Nutrient-dense Foods Research Articles

Formulation, acceptability, and chemical characteristics of mango nectar enriched with moringa moringa oleifera, lam leaves extract

Mango and Moringa are nutrient-dense foods. This study examined two mango varieties (apple and Tommy Atkin) for nectar production fortifying with Moringa leaf extract to reduce postharvest losses, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Post-harvest mango losses are high in Kenya (40-50%) and affects farmers' income and the environment and if processed into mango nectar, can address postharvest losses (PHL). Mango nectar is rich in vitamins and minerals but lacks adequate micronutrients (calcium, iron, and zinc). Moringa oliefera leaves are nutrient-rich and adding moringa leaf extract to mango nectar improves its nutrition. This study intended to blend mango nectar with moringa leaf extract. The developed product contained 25% mango pulp and aqueous solutions of moringa leaf extract (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, and F8): 0%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15%, respectively. The nectar was pasteurized at 70°C for 10 min and was analyzed for sensory evaluation, proximate composition, vitamin A, and mineral content (Fe, Ca, and Zn). F1 (control) and F3 (apple manga nectar blended with 12.5% moringa leaf extract), and F5 and F6 (Tommy Atkin mango nectar blended with 10% moringa leaf extract) were accepted. The formulated nectar differed in protein, fiber, ash, carbohydrate, energy, vitamin A, iron, calcium, zinc, color, odor, taste, texture, mouthfeel, and overall acceptability (p<0.05). Moisture and fat in nectar were not significantly different (p>0.05). Apple blended mango nectar had more fat, vitamin A, calcium, iron, and zinc than Tommy Atkin blended nectar: 1.07 and 0.60%, 8.68 and 6.91mg/100g, 39.89 and 34.26 mg/100g, 3.14 and 2.01mg/100g, and 8.85 and 7.19mg/100g. However, Tommy Atkin blended nectar had more fiber, protein, and energy. Therefore, moringa leaf extract can be utilized to fortify ood and beverages.

Sustainable transformation agenda for enhanced global food and nutrition security: a narrative review.

The world's population is currently growing at an exponential rate, which is estimated to be over 8 billion inhabitants as reported by United Nations on November 15, 2022. According to FAO, 870 million people out of this population do not have enough food to eat, with the vast majority of hungry people (98%) living in developing countries, where almost 15% of the population is undernourished. Furthermore, the world's population is estimated to come to 9 billion by 2050, which would incur severe food scarcity and would seriously hamper global food security. Food losses, especially post-harvest loss as a result of poor agricultural practices have also been reported to greatly impact the economy, the environment, and the livelihoods of low and medium countries and Sub-Saharan-African. Therefore, realistic options should be established for promoting sustainable agriculture systems, improving nutrition, and achieving food security to end hunger in our nations. This paper elucidates the drivers of food insecurity including food losses, escalating population growth, hunger, and food production, among others, and provided some transformation approaches such as value addition through appropriate and emerging food processing and preservation techniques, application of biotechnological options through genetically modified foods and functional foods consumption and integration of indigenous underutilized nutrient-dense food crops which could serve as all-inclusive and sustainable transformation options for enhanced food and nutrition security, especially in developing countries, which is where the hunger burden and the prevalence of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases are high.

Snacking Patterns of Filipino Children: Frequency and Contribution to Energy and Dietary Intakes

Snacking can be defined as eating outside the three main meals in a day, regardless of the amount or type of foods consumed. Snacking patterns vary between developing and developed countries, and across nations around the globe. Utilizing data from the Philippine ENNS collected in 2018 and 2019, the authors were able to determine the distribution and frequency of snacking among Filipino children, the type of snack foods consumed, and the contribution of snack foods to their energy and dietary intakes. Results revealed that around 70% of Filipino children consume snacks once a day, usually as afternoon snacks.Moreover, consumption of snack foods decreases as the age of children increases. The snack foods frequently consumed are pastries and cookies, bread, crackers, and biscuits, along with sugar-sweetened beverages – with an average energy intake of 300.0 kcal from snack foods. Snack foods contributed 31.2% of the total daily energy intake for Filipino children aged 3–5 yr old, 25.1% in 6–9 yr old, and 21.6% in 10–12 yr old. The nutrient content of the snack foods ranged from 29.5–46.7 g protein, 295.4–347.8 mcg RE vitamin A, 5.4–7.7 mg iron, and 272.3–381.7 mg calcium. More than half of Filipino children consumed snack foods at least once a day, with a higher proportion of snackers meeting the recommended energy intakes and estimated average requirements than non-snackers. However, the promotion of healthy snack choices such as fruits and vegetables and other nutrient-dense foods needs to be strengthened. Findings support the need to develop guidance on healthy snacking among Filipino children and represent a key target for food and nutrition policies to improve the dietary quality of snacks in this population.

A Qualitative Exploration on Perceived Socio-Cultural Factors Contributing to Undernutrition Among Under-Fives in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

Objective: Under nutrition especially among under-fives is a major public health challenge in Tanzania. However, the contribution of cultural practices to child under nutrition is often overlooked. This study aimed to explore the perceived socio-cultural factors contributing to the persisting under nutrition among under-fives in Tanzania. Methods: The study applied focus group discussion (FDGs) with forty practitioners to examine the sociocultural factors contributing to under nutrition during early childhood. The study participants were purposively selected and thematic analysis was used to identify themes within the data. Results: This study revealed that, under nutrition for under-fives is caused by a number of socio-cultural factors including existence of gender inequality related to dietary practices and qualities, women's excessive workload, patriarchy social-norm, excessive alcohol use and cultural taboos prohibiting women and girls from eating certain types of nutrient dense foods. Conclusion: The study highlights the multiplicity of factors including socio-cultural perspectives contributing to under nutrition among under-fives, and calls for a concerted efforts in developing and implementing issue-specific and culturally sensitive strategies towards elimination of child under nutrition.

A Comparative Study of Consumption of Animal Milk and Plant Based Milk among Young Adults

Milk is a nutrient dense food that is recognized as nature's most complete meal which continues to play a significant role in people's diets all across the world. The most commonly consumed animal milks are cow's milk, goat's milk, and buffalo's milk however, people are becoming more aware of the darker aspects of dairy, such as the cruelty it inflicts on animals, the environmental damage, and the health risks. As a result of these factors, plant milk consumption has increased in recent years. These beverages are preferred by those who have a cow's milk allergy, lactose intolerance, environmental concerns, hypercholesterolemia, calorie concerns, or are adopting new lifestyles such as veganism. Even with the growing economic success of plant milk beverages, no research has been done to compare the consumer’s perception, awareness, and health issues of animal milk to those of plant milk among young adults in India, and therefore, further investigation is needed. Because young adults are still growing, providing accurate milk information will encourage them to increase their milk consumption. As a result, the focus of this study will be on Indian young adults’ opinions, awareness, and health concerns surrounding animal and plant milk.

Barriers to adequate nutrition in pregnant adolescent Colombian females.

Pregnant adolescent females face nutritional challenges. The nutritional demands of a growing fetus, when added to the requirements for growing adolescent bodies, are risk factors for undernutrition. An adolescent expectant mother's nutritional status therefore affects both the mother's and the child's future growth, development, and potential development of diseases later in life. In Colombia, the rate of female adolescent pregnancies is higher than neighboring countries and the global average. The most recent data suggest that approximately 21 % of all pregnant adolescent females in Colombia are underweight, 27 % suffer from anemia, 20 % suffer from vitamin D deficiency, and 19 % suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency. Contributing factors to these nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy may be the region in which the female lives, the female's ethnicity, and the female's socioeconomic and educational status. In rural parts of Colombia, limitations regarding access to prenatal care and food choices that include animal source proteins may also contribute to nutritional deficiencies. To help remedy this, recommendations include encouraging nutrient dense food sources with higher protein content, eating one additional meal per day, and taking a prenatal vitamin throughout the pregnancy. Making healthy eating choices can be difficult for adolescent females with limited resources and education; therefore, it is recommended that discussions about nutrition begin at the first prenatal visit for optimum benefits. These factors should be considered for the development of future health policies and interventions in Colombia and other low-income and middle-income countries where pregnant adolescent females may be experiencing similar nutritional deficiencies.

Moringa Leaf Extract Mitigates the Adverse Impacts of Drought and Improves the Yield and Grain Quality of Rice through Enhanced Physiological, Biochemical, and Antioxidant Activities.

Agriculture, around the globe, is facing great challenges including the need to increase the production of nutrient-dense food and to withstand climate change's impact on water and soil conservation. Among these challenges, drought stress is considered the most overwhelming danger for the agriculture sector. Organic plant growth ingredients are frequently used to enhance the growth and production of field crops cultivated in normal and unfavorable conditions. The present study was designed to explore whether leaves extracted from various landraces of Moringa could play a defensive role against drought stress in rice. Seedlings were grown under three water conditions, i.e., normal conditions (control; 100% field capacity), moderate (75%), and severe drought (50%). Leaf extracts obtained from four Moringa landraces were used as foliar spray at the tillering, panicle initiation, and grain filling stages of cultivating rice plants. The levels of water stress negatively influenced photosynthetic pigment synthesis, gas exchange traits, antioxidant activities, and yield and grain quality parameters. Leaf extracts, at the rate of 3%, from all the landraces significantly enhanced the biochemical, physiological, and yield-related attributes of rice plants under normal and unfavorable growth conditions. Particularly, leaf extract from the Faisalabad landrace was the most effective biostimulant to increase photosynthetic (8.2%) and transpiration (13.3%) rates, stomatal conductance (8.3%), chlorophyll a (15.9%) and b (9.7%) contents, and carotenoids (10.4%) as compared to water spray. The maximum photosynthesis rate was observed at 14.27 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1 via application of leaf extract from the Faisalabad landrace followed by the DG Khan (13.92 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1) and Multan (13.9 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1) landraces, respectively. Improved grain yield (25.4%) and grain quality (an increase of 10.1% in amylose with a decrease of 2.8% in amylopectin) in rice plants along with enzymatic activities such as catalase (21.2%), superoxide dismutase (38.6%), and ascorbate peroxidase (24.3%) were observed at the peak after application of leaf extract from the Faisalabad landrace. The maximum grain yield of 53.59 g per plant was recorded when using Faisalabad landrace leaf extract and the minimum (40 g) using water spray. It is concluded from the findings of the current experiment that leaf extract from the Faisalabad landrace possesses higher biostimulant potential than other landraces and can be applied to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought stress with higher productivity and improved grain quality of rice.

Dietary Guidelines Meet NOVA: Developing a Menu for A Healthy Dietary Pattern Using Ultra-Processed Foods

BackgroundA proposed topic for the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) Scientific Advisory Committee to address is the relationship between dietary patterns with ultra-processed foods (UPF) and body composition and weight status. Implementing the NOVA system, the most commonly applied framework for determining whether a food is “ultra-processed,” in dietary guidance could omit several nutrient-dense foods from recommended healthy diets in the DGA. ObjectiveThe purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to determine the feasibility of building a menu that aligns with recommendations for a healthy dietary pattern from the 2020 DGA and includes ≥80% kcal from UPF as defined by NOVA. DesignTo accomplish this objective, we first developed a list of foods that fit NOVA criteria for UPF, fit within dietary patterns in the 2020 DGA, and are commonly consumed by Americans. We then used these foods to develop a 7-d, 2000 kcal menu modeled on MyPyramid sample menus and assessed this menu for nutrient content as well as for diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015). ResultsIn the ultra-processed DGA menu that was created, 91% of kcal were from UPF, or NOVA category 4. The HEI-2015 score was 86 out of a possible 100 points. This sample menu did not achieve a perfect score due primarily to excess sodium and an insufficient amount of whole grains. This menu provided adequate amounts of all macro- and micronutrients except vitamin D, vitamin E, and choline. ConclusionsHealthy dietary patterns can include most of their energy from UPF, still receive a high diet quality score, and contain adequate amounts of most macro- and micronutrients.

Edible Film Casting Techniques and Materials and Their Utilization for Meat-Based Product Packaging.

According to a profusion of academic studies on the use of organic materials or biopolymers as key components, the current trajectory of food packaging techniques is showing a positive inclination. Notably, one such biopolymer that has attracted much attention is edible film. The biopolymers that have been stated as constitutive components are composed of polysaccharides, lipids, proteins, or a combination of these, which work together to reinforce one another's properties and create homogenous mixtures. An edible film provides a clear, thin layer that encases foodstuffs, including their packaging. The production and use of edible film have recently been the focus of much research in the field of food polymers. Extending the shelf life of food goods is the goal of this research. Given their great susceptibility to change brought on by outside forces or pollutants, which may result in oxidative rancidity, the proper storage of nutrient-dense food items, particularly meat products, deserves careful study. Many edible films have been found to contain active ingredients, such antimicrobials or antioxidants, that can successfully prevent the spoiling of meat products, a process that can happen in a short amount of time. Surprisingly, a number of scholarly examinations reveal that edible film may be cooked alongside meat because of its organic makeup. We hope that the use of edible film will lead to a more environmentally responsible method of food packaging than has previously been possible.

PEMBERIAN EDUKASI KEPADA IBU DALAM UPAYA PENCEGAHAN STUNTING PADA BALITA

A child's growth and development may be stunted, which is what we mean when we speak about the concept of stunting. Stunting can be caused by a number of factors, including malnutrition, recurrent illnesses, and/or a lack of psychosocial stimulation. Stunting is a significant problem for the general health of the population in countries of low and moderate income, which have high rates of malnutrition. There is a correlation between growth retardation and both physical and mental health problems, including an increased likelihood of being ill, worse cognitive function, and decreased levels of productivity in adulthood. Expanded opportunities for early childhood education and stimulation, improved access to nutrient-dense foods, increased availability of adequate health care, and promotion of suitable hygiene and sanitation practises are all essential components of an all-encompassing plan to combat stunting. Because of this, the parents of young children in the village of Melati Jaya, which is located in the Rt 001 Rw 001 Semendawai Timur District of the East Oku Regency, are getting counselling that is targeted at avoiding stunting. In order to carry out this action, education was made available in the form of counselling, and media was made available in the form of flyers. The educational events were effective, attracting favourable comments and engagement from the audience members who were the intended recipients of the content. It is clear from a comparison of the results of the pre-test and the post-test that the education provided was successful in raising the respondents' awareness of stunting.

Identification of potent antioxidant bioactive peptides from the soluble proteins of chicken egg yolk

Background: Eggs are an excellent nutrient-dense food containing proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. While many proteins are present in egg yolk, there arefew studies on their health benefits. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the antioxidant peptides derived from the soluble protein fractions of egg yolk. Lipids and lipoproteins were removed with activated carbon and centrifugation after water dilution at acidic pH. Materials and Methods: Compared with 3.6 grams of protein in egg white, egg yolk contains 2.7 grams of protein in a single large egg. The egg yolk soluble protein (EYsP) was digested with pepsin for 2h at pH 3.0 (P-EYsP), followed by digestion with trypsin (P-EYsP-T), α-chymotrypsin (P-EYsP-α), or both enzymes (P-EYsP-T/α). The most active digest was fractionated using sephacryl S-100 gel filtration, followed by reversed phase-HPLC of the most active fraction. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using a superoxide anion-generating system of xanthine oxidase, DPPH-scavenging assay, and yeast cells as an oxidative-stress tolerance cellular model. Results: The intact proteins (EYsP) showed antioxidant activity, but pepsin hydrolysate (P-EYsP) exhibited greater superoxide-scavenging activities than EYsP, while P-EYsP-T, P-EYsP-α and P-EYsP-T/α lacked activities. The P-EYsP and its subsequent proteases (P-EYsP-T, P-EYsP-α and P-EYsP-T/α) exhibited significant DPPH reduction, but P-EYsP-T, P-EYsP-α and P-EYsP-T/α exhibited the strongest DPPH reduction activities. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis revealed five major antioxidant peptides, two derived from yolk glycoprotein 40 (859 Da, 883Da), two from lipovitelline (901Da, 945 Da), and one from livetin (1089 Da). The peptides exhibited potent superoxide anion as well as DPPH scavenging activities and markedly enhanced the tolerance of yeast cells against peroxide-induced oxidative stress.Conclusion: The results show that these bioactive peptides hold a fascinating opportunity for their potential as nutraceuticals in prevention and combating oxidative stress-associated diseases.Keywords: Egg yolk proteins; bioactive peptides; antioxidant; superoxide-scavenging; DPPH-reduction; yeast tolerance

Healthy Eating for All? The Challenge of Adhering to Dietary Guidelines for Low-Income Groups in China.

The Chinese Dietary Guidelines propose a balanced diet for healthy living, but the affordability of this diet needs to be considered, especially for low-income households. To investigate the affordability of a healthy diet, this study analyzes the daily retail prices of 46 food items in 36 Chinese cities from 2016 to 2021. This study compares expenditure, diet composition, and nutritional status in two scenarios aligned with the guidelines. The results show that the mean minimum cost of a balanced diet exceeds the current per capita food expenditure for at least 182.85 million urban households. This suggests that low-income people would need to increase their expenditure by at least 20-121% to achieve the recommended diets. This study also identifies affordable and nutrient-dense foods such as standard flour, eggs, black beans, and cabbage, which policymakers should focus on when monitoring food prices. The findings recommend a combination of social and food system policies to reduce prices and make healthy diets accessible. This study identifies the gaps in the Chinese Dietary Guidelines for ensuring accessibility for vulnerable groups and provides a template for policymakers and researchers to track diet affordability using available food price data in China, contributing to China's 2030 Health Plan and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Influence of Different Types of Carbon Sources on Glucosinolate and Phenolic Compounds in Radish Sprouts

Radish sprouts are valued as a key nutrient-dense food in Asian countries. In the current study, we examined how radish sprouts responded to treatments with various carbon sources. The influence of those treatments in parameters such as plant growth and glucosinolate and phenolic compounds levels were analyzed. A positive correlation between plant growth and the accumulation of glucosinolates and phenolics was observed. In this study, except for galactose treatment, all other carbon-exposed radish sprouts showed the highest shoot and root length and fresh weight. Seven different glucosinolate and five phenolic compounds were identified in radish sprouts. The total glucosinolates and phenolic compound content were increased after treatments with different carbon sources. Radish sprouts exposed to sucrose showed the highest total glucosinolates and phenolics content, which was 1.22-fold and 1.45-fold higher than that of untreated sprouts, respectively. Moreover, sucrose exposure led to a higher production of glucoiberin, gluconapoleiferin, 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, glucoerucin, glucoraphasatin, glucobrassicin, gallic acid, sinapic acid, rutin, and p-coumaric acid compared to that of untreated sprouts. The results obtained in this study will be helpful for researchers around the world to enhance specific glucosinolate and phenolic compounds by treating the radish sprout plants with suitable carbon sources.

Precise Fourier series and fuzzification method analysis of standardized thermal energy of solar box cooker performance: economic and environmental studies.

A solar cooker is essential for cooking nutrient-dense food as opposed to LPG, which is avoidable. In the current situation, the solar cooker's incorporation of a nanoparticle covering resulted in improved thermal performance and shorter cooking times. It has been attempted to forecast thermal performance using the Fourier series and to validate the study of cooking liquid temperatures using the Fourier series. Additionally, the logical modeling of the complete cooking process with the climatic conditions has been fuzzified in order to create fuzzy rules. Also, a thermal measurement of the cooking process was conducted during the experiment to support the fuzzy inference. From the study, it can be inferred that fuzzy logic modeling and Fourier series analysis can both be used to simulate the proposed system under various climatic settings that are comparable to the local climatic conditions in Chennai. In comparison to Pt values that have a larger dependence, a solar box cooker study of the environment and economy is applied to determine total carbon dioxide emissions (%) that reduce a period when this design was used. There is a clear correlation between minimization of CO2 emission and Pt values. The overall efficiency was determined to be 52.6% when boiling water and 38.99% when the oil was at its steady-state temperature.

Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study

BackgroundTree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function. ObjectiveTo prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk. MethodsA total of 6,630 participants aged 55 to 75 y (mean age 65.0±4.9 y, 48.4% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and a 2-y follow-up. Composite cognitive scores were used to assess global, general, attention, and executive function domains. Nut consumption was categorized as <1, ≥1 to <3, ≥3 to <7, and ≥7 servings/wk (1 serving=30 g). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were fitted to assess associations between baseline nut consumption and 2-y cognitive changes. ResultsNut consumption was positively associated with 2-y changes in general cognitive function (P-trend <0.001). Compared with participants consuming <1 serving/wk of nuts, those categorized as consuming ≥3 to <7 and ≥7 servings/wk showed more favorable changes in general cognitive performance (β z-score [95% CI] = 0.06 [0.00,0.12] and 0.13 [0.06,0.20], respectively). No significant changes were observed in the multivariable-adjusted models for other cognitive domains assessed. ConclusionFrequent nut consumption was associated with a smaller decline in general cognitive performance over 2 y in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Randomized clinical trials to verify our findings are warranted.

The Role of Ancient Grains in Alleviating Hunger and Malnutrition.

Meeting the United Nation's sustainable development goals for zero hunger becomes increasingly challenging with respect to climate change and political and economic challenges. An effective strategy to alleviate hunger and its severe implications is to produce affordable, nutrient-dense, and sustainable food products. Ancient grains were long-forgotten due to the dominance of modern grains, but recently, they have been rediscovered as highly nutritious, healthy and resilient grains for solving the nutrition demand and food supply chain problems. This review article aims to critically examine the progress in this emerging field and discusses the potential roles of ancient grains in the fight against hunger. We provide a comparative analysis of different ancient grains with their modern varieties in terms of their physicochemical properties, nutritional profiles, health benefits and sustainability. A future perspective is then introduced to highlight the existing challenges of using ancient grains to help eradicate world hunger. This review is expected to guide decision-makers across different disciplines, such as food, nutrition and agronomy, and policymakers in taking sustainable actions against malnutrition and hunger.

The Use of Gonimbrasia belina (Westwood, 1849) and Cirina forda (Westwood, 1849) Caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Sarturniidae) as Food Sources and Income Generators in Africa.

Gonimbrasia belina (mopane worm) and Cirina forda caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) are mostly found in shrubs and trees, from where they are collected as larvae and are widely consumed across southern Africa by rural and increasingly urban populations. These caterpillars are among the most prominent, traded, and economically beneficial edible insects found in Western African countries, but also in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Over the years, these caterpillars have evolved from being part of the diet in various communities to playing a vital role in income generation. In addition, consumption of G. belina and C. forda caterpillars as potential food sources has gained momentum due to their potential for contributing to livelihoods and mitigating food security challenges across Africa while providing significant benefits to developing countries on a socio-economic and ecological level. Edible caterpillars serve as a good source of rich nutrients such as proteins, fatty acids, and micronutrients and can be used in formulating nutrient-dense complementary foods. However, limited information is available, specifically on different trees that serve as hosts to these caterpillars, as they depend on the leaves as their only source of food. In addition, the review aims to critique and document knowledge on the nutritional benefits, acceptance of the use of these caterpillars as food security, commercial value, and level of acceptance towards the utilization of caterpillars as food sources.

Policies for optimal nutrition-sensitive options: a study of food and nutrition security policies, strategies and programs in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing the coexistence of overnutrition, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Comprehensive programs and coherent public policies are required to address this problem. A study of food and nutrition security policies, strategies and programs in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa was conducted between February and July 2022 through desk reviews and key informant interviews. The aim was to generate evidence on the extent to which the policies, strategies and programs were nutrition-sensitive and add value to the scaling up of nutrition and food security. The assessment of the documents was based on the four dimensions of food security, and the Food and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations guidelines on nutrition-sensitive agriculture. A total of 48 policies, strategies and programs were reviewed. To ensure food availability, most reviewed documents tend to focus on food production and income generation, with limited attention on production and supply of diverse and nutrient-dense foods. Access to inputs, credit and land is targeted at smallholder farmers, without little sensitivity to women and youth engagement. Food access is promoted through improved market access by upgrading infrastructure and promoting social safety nets for vulnerable populations. However, information systems for agricultural marketing as well as labor- and time-saving technologies are lacking. Although nutrition education is widely promoted, especially for mothers and children, there is a gap in addressing the nutrition needs of adolescent girls. Regarding food stability, inadequate funding, poor leadership and governance and inadequate monitoring and evaluation systems are the main barriers to successful implementation of policies, strategies and programs. While efforts have been made to promote nutrition-sensitive options in the agriculture and food system value chains, the study identified several gaps that need to be addressed to ensure adequate food and nutrition security.

The Nutrient Rich Food Price Index: a nutrition-relevant adaptation of the Laspeyres price index to track the cost of affordable nutrient density.

The Laspeyres price index is the ratio of the current cost of a market basket of commodities or food groups relative to base period prices. To develop a nutrition-relevant version of the Laspeyres price index, using market baskets based on tertiles of the nutrient rich food (NRF9.3) nutrient density metric. Nutrient composition data for 151 foods from the 2012 Mexico national health and nutrition survey (ENSANUT) were merged with food prices and price indices from the national institute of geography and statistics (INEGI). Nutrient Rich Food Index (NRF9.3) was the measure of nutrient density. May 2012 was the base period. Nutrient rich food price index (NRFPI) values were calculated for each tertile of NRF nutrient density scores for each month between June 2011 and March 2022. The market basket of foods in the top tertile of NRF nutrient density scores cost more per 100 kcal and had higher NRFPI values compared to foods in the bottom tertile. Higher NRF9.3 scores were correlated with greater monthly inflation. The NRFPI for foods in the top tertile of NRF9.3 scores was marked by seasonal price spikes, and greater volatility compared to foods in the bottom tertile. The present adaptation of the Laspeyres Index used market baskets defined by nutrient density tertiles instead of commodity groups. This approach allows for easier tracking of the cost of nutrient dense foods and healthful diets across geographic regions and over time. Applied to Mexico food prices prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic, the NRFPI was sensitive to time trends, seasonality, and price fluctuations. The new tool may be useful in monitoring the rising cost of healthy foods worldwide.

How do we differentiate not demonise - Is there a role for healthier processed foods in an age of food insecurity? Proceedings of a roundtable event.

The 'ultra-processed food' (UPF) concept, with classification of foods by 'level of processing' rather than nutrient profiles, and its relationship with health outcomes, is currently a topic of debate among academics and increasingly referred to in the media. The British Nutrition Foundation convened a virtual roundtable on 6th July 2022 to gather views on the use of the term (and current definitions of) UPF for public health messaging, seeking to establish areas of consensus and disagreement and identify topics for further research. A small group of invited expert stakeholders attended, including representatives from academia, policy, behavioural science, communications, health, food science, retail and consumer interests. Participants' discussions clustered into cogent themes which included: problems with the use of definitions for UPF, the lack of causal evidence and defined mechanisms linking processing per se with poor health outcomes, and advice that may result in consumer confusion. There was agreement that many foods classified as UPF are high in fat, sugars and/or salt and public health messages should continue to focus on reducing these in the diet since it is unclear whether reported associations between high intakes of UPF and poor health reflect poorer dietary patterns (defined by nutrient intakes), and nutrient-health relationships are well established. Examples of misalignment were also highlighted (i.e. some foods are classified as UPF yet recommended in food-based dietary guidelines [featuring in healthy dietary patterns]). This raises challenges for consumer communication around UPF. Concern was also expressed about potential unintended consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups, where advice to avoid UPF could create stigma and guilt due to lack of time or facilities to prepare and cook meals from scratch. It could also impact on nutrient intakes, as some foods classified as UPF represent more affordable sources of important nutrients (e.g. packaged wholemeal bread). Discordance between the concept of UPF and current strategies to improve public health, such as reformulation, was also discussed. The group concluded that the use of the concept of UPF in UK policy (e.g. dietary guidelines) would be unhelpful at present. Overall, participants felt that it was more important to focus on providing practical advice around selection of healthier processed foods and making healthier foods more accessible rather than promoting the avoidance of UPF. The latter may act to demonise all foods classified as UPF by current definitions, including some affordable nutrient-dense foods.