Consumption Of Fresh Fish Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of the Frequency of Fresh and Frozen Fish Consumption Among Two Cohorts of Pregnant Women

Objectives: today’s consumers are increasingly interested in the relationship between food and health, recognizing food as a means to meet nutritional needs and prevent diseases. A diet rich in fish is beneficial to health, potentially protecting against cancer, cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases. During pregnancy, adequate nutrition benefits both the mother and the unborn child. This study compares pregnant women from a decade ago with those recently enrolled to evaluate differences in eating styles, specifically the consumption of fresh and frozen fish. Methods: we compared 114 pregnant women from 2013 with 168 women from 2023, using the same questionnaire to evaluate their eating habits during pregnancy, focusing on fresh and frozen fish consumption. Variables for statistical analyses included age, education, profession, family size, pre-pregnancy BMI, differential BMI, and frequency of fish consumption. Results: the comparison showed an increase in fish consumption, both fresh and frozen, among pregnant women in 2023 compared to 2013, indicating greater awareness of the health benefits of fish. Changes in dietary habits were influenced by profession, education level, and family size. Women in the 2023 cohort experienced smaller weight gain during pregnancy, suggesting potential health benefits. These shifts likely result from improved nutrition education and access to healthy foods, highlighting the importance of public health efforts to enhance maternal and fetal health. Conclusions: significant changes in the dietary habits of pregnant women over a decade were observed, with increased fish consumption in 2023 compared to 2013. These findings emphasize the role of nutrition education and improved access to healthy foods in promoting maternal and fetal health.

Determination of 40K, 238U and 232Th Activity Levels in Fishes from River Kubanni in Nigeria

Radionuclides exist naturally in the water, soil and air and human activities can increase the concentration of background radiation and redistribution of radioactive isotopes in the environment. In this study, the radioactivity concentration of three radionuclides (40K, 232Th and 238U) was measured in three fish species, Oreochromis niloticus (Tilapia), Brycinus leuciscus (Kawara), Brienomyrus longianails and Clarias anguilaris (catfish) in river Zaria (Kubanni). The results showed that 40K and 232Th concentrations were high in Brienomyrus longianails with mean activities of 357.26 and 92.282 Bq/Kg, respectively. While the concentration of 226Ra was found high in Clarias anguilaris (56.129 Bq/Kg). The mean committed dose for both adults and children were 0.00214 and 0.00342 µSv/Yr, respectively. The values of three radionuclides obtained in this study are lower than the maximum permissible level of 1.0 mSv/yr recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) as the total annual effective dose for the public. The obtained results show that the radiation dose acquired from the consumption of fresh fish from the river Kubanni will have no significant health effect on the populace.

Stacking ensemble learning for gas sensor‐based detection of salmon freshness and shelf life

AbstractSalmon, celebrated for its nutrition and flavor, suffers rapid degradation in freshness due to prolonged transportation and storage, offering a haven for microorganisms. Addressing the escalating need for safe, fresh fish consumption, we probed conventional chemical and physical indicators like total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N), pH, texture profile analysis (TPA), and chromaticity across varying temperature intervals, linking these with gas sensors to identify sensitive sensor arrays. Importantly, an ensemble learning strategy for gas sensors, synthesizing the benefits of Linear, SVR, MLP, KNN, Gaussian Process, and decision tree algorithms, was employed for prompt and precise detection of salmon freshness and shelf‐life. Notably, the results demonstrated that gas sensors exhibited strong correlations, surpassing .8 for TVB‐N and .5 for shelf life, underscoring their aptitude for detecting salmon spoilage gas. Additionally, ensemble learning outperformed singular machine learning algorithms, with stacking emerging preeminent, achieving R2 values of .851 and .871, and MSEs of .120 and 1.573, for TVB‐N and shelf‐life detection, respectively. In summation, this study introduces an avant‐garde mechanism that amplifies the detection efficacy of gas sensors for salmon freshness, marrying them with stacking ensemble learning paradigms for cost‐effective and efficient determinations. In conclusion, we devised a novel method to augment the detection efficacy of gas sensors for salmon freshness. By integrating these sensors with stacking ensemble learning algorithms, we achieved a data‐driven, cost‐effective, and efficient approach, fulfilling the requirements of salmon freshness detection.Practical applicationsMost existing gas sensors gas sensors predominantly employ singular machine learning methodologies, often limiting them to a sole freshness evaluation metric during assessments. This study introduces a pioneering approach using a stacking ensemble learning‐based gas sensor capable of concurrently assessing both TVB‐N and the shelf life of salmon. By discerning the correlations between freshness indices and gas sensor readings to pinpoint sensitive sensor arrays, we harnessed ensemble learning. This integrates the strengths of linear, SVR, MLP, KNN, Gaussian process, and decision tree models to enhance detection of freshness indicators. Notably, this advancement amplifies the sensor's efficacy in salmon detection solely through model optimization, bypassing the need to reconsider sensor materials and signal transmission pathways. Collectively, our findings present a cost‐effective and optimized strategy to elevate the performance of gas sensors in detecting salmon freshness.

Quantifying the contribution of mangroves to local fish consumption in Indonesia: a cross-sectional spatial analysis

Indonesia has lost more mangroves than any other country. The importance of mangroves for carbon storage and biodiversity is well recognised, but much less is known about what they contribute to the communities living near them who are called on to protect them. Malnutrition in Indonesia is high, with more than a third of children stunted, partly due to poor diets. Fish are nutrient-rich and are the most widely consumed animal source food in Indonesia, making the relationship between mangroves and fish consumption of great importance. Aquaculture is also tremendously important for fish production in Indonesia and has replaced large areas of mangroves over the last two decades. We performed a cross-sectional, spatial analysis in this study. We combined data on fish consumption for rural Indonesian coastal households from the Indonesian National Socioeconomic Survey with spatial data on mangrove forest and aquaculture area from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry to create a cross-sectional spatial dataset. Using a mixed-effects regression model, we estimated to what extent living in proximity to different densities of mangroves and aquaculture was associated with fresh fish consumption for rural coastal households. Our sample included 6741 villages with 107 486 households in 2008. The results showed that rural coastal households residing near high-density mangroves consumed 28% (134/477) more fresh fish and other aquatic animals, and those residing near medium-density mangroves consumed 19% (90/477) more fresh fish and other aquatic animals, than coastal households who did not live near mangroves. Coastal households that lived near high-density aquaculture consumed 2% (9/536) more fresh fish, and those that lived near medium-density aquaculture consumed 1% (3/536) less, than other rural coastal households. Mangroves contribute substantially to the food security and nutrition of coastal communities in Indonesia. This finding means that the conservation of mangroves is important not only for carbon storage and biodiversity, but also for the communities living near them. Aquaculture does not appear to offer similar food security benefits. Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment, United States Agency for International Development.

Impacts of microplastic on fisheries and seafood security — Global analysis and synthesis

This review paper collected, collated, analysed, interpreted, synthesised, and documented the research investigations conducted on microplastic (MPs) pollution impacts on seafood organisms (including fish, sharks, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, oysters, mussels, and seaweeds) during the last ten years (2012−2022) covering fifty-seven locations/countries in the world. MPs contaminated 926 seafood species comprising 895 finfish, 09 crustaceans, 20 molluscs and 02 seaweeds. Seafood from Asia was found to be most contaminated with MPs. High MP contamination/ingestion was revealed in several seafood organisms. The ingestion of MPs can reduce fish growth and fish fitness, leading to reduced yield/fish production. Fish and seafood play a significant role in supporting the economy, employment, food sources, and livelihoods of people across the globe, which can be threatened due to the contamination of seafood organisms with MPs. MPs have bioaccumulated in fish skin, gills, stomachs, liver, intestine, and muscles as well as dry fish and canned fish. Hence, the consumption of MP-contaminated fresh fish, whole fish, dried fish or canned fish poses risks as it may be a pathway of MP transfer to humans. MPs can increase the health risks to seafood fish consumers since there is a probability that high risks pollutants adsorbed on MPs (heavy metals, pesticides, and oil compounds) can transfer to humans via the food chain. Several of the chemicals (heavy metals, DDT, PAHs) adsorbed onto MPs are carcinogenic. MPs have also been detected in fish meals, therefore, farmed livestock such as aquaculture fish and chicken fed to fish meals can be exposed to MPs and ultimately to humans. Preventive and safety measures are suggested to reduce the exposure of MPs to humans. In addition, several policy strategies are recommended to reduce the impacts of plastic waste and plastic pollution on the environment, aquatic biota, wildlife, seafood and human health.

Small fish consumption in rural Myanmar.

Assessments of fish consumption are based primarily on data from household surveys that do not capture information on the intra-household distribution of the size or species of fish consumed. Such studies can yield partial or misleading information about the adequacy of aquatic food consumption. We address this gap by focusing on individual-level fish consumption within the household, using data from a survey conducted in a rural part of the Ayeyarwady Region in Myanmar-an area with high levels of fish consumption. We disaggregate fish consumption by the gender of household members and by the quantity, species, and size of fish eaten, estimating quantities of fish consumed using models for reference, to identify gendered patterns of fish consumption at the intrahousehold level. We find higher average levels of fish consumption than reported in previous consumption surveys in Myanmar. Moreover, small fish are consumed more frequently than larger-sized fish. The popularity of small fish species highlights the continued reliance of survey respondents on wild fish stocks, despite all surveyed households also practicing small-scale aquaculture. The average consumption of fresh fish reported by women was 36% lower than that reported by men. Men were more likely to eat large fish species, but women ate more small fish, which may contain higher levels of micronutrients vital for addressing nutrient deficiencies.

Exposure of Tibetan pregnant women to antibiotics in China: A biomonitoring-based study

Tibetan people are one Chinese ethnic minority living in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with an average altitude of more than 4500 m. High altitude could cause a different antibiotic exposure, but relevant information is limited in Tibetan people. We investigated 476 Tibetan pregnant women in Lhasa, Tibet in 2021 and measured 30 antibiotics from five categories in urine, including 13 veterinary antibiotics (VAs), five human antibiotics (HAs), and 12 human/veterinary antibiotics (H/VAs). Food consumption was investigated by a brief food frequency questionnaire. Health risk was assessed by hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) based on acceptable daily intakes (ADIs). All antibiotics were overall detected in 34.7% of urine samples with the 75th percentile concentration of 0.19 ng/mL (0.35 μg/g creatinine). HAs, VAs, and H/VAs were respectively detected in 5.3%, 13.0%, and 25.0% of urine samples, with the 95th percentiles of 0.01 ng/mL (0.01 μg/g creatinine), 0.50 ng/mL (0.99 μg/g creatinine), and 3.58 ng/mL (5.02 μg/g creatinine), respectively. Maternal age, smoking of family members, and housework time were associated with detection frequencies of HAs, VAs, or sum of all antibiotics. Pregnant women with a more frequent consumption of fresh milk, egg, yoghourt, poultry meat, and fish had a higher detection frequency of VAs or H/VAs. Only ciprofloxacin and tetracycline had a HQ of larger than one based on microbiological effect in 1.26% and 0.21% of pregnant women, respectively and a HI of larger than one was found in 1.47% of pregnant women. The findings suggested that there was an evident antibiotic exposure from various sources in Tibetan pregnant women with some basic characteristics of pregnant women as potential predictors and several animal-derived food items were important sources of exposure to antibiotic with a fraction of pregnant women in the health risk related to microbiological disruption of gut microbiota.

Microbial Resistance to Antibiotics and Biofilm Formation of Bacterial Isolates from Different Carp Species and Risk Assessment for Public Health.

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of biofilm on antibiotic resistance of the bacterial isolates present in fish meat and to assess the risk of antibiotic residues for public health. Common carp, silver carp and grass carp fishes were purchased from retail stores for an in vitro biofilm investigation and a drug-resistant pattern determination. In all samples, up to 104 CFU/g of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Shewanella putrefaciens, Vibrio spp. and Staphylococcus spp., were observed. Isolates from the samples and their biofilms were subjected to an antibiogram assay using antibiotics such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, streptomycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim. Obtained results showed that some of the isolates were sensitive to antibiotics and some were resistant. Results of LC-MS/MS analysis showed that antibiotics residues were present in fish samples in the range between 4.9 and 199.4 µg/kg, with a total sum of 417.1 µg/kg. Estimated daily intake (EDI) was established to be 0.274 μg/kg of body weight/day for men and 0.332 μg/kg of body weight/day for women, with an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 8.5 and 7.0 µg/kg of body weight/day for men and women, respectively. The results of the present study, therefore, highlight the safe consumption of fresh fish.

Epidemiological study of ticks harbouring Aeromonas hydrophila in areas endemic and non-endemic to Japanese-spotted fever.

Aeromonas spp. often cause life-threatening diseases, including necrotizing fasciitis, which may lead to septic shock and ultimately death. Aeromonas infections are believed to be transmitted via minor wounds or the consumption of fresh fish. However, after the detection of Aeromonas hydrophila in ticks in areas endemic to Japanese-spotted fever (JSF), a novel transmission route of A. hydrophila (i.e., via tick bites) has been proposed. We investigated the prevalence of A. hydrophila in ticks in areas endemic and not endemic to JSF in the Mie Prefecture, Japan. We collected ticks from endemic and nonendemic areas in summer and winter and assessed them for presence of A. hydrophila using polymerase chain reaction. Six A. hydrophila isolates were obtained from 95 ticks in endemic areas, whereas one A. hydrophila isolate was obtained from 142 ticks in non-endemic areas, in summer. All ticks that harboured A. hydrophila were Haemaphysalis longicornis (H.L); these ticks were almost at the larval stage and also carried Rickettsia spp. in the endemic area. In contrast, 51 and 41 ticks in the endemic and non-endemic areas were captured in winter, respectively; A. hydrophila was not detected in these. This study revealed the prevalence of tick-borne A. hydrophila. Therefore, the risk of transmission of A. hydrophila via a tick bite should be considered in the following conditions: areas abundant in H. L. harbouring Rickettsia spp., in areas endemic for JSF, presence of ticks in the larval stage and during the summer season.

Molecular Mechanisms of Scombroid Food Poisoning.

Scombroid food poisoning (SFP) is a foodborne disease that develops after consumption of fresh fish and, rarely, seafood that has fine organoleptic characteristics but contains a large amount of exogenous histamine. SFP, like other food pseudo-allergic reactions (FPA), is a disorder that is clinically identical to allergic reactions type I, but there are many differences in their pathogenesis. To date, SFP has been widespread throughout the world and is an urgent problem, although exact epidemiological data on incidence varies greatly. The need to distinguish SFP from true IgE-associated allergy to fish and seafood is one of the most difficult examples of the differential diagnosis of allergic conditions. The most important difference is the absence of an IgE response in SFP. The pathogenesis of SFP includes a complex system of interactions between the body and chemical triggers such as exogenous histamine, other biogenic amines, cis-urocanic acid, salicylates, and other histamine liberators. Because of the wide range of molecular pathways involved in this process, it is critical to understand their differences. This may help predict and prevent poor outcomes in patients and contribute to the development of adequate hygienic rules and regulations for seafood product safety. Despite the vast and lengthy history of research on SFP mechanisms, there are still many blank spots in our understanding of this condition. The goals of this review are to differentiate various molecular mechanisms of SFP and describe methods of hygienic regulation of some biogenic amines that influence the concentration of histamine in the human body and play an important role in the mechanism of SFP.

Identifikasi Kualitas Kesegaran Ikan Menggunakan Algoritma K-Nearest Neighbor Berdasarkan Ekstraksi Ciri Warna Hue, Saturation, dan Value (HSV)

Fish has a very high nutritional content and is needed by the human body, such as a protein. With the increasing production, and need for consumption of goodand fresh fish, irresponsible sellers take advantage of this situation by selling fish that are not fit for consumption, such as fish that are not fresh (rotten), fish that contain chlorine and formalin which can be detrimental to consumers. The purpose of this study was to determine how accurate the identification of fish freshness quality using the extraction of Hue, Saturation, and Value (HSV) color characteristics. The research method used is K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and is classified into several parts, namely, data collection techniques, needs analysis, design, training, and then testing. The image sample data used in this study amounted to 240 images consisting of fresh and non-fresh fish images, which will then be divided into training data and test data. The training data sample amounted to 220 images with a division of 110 fresh fish images and 110 non-fresh fish images, while the test data sample totaled 20 images with a division of 10 fresh fish images and 10 non-fresh fish images. Analysis of color features is carried out on the gills and head or the area around the eyes of the fish using Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) colors, which will be converted into Hue, Saturation, and Value (HSV) color spaces for the extraction and training processes to obtain results. The results showed that the use of HSV color character extraction was successfully applied with an accuracy value in the training of 94.09% and testing of 90%

Meat consumption and consumer attitudes in Japan: An overview

Among Asian countries, Japan has the shortest history of eating meat in its food culture. It was only after 2007 that household fresh meat consumption surpassed fresh fish consumption in Japan. Although it was forecast that slowing population and economic growth would limit the demand for meat, household meat consumption in 2020 increased remarkably from that in 2019, perhaps due to COVID-19. Meat consumption has regional variations within Japan attributable to historical background. Japanese consumers prefer domestically produced meat and focus on the visual characteristics of meat, in particular marbling. Extrinsic factors such as information also contribute to Japanese consumers' meat choices more than the quality of the meat. Although Japanese consumers are concerned about the safety of meat, reassurance from appropriate inspection will restore their purchasing intention. Novel factors such as animal welfare and environment-friendly production are also recognized in Japan. Also notable is that wild animal meat consumption is beginning to increase in recent years.

Consumer Knowledge and Perception about Fresh Fish from Organic Farming in Croatia

Abstract Along with growing consumer awareness about the impact of food on health, there is a trend towards increasing fresh fish consumption. At the same time, the demand for organic food is increasing in the modern market. Although fruits, vegetables and nuts have the biggest share in the organic food market in Europe, the aquaculture production of organic fish is also growing. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to explore the knowledge and perception of Croatian consumers about fresh fish from organic farming. An online and face-to-face survey was conducted on a sample of 303 respondents. Data analysis (univariate and bivariate) was performed using SPSS Statistics for Windows. Most consumers have medium and low subjective knowledge about fresh fish from organic farming, and objective knowledge about fresh fish from organic farming is low. Only half of the consumers are aware that they can buy fresh fish from organic farming in the domestic market. Half of the consumers have already consumed fresh organic fish, and half are willing to pay a higher price for fresh fish from organic farming. Compared to fresh fish from conventional farming, respondents consider fresh organic fish to be healthier, tastier and to have less fat, but also more expensive and less available.

Fresh and Dried Fish Consumption and its Contributory Factors: A Study of Malappuram, Kerala

The study investigates fresh and dried fish consumption patterns and factors determining fish purchase among the people of Malappuram district, Kerala. 200 fish consumer households belonging to varied socio-economic backgrounds were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Garret ranking identified ‘convenience perception’ (14.92), ‘provision of home delivery’ (8.62), ‘availability of dressing facility’ (8.61), ‘sensory perception’ (7.75) and ‘information on fish sold in market’ (7.26) as the most important factors influencing fish purchase among the households. The factors identified will guide in preparation of strategies for modern fish business aiding the emerging digital fish market ecosystem in our country. The per capita fish consumption estimated at 2.6 kg/person/month is far higher than the national average. Sardine and mackerel were the two most important species preferred by the respondents. Majority of the families were found to consume dried fishes 1-2 times a week. The study indicated a healthy level of per capita fresh fish consumption while further efforts can be made to improve the dried fish consumption among the households. The results will aid policy makers in designing strategies aimed at bringing fish consumption to recommended dietary intake levels in poorly faring states and territories of the country.

POLA KONSUMSI IKAN SEGAR OLEH RUMAH TANGGA DI KOTA BANDAR LAMPUNG

pattern, and factors that influence the consumption in Bandar Lampung City. The data in this research were analyzed descriptively and qualitatively. The locations and 54 respondents of this research were determined purposively, at Sukarame Village, Beringin Raya Village, and Panjang Utara Village, with the total respondents of 20, 19, and 15 households respectively. The results of this research showed that the average of daily fresh fish consumption in Bandar Lampung City was 26.61 grams protein per household. Fresh fish consumption pattern included the kind of the fish was freshwater catfish, the frequency of fresh fish consumption was 4.10-6.00 kg per month; and place to buy fresh fish was traditional markets. Factors that influence the fresh fish consumption in Bandar Lampung City were price of fresh fish, the number of household members and middle economy degree. Key words: consumption pattern, factors, fresh fish consumption

Eating habits among the Omsk Oblast population and poor nutrition in association with cardiovascular diseases according to the ESSE-RF2 study

Aim. To assess the prevalence of eating habits among the Omsk Oblast population and their association with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) according to the ESSERF2 study.Material and methods. In the ESSE-RF2 study with persons aged 25-64 years (random sample, n=1648), the dietary habits of 21 food groups were assessed using the questionnaire method. Results. Insufficient consumption of vegetables and fruits was revealed in 60,0% and 68,7% of the region’s population, which is 1,5-2,2 times higher than amongRussians. The daily intake of cereals is 2,3 times higher than that of pasta, especially in those with CVDs. In the region, poultry is preferred. Poultry at least once a week is consumed by 91,7% of Omsk residents, red meat — 74,8%, and fish — only 35,2% (vs 84,7%, 83,1% and 65,1% in Russians, respectively). The daily intake of liquid dairy products is low. Cheese and cottage cheese is consumed significantly lower than the national average, while legumes — 4 times lower. The presence of confectionery in the daily diet of 40,3% of Omsk residents looks more favorable than the average among Russians. In addition, 50% of the population eat pickles only 1-2 times a month (significantly less than in Russia). On the contrary, 60,9% of Omsk residents regularly (daily-weekly) consume meat and sausages (56,0% in Russia, p=0,000). Omsk residents with CVDs refrain from excessive consumption of sugar, other sweets, meat and sausages, pickles and marinades. They are almost 2 times more likely to exclude red meat from the diet or reduce its daily consumption than people without CVDs. Salting of cooked food, consumption of vegetables and fruits, fish, seafood and dairy products practically did not depend on CVDs.Conclusion. The food habits of Omsk residents differs from the national one in many products. People with CVDs have unfavorable eating habits: reduced consumption of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, seafood, legumes and nuts. Patients do not change their diet in favor of cardioprotective products and decrease in adding more salt. Although, they more often refuse meat and sausages, pickles, marinades, sweets, and pasta, and increase the consumption of cereals.

Risk Factors for Clonorchis sinensis Infection in Residents of Binyang, Guangxi: A Cross-Sectional and Logistic Analysis Study.

Background: Clonorchiasis is a serious food-borne parasitic disease caused by Clonorchis sinensis infection. C. sinensis, a major fish-borne trematode, is a known causative agent of cholangiocarcinoma. The risk factors for C. sinensis infection include individual eating behaviors and environmental factors. In this study, we evaluated the C. sinensis infection rate and the associated risk factors among residents in Binyang County, Guangxi, China.Methods: In 2016 and 2017, five villages from Binyang, Guangxi were selected by multistage cluster random sampling for a cross-sectional study. A modified Kato-Katz thick smear method was used to examine C. sinensis eggs in fecal samples in triplicate (three smears for each sample). Both uni-variate and multi-variate logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the risk factors for C. sinensis infection.Results: A total of 1,977 fecal samples were collected from villagers in the investigated areas. The overall infection rates of C. sinensis in Binyang County was 20.49% (405/1,977). The mean age of participants was 39.42 ± 23.48 (range: 3–89 years old), and the highest infection rate (33.72%) was seen in the age group of 40-49 years old, followed by those aged 50–59 (31.83%). Multi-variate logistic regression analysis showed that higher infection rates were significantly associated with males (aOR = 6.51, 95% CI = 4.67–9.08), Zhuang (aOR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.62–3.59), ages (aOR = 33.51, 95% CI = 10.13–110.86), frequency of raw fresh fish consumption (aOR = 14.56, 95% CI = 9.80–21.63), and close contact with cats and dogs (aOR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.02–2.30). Occupations and education levels showed no significant association with C. sinensis infection (P > 0.05).Conclusions: High levels of C. sinensis infection were observed among residents in Binyang County, Guangxi. Intervention strategies should be strengthened among the investigated population at high risk, such as males, Zhuang and older individuals, especially those who frequently eat raw fresh fish. In addition, the individuals contacting with cats and/or dogs were observed to have significantly higher infection rate of C. sinensis than those having no contact with cats and dogs. The association between contacting with cats and/or dogs and C. sinensis infection needs to be explored and confirmed in the future study by more epidemiological investigations of human C. sinensis infection from different areas.

Quantitative Exposure Assessment to Vibrio cholerae through Consumption of Fresh Fish in Lusaka Province of Zambia

Fresh fish is one of the widely consumed sources of proteins in Zambia. Consumption of contaminated fresh fish has been linked to zoonotic transmission of diseases in humans as fresh fish harbors several spoilage bacteria and pathogens including V. cholerae which cause cholera in humans. This study aimed to conduct a quantitative exposure assessment to Vibrio cholerae through consumption of fresh fish in Lusaka Province of Zambia. We used Swift Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (sQMRA) model to estimate the risk of exposure. We obtained data from reviews of scientific literature, government reports, questionnaire survey, and expert opinions. We categorized fish consumers using three risk pathways; restaurants, households with low socioeconomic status, and households with high socio-economic status. Results revealed that at a serving portion of 100g in households with low socioeconomic status, a concentration of 50 cfu/g, and infectious dose 50 (ID50) of 106 cells, one person out of 2,251,898 population at risk would get ill, representing a probability of 4.4x10-7. At a serving portion of 200g in households with high socioeconomic status, a concentration of 330 cfu/g, and ID50 of 106 cells, 13 people out of 2,251,898 would get ill, representing a probability of 5.7x10-6. At an average serving portion of 200g in restaurants, a concentration of 50 cfu/g, and ID50 of 106 cells, 47 people would get ill, translating to a probability density of 2.02 x 10-5. These results indicate that the risk of exposure to Vibrio cholerae through the consumption of fresh fish among the population at risk in Lusaka Province of Zambia is extremely low through all risk pathways. Cross-contamination during preparation and consumption is the main source of exposure to the Vibrio cholerae. Therefore, improvement in good food safety handling and processing would further minimize the occurrence of foodborne illnesses.

The assessment of the attitude of Sicilian consumers towards wild and farmed seafood products – a sample survey

PurposeThe purpose of the paper was to know and evaluate consumption, preferences and the knowledge of labelling legislation about wild and farmed seafood products.Design/methodology/approachA sample survey on Sicilian families was conducted through a direct interviews between October 2015 and October 2016 to study the attitudes of Sicilian consumers towards wild and farmed fish and seafood products. A stratified two-stage sampling design was chosen with variable probability of inclusion of the units of first stage and 1,700 subjects were interviewed.FindingsThe results obtained showed that the 69.4% of respondent ate fresh fish at least once a week and the 86% of respondents consumed aquaculture products at least once a month. Also, the 77.3% of respondents did not know the current legislation on the labelling. Multiple correspondence analysis allowed to identified three profiles of Sicilian families and binary logit model was used to examine the factors that influenced different frequency of fresh fish consumption in general and farmed seafood products in particular.Research limitations/implicationsExtending the research throughout the Italian territory would have allowed further comparisons at the national level.Practical implicationsThe research provides useful information on Sicilian consumers that could be used by policymakers and by marketing communications company.Social implicationsThis research, on a restricted group of European consumers (Sicilian), characterised by living in an island, reinforce the knowledge regarding seafood consumers.Originality/valueThis study used a probabilistic sampling design and a face-to-face questionnaire which produce results more robust in compare to surveys used more frequently such as non-probabilistic sampling design.

Behavioural patterns related to the marine fish consumption- An analysis of coastal belt households, Noakhali, Bangladesh

Marine fish is a major source of Omega-3 fatty acids (Eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA andDocosahexaenoic acid, DHA), which are now recognized worldwide as a key factor in human health. Thepresent study was conducted to depict the status of marine fish consumption in three districts (namely Feni,Lakhsmipur, and Noakhali) of greater Noakhali district, Bangladesh using a questionnaire survey in 240households during the month of May-June, 2018. Almost all the households (96%; n=230) consumed marinefishes. Price, availability, presence of inter-muscular bones, and characteristic fishy smell were the majorbarriers to marine fish consumption in the studied area. The average quantity of fresh and dried marine fishconsumed was 53.35 g/capita/day and 3.71 g/capita/day, respectively in greater Noakhali. Marine fresh fishconsumption in the three districts differed significantly (p<0.001). The highest (80.20±32.72 g) and thelowest (40.02±27.90 g) amount of marine fresh fish consumption were observed respectively, in Lakhsmipurand Feni district and the highest (4.19±7.47 g) and the lowest (3.47±4.87 g) amount of dried marine fishconsumption were observed respectively, in Feni and Noakhali district. About 32% of consumers consumedmarine fresh fish 3 to 6 times in a week whereas 46% of consumers consumed dried fish once in a month.Consumers belonging to high-income households consume more marine fish (57.11 g) than the low-incomehouseholds (49.33 g). Harpadon nehereus, Tenualosa ilisha, Otolithes cuvieri, Polynemous paradiseus, Mugilcephalus, Oxyurichthys microlepis, and Sillago domina were among the most frequently consumed marinefishes in the studied areas. About 76% of respondents perceived eating marine fish was good for health.Increased availability, lower price and creating awareness on health benefits may lead to increasing marinefish consumption among local people in the region.