Food Council Research Articles

THE PIGS MARKET IN POLAND AND GERMANY - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Because of various trends in the pork market in Poland and Germany, the aim of the study was to recognize conditions of live pork production in those countries. The study of the literature of the subject and data from a variety of institutions (CSO, Eurostat, European Commission, Danish Agriculture & Food Council, GVI) in the study were used. The research shows that breeding pigs in Poland is certainly more diffuse, than by the Western boundary. Pork producers in Germany are increasingly using the so-called economies of scale. In addition, the pork market is more integrated. The development of pigs in Germany is due to the policy changes that led to changes within the manufacturing and related sectors of agro-industrial complex. It is necessary to increase the scale of production in the farms in Poland to deepen the specialization of production in relation to piglets and fattening, as well as encourage farmers to work in producers groups.

STEM Food and Ag Council Launches ‘Feed, Nourish, Thrive’ Campaign

CSA NewsVolume 60, Issue 12 p. 18-18 News & Perspective STEM Food and Ag Council Launches ‘Feed, Nourish, Thrive’ Campaign First published: 03 December 2015 https://doi.org/10.2134/csa2015-60-12-6Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume60, Issue12December 2015Pages 18-18 RelatedInformation

Outcome of a public consultation on the Draft Scientific Opinion of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) on Dietary Reference Values for phosphorus

Outcome of a public consultation on the Draft Scientific Opinion of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) on Dietary Reference Values for phosphorus

Outcome of a public consultation on the Draft Scientific Opinion of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) on Dietary Reference Values for vitamin A

Outcome of a public consultation on the Draft Scientific Opinion of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) on Dietary Reference Values for vitamin A

Gestão de um programa de alimentação escolar em um município paulista

Esta pesquisa teve como objeto de estudo o Programa de Alimentação Escolar da rede municipal de ensino de Ribeirão Preto. Constitui-se como objetivo caracterizar o modelo de gestão deste programa, durante o período de 1996 a 2007. Na primeira fase do estudo, utilizou-se metodologia qualitativa, cujas técnicas foram: entrevista semi-estruturada, observação participante e análise documental. A análise de dados inspirou-se no método hermenêutico-dialético. Na segunda fase, a coleta de dados utilizou a análise documental. Durante a primeira fase do estudo, identificou-se que, de acordo com as percepções dos atores sociais envolvidos no programa, não era avaliado o impacto nutricional da alimentação oferecida, visando subsidiar o planejamento. No nível central, o processo de compras era considerado o maior entrave e nas unidades o maior problema foi a falta de infra-estrutura. Foram apontadas diferenças entre os programas desenvolvidos nas escolas estaduais e municipais. Recomenda-se revisão dos objetivos do programa, promovendo discussão que inclua a participação popular, através do Conselho Municipal de Alimentação, articulada às políticas de alimentação inseridas nos setores de Saúde e Bem-Estar. Na segunda fase do estudo, foram identificadas modificações na gestão do programa desenvolvido nas escolas municipais, com terceirização da mão-de-obra, implantação de ações pontuais para avaliação do estado nutricional dos usuários e de controle de qualidade na gestão de suprimentos, ainda que persistam problemas na política de compras e recrudescimento da deficiência de supervisão das unidades.

Validation of a 24 h recall questionnaire culturally modified for use in rural south Indian populations

Validation of a 24 h recall questionnaire culturally modified for use in rural south Indian populations

Análise dos pareceres conclusivos dos Conselhos de Alimentação Escolar sobre a execução do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar

OB JETIVO: Analisar as informações contidas nos pareceres dos Conselhos de Alimentação Escolar de todo o Brasil sobre a execução do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar. MÉTODOS: Estudo quantiqualitativo que analisa 4.256 pareceres na fase quantitativa e 2.299 na qualitativa, referentes ao ano de 2009. Também foram analisados 4.135 Demonstrativos Sintéticos Anuais, que tratam da execução físico-financeira do Programa. Na fase qualitativa, investigou-se o conteúdo dos pareceres por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo. RESULTADOS: A análise quantitativa mostrou que, em 24,4% (n=1.009) das localidades, não houve contrapartida da entidade executora na compra de gêneros alimentícios, e a maioria dos pareceres (78,7%, n=3.348) apresentou assinatura de apenas um conselheiro. A análise qualitativa dos pareceres apontou que 64,5% (n=1.483) das localidades brasileiras adotavam a gestão centralizada e que 23,9% (n=549) das entidades executoras investiam recursos próprios na compra de gêneros alimentícios. A modalidade de licitação mais frequente foi o pregão (32,7%, n=751), e apenas 4,9% (n=112) dos pareceres afirmaram realizar a compra de alimentos oriundos da agricultura familiar. Entre as atribuições dos conselhos, ressaltaram-se a análise da prestação de contas (59,1%, n=1.359) e o acompanhamento da elaboração dos cardápios (36,5%, n=838) como sendo as mais frequentes. CONCLUSÃO: A execução do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar em suas diferentes vertentes foi evidenciada pela análise dos pareceres dos Conselhos de Alimentação Escolar e dos Demonstrativos Sintéticos Anuais, caracterizando-os como instrumentos de monitoramento do Programa. Os achados servem de subsídio para estratégias de melhoria da qualidade da alimentação escolar e fortalecimento do Conselho de Alimentação Escolar.

Promoção da aquisição de produtos da agricultura familiar para a alimentação escolar em Territórios da Cidadania de Minas Gerais e Espírito Santo

OBJETIVO: Contribuir para a promoção da aquisição de produtos da agricultura familiar para a alimentação escolar em Territórios da Cidadania do País. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo de intervenção com abordagem de articulação de redes intersetoriais presenciais, desenvolvidas a partir da atuação de equipes compostas por nutricionista, educador popular e engenheiro agrônomo ou técnico agrícola, que visitaram, por pelo menos dois momentos, todos os municípios pertencentes aos Territórios da Cidadania, visando articular redes intersetoriais presenciais capazes de desencadear processos locais de mobilização, organização e apoderamento de diferentes atores para a aquisição de produtos da agricultura familiar para a alimentação escolar nos municípios que compõem os referidos territórios. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mais expressivos foram: 14% dos municípios visitados apresentaram melhora na organização da agricultura familiar; 14% dos gestores passaram a apoiar o processo de aquisição de alimentos segundo a Lei nº 11.947/2009, e 27% dos municípios que não possuíam nutricionista contrataram o profissional. Não foram considerados satisfatórios os resultados obtidos para situação do Conselho de Alimentação Escolar. CONCLUSÃO: As ações desenvolvidas foram capazes de contribuir positivamente para o avanço da implementação da Lei Federal nº 11.947/2009 nos Territórios de Cidadania abordados.

Image cytometer method for automated assessment of human spermatozoa concentration

In the basic clinical work-up of infertile couples, a semen analysis is mandatory and the sperm concentration is one of the most essential variables to be determined. Sperm concentration is usually assessed by manual counting using a haemocytometer and is hence labour intensive and may be subjected to investigator bias. Here we show that image cytometry can be used to accurately measure the sperm concentration of human semen samples with great ease and reproducibility. The impact of several factors (pipetting, mixing, round cell content, sperm concentration), which can influence the read-out as well as inter-operator and -cytometer variation on two different image cytometers (NC-3000 and SP-100) were evaluated. Furthermore, 725 semen samples were assessed both by manual assessment (WHO recommended method) and by image cytometry and tight correlations between the measured concentrations were shown. Moreover, by evaluation of repeated measurements it appeared that image cytometry produced more consistent and accurate measurements than manual counting of human spermatozoa concentration. In conclusion, image cytometry provides an appealing substitute of manual counting by providing reliable, robust and easy measurement of human sperm concentration.

The contribution of gastroenteropancreatic appetite hormones to protein‐induced satiety

We studied the hormonal mediation of the satiating effect of protein by a randomized, double‐blind, crossover meal‐test study testing three similar meals with varying protein content. Twentyfive men (BMI: 25.9 kg/m2) were exposed to isocaloric meals with fixed 30E% fat and protein adjusted at the expense of carbohydrate: normal (NP) = 14 E%; medium‐high (MHP) = 25 E% (MHP); high (HP) = 50 E% protein. Protein increased satiety and fullness dose‐dependently compared to NP: 7 and 6% greater for MHP, 16 and 19% greater for HP (P<0.001) respectively. Protein also increased GLP‐1 dose‐dependently: 10% for MHP (3.4±2.4, P=0.02), 20% for HP (6.9±2.4, P<0.0001); PYY by 7% for MHP (P=0.0002) and by 14% for HP (P<0.0001). Glucagon was increased by 47% (P<0.0001) for MHP and by 116% (P<0.0001) for HP. HP increased insulin and CCK, and decreased ghrelin and GIP, compared to NP (P<0.05). There was an interaction between GLP‐1 and PYY 3–36 (P=0.03) as a determinant of satiety, besides the additive effect of GLP‐1 (P=0.006) on composite appetite score. We conclude that protein dose‐dependently increases satiety and that postprandial changes in circulating GLP‐1, PYY and glucagon are partly responsible for the appetite suppressant effect of protein.Supported by grant from Danish Agricultural and Food Council

The Brazilian school feeding programme: an example of an integrated programme in support of food and nutrition security.

The present paper analyses the advances and challenges of the school feeding programme in Brazil (PNAE), as part of the Brazilian experience building up an integrated food and nutrition security national system. It explores the role of policy and regulatory frameworks in constructing quality service delivery and intersectoral integration. Review of PNAE and federal government technical documents and studies, legislation, minutes of meetings and official documents of the National Council of Food and Nutrition Security from 2003 to 2011. Food insecurity has decreased significantly in Brazil in the last decade, indicating that appropriate choices were made in terms of public policies and institutional arrangements, which other countries can learn from. Brazil food and nutrition security system; school feeding; school food. Brazil's integrated food and nutrition security policy approach promoted intersectorality in the food system, articulating actions to guarantee access to healthy food and to strengthen family farming. The quality of school meals has progressively improved; in particular, the availability of fruits and vegetables increased. However, national standards regarding menu composition have not yet been met. Regulations were an important factor, along with the policy approach linking food production, nutrition, health and education. Challenges are related to conflict of interests and to farmers' insufficient capacity to meet supply requirements and comply with technical procedures. Local food production, school meals and nutrition education can be linked through integrated programmes and policies, improving access to healthier foods. Government leadership, strong legislation, civil society participation and intersectoral decision making are determinant.

Local Food System Development in Hungary

This article examines local food system (LFS) development pathways in the context of recent regulatory reforms in Hungary implemented to promote local product sales and short food supply chains (SFSCs). Taking a SFSC approach, two case studies demonstrate how new types of local food systems initiated by non-farmers attempt to shorten the distance between consumers and producers. The findings are based on qualitative key informant interviews and a consumer attitude survey data that seek to identify how LFSs promote or enact sustainable food supply and how consumers perceive the nature of the relationships between consumers and producers. The results from the ‘Godoll? Local Food Council’ and the ‘Szekszard local food system’ show various specificities and challenges of new types of emerging urban civic food networks. The article concludes by pointing to critical factors and tools for developing LFSs, as well as reflecting on the role of original research to facilitate change for a more sustainable food system.

Compliance with children’s television food advertising regulations in Australia

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Australian co-regulatory system in limiting children’s exposure to unhealthy television food advertising by measuring compliance with mandatory and voluntary regulations. An audit was conducted on food and beverage television advertisements broadcast in five major Australian cities during children’s programming time from 1st September 2010 to 31st October 2010. The data were assessed against mandatory and voluntary advertising regulations, the information contained in an industry report of breaches, and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.ResultsDuring the two months of data collection there were a total of 951 breaches of the combined regulations. This included 619 breaches of the mandatory regulations (CTS) and 332 breaches of the voluntary regulations (RCMI and QSRI). Almost 83% of all food and beverages advertised during children’s programming times were for foods classified as ‘Extras’ in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. There were also breaches in relation to the amount of advertising repetition and the use of promotional appeals such as premium offers, competitions, and endorsements by popular children’s characters. The self-regulatory systems were found to have flaws in their reporting and there were errors in the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s compliance report.ConclusionsThis audit suggests that current advertising regulations are inadequate. Regulations need to be closely monitored and more tightly enforced to protect children from advertisements for unhealthy foods.

Response to Letter to Editor on the critique of "Neonatal piglet traits of importance for survival in crates and pens" by B. Ask (Pig Research Center), J. Dahl (Danish Agriculture and Food Council), M.B. Nielsen (Pig Research Center) and V. A. Moustsen (Pig Research Center).

Response to Letter to Editor on the critique of "Neonatal piglet traits of importance for survival in crates and pens" by B. Ask (Pig Research Center), J. Dahl (Danish Agriculture and Food Council), M.B. Nielsen (Pig Research Center) and V. A. Moustsen (Pig Research Center).

Organização e dinâmica do Conselho Municipal de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional de São Paulo: implicações para a sua atuação na construção da política municipal de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional

OBJETIVO: Analisar o funcionamento, a organização e a participação política internas do Conselho Municipal de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional de São Paulo e quais as possíveis implicações decorrentes na sua atuação no processo de construção de uma política municipal de segurança alimentar e nutricional. MÉTODOS: O estudo de abordagem qualitativa constituiu-se em três etapas: análise documental de atas; observação de reuniões e realização de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com conselheiros, considerados informantes-chave. O eixo de análise foi a participação política do Conselho considerando seus aspectos internos, como composição, dinâmica de funcionamento e participação política de seus membros e a relação destes tópicos com a atuação do Conselho na definição e elaboração de uma política municipal de segurança alimentar e nutricional. RESULTADOS: O perfil "intelectualizado" dos conselheiros não é representativo da maioria da população e facilita o afastamento de questões concretas nas discussões do conselho; a rígida dinâmica interna e a assimetria entre seus membros dificultam, de forma geral, a participação ativa dos conselheiros e, especificamente, as discussões sobre políticas de segurança alimentar e nutricional. Os denominados "conselheiros-militantes" apresentam participação diferenciada, mais crítica, com maior domínio sobre o tema e suas discussões. CONCLUSÃO: O perfil dos conselheiros, a organização interna do Conselho, além da complexidade do tema e sua pequena inserção na sociedade, fazem que o conselho atue distante das demandas sociais e de forma incipiente com relação às políticas de segurança alimentar e nutricional no município.

Roles and capacity of duty bearers in the realization of the human right to adequate food in Uganda

The right to adequate food recognised under international law provides a strong foundation for eradicating hunger and malnutrition in all nations. Uganda ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1987 and thereby committed itself to ensure the realization of the right to adequate food recognised under Article 11 of the Covenant. This study analysed the roles and capacity of duty bearers in the realization of the right to adequate food in Uganda. Structured interviews were held with purposefully selected duty bearers from 11 districts in the country between February and July 2007. Districts were selected by criterion based sampling. Relevant policies, budgets, and legislation were also reviewed, particularly with state obligations on human rights, and capacity of duty bearers in mind. Although this right is expressly recognised in the Food and Nutrition Policy of 2003 in which a multi-sectoral approach is proposed, sector-specific roles are not explicitly defined in Uganda’s institutional and policy framework. Most duty bearer (63%) considered the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) as being responsible for the delays in implementing the relevant actions for the right to food. The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) reported receiving inadequate budget resources to support the right to food. Only 20% of duty bearers had knowledge of the General Comment 12, which is an important United Nations instrument that defines and elaborates on the human right to adequate food. Duty bearer’s knowledge of the right to food in the national Constitution had a significant (X2 = 0.003; P<0.05) positive correlation (R=0.283) with membership status to an ad hoc Uganda Food and Nutrition Council (UFNC). A proposed Food and Nutrition Bill had taken over 10 years without being presented to the National Parliament for the process of enactment into law. As such, most of the support for this right came from development partners. Whereas the ministry of health and MAAIF are line ministries in the implementation of food and nutrition policy, the right to food roles of the various duty bearers in Uganda need to be well defined. Capacity development is also needed, particularly related to integrating right to food sector-specific roles into the theoretical development and practical implementation of food and nutrition security programmes at all levels in the country.

A Menagerie of Promotional Characters: Promoting Food to Children through Food Packaging

Objective To determine the extent to which (1) promotional characters are used on food packaging for healthful and less-healthful food and (2) different companies use this persuasive marketing strategy. Design Cross-sectional supermarket audit of all food and beverages featuring promotional characters on the packaging. Setting Three Australian supermarket chains. Variables Measured Frequency of observed products, package size, nutritional composition. Analysis Frequencies and bivariate analyses was conducted. Nutritional composition (healthful vs less healthful) was analyzed by character type and company type, that is, whether the company was signed to the Australian Food and Grocery Council Responsible Marketing to Children Initiative (RMCI) signatory. Results Products featuring promotional characters on packaging (n = 352) were predominantly less-healthful food and beverages (76%). Nutritional composition varied significantly by character type, with 69% of products with sportspersons, celebrities, or movie tie-ins being healthful, compared with 48% of licensed and 21% of company-owned characters. Only 13 of the 75 companies using characters on packaging were RMCI signatory. Conclusions and Implications Promotional characters are largely used on food packaging to promote less-healthful food to children. Most of these characters are company-owned characters that are not subject to any form of regulation in Australia. Further efforts to limit this form of marketing to children are required.

Industry self regulation of television food advertising: Responsible or responsive?

This study evaluated the impact of the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) self-regulatory initiative on unhealthy food marketing to children, introduced in January 2009. The study compared patterns of food advertising by AFGC and non-AFGC signatory companies in 2009, 2007 and 2006 on three Sydney commercial free-to-air television channels. Data were collected across seven days in May 2006 and 2007, and four days in May 2009. Advertised foods were coded as core, non-core and miscellaneous. Regression for counts analyses was used to examine change in rates of advertisements across the sampled periods and differential change between AFGC-signatory or non-signatory companies between 2007 and 2009. Of 36 food companies that advertised during the 2009 sample period, 14 were AFGC signatories. The average number of food advertisements decreased significantly from 7.0 per hour in 2007 to 5.9 in 2009. There was a significant reduction in non-core food advertising from 2007 to 2009 by AFGC signatories compared with non-signatory companies overall and during peak times, when the largest numbers of children were viewing. There was no reduction in the rate of non-core food advertisements by all companies, and these advertisements continue to comprise the majority during peak viewing times. While some companies have responded to pressures to reduce unhealthy food advertising on television, the impact of the self-regulatory code is limited by the extent of uptake by food companies. The continued advertising of unhealthy foods indicates that this self-regulatory code does not adequately protect children.

Paths towards Food Self- Reliance: Community Food Councils

Paths towards Food Self- Reliance: Community Food Councils

Herd-level risk factors for antimicrobial demanding gastrointestinal diseases in Danish herds with finisher pigs: A register-based study

Endemic gastrointestinal (GI) diseases have a substantial negative impact on pig production, because, when present, they reduce animal welfare, productivity and generate high antimicrobial (AM) demand. In Danish legislation, AM can be prescribed only for therapeutic purposes. The objective of the study was to estimate the association between herd-level risk factors and the amount of AM use (AMU) in connection with GI diseases in finisher herds. We conducted a register-based cross-sectional study with repeated measurements from 2004 to 2007. Data were extracted from databases in the Danish Register of Veterinary Medicine, the Central Husbandry Register and the Danish Agriculture and Food Council. In total, 3192 pig herds with 26,973 records (quarters with prescriptions) were included. The outcome was presented as average AM use (measured as Animal Daily Dosage) for GI diseases per finishing pig per quarter per herd. Three potential herd-level risk factors were evaluated: herd size (number of finishers delivered for slaughter); herd health status (herds in the Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) System, conventional herds); and herd type (herds including only finishers, integrated herds). Data were analyzed using general linear mixed models with repeated measurements. Smaller herds had a larger AMU per finisher than larger herds. Integrated herds had lower AMU as compared with herds with only finishers. Herds within the SPF System had a larger decrease in AMU with increasing herd size compared to conventional herds. Significant regional differences in AMU were seen. Additionally, the results showed that other herd factors and veterinarians were more influential than the investigated herd risk factors. This illustrates the difficulties of characterising AM-demanding GI diseases in herds by the use of register data only.