Search Results (7)

Background/Objectives: Addressing the global syndemic of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change requires a shift toward healthy and sustainable diets. This study examines the feasibility and cost implications of implementing a Healthy and Sustainable Basic Food Basket in Chile that aligns with the EAT–Lancet diet recommendations, through its comparison with the current Basic Food Basket used for the poverty line definition. Methods: The Healthy and Sustainable Basic Food Basket was constructed based on the EAT–Lancet dietary model and was uniquely adapted to reflect the observed consumption patterns of Chile’s lowest income quintile, allowing for a more realistic affordability assessment for vulnerable populations. Food prices from the National Institute of Statistics were analyzed over a 10-year period (2014–2023). Results: This study found that the Healthy and Sustainable Basic Food Basket provides 2001 kcal per day with a balanced macronutrient distribution. However, its average cost was 13.9% higher than the Basic Food Basket, posing a significant economic barrier for low-income populations. The cost gap varied seasonally, peaking in October (21.1% higher) and narrowing in December (4.6% higher). Long-term trends showed increasing costs for both baskets, with the Healthy and Sustainable Basic Food Basket reaching its highest price in 2023, further limiting affordability. Conclusions: These findings highlight the limitations of current poverty measurement frameworks in Chile, which prioritize caloric sufficiency over nutritional quality and sustainability. This suggests a need for policy revisions to incorporate the cost of healthy and sustainable diets into poverty assessments and social protection programs. Key policy recommendations include promoting healthier diets and improved food nutrition, supporting low-carbon foods, regulating local food production and supply systems, and encouraging seasonal, local consumption. This study underscores the need for structural interventions to ensure equitable access to sustainable diets, addressing both public health and environmental concerns. Full article

The agricultural sector faces significant pressure to meet the growing global demand for food while managing the planet’s limited natural resources. Addressing this challenge requires the strategic use of abundant materials and accessible biotechnologies that farmers can effectively implement. This study evaluated the effects of various substrate mixtures, including combinations of coconut fiber with compost or vermicompost (50:50 v/v). It also assessed the impact of heat treatment and inoculation with the antagonist Trichoderma asperellum on the production of basic potato seeds grown in 70 L plastic baskets. Statistical analysis revealed that the vermicompost-based mixture outperformed others, demonstrating superior biometric variables for potato plants. The treatment with sterilized vermicompost led to a 41% increase in seed weight, underscoring the beneficial effects of vermicompost. Correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship between the phosphorus content of the mixture and a negative relationship with the E4/E6 ratio—a parameter recognized as a reliable and easily measurable indicator of substrate quality, along with pH and electrical conductivity. Full article

Gluten-related disorders are treated with a gluten-free diet. The “basic food basket” (BFB) consists of a list of basic foods consumed by low-income groups in society, including those lowest-cost versions within each food category. To evaluate the cost, availability, and nutritional quality of the BFB and gluten-free BFB (GF-BFB), foods were photographed, registering their cost, availability, and nutritional characteristics, in high quality and mid-range supermarkets, wholesalers, health shops, and corner shops, matching each regular BFB product with a gluten-free equivalent. Of the 1177 potential products, the selection of lowest-cost foods yielded 55 and 47 products (BFB and GF-BFB, respectively). Breads/cereals and drinks showed the highest differences (279% and 146%, respectively) while meats and sausages showed the lowest ones (18.6%). The GF-BFB cost represents 30.1% of the minimum wage, which covers the cost of 5.2 and 3.3 of the BFB and GF-BFB per month, respectively. Availability ranged between 22.7 and 42.4%. Lower availability was associated with poorer nutritional quality in the GF-BFB, which provides 5% less energy, 26% more fat, and 25% less protein than the BFB. Only 47% of gluten-free products declared their “gluten-free” condition. The results strongly suggest that the GF-BFB must be redesigned to be both gluten-free and nutritionally adequate. Full article

Meat is an important part of the food pyramid in Mexico, to such an extent that it is included in the basic food basket. In recent years, there has been great interest in the application of so-called emerging technologies, such as high-intensity ultrasound (HIU), to modify the characteristics of meat and meat products. The advantages of the HIU in meat such as pH, increased water-holding capacity, and antimicrobial activity are well documented and conclusive. However, in terms of meat tenderization, the results are confusing and contradictory, mainly when they focus on three HIU parameters: acoustic intensity, frequency, and application time. This study explores via a texturometer the effect of HIU-generated acoustic cavitation and ultrasonoporation in beef (m. Longissimus dorsi). Loin-steak was ultrasonicated with the following parameters: time t_HIU = 30 min/each side; frequency f_HIU = 37 kHz; acoustic intensity I_HIU = ~6, 7, 16, 28, and 90 W/cm². The results showed that acoustic cavitation has a chaotic effect on the loin-steak surface and thickness of the rib-eye due to Bjerknes force, generating shear stress waves, and acoustic radiation transmittance via the internal structure of the meat and the modification of the myofibrils, in addition to the collateral effect in which the collagen and pH generated ultrasonoporation. This means that HIU can be beneficial for the tenderization of meat. Full article

Background: Currently, there are different food classification systems in order to inform the population of the best alternatives for consumption, considering all the diseases associated with the consumption of products of low nutritional quality. Reports indicate that these forms of labelling warnings correspond to a laudable strategy for populations that do not have the knowledge to discriminate between the wide range of products offered by the food industry. However, recent publications indicate that there may be inconsistencies between the different classification guidelines, and the guidelines that nations should adopt in their food guides are still a matter of debate. In view of this, the present study aimed to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative differences that exist between the NOVA, Nutri-Score and Chilean Front-of-package (FoP) food warning label according to the Chilean basic food basket list. Method: An analytical study was carried out to classify a list of 736 foods according to three different systems, evaluating the distributions according to their methods of classifying the products. Quantitative differences were contrasted for each system, as well as between them, together with an analysis of the dimensions of each system. Results: According to the Nutri-Score classification, the most frequent category was A with 27% (high nutritional quality), followed by D with 22% (low nutritional quality) of the total. On the other hand, the NOVA classification showed that the most frequent categorization was ultra-processed food (NOVA 4) with 54%, followed by unprocessed (NOVA 1) with 19%. Regarding the FoP warning labels, 57% of the foods were categorized as free warning labels, followed by the category of foods with 3 warning labels (23%). Regarding the results of the principal component analysis, the Nutri-Score and FoP warning labels present a degree of similarity in their classification guidelines, being different than the dimension pointed out by NOVA. Conclusion: The present work managed to demonstrate that there are quantitative and qualitative differences between the classification and recommendation guidelines of the Nutri-Score, NOVA and FoP warning labels, finding concrete discrepancies between them. Full article

Food insecurity increases with human and natural disasters. Two tools were developed to assist effective food relief in Western Australia: the Food Stress Index (similar to rental stress, predicts the likelihood of household food insecurity by geographic location) and a basic and nutritious Food Basket Recommendation (that quantifies the types and amounts of food to meet dietary recommendations for different family types). This study aims to understand and compare the processes and impact of using these tools for organisations and their clients involved in emergency food assistance and/or disaster preparedness. A multiple case-study design analysed organisation’s use of the tools to assist the response to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and the catastrophic bushfires in Australia. Qualitative interviews were conducted by telephone and Zoom (a cloud-based video conferencing service) in July–August 2020. A purposeful sample of eight interviewees representing seven cases (government, food relief and community organisations involved in emergency food assistance and/or disaster preparedness). Three themes emerged from the analysis, (1) organisations are confident users of the tools; (2) Collaborations were “Ready to Go” and (3) Food Stress Index is a “game changer”. Findings demonstrate the intrinsic value of the tools in the provision of emergency food relief under both normal circumstances and in times of increased need, i.e., COVID-19 pandemic. The study highlights the value and importance of ongoing intersectoral collaborations for food relief and food security (e.g., the Western Australian Food Relief Framework) and suggests that upscaling of the Food Stress Index and food baskets will increase the effectiveness of measures to address food insecurity in Australia. Full article

Evaluation of radiation exposure from diet is necessary under the assumption of a virtual accident as a part of emergency preparedness. Here, we developed a model with complete consideration of the regional food trade using deposition data simulated by a transport model, and estimated the dietary intake of radionuclides and the effectiveness of regulation (e.g., restrictions on the distribution of foods) after the Fukushima accident and in virtual accident scenarios. We also evaluated the dilution factors (i.e., ratios of contaminated foods to consumed foods) and cost-effectiveness of regulation as basic information for setting regulatory values. The doses estimated under actual emission conditions were generally consistent with those observed in food-duplicate and market-basket surveys within a factor of three. Regulation of restricted food distribution resulted in reductions in the doses of 54–65% in the nearest large city to the nuclear power plant. The dilution factors under actual emission conditions were 4.4% for radioiodine and 2.7% for radiocesium, which are ~20 times lower than those used in the Japanese provisional regulation values after the Fukushima accident. Strict regulation worsened the cost-effectiveness for both radionuclides. This study highlights the significance and utility of the developed model for a risk analysis of emergency preparedness and regulation. Full article