.15%), and there were significant equivalencies(P&lt;0.025) and no significant differences in seven food groups(P&gt;0.05). For energy and nutrients, the mean and median errors of energy were less than 0.5% and there were significant equivalencies(P&lt;0.025) and no significant differences for energy(P&gt;0.05). Among the 25 nutrients, except sodium, iodine and vitamin E, the mean and median errors of the other 22 nutrients were less than 5%, and there were significant equivalencies(P&lt;0.025) and no significant differences in 16 nutrients(P&gt;0.05). There was little difference between the two survey method in assessing the intake of high consumption frequency foods, energy and most nutrients at group level, the 2-day method can be used as an alternative to the 3-day method to collect dietary intake data with high consumption rates in the population.

Edible Offal as a Valuable Source of Nutrients in the Diet-A Review.

The global increase in demand for meat leads to substantial quantities of by-products, including edible offal from both wild and domesticated animals raised for diversified consumption products within an agricultural framework. Information on the nutritional value of offal is scattered and limited. This review aims to synthesize scientific publications on the potential of offal as a source of nutrients and bioactive substances in human diets. The literature review included publications available in ISI Web of Science and Google Scholar published between 2014 and 2024. Findings indicate that edible offal is characterized by a nutrient concentration often surpassing that found in skeletal muscle. This review discusses the yield of edible offal and explores factors influencing human consumption. Selected factors affecting the nutritional value of offal of various animals and the importance of individual nutrients in ensuring the proper functioning of the human body were analyzed. The optimal use of offal in processing and catering can significantly benefit aspects of human life, including diet quality, food security, and conservation of natural resources.

Relationship between dietary pattern and depressive symptoms: an international multicohort study

BackgroundSeveral previous studies have shown that dietary patterns are associated with the incidence of depressive symptoms. However, the results have been inconsistent. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the association between dietary patterns and the risk of depressive symptoms in two large cohort studies.MethodsThe Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) cohort study included a total of 7,094 participants living in Tianjin, China from 2013 to 2019, and the UK Biobank cohort study includes 96,810 participants who were recruited from 22 assessment centers across the UK taken between 2006 and 2010. All participants were free of a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and depressive symptoms at baseline. Dietary patterns at baseline were identified with factor analysis based on responses to a validated food frequency questionnaire in TCLSIH or Oxford WebQ in UK Biobank. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) in TCLSIH or hospital inpatient records in UK Biobank. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms.ResultsA total of 989, and 1,303 participants developed depressive symptoms during 17,410 and 709,931 person-years of follow-up. After adjusting for several potential confounders, the multivariable HRs (95% CIs) of the depressive symptoms were 0.71 (0.57, 0.88) for traditional Chinese dietary pattern, 1.29 (1.07, 1.55) for processed animal offal included animal food dietary pattern, and 1.22 (1.02, 1.46) for sugar rich dietary pattern in TCLSIH (all Q4 vs Q1). In the UK Biobank, the HRs (95% CIs) of depressive symptoms were 1.39 (1.16, 1.68) for processed food dietary pattern (Q4 vs Q1), 0.90 (0.77, 1.00) for healthy dietary pattern (Q3 vs Q1), and 0.89 (0.75, 1.05) for meat dietary pattern (Q4 vs Q1) in the final adjusted model.ConclusionDietary patterns rich in processed foods were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms, and following a traditional Chinese dietary pattern or healthy dietary pattern was associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms, whereas meat dietary pattern was not associated.

Dietary and maternal sociodemographic determinants of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance levels in pregnant women

Diet, including drinking water, and demographic characteristics have been associated with PFAS exposure levels in the general population. But data in pregnant women are scarce. We aimed to examine the PFAS levels in relation to these factors in early pregnancy and included 2545 pregnant women in early pregnancy from the Shanghai Birth Cohort. Ten PFAS were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS-MS) in plasma samples at around 14 weeks of gestation. Geometric mean (GM) ratios were used to estimate the associations between demographic characteristics, food intake and source of drinking water and concentrations of nine PFAS with a detection rate of at least 70%, and the total perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (∑PFCA), perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (∑PFSA) and all the PFAS concentrations (∑PFAS). Median concentrations of plasma PFAS ranged from 0.03 ng/mL for PFBS to 11.56 ng/mL for PFOA. In the multivariable linear models, maternal age, parity, parental education level, marine fish, freshwater fish, shellfish, shrimps, crabs, animal kidneys, animal liver, eggs, and bone soup in early pregnancy were positively associated with plasma concentrations of certain PFAS. Whereas pre-pregnancy BMI, plant-based foods, and drinking bottled water were negatively associated with some PFAS concentrations. In summary, this study suggested that fish and seafood, animal offal, and high-fat foods (eggs and bone soup) were significant sources of PFAS. PFAS exposure may be reduced by consuming more plant-based foods and potential interventions, such as drinking water treatment.

Association between the intake of animal offal and depressive symptoms: a TCLSIH cohort study.

Background: Previous cohort studies on the association between animal offal intake and depressive symptoms are limited, especially in Asian populations. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the association between animal offal intake and the risk of depressive symptoms in a general Chinese adult population. Methods: This prospective cohort study included a total of 7745 (57.6% males) inhabitants living in Tianjin, China. Participants without a history of CVD, cancer, and depressive symptoms at the baseline were followed up for 1.5 to 5 years with a median of 3 years follow-up. Animal offal was assessed using a validated self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the cutoff score was set at 45. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association between animal offal intake and depressive symptoms. Results: A total of 1101 (630 men) people developed depressive symptoms during 19 074 person-years of follow-up. After adjusting for several potential confounders and setting "almost never" as the control group, the multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the depressive symptoms were 0.96 (0.81, 1.15) for tertile 1, 1.04 (0.87, 1.24) for tertile 2, and 1.34 (1.13, 1.58) for tertile 3, respectively (P for trend <0.001). Conclusion: The results from our prospective study demonstrated that the intake of animal offal is positively associated with depressive symptoms.

High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol as a Potential Medium between Depletion of Lachnospiraceae Genera and Hypertension under a High-Calorie Diet.

Gut microbial dysbiosis has been associated with hypertension. An extremely high incidence of essential hypertension was found in the Han and the Yugur people who resided in Sunan County in China's nomadic steppes, with little population movement. To investigate gut microbial contributions to this high incidence of hypertension, we recruited a total of 1, 242 Yugur and Han people, who had resided in Sunan County for more than 15 years and accounted for 3% of the local population. The epidemiological survey of 1,089 individuals indicated their nearly 1.8-times-higher prevalence of hypertension (38.2 to 43.3%) than the average in China (23.2%), under a special high-calorie diet based on wheat, cattle, mutton, and animal offal. Investigations of the fecal microbiota of another cohort of 153 individuals revealed that certain Lachnospiraceae genera were positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) but negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). HDL-C was negatively correlated with SBP and DBP. We further observed that the serum butyrate content was lower in both Han and Yugur people with hypertension than in those without hypertension. This study gives novel insight into the role of gut microbial dysbiosis in hypertension modulation under a high-calorie diet, where the notable depletion of Lachnospiraceae genera might lead to less production of butyrate, contributing to the lower level of HDL-C and elevating blood pressure in hypertension. IMPORTANCE Dietary nutrients can be converted by the gut microbiota into metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, which may serve as disease-preventing agents in hypertension. Due to the limited population mobility and unique high-calorie dietary habits, the cohort of this study can serve as a representative cohort for elucidating the associations between the gut microbiota and hypertension under a high-calorie diet. Moreover, low levels of HDL-C have previously been associated with an increased risk of various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Our findings provide new insight showing that low levels of HDL-C may be a potential medium between the depletion of Lachnospiraceae genera and hypertension under a high-calorie diet, which might also be a potential candidate for other CVDs.

Risk factors for obesity and overweight in Chinese children: a nationwide survey.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze a comprehensive set of potential risk factors for obesity and overweight among Chinese children with a full range of ages and with wide geographical coverage.MethodsIn the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Obesity and Diabetes in Youth (PRODY) study (2017‐2019), the authors analyzed 193,997 children aged 3 to 18 years from 11 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities that are geographically representative of China. All participants underwent physical examinations, and their caregivers completed questionnaires including dietary, lifestyle, familial, and perinatal information of participants. A multilevel multinomial logistic regression model was used to evaluate the potential risk factors.ResultsAmong the actionable risk factors that were measured, higher consumption frequencies of animal offal (odds ratios [OR] for an additional time/day = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.88‐0.95, same unit for OR below unless specified otherwise), dairy products (0.91, 95% CI: 0.88‐0.94), freshwater products (0.94, 95% CI: 0.91‐0.96), staple foods (0.94, 95% CI: 0.92‐0.96), and coarse food grain (OR for every day vs. rarely = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86‐0.98) were associated with lower relative risk of obesity. However, higher restaurant‐eating frequency (OR for >4 times/month vs. rarely = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.15‐1.29) and longer screen‐viewing duration (OR for >2 hours vs. <30 minutes = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.10‐1.22) were associated with higher relative risk of obesity. Increased exercise frequency was associated with the lowest relative risk of obesity (OR for every day vs. rarely = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.68‐0.77).ConclusionsChanges in lifestyle and diet of Chinese children may help relieve their obesity burden.

Association between dietary patterns and depressive symptom based on reduced rank regression in people aged 55 and above in 4 provinces of China

To investigate the dietary patterns related to depressive symptoms based on reduced rank regression in people aged 55 and above in 4 provinces of China and the degree of association between this dietary pattern and depressive symptoms. Stratified, multi-stage, cluster and random sampling method was used to collect personal information such as demographic characteristics, behavioral lifestyles, disease history and medicine use in Chinese aged 55 and above who participated in the baseline survey of &quot;Community-based Cohort Study on Nervous System Diseases&quot; project conducted in 2018 and 2019 in Hebei, Zhejiang, Shaanxi and Hunan Provinces. Food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain dietary data. Depressive symptom was assessed by geriatric depression scale with a cut-off of 11. Participants who have incomplete demographic information, dietary data or scores of geriatric depression scale, and those whose intake frequency of each food-group &gt;99. 5% were excluded. A total of 11 497 participants, 43. 1% of whom were male, were involved in this study with average age of(67. 3±7. 6) years. The reduced rank regression method was used to extract depressive symptoms-related dietary patterns by gender, and the degree of association between dietary patterns and depressive symptom was analyzed by logistic regression. Among males, the depressive symptoms-related dietary pattern was characterized by the higher intake frequency of fried flour-made food, meat, processed meat, animal offal, and preserved eggs, and the lower intake frequency of liquid milk/milk power/cheese, fresh eggs(except preserved eggs) and nut. Among females, the depressive symptoms-related dietary pattern was characterized by the higher intake frequency of fried flour-made food, meat, processed meat, animal offal and preserved eggs, and the lower intake frequency of coarse cereals, fruits, liquid milk/milk power/cheese and fresh eggs(except preserved eggs). The highest quartile group of the dietary pattern score had a significantly higher risk of depressive symptom than the lowest quartile group(OR=3. 498, 95% CI 2. 624-4. 663, P&lt;0. 001 for males; OR=3. 853, 95% CI 3. 002-4. 944, P&lt;0. 001 for females). The depressive symptoms-related dietary pattern is characterized by the higher intake frequency of fried flour-made food, meat, processed meat, animal offal and preserved eggs, and the lower intake frequency of liquid milk/milk power/cheese and fresh eggs(except preserved eggs) in the Chinese aged 55 and above. The score of this dietary pattern is significantly positively correlated with depressive symptom.

РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ МОНИТОРИНГА БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ ПРОДУКТОВ ЖИВОТНОГО ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЯ В СУБЪЕКТАХ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

The article presents the results of monitoring of the residues of prohibited and harmful substances carried out in 2020 by state veterinary laboratories under the jurisdiction of the subjects of the Russian Federation. Monitoring studies of food and feed are currently carried out by 33 regional veterinary laboratories, while microbiological studies are conducted for the presence of salmonella, listeria, CMAFAnM, BGCP, staphylococci, somatic cells, toxic elements (lead, cadmium, copper, mercury, zinc, iron), antibiotics (teracycline, penicillin bacitracin, streptomycin, levomycetin), pesticides (DDT, HCG), mycotoxins (aflatoxin M1, B1), radionuclides, histamine and polychlorinated biphenyls, oxymethylfurfural, diastase number (honey). In total, in 2020, veterinary laboratories of the subjects of the Russian Federation tested 151,408 samples of products, for which 59,1009 studies were conducted and 3508 (0.6%) positive results were obtained. The following products were studied: meat of all animal species and offal (13.3%), milk (68.3%), fish (6.6%), honey (1%), egg (0.3%), feed (7%). The largest number of positive results was obtained in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Altai Territory. In the same regions, a greater number of studies were conducted (more than 130 thousand). The smallest number of studies was conducted in the Vladimir Region and the Republic of Karelia (less than 200 samples). Non-compliance with veterinary and sanitary requirements was mainly detected in fish (1.3%), milk (0.7%) and offal (0.6%). In the remaining products, the discrepancies ranged from 0.02 to 0.2%.

Flotsam: Garbage dumping, pollution, and legal tensions in the Detroit River

This paper examines garbage dumping as a transboundary water conflict that brought to the surface issues of federalism as it did territorial sovereignty by examining a garbage trial in the town of Amherstburg, along the Detroit River. In June 1895, the collector of the town of the Canadian town of Amherstburg seized an American scow and tug which were accused of dumping garbage into the Detroit River near Canadian waters. As a transboundary waterbody, both the United States and Canada had access to and interest in the Detroit River; it was an important commercial water as well as fishing ground. The garbage contained all sorts of waste including animal offal, much to the chagrin of Amherstburg’s residents and officials. In the trial that followed, local officials and residents argued that the garbage interfered with fish catches and was a general nuisance. The collector had seized the vessels only after he had first tried to get a directive from the Ministry of Agriculture. His telegram asking for direction received a reply telegram which was merely an acknowledgement of receipt. When he did hear back, from another ministry, he was told it was a local matter as there was no contravention of a federal policy. To the American owners of the tug and scow, the garbage trial (as it came to be known) was not merely a local issue. Local officials and residents testified to their growing annoyance and the overall inconvenience caused by the dumping at the trail. To federal officials, this remained a local matter. By following the garbage trial and its aftermath, this paper shows how garbage became a local, federal, and transboundary issue, all at once thus exposing the interstitial space that garbage occupies. In so doing, expands our understanding of garbage, pollution, and their evolution as binational issues between the United States and Canada before the formation of the International Joint Commission.

Effect of Accumulation of Heavy Metals in the Red Fox Intestine on the Prevalence of Its Intestinal Parasites.

Simple SummaryHeavy metal pollution of environmental ecosystems has become rather a significant factor in assessing them, as heavy metals can significantly influence animal health. The objective of this study was to examine a possible association between contents of selected heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead, chrome, zinc, and manganese in intestines of foxes and between prevalence of fox intestinal parasites. The association was not fully proven. On the contrary, sensitivity of parasites to cadmium was demonstrated; with increasing cadmium content in the intestine of the host, prevalence of parasites decreased to zero. No parasites were found in the intestine, when concentration of accumulated cadmium exceeded the level of 0.05 milligrams per kilogram, which represents the limit for meat (excluding offal) of bovine animals, sheep, pig, and poultry according to the Regulation (EU) No. 488/2014 amending the Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006). Thus, even cadmium content below the above limit showed an impact on parasite biodiversity.The aim of this study was (i) to compare levels of accumulated heavy metals in the fox intestines with and without parasites. Moreover, our research also dealt with (ii) examination of the relationship between heavy metal content in fox intestines and between the presence of fox intestinal parasites. The intestines of 34 hunter-killed foxes were dissected to detect the occurrence of parasites. In 15 intestinal samples, parasitic intestinal helminths were found. Heavy metal content in small intestine tissue and in parasites was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The prevalence of parasites was significantly dependent on Cd content in the host’s small intestine (p < 0.01). To conclude, the authors suggest that parasites are sensitive to Cd levels; their prevalence in the intestines of the fox host decreases to zero with increasing Cd content.

AUJESZKY’S DISEASE IN A DOG - CASE REPORT

This article reports on the occurrence and diagnosis of Aujeszky’s disease in a dog. The procedure for isolation and identification of Aujeszky’sdisease virus was described. A dog of unknown breed aged about two years died of Aujeszky’s disease after consuming animal offal (internal organs: lungs, spleen, kidneys) fed by the owner after slaughtering piglets and preparing meat for cooking. As early as 24 hours after consuming the offal, the dog manifested characteristic symptoms of Aujeszky’s disease, which were immediately recognized by the veterinarian. The death occurred within less than 24 hours upon first clinical signs of disease. Aujeszky’s disease virus was isolated and identified from brain and internal organ (lung and spleen) samples of the dog at the Department of Virology of the Scientific Veterinary Institute „Novi Sad“. Isolation and identification of the virus was performed on PK-15 porcine kidney cell line and using nested PCR technique.

Core food model of the Taiwan food supply for total diet study

ABSTRACTFollowing the core food (CF) models of the USA and France reported in the 2000s, this study presents the first oriental CF model, for total diet studies in Taiwan. First, we combined the four latest national dietary recall surveys from 2005 to 2012, data sets from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) covering all ages (1 to 65+ years old). In total, 3,098 NAHSIT food codes from 349,497 records of responses from 7,580 individuals were aggregated within a three-tiered scheme into 237 CFs in 54 subcategories and 16 categories. As with Western foods, Taiwanese foods were mainly aggregated by food type and major ingredient, processing method, cooking method or serving habit. In addition, we propose several categories typical to Taiwanese foods: (1) processed foods (e.g. rice paste, rice noodle, bean curd); (2) mixed foods (e.g. tomato fried with egg, Guangdong porridge) and stuffed staple foods (e.g. rice cake, zongzi); (3) Chinese Dim Sum (e.g. dumpling, salted bun); and (4) animal offal (e.g. pig liver, chicken kidney) and by-products (e.g. chicken head, pig foot). Systematic nomenclature and coding methods are also proposed. A computerised web model was developed using a graphical user interface (GUI) for automatic CF aggregation and inquiry of various consumption estimates according to the residing area, age group, and gender of consumers. Point estimates of weighted means were calculated for consumption rates (CR) based on the whole group (WG) or consumers only (CO). The CR and body weight (BW) of each individual were matched to calculate mean intake per unit body weight (g/kg bw/day). A general sample design procedure with the CF model is suggested for a total diet study (TDS) on target hazards. Strategies are also discussed for improving the quality of food matching in sample designs.

Determinants of plasma concentrations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in pregnant women from a birth cohort in Shanghai, China

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used in commercial applications and have been commonly detected in pregnant women in Europe and North America. However, data on PFAS concentrations in pregnant women in China are limited. Additionally, the determinants of maternal PFAS concentrations with respect to diet habits have been less extensively described, especially in Asian countries. In the present study, we aimed to measure PFAS concentrations in pregnant women and evaluate sociodemographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors as potential determinants of PFAS concentrations. We analyzed eleven PFASs in maternal blood samples (N = 981) collected at 12–16 weeks of gestation between April and December 2012 at Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Minhang District in Shanghai, China. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the associations of PFAS concentrations with maternal sociodemographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors. Eight PFASs, including perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), were detected in >85% of the samples. PFOA and PFOS were the predominant PFASs with high median concentrations (19.97 ng/mL and 10.81 ng/mL, respectively). Pregnant women who were older, multiparous, well educated, passive smokers, with lower per capita household incomes, and had lived in rooms decorated within the past two years had higher PFAS concentrations, after mutual adjustment for maternal sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyles. With regard to dietary factors, intake of red meat, poultry, animal offal, fish, pastries and fried food, and drinking tap water during pregnancy contributed to higher concentrations of most PFASs, after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyles. Furthermore, higher intake of wheat, coarse cereals, tubers, and soy products was associated with lower maternal PFAS concentrations. Our findings indicate that PFASs were ubiquitous among pregnant women in Shanghai. We provide new evidence for the association between dietary factors and maternal PFAS exposure in China.

Identification of Heavy Metal Plumbum (Pb) in Edible Offal

Plumbum (Pb) is a heavy metal that its presence is undesirable because it can lead to the formation of residues in animal or human body which cause health problems. Pb source can be derived from disinfectant, bedding materials, corrosion equipment, paint, animal feed, water and soil. Livestock farming is difficult to avoid Pb contamination, so it is important to do research on the identification of Pb in edible animal offal (pig liver, beef cattle tripe and lamb kidney). This research is an exploratory study on 12 samples of pig liver, 12 samples of beef cattle tripe and 12 samples of lamb kidney which sold in the traditional market in Bandung, the samples were analyzed using AAS machine at Balai Penelitian Veteriner in Bogor, data were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that 50% of beef cattle tripe contains residues of heavy metals Pb, accounted 0.98 ppm on average, while all samples of pig liver and lamb kidneys contain residues of heavy metals Pb with average residues 0.35 ppm and 0.50 ppm, respectively. This condition is safe because it below the MRL (Maximum Residue Limits) established by SNI which is 1.00 ppm.

Association between dietary patterns and metabolic syndrome in Chinese adults: a propensity score-matched case-control study.

Previous studies indicated that dietary patterns were associated with metabolic syndrome (MS), but little is known in Chinese. We design this case-control study to evaluate the associations between dietary patterns and MS in Chinese adults. In this study, 1492 participants with MS were matched with 1492 controls using the 1:1 ratio propensity score matching methods. Dietary intake was assessed using a valid self-administered food frequency questionnaire, and MS was defined in accordance with the criteria of the American Heart Association scientific statement of 2009. Higher scores for the high-protein/cholesterol pattern were associated with higher prevalence of MS. Compared with the participants in the lowest quartile, the odds ratio (OR) for the extreme quartile was 1.36 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10–1.68) and the P for trend <0.01 after adjusted for the other two dietary pattern scores. We also found a moderate consumption of the balanced pattern was associated with the lowest prevalence of MS. The ORs across quartiles of the balanced pattern were 1 (reference), 0.83 (95% CI, 0.68–1.02), 0.69 (95% CI, 0.56–0.85), and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.68–1.04) after adjustment. Our study demonstrates that there is a strong association between a diet rich in animal offal, animal blood, meat, and sausage and a higher prevalence of MS.

Dietary Patterns are Associated with Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Chinese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Previous studies indicated that food consumption was associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, but no study has yet investigated the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between Helicobacter pylori infection and dietary patterns in Tianjin, China. The final cross-sectional study population comprised 10407 participants. Dietary consumption of participants was assessed via food frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns, and Helicobacter pylori infection status was diagnosis by H. pylori urease Immunogold Testing kit. Participants in the highest quartile of the high-carbohydrate/sweet pattern showed a multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI) of 1.65 (1.27–2.17) for the prevalence of H. pylori infection compared with those in the lowest quartile. The multiple adjusted OR for scores of the extreme quartile of high-protein/cholesterol pattern was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.57–0.98). This study demonstrated that a diet rich in carbohydrates and sweets was positively associated with the prevalence of H. pylori infection; interestingly, a diet characterized by high intake of animal offal, animal blood, fish, seafood, and poultry was associated with a reduction of prevalence of H. pylori infection.

Robotic Sorting of Ovine Offal: Discussion of a Soft Peristaltic Approach

At present, animal offal is either processed manually or left unprocessed if sufficient labor is not available. In lamb meat processing, robotic solutions have been developed for removing the pelt, the internal organs, and the bones. Traditional robotic sensing and manipulation is, however, not applicable to handling the soft, slippery, and unordered organ package. We hypothesize that the problem of automatically sorting animal offal can be solved by a soft actuation technique and industrial robotics in conjunction with machine vision. In this article, we structure the technical approach, discuss its viability based on the available literature, and point out where its challenges lie. To this end, we conceptualize a robotic sorting system in which a peristaltic table is used to order the organ package. The ordering process is controlled using visual feedback from the automatic recognition of the organs. When an organ is in optimal position, it is picked up and lifted by a soft vacuum gripper. The exposed tissue connections to the organ package are cut and the organ is removed from the table. Gripper and cutter are mounted on a bi-arm robot. The peristaltic table has a soft silicone surface with a matrix of independently inflatable cells. By controlling inflation, moving wave shapes are produced that drive the organ package on the surface. Organs are recognized from sets of neighboring local features in color-depth images. Constellations of organs will be recognized by partitioning the feature space of a spatially sensitive multiorgan descriptor. A graphical model relates peristaltic movement patterns to organ configurations.

Results of the monitoring of perfluoroalkylated substances in food in the period 2000 ‐ 2009

Perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) are a large group of compounds consisting of a fully or partially fluorinated hydrophobic alkyl chain and a hydrophilic end group. Due to their thermal and chemical stability they are used in e.g. cleaning agents, impregnation agents for textiles, carpets, paper, packaging, furniture, paint and varnish, fire-extinguishing liquids, wax, floor polishing agents. Several PFASs are recognised as generally persistent in the environment and are associated with a broad spectrum of health effects. Human exposure may result through e.g. consumption of contaminated food, beverages and inhalation. The European Commission issued the Commission Recommendation 2010/161/EU on the monitoring of PFASs in food in the Member States. Member States were recommended to monitor the presence of PFASs in food during the years 2010 and 2011. Data obtained, as well as data collected in the previous years, was required to be submitted to EFSA for assessment. A total of 4,881 samples collected in previous years (2000 – 2009) in seven Member States was considered for a detailed data analysis. Data were reported on different sets of 17 PFASs resulting in 24,204 single observations. Overall, only 11.8 % of the results were quantifiable results. Perfluorooctane sulfonate was the most frequent compound (31 %). Across food groups, PFASs were mostly found in ‘Fish offal’ (68 %), ‘Edible offal, game animals’ (64%), ‘Meat, game mammals’ (22 %), ‘Water molluscs’ (20 %), ‘Crustaceans’ (17 %) and ‘Fish meat’ (9.7 %). The highest contamination both in terms of frequency and mean level was found in meat and edible offal of game animals, fish and seafood, whereas meat and edible offal of farmed animals resulted less contaminated. To ensure an accurate assessment of the presence of PFASs in food and beverages, further improvement of the analytical methods, sampling and data reporting are recommended.