Objective: To explore the association between the cognition of Nutrition Facts Panel and prepackaged food purchase behavior among residents in six provinces in China. Methods: Using a multi-stage sampling method, 3 002 adults aged 18-70 were selected from the western region (Sichuan), eastern region (Guangdong, Jiangsu, Beijing), central region (Henan), and northeastern region (Heilongjiang) of China from July 2020 to March 2021. Socio-demographic characteristics of participants and their cognition of Nutrition Facts Panel and prepackaged food purchase behavior were collected through questionnaire. A multivariate binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between cognition of Nutrition Facts Panel and prepackaged food purchase behavior. Results: The age of 3 002 subjects was (42.3±13.4) years, among which 63.8% (1 914) were female, 66.7% knew the Nutrition Facts Panel, 49.8% would read it when purchasing, 30.7% could understand it, and 56.6% (1 699) bought prepackaged food more than once a week. The results of multivariate analysis showed that after adjusting for relevant confounding factors, compared with the participants knowing but not reading the Nutrition Facts Panel, the group knowing and reading was more likely to buy 11 types of prepackaged food at least once a week (all P<0.05). Compared with the participants reading but not understanding the Nutrition Facts Panel, the group reading and understanding was less likely to buy 11 types of prepackaged food at least once a week (all P<0.05). Conclusion: There was a correlation between cognition of Nutrition Facts Panel and prepackaged food purchase behavior among residents.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Food Labeling/methods* ; Food ; Nutritional Status ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; China ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

BACKGROUND: Food handlers can play a vital role into reducing foodborne diseases by adopting appropriate food handling and sanitation practices in working plants. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with food safety knowledge and practices among meat handlers who work at butcher shops in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 meat handlers from January to March, 2021. Data were collected through in-person interviews using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three parts; socio-demographic characteristics, assessments of food safety knowledge, and food safety practices. A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with food safety knowledge and practices. RESULTS: Only 20% [95% confidence interval, (CI) 15.7-24.7] and 16.3% (95% CI 12.3-20.7) of the respondents demonstrated good levels of food safety knowledge and practices, respectively. The factors associated with good levels of food safety knowledge were: having a higher secondary education [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.57, 95% CI 1.11-18.76], income above 25,000 BDT/month (AOR = 10.52, 95% CI 3.43-32.26), work experience of > 10 years (AOR = 9.31, 95% CI 1.92-45.09), ≥ 8 h per day of work (AOR = 6.14, 95% CI 2.69-13.10), employed on a daily basis (AOR = 4.05, 95% CI 1.16-14.14), and having food safety training (AOR = 8.98 95% CI 2.16-37.32). Good food safety knowledge (AOR = 5.68, 95% CI 2.33-13.87) and working ≥ 8 h per day (AOR = 8.44, 95% CI 3.11-22.91) were significantly associated with a good level of food safety practice. CONCLUSIONS Poor knowledge and practices regarding food safety were found among Bangladeshi meat handlers. Findings may help public health professionals and practitioners develop targeted strategies to improve food safety knowledge and practices among this population. Such strategies may include education and sensitization on good food safety practices.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bangladesh ; Female ; Food Handling/statistics & numerical data* ; Food Safety/methods* ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Meat ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Food safety and hygiene are currently a global health apprehension especially in unindustrialized countries as a result of increasing food-borne diseases (FBDs) and accompanying deaths. This study aimed at assessing knowledge, attitude, and hygiene practices (KAP) of food safety among street-cooked food handlers (SCFHs) in North Dayi District, Ghana. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 407 SCFHs in North Dayi District, Ghana. The World Health Organization's Five Keys to Safer Food for food handlers and a pretested structured questionnaire were adapted for data collection among stationary SCFHs along principal streets. Significant parameters such as educational status, average monthly income, registered SCFHs, and food safety training course were used in bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models to calculate the power of the relationships observed. RESULTS: The majority 84.3% of SCFHs were female and 56.0% had not attended a food safety training course. This study showed that 67.3%, 58.2%, and 62.9% of SCFHs had good levels of KAP of food safety, respectively. About 87.2% showed a good attitude of separating uncooked and prepared meal before storage. Good knowledge of food safety was 2 times higher among registered SCFHs compared to unregistered [cOR=1.64, p=0.032]. SCFHs with secondary education were 4 times good at hygiene practices of food safety likened to no education [aOR=4.06, p=0.003]. Above GHc1500 average monthly income earners were 5 times good at hygiene practices of food safety compared to below GHc500 [aOR=4.89, p=0.006]. Registered SCFHs were 8 times good at hygiene practice of food safety compared to unregistered [aOR=7.50, p<0.001]. The odd for good hygiene practice of food safety was 6 times found among SCFHs who had training on food safety courses likened to those who had not [aOR=5.97, p<0.001]. CONCLUSIONS Over half of the SCFHs had good levels of KAP of food safety. Registering as SCFH was significantly associated with good knowledge and hygiene practices of food safety. Therefore, our results may present an imperative foundation for design to increase food safety and hygiene practice in the district, region, and beyond.
Adult ; Attitude ; Cooking/methods* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Food Safety ; Ghana ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Young Adult

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly becoming a threat to global public health, not least in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where it is contributing to longer treatment for illnesses, use of higher generation drugs, more expenditure on antimicrobials, and increased deaths attributed to what should be treatable diseases. Some of the known causes of AMR include misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in both humans and animals, unnecessary use of antimicrobials in animals as growth promoters, and lack of awareness among the public on how to protect antimicrobials. As a result, resistant organisms are circulating in the wider environment, and there is a need to consider the One Health approach to minimise the continuing development of AMR. Environmental Health, specifically water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), waste management, and food hygiene and safety, are key components of One Health needed to prevent the spread of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms particularly in LMICs and reduce the AMR threat to global public health. The key Environmental Health practices in the prevention of AMR include: (1) adequate WASH through access and consumption of safe water; suitable containment, treatment and disposal of human excreta and other wastewater including from health facilities; good personal hygiene practices such as washing hands with soap at critical times to prevent the spread of resistant microorganisms, and contraction of illnesses which may require antimicrobial treatment; (2) proper disposal of solid waste, including the disposal of unused and expired antimicrobials to prevent their unnecessary exposure to microorganisms in the environment; and (3) ensuring proper food hygiene and safety practices, such as sale and consumption of animal products in which adequate antimicrobial withdrawal periods have been observed, and growing vegetables on unpolluted soil. Environmental Health is therefore crucial in the prevention of infectious diseases that would require antimicrobials, reducing the spread of resistant organisms, and exposure to antimicrobial residues in LMICs. Working with other professionals in One Health, Environmental Health Practitioners have a key role in reducing the spread of AMR including health education and promotion, surveillance, enforcement of legislation, and research.
Developing Countries ; Disease Transmission, Infectious/prevention & control* ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Environmental Health/standards* ; Food Safety ; Health Personnel/standards* ; Humans ; Hygiene/standards* ; Role ; Sanitation/standards* ; Waste Management/standards*

health of the mother and child, and thus proper monitoring and management are essential. Mobile healthcare services have been applied to manage some diseases, particularly chronic diseases. We aimed to evaluate the utility of a mobile application in nutritional intervention by observing cases of a mobile application in a series of patients with GDM. We provided a mobile-based intervention to GDM patients and collected biochemical and nutritional information. The mobile-based nutritional intervention was effective in controlling carbohydrate intake and improving blood glucose level for patients with GDM.]]>
Blood Glucose ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Diet Therapy ; Diet, Food, and Nutrition ; Female ; Humans ; Mobile Applications ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence

Food allergy is a growing global public health concern. As treatment strategies are currently limited to allergen avoidance and emergency interventions, there is an increasing demand for appropriate models of food allergy for the development of new therapeutics. Many models of food allergy rely heavily on the use of animals, and while useful, many are unable to accurately reflect the human system. In order to bridge the gap between in vivo animal models and clinical trials with human patients, human models of food allergy are of great importance. This review will summarize the commonly used human ex vivo and in vitro models of food allergy and highlight their advantages and limitations regarding how accurately they represent the human in vivo system. We will cover biopsy-based systems, precision cut organ slices, and coculture systems as well as organoids and organ-on-a-chip. The availability of appropriate experimental models will allow us to move forward in the field of food allergy research, to search for effective treatment options and to further explore the cause and progression of this disorder.
Allergens ; Anaphylaxis ; Animals ; Biological Phenomena ; Coculture Techniques ; Emergencies ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical ; Organoids ; Public Health

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to compare dietary life of the elderly living alone and in a family, and to compare differences based on gender, for the 2013-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). METHODS: The subjects included 2,612 elderly people aged over 65 years who participated in the health survey, health examination and nutrition survey. Subjects on a diet therapy were excluded. This study analyzed the general characteristics, dietary habits, daily energy and nutrient intakes, CPF ratio, estimated average requirement (EAR), nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR), index of nutrient quality (INQ), and food consumption of the elderly living alone and in a family. We also compared the differences based on gender. RESULTS: Daily intake of food, water, dietary fiber, potassium, retinol, and riboflavin were low in the male elderly subjects living alone. The elderly living with family revealed higher NAR and MAR as compared to the elderly living alone. Although all MAR values were <1, the elderly living alone had lower values. Considering the intake of food, the consumption of seaweed, fish and shellfish, and oils (animal) was higher in elderly men living with families, whereas women living with families consumed more vegetables, fruits, seaweeds and seafood, as compared to their counterparts living alone. Furthermore, analyzing the foods consumed by the elderly people living alone, female subjects consumed more seaweed, milk and animal oil as compared to male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the elderly living alone have poor nutrient intake as compared to the elderly living with families. Based on this research data, we recommend that it is necessary to improve the health and nutritional status of the elderly living alone.
Aged ; Animals ; Diet Therapy ; Dietary Fiber ; Female ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Milk ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Oils ; Potassium ; Riboflavin ; Seafood ; Seaweed ; Shellfish ; Vegetables ; Vitamin A ; Water

BACKGROUND: Energy drinks (EDs), functional beverages with high concentrations of caffeine, can cause health risks. This study examined the frequency of ED consumption and related factors in Korean adolescents. METHODS: Data from the 10th-13th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey was used, and a total of 137,101 boys and 130,806 girls were included in the final analyses. Differences in ED consumption and associated factors were analyzed using the Rao-Scott chi-square test and a multivariate logistic regression analysis, reflecting of the complex sample design. RESULTS: In total, 17.3% boys and 12.9% girls consumed EDs more than once a week (P<0.001). In particular, 24.2% of all high-school students in the 12th grade consumed more than three EDs a week. After adjusting for confounding factors, a multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that higher ED consumption was significantly associated with a higher soda, sweet-drink, and fast food intake; skipping breakfast; a lower vegetable intake; depression; suicidal thoughts; sleep deprivation; and increased smoking and alcohol drinking. CONCLUSIONS: ED consumption is associated with undesirable dietary-, lifestyle-, and mental health-related behaviors, suggesting the need for appropriate nutrition education in adolescents.
Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; Beverages ; Breakfast ; Caffeine ; Depression ; Education ; Energy Drinks ; Fast Foods ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Mental Health ; Risk-Taking ; Sleep Deprivation ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vegetables

The World Health Organization recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life to provide optimal nutrition in this critical period of life. After this, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to 2 years of age or beyond. For nonbreastfed infants, infant formula is an available option to provide the nutrition needed. Infant formula is usually prepared from industrially modified cow's milk and processed to adjust for the nutritional needs of infants. However, cow's milk is one of the most common causes of food allergy, affecting 2%–5% of all formula-fed infants during their first year of life. One strategy to prevent cow's milk allergy in nonbreastfed infants is the use of partially hydrolyzed formula (pHF) in high-risk infants, which are infants born in families with atopic disease. However, based on an epidemiological study, approximately half of the infants who develop allergy are not part of the at-risk group. This is because the non-at-risk group is significantly larger than the at-risk group and the non-at-risk infants have approximately 15% risk of developing allergies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of partially hydrolyzed whey formula (pHF-W) in nonbreastfed infants and determine whether pHF-W can prevent atopic disease in high-risk infants and can be used as routine starter formula regardless of the allergy risk status.
Breast Feeding ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Infant Formula ; Infant ; Milk ; Milk Hypersensitivity ; Whey ; World Health Organization

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and determinants of folic acid supplementation among women referred to community health centers. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 325 women referred to community health centers. The subjects were selected from 8 community health centers, using a stratified sampling technique. Data regarding demographics, socioeconomic status, obstetrics, folic acid supplementation status, and household food security status were obtained via questionnaires. The data was analyzed in SPSS v22. RESULTS: The prevalence of folic acid supplementation both before and during pregnancy was 54.5%. The results of the study showed that folic acid supplementation had a significant positive association with education level (odds ratio [OR],0 .441; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.199–0.977; P<0.05), being employed (OR, 0.353; 95% CI, 0.148–0.840; P<0.05), and planned pregnancy (OR, 18.113; 95% CI, 7.371–44.51; P<0.001). However, other variables, including age, husband's age, husband's education and employment status, the number of prior pregnancies, economic satisfaction, and household food security, were nonsignificant factors affecting folic acid supplementation. CONCLUSION: Women with lower socioeconomic status are less likely to take folic acid supplements, and more effort should be made to increase their awareness of the importance of supplementation. Unplanned pregnancy is another strong risk factor for not supplementing with folic acid, and thus should be avoided.
Community Health Centers ; Contraception ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Education ; Employment ; Family Characteristics ; Family Planning Services ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Food Supply ; Humans ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Unplanned ; Prevalence ; Referral and Consultation ; Risk Factors ; Social Class