Lipid profiles and production performance responses of laying hens to dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal: systematic review and meta-analysis.

The inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MLM) in chicken diets especially in developing countries is on the increase due to scarcity of traditional feedstuffs. Therefore, this investigation aimed to explore the effects of MLM on lipid profiles and production characteristics of laying hens. Twenty-three publications retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar search engines were used for the analysis. Data from the 23 studies were analysed using random-effects model in OpenMEE software. Results were presented as standardised mean difference (SMD) at a 95% confidence interval. The results show significant improvement in feed conversion ratio (SMD = - 0.49; p < .001), egg mass (SMD = 0.35; p = .003), Haugh unit (SMD = 0.39; p < .001), eggshell thickness (SMD = 0.63; p < .001) and eggshell weight (SMD = 0.45; p < .001) at a reduced feed intake. On the other hand, egg weight, hen-day egg production and blood high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not statistically different from controls. Results reveal that dietary MLM enhanced blood cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and yolk cholesterol concentrations in laying hens. There is presence of significant heterogeneity and meta-regression revealed that study country, number of hen, housing system, hen age, inclusion level and layer strains were predictors of the treatment effect. In conclusion, the results of this meta-analysis suggest that inclusion of MLM in the diet of laying hens improved feed conversion ratio, aspects of egg quality and blood/yolk cholesterol concentrations in laying hens at a reduced feed intake.

A descriptive cross-sectional study of food hygiene practices among informal ethnic food vendors in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

Demand for ethnic foods by the immigrant population has led to proliferation of ethnic food shops (shops selling foods eaten by different ethnic groups). However, the status of the food hygiene practices among these vendors is unknown. This study investigated food hygiene practices among informal ethnic food vendors in Gauteng Province (GP), South Africa. Participants included immigrants managing informal ethnic food shops in GP. Snowball sampling was used to identify participants (n=40). A questionnaire/checklist was used to collect information on hygiene practices. Although majority of ethnic food shops (95%; n=38) operated in permanent structures, just over half (55%; n=22) of these facilities had windows. The remaining 5% (n=2) of the vendors operated from the boot/trunk of cars. None of the participants had a food probe used to monitor the temperature of food. Most of the participants (65%; n=26) did not own freezers, and just above half (55%, n=22) had microwave ovens. Majority (95%; n=38) of the respondents had access to toilet facilities and tap water at their premises. Only two (5%; n=2) respondents brought water from home, and these used public toilets at shopping centers in the vicinity of their businesses. Majority (72.5%; n=29) of the respondents were not aware of the importance of keeping food above 65˚C. Slightly over half (55%, n=22) of the respondents did not reheat the food before serving, and only 10 % (n=4) followed proper food reheating procedures. Poor food hygiene practices and lack of appropriate food handling equipment and facilities are common among ethnic food vendors. The widespread lack of awareness of the importance of holding food above 65˚C, and the high prevalence of not reheating the food before serving, and not following proper food reheating procedures, are a major source of concern as these practices are potentially associated with promoting food contamination with foodborne diseasecausing organisms. It is envisaged that findings reported here can guide policy makers to design policies that promote selling safe food by ethnic food vendors. To enhance compliance, it is recommended that such policies should be user friendly to the operators of informal ethnic food shops.