Protein level in feed for gestating sows can be reduced

Research showed that reducing the protein level in the compound feed for gestating sows can have a positive effect on piglet growth. Sows fed with a lower protein content had more energy to produce milk, resulting in heavier piglets at weaning. Reducing protein intake did not negatively affect birth weight or the number of live-born piglets. The results suggest that the sows' daily need for crude protein may be even lower than the level investigated in the study. The findings are particularly relevant in light of the global shortage of organic soyabean meal and other protein sources due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Food consumption pattern Far Away From Home as a source of household food protein in Indonesia

The pattern of food consumption determines the level of household welfare, but for households with low income, the share of food expenditure is dominated by carbohydrate food. Protein foods are the second food consumed after carbohydrate staple foods. This study analyzes food consumption patterns away from home as a source of protein for households in Indonesia. The research data uses secondary data in the form of Susenas data in 2020 which covers of thirty-four provinces and the samples cover 334,127 households in total. The research data is in the form of total household expenditure data, data on the number of household members, consumption and expenditure data of FAFH as a source of household protein in Indonesia covering eight types of food, namely 1) soup namely soto, gule, sop, rawon 2) satay, tongseng 3) meatball noodles, chicken noodles 4) cooked fish 5) cooked chicken or meat 6) processed meat 7) chicken porridge, and 8) dumplings, batagor. The consumption preference model approach uses the Probit Model. The results showed that all FAFH foods had a high significant effect on FAFH consumption patterns. However, the household size variable shows a negative relationship. The higher the household size, the lower the possibility of consuming FAFH. The findings of this study demonstrate that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the intake of FAFH protein is increasing, albeit at a very slow rate. This also demonstrates that FAFH food is a source of protein for households in Indonesia.

Biting the Bullet: A Call for Action on Lead-Contaminated Meat in Food Banks

Even though the presence of ammunition-derived metallic lead fragments in donated firearms-hunted meat has been recognized for more than a decade, the vast majority of donated hunted meat is not inspected to discard meat containing lead fragments.1 An underlying lack of food safety standards for adulterated donated food increases risks to lowincome recipients, who are already disproportionately affected by elevated blood lead levels (BLLs).2 Primary prevention is needed for this overlooked source of lead exposure. LOW-LEVEL LEAD Primary prevention is recognized as the most effective way to address the epidemic of lead poisoning in the United States.3 The current blood lead reference level recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (mg/dL). A strong body of scientific research demonstrates that leadbased ammunition frequently contaminates hunted meat and increases BLLs of humans and animals who consume it.1,7-9 Lead-contaminated hunted meat has been identified as the most poorly acknowledged and addressed example of food lead contamination, and scientists have called for this source of lead exposure to be acknowledged and addressed with health-protective measures.8,9 A 2013 consensus statement of experts in human, environmental, and wildlife toxicology supports reducing and eventually eliminating the introduction of lead into the environment from lead-based ammunition, emphasizing that shooting lead ammunition into the environment poses significant risks of lead exposure to humans and wildlife.10 In 2016, Arnemo et al. found that more than 99% of 570 scientific articles about environmental and health consequences of lead in ammunition raised concerns about lead toxicity.7 The authors highlighted that nonlead ammunition is as effective as lead-based ammunition and is comparably priced. Despite the well-established scientific basis for regulation of lead ammunition for hunting, the topic has been politicized by misinformation campaigns portraying concerns about ingesting lead ammunition as a product of antihunting agendas.11 Lead Contamination in Donated Hunted Meat Donated hunted meat is a vital source of protein distributed by food banks at a time when food bank use remains far above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.12 Published evidence of leadcontaminated meat in food banks has existed for more than a decade (Figure A, available as a supplement to the online version of this article at https://www.ajph.org).13 Investigations in multiple states have confirmed the presence of lead in donated meat.

Don’t panic, experts say after COVID-19 animal killings

Speed read Studies in Germany and China find pigs, chickens, ducks not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 India food safety authority says chicken eggs, meat safe to eat, after poultry culled in China Expert urges people not to be concerned domestic livestock could become COVID-19 source Animal disease specialists are seeking to calm fears that domestic livestock and pets can spread coronavirus, as lockdowns make protein sources scarce in some lower-income countries. Germany’s national institute for animal health, the Friedrich-Löffler-Institut, is testing the susceptibility of animals to SARS-CoV-2, with final results and analysis expected at the beginning of May. India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority has responded to fears that chickens could spread COVID-19, saying current knowledge indicates that eating eggs and meat is safe, providing general hygiene practices outlined by the World Health Organization and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are followed.

Evaluating veal consumption hedonism of consumers by mediating effect model with risk factor

In recent years, climate change and Covid-19 pandemic have dramatically caused some attitude variation on consumers' food consumption preferences. By measuring the impacts on their behaviors of these changes, using as a policy tool is of a great importance. This research was conducted to analyze the total effect of sensory quality and mediating effect with natural risk factor on veal consumption hedonism of consumers in Erzurum province under climate change and Covid-19 epidemic. The main data of the study was consisted of primary data obtained from 385 household in 2021. The data were used in basic effect model to measure the sensory quality effect on consumption hedonism, and then in mediating effect model to determine indirect effects of risk factor playing linking role. The results of the study indicated that sensory quality being of high total effect on consumers' veal consumption hedonism in basic effect model explained 64% of total variance. On the other hand, it was determined that sensory quality's direct effect on consumption hedonism in mediating effect model with risk factor was lower, but the risk factor's indirect effect was meaningful, and had a higher explanation rate than that in basic effect model. In order to be able to increase consumption hedonism, human diets should include consumption based on alternative meat and protein sources of vegetable origin instead of veal consumption. Hygiene decisions minimizing Covid-19 infection risk, moreover, at production and marketing stages of alternative meats should be taken and implemented.

Changes in Selected Food Groups Consumption and Quality of Meals in Japanese School Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In 2020, a state of emergency was declared to control the devastating impact of coronavirus, leading to temporary school closures in Japan, meaning that school lunches were not provided to the majority of schoolchildren. Using questionnaires completed by participants' guardians, we examined the relationship between household income and the quality of meals in Japanese schoolchildren before, during, and after the state of emergency. Participants (1111 children, 10-14 years old) were chosen to form a nationally representative sample of the Japanese population. "Well-balanced dietary intake" was defined as the intake of (i) meat, fish, or eggs and (ii) vegetables. The desired prevalence was defined as equal to or more than twice a day. Household income was divided into quartiles. "Well-balanced dietary intake" was lower in all households during the state of emergency compared with before. The proportion of those with a "well-balanced dietary intake" at least twice a day was notably low in both Q3 and Q4 during the state of emergency compared with before the declared state of emergency; relative risk increase (95% CI) were Q1: -19.0% (-19.6% to -18.4%), p < 0.001, Q2: -21.3% (-22.1% to -20.6%) p < 0.001, Q3: -25.4% (-26.1% to -24.7%), p < 0.001, and Q4: -34.8% (-35.6% to -34.0%), p < 0.001. The interaction p (vs. Q1) of Q2, Q3, and Q4 were all <0.001. Guardians from low-income households had significantly higher rates of having less: time, psychological room, and financial position to prepare meals during the state of emergency. Our results suggest that schoolchildren's quality of meals worsened during the state of emergency, especially in low-income households, because school lunches were not provided.