Diet Cost Research Articles

Initiatives and exposures associated with food security in remote and isolated communities: a scoping review.

Chronic household food insecurity (HFI) and lack of food availability and accessibility in isolated communities are longstanding public health crises. This review aims to paint a more fulsome picture of food security initiatives in remote and isolated communities by examining programs across circumpolar countries, Australia, and Aotearoa New Zealand. This synthesis of research will contribute to an understanding of what types of initiatives exist and aid in the identification of best practices. The authors conducted a scoping review identifying articles that include either (1) an evaluation of an initiative with a quantitative food security outcome in remote and isolated communities, or (2) quantitative associations between exposure factors with food security outcomes. Inclusion criteria included English and French articles focused on remote and isolated communities in Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Greenland, and Russia from January 1997 to July 2022. The article search yielded 1882 results, of which 96 fulfilled the inclusion criteria, including 26 studies evaluating initiatives, 66 studies evaluating exposure factors, and four studies that included both initiatives and exposure factors. The majority of the studies included in this review were conducted in Canada and Australia. No initiative studies conducted in Russia, Greenland, Norway, Finland, or Sweden fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in this review. The most common types of initiatives evaluated included school-based programs, market subsidies, and education initiatives, though a small number (<5) of other programs were evaluated, including traditional food programs and greenhouses. Though multiple programs resulted in lower food costs or increases in healthy food consumption in remote regions, the cost of a healthy diet in these areas remained high, as do levels of HFI. Factors associated with improved food security outcomes included higher income level, access to adequate housing, higher education level, access to transportation for harvesting, and the level of remoteness of a community. The studies included in this review also stressed the importance of access to and affordability of harvesting traditional foods in these regions. Those living in remote and isolated communities are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and lack of access and availability of healthy foods, which are compounded by a variety of socioeconomic factors. This study highlights the lack of quantitative evaluations of food security initiatives in remote and isolated communities, as well as the wide variety in measured outcomes. Authors of several of the included articles note that community-led initiatives, with strong partnerships and local champions, were recommended in these populations, given the culturally and geographically diverse groups living in remote and isolated areas.

Physicochemical, Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Organic Sweet Potato Flour and Its Application in Breadstick

Sweet potato flour (SPF) is used to produce food products worldwide due to good biological activity in the human diet and low cost. In this experiment, sweet potato tubers were processed into flour including purple-SPF, yellow-SPF and orange-SPF and applied in breadsticks. The proximate, physical, phytochemical and antioxidant properties of flour and breadsticks were investigated. The carbohydrate, moisture, ash, fat, protein and fiber contents of SPF ranged from 82.19 - 85.21, 4.12 - 5.78, 1.30 - 2.46, 0.32 - 0.86, 4.07 - 4.74 and 3.58 - 5.65 %, respectively. The water activity (aw) of SPF ranged from 0.2277 - 0.2695. The phytochemical analysis showed that purple-SPF and purple-SPF based breadstick products exhibited the highest total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC) and total anthocyanin contents (TAC), while total carotenoid contents (TCC) was observed in both orange-SPF and breadstick made from orange-SPF. In addition, purple-SPF and breadstick produced from purple-SPF had the highest antioxidant activity against ABTS, FRAP, DPPH and metal chelating activity. The X-ray diffraction patterns of SPF samples showed a C-type crystal structure, with a crystallinity ranging from 19.43 - 31.05 %. The scanning electron micrographs of SPF granules revealed that they were mostly round and spherical, with a size range between 5 - 28 µm. The viscosity characteristics of yellow-SPF had the highest peak viscosity (307.97 ± 9.87 RVU), trough viscosity (200.81 ± 10.07 RVU), breakdown (108.42 ± 3.13 RVU), final viscosity (277.75 ± 8.60 RVU) and setback (76.95 ± 4.03 RVU). The physical quality showed breadstick from yellow-SPF had the highest hardness and fracturability with values of 11,537.67 ± 190.58 g and 11,143.33 ± 161.97 g, respectively. These results indicate that sweet potato flour composite breadstick has high phytochemical and antioxidant potential and may be applied in the food industry.

Effect of Combinations of Protein Sources on Body Weight Growth of Broiler Hens in Morocco

Chickens are so-called omnivorous animals, which require a thoughtful and balanced diet to ensure a good yield. Protein intake is also very important for their muscles and their good egg laying. In order to produce quality chicken, we are interested in defining the optimal combinations of food sources of protein (legumes and cereals). It has been shown that the combination (Phaseolus vulgaris, Triticum turgidum) gave a 7.14% greater weight increase than the weight increase provided by the combination (Pisum sativum, Triticum turgidum). It has been shown that the combination (Phaseolus vulgaris, Triticum turgidum) gave a 7.14% greater weight increase than the weight increase provided by the combination (Pisum sativum, Triticum turgidum). The costs of food sources in the first and second combinations are on average higher than the costs of the control diet, by 35% and 32%, respectively. The costs of food sources in the first and second combinations are on average higher than the costs of the control diet, by 35% and 32%, respectively. Such an increase in the feed costs ingested by the hens was offset by an increase in weight.

Optimization design and evaluation of balanced dietary recipes for college students

University is a key stage for personal growth, development and establishment of lifelong eating habits. This study focuses on the optimization and evaluation of balanced daily dietary recipes for male and female college students. In this paper, a comprehensive assessment model was built based on five dimensions, including the number of food groups, total energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and non-energy nutrients, and the results showed that both male and female students have a more varied dietary structure, but there are deficiencies in the intake of macronutrients and non-energy- producing nutrients, and there is a significant deficit of female students at the energy level. The daily recipe optimization model was constructed to provide a dual focus on nutritional quality and cost-effectiveness. As a result, when optimizing to balance amino acid scores with economy, the recipes achieved improved performance in both aspects, effectively managing dietary costs while ensuring nutritional balance. This study provides a scientific basis and practical recommendations for improving the dietary habits and nutritional health of college students, which can help improve their overall health and academic performance.

Differences in the cost and environmental impact between the current diet in Brazil and healthy and sustainable diets: a modeling study

BackgroundWhile healthy and sustainable diets benefit human and planetary health, their monetary cost has a direct impact on consumer food choices. This study aimed to identify the cost and environmental impact of the current Brazilian diet (CBD) and compare it with healthy and sustainable diets.MethodsData from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey 2017/18 and the Footprints of Foods and Culinary Preparations Consumed in Brazil database were used for a modeling study comparing the cost of healthy and sustainable diets (based on the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines (BDG) diet and the EAT-Lancet diet) versus the CBD. The DIETCOST program generated multiple food baskets for each scenario (Montecarlo simulations). Nutritional quality, cost, and environmental impact measures (carbon footprint (CF) and water footprint (WF)) were estimated for all diets and compared by ANOVA. Simple linear regressions used standardized environmental impacts measures to estimate differentials in costs and environmental impacts among diets scenarios.ResultsWe observed significant differences in costs/1000 kcal. The BDG diet was cheaper (BRL$4.9 (95%IC:4.8;4.9) ≈ USD$1.5) than the CBD (BRL$5.6 (95%IC:5.6;5.7) ≈ USD$1.8) and the EAT-Lancet diet (BRL$6.1 (95%IC:6.0;6.1) ≈ USD$1.9). Ultra-processed foods (UPF) and red meat contributed the most to the CBD cost/1000 kcal, while fruits and vegetables made the lowest contribution to CBD. Red meat, sugary drinks, and UPF were the main contributors to the environmental impacts of the CBD. The environmental impact/1000 kcal of the CBD was nearly double (CF:3.1 kg(95%IC: 3.0;3.1); WF:2,705 L 95%IC:2,671;2,739)) the cost of the BDG diet (CF:1.4 kg (95%IC:1.4;1.4); WF:1,542 L (95%IC:1,524;1,561)) and EAT-Lancet diet (CF:1.1 kg (95%IC:1.0;1.1); WF:1,448 L (95%IC:1,428;1,469)). A one standard deviation increase in standardized CF corresponded to an increase of BRL$0.48 in the cost of the CBD, similar to standardized WF (BRL$0.56). A similar relationship between the environmental impact and the cost of the BDG (CF: BRL$0.20; WF: BRL$0.33) and EAT-Lancet (CF: BRL$0.04; WF: BRL$0.18) was found, but with a less pronounced effect.ConclusionsThe BDG diet was cost-effective, while the EAT-Lancet diet was slightly pricier than the CBD. The CBD presented almost double the CF and WF compared to the BDG and EAT-Lancet diets. The lower cost in each diet was associated with lower environmental impact, particularly for the BDG and EAT-Lancet diets. Multisectoral public policies must be applied to guide individuals and societies towards healthier and more sustainable eating patterns.

A Cross-sectional Study on Dietary Diversity and Diet Cost in Type 2 Diabetic Population

Background: Globally, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is considered a major public health disease, influenced by nutrition and lifestyle patterns. The majority of people worldwide consume nutritionally poor, cereal-based diets. Therefore, assessing dietary diversity, macronutrient intake, and food costs is essential for better diabetes management. Objective: To compare the dietary diversity of the Type 2 diabetic population with estimated dietary costs and other relevant parameters. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 adult Type 2 adult diabetic population. A pre-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on dietary diversity using the Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS), Food Variety Score (FVS) and diet cost estimation using semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. FVS was associated with nutrition status, Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c), macronutrient consumption, socio economic status and the average daily diet cost of the study population. Results: The majority of the population were overweight. 50% of the population had low dietary diversity and had uncontrolled diabetes with HbA1c of 7-8%. Dietary diversity influenced the nutritional status of diabetic people. There was no difference between socioeconomic and living status, HbA1c and FVS. Females had higher per day cost when compared to males. Mean per day increased with the increase in the macronutrient consumption. Conclusion: Diabetic patients often have low dietary diversity, which affects their nutritional status. Therefore, dietary diversity, along with diet cost, is integral to the effective nutritional care of the diabetic population.

Multicriteria Measures to Assess the Sustainability of Diets: A Systematic Review

Abstract Context Assessing the overall sustainability of a diet is a challenging undertaking requiring a holistic approach capable of addressing the multicriteria nature of this concept. Objective The aim was to identify and summarize the multicriteria measures used to assess the sustainability characteristics of diets reported at the individual level by healthy adults. Data Sources Articles were identified via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search strategy consisted of key words and MeSH terms, and was concluded in September 2022, covering references in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Data Extraction This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines. The search identified 5663 references, from which 1794 were duplicates. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts of each of the 3869 records and the full-text of the 144 references selected. Of these, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data Analysis A total of 6 multicriteria measures were identified: 3 different Sustainable Diet Indices, the Quality Environmental Costs of Diet, the Quality Financial Costs of Diet, and the Environmental Impact of Diet. All of these incorporated a health/nutrition dimension, while the environmental and economic dimensions were the second and the third most integrated, respectively. A sociocultural sustainability dimension was included in only 1 of the measures. Conclusion Despite some methodological concerns in the development and validation process of the identified measures, their inclusion is considered indispensable in assessing the transition towards sustainable diets in future studies. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022358824.

Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of the Mediterranean Diet: An Update of a Systematic Review.

It is well known that the Mediterranean diet (DM) is beneficial for health, as years of research globally have confirmed. The aim of this study was to update a previous systematic review that assessed the cost-effectiveness of adherence to the DM as a strategy for the prevention of degenerative diseases by evaluating the economic performance of this diet. The research approach utilized three electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. A comprehensive search was conducted to retrieve articles based on a PRISMA-compliant protocol registered in PROSPERO: CRD 42023493562. Data extraction and analysis were performed on all included studies. One thousand two hundred and eighty-two articles were retrieved, and once duplicates and irrelevant articles were removed, fifteen useful articles were reviewed. The studies indicated a clear link between dietary habits, health, and economic aspects related to dietary cost and health spending. Recognizing the significant health benefits associated with adopting DM and the potential savings on health care spending, it is important for national public health programs to consider policies that support this lifestyle.

Examining cost and affordability of nutrient adequate diets alongside a novel combined market score derived from Fill the Nutrient Gap food price data in the west Sahel

Extensive food price data collected for three Fill the Nutrient Gap nutrition situation analyses were used to calculate two metrics – cost and affordability of nutrient-adequate diets – to assess food and nutrition security at subnational level in the late-dry season and beginning of the dry season in Mauritania. A unique market scoring classification was derived using retail food price data collected in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mauritania to assess on food price and food assortment (availability) across markets in the three countries. Diet cost and affordability was examined alongside three structural drivers of food insecurity – rainfall, infrastructure (roads) and conflict – to understand how they may have influenced nutritious food prices, diversity and non-affordability during the late-dry season during the period of analysis. Results showed that more diverse low-cost markets and lower non-affordability of nutrient-adequate diets were observed in Burkina Faso's well-connected agricultural areas experiencing no conflict, while limited higher-cost markets were observed in central pastoral areas of Mauritania, and pastoral, agropastoral and some agricultural areas experiencing conflict in Burkina Faso and Mali. In agricultural Mali, despite having diverse low-cost markets, low nutrient-adequate diet cost, sufficient rainfall, seemingly well-connected road networks, these combined factors did not guarantee nutrient-adequate diet affordability, highlighting economic barriers faced by households. Regions affected by both harsh climatic conditions and conflict are at higher risk of high food prices and non-affordability.

Estimating the cost and affordability of healthy diets: How much do methods matter?

Recently developed cost and affordability of healthy diet (CoAHD) metrics have quickly become mainstream food security indicators. However, published research on the sensitivity of estimation methods is limited. This paper focuses on two important innovations in CoAHD measurement at the global level. First, we develop a demographic scaling factor to adjust healthy diet costs for cross-country differences in age structures, since younger populations generally require fewer calories than older populations. Second, we improve the way in which household expenditure available for purchasing food (“food budgets”) are derived. In addition, we explore sensitivity of global CoAHD estimates to potential problems with the representativeness and food product coverage of global food price data and vary assumptions for activity levels that shape energy expenditure requirements. We apply these explorations to the EAT-Lancet reference diet in 137 countries using price data from 2017. Relative to the conventional methods, we find that demographic scaling and improved food budget derivation substantially reduces the estimated population who cannot afford a healthy diet, from 3.02 to 2.13 billion. Adjustments for low product coverage can lead to modest reductions for specific regions and food groups, while higher physical activity assumptions increase the share of people who cannot afford a healthy diet, though perhaps implausibly so. Methods clearly matter in CoAHD estimation, and more accurate and timelier CoAHD estimates have substantial scope to improve policy analysis, design and targeting.

Wet markets in Southeast Asia and access to healthy diets

Hunger and malnutrition in all forms continues to rise in Africa and Asia. Urban and rural communities’ diets in Southeast Asia (SEA) are increasingly unhealthy, with consumption influenced by affordability and convenience. The cost of a healthy diet is a major barrier to accessing healthy foods in SEA. Wet markets are key places in food environments where people buy and sell a variety of foods. They are especially important for food and nutrition insecure communities. This mini narrative review explores the role that wet markets, in SEA food environments, play in providing local communities with access to healthy foods. Fourteen peer-review papers, published in English between 2017 and 2022, were identified during screening and analysed according to six food environment domains. Findings highlight that convenient access to wet markets facilitates access to fruits and vegetables in peri urban and urban areas. Fresh foods, most notably fruits, were viewed as being more expensive than processed foods which in turn influenced purchasing behavior. Divergent findings were presented in the identified papers regarding affordability of food in wet markets. Concerns about food quality and the use of chemicals and pesticides were raised. This review was constrained by several factors including the lack of consistent and meaningful definitions and typologies of the varied forms of wet markets. Looking ahead, better defined interpretations of wet markets can enhance the development and refinement of appropriate policies and actions and comparison of wet markets, in respect of access to diverse, healthy foods, vendor practices and consumer food choices.

Adherence to medication, dietary and physical activity recommendations: Findings from a multicenter cross-sectional study among adults with diabetes in rural South Africa.

Diabetes is a complex health condition requiring medical therapy and lifestyle modifications to attain treatment targets. Previous studies have not fully explored factors associated with adherence to medication, diets and physical activity recommendations among individuals living with diabetes in rural South Africa. We examined the association between knowledge, health belief and adherence to medication, dietary, and physical activity recommendations and explored self-reported reasons for non-adherence. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 399 individuals living with diabetes recruited over 12 weeks from six randomly selected primary healthcare centres in rural South Africa. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained by self-report. Health beliefs, knowledge, and adherence were assessed using validated measures. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out. The majority (81.7%) of the participants were females, with a mean age of 62 ± 11 years. Only 39% reported adhering to their prescribed medication regimen, 25% reported adhering to dietary recommendations, and 32% reported adhering to physical activity recommendations. The most cited reasons for non-adherence were lack of access to (n = 64) and cost of drugs (n = 50), perceived high costs of healthy diets (n = 243), and lack of time (n = 181) for physical activity. Level of education was an independent predictor of medication adherence [odds ratio, OR = 2.02 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.20-3.40)] while diabetes knowledge was independently associated with both medications [OR = 3.04 (95% CI: 1.78-45.12)]; and physical activity adherence [OR = 2.92 (95% CI: 1.04-2.96). Positive health belief was independently associated with adherence to medications [OR = 1.72 (95% CI: 1.15-2.57) and dietary recommendations [OR = 1.75 (95% CI: 1.04-2.96)]. Adherence to three important self-care practices, medication, diet, and physical activity, was suboptimal in this study setting. Socioeconomic reasons and access barriers were significant drivers of non-adherence, while increased knowledge and positive health beliefs were potential facilitators. Efforts to improve medication adherence and foster engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviours must consider patients' knowledge and health beliefs. Primary healthcare providers should create awareness on the importance of adherence on health outcomes for people with diabetes. Likewise, efforts to increase the availability and affordability of medications for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations should be prioritised by the key health stakeholders.

Cost of patient and staff diet in Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Galle

Background: Government hospitals in Sri Lanka offer all services free of charge including the patient diet. Currently patient care services are affected by increasing health care cost in state hospitals. Cost cutting measures are essential in health care management in public sector without sacrificing the standards of care provision. Analysing hospital diet costs is crucial to figuring out how to save indirect operating costs while maintaining service quality and standards.Objective: To determine the cost of diet for patients and staff in the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out retrospectively to determine the cost of patient and staff diet. The step-down costing method was used in this study, and secondary data was collected from kitchen records, the diet branch and the finance branch during the month of August 2023.Results: The total expenditure for the diet during the period was 9,864,157 LKR and per unit cost was 182.76 LKR to provide diet for patients and staff. The cost of breakfast, lunch and dinner was, 117 LKR, 225.39 LKR and 179.5 LKR respectively.Conclusion: The unit cost for diet was higher compared to previous Sri Lankan hospital study findings but lower than the present market price. Separate registers to record capital items and consumables are recommended to determine the diet cost in future and for the interventions to improve quality and reduce the cost.

106 Net energy of soybean meal

Abstract Our current net energy (NE) systems were developed based on work conducted around 40 yr ago. At that time, it was normal that pigs deposited no more than 40% of the protein they were fed. However, modern genetic lines are much leaner than older genetics and they deposit more protein than earlier. It is, therefore, not uncommon that protein deposition in modern genotypes exceeds 60% of dietary protein intake. This means that more of the amino acids in the protein-rich ingredients are used for protein deposition and less are being deaminated with a subsequent reduced energetic cost of deamination associated with feeding protein-rich ingredients. As a consequence, the theoretical energy value of protein rich ingredients such as soybean meal (SBM) is greater when fed to modern pigs than to older genotypes that were used when our current NE systems were developed. Indeed, in several recent experiments it was demonstrated that the ME and NE of SBM is greater than indicated in current feed ingredient tables. A greater NE than predicted has also been demonstrated for field peas, whereas corn does not seem to have increased energy value compared with previous estimates, which is consistent with the hypothesis that it is the increased protein efficiency of modern pigs that is the reason for the greater NE value in SBM. As a consequence of the greater NE value of SBM, less added fat need to be used to reach a certain NE level in the diet, which will reduce overall diet costs. However, because of the greater genetic capacity for protein deposition in modern pigs, there is a need to upgrade the NE system and to develop new equations to predict NE in diets and ingredients based on the protein deposition capacity of modern pigs. It can also be argued that because commercially fed pigs always are group housed and allowed ad libitum intake of feed, pigs fed to generate prediction equations for NE also need to be group housed and allowed ad libitum intake of feed because both animal behavior and level of feed intake may affect the NE value of diets. In conclusion, because of the increased ability of modern genotypes of pigs to retain dietary protein in the body, there is reduced deamination of amino acids and therefore reduced energy loss in modern pigs than in older genotypes, which results in greater NE of protein rich ingredients including SBM. There is, therefore, a need for developing a new NE system that preferably uses group-housed pigs that are allowed ad libitum access to feed.

252 Evaluation of phase feeding and complete diet blending at different standardized ileal digestible lysine levels on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics and diet costs

Abstract A total of 2,160 mixed-gender pigs [PIC 337 × 1050; initial body weight (BW) = 24.9 ± 0.97 kg) were used in the 120-d study to compare feeding strategies (phase feeding vs complete diet blending) at different SID Lys levels (90 vs 100% of suggested requirement estimates) on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economics. Pens of 27 pigs were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a completely randomized block design with barn and initial BW as blocking factors resulting in 20 pens/treatment. The treatments included two feeding programs: a 5-phase feeding strategy at either 90% (Phase-90) or 100% of SID Lys requirement estimates (Phase-100) or blending of complete diets with pre-defined mixing proportions of a low and high SID Lys diet to meet 90 (Blend-90) or 100% (Blend-100) of the SID Lys curve requirement estimates for 23 to 127 kg pigs. Lysine levels were based on PIC 2021 requirement estimates. The 90% SID Lys diets were formulated to contain 4.38, 3.73, 3.06, 2.66 and 2.44 g SID Lys per Mcal NE for phases 1 to 5, respectively. The 100% SID Lys diets were formulated to contain 4.86, 4.15, 3.40, 2.96 and 2.71 g SID Lys per Mcal NE for phases 1 to 5, respectively. Pigs in phase-feeding strategies were fed on a feed budget with 21, 65, 67, 63 and 62 kg per pig for phases 1 to 5, respectively. Final BW and overall average daily gain (ADG; d 0 to 120) were not affected by the feeding strategy nor by diet SID Lys levels. In contrast, overall average daily feed intake (ADFI0 of pigs fed by diet blending was less than those fed by phase feeding (P = 0.002) resulting in increased gain to feed ratio (G:F; P &amp;lt; 0.001) for pigs fed by diet blending (table). The SID Lys levels did not influence overall ADFI or G:F. Hot carcass weight, carcass yield, percentage lean, fat depth and loin depth were not affected by the feeding program. Despite the decreased overall ADFI and increased G:F of pigs fed by diet blending, feeding strategy resulted in no significant differences in economic criteria except for reduced feed cost per kg gain at high price scenario (P = 0.049) for diet blending. With low diet cost, the 90% SID Lys level resulted in decreased feed cost per pig and feed cost per kg gain than 100% SID Lys (P &amp;lt; 0.001), but differences were not detected in income over feed cost (IOFC). In conclusion, diet blending at either 90 or 100% of the SID Lys requirement estimate reduced ADFI and increased G:F without impacting average daily gain (ADG) or carcass characteristics. At ingredient prices used in this study, feeding strategies at either 90 or 100% SID Lys did not significantly affect IOFC, but feeding 90% of SID Lys recommendation reduced feed cost.

PSII-14 Economic impact of adding exogenous enzymes in a sorghum-based diet for growing and finishing pigs

Abstract Food efficiency in production aims for better productive results in body weight gain and reduction of dietary costs. Sorghum is a great cereal to use in pig feed, but it has a greater concentration of phytate than corn, which is not degraded by monogastric animals. The addition of exogenous enzymes aims to increase nutrient digestibility, providing greater efficiency of use. The study aim was to evaluate the performance of the animals and the economic viability of the joint use of protease and phytase in sorghum-based diets of sorghum for finishing pigs. The experiment was carried out on a commercial farm, in Patos de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Commercial hybrid pigs (n = 240; 70 d old; body weight = 26 kg) were used. Individually identified and distributed in pens respecting body weight and sex blocks in a randomized block design, two treatments with 12 replications each were evaluated, totaling 24 experimental plots, with 10 animals each. In treatment 1, control diet based on sorghum and soybean meal (SBM) with phytase 600 FYT/kg of feed (HiPhorius); and treatment 2, same composition as treatment 1 with addition of 30,000 NFP/kg of feed of protease (ProAct 360). The diets were formulated according to Brazilian tables and use nutritional matrix of enzymes (phytase and protease), excepted in control group. At 0, 48, 70 and 89 d of the experiment, the animals were weighed individually, and all the food provided was weighed and the leftovers were quantified, providing information for calculating the variables: average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The feeding program costs were calculated. The results were submitted to the variance test, using the statistical program SAS, version 9.4. The difference between mean values was considered statistically significant when P &amp;lt; 0.050, using the Turkey test. There was no statistical difference (P &amp;gt; 0.05) between treatments in relation to ADFI between 0 to 49 d (P = 0.110), 0 to70 d (P = 0.431) and 0 to 89 d of experiment (P = 0.490). There was also no impact on ADG at 0 to 49 d (P = 0.325), 0 to 70 d (P = 0.834) and 0 to 89 experimental days (P = 0.915); and FCR at 0 to 49 days (P = 0.304), 0 to 70 d (P = 0.470) and 0 to 89 experimental days (P = 0.177). Although, there was no effect on the performance indices evaluated in this study, the use of exogenous enzymes such as proteases can have an economic impact on the composition of the pig diet, as it reduced the nutritional cost, increased the revenue per pig produced, increased the margin on feed in 1.06% and reducing the cost per kilogram produced by 1.18%. Therefore, the association of protease and phytase showed a significant economic impact when used in diets based on sorghum and SBM for growing and finishing pigs, even with no direct impact on performance indices.

Food prices and the wages of the poor: A cost-effective addition to high-frequency food security monitoring

The affordability of nutritious food for “all people, at all times” is a critically important dimension of food security. Yet surprisingly, timely high-frequency indicators of food affordability are rarely collected in any systematic fashion despite price volatility emerging as major source of food insecurity in the 21st Century. The 2008 global food crisis prompted international agencies to invest heavily in monitoring domestic food prices in low and middle income countries (LMICs). However, food price monitoring is not sufficient for measuring changes in diet affordability; for that, one must also measure changes either in income or in an income proxy. We propose using the wages of unskilled workers as a cheap and sufficiently accurate income proxy, especially for the urban and rural non-farm poor. We first outline alternative measures of “food wage” indices, defined as wages deflated either by consumer food price indices or novel healthy diet cost indices. We then discuss the conceptual strengths and limitations of food wages. Finally, we examine patterns and trends in different types of real food wage series during well-known food price crises in Ethiopia (2008, 2011 and 2022), Sri Lanka (2022) and Myanmar (2022). In all these instances, food wages declined by 20–30%, often in the space of a few months. In Myanmar, the decline in real wages during 2022 closely matches declines in household disposable income. We strongly advocate tracking the wages of the poor as a timely, accurate and cost-effective means of monitoring food affordability for important segments of the world’s poor.

Aligning health, environment, and cost aspects of diets: Identifying sustainable dietary patterns in China

Considering the adverse effects of agricultural-food systems on both human health and the environment, this research aimed to identify sustainable diets, which are nutritious, culturally acceptable, affordable, and have low environmental impacts, based on self-reported diets in China. Dietary data was collected with a 3-day 24-h dietary recall and weight food record combined method among 10,324 subjects aged 18–64 year, who participated in the China Health Nutrition Survey 2011. Diet quality was assessed by the Chinese Healthy Eating Index 2016 (CHEI2016). Environmental impact was measured by greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), total water use (TWU), and land use (LU), and diet costs were calculated using market prices of community surveys. Reduced rank regression derived dietary patterns with 34 food groups as predictor variables, and used CHEI2016 score, dietary greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), total water use (TWU), land use (LU), and cost of the diet as response variables. Four dietary patterns were identified. Participants with the highest adherence (decile 10) to the “High animal-based food” pattern showed higher dietary GHGE (+57%), TWU (+51%), and LU (+54%) and dietary costs (+64%), compared to the average population's diets. The diet in decile 10 for the “High fruit, low ruminant meat” pattern displayed a 21% higher CHEI2016 score, and higher dietary environmental impact (GHGE +17%; TWU +22%; LU +19%) and dietary costs (+46%) than the average diets. Diets of participants who followed the “High fish, low beverages” pattern showed higher environmental impact (GHGE +39%; TWU +32%; LU +28%) and dietary costs (+19%), but the CHEI2016 score was similar (+0.1%). Finally, the “High wheat, low pork” pattern demonstrated lower environmental impacts (GHGE -17%, TWU -12%, LU -2%) and lower cost of the diet (−2%) but also lower CHEI2016 score (−1%) compared to average population. This study reveals the complex trade-offs between diet quality, environmental sustainability, and dietary costs of current dietary patterns. None of the four patterns achieved the desirable combination of high CHEI2016 scores, reduced environmental impact, and reduced dietary costs. The findings offer insights into sustainable diet choices within the current food system, suggesting dietary guidelines should consider environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

Moderate low-cost modifications in diet prevent a substantial number of deaths and mitigate environmental impacts in Brazil.

This study aimed to estimate the health, economic, and environmental impacts of moderate simulated interventions on dietary intake in Brazil. Data on food price and consumption were obtained from three nationwide surveys. Baseline dietary intake was estimated for 33,859 individuals aged 25years and older. Counterfactual intakes were based on six hypothetical intervention scenarios, by changing the weekly frequency and serving size in low or high consumers of fruit and vegetables (FV), milk, whole grains, red and processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages. For each scenario, we estimated the attributable number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALY), monetary cost, environmental impacts (14 midpoint indicators), and environmentally-mediated health impacts. Compared with the baseline intake and cost, the most expensive intervention (+ 8.3%) was to increase FV intake (+ 125g), resulting in a 1.2% reduction in all-cause mortality (16,307 deaths/year). The cheapest (- 9.9%) was to reduce red and processed meat intake (- 40g), resulting in a 1.1% reduction in all-cause mortality (14,272 deaths/year). The combined intervention was, on average, 3.7% cheaper than the baseline cost, resulting in an increase in diet cost for 30% of the population (45-22% in the lower- and higher-income groups); all-cause mortality would be reduced by 3.8% (49,488 deaths/year). Interventions targeting red and processed meats would reduce emissions and resource use by 35-55%, in addition to reducing 2300 DALYs/year. A meaningful number of deaths can be avoided and environmental impacts reduced through moderate and potentially affordable diet modifications.

Assessing the sustainability of cultured meat in optimized Danish diets

Reducing animal-sourced foods in diets saves a significant share of environmental impacts. Sustainable dietary patterns have proposed large reductions in red meats in particular. Foods with the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of diets are under increasing investigation, and cultured meat, produced by culturing animal cells, could play a key role, especially for diet transitions away from high red meat consumption. In this paper, the inclusion of cultured meat in optimized Danish diets is explored through minimizing climate impact in greenhouse gas emissions measured through Global Warming Potential (GWP) with ±30 %, 60 %, and 90 % stepwise changes from current diets while meeting nutritional requirements; the total consumer diet costs were also assessed. Three optimization models were run, one with a cultured meat diet (all animal-sourced meats are replaced with cultured meat), an omnivore diet (with conventional animal-sourced foods and no cultured meat), and a vegan diet (neither cultured meat nor other animal-sourced foods are allowed). Results revealed that both omnivore diets with and without cultured meat and vegan diets can achieve impact improvements compared to current diets. The greatest GWP reductions can be seen in the cultured meat diet (8.0 Mt CO2 eq./yr) and vegan diets (9.8 Mt CO2 eq./yr) with 90 % deviation in both from current diets. These reductions could represent potential Danish national emissions decrease of 21 % and 25 %, respectively, in 2022 impacts. Cultured meat diets resulted in the highest costs (11.58€/day) compared to the current diets (8.05€/day), vegan diets (6.49€/day), and omnivore diets (6.11 €/day). This paper provides key information about diet shifts and the potential of novel foods to reduce carbon emissions compared with the current diets. Although the socio-cultural acceptability and technological readiness of cultured meat, which represent crucial prerequisites to its inclusion in diets, still need to be assessed.