Associação entre o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e a composição corporal de adolescentes / Association between ultraprocessed food consumption and body composition of adolescents / Asociación entre el consume de alimentos ultraprocesados y la composición corporal de los adolescentes

O processo de transição nutricional vem elevando o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados na população. Esses alimentos apresentam alta densidade energética e baixas propriedades nutricionais, afetando o estado nutricional e a composição corporal, inclusive dos adolescentes. Este trabalho visa avaliar a associação entre o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e a composição corporal de adolescentes. Este é um estudo transversal, realizado com adolescentes matriculados em uma instituição filantrópica de ensino. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, antropométricos e de consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados. Foi realizada uma análise de associação entre o consumo regular de alimentos ultraprocessados e o excesso de peso, por meio do teste qui-quadrado de Pearson, com nível de significância de 5%. Para as análises estatísticas, foi utilizado o programa IBM SPSS versão 22.0. Cerca de um terço da amostra apresentava excesso de peso (índice de massa corporal: 27,2%; pregas cutâneas: 33,9%; bioimpedância: 29,6%). O consumo regular de alimentos ultraprocessados esteve presente em 64,2% da amostra e foi associado ao excesso de peso avaliado pela bioimpedância (p = 0,016) e pelas pregas cutâneas (p = 0,008). Os indivíduos que apresentaram maior prevalência de excesso de peso não consumiam regularmente alimentos ultraprocessados. Destaca-se a necessidade de realização de outros estudos, principalmente longitudinais, para avaliar e compreender a associação entre o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e a composição corporal dos adolescentes.

The nutritional transition has been increasing the consumption of ultraprocessed foods in the population. These foods have high energy and low nutritional properties, affecting the nutritional status and body composition, including of adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the association between ultraprocessed food consumption and body composition in adolescents. This is a cross sectional study carried out with adolescents enrolled in a philanthropic education institution. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and ultraprocessed food consumption data were collected. An analysis of association between regular ultraprocessed food consumption and overweight was performed using Pearson's Chi-square test, with a significance level of 5%. The program IBM SPSS version 22.0 was used for statistical analyzes. About one-third of the sample was overweight (body mass index: 27.2%; skin folds: 33.9%; bioimpedance: 29.6%). Regular ultraprocessed food consumption was found in 64.2% of the sample and was associated with overweight assessed by bioimpedance (p = 0.016) and skin folds (p = 0.008). The individuals who had higher prevalence of overweight did not consume ultraprocessed food regularly. Carrying out other studies, especially longitudinal studies, to evaluate and understand how the association between ultraprocessed food intake and body composition occurs in adolescents is necessary.

El proceso de transición nutricional ha incrementado el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados en la población. Estos alimentos tienen alta densidad energética y bajas propriedades nutricionales, afectando el estado nutricional y la composición corporal, incluso de los adolescentes. Este trabajo pretende evaluar la asociación entre el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados y la composición corporal de adolescentes. Este es un estudio transversal realizado con adolescentes matriculados en una institución educativa filantrópica. Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos, antropométricos y de consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados. El análisis de la asociación entre el consumo regular de los ultraprocesados y el exceso de peso se realizó mediante la prueba de chi-cuadrado de Pearson, con nivel de significancia del 5%. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el programa IBM SPSS, versión 22.0. Casi un tercio de la muestra tenía exceso de peso (índice de masa corporal: 27,2%; pliegues cutáneos: 33,9%; bioimpedancia: 29,6%). El consumo habitual de alimentos ultraprocesados estuvo presente en el 64,2% de la muestra y se asoció con el exceso de peso evaluado por bioimpedancia (p=0,016) y pliegues cutáneos (p=0,008). Las personas que tenían una mayor prevalencia de exceso de peso no consumían regularmente alimentos ultraprocesados. Se necesitan más estudios, principalmente longitudinales, para evaluar y comprender la asociación entre el consumo de los ultraprocesados y la composición corporal en adolescentes.

Contamination level and characterization of Staphyloccocus aureus associated with ready-to-eat foods, food handlers, and environmental factors

Aims@#Although several major food poisoning outbreaks caused by Staphylococcus aureus have been reported, monitoring of this pathogen is often neglected. The objectives of this study were to assess the contamination level of S. aureus and characterize the S. aureus isolated in ready-to-eat (RTE), food handlers, food contact surfaces, and table cleaning cloths (TCC). @*Methodology and results@#A total of 150 RTE foods, 59 food contact surfaces (FCS) and 34 table cleaning cloths (TCC) from food premises were examined. The contamination level of S. aureus in RTE foods was at acceptable level. However, more than 10% of the FCS and TCC were contaminated with high levels of S. aureus (>1.0 Log CFU/cm2, >2.7 Log CFU/piece). Eighty-one isolated S. aureus including those isolated from hands of food handlers were further characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, virulotyping and PFGE. Out of 81 isolates, only three were multidrug resistant. More than 96% (n = 78) of the S. aureus harboured at least one virulence gene. Almost half of the isolates carried at least one staphylococcal enterotoxin in which SEC was the most common enterotoxin detected. @*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#The PFGE analysis showed that the S. aureus could be disseminated via the FCS, TCC and the hands of food handlers. Therefore, this study reiterates the importance of proper hand washing, sanitation of FCS and TCC, as well as continuous monitoring on S. aureus in food and the food handlers.

Consumption of junk foods by school-aged children in rural Himachal Pradesh, India

There has been an increase in the consumption of junk food (JF) among school-aged children (SAC) possibly leading to obesity and diet-related diseases among them. We do not have evidence on consumption of JF in rural areas; hence, we conducted a study to assess the consumption of JF by SAC in rural, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 425 children in the age group of 12� years studying in 30 government schools (clusters) were included. The clusters were selected using population proportionate to size sampling methodology. We found high prevalence (36%) of consumption of JF among SAC during the last 24 h. Efforts should be taken to reduce the consumption of JF by promotion of healthy dietary habits and educating children about the ill effects of JF.

Clostridium difficile in ready-to-eat foods in Isfahan and Shahrekord, Iran

Objective: To determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) isolated from ready-to-eat foods of Iran. Methods: From January to August 2013, a total of 368 unpacked ready-to-eat food samples were purchased from randomly selected supermarkets, retail stores and restaurants located in Isfahan and Shahrekord, Iran and were evaluated for the presence of C. difficile. Results: C. difficile spores were detected in 5 (1.36%) of the 368 samples. The highest prevalence of C. difficile was found in fasl salad (4.29%), followed by yogurt stew (2%), and olovyeh salad (0.93%). All 140 maccaroni salad and falafel sandwich samples were negative for C. difficile. One of the five C. difficile isolates (20%) contained tcdA, tcdB and cdtB toxin genes and four strains (80%) contained tcdA, and tcdB toxin genes. Also, among the five C. difficile isolates, only three strains were found to be toxigenic for toxin A and/or B by ELISA. Isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole, but variably resistant to other antimicrobial drugs. Conclusions: This study, combined with studies on other food sources, suggests that widespread contamination of food is common.

Evaluación microbiológica de alimentos listos para consumo procesados por pequeñas industrias costarricenses / Microbiological evaluation of ready-to-eat foods manufactured by small Costa Rican industries

Los alimentos listos para su consumo (ALC) son alimentos procesados que pueden consumirse sin ningún tratamiento térmico adicional, lo que ha incrementado su popularidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la inocuidad y calidad microbiológica de 90 ALC producidos por pequeñas industrias costarricenses, con el fin de evaluar el riesgo para la salud pública. Se analizaron 26 encurtidos, 18 aderezos, 18 ensaladas, 12 dulces en conserva y 16 antipastos. A cada muestra se le determinó el pH y la presencia por cultivo de indicadores de calidad microbiológica y de patógenos (Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens, C. botulinum y Bacillus cereus); además, se investigó por PCR la presencia de genes que codifican por las toxinas de C. botulinum y C. perfringens. Un 37% de las muestras tuvo un nivel de acidez que podría permitir la proliferación de patógenos (pH >4.5). En general, los indicadores de vida útil fueron aceptables, siempre y cuando los ALC se mantengan en condiciones de temperatura y humedad adecuadas. Un 64% de las muestras presentó valores de coliformes totales que sugieren mala higiene en su elaboración (NMP/g >1000), que se confirma con el hallazgo de coliformes fecales en el 56% y que las hace inaceptables para el consumo humano. Todos los cultivos para patógenos fueron negativos, excepto cuatro para B. cereus. No se detectaron toxinas de C. botulinum y solo una muestra fue positiva para el PCR de C. perfringens. Este estudio evidencia una importante contaminación fecal en ALC, una situación indeseable y totalmente prevenible si se practican técnicas adecuadas de manejo de alimentos, de higiene y se presta mayor atención a los puntos críticos de control.

Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods are processed foodstuffs which have gained popularity in recent times because they can be ingested without further thermic treatments. In this work, the microbiological quality and safety of 90 samples of RTE foods manufactured by small Costa Rican industries was determined to evaluate whether they represent a Public Health risk. Twenty-six samples of pickled vegetables, 18 dips, 18 salads, and 12 sweet treats were studied. Each sample was analyzed with regard to its pH, the presence of culturable microbiological quality indicators and recognized foodborne pathogens (Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens, C. botulinum, and Bacillus cereus) Selected genes encoding toxins of C. botulinum and C. perfringens were screened by PCR. Thirty-seven percent of the samples had a level of acidity that could allow the growth and proliferation of bacterial pathogens (pH >4.5). The shelf-life indicators were acceptable but only if the RTE foods are kept at adequate conditions of temperature and humidity. Sixty-four percent of the RTE foods had total coliforms values that evidence inadequate hygiene practices during its elaboration (MPN/g >1000). This result was confirmed by the finding of fecal coliforms in 56 % of the samples, which, by the way, are inacceptable for human consumption. All cultures for pathogens were negative, except for 4 samples that contained B. cereus. Toxins of C. botulinum were not detected and one single sample was positive for the PCR for C. perfringens. The elevated degree of fecal contamination detected in the RTE could be prevented by means of good manufacturing practices, better hygiene measures and a deeper attention to critical control points.

Effect of Sanitization on Raw Vegetables not Heated in Foodservice Operations

The purpose of this study was to investigate effectiveness of sanitization on raw vegetables not heated in foodservice operations. Microbiological examinations of food materials and cooked food with leek Gukgalli were performed in 2 HACCP-implemented foodservices (A and B) appointed by Food and Drug Administrations, and in 2 other foodservices (C and D) not implemented HACCP. 'Washing and sanitizing raw vegetables' were monitored as CCP at A and B foodservices but only washing has been done in pre-preparation at C and D foodservices. Aerobic plate counts of received leek in A and B foodservices were above 10(7) CFU/g indicating very poor microbiological quality. After sanitization treatment (soaking for 5 minutes in chlorine water: chlorine density 50~100 ppm), its aerobic plate counts decreased to 7.06x10(5) CFU/g (A foodservice) and 4.31x10(5) CFU/g (B foodservice), coliform and faecal coliform were not detected. With this result, the effect of microbial reduction by sanitizer was conformed. But, the conditions of leek were still not acceptable by microbiological standards for ready-to-eat foods. After three more times of rinse has been done, the microbial conditions of leek became acceptable. In C and D foodservices, aerobic plate counts of leek showed decreasing trends by 2x4 times of washings but microbiological quality of leek after pre-preparation were unacceptable by microbiological standards for ready-to-eat foods (C foodservice: 3.58x10(5) CFU/g, D foodservice: 1.29x10(9) CFU/g). For the prevention of foodborne illness, sanitizing raw vegetables should be performed during pre-preparation of non-heated foods.