# THE IMPACT OF SOLAR MARKET GARDENS ON CHILD GROWTH, IRON AND VITAMIN A STATUS IN THE KALALÉ DISTRICT OF NORTHERN BENIN

(1)Taren, Douglas; (2)Alaofe, Halimatou; (3)Burney, Jennifer; (4)Naylor, Rosemond.

(1)PhD. Professor. Health Promotion Science. University of Arizona. USA; (2)PhD. Professor. Health Promotion Science. University of Arizona. USA.; (3)PhD. Professor. School of Global Policy & Strategy. University of California - San Diego. USA;

(4)PhD. Professor. Earth Energy and Environmental Sciences. Stanford University. USA.

**Background and objectives:** Developing a sustainable agricultural system to improve the nutritional status of children is a challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa where irrigation is labor intensive and crops are rainfed. The objective of this study was to evaluate how Solar Market Gardens (SMGs), a labor-saving solar power drip irrigation system at the village level, impacts the nutritional status of children.

**Methods:** The study was conducted in 8 intervention villages and 8 control villages using traditional hand-irrigation. Baseline and 1-year follow-up data were obtained for the same child (12-59 months of age) per household from 134 randomly-sampled control village households (C-H), 126 control village women group households (C-WG), 229 randomly sampled intervention village households using traditional irrigation (I-H) and 185 intervention village women's group households with SGMs (I-WG). Anthropometric measures and blood samples were collected to determine the impact of the SMGs on child growth, iron and vitamin A status by determining the impact estimate (IE) using difference-in-difference analysis.

**Results:** At baseline, children were 22.2 +/- 12.4 months of age, 23% were underweight, 36% were classified as stunted and 12.1% with wasting. Low hemoglobin concentrations (< 11g/L) were present in 80%, and 27.2% had a serum retinol < 0.70 mol/L. For all children, the I-WG households had a significant increase (p<0.05) in hemoglobin (IE 0.32) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ, IE 0.31) compared with all households, and a slight increase (p<0.10) for serum retinol (using RBP) compared with I-H. For children < 36 months of age at baseline, children from I-WG had a significant increase (p<0.01) for their WAZ (IE 0.44) and their height-for-age z-score (HAZ, IE 0.47) compared with all groups, and a slight increase (p<0.10) in their weight-for-height z-scores (WHZ, IE 0.41) compared with all groups and for serum retinol compared with I-H (IE 0.10).

**Conclusions:** SMGs appeared to have significantly supported the nutritional status of children in year 1 of the intervention. However, more time may be needed to obtain the full impact of SMGs. Measures of increased crop production, food security, income, and women's empowerment are potential mechanisms for the improved nutritional status.

**Keywords:** irrigation, horticulture, children, growth, micro-nutrients

# TOXICITY OF LEACHATE FROM PLASTIC PACKAGING IN TWO BIOLOGICAL MODELS

(1)dos Santos Gonçalves, Thaís; (2)Lourenço da Costa, Elizabete;

(3)Eduardo Addad, João.

(1)BSc. Nutritionist. Institute of Scientific and Technological Analysis. Catholic University of Santos. Brazil.; (2)PhD. Nutritionist. Institute of Scientific and Technological Analysis. Catholic University of Santos. Brazil.; (3)PhD. Geologist. Technical Department. Tertium. Brazil.

**Background and objectives:** Plastic occupies first place in the market of packaging for the food sector, guaranteeing better presentation to foodstuffs. However, to improve their aesthetic or technological features, metallization or addition of pigments to plastic packaging is employed, many of which may contain heavy metals as contaminants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the toxicity of plastic packaging leachates using the germination of lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa) and Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode widely used to evaluate the anthropogenic action.

**Methods:** Low density polyethylene packages, laminated or not pigmented, were chopped and kept in contact with solutions for leaching at different pH and time conditions. After filtration, an aliquot of the solutions obtained in each condition was used for analysis of metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Cr) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Another aliquot was reserved for the biological assays, which included the germination of lettuce seed, which were placed in Petri dishes, on filter paper moistened with the solutions. After the incubation, the effect on the germination index was evaluated by measurement with a pachymeter. The conditions those caused, the greater interference on the seeds germination, were applied to observe the fecundity of the nematode C. elegans, put in contact from the embryonic stage.

**Results:** It was observed that the seeds placed in contact with the leachate obtained from laminated plastic packing presented alterations in their length, and reduction in egg production in C. elegans. The migration of cadmium to the aqueous medium was higher in the neutral leachate. But the interference in the metabolism of the studied organisms showed the greatest impact after the contact with the experimental condition obtained an acidified leachate from laminated plastic packaging.

**Conclusions:** The lack of correlation observed on better condition to metals migration and the one that showed the higher impact on organisms, points that probably others compounds from plastic polymer matrix has interfered on biological models, strengthening the perception about the limitation of chemical measurements. This finding is a worrying indicator, since a large number of foods in this type of packaging present a pH about 4.5, remaining stored for several months.

**Keywords:** Caenorhabditis elegans, Lactuca sativa, plastic packaging, heavy metal.
## ACCUMULATION PROCESSES OF NUTRITIONAL-
LY BENEFICIAL MINERALS IN A BROWN ALGAE,
HIJIKI (SARGASSUM FUSIFORME), DURING
GROWTH

(1)Katayama, Masayuki; (2)Sugawa-Katayama, Yohko; (3)Murakami, Kaori.

(1)PhD. Professor. Department of Health and Nutrition. Osaka Aoyama University. Japan.; (2)PhD. Professor. Department of Health and Nutrition. Osaka Aoyama University. Japan;

(3)PhD. Associate Professor. Department of Food Sciences and Biotechnology. Hiroshima Institute of Technology. Japan.

**Background and objectives:** The brown algae Hijiki, Sargassum fusiforme, is an important foodstuff for Japanese, and serves as a rich supply of minerals and dietary fiber. Warming of the earth elevates the ocean-water temperature year by year, and exerts ecological influences. Hijiki also seems to change their regular growing processes, becoming chlorotic earlier than before. To know the physiological changes during their growth, we studied the accumulating processes of several nutritionally beneficial minerals in Hijiki plants during their growth from the primary leaf stage to their chlorotic state. Although the accumulation of arsenic (As) occurred in plants during their growth, arsenic (As) could be mostly removed during the pre-cooking process of the commercial dried Hijiki products.

**Methods:** Hijiki plants were harvested at the seashore of Kusahimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The fresh samples of Hijiki plants were lyophilized and decomposed with conc perchloric acid - conc nitric acid, or with conc sulfuric acid - conc nitric acid. The ashed samples were dissolved in 1N hydrochloric acid, and the concentrations of arsenic (As), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn) in the plant tissues were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

**Results:** The concentration of calcium (Ca) per tissue weight increased gradually coming to a rather constant value before the appearance of genital organs on the plants, although the concentration of arsenic (As) continued to increase. Until that time, the concentrations of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) continued to increase further. The concentrations of iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg) increased gradually, expressing a strong correlation between them, but the concentration of magnesium (Mg) was not uniform in the chlorotic plants.

**Conclusions:** From the viewpoint of nutritional value, matured plants of Hijiki had better be harvested, but to keep good quality of the products, fine days under the sunshine should be selected, even before complete maturation.

**Keywords:** Hijiki. Sargassum fusiforme. mineral accumulation. growing process.

## NUTRITION SENSITIVE AGRICULTURE FOR IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY: A CASE FROM AN-F4W

(1)Uddin, MD AMIN; (2)Asif, Chowdhury Abdullah Al; (3)Waid, Jillian;

(4)Stormer, Ame; (5)Mundy, Gary; (6)Sultana, Nigar; (7)Talukder, Aminuzzaman.

(1)Md Amin Uddin. (B.Sc. Ag. (Hons.), MBA). Director (Food Security & Livelihood). Chowdhury Abdullah Al Asif. MDS. Research and Evaluation Manager. Jillian L. Waid. Director Research Learning and Evaluation. Ame Stormer. PhD. Regional Director for Progra; (2)MDS. Research and Evaluation Manager. Helen Keller International. Dhaka. Bangladesh.; (3)MSW. Director Research Learning and Evaluation. Helen Keller International.

Dhaka. Bangladesh.; (4)PhD. Regional Director for Programs. Regional Office. Helen Keller International. Phnom Penh. Cambodia.; (5)MA. Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor. Regional Office. Phnom Penh. Cambodia; (6)MSc. Nutrition Specialist. Helen Kellen International. Dhaka. Bangladesh.;

(7)MPH. Country Director. Helen Keller International. Dhaka. Bangladesh.

**Background and objectives:** Since 2014, the ANF4W project in Bangladesh has been training small-scale farming households in agronomic bio-fortification of rice with zinc, and providing female farmers with training in homestead food production, nutrition education, gender empowerment and nutrition sensitive agriculture. This study was conducted to evaluate the factors influencing food security among participants.

**Methods:** A panel survey was conducted among 332 female farmers, consisting of 156 households that had been participating in the ANF4W program for 2 years, and 176 households that had been participating for one year. We used the Household Food Insecurity Assessment Scale (HFIAS) to assess food security, di-chotomizing values into ‘food secure’ and ‘food insecure’. We ran a logistic regression model to test associations between food security and household size, women’s decision- making ability in the household, self-reported years of experience in home gardening, length of involvement in the project, size of cultivated land, and dietary adequacy of female farmers.

**Results:** We found that years of experience in home gardening (OR -0.006, p<.05) and women reporting that they have decision making power about major household purchases (OR -1.068, p<.05) were positively and significantly associated with households being food secure. No other variables were found to be significantly associated with food security.

**Conclusions:** More experienced home gardeners have greater resilience against food insecurity, but this experience was not a result of project participation. It is possible that the length of time for both groups was not sufficient to show a difference or an impact; further, longer term investigation is needed. Households where women have a greater role in major household purchases are more likely to be food secure, suggesting that there are benefits to agriculture and nutrition programs focusing on empowering women beyond the sphere of agricultural production.
**Keywords:** Food security, women's decision making, home gardening.

**Further collaborators:**

Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Germany.

144/1654

QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS, CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AND NUTRIENT PROFILE OF YELLOW FLESH CASSAVA VARIETIES AND THEIR PRODUCTS

(1)Akwaa Harrison, Obed; (2)Duah, Elizabeth; (3)Baah, Rose; (4)Parks, Elizabeth); (5)Saalia, Firibu; (6)Steiner-Asiedu, Matilda.

(1)Mphil Nutrition (Final year). Department of Nutrition and Food Science. University of Ghana. Accra-Legon; (2)Mphil Nutrition. Department of Nutrition and Food Science. University of Ghana, Legon.; (3)Bsc. Nutrition. Department of Nutrition and Food Science. University of Ghana, Legon.; (4)PhD. Harvestplus cassava Breeder. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. PMB 5320. Ibadan 200001. Oyo State. Nigeria.; (5)(PhD). Associate Professor in Food Science. Head of Department of Food Engineering and Processing Sciences. Senior Lecturer. Department of Nutrition and Food Science. University of Ghana. Accra. Ghana.; (6)Associate Professor in Nutrition. President of Ghana Nutrition Association. Dean of School of Biological Sciences. Senior Lecturer. Department of Nutrition and Food Science. University of Ghana. Accra. Ghana.

**Background and objectives:** Cassava is a popular root crop in the world which contributes to the staple of most populations in the subtropics and contributes significantly to food and nutrition security in deprived populations since both roots and leaves are eaten. Additionally, cassava leaves are excellent source of proteins, vitamins (B1, B2, C) and essential minerals (iron and zinc). Yellow-fleshed varieties with high carotenoids content have been developed with the aim of combating hidden hunger. The study aimed at determining the carotenoid content of fresh cassava roots, processed products (gari and kokonte) from the roots, including the iron and zinc contents of the cassava leaves.

**Methods:** Fifteen(15) varieties of fresh yellow flesh cassava (YFC) roots and leaves were obtained from the Crop Research Institute. 5 of samples 301, 303, 305, 307, and 315 were chosen by the processors' analysis. Total carotenoids was determined using the ICHECKTM carotene device. The TCC of gari and kokonte were determined as described by BioAnalyt (2014). Iron and zinc contents were determined using AOAC(2005) methods. A consumer acceptability was done using 5 a point hedonic scale for gari samples in terms of their overall acceptability, appearance, aroma, flavour, and mouthfeel

**Results:** The processor's TCC of the fresh YFC samples ranged between 10.12 mg/kg to 4.68 mg/kg. Gari from sample 301 had the highest TCC of 7.67 mg/kg whereas sample 305 had the least value

of 4.82 mg/kg however that in kokonte was too small to be detected. Boiled cassava had highest TCC of 2.16 mg/kg and least of 1.24 mg/kg for samples 315 and 305 respectively. The iron content of fresh cassava leaves was between 3.89 ± 0.01 µg/g and 1.51 ± 0.01 µg/g for samples 310 and 308 respectively. The zinc content of cassava leaves ranged from 0.42 ± 0.04 µg/g for sample 310 to 0.05 ± 0.01 µg/g for sample 308. More than half of the respondents (51.2 %) were willing to accept the yellow flesh cassava as well as use it.

**Conclusions:** Thus YFC has potential in enhancing Food and Nutrition security in Ghana and beyond by curbing hidden hunger as judged by the preliminary studies.

**Keywords:** Cassava, bio-fortification, food and nutrition security, carotenoids

144/1684

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF SNACKS COMMERCIALIZED IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN SÃO PAULO CITY

(1)Poltronieri, Fabiana; (2)Pádua, Amanda Batista Vilas Boas;

(2)Carnelossi, Ana Cecília; (2)Olhera, Camila Carolina Bernardes;

(2)Massignani, Giuliana Cravero; (2)Barroso, Helainne Kristina Benedito.

(1)PhD. Nutritionist. Faculdade das Américas. FAM.; (2)Nutritionist. São Paulo. SP. Brazil.

**Background and objectives:** The brazilian population's eating habits indicates that the consumption of processed foods and ready meals increased, and traditional foods such as rice and beans reduced their participation in the daily calories of brazilians' intake. High consumption of fast foods, including snack foods, has worried public health officials about the prevalence increase of noncommunicable chronic diseases. The objective of this work was to determine the chemical composition of samples of snack foods marketed in private university (São Paulo-SP).

**Methods:** Approximately 500g of 4 different kinds of snacks were collected: 2 fried (rissoles, “coxinha”), and 2 baked snacks (esfiha, croissant). The snacks weighted 150g each. The percentages of moisture, proteins, lipids, ashes and carbohydrates of the samples were determined by chemical analysis. The total dietary fiber was estimated based on the brazilian table of food composition.

**Results:** The moisture of the analyzed samples ranged from 45.98 ± 0.09 to 73.46 ± 0.12. The rissoles had the highest ashes concentration (1.95 ± 0.03) and the croissant the lowest (0.66 ± 0.00). The sample “coxinha” had the highest lipid concentration (6.38 ± 0.11), and croissant the lowest (3.13 ± 0.03). However, the croissant showed the lowest protein concentration (3.70 ± 0.04), and “coxinha”, the highest (8.58 ± 0.03). The total dietary fiber content did not reach 1% in all samples analysed. The concentration of carbohydrates, obtained by difference, was approximately 18% in all samples, except for the esfiha that was almost 38%.

**Conclusions:** The results revealed that the snacks had high lipid, and low dietary fiber concentration. Therefore, the daily consumption of these foods is a nutritionally inadequate option.

**Keywords:** food composition, snack foods
# BIOACCESSIBILITY AND TOTAL CONTENT OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF COOKED RICE

(1)Ortiz, Maria Laura; (2)Cámara Martos, Fernando; (3)Brem, Juan José; (3)Trulls, Horacio.

(1)MSc. Biochemist. Department of Basic Sciences. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Argentina; (2)PhD. Department of Bromatology and Food Technology. Universidad de Córdoba. Spain.; (3)PhD. Veterinarian. Department of Basic Sciences. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Corrientes. Argentina.

**Background and objectives:** Rice (Oryza sativa) is a crop of great, economic and social importance worldwide. At present, the study of trace elements in foods, both beneficial to health and potentially toxic, has been prioritized, and rice grain is being one of the cereals characterized by a selective accumulation of these elements. The total concentration of the different trace elements in food to be consumed, allows estimate the dose of exposure, while the soluble fraction present in the intestinal lumen after the digestive process, shows its bioaccessibility, so this is a more precise nutritional evaluation of the food. The objective of the present work was to determine the total and bioaccessible concentration of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in samples of different varieties of cooked, lyophilized and ground rice.

**Methods:** The bioaccessible fraction was determined by an in vitro solubility method, the total and solubilized minerals, after ashing, were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry.

**Results:** The results were ranges of total values (µg / g) of Cu: 1.45-5.59; Mn: 2.45-13.61; Zn: 8.82-12.93 and Fe: 6.50-15.28, while the percentages of solubilized and bioavailable minerals were Cu: 24.01-79.30%; Mn: 5.30 - 27.31%; Zn: 6.70-22.53% and Fe: 24.80-92.60%.

**Conclusions:** It is concluded that, both, the total content of minerals as the soluble fraction to be used by the organism, are influenced by the different physical and chemical characteristics of the studied varieties, so the brown rice, with high fiber content, has showed the lowest bioaccessibility percentage values of these studied trace elements.

**Keywords:** Bioaccessibility, rice, varieties, minerals, soluble fraction.

**Further collaborators:**

Zach, Astrid. Brem, José Carlos

# THE IMPACT OF SOLAR MARKET GARDENS ON DIETARY DIVERSITY, WOMEN'S NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND COMPONENTS OF WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN THE KALALÉ DISTRICT OF NORTHERN BENIN

(1)Alaofe, Halimatou; (2)Douglas, Taren; (3)Burney, Jennifer; (4)Naylor, Rosemond.

(1)PhD. Nutritionist. Health Promotion Sciences. University of Arizona. US; (2)PhD. Nutritionist. Health Promotion Science. University of Arizona. US; (3)PhD. Environmental Scientist. School of Global Policy & Strategy, University of California - San Diego. US; (4)PhD. Economist. Earth Energy and Environmental Sciences. Stanford University. US.

**Background and objectives:** Rainfed agriculture poses growing production risks with increased climate variability and change in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), largely due to low use of irrigation and fertilizer. However, to date, few studies have analyzed the impact of irrigation interventions on nutrition, health, and women's empowerment, despite the large potential of irrigation to increase agricultural production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of Solar Market Gardens (SMGs) on dietary diversity, women's nutritional status and components of women's empowerment in the Kalalé district of Northern Benin.

**Methods:** The study was conducted in 8 intervention villages and 8 control villages using traditional methods. Baseline and 1-year follow-up data were obtained for childbearing age women (15-45 years old) from 185 SMGs women's group (WG) households and randomly selected 229 non women's group (NWG) households, 126 control women's group (CWG) and 234 control non women's group (CNWG) households. Collected nutrition-related indicators included household (HDDS) and women (WDDS) dietary diversity score, body mass index (BMI), prevalence of thinness (BMI<18.5 kg/m2), anemia, iron (ID) and vitamin A (VAD) deficiencies, while women's empowerment measures included decision making, physical mobility, male household involvement, self-confidence, economic independence and group membership components. The Impact estimate (IE) of the SMGs was determined using difference-in-difference between WG and control households (NWG, CWG, and CNWG).

**Results:** The SMGs women's group households were associated with a significant increase in HDDS (IE 0.36), WDDS (IE 0.47), and a significant reduction in anemia prevalence (IE -0.77), whereas there was no significant impact on BMI, thinness, ID and VAD (p>0.05). SMGs women had also greater self-confidence (IE 0.58), decision making (IE 0.74), and group membership (IE 0.66), but no impact was observed with physical mobility, male household involvement, and economic independence components of women's empowerment.

**Conclusions:** Solar Market Gardens have the potential to improve women's nutritional status and components of women's empowerment in the Kalalé district of Northern Benin. However, the lack of impact on BMI, iron and vitamin A deficiencies, and economic independence components of women's empowerment
points out the urgent need for behavior changes communication interventions to improve women nutrition status.

**Keywords:** irrigation; dietary diversity; women's nutrition status; women's empowerment; Benin

(1)Andrews-Trevino, Johanna Y; (2)Webb, Patrick; (3)Shrestha, Robin;

(4)Shively, Gerald; (5)Rogers, Beatrice; (6)Davis, Dale; (7)Pokharel, Ashish; (8)Paudel, Krishna; (9)Baral, Kedar Prasad; (10)Ghosh, Shibani.

(1)MSc. Nutritionist. Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Tufts University. USA; (2)PhD. Director of the Innovation Lab for Nutrition. Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Tufts University. USA; (3)MD/MSc. Project Manager - Asia-Africa for the Innovation Lab for Nutrition. Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Tufts University. USA; (4)PhD. Associate Department Head / Professor. Department of Agricultural Economics and Purdue Policy Research Institute. Purdue University. USA; (5)PhD. Professor and Program Director - Food Policy and Applied Nutrition. Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Tufts University. USA.; (6)MSc. Country Director. Helen Keller International. Nepal.; (7)MSc. Research Manager. Helen Keller International/Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition- Nepal. Nepal.; (8)MD. Chief Consultant Pediatrician/Assistant Professor. Kanti Hospital. Nepal.; (9)MD. Rector. Patan Academy of Health Sciences. Nepal.; (10)PhD. Associate Director of the Innovation Lab for Nutrition. Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Tufts University. USA.

**Background and objectives:** Aflatoxin exposure (AFB1) has been linked to poor growth patterns in infants and young children; however, little is known of the relationship of aflatoxin exposure in pregnancy and low birth weight (LBW). This study estimated the prevalence of LBW (< 2.5 kilograms) and assessed the association of aflatoxin exposure in pregnancy and LBW prevalence.

**Methods:** Data from newborn infants enrolled in an ongoing USAID-supported birth cohort study in Banke, Nepal, was used for this analysis. Only infants measured within 72 hours of birth were included in this analysis (n=1484, 96% of total recruited). Data on AFB1, socio-demographics, anthropometry and health were collected during the pre-natal visit. Binary logistic regression was used to identify potential risk factors associated with LBW. Statistical analyses were conducted with Stata® SE version 14.

**Results:** Approximately 20% of the infants were born with a LBW. The average AFB1-lysine adduct levels in maternal serum were 3.4 (±8.4) pg/mg for women with LBW infants and 3.1 (±8.1) pg/mg for women with normal birth weight infants. Significant bivariate associations were found between: LBW and maternal aflatoxin levels, maternal schooling, dietary diversity score, wealth

quintile, short stature (<145 centimeters), hemoglobin, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and female child. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables and potential confounding factors, findings showed the odds of a LBW infant increased with increases of AFB1 albumin adducts (OR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.01-1.28 p=0.031). Moreover, the odds of having a LBW infant decreased with each additional year of education (OR=0.95; 95% CI: 0.91-0.98, p=0.001), each unit increase in dietary diversity score (OR=0.84; 95% CI: 0.76-0.93, p=0.001) and each centimeter increase in MUAC (OR=0.89; 95% CI: 0.83-0.94, p=0.000). Short maternal stature (OR=2.05; 95% CI: 1.45-2.89, p=0.000) and female gender (OR=1.42; 95% CI: 1.08-1.85, p=0.011) increased the odds of LBW.

**Conclusions:** The results indicate a high prevalence of LBW among the study population and confirm that aflatoxins may increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes such as LBW. Findings suggest that in addition to increased education and improved maternal anthropometry, interventions to reduce LBW should encourage improvements to safe and balanced diets before and during pregnancy.

**Keywords:** aflatoxin, low birth weight, Nepal

(1)Kader, Abdul; (2)Abdullah Al Asif, Chowdhury; (3)Hasan, Md. Mehedi; (4)Ali, Masum; (5)Rahman, Arafat; (6)Waid, Jillian.

(1)MPH, Deputy Director - Research, Learning, and Evaluation, Helen Keller International, Bangladesh Country Office; (2)MPH, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Helen Keller International, Bangladesh; (3)MPH, Sr. Program and Research Analyst, Helen Keller International, Bangladesh; (4)MA, Program and Research Analyst, Helen Keller International, Bangladesh; (5)MA, Sr. Program and Research Analyst, Helen Keller International, Bangladesh; (6)MSW, Director - Research, Learning, and Evaluation, Helen Keller International, Bangladesh.

**Background and objectives:** Helen Keller International Bangladesh implemented the Making Markets Work for Women (M²W²) project in two sub-districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The goal of the project was to eliminate extreme poverty through introducing sustainable agricultural and improved animal husbandry and building marketing skills. We seek to measure the impact of this project on income, food security, and diets, as well as elements of behavior change along the pathway among the population in these areas as a whole.

**Methods:** We used propensity score matching methods to identify 24 control villages that were the most similar to 24 of the 72 villages M2W2 worked in, based on distance from the road, ethnic makeup, population size, literacy rates, quality of housing, and quality of sanitation facilities. From each of these 48 villages we surveyed 30 households three times in order to estimate the
impact of the project. The first survey was after two years of the intervention (October 2015), followed by two rounds of data collection in the year following the scale down of the intervention. This analysis only utilizes the first survey round.

**Results:** In treatment villages, an average of 36% of surveyed households were directly involved in the program (range 6 to 94%). In treatment communities, a greater proportion of households were involved in agriculture (90% vrs. 76%, p<0.02), had livestock (82% vrs. 71.9, p<0.05), had savings (58% vrs. 38%, p<0.01), had daily percapita expenditure above the poverty line (52% vrs. 42%, p<0.01), and had more months of adequate food provisioning (11.4 vrs. 11.0, p<0.02). There was no significant impact on women's dietary diversity (4.2 vrs. 4.1, p<0.25) and on mean percapita expenditure (79 vrs. 74 taka, p<0.40).

**Conclusions:** There is evidence of some project impact both along the causal pathway and in increasing food security, limited impacts in improving income, and no significant impact in improving diet. Future work will use difference-in-difference analysis to examine differences in the trajectory of change between treatment and control communities, and participant and non-participant households in treatment communities over a longer time period.

**Keywords:** food security, dietary diversity, evaluation, impact pathways

**Further collaborators:**

This abstract was produced by Helen Keller International through support provided by PATH, under a grant from UK aid from the UK Government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government's official policies.

**Methods:** The ecto-domains of human, murine, and bovine Btn1a1 were expressed as fusion proteins with immunoglobulin Fc fragment, respectively. The gene coding the ecto-domain of Btn1a1 was subcloned into the expression vector pFUSE-hIgG1e3-Fc and Expi293 mammalian cells were transfected with the expression vectors. The Btn1a1 fusion proteins secreted into the culture supernatant were purified by a protein G column. HT29-MTX-E12 cells were cultured for 21 days to differentiate into mucin-producing cells. RNA was extracted from HT29-MTX-E12 cells to quantitate the gene expression level of mucins by real-time PCR after Btn fusion proteins were added. Lectin assay was used to quantitate mucins secreted in the culture supernatant.

**Results:** Expression level of the genes muc5ac and muc17 significantly increased 0.5 to 2 hours immediately after the addition of a fusion protein regardless of species-specificity of Btn1a1. The level of secreted mucins was markedly promoted by the addition of any kind of fusion protein in the dose and time-dependent manner.

**Conclusions:** Considering that mucins can exert as a barrier against bacteria and viruses infected, we suggest that mucosal homeostasis of the infants may be physiologically controlled by Btn1a1 molecules in milk fat globules.

**Keywords:** butyrophilin; milk fat globule membrane; mucin; intestinal epithelial cell

144/1817

BUTYROPHILIN ECTO-DOMAIN OF MILK FAT GLOBULE MEMBRANE PROMOTES MUCIN PRODUCTION FROM THE INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS

(1)Ogawa, Takenobu; (2)Namgung, Hyejin; (3)Kuwana, Yuki; (3)Furue, Ayami; (1)Masuda, Tetsuya; (4)Shirai, Nobuaki; (1)Tani, Fumito.

(1)PhD. Graduate School of Agriculture. Kyoto University. Japan.;

(2)BSc. Graduate School of Agriculture. Kyoto University. Japan.;

(3)MSc. Graduate School of Agriculture. Kyoto University. Japan.;

(4)PhD. Graduate School of Agriculture. Kyoto University. Japan; Industrial Research Center of Shiga Prefecture. Japan.

**Background and objectives:** Butyrophilin (Btm) was first discovered as a transmembrane protein in milk fat globule membrane. This archetypal Btm (Btm1a1) is also known to modulate the production and the secretion of milk fat globules in the epithelial cells of mammary glands. Recently the primary sequence of the ecto-domain of Btm1a1 was found to have a homology to that of the co-stimulatory B7 molecule, so that many homologs of Btm1a1 have been identified so far. Btm and Btm-like proteins are expressed on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells as well as T cells. The aim of this study is to examine how Btm1a1 functions on the epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract.

MAINSTREAMING NUTRITION INTO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE INVESTMENT POLICY AND STRATEGY OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) 2016-2025

(1)Giyose, Boitshepo; (2)Seki, Richemont; (2)Sablah, Mawuli; (3)Ag Bendech, Mohamed; (4)Dufour, Charlotte.

(1)Senior Nutrition Officer. Policy and Porgammes. UNFAO. Italy;

(2)Nutrition Officer. UNFAO. Ghana; (3)Senior Nutrition Officer. UNFAO. Ghana; (4)Nutrition Officer. UNFAO. Italy.

**Background and objectives:** With persistent high levels of undernourishment and malnutrition in West Africa, it is necessary to invest in every sector that could contribute to reverse the situation. Agriculture remains a very important sector, which can significantly influence the nutrition status of West African population. It is important to ensure that any agricultural strategy or interventions are tailored to have nutrition objectives and impacts. West Africa's agriculture has shown some improvements in its performance, resulting in a drastic reduction of undernourishment from 24% in 1990-1992 to 10% in 2014-2016. ECOWAS and its member states have embarked on a multi-sectoral planning exercise that will lead to the formulation and implementation of a new and second phase of ECOWAP (2016-2025) that will better integrate nutrition aspects.

**Methods:** Strong advocacy at political and technical levels, as well as sharing of guidance materials and best practices were undertaken by relevant institutions, including, the Food and Ag-
riculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). In addition, FAO provided technical assistance to better mainstream nutrition into the ECOWAP 2016-2025 process. This was supported by strengthened partnerships and coordination at regional and national level

**Results:** This collaborative work between ECOWAS and regional and national stakeholders have led to the elaboration of the ECOWAP Strategic Orientation Framework 2016-2025 and the Regional Agricultural and Food and Nutrition Security Investment Program (RAFNSIP) 2016-2020, with a stronger integration of nutrition (from objectives to interventions, indicators and budget). Concerning national support, activities are being carried out to ensure a better integration of nutrition into their National Agricultural and Food and Nutrition Security Investment Plans. through effective engagement of multi-sectoral training workshops.

**Conclusions:** The progress made so far highlights the necessity to develop strong commitment and ownership by Regional Economic Communities, and to strengthen partnerships both at regional and national levels. The need to also build capacities of all stakeholders to develop more agricultural policies/programs and investments with a “nutrition lens” is fundamental to ensure that agricultural transformation plays a stronger role in combating food insecurity and malnutrition.

**Keywords:** Mainstreaming, Nutrition, RAFNSIP, RECs, ECOWAS

**Background and objectives:** Fruits and vegetables are important sources of nutrients and are associated with the reduction of risk from non-communicable diseases. Despite these benefits, there is a gap in consumption. The World Health Organization equated 5.2 million deaths globally in 2013 to inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption.

There are many contributing factors to the lack of consumption including spoilage, lack of availability, taste and other consumer preferences. Through genetic improvement methods, such as breeding, and improved management practices, these issues are beginning to be addressed, and continue to improve as the science advances.

**Methods:** In this study we assessed the market needs and opportunities for addressing food loss and waste for fruit and vegetable products. Results of our findings on key areas of impact and gaps will be presented. In addition, detailed examples with

be provided to illustrate the findings. For example, tomato transportation losses in India are estimated at 40% after harvest due to the lack of cold storage and inadequate infrastructure, which is devastating in a country where nearly half of the children are malnourished and underfed. By using breeding techniques, researchers addressed two contributing factors to the spoilage to tomatoes – shelf life and the firmness needed to make the journey to market – while still maintaining flavor and color quality consumers demand. Over a two-year period more than 500 tomato genotypes were evaluated for transportability traits. Analysis was done on the firmness, color, brix and acidity.

**Results:** This led to two tomato hybrids being commercialized. These tomatoes feature a 12-14-day shelf life, much improved over the 5-7-day range before the tomatoes would typically spoil. This has allowed tomatoes to be accessible to almost all of India, rather than just the central regions, close to the farms.

**Conclusions:** By developing strong genetic traits that disable challenges from farm to table, consumers can access the produce that is important for their nutritional needs.

**Keywords:** Fruit Vegetable Consumption Genetic Improvement

**Conflict of Interest Disclosure:** Authors are Employees and stock holder of Monsanto Company

**Background and objectives:** Studies have shown that dietary diversity is associated with socio-economic status and household food security. Conducting household dietary diversity surveys within agricultural projects is important for targeting as well as to assess the impact of these projects on food and nutrition security. Household dietary diversity survey was conducted in household that were part of the Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC), is a multi-national CGIAR-led project, whose overall objective was to enhance food and nutrition security and contributing to reducing poverty in selected Regional Membership Countries (RMCs) in Africa. The main objective of conducting the household dietary diversity score in this case was to assess the impact of the project on household food access but also to determine the predictors of dietary diversity. We present herein the results of the predictors of dietary diversity.

<footnote>(¹)Lemke, Shawna; (²)Purcell, John; (³)Kishore, VK.</footnote>

<footnote>(¹)PhD; (²)PhD. Vice President Global Research and Development Lead. Monsanto Vegetable Seed Division. United States; (³)EMEA Solanaceous Breeding Lead. Monsanto Vegetable Division. United States.</footnote>

<footnote>(¹)Gichohi, Wanjiku; (²)Dontsop, Paul; (³)Yomeni, Marie; (⁴)Akem, Chrysanthus.</footnote>

<footnote>(¹)PhD. Nutritionist.International institute of Tropical Agriculture. Dar es Salaam. Tanzania; (²)PhD.Economist.International institute of Tropical Agriculture.Kalambo.DRC; (³)PhD.Agronomist. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.Free Town.Sierra Leone; (⁴)PhD.Plant pathologist.International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.Ibadan, Nigeria.</footnote>
**Methods:** The household dietary diversity questionnaire was administered to the person who was responsible for meal preparation for the household the previous day. The respondent was asked about all foods eaten inside the home during the previous day and night, by any member of the household. Foods were then classified and scored into 12 food groups and an overall score obtained.

**Results:** Mean HDDS were 4.5, 4.4 and 4.9 in Mali, Sierra Leone and DRC respectively. In investigating the predictors of HDDS in Mali, proportion of household (HH) members working on farm, proportion of HH members working off farm, proportion of time women spend farming, number of parcels operated, parcel size and whether a farmers household received fertilizer subsidies or not and household income were predictors of HDDS (P<0.05). In addition to this, predictors of HDDS in Sierra Leone were the proportion of household members aged 15-65 years (P<0.05). Proportion of family members working on farm was not a significant predictor of HDDS. The only significant predictor of HDDS in Zanzibar was proportion of HH members working on farm.

**Conclusions:** Different factors influence HDDS in different settings. A thorough understanding of these factors is important for program design and optimal targeting.

**Keywords:** Household dietary Diversity, Agriculture, Nutrition

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## MODERATE AND SEVERE FOOD INSECURITY WAS ASSOCIATED WITH STUNTING AMONG PANAMANIAN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

**Background and objectives:** The Panama Agricultural Research Institute (IDIAP) has implementing a national project using high nutritional quality crops. The prevalence of Stunting among children under five years old in indigenous communities is a current public health problem in Panama. There is no evidence in Panama about the association between food insecurity at household level and stunting prevalence. Objective: to explore the association between food insecurity at household level with stunting in children under five years old in Panamanian rural communities.

**Methods:** A cross-sectional study with 135 children under five years old in five geographically-dispersed rural areas (indigenous: Nole Düima and Müná; and non-indigenous: Soná, Olá, and Los Pozos). Data was collected from June-September 2015. Food insecurity was defined using the Latin America and the Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA), adequate food provision monthly-based (AFPMB); anthropometric measurements (weight and height were using to calculate haz and baz according with WHO2008 growth standards); and sociodemographic data were also collected. Univariate statistical analyses, principal components analysis for categorical data, and multivariate logistic regression area, age and sex controlled with robust standard errors were used to assess the association between stunting prevalence with moderate and severe food insecurity and AFPMB.

**Results:** Age mean and standard deviation (SD) was 33.7±18.2 months, (50% female and 55% from indigenous area). Mean and SD for HAZ was 1.16±1.34, a significantly difference were found in indigenous (-1.73±1.14) than in non-indigenous (-1.73±1.14) (ttest, p<0.05); for BAZ was 0.67±0.99, a significantly difference were found in indigenous (0.98±0.91) than in non-indigenous (0.29±0.96) (ttest, p<0.05). Also, the prevalence of food insecurity (moderate and severe) was significantly higher in indigenous (84.9%) than non-indigenous (31.2%) (proportional test, p<0.05). Principal component analyses show relation among area (indigenous vs non-indigenous), food insecurity and AFPMB. After controlling by area, sex and age, stunting prevalence was significantly associated with food insecurity OR=4.4 (CI95%=1.1-17.9), AFPMB OR=4.5 (CI95%=1.2-17.4), and indigenous area OR=5.2 (CI95%=1.7-15.7).

**Conclusions:** moderate and severe food insecurity was strongly associated with stunting among children under five years old living in indigenous area. Comprehensive nutritional interventions should incorporate strategies to promote dietary food diversification using biofortified crops in vulnerable groups.

**Keywords:** HAZ, BAZ, Stunting, Biofortified Crops, children

**Further collaborators:**

Teresita Henriquez. MSc. Statistical Teacher. Regional Centre of the University of Panama. Penonome City. Panama.

144/2048

## INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS THROUGH IMPROVED TOOLS AND EDUCATION

**Background and objectives:** The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has identified advancements

<footnote>(1)Barría, Maika; (2)Barría, Maika; (3)Rios, Israel; (4)Barba, Armando;</footnote>

<footnote>(5)Mojica, Eyra; (6)Vergara, Omaris.</footnote>

<footnote>(1)Nutritionist. Research and Innovation Division in Genetic and Biodiversity Resources. The Panama Agricultural Research Institute (IDIAP); (2)Nutritionist. Research and Innovation Division in Genetic and Biodiversity Resources. The Panama Agricultural Research Institute (IDIAP). Panama.; (3)MSc. Nutritionist. Regional Nutrition Officer. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Sub Regional Office for Mesoamerica. Panama;</footnote>

<footnote>(4)MSc. Nutritionist. Panama Ministry of Health. Panama;</footnote>

<footnote>(5)Nutritionist. Consultant HarvestPlus for Latin America and the Caribbean. Panama.; (6)MSc. Food Engineer. School of Science and Food Technology. Regional Centre of the University of Panama. Penonome City. Panama.</footnote>

<footnote>(1)Lemke, Shawna; (2)Purcell, John; (3)Edge, Mark; (4)Young, Mark.</footnote>

<footnote>(1)PhD. Food Strategy and Stakeholder Lead. Monsanto Company. United States; (2)PhD. Vice President Global Research and Development Lead. Monsanto Vegetable Seed Division. United States; (3)Director of Collaborations for Developing Countries. Monsanto Company. United States; (4)Chief Technology Officer. Climate Corp. United States.</footnote>
in productivity of smallholder farmers as critical to improve food security and nutrition, reduce poverty and increase employment. To achieve enhanced productivity, programs have been developed with the aim of empowering farmers with tools and agronomic knowledge. Two programs in Africa and India will be shared.

**Methods:** In Africa, the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) is a partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that is bringing royalty-free improved seed to drought susceptible areas. Over the next 10 years, farmers are expected to see an 20-35% increase in grain production due to improved drought hybrids and biotechnology that deliver insect protection and water utilization traits.

Rural isolation and limited agronomic resources makes it challenging for smallholder farmers to evaluate and address agronomic challenges. Building on the rapid adoption of smartphones in India, the FarmRise program is launching this year to a limited area. This is an android based solution designed to bring smallholder farmers weather information, agronomic advice and market pricing designed to make them more productive and profitable. Climate Corp, who is leading this project, is currently seeking partners to create additional resources including equipment leasing and government services, such as insurance and credit options. FarmRise intends to create a platform for startups to participate and expand the target geography to reach Asia, Africa and grow across India.

**Results:** Progress from the seven years of WEMA to date will be shared along with the early findings from the FarmRise program.

**Conclusions:** The primary focus of these programs is grower empowerment through access to agricultural tools and knowledge. Over time the increased productivity is expected to translate to income and other social benefits.

**Keywords:** Smallholder Farmers Increased Productivity Empowerment

**Conflict of Interest Disclosure:** Employees and Stockholders of Monsanto Company

144/2060

BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN URUGUAYAN WHEAT GENOTYPES

(1) Russo, Monica Russo; (2) Cadenazzi, Monica.

(1) Nutritionist. Escuela de Nutrición. Universidad de la Republica. Montevideo. Uruguay; (2) Agronomist Engineer. Agronomy University of the Republic. Uruguay.

**Background and objectives:** Wheat is a major crop, and its products are an important component of the human diet. Epidemiological studies show that the consumption of whole grain decreases the risk of developing chronic diseases of high prevalence. The beneficial properties are attributed to a combination of natural and synergistic action of bioactive compounds present in whole grains, that reduce oxidative stress. The objective of this research is to generate information in the content of phenolic compounds

(Cf), tocopherols (Tc), phytosterols (Fo) and carotenoids (Ct) in different genotypes and locations.

**Methods:** Twenty two "wheat bread" genotypes (Triticum aestivum) of INIA (National Institute of Agriculture Research), of short (CC) and long cycle (CL) were evaluated, cultivated in Uruguay, in 2013, in 2 locations. The average content and the coefficient of variation (CV) were studied in each component. Statistical differences between the averages, by cycle and location were measured with the test of Student.

**Results:** The average values in the wheats of CC and CL content were: 921 and 979 µg / g of Cf; 48.2 and 59.3 moles / ng of Tc; 16.1 and 12.2 (area) of Fo and 11.2 and 94.8 (area) of Ct, respectively. CV values ranged from 8.8 to 105%, corresponding the highest values to Fo and Ct. Significant differences (p<0,05) were observed among genotypes (CC and CL) grown in the same location, in the average content of Ct, and the content of Tc, only in varieties of CL. Significant differences were found also, between the averages of the genotypes corresponding to each locality, in the content of Ct y Tc (CC and CL).

**Conclusions:** The results of this study have demonstrated a wide variation between the bioactive compounds in the studied genotypes. Although more research is required to analyze the effect of the environmental conditions, the differences between genotypes suggest that it may be possible to develope varieties of wheat with high concentration of beneficial compounds for the health of consumers.

**Keywords:** wheat, whole grain, health, nutrition.

144/2106

INSIGHTS FROM THE SEQUENCING AND ANNOTATION OF THE STEVIA REBAUDIANA GENOME AND THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRONOMY AND HEALTH

(1) Schauer, Stephen; (2) Huang, Tengfang; (3) Samuel, Priscilla; (4) Khazi, Fayaz; (5) Markosyan, Avetik.

(1) PhD. Applied Systems Biology. Keygene Inc. Rockville. MD. USA;

(2) PhD. Applied Systems Biology. Keygene Inc. Rockville. MD. USA.; (3) PhD. Global Stevia Institute. Oak Brook. IL. USA; (4) PhD. Applied Systems Biology, Keygene Inc., Rockville, MD 20850, USA;; (5) PhD. Research & Development. PureCircle Ltd. Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.

**Background and objectives:** Obesity is a global health issue affecting millions and reducing sugar intake with non-caloric sweeteners is one potential path to reducing energy consumption that can have a positive health impact. The leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) plant produce steviol glycosides (SGs) which include stevioside, rebaudiosides (Reb) A, B, C, D, E, F, M, dulcoside A, rubusoside and steviolbioside. SGs are 200-350 times sweeter than sugar but contribute no calories, therefore making stevia a leaf crop of significant economic value. The food industry has a very positive outlook on the opportunities for stevia-derived ingredients in zero or calorie-reduced products. Consequently, the
stevia ingredient market is expected to cross $700M. High yields, desired quality traits, resistance to pests and diseases, and dependable economic returns are key characteristics of any domesticated commercial crop. Such basic characteristics are generally selected over many generations through intensive plant breeding efforts to create improved varieties. Although systematic cultivation of stevia started in the 1970s in China, South America and Japan, only recently crop improvement efforts have been focused on making stevia more scalable and an economically sustainable crop.

**Methods:** Despite limited understanding of genetics, biology and physiology of stevia, recent demand for SGs requires rapid improvement of stevia cultivars currently used in commercial cultivation. To rapidly facilitate this, we have sequenced, generated a chromosomal level genome assembly, and fully annotated the genomes of three commercial stevia varieties with improved levels of minor rebaudiosides.

**Results:** This data has been further integrated into a comprehensive bioinformatics database for visualization and analytics of all available genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic stevia datasets. This interface will enable specialists from multiple disciplines, such as chemists, biochemists and geneticists, to mine this database to understand and improve existing SG biosynthesis pathways through traditional breeding or discover new pathways or compounds for similar non-GMO improvement.

**Conclusions:** This information can be used to enable improved traditional stevia breeding for improved agronomic and sustainability benefits and to improve the production of SGs to enable reduced sugar intake, which can contribute to improved health.

**Keywords:** stevia, genome, breeding, agronomy, steviol-glycosides

**Conflict of Interest Disclosure:** Dr(s) Stephen Schauer, Tengfang Huang and Fayaz Khazi work at Keygene.

Dr Priscilla Samuel works at the Global Stevia Institute which is funded by PureCircle Ltd.

Dr Avetik Markosyan works at PureCircle Ltd that funded the genome research.

144/2114

THE MODAL SALIENT BEHAVIORAL, NORMATIVE AND CONTROL BELIEFS ABOUT NUTRITIONAL CLAIMS ON PREPACKAGE FOOD PRODUCTS

(1)Opolski Medeiros, Caroline; (2)Macedo Fraiz, Gabriela; (1)Labronici Bertin, Renata; (1)Stangarlin Fiori, Lize.

(1)PhD. Nutritionist. Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.; (2)BsC. Nutritionist. Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.

**Background and objectives:** Consumers make purchasing decisions very quickly, so, brief messages, related to nutritional content, printed on food product labels can stimulate their decisions. These messages are known as nutritional claims. There are few studies that evaluate the use of nutritional claims in the moment of food purchase and the consumer beliefs. This study iden-

tified the modal salient beliefs about the use of nutritional claims on prepackage food products among nutrition students.

**Methods:** The exploratory qualitative research were conducted with 13 nutrition students in November 2015, considering the Theory of Planned Behavior. A focus group was used to identify consumers' salient beliefs. The discussion was recorded with two recorders and data transcription was then conducted to allow content analysis of the focus group, by two independent evaluators. Modal salient beliefs were considered those mentioned at least, 75% of the total number of citations.

**Results:** All students were single and female with an average age of 20.2 ± 1.2 years. Two modal salient behavioral beliefs were identified and considered as a disadvantage of using food label: "products are more expensive to have these nutritional claims" and "nutrition content are not specific as it should be". Considering the modal salient control beliefs, most nutrition students did not mention factors that facilitate or impede them at the purchasing moment. However, one student mentioned the "facility in accessing the nutritional claim" as a factor that facilitates the use of nutritional claims in the moment of food purchase. In regard of modal salient normative beliefs, only one belief was identified: "food product producers". Prepackage food producers were mentioned as the people who would approve the use of nutritional claims since it could help consumers to buy their products.

**Conclusions:** Six modal salient beliefs were identified. They are important to explain the participant's behavior of using nutritional claims on prepackage food products. Considering the consumer's beliefs is relevant to develop actions and measures that aim the health education to increase their knowledge about nutritional claims.

**Keywords:** Food label. Consumer behavior. Behavioral research.

144/2157

FAMILY ORCHARD-GARDENS AND BACKYARD POULTRY AS ALTERNATIVE FOR IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY: UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT'S EXPERIENCE IN A MAZAHUAS COMMUNITY IN MEXICO

(1)Maafs Rodríguez, Ana Gabriela; (2)Gutierrez Gomez, Yareni Yunuen; (3)Carrillo Domínguez, Silvia; (4)Amezcua Jagger, Teresita.

(1)Nutritionist, M. Ed. Department of Animal Nutrition. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. Life Sciences Department. Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Mexico.; (2)Nutritionist, MSc, PhD. Life Sciences Department. Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Mexico.; (3)Veterinarian, MSc, PhD. Department of Animal Nutrition. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. Mexico.; (4)Veterinarian, MSc. Department of Animal Nutrition. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. Mexico.

**Background and objectives:** Challenge based learning allows students to submerge in real life problems while developing knowledge and skills. The Mazahuas are an ethnic minority in
Mexico, with high prevalence of food insecurity, marginalization and poverty. Most families possess ground for growing vegetables and fruits, and keeping poultry. However, their current practices are not enough to ascertain an adequate nutrition. This context represented a great opportunity to set the goal for nutrition and sustainability engineering undergraduate students to analyze food security, family orchard-gardens and backyard poultry practices in eight Mazahua families, to identify strategies in order to improve food security in a different environment.

**Methods:** During an intensive week in September 2016, 40 nutrition and sustainability-engineer undergraduate students visited a Mazahua community to assess food security, agricultural and poultry activities of eight families. The evaluation was conducted using context-adapted questionnaires from FAO: Food Security Scale for Latin America and the Caribbean (ELCSA) and Revisions of Poultry Development. Data was analyzed to stablish food insecurity level, agricultural and poultry activities. Students put forward strategies to improve food security in the evaluated families.

**Results:** All families presented food insecurity, have a family orchard-garden and sufficient cultivation ground. Only five families grow enough food for selling and self-consumption. Products losses occur mainly due to weather changes and lack of water. All households have livestock, but only 4 families are able to obtain animal products sufficient for selling and self-consumption, and there is little or no control on the animal's diet. Students proposed strategies to improve current practices, including vegetables exchange among farmers, "nopal" wall for preventing crops freezing, use of waste for improving animal's diet and incrementing egg production for hens.

**Conclusions:** Real-life experiences are an excellent opportunity for students to understand concepts related to their filed work and to promote adequate practices in family orchard-gardens, livestock and backyard poultry in order to improve food security by increasing food variety, enhancing animal production and improving orchard care. At the same time, the experience allowed students to understand the importance of multidisciplinary work.

**Keywords:** Family orchard-gardens, backyard poultry, food insecurity, marginalized communities.

Program (PNAE – Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar in Portuguese). The aim of this study was to discuss how the interface between family farming and school feeding has being built in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, in terms of the factors that represent obstacles to its consolidation and also on those that are mechanisms for addressing and overcoming those limitations, from the perspective of different social actors involved in the process.

**Methods:** In order to collect data, a semi-structured interview technique was used, applying specific guides for each category of social actor. For data analysis, one adopted the technique of thematic content analysis, from two previous categories: barriers and coping mechanisms in the construction of the family farming interface with school feeding. The Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects approved this study (Opinion No. 1,207,443).

**Results:** The group of the research subjects consisted of 35 social actors involved in the studied interface: managers (8 technical managers, nutritionists responsible for PNAE); farmers (9 family farmers); consumers (10 members of the School Feeding Council/CAE, teachers, principals and school cooks); members of the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension/ATER (8 technicians and rural extensionists). The barriers identified were the cost of goods, bureaucracy, insufficient technical assistance, resistance to changes, weaknesses in the organization of farmers and public managers. The coping mechanisms observed in facing those obstacles were dialogue, intersectionality, investment, training activities and organization. These mechanisms have encouraged the establishment and strengthening of trustful relationships that promoted awareness of all parties about the importance of PNAE and contributed to making the necessary adjustments to meet the program requirements, guided by its goals and guidelines.

**Conclusions:** We conclude that public policies as PNAE can provide favorable changes for farmers and the students and their communities, contributing to local development and for achieving higher levels of food security and nutrition both in rural as in urban spaces. Acknowledgements: CNPq/Brasil (445595/2014-0).

**Keywords:** Local Development, Rural Development, Programs and Policies for Nutrition and Nourishment.

144/2320

## BARRIERS AND COPING MECHANISMS IN THE INTERFACE BETWEEN FAMILY FARMING AND SCHOOL FEEDING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL ACTORS IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

(1)Teo, Carla Rosane Paz Arruda; (2)Mossmann, Márcia Pozzagnol.

(1)PhD. Nutritionist. Health Sciences Area. Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó/Unochapecó. Brasil.; (2)MSc. Nutritionist. Health Sciences Area. Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó/Unochapecó. Chapecó. Brasil.

**Background and objectives:** Family farming came to school as a public policy in Brazil, linked to the National School Feeding

144/2327

## FAMILY FARMING AND SCHOOL FEEDING: PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL ACTORS ON THE LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION

(1)Teo, Carla Rosane Paz Arruda; (2)Mossmann, Márcia Pozzagnol.

(1)PhD. Nutritionist. Health Sciences Area. Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó/Unochapecó. Brasil.; (2)MSc. Nutritionist. Health Sciences Area. Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó/Unochapecó. Chapecó. Brasil.

**Background and objectives:** In Brazil, Law 11.947/2009 determines that 30% of funds transferred to municipalities by the Federal Government to support the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) must be applied in purchasing from family farming
food that promote healthy eating. The study aimed to identify perceptions of different social actors on the Law 11.947 / 2009 and its implementation.

**Methods:** This is a qualitative research with 35 social actors involved in school feeding in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil: 8 nutritionists; 9 family farmers; 10 members of the School Feeding Council; 8 rural extensionists. The Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects approved this study.

**Results:** The Law emerged as an element of strengthening family farming, by providing social valuation and income generation for the segment, resulting in a greater possibility of family permanence in the field. Local development was perceived as a positive repercussion of the Law, as it increases the economic situation of the municipality and the farming families. Therefore, the Law was perceived as a vector for healthy eating, family farming strengthening and local development. Regarding the implementation of the Law, different factors were pointed out as being involved in this process: initiative, mobilization and participation. The initiative was, mainly, from the nutritionists. The mobilization of the other actors took place by dissemination mechanisms, mapping the local production and encouragement to the family farmers become suppliers. In the scope of participation, there was a certain passivity of some actors, such as the members of the School Feeding Council, who were generally not very active. We also observed some distancing from the rural extensionists, which revealed a lack of articulation with other sectors involved. Thus, it was verified the centrality of the process is placed in the nutritionist. In addition, it is worth noting that farmers do not perceive themselves as actors in the process, which certainly limits the production of more expressive advances in the implementation of the Law.

**Conclusions:** We conclude that encouraging the participation and leadership of all the actors involved is strongly recommended. Acknowledgements: CNPq/Brasil (445595/2014-0).

**Keywords:** Key words: Local Development, Rural Development, Nutrition Programs and Policies.

144/2360

GRAIN LEGUME CULTIVATION AND CHILDREN'S DIETARY DIVERSITY IN SMALLHOLDER FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN RURAL GHANA AND KENYA

(1)de Jager, Ilse; (2)Abizari, Abdul-Razak; (3)Douma, Jacob C.; (4)Giller, Ken; (5)Brouwer, Ingeborg.

(1)Msc. Nutritionist. Division fo Human Nutrition. Wageningen University. The Netherlands; (2)PhD. Nutritionist. Department of Community Nutrition. School of Allied Health Sciences. University for Development Studies. Tamale. Ghana;
(3)PhD. Researcher. Centre for Crop Systems Analysis group. Wageningen University. The Netherlands; (4)Professor. Plant Production Systems group. Wageningen University. The Netherlands; (5)PhD. Nutritionist. Division of Human Nutrition. Wageningen University. The Netherlands.

**Background and objectives:** Boosting smallholder food production can potentially improve children's nutrition in rural

Sub-Saharan Africa through a production-own consumption and/or an income-food purchase pathway. Rigorously designed studies are needed to provide evidence for nutrition impact, but are often difficult to implement in agricultural projects. Mixed method design is used more frequently in project evaluations as the triangulation of complementary methods may add to the rigor in evaluations. Structural equation modelling (SEM) may be a relevant new and additional method in this field.

**Methods:** In the framework of a large agricultural development project supporting legume production (N2Africa), we studied the potential to improve children's dietary diversity by comparing N2Africa and non-N2Africa households in a cross-sectional quasi-experimental design followed by structural equation modelling (SEM) and focus group discussions in rural Ghana and Kenya.

**Results:** We found no evidence that participating in N2Africa is associated with improved children's dietary diversity, mainly due to methodological limitations. For soybean, SEM indicated a relatively good fit to the posteriori model in Kenya but not in Ghana, and in Kenya only the production-own consumption pathway was fully supported with no effect through the income-food purchase pathway. Results: **Conclusions:** These findings confirm the importance of the food environment for translation of enhanced production into improved nutrition. This study shows that in a situation where rigorous study designs cannot be implemented, SEM is a useful option to analyse whether agriculture projects have the potential to translate into improved nutrition.

**Keywords:** dietary diversity, legume production, SEM analysis, children, Ghana

144/2399

PRODUCTION OF ORANGE-FLESHED SWEET POTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS) INTERCROPPED WITH MORINGA OLEIFERA IN KAFFRINE, AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF GROUNDNUT BASSIN IN SENEGAL

(1)Sylla, Papa Mamadou dit Doudou; (2)Tall, Ndéye Codé Laure;

(3)Mbaye, Mame Samba; (4)Ndoye, Fatou; (5)Diallo, Bassirou; (6)Diouf, Adama; (7)Dossou, Nicole; (8)Donnen, Philippe; (9)Wade, Salimata;

(3)Noba, Kandioura.

(1)MSc. Nutritionist. Botany and Biodiversity Laboratory. Cheikh Anta Diop University.; (2)PhD. National Laboratory for Plant Production Research. Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research.; (3)PhD. Botany and Biodiversity Laboratory. Cheikh Anta Diop University.; (4)PhD. Nutritionist. Nutrition Laboratory. Cheikh Anta Diop University.; (5)Université Libre de Bruxelles. Ecole de Santé Publique Médecine.

**Background and objectives:** Biofortification is key to improve household nutrition. In Senegal, the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains high, and affects 24% of children in rural areas. To prevent VAD, an intercropping trial of orange-fleshed sweet potato, an excellent source of provitamin A, with Moringa
oleifera was undertaken for the first time in the agro-ecological
zone of groundnut basin of Senegal. The objective of this study is
to identify varieties that adapt better to the agro-ecological condi-
tions of the Kaffrine region and which gives better results in asso-
ciation with Moringa oleifera.

**Methods:** Our study is conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications for a varietal test of 4 cultivars of sweet potato and a growing test associated with the Moringa oleifere. The Four different cultivars of sweet potato were tested in pure stand and in association with Moringa oleifera variety PKM1. These cultivars differing in the color of the tuber flesh, Kander (orange), Yajendee (light orange), Caromex (yellow), Gandiol1 (white). Growth and physiological parameters were recorded in four steps during the plant life cycle. After 135 days, tubers were harvesting and the nutritional quality analysed to determine carotenoid composition of tested cultivars.

**Results:** Results showed that, the four cultivars behave well under the agro-ecological conditions of groundnut bassin. A low incidence of diseases and pests for the different cultivars both in pure and intercropping situations is observed. significant increases of tuber weight and size in intercropped plots for Kander and Yajendee cultivars compared to pure culture. Moreover, the Kander cultivar had the highest concentration in carotenoids (84.6 ± 24 mg/kg).

**Conclusions:** Sweet potato cultivars performed well under agroclimatic conditions of Kaffrine. There is no difference in behavior under pure culture conditions, whereas intercropping with Moringa oleifera has a positive effect on tuber development of the Kander and Yajendee varieties. Thus, this cropping system would be a promising route for the sustainable production of sweet potatoes with orange flesh in this area.

**Keywords:** Orange-fleshed sweet potato, moringa oleifera, Provitamin A, Senegal

**Further collaborators:** Supported by Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement supérieur, Belgian cooperation

144/2400

HEALTH RISK INDEX OF HEAVY METALS IN COM-
MONLY CONSUMED CONTAMINATED VEGETA-
BLES IN OGUN STATE. NIGERIA

(1)Wahab, Nimot; (2)Adedokun, Balikis.

(1)Tai Solarin University of Education. Ijebu-Ode. Ogun state.
Nigeria.; (2)Student. Department of Home Economics and Hotel
management. Tai Solarin University of Education. Ijebu-Ode.
Ogun State. Nigeria.

**Background and objectives:** As long as vegetables are consumed almost raw, heavy metals accumulated in higher quantities in them get transferred into human body which can pose a life threat risk to human health. This study thus assessed the health risk index of heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) in contaminated vegetables present in the root, stem and leafy shoot of six leafy vegetables (Corchorus oliotorus, Celosia argentia, Telfairia occidentalis,

Talinum triangulare, scotty bons and egg plants). Commonly grown and consumed by the populace of Ijebu Ife, Ijebu East Local Government area Ogun State.

**Methods:** A total of eighteen samples (three samples of leaf, stem and root) of each vegetables were randomly collected from three different gardens at the study area. Concentration of the metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Daily intake of vegetables were determined from the consumption pattern of the vegetables using direct weighing, and the daily intake of metals (DIM) were calculated through the contaminated vegetables using the relationship given by Cui, Zhu, Zhai, Huang, Qui &Liang, 2004: DIM =Cmetal X Dintake of vegetable/ Average body weight of respondents. Health Risk Index (HRI) were thus calculated Using the formular : HIR= DIM/ ORD(Oral Reference Dose by WHO/FAO). If HIR is lesser than 1, the exposed population is considered to be save (Hassan et al, 2012).

**Results:** The range of various metals concentration of Pb, As, Cd and Hg were 0.103-0.141, 0.095-0.163, 0.085-0.118, 0.0000-0.014 in leaf, 0.113-0.165, 0.103-0.181, 0.103-0.141, 0.0003-0.018 in stem and 0.121-0.172, 0.114-0.194, 0.111-0.149, 0.0005-0.024 in root respectively. The results of the findings showed that the ORD of mercury for all vegetables is above the WHO/FAO permissible limit of 0.0001 and as such the HRI is greater than 1. The high permissible intake were also noticed by some of the metals in some vegetable.

**Conclusions:** consumption of average amount of these contaminated vegetables might pose a health risk for the consumers due to high concentration of metals especially mercury as the value obtained were above the provisional tolerable intake (PTDIs) by joint WHO/FAO.

**Keywords:** Heavy Metals Concentration. Vegetable, Health Risk Index.

144/2419

ACCEPTANCE OF SOAKED AND GERMINATED
CHICKPEA-BASED DISHES

(1)Haileslassie, Hiwot; (2)Henry, Carol; (3)Tyler, Robert.

(1)BSc. MSc. College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. University of Saskatchewan. Canada.; (2)MEd. PhD. College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. University of Saskatchewan. Canada.; (3)B.S.A. PhD. College of Agriculture and Bioresources. University of Saskatchewan. Canada.

**Background and objectives:** Chickpeas are important sources of protein, folate and minerals. However, they contain anti-nutrients which form complexes with minerals such as zinc, iron and calcium, rendering them less available or unavailable for absorption. The level of these anti-nutrients may be reduced by applying food processing techniques such as soaking and germination applicable at household level. Sensory evaluation of the processed dishes is key in determining whether the dishes prepared by applying these strategies will be accepted and utilized by consumers. Thus, we evaluated the effect of soaking and germination on sensory attributes of chickpea-based dishes.
**Methods:** We applied different times of soaking (6, 12, 18 hour) and germination (24, 48, 72 hour) to three chickpea varieties grown in Ethiopia, namely Habru, Mastewal and local. Sensory attributes including appearance, odour, texture, taste and overall acceptability were assessed using 9- and 5-point hedonic scales in phase 1 and 2, respectively. Phase 1 was carried out at Hawassa University School of Nutrition, Food Science and Technology with fifteen panellists recruited from the school. The evaluation was carried out in triplicate. Consumer acceptance tests were conducted in phase 2 in chickpea-growing communities with 30 participants.

**Results:** The overall acceptability of chickpea-based dishes ranged from 5.6 ± 1.6 to 7.1 ± 1.5, that is from "neither like nor dislike" to "like moderately". The highest value for sensory attributes was observed for a Habru-based dish prepared from seed soaked for 18 hours. The lowest score for appearance was seen for a Mastewal-based dish prepared from seed soaked for 6 hours. From germinated chickpeas, Habru germinated for 24 hour received the highest score for appearance, texture, odour and overall appearance.

**Conclusions:** Compared to ordinarily cooked dishes, there was no significant difference in sensory attributes for most chickpea-based dishes.

**Keywords:** Sensory evaluation, soaking, germination, chickpea

language other than Portuguese, English or Spanish. There remained only nine texts. The research was complemented with textbooks.

**Results:** Brazil has a broad legislative mechanism for the production, packaging, transport, conservation and commercialization of food products. One of the main obstacles to the fulfillment of all determinations is the difficulty of inspection in such a large territory. Added to this is the lack of knowledge of many operational procedures by the producers. It is noted that some themes also acquire bioethical connotations, as in the case of transgenics.

**Conclusions:** This legislative branch will ensure an increase in the quality of national food production, given that the country is quite heterogeneous. Patent registration benefits greatly from such legislation, and any crimes of this scope end up being inhibited.

**Keywords:** food law; inspection; national food production

144/2533

BRAZILIAN FOOD LAW: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

(1)Oneti, Ciro Félix; (1)Oneti, Ciro Félix; (2) Nascimento, Lucy Christiane de Souza Hossaine do; (3) Nascimento, Lucy Christiane de Souza Hossaine do.

(1)Enfermeiro. Universidade Aberta da Terceira Idade (UNATI/UEA/AM). Brasil.; (2)Advogada. Assessora jurídica. Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Amazonas. Brasil.; (3)Assistente Social. Especialista em Assistência e Família. Universidade Aberta da Terceira Idade (UNATI/UEA/AM). Brasil.

**Background and objectives:** One of the branches of law is in charge of legislating on food-related issues in Brazil. In a country with great territorial extension and still marked by much informality in several sectors of the production chain, it is necessary to act rigorously through a law on the production of foodstuffs to guarantee the protection of consumer health. Objective: To emphasize the elementary importance of the legal mechanisms acting in consonance with inspection agencies in the food production chain in the national territory.

**Methods:** This study is an integrative literature review. The search was carried out on the SciELO platform (Scientific Electronic Library Online), with the descriptors Legislation, Food and Brazil. The platform returned 65 results, the search was filtered searching for texts strictly related to the subject and incomplete texts were duplicated, before the year 2012 or published in a lan-

144/2590

PEDIATRIC NUTRITIONAL CARE BASED ON FOOD SAFETY: BASIC CONTROLS

(1)Mestre, Graciela Maria; (2)Brea, Mercedes Maria; (2)Guma, Florencia;

(2)Soto Montesano, Betiana; (2)Blasi, Sandra Nora.

(1)Nutricionist. Food and Nutrition Area. Pediatric Hospital Prof. Dr. J. P. Garrahan. Buenos Aires . Argentina; (2)Nutricionist. Food and Nutrition Area. Pediatric Hospital Prof. Dr. J. P. Garrahan. Buenos Aires. Argentina.

**Background and objectives:** Preventing foodborne infections in inpatients is a mission of the Food and Nutrition Area, supporting their nutritional care. The prevention of food infections is performed using a self-control system of risk assessment of the assisted population and hazards analysis in production and service, keeping the processes controlled and verified according to the protocol. The system requires that three basic controls work effectively: health, hygiene and hygienic habits of staff (based on training), institutional kitchen and equipment hygiene and water safety.

**Aim:** To evaluate the effectiveness of basic controls over the period 2014-2016

**Methods:** A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study of microbiological records of hand swabs, food contact surfaces and monthly public water sampling was conducted.

The swabs that verify handwashing of handlers are performed while they were doing their routine activities, surface swabs after sanitizing, and tap water samples are taken. Samples are microbiologically analyzed by accredited laboratories, their results collated with the criteria of the protocol. The following levels are considered acceptable: for hands: <10 CFU/hand for coliform, absence /hand for S. aureus, E. coli and Salmonella ssp/Shigella ssp. Criteria for surfaces are <1 CFU/cm2 for enterobacteriaceae, <10 CFU/cm2 for mesophilic aerobic bacteria, absence for Listeria monocytogenes. Criteria for water are <0.5 NTU for turbidity (WHO criteria for immunosuppressed people), <3 CFU/ml for mesophilic aerobic bacteria, absence in 100 ml for E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
**Results:** All the data of hand swabs from handlers (n: 88) were adequate to criteria. Of the 94 surface swabs, 97% were adequate and 3% acceptable. Thirty samples of water yielded 100% satisfaction for coliforms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 90% for mesophilic aerobic bacteria and 78% for turbidity.

**Conclusions:** Tap water, regarding turbidity, did not meet the consumption criteria for immunosuppressed patients, but is safe for healthy people according to the Argentine Food Code. In our institution tap water is used for hygiene processes. For drinking and food preparation it is subjected to heating to 100°C. Basic controls are efficient allowing for proper nutritional, dietary and infectious care of pediatric patients.

**Keywords:** nutrition, food-safety, infection prevention

144/2656

CONDITIONS OF VULNERABILITY OF THE LIVELIHOODS IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES OF PARAGUAYAN CHACO THREATENED BY DROUGHT

(1)Gavilán Jiménez, Mónica; (2)Ferreira Perez, Elisa; (2)Villalba de Gómez, Norma.

(1)PhD Candidate. Agricultural Engineer. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Universidad Nacional de Asunción. Paraguay; (2)MSc. Agricultural Engineer. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Universidad Nacional de Asunción. Paraguay.

**Background and objectives:** This research was executed in the Paraguayan Chaco, an extended territory, characterized to have a population relatively small and disperse (3% of country population) which have the human development index (HDI) most lower of the country. The population of this region is compound of original native people, Mennonite settlers, and Latin population. The objective was performing one line of base to characterize the conditions of vulnerability of the livelihoods in native communities of Paraguayan Chaco threatened by drought.

**Methods:** The type of investigation was descriptive with analytical components and qualitative focus. The study zone covered two departments (President Hayes and Boquerón), where were selected 68 hamlets of 15 native communities, through stratified probability sampling, determined in base geographical criteria. The universe of study corresponded 2.312 homes (11.352 peoples).

**Results:** The most relevant results are:

**Livelihoods:** The qualification of the human resources in terms of the alphabetism rate is found in 60.8%. The schooling rate stood at in 51.4%. Houses are precarious and overcrowded, assented in ancestral lands. Employment is shortage and poorly paid.

**Food security and nutritional status:** Food comes from forage, the agricultural production, purchase and donations. Access, consume and stability of the food, present variations throughout the year, in wintertime. In terms of evaluation nutritional status (EEN) children less than 5 years old, were found low size for the 26% and the risk of low size 13%. Age group of 6-18 years old, BMI values is adequate for the 59%. The malnutrition by excess

is predominant in adults (51%). For its part, level of food security in homes, measured through the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA), categorized 98% families with children under 18 years old with food insecurity.

**Access and availability of water:** The water supply is diverse; most used are cutwater, community cistern. Lack of water in 92% of homes, especially in winter.

**Resilience:** most of pressing events they face are mainly food scarcity, employs, medical care and medicines.

**Conclusions:** With all displayed can be concluded that indigenous families of sample had high levels of vulnerability of their livelihoods, compromising for consequence food security, health and development of themselves.

**Keywords:** vulnerability of the Livelihoods, Food security, Resilience.

**Further collaborators:**

Edith Arrúa, Sebastián Bruno, Tomas Velázquez, Antonio Ortiz. Consultora Centro de Desarrollo Regional y Medio Ambiente. Paraguay

144/2705

NUTRITION-LED AGRICULTURE: SYNERGIES BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL AND NUTRITION INTERVENTIONS IN SENEGAL

(1)Steinberg, Douglas; (2)Rosenberg, Karl; (3)Crosby, Todd.

(1)MSc. Director of Programs Africa. National Cooperative Business Association. USA; (2)MA. Chief of Party. Yaajeende. National Cooperative Business Association. Senegal; (3)MA. Senior Technical Director. National Cooperative Business Association. USA.

**Background and objectives:** The Yaajeende Agriculture and Nutrition Development Project is a USAID funded initiative implemented since 2011 by NCBA CLUSA and partners. Taking a food systems approach, the project's goal is to improve the economic and nutritional status of the very poor in four rural regions of Senegal. Yaajeende employs a "Nutrition-Led Agriculture" approach, which promotes improved production, trade and local consumption of nutritious foods. Yaajeende also emphasizes institutional capacity building and private sector strengthening to effectively integrate agriculture and nutrition and to contribute to sustainability. These institutions include citizen working groups, mother-to-mother groups, livestock rearing groups, and networks of "community based service providers" who are linked to private sector suppliers. The project is based on a theory of change that posits that mutually supporting interventions of nutrition and agriculture will be more efficacious in improving nutritional status than either component on its own; this theory has largely been confirmed after seven years of field level implementation.

**Methods:** An external mid-term evaluation1 during the fifth year of implementation utilized a mixed-method approach involving a non-experimental quantitative strategy and qualitative techniques. On the quantitative side, a population-based survey
was administered to 2,720 households in treatment and control villages across 19 rural communes. A multi-stage cluster sampling approach was used to select households that participated in the project baseline survey (2011) along with households from 27 new intervention villages.

**Results:** The mid-term evaluation supported the original hypothesis that households benefiting from both project components have improved or suffered less in the context of food insecurity compared to those who benefit from neither or from only one. At least two high order outcomes have shown improvement:

* 7 percentage points decrease (p=0.008) in stunting among beneficiaries.

* Treatment effect of about 2.9 percentage points in poverty reduction in high-intensity areas (but no evidence of synergy in the high-intensity group (p=0.01)).

**Conclusions:** While the outcomes of the study revealed variability across households and regions, Yaajeende's combined effects were generally synergistic across many key indicators, supporting the hypothesis that impacts on poverty and malnutrition are stronger when the agriculture and nutrition interventions are conducted simultaneously with a target population.

**Keywords:** Agriculture, nutrition, poverty, synergy, evaluation.

**Further collaborators:**

Yaajeende is supported by USAID through Cooperative Agreement No. 685-A-00-11-00002-00

144/2726

FORTY YEARS OF INNOVATED INDUSTRIAL BASED AGRI-TECH IN SUSTAINABILITY FOR ZERO FOOD WASTE

Liaqat, Ali.

Liaqat Corp Pvt. Ltd.

**Background and objectives:** Being seed/food industry, funder to small scale farmers since 1975, we were distributor of EU/USA seed companies for Pakistan. Our funding to farmers is at buy-back, suffered losses in agriculture initially, INNOVATED KITCHEN based nutri- research in drying for production lines at sourcing sites of farming/ fruit/vegi/grain markets, factories, infrastructure, seasonal stations etc.

**Methods:** Prior to 1975, we used to manage nutrition losses by manual sun-drying, have developed multiple value added manual to mechanized processing sheets to eradicate spoilage as per sourcing. This type of NUTRITECH gave positive results. In processing of agri-nutrition, a wide range of techniques were developed. In-kitchen processing trials achieved positivity in converting manual processing lines to mechanized, partial drying was experimented to eliminate perishability by mobile drying units, all challenges were resolved scientifically.

**Results:** To reduce nutritional losses, food/ agriculture system was reshaped by introduction of value added multiple intermediate drying technologies. All spoilage was salvaged by technical

drying solutions leading sustainability, developed food/agriculture partnerships for nutritional security. All elaborated processes were applied by sustainable drying technology. Environmental issues were faced technically. Industrial based affordable accessibility is being applied at sourcing sites, to gain nutritional positivity. Our future-based research balanced nutritional values. Female drying encouraged our nutri-productivity. Due to instant check on spoilage by female labour, Nutritional losses are being instantly stopped by our teams.

**Conclusions:** Our qualitative/quantitative INNOVATED drying impacted funding, improved lost NUTRI conditions, delivered field farming productivity, pre/postharvest LOSSES were improved, by value added technologies, focused at loss sourcing.innovated game changing NUTRI technologies facilitated food/ Agri partnerships, clusters has been enhanced in surrounding largely with industrial/future based technologies. Practical researched network has been shared by Agri/NUTRI stakeholders. our 40 years of innovated ind based nutri/ tech is ready to start saving nutritional values by 2017-18, instead of 2050 with partnership of ICN.

**Keywords:** innovated reshaped processing lines, innovated production sheets as per sourcing sites, cost-effective processing lines, sustainability by eradication of losses at sourcing sites, reduction of perishability instantly

**Conflict of Interest Disclosure:** Low income women are integral part of nutritional security as, domestically trained in processing SDGs has been converted to our in-house INNOVATED tech, reshaped EU/USA processing/production lines at less cost of 15 times, with equal outputs, consumer/oriented tech followed by smallholders.

**Further collaborators:**

IAEA/FAO/FOOD IRRADIATION since 1992

Ministry of Defence, Rawalpindi

SKAL Certification (INSTA FOODS) 2004

IFOAM/TIPI/Organic Research EU exclusive representative in Pakistan

WUR/Illinois University requested for the member of cluster team/IAB

144/2772

IMPACT OF SANITIZING AGENTS ON THE MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL QUALITY OF CUCUMBERS

**Background and objectives:** The washing step associated with the use of sanitizing solutions is the only one processing step that reduc-

<footnote>(1)Freitas Brilhante de São José, Jackline; (2)Morandi Lepaus, Bárbara;</footnote>

<footnote>(2)Henrique Cesconetto Coswosck, Kaio; (2)Augustinho Giorgette, Mylena; (2)Souza Rocha, Jéssica; (3)Almeida Costa, Luciana.</footnote>

<footnote>(1)PhD. Nutritionist. Departament of Education Integrated Health. Federal University of Espírito Santo. Brazil.; (2)Nutritionist. Departament of Education Integrated Health. Federal University of Espírito Santo., Brazil; (3)MSc. Nutritionist. Departament of Education Integrated Health. Federal University of Espírito Santo. Brazil.</footnote>
es the number of microorganisms, and it is important that the stage not cause losses for the sensorial and nutritional characteristics. Sanitizing is an essential step in assigning greater safety and shelf life to minimal- ly processed products and fresh produce and, as future restrictions on the use of chlorine are desirable, there is a need to evaluate alternative methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of al- ternative sanitizers to chlorinated compounds in removing natural con- taminants, removal of Salmonella enterica Enteritidis and evaluate the effects on the chemical characteristics of cucumbers.

**Methods:** Treatments with 1 and 2 % acetic acid and 1 and 2 % lactic acid, 3 % hydrogen peroxide, 200 mg/L sodium hypochlorite and 200 mg/L sodium dichloroisocyanurate were evaluated. The control was samples without sanitization. After each treatment, a microbiological analysis was conducted for the samples. The anal- ysis examined the impact of the treatments in reducing aerobic mesophilic bacteria and molds and yeasts as well as Salmonella enterica Enteritidis inoculated on the surface. The values of pH, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids, phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity were also determined.

**Results:** The reduction of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was be- tween 1.10 – 2.08 log CFU/g in cucumbers. The molds and yeasts contamination was between 0.88 – 1.58 log CFU cucumber sam- ples, respectively. After the sanitization treatments with hydrogen peroxide and 2 % lactic acid reductions of 2.71 log CFU/g and 2.34 log CFU/g, respectively, were achieved. Cucumbers present- ed no significant difference (p> 0.05) for pH values, total titrata- ble acidity and total soluble solids/total titratable acidity ratio. In the evaluation of the impact of the sanitizers on the total phenolic compounds of cucumber it was observed that there was no signif- icant difference between the non-sanitized and treated samples. This indicates the preservation of the nutritional characteristics of the vegetables after the sanitization treatments.

**Conclusions:** The results of this study show the potential of the proposed strategies to replace chlorinated compounds in the sanitization step of fresh produce.

**Keywords:** Sanitizers, fresh vegetables, Salmonella, quality, safety

**Further collaborators:**

The study was financed by FAPES.

erage consumers, nutritional value is mostly regarded as credence attribute as they can hardly verify this attribute even after purchase (Grunert, 2005). This indicates consumers' need for trust in food before consumption, especially in the context of high involvement. This research explores the role of consumer trust in the case of uncertainty concerning food safety and nutrition in the context of infant formula consumption in urban China.

**Methods:** This is a longitudinal qualitative research based on an initial face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interview with 28 pregnant women living in urban China, and a follow-up interview with the same group of mothers at the time when the babies are about 8-9 months old.

**Results:** For Chinese mothers, infant formula is a high-involve- ment food category in both functional and emotional aspects. In the wake of infant formula incidents in China in the past decade, safety has become the primary concern of infant formula for Chi- nese mothers. As public trust in domestic food regulation system has been damaged by past incidents and not yet rebuilt, Chinese mothers turned to food regulation systems of other countries and utilised interpersonal relationships to get connected with those more trustworthy-perceived food systems, namely, friends or rel- atives living overseas. In terms of the nutritional content, mothers seemed to have neither professional knowledge nor expertise to verify health claims of infant formula products. They tended to rely on word-of-mouth information from trusted acquaintances and brand reputation as cues to decide which brands can be under consideration for further purchase. Asking overseas friends and relatives to purchase infant formula from foreign markets, some Chinese mothers believe that international brands are safe and ad- vanced in providing better nutrition for babies, while some others argue that overseas infant formula may not be perfectly suitable for Chinese babies, yet still, are willing to compromise nutrition needs in order to secure the safety of baby food.

**Conclusions:** In the case of uncertainty concerning food safe- ty and nutrition, trust in food is necessary for consumers to pro- ceed food consumption practice.

**Keywords:** Consumer trust, food safety, infant formula con- sumption, urban China

144/2793

NUTRITION, SAFETY, AND TRUST: THE CASE OF
INFANT FORMULA CONSUMPTION IN URBAN
CHINA

(1)Gan, Caixia; (2)Conroy, Denise; (3)Lee, Michael.

(1)PhD Candidate. Department of Marketing. The University of Auckland. New Zealand.; (2)Senior Lecture. Department of Marketing. The University of Auckland. New Zealand.; (3)Senior Lecture. Department of Marketing, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.

**Background and objectives:** Nutrition and safety are essen- tial to consumers regarding their food for daily need. Yet for av-

144/2864

DIETARY DIVERSITY AND SCALING UP THE PRO-
DUCTION IRON AND ZINC- RICH YELLOW POTATO-
TOES YELLOW POTATOES IN COLOMBIA

(1)del Castillo, Sara Eloisa; (2)López, Claudia; (3)Mosquera, Teresa.

(1)PhD. Professor. Department of Nutrition. National University of Colombia. Colombia.; (2)Master Student. Nutritionist. Department of Nutrition. National University of Colombia. Colombia.; (3)PhD. Professor. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. National University of Colombia. Colombia.

**Background and objectives:** Food insecurity among rural Colombian households is high, reaching 90% in some regions. Al- most all farmers from the Colombian-Andean region rely on po-
tatoes as their staple food and as their main income source. In this presentation, we discuss an ongoing project in Nariño, a region dependent on potato farming, that has high rates of food insecurity, malnutrition, and nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron and zinc. Our aim is to increase the availability of more nutritious potatoes for Colombian consumers through a strategy that integrates agriculture and nutrition.

**Methods:** We will introduce three varieties of yellow potatoes with better agronomic properties (i.e. higher yields, better resistance to blight) and higher zinc and iron content compared to potatoes currently being grown. These potatoes can provide up to 0,5 mg iron and 0,3 mg zinc per 100g potatoes. These potatoes have potential to impact nutritional status, as the Institute of Medicine recommended dietary allowances for women of reproductive age are 18 mg and 8 mg for iron and zinc, respectively.

**Results:** Potatoes are a staple food for Colombians, therefore the introduction of novel high-mineral potatoes maybe part of a sustainable option to combat micronutrient deficiencies when it is part of a diverse diet, alongside increased consumption of locally produced fruits and vegetables from home gardens. Although the iron and zinc in the novel potato varieties is not as bioavailable as animal-source foods, Colombian consumers do not always have the economic resources to purchase these foods. This strategy therefore, becomes a successful experience of a local agriculture sensitive to the nutritional needs of vulnerable communities of a region or a territory.

**Conclusions:** To date, we conducted a baseline survey and one follow-up survey measuring: the production and consumption of the varieties of yellow potatoes among the families of the project; dietary diversity of project households (dietary diversity score through 24-hour Recall); and monitoring the nutritional situation of children under 5 years of age in project households; This last will be measured through anthropometric measurements such as: weight and height and biochemical measurement such as: iron status (hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin), zinc and vitamin A.

**Keywords:** Yellow Potatoes, Food Security, Nutrition, Dietary Diversity

**Further collaborators:**

Note this is an abstract for special symposium 144/155 - Research and Scaling Up Nutritionally Sensitive Agricultural Innovations Track 8: Agriculture, Food Science and Safety

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. China; (³)PhD. Nutritionist. China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessent. China.; (⁴)PhD. Nutritionist. ILSI Focal Point in China. China.

**Background and objectives:** Since the national food safety standard for complementary supplements was issued in 2008, yingyangbao as a complementary supplement has been widely used in the poverty rural areas, yearly covering 1.27 million children aged 6-24 months. Because the nutrition conditions during the first 1000 days of life is critical for future potential health, it is necessary to develop the products to improve the nutrition status for pregnant and lactating mother, and the associated national food safety standard should be regulated. To develop the food safety national standard for applying complement supplements to pregnant and lactating mothers.

**Methods:** The related international materials were investigated including standards, technology, reporting results for the effectiveness of micronutrient interventions, as well as the nutrition and dietary status of pregnant and lactating mother in China. The CAC standard, WHO guidelines and related standards in China have been compared. The micronutrient exposure was evaluated. In addition, the experts in this research areas attended meetings for discussions, and social opinions were also considered.

**Results:** This standard stipulates the supplement food for pregnant and lactating mothers as special dietary to provide high quality proteins, vitamins and minerals. The maximum of daily portion is 50 g, among which the protein accounts for 18% to 35%. Iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, folic acid, vitamin B12, totally five micronutrient is compulsorily to be added in, the other 14 micronutrients is optional. The daily portion could provide 50% of RNIs of micronutrient. This standard also limits the amount of pollutants, mycotoxin, microorganism, urease and so on.

**Conclusions:** The standard of “the National food safety standard: Multi-nutrient Supplementary Food for Pregnant and Lactating Women” (GB 31601-2015) was issued in November, 2015, by Health and Family Planning Commission in China, and officially implemented in November, 2016.

**Keywords:** Pregnant women, lactating mothers, first 1000 days of life, nutritional supplements, standard

**Further collaborators:**

Suying Chang. PhD. Nutritionist. United Nations Children's Fund. China.

<footnote>(¹)Huang, Jian; (²)Huo, Junsheng; (³)Sun, Jing; (³)Han, Junhua; (³)Liang, Dong; (²)Wang, Lijuan; (⁴)Chen, Chunming; (⁴)Wang, Yuying; (²)Yang, Zhenyu; (²)Tang, Yanbin.</footnote>

<footnote>(¹)BD. Nutritionist. National Institute for Nutrition and Health. Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. China.; (²)PhD. Nutritionist. National Institute for Nutrition and Health.</footnote>
(1)Lynd, Larry; (2)Lakzadeh, Pardis; (3)Talukder, Aminuzzaman;

(4)Stormer, Ame; (5)Kroeun, Hou; (6)McLean, Judy; (7)Green, Tim.

(1)PhD. Professor. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. University of British Columbia. Canada.; (2)MSc. Research Analyst.

Broadstreet Health Economics & Outcomes Research. Canada.;

(3)MPH. Country Director. Asia-Pacific Regional Office. Helen Keller International. Cambodia.; (4)PhD. Regional Director. Asia-Pacific Regional Office. Helen Keller International. Cambodia;

(5)MPH. Program Manager. Asia-Pacific Regional Office. Helen Keller International. Cambodia.; (6)PhD. Nutritionist. Senior

Instructor International Nutrition. Department of Food, Nutrition and Health. University of British Columbia. Canada.; (7)PhD.

Affiliate Professor. Discipline of Pediatrics. University of Adelaide.
Principal Nutritionist. Healthy Mothers, Babies & Children Theme.
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. South
Australia. Australia.

**Background and objectives:** Background: For over 20 years Helen Keller International has implemented homestead food production (HFP) programs in developing countries to improve the nutritional status of women and children, household food security and income. The HFP model encourages year-round food production through home gardens and animal husbandry. Although, HFP has been successful in increasing household food production, economic assessment of this program has been limited. In order for program implementers to allocate limited resources efficiently, there is a need for a rigorous economic assessment of HFP programs.

Objective: To (1) identify factors associated with household income in rural, Cambodia, (2) to systematically measure and monetize food production from gardens and fishponds, and explore the cost-effectiveness of HFP in Cambodia in a cost-benefit analysis (CBA), using data from a randomized control trial (RCT), (3) explore the sensitivity of the CBA results and alternative scenarios for program implementation.

**Methods:** Factors associated with household income, were examined using a generalized linear mixed model at a univariate and multivariate level. Food production was estimated from multiple longitudinal data sources. The program benefits (food production) were monetized using local village market values, while costs were determined through a micro-costing analysis. A CBA was carried out from the project iii perspective and the net monetary benefit in each study arm was estimated and compared to control households. Lastly, the sensitivity of the CBA results was tested in a one-way sensitivity and scenario analysis.

**Results:** Assessment of baseline household income revealed that in rural Cambodia fishponds and pigs were associated with income. Households in the HFP program produced more food, relative to the control. The results from CBA show that home gardens are a cost-effective HFP intervention. The results from the scenario analysis suggest that the addition of fishponds to gardens may also be cost-effective if implemented outside a RCT.

**Conclusions:** This study has developed tools to systematically measure and monetize food production from HFP, while finding that establishment of home gardens is a cost-effective use of resources.

**Keywords:** Food security, Homestead food production, Cost-benefit analysis

(1)Eyinla, Toluwalope; (2)Maziya-Dixon, Busie; (3)Sanusi, Rasaki.

(1)Dept. of Human Nutrition, UI, Ibadan and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan; (2)(PhD)Food & Nutrition Sciences Laboratory,International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria; (3)PhD)(Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

**Background and objectives:** Background: Introduction of yellow fleshed cassava has resulted in the production of analogous foods of the white fleshed varieties. With Pro-vitamin A content (especially β-carotene) degrading quickly when subjected to usual traditional processing methods. It is important to understand the possible contribution of these new foods to dietary intake.

Objectives: Evaluation of the β-carotene concentrations in local staples namely eba (Dough cooked from fried cassava granules) and fufu (dough cooked from cassava mash), lafun (Dough cooked from milled chips). Comparing these concentrations with usual dietary intake in women and children and calculate the possible contribution to vitamin A intake

**Methods:** Matured roots of four Cassava varieties (TMS01/1371, TMS07/593, TMS07/539 and NR07/0220) were processed into eba, fufu and lafun. The fresh roots and products were analyzed for their β-carotene contents using HPLC. Mean portion sizes (in grams) of products from white fleshed variety were compared with concentrations in the similar products from yellow cassava varieties to calculate possible contribution to RDA of Vitamin A intake.

**Results:** The β-carotene concentration in eba was highest in TMS01/1371 at 3.79µg/g. In fufu it was the highest in NR07/220 at 5.38µg/g. In lafun it was the highest in NR07/220 at 3.19µg/g. The lowest values were found in TMS07/593 at 0.08 µg/g, 0.85 µg/g and 1.52 µg/g in lafun, fufu and eba respectively. The portion sizes ranged from 236g in eba to 267g in lafun in children while the portion sizes ranged from 225g in fufu to 633g in lafun in women. Contributions to RDA of Vitamin A show that for children fufu can give 18% contribution through NR07/0220 followed by eba giving 11% in TMS01/1371 followed by 8% in fufu from TMS07/0539. In women, eba from TMS01/1371 was highest at 16% followed by NR07/0220 providing 10% from lafun.

**Conclusions:** The varying potential of the varieties is evident. The information can be valuable when questions regarding bioavailability and bioefficacy of these local food products are raised.

**Keywords:** Beta-Carotene, Cassava, Eba, Fufu, Vitamin A
# B-CAROTENE RETENTION IN YELLOW CASSAVA IS NOT ONLY DEPENDENT ON GENOTYPE BUT ALSO ON PROCESSING METHOD

**Background and objectives:** Carotenoid losses in yellow cassava during food processing is of particular interest since pro-vitamin A content (especially β-carotene) degrades quickly when exposed to sunlight or to different forms of processing. It is well known that retention ability is genotype dependent. The study therefore sought to evaluate the retention capacity of β-carotene in recently released cassava varieties when processed into local staples namely Eba (Dough from Cassava granules) and Fufu (dough cooked from cassava mash).

**Methods:** Matured roots of four Cassava varieties (TMS 01/1371, TMS 07/593, TMS 07/539 and NR 07/0220) were harvested and processed into Eba and Fufu. The fresh roots and products were analyzed for their β-carotene contents. Percentage true retention was used to evaluate retention. Precautions were taken to avoid unnecessary carotenoid loss during processing.

**Results:** Beta-carotene content of the fresh roots ranged from 5.32µg – 7.8µg, the processed product, Eba had retention ranging from (0.05% - 16.6%). TMS 01/1371 had the highest retention while TMS 07/539 had the lowest retention. The processed fufu had retention ranging from (6.9% - 24.7%). NR 07/0220 had the highest retention while TMS 07/593 had the lowest retention.

**Conclusions:** The varying retention ability of the varieties is evident. While this is expected, it is observed that some varieties may offer more significant contribution to nutrient intake than others. This can maximize the potential contribution to pro-vitamin A intake and ultimately vitamin A intake for women and children.

**Keywords:** Beta-Carotene, Cassava, Eba, Fufu, Retention

interest in guaranteeing self-sufficiency of food that has remained a priority issue for organizations and governments. The concept today relates food and nutritional security with availability, access, consumption, use and quality and safety of food.

The objective of this investigation was to construct a concept of food and nutritional security from a perspective of complexity.

**Methods:** This research is qualitative of an exploratory, descriptive nature; is a genealogical investigation from bibliographic searches of publications in databases, review of public policy guidelines and action plans proposed in declarations of world food summits from 1974.

Description, interpretation and construction-of-construction were carried out; a systemic and complex hermeneutics of the relations that make up the food-nutritional security network was applied and emerging thoughts were identified.

**Results:** A genealogy of the famines was a source of systemic elements that contribute to the understanding and interpretation of hunger in its historical moments and contexts. Hunger occurs in situations of conflict when the dominated countries lose their autonomy for food supply and this forces them to generate mechanisms to provide a solidarity response by food aid.

A detailed review and identification of the interrelationships in global declarations for the eradication of hunger and Malnutrition, originating from food summits since 1974; their contributions to the conceptual transition of food and nutritional security. Despite the efforts the purpose of reducing the hungry people, is far.

Food-nutritional security of “new time” is the environmental adventure of nurturing life, it is the biological and social relations, the warp of food-nutritional, man-ecosystem in a network of complex relationships in feedback loops between peoples and land, peoples and their ecosystemic and cultural contexts.

It constitutes a framework of knowledge that connects both the natural sciences and the social sciences such as, anthropology and ecology.

**Conclusions:** A critical look that gives way to a perspective from the reorganization of knowledge towards a complex, systemic vision, as a network of networks; Which invites us to interpret the language of discourses in new ways, expanding possibilities of observing and interpreting the transition towards food-nutritional security.

**Keywords:** Food nutritional security; complexity; concept

**Further collaborators:**

Ana Patricia Noguera

# CONCEPT OF FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY FROM THE COMPLEXITY

Rodriguez Leyton, Mylene.

Magister, Nutritionist, Research Professor. Nutrition and Dietetics Programan. Metropolitan University of Barranquilla. Colombia.

**Background and objectives:** Food and nutritional security are inherent to life; since the beginning of humanity, there is an

<footnote>(1)Eyinla, Toluwalope; (2)Maziya-Dixon, Busie; (3)Sanusi, Rasaki;</footnote>

<footnote>(4)Alamu, Oladeji.</footnote>

<footnote>(1)MSc.Nutritionist. Dept. of Human Nutrition, UI, Ibadan and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture,Ibadan;</footnote>

<footnote>(2)PhD. Senior Scientist.Food & Nutrition Sciences Laboratory,International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria; (3)PhD.Nutritionist.Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; (4)PhD.Scientist.Food & Nutrition Sciences Laboratory,International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.</footnote>
# N-GLYCOLYLNEURAMINIC ACID LEVELS IN RED MEAT OF 7 ANIMAL SPECIES: GUIDELINE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

(1)Wang, Bing; (2)Jahan, Marefa; (3)Wynn, Peter.

(1)Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation. Charles Sturt University. Australia; (2)PhD student. Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation. Charles Sturt University. Australia;

(3)Dr. Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation. Charles Sturt University. Australia.

**Background and objectives:** Many studies have shown that red meat-derived sialic acid (Sia) N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) promotes inflammation and cancer progression (1). However red meat are a good natural source of protein and iron. Our aim was to quantify the Neu5Gc, N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) & 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactonononic acid (KDN) level in conventional red meat of thigh muscle in cattle, goat, sheep, pig, deer, horse, kangaroo and estimate the level of dietary consumption of the non-human Neu5Gc from different species red meat and its potential for inflammatory diseases.

(1). Samraj AN. A red meat-derived glycan promotes inflam-
mation and cancer progression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015
Jan 13;112(2):542-7

**Methods:** Neu5Ac, Neu5Gc, KDN were determined in the muscle meat of 7 different animal species (n=3) by UHPLC using DMB derivatization.

**Results:** Sia concentration in the red meat of 6 tested animal species varied from Neu5Ac 168~661µg/g protein, Neu5Gc 0~166 µg/g protein; KDN 0~4 µg/g protein and total 207~814 µg/g protein respectively. There was significant difference in concentration of Neu5Gc (P= 0.022), but not for Neu5Ac, KDN and total Sia in the muscle meat of 7 animal species. The predominate form of each family Sia was conjugated including Neu5Ac (70~95%), Neu5Gc (85~99%) and total Sia (55~90%), which is the bioavailable form and can be digested and incorporated into human tissue. Although, KDN concentration was negligible to absent in all animal species muscle meat, free KDN was the predominant form. Neu5Gc concentration in the muscle meat from high to low was in goat, cattle, pig, sheep, horse and deer. Interestingly Kangaroo muscle meats were devoid of any Neu5Gc.

**Conclusions:** The conventional red meat contained the relatively high concentration of bioactive form Neu5Gc, except kangaroo meat that did not contain any Neu5Gc. Therefore kangaroo meat is a much safer source of red meat in terms of Neu5Gc intake. Our new findings may aid in reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases among the red meat consumption population by recommending that they choose low Neu5Gc containing meat.

**Keywords:** Neu5Gc, red meat, sialic acid
Track 1: Advances in Nutrition Research

SSS_144/1061

NUTS AND DRIED FRUIT CONSUMPTION AND
HEALTH: NEW INSIGHTS

DRIED FRUIT CONSUMPTION AND OSTEOPOROSIS (BONE HEALTH)

Arjmandi, Bahram.

PhD. RDN. Florida State University. Center for Advancing Exercise and Nutrition Research on Aging. USA.

Osteoporosis is characterized by a loss of bone mass and quality leading to an increased risk of fractures. Postmenopausal women are at the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis.. A search for promising non-pharmacological alternative therapies for osteoporosis is important as medications used for osteoporosis can be associated with side effects and low compliance. Nutrition can reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis and therefore play an important role in bone health. In terms of nutrition, dried plum has been shown to be one of the most efficacious interventions for preventing and reversing bone loss in a rat model of osteoporosis and in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the efficacy of dried plum for preventing and reversing bone loss associated with ovarian hormone deficiency and to highlight possible mechanisms of action. Our follow-up study demonstrated that postmenopausal women taking dried plums during our one year clinical trial conducted five years earlier retained bone mineral density compared to the control. Overall, these findings suggest that dried plum is a promising functional food therapy for postmenopausal bone loss with the potential for a long-lasting bone-protective effect.

**Keyword:** Postmenopausal women, dried fruits, prune, dried plum, osteoporosis

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** This symposium was sponsored by International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation (Spain)

SSS_144/152

5TH YINI SUMMIT-FERMENTED FOODS AND HEALTH: THE INTERSECTION OF GUT MICROBIOTA AND FERMENTATION MICROBES

THE GUT MICROBIOTA: THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN DIET AND HEALTH?

Donovan, Sharon.

B.S. and Ph.D. Dept Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, USA.

Over the past decade, our understanding of the composition of the gut microbiota has been advanced through the use of next generation sequencing approaches. More than 50 bacterial phyla have been detected in the human gut but, the gut microbiota are dominated by ~ 1000 microbial species belonging to the Bacteroidetes and the Firmicutes phyla. These microbes encode a substantially larger number of genes than the human host and interact with the host through specific receptors on gut epithelial, neural and immune cells as well as through the production of hormones and metabolites that signal to the host to influence health and disease. Studies in germ-free animals have shown that the gut microbiota are essential for normal gastrointestinal, immune, metabolic and cognitive development and function. Clinical and epidemiological studies have linked an imbalance of the normal gut microbiota, or dysbiosis, to gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as extra-intestinal diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and atopy. There is broad interest in better understanding how microbial dysbiosis is associated with non-communicable diseases as well as to develop strategies to manipulate the gut microbiota to improve health outcomes through diet. Two common approaches are the provision fermentable substrates (fibers and prebiotics) or live microbes (probiotics). Probiotics can be administered as supplements of single or multiple microbial species or by consumption of fermented foods containing live microbial species, such as yogurt. This presentation will focus on how dietary intake impacts the gut microbiome and the potential benefits of probiotics on the gut microbiome and disease.

**Keywords:** Gut microbiota, non-communicable diseases, diet, probiotics

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** Dr. Donovan serves as co-Chair of the Yogurt in Nutrition Initiative (YINI) and received travel support and an honorarium to present at the IUNS meeting.
# YOGURT INTAKE AND PREVENTION OF CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASES: THE ROLE OF FERMENTATION PRODUCTS

Marette, Andre.

Ph.D. Biochemist. Cardiology axis of Laval Hospital, Department of Medicine. Laval University. Quebec. Canada.

A healthy dietary pattern has been identified as a pillar for the prevention of weight gain and cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). A growing body of evidence suggests that yogurt consumption is linked to healthy dietary patterns, lifestyles and reduced risk of CMD, particularly type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, to date, there have been few to no randomized clinical trials (RCT) investigating yogurt intake in relation to cardiometabolic clinical outcomes. Furthermore, there has been little attempt to clarify the mechanisms that underlie the potential beneficial effects of yogurt consumption on CMD. Yogurt is a nutrient dense dairy food and has been suggested to lower weight gain and prevent CMD by contributing to intakes of protein, calcium, bioactive lipids and several other micronutrients. In this presentation we will focus on recent evidence that dietary proteins are key regulators of immunometabolic factors and the gut microbiota. In addition, fermentation with bacterial strains generates bioactive peptides from dairy proteins resulting in a potentially greater beneficial effect of yogurt on metabolic health compared with non-fermented dairy products such as milk. I will outline potential mechanisms that can underlie the inverse associations between yogurt intake and incidence of CMD and that are related to its bacterial constituents and bioactive peptides released during fermentation and compared with other fermented or non-fermented dairy products. A review of current gaps and challenges in identifying such mechanisms, and a perspective on future research needs that are necessary to validate the proposed role of yogurt in protecting against CMD will also be provided.

**Keywords:** Yogurt, proteins, fermentation, peptides, gut microbiota, health benefits

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** Grants from and consulting for Danone Nutricia Research, Thetis Pharma, Consulting for Valbiotis.

# IMPROVING YOUR DIET WITH FERMENTED FOODS: HARMONIZING DIETARY GUIDELINES INCLUDING FERMENTED MILKS

Salminen, Seppo.

Professor, Director, Faculty of Medicine, Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland.

Microbes are an essential part of our environment and food. Beneficial microbes derive mainly from fermented foods which have a long history of safe use The species Lactobacillus has been defined as the 5th most important factor for human evolution due

to the importance of lactobacilli in food fermentation and health promotion by strengthening intestinal mucosal barrier. Yogurt is defined as milk fermented with Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (Codex Standard Number 243/2003) with the organisms viable through the shelf-life.

Yogurt and fermented milks are a significant sources of viable bacteria and fermentation products which enhance nutritional quality and palatability of milk and provide metabolites, enzymes (eg. lactase) and flavor components. In Europe, only one health claim has been approved for beneficial microbes: yogurt improves the handling of lactose. Five EU member states have national nutrition guidelines or recommendations that include either probiotics or yogurt with live bacteria. A recent report demonstrates that yogurt is recommended as a good source of nutrients in many countries (14 EU member states recommend yogurt as a recommended part of local diet and nutrition). Five of them explicitly mention probiotic beneficial effects and four give examples of probiotic bacteria. Several physiological effects of probiotics are well established. Yogurt and yogurt with probiotics, have benefits to humans: yogurt is easily digestible with live microbes. The inclusion of yogurt in food based dietary guidelines has been suggested and knowledge on health benefits suggest opportunities for evidence-based dietary guidelines with yogurt and yogurt with probiotic bacteria.

**Keywords:** Dietary guidelines, fermented foods, fermented milks

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** Prof Salminen serves as member of the Yogurt in Nutrition Initiative (YINI) and received travel support and an honorarium to present at the IUNS meeting

# HEALTH BENEFITS OF FERMENTED DAIRY FOODS: MICROBIOTA AND BEYOND

Hutkins, Robert.

Ph.D. Microbiologist. Department of Food Science and Technology. University of Nebraska. USA.

Increased consumption of yogurt, kefir, and other fermented dairy products has been driven, in part, by the health benefits these products are thought to confer. For example, epidemiological studies have shown that yogurt consumption is generally associated with reduced risks of type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome, and heart disease, and improved weight management. Although these products are good sources of protein, calcium, and other nutrients, the live microorganisms present in these products are now considered responsible for many of these health benefits. Included are the yogurt starter culture organisms, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, as well as strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus added specifically for their probiotic properties. The physiological mechanisms by which these microbes interact with the gut microbiota and contribute health benefits are now the subject of considerable interest. One major topic of research for establishing a role for these
organisms is the well-known phenomenon of colonization resistance. Specifically, the healthy human gastrointestinal tract contains a diverse, complex, and stable microbiota that is resistant to colonization by exogenous microorganisms. These could include pathogenic organisms as well as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli that are added to fermented milk products as probiotics. Nonetheless, clinical studies have reported several health benefits from yogurt consumption for several conditions. Among the most well established effect is the role of yogurt bacteria on improving lactose digestion in individuals with lactose maldigestion, mediated via in vivo expression of the lactose-hydrolyzing enzyme β-galactosidase. However, clinical evidence has also emerged showing that consumption of yogurt containing probiotics also improves both intestinal and extra-intestinal health. Examples include infectious diarrhea, respiratory infections, and improved immune and anti-inflammatory response. More recently, the effect of probiotics and probiotic yogurts on behavior and the microbiota-gut-brain axis has become an active area of research.

**Keywords:** Yogurt, probiotics, gut microbiota, health benefits

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** Partner, Synbiotic Solutions; Grants from Mead Johnson Nutrition; Consulting with Danone, Prenexus; Board of Directors, ISAPP

SSS_144/1012

# CHRONONUTRITION: CHRONOBIOLOGY INFLUENCE ON FOOD INTAKE AND METABOLIC HEALTH

## AN INTRODUCTION TO CHRONONUTRITION: IS WHEN YOU EAT AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT YOU EAT?

Escobar, Carolina.

PhD. Research Professor. Department of Anatomy. Faculty of Medicine. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. México.

In the last 20 years the role of the time of food ingestion has shown to be a main factor for metabolic balance and weight gain. Why the time? How does this influence energy balance?

Research in chronobiology using experimental animals as well as clinical studies have evidenced that the efficiency and the response of organs involved in digestion and nutrient metabolism varies along the 24 hours. This confers a dynamic and economic system that increases the metabolic activity during hours when individuals are expected to be awake and lowers this activity in order to save energy during rest and seep hours. The circadian system transmits time signals and coordinates all involved organs so that they can give high or low orchestrated responses. The main entraining signal from the environment to the circadian system is the light-dark cycle, however the cycles of feeding-fasting have proven to be powerful time signals for several organs and brain systems that coordinate metabolism.

Recent research indicates that ingesting food at the time when the circadian system indicates a sleep stage elicits conflicting en-

training signals and disrupts the expression of circadian rhythms. Also ingesting food at the wrong time has a bad metabolic outcome favoring the development of overweight, and metabolic syndrome. This condition is promoted by night-work, jet-lag and “social” jet-lag, affecting a wide proportion of individuals.

In my conference I will present experimental studies where the mechanisms linking the circadian system with the metabolic outcome is discussed. The relevance of feeding patterns, will be discussed in the context of different experimental models for night-work, jet-lag and social jet-lag, and their consequence on body weight and indicators for metabolic syndrome. The impact of a disrupted feeding pattern on the circadian system will also be discussed. The main message is that the time of food ingestion can disrupt the circadian system and that a homeostatic condition can only be achieved when the time of feeding is orchestrated with the temporal signals for sleep and wakefulness given by the circadian clock.

Data presented have been supported by CONACYT 239403 and DGAPA-PAPIIT IG200417.

**Keywords:** Circadian rhythms, obesity, night-work, chrononutrition, metabolism

**Further collaborators:** Prof. Ruud M Buijs, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM

Natali Guerrero Vargas PhD, Faculty of Medicine UNAM

Roberto Salgado Delgado PhD, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí

Sofía Morán Flores, PhD. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica

Estefania Espitia Bautista, Faculty of Medicine UNAM

Mario Velasco Ramos, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología

Cinthya Córdoba Manilla, Faculty of Medicine UNAM

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** This symposium was sponsored by Kellogg Nutrition & Health Institute

# THE HUMAN CIRCADIAN TIMING SYSTEM AND ITS INFLUENCE ON METABOLIC PROCESSES

Scheer, Frank.

Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. USA.

Obesity and diabetes have obtained epidemic proportions and contribute significantly to cardiovascular disease and mortality. Most research and clinical attention has focused on the importance of what we eat and how much we exercise in these developments. However, in recent years it has become clear that also other modern life style changes such as the timing of food intake, of physical activity and of sleep importantly impact metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors. This presentation will focus on the role of the endogenous circadian system, and its interaction with a disturbed timing of the behavioral/environmental sleep/wake, rest/active, fasting/feeding, and dark/light cycles on cardiometabolic function. For example, the circadian system and circadian misalignment (i.e., the misalignment between the circadian system and the
behavioral/environmental cycle) influence glucose metabolism, energy expenditure, food intake, weight regulation, inflammation, and cardiovascular function in humans. These new observations provide possible mechanistic evidence for the adverse cardiometabolic effects observed with shift work, late night snacking, and circadian-related gene variants. Given the high prevalence of sleep restriction, sleep disorders, and shift work, as well as the increasing rate of diabetes and obesity, there is an urgent need to increase our understanding of the impact of sleep, circadian rhythm, and their disturbances on cardiometabolic function and disease. The objectives of my talk will be to (a) discuss the effects of the human circadian system and circadian misalignment on glucose control, metabolism, inflammation, and cardiovascular function; (b) present data on the effect of melatonin and its interaction with type 2 diabetes risk variant MTNR1B on glucose control; and (c) discuss the evidence for the importance of not just what you eat, but also of when you eat for health and disease.

**Keywords:** Circadian misalignment, circadian rhythms, metabolism, glucose, weight regulation

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** Speaker fees from Bayer Healthcare, Sentara Healthcare, and Kellogg's.

nificant increases in retroperitoneal and epidydimal adipose tissue masses (172% and 61%, respectively), adipocytes size (28%), and circulating triglycerides (39%) were also detected. Daily patterns of food and water intake were abolished under ChrA. In contrast, ChrD had no effect on body weight. Wheel-running, housing of animals in groups, and restriction of food availability to hours of darkness prevented abnormal increase in body weight under ChrA. Our findings suggest that the observed alterations under ChrA may arise either from a direct effect of circadian disruption on metabolism, from desynchronization between feeding and metabolic rhythms, or both. Direction of shifts, timing of feeding episodes, and other reinforcing signals deeply affect the outcome of metabolic function under CJL. Such features should be taken into account in further studies of shift working or other disrupting schedules in humans.

**Keywords:** Circadian rhythms; Desynchronization; Metabolism

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** This symposium was sponsored by Kellogg Nutrition & Health Institute

## CHRONIC FORCED CIRCADIAN DESYNCHRONIZATION AFFECTS LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY, BODY WEIGHT AND METABOLISM IN MICE

Circadian rhythms control our daily activities; indeed, circadian disruption in animal models and humans has a profound effect on our behavior and physiology. Chronic desynchronization results in changes in mood, immune and endocrine variables (among many others) and even susceptibility to disease. In addition, metabolic functions are synchronized by the circadian clock setting daily patterns of food intake, nutrient delivery, and behavioral activity.

We have developed a murine model of chronic circadian desynchronization and found that it induces significant changes in locomotor behavior, resulting in two independent bouts of daily activity (i.e., internal desynchronization). Moreover, we studied the impact of chronic jet-lag (CJL) on metabolism, and tested manipulations aimed to overcome potential alterations.

We recorded weight gain in C57Bl/6 mice under chronic 6 h advances or delays of the light–dark cycle every 2 days (ChrA and ChrD, respectively). Indeed, ChrA, but not ChrD, induced forced desynchronization of locomotor activity rhythms in mice. Body weight was rapidly increased under ChrA, with animals tripling the mean weight gain observed in controls by day 10, and doubling it by day 30 (6% vs. 2%, and 15% vs. 7%, respectively).

<footnote>(1) Golombek, Diego; (2) Casiraghi, Leandro; (3) Alzamendi, Ana;</footnote>

<footnote>(3) Giovambattista, Andres; (1) Chiesa, Juan Jose.</footnote>

<footnote>(1) National University of Quilmes. National Research Council (CONICET). Argentina.; (2) National University of Quilmes. Argentina.; (3) Unidad de Neuroendocrinologia, IMBICE (CONICET-CICPBA). Argentina.</footnote>
# Track 2: Nutrition Through Life Course

SSS_144/1015

## MICRONUTRIENTS FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH

### VITAMINS AND MINERALS DEFICIENCIES: THEIR ROLE IN CHRONIC NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Katz, Mónica.

Dr. Favaloro University. Buenos Aires. Argentina.

Micronutrients are essential to sustain life and for optimal physiological functions. Hidden hunger is a global health issue. Micronutrients deficits coexist. It presents with no clinical symptoms but can interfere with an optimal health and lead to several chronic diseases. Micronutrients intervene in immunity, inflammation, oxidative damage, are cofactors and coenzymes in several metabolic pathways, modulate genomic stability processes, act as glycation inhibitors, anti oxidants and have a protective effect on bone health, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Suboptimal levels of micronutrients are associated with metabolic anomalies that can be prevented: molecular damage associated to aging, repair failure caused by chemical and physical changes like cross linking, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), free radicals (oxidative damage) and changes in the cellular / matrix structure / function. There are many risk groups for developing vitamin and mineral deficiencies: women, pregnant women, people who carry out diets for medical or cosmetic reasons, athletes, dancers, older adults, vegans, bariatric patients, and even lonely people. In fact each adult can suffer during the course of his life from any deficiency because modern diet patterns in general show a low correlation with the current dietary guidelines recommendations. Food consumption is a biomarker of diet quality and a strong determinant of health disease processes. There is an association between consumption of specific food or nutrients with increased risk or a protective effect for developing chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Aging process is inevitable. But the damage can be maintained at a sub patogenic level to prevent chronic diseases. The treatment of vitamin and mineral deficiencies is one of the most extraordinary development-related scientific advances of recent years. Probably no other public health strategy available today offers an opportunity to improve lives and accelerate development at such a low cost and in such a short time. Eliminating hidden hunger will not be easy. Challenges lie ahead. Much still needs to be done to ensure that people around the world gain access to nutrient-rich foods and diversified diets. Meanwhile two other strategies are at reach: fortifying foods and multivitamin-mineral supplementation.

**Keywords:** Hidden Hunger, Aging, Chronic Diseases.

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** Dr. Monica Katz has an agreement with Bayer SA, a manufacturer of multivitamins

## STATUS AND NUTRITIONAL GAPS IN ARGENTINA: UPDATED EVIDENCE

Britos, Sergio.

University of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires. Argentina.

The first National Nutrition Survey in Argentina was conducted eleven years ago; the study represented a complete diagnosis of the prevalence of different forms of malnutrition, children and women dietary patterns and insufficient intake or excess of different nutrients. After the survey, only studies with a more limited representation have been carried out. The three editions of the National Risk Factors Survey (ENFR), included indicators about food patterns and anthropometric measures in the adult population, and reported a high prevalence of overweight and obesity (57,6%) and low intakes of nutrient rich foods.

A dietary pattern with low intakes of high nutrient-dense foods combined with high consumption of high caloric density ones is associated with the development of obesity, especially if accompanied with low caloric expenditure patterns.

The analysis of these aspects of diet quality has been the focus of our studies in the last seven years, through two lines of research: we analyzed the food gaps of general population, measuring each food group consumption against the recommendation of dietary guidelines and expert organizations (WHO). We also described the nutritional gaps, both in the local market available foods and in the consumption pattern of the population. The nutritional gap is the difference between the nutrient profile of nutrients to limit or to promote and its standard values developed from nutrient density recommendations.

In general population (2012) the most significant gaps for low consumption were in vegetables, fruits and grains and whole grains (average -66%); Also in dairy products (-39%) and on the other hand excesses gaps were described in sugars, flour, bakery and very refined cereals and meats (in all cases above 50%). When nutrient profile was applied to foods, the main nutritional gaps were found in sweetened beverages, sweets, processed meats and cheese.

The results on food gaps for deficits were also analyzed in another study, in this case a representative national survey in a sample of 1000 adults over 18 years old (2015). Only 17% of the population reported they reached the recommended consumption of three or more groups of food guides simultaneously.

Both lines of research allow us to conclude that the high prevalence of overweight in children and adults in Argentina is accompanied by malnutrition caused by inadequate intakes of essential nutrients due to low consumption of their food sources.

Based on this background, we will present model scenarios oriented to calculate the improvement in diet quality (NRFI and NutriScore methods) in children and adults through different mix of increase in the consumption of essential nutrients food source and decrease in nutrients to limit ones.

**Keywords:** Nutritional quality, food guides, micronutrients.

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** Sergio Britos has an agreement with Bayer SA, a manufacturer of multivitamin
# VITAMIN D AND IMMUNE FUNCTION

Gombart, Adrian.

PhD. Linus Pauling Institute. Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Oregon State University. United States of America.

Inadequate levels of vitamin D due to deficiency and insufficiency are a global health issue for over one billion individuals. This includes regions of North and South America, Africa, Europe, Australia and Asia where one would assume that sun exposure is sufficient for efficient cutaneous vitamin D synthesis. The modern lifestyle of many populations limits synthesis via UVB exposure due to extended time spent indoors and the use of topical sunscreens. Older individuals are particularly prone to low vitamin D serum levels as cutaneous synthesis is less efficient due to age related changes of the skin and their reduced levels of outdoor activity. Insufficient vitamin D levels are associated with poor bone health, impaired muscle function, cardiovascular disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases. Since the early 19th century, both environmental (i.e. sunlight) and dietary sources (cod liver) of vitamin D were identified as treatments for tuberculosis. The discovery that vitamin D induces antimicrobial peptide gene expression and the expression of other genes involved in immune function has greatly renewed interest in the ability of vitamin D-containing supplements to improve immune function by raising overall serum levels. The importance of vitamin D throughout the course of infection from the initial exposure to the pathogen through the resolution of tissue damage and inflammation indicates that individuals need to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D for an optimal immune response against both bacterial and viral infections. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency both globally and in the Latin American region is strongly associated with increased risk for respiratory tract infections in adults and children. Several studies indicate that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to increased severity and duration of infection. Research findings support a role for vitamin D in immunity and protection against respiratory tract infections. A very recent systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomized controlled trials showed that vitamin D supplementation protected against acute respiratory tract infection overall. Those patients that were severely deficient and started taking supplemental vitamin D daily or weekly benefited the most over those who received bolus doses. While many observational studies link low vitamin D levels and respiratory tract infections and numerous trials show that supplementing with vitamin D can lower one's risk of getting a respiratory infection, the results are mixed. Carefully designed studies to address supplementation dosing intervals and levels, and protective serum vitamin D levels will help determine if taking vitamin D supplements can protect against respiratory tract infections.

**Keywords:** Vitamin D. immune. deficiency. infection. respiratory

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** Paid consultant for Bayer Consumer Health AG

# Track 3: Public Health Nutrition and Environment

SSS_144/1045

## ROLE OF MICRONUTRIENTS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

### THE ROLE OF MICRONUTRIENTS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

Eggersdorfer, Manfred.

DSM, Nutrition Science & Advocacy. Switzerland.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "in almost every country, the proportion of people aged over 60 years is growing faster than any other age group. This population aging can be considered as a success story for public health policies and for socioeconomic development, but it also challenges society to adapt, to maximize the health of people." Life-long health promotion, with an emphasis on the fundamental role of nutrition and essential micronutrients to reduce risk of chronic disease, can prevent or delay the onset of non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer disease, and others. Nutrition is recognized as being an important factor in optimal health throughout the life course and the United Nations declared the Decade of Action on Nutrition.

Nutrition is a complex topic in itself, and so are its fields of application. Nevertheless, a significant scientific and medical consensus exists as to the importance of an appropriate level of micronutrient intake throughout the life course to foster health, and prevent the onset of diseases. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables can provide the essential micronutrients according recommendations; however, a major part of the population does not follow or achieve the recommendations. Food fortification and the use of supplements are proven, cost efficient and safe ways for an adequate intake of essential micronutrients. To increase the recognition of the importance of micronutrient interventions, policy makers, health insurers and other stakeholders should give a healthy diet, including the use of supplements, a higher priority. The health benefits of fortification or supplementation with micronutrients are evident; examples on health and reduction of health care costs will be presented.

Subsequent to these lectures the DSM Nutritional Sciences Award will be presented, whereas the award 2017 is dedicated to Human Nutrition, with special emphasis on vitamins, carotenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, enzymes, pre- and probiotics and naturally occurring bioactive compounds. Scientists from all parts of the world, who have made major contributions to fundamental or applied research in this field, were nominated for the award. An international judging committee has reviewed the nominations and select the winner. We are pleased to welcome the winner for a keynote lecture, followed by an award ceremonial and reception.

**Keyword:** Micronutrients, public health, healthy aging, health economy
**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** This symposium was sponsored by DSM Nutritional Products (Switzerland)

**Further collaborators:** DSM Nutritional Sciences Awards Program

SSS_144/153

EATING PATTERNS AND DIETARY INTAKE OF INFANTS, TODDLERS AND CHILDREN: INSIGHTS FROM CROSS-COUNTRY ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION TO FITS AND KNHS: METHODOLOGICAL CHALLENGES IN DIETARY INTAKE COLLECTION AMONG INFANTS, TODDLERS AND CHILDREN IN AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MEXICO, RUSSIA AND THE US

(1)Eldridge, Alison; (2)Afeiche Zehil, Myriam; (3)Denney, Liya;

(4)Jacquier, Emma; (2)Kassis, Amira; (2)Mathias, Kevin; (2)Semenova, Iaroslava; (5)van der Horst, Klazine; (3)Wang, Dantong.

(1)PhD, RD. Expert Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestle Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.; (2)PhD. Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.; (3)PhD. Senior Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.; (4)PhD. Country Lead Scientist USA. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.; (5)PhD. Group Leader Dietary Intake. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.

**Background and objectives:** The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) and the Kids Nutrition and Health Study (KNHS) are large-scale cross-sectional surveys designed to explore nutrient intakes, food sources of nutrients, eating patterns and key behaviors related to energy intake and expenditure in infants and children in different countries around the world.

**Methods:** In each country, dietary intake is assessed using trained interviewers and multiple-pass 24-hr recalls on one or more days. The FITS and KNHS use data from national nutrition and health surveys when available, but when data do not exist for our age groups of interest, we collect data using similar methods. To date, a common analysis approach has been applied across data from the following countries: Australia, China, Mexico, Russia and the United States (US).

**Results:** Although many countries that conduct national nutrition surveys employ 24-hr recalls for individual-level intake estimations, other aspects of the survey methodology differ considerably. Some do not collect intake information on infants or young children. Food composition tables vary, limiting accurate intake estimates to only a few nutrients in some places. Different countries use different age classifications and different food grouping schemes, making comparisons across countries more difficult. Not all surveys record details about the meals or times when foods are

consumed. As much as possible, the FITS and KNHS have standardized reporting of age categories and food groupings so comparisons can be made. In addition, we have imputed missing values to complete data sets for nutrients of interest. When national survey data did not include the age categories needed, we have supported primary data collection to fill gaps in knowledge.

**Conclusions:** This presentation provides an overview of the individual studies and country data that comprise the current FITS and KNHS. The following presentations in this symposium will cover important nutritional issues in diets of infants, toddlers and children, including complementary feeding practices, intakes of total and added sugars, and the role of snacking in the diets of children.

**Keywords:** Dietary intake, child nutrition, survey

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** All authors are employed by NESTEC, SA (Nestlé Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland). Funding for these studies was provided by NESTEC.

COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING AND THE TRANSITION TO FOODS OF THE FAMILY TABLE IN CHINA, MEXICO, RUSSIA AND US

(1)Denney, Liya; (2)Afeiche Zehil, Myriam; (2)Semenova, Iaroslava.

(1)PhD. Senior Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne. Switzerland.; (2)PhD. Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne. Switzerland.

**Background and objectives:** Timely introduction of appropriate complementary foods is essential for optimal growth and development of infants and young children. The aim of this study is to describe and compare complementary feeding practices in four culturally diverse regions represented by China, Mexico, Russia and the United States (US).

**Methods:** Dietary intake data on infants and toddlers aged 6-23 months in China, Mexico and US were from the Maternal Infant Nutrition Growth (MING) study 2012 (n=906), the Mexico National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (ENSANUT) (n=767) and the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2008 (FITS) (n=1430) respectively. Dietary intake data on infants and toddlers aged 7-23 months in Russia were from the Russian National Nutrition Survey 2013 (n=3294). In each study, trained interviewers collected 24-hour dietary recalls from parents or caregivers on behalf of their children. The percentage of infants and toddlers consuming foods from specific food groups and the average amount consumed (per capita) was estimated and presented for 3 age groups.

**Results:** The percentage of infants consuming breast milk was generally low, ranging between 33-58% at 6-8 months and 33-43% at 9-11 months. Several large differences in complementary food consumption were observed. In China, cow's milk consumption was very low whereas infant formula/growing-up milk was highly consumed (270-317g/d). Rice was a main grain consumed at all ages. In Mexico, infant cereal consumption was low, while a substantial amount of cow's milk was consumed before 12 months of
age. Sugar sweetened beverages were highly consumed in all age
groups and the amount increased significantly with age (64-219g/
d). In Russia, infant cereal consumption was low whereas white
potatoes were highly consumed as a vegetable. Consumption of
sugar sweetened beverages in Russia appeared to be the highest
(114-242g/d) across the 4 countries. In the US, consumption of
vegetable and fruit baby foods resulted in higher overall vegetable
and fruit intakes among infants compared with other countries.
However, vegetable consumption was significantly reduced after
12 months of age. 100% fruit juice was a main beverage and highly
consumed at all ages.

**Conclusions:** In this study, early feeding of relatively high amounts of empty calorie foods, such as sugar sweetened beverages and sweets and high consumption of low-nutrient dense food such as rice or white potatoes was observed. This compromises intakes of more nutritious foods such as vegetables and fortified infant cereals. In addition, early introduction of cow's milk was found in Mexico. These findings provide culture-specific and food based information for healthcare professionals to understand the improvement needs in their country and offer more targeted guidance on complementary feeding practices.

**Keywords:** Complementary feeding; China; Mexico; Russia; US

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** This symposium was sponsored by Nestlé Research Center (Switzerland)

INTAKE OF TOTAL AND ADDED SUGARS AMONG
CHILDREN IN AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MEXICO, RUSSIA
AND US

(1)Eldridge, Alison; (2)Afeiche Zehil, Myriam; (3)Shaheen Koyratty, Bibi Nadia; (4)Wang, Dantong; (2)Semenova, Iaroslava; (2)Mathias, Kevin; (5)Jacquier, Emma; (4)Lê, Kim-Anne.

(1)PhD, RD. Expert Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.; (2)PhD. Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.; (3)MS. Student. Epidemiology and Environmental Health. The State University of New York at Buffalo. USA.; (4)PhD. Senior Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.; (5)PhD. Country Lead Scientist USA. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.

**Background and objectives:** Sugar consumption is high across the world. However, it is unclear to which proportion added sugars contribute to total sugars, and how intakes differ across geographies. Targets to limit consumption have been set by various national and international organizations. The aim of this study was to assess differences in intakes of total- and added sugars in 4-13y old children in China, Mexico, the US, Australia, and Russia. The secondary aim was to identify main sources of total- and added sugars in the diets of these children.

**Methods:** Secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey, 2012 Mexican Nation-

al Health and Nutrition Survey, 2009-2012 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-12 Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, and the 2013 Russian National Nutrition Survey. Total- and added sugar intakes were calculated using the US Food Patterns Equivalents Database for China, Mexico, and the US; and using the respective national food composition databases for Australia and Russia.

**Results:** US children had the highest mean intakes of added sugar (76g/d), followed by Russian (68g/d), Australian (59g/d), Mexican (55g/d), and Chinese (9g/d) children. Intakes of total sugars followed a somewhat similar order, with Russian children having a mean intake of 127g/d, followed by US children with 124g/d, Australian children with 121g/d, Mexican children with 92g/d, and Chinese children with 26g/d. The top food sources of total sugar in China were fruits and vegetables, contributing to 42% of intake among Chinese children. Beverages (such as sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit drinks, and milk-based beverages) were the top sources of total sugar in other countries, contributing to 50% (Mexico), 44% (US), 33% (Australia), and 33% (Russia) of the total sugar in diets of children in these countries.

**Conclusions:** Despite very distinct geographies and cultures, it appears that in all countries studied except China, beverages are the major source of total sugar intakes. This strengthens the need to have global public health and industry efforts towards this specific product category, as it is a high contributor to sugar intakes in children in many countries.

**Keywords:** Total sugars, added sugars, children, food sources

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** All authors except Bibi Nadia Shaheen Koyratty are employees of NESTEC, SA (Nestlé Research Center). This study was funded by NESTEC.

THE ROLE OF SNACKING IN THE DIETS OF CHIL-
DREN IN AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MEXICO AND US

(1)Jacquier, Emma; (2)Afeiche Zehil, Myriam; (2)Mathias, Kevin;

(3)Wang, Dantong.

(1)PhD. Country Lead Scientist. USA. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.; (2)PhD. Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.; (3)PhD. Senior Scientist. Institute of Nutritional Science. Nestlé Research Center. Lausanne. Switzerland.

**Background and objectives:** Eating between main meals or “snacking” is becoming more prevalent world-wide. Eating patterns and snacking behaviors are strongly influenced by culture. Our objective is to evaluate the similarities and differences in snacking habits among children from Australia, China, Mexico and the US.

**Methods:** National survey data were used for the comparisons across countries, including the National Nutrition Survey 2011-12 (Australia), the China Health and Nutrition Survey 2011 (China), the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (ENSA-NUT; Mexico), the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2016 (US)
and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2012 (NHANES; US). Trained interviewers collected 24-hr dietary recalls from parents or caregivers (for younger children) or from the children themselves. Snacking occasions were either defined by the participants (China, Mexico, US) or by time of day of consumption between meals (Australia).

**Results:** Snacking frequency varied widely across countries, with only 11.4% of 4-8y and 7.5% of 9-13y consuming snacks in China, in contrast to 98.9% of Australian children 2-16y consuming snacks. Snacking prevalence was intermediate in Mexico with 69.3% of 4-8y and 66.7% of 9-13y consuming snacks on any given day. The frequency of snacking in the US approached Australia (96.6% and 94.8% for 4-8y and 9-13y, respectively). FITS 2016 data demonstrated that snacking patterns appear in the toddler/preschool years, stabilizing to provide approximately 25% of energy from snacks from 3y. US children continued to get 25% of energy from snacks from 4-13y. Snacks contributed 11.4% of daily energy for Chinese 4-8y olds and only 7.5% for 9-13y. In Mexico, snacks contributed 15.2% of energy for 4-8y and 14.9% in 9-13y. In contrast, 33.6% of daily energy came from snacks among children in Australia. Foods consumed during snacks also varied widely: Chinese children most frequently consumed fruits and dairy; Mexican children preferred salty snacks, candy, and fruit; children in the US consumed milk and sweet bakery (mostly cookies); and children in Australia consumed fruit/vegetable juices or drinks and bread or rolls.

**Conclusions:** Despite differences in survey methodology, a common analysis approach provided valuable insights into snacking behaviors around the world. Snacking habits and foods consumed as snacks are important contributors to energy in the diets of children, but amounts and foods consumed vary considerably among the countries studied. In addition, we found that many of the foods typically consumed as snacks are needed to help children meet dietary recommendations, but there is still room for improvement in many snacking choices for children.

**Keywords:** Snacking, children, dietary intake.

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** All authors are employed by NESTEC, SA (Nestlé Research Center). Funding for these studies was provided by NESTEC.

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# THE ROLE OF FAMILY/PARENTS IN NURTURING HEALTHY EATING HABITS IN CHILDREN

## THE ROLE OF FAMILIES IN NURTURING HEALTHY EATING HABITS IN CHILDREN

Goulet, Olivier.

MD. PhD. Necker Enfants Malades Hospital. University Paris Descartes. President of the Danone Institute International. France.

With the increasing development of a 'global' world, many social, economic and cultural issues arise as the family structure

evolves from a more traditional model. Busy parents struggle to balance work and family life, resulting in less time to prepare and share mealtimes together as a family, and less time to enjoy quality moments together.

Across the world, the incidence and prevalence of overweight and obesity are reaching alarming levels. A growing body of evidence indicates that the family environment plays an integral role in children's and adolescents' weight status and unhealthy weight-related behaviours.

Childhood is a formative period for the development of children's healthy eating habits; consequently, it is a crucial time to build the most optimal foundations for positive and sustainable health behaviours.

The home environment is a critical source of positive influence, with the family having a great impact upon the shaping of children's first choice foods, therefore a family-centred approach is of crucial importance.

Danone Institute International (DII) gathered experts (dietitians, nutritionists, pediatricians, psychologists, sociologists, and public health professionals) to work together in collecting data, to develop a unique perspective on the topic.

It clearly emerged that to positively impact children's healthy eating, it is essential to shift the emphasis from "what we eat" to "how we eat".

Three key levers, supported by a strong body of evidence, all related to the family, have been identified, which all have a special emphasis on the pleasure of eating: Positive parenting, Eating together and a Healthy home food environment.

With three distinguished experts in the field, this symposium aims to share a consensus on key recommendations, by identifying relevant and innovative strategies to support families in making positive decisions for nurturing healthy eating in children.

**Keywords:** Healthy eating habits, children, eating together, healthy home food environment, food parenting

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** This symposium was sponsored by Danone Institute International (France)

## PARENTAL SOCIALIZATION OF HEALTHY EATING HABITS AMONG CHILDREN

Hughes, Sheryl.

PhD. Developmental Psychologist. USDA ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center. Baylor College of Medicine. Houston. Texas. USA.

Developmental theory posits that parents socialize their children by encouraging them to internalize the goals and values that parents deem important. The goal of most parents is that, by early adulthood, their children will be making appropriate choices in their daily lives. When it comes to healthy eating, the parenting environment remains the first and most fundamental context in which children's eating behaviors are socialized. Child eating socialization is characterized by at least three broad areas of food parenting: 1) coercive control, 2) structure, and 3) autonomy
support. Food parenting used by parents of young children may not be appropriate for older children and adolescents. During a child's early years, more guidance is needed as parents teach children basic eating skills, promote appropriate food preferences, and support child eating self-regulation. During the elementary school years, when children experience a wider range of food environments, parents change their behaviors to more developmentally appropriate practices to promote healthy eating in children. During adolescence, parents continue to guide eating behaviors by supporting autonomy in their children with the hope that the youth will internalize the norms and values accepted within the extended family.

A recent literature review highlighted the food parenting practices that either foster or hinder the development of healthy eating habits in children. In younger children (preschool through kindergarten), the use of coercive control is common. Collectively, coercive control strategies with young children have been shown to be related to higher consumption of unhealthy foods. In contrast, the use of structure (i.e., monitoring) and autonomy support (i.e., encouragement and praise) were shown to be related to healthier child eating habits. In elementary school aged children, the use of coercive control continued to be seen; however, the use of these food parenting practices with child food intake appeared to show little impact on intake. Structured activities (availability, accessibility, and modeling) were associated with healthier eating in this age group. It was expected that autonomy promotion (i.e., modeling, encouragement and praise) would be used extensively with older children and adolescents. However, our literature review did not show the use of these practices—at least in the empirical studies we located. We will critically review the evidence supporting associations between coercive control, structure, autonomy support, and child food intake in these age groups. In addition, we will point to gaps in the literature and discuss where future research should be targeted.

**Keywords:** Food parenting, healthy eating habits, autonomy support, structure, control

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** I received speaker fees from Danone Institute International for this presentation

**Further collaborators:** Thomas G. Power

## IMPROVING CHILDREN'S EATING HABITS THROUGH EATING TOGETHER

Haines, Jess.

Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition.
University of Guelph. Guelph. Canada.

Eating together is generally regarded as a child having a planned meal with at least one parent. While the frequency of eating together varies by geographic region, research suggests that the number of meals that children report eating with their families has been declining over the past four decades. Numerous observational studies have found that eating together has a positive sustained impact on children's dietary intake. This may

because foods eaten together as a family are healthier than those consumed alone or outside of the home or the time spent together as a family allows parents an opportunity to model healthful dietary intake and eating patterns. Observational research has also found that regularly eating meals together is associated with lower risk of obesity among children and adolescents. As a result of these findings, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition recommends that families should regularly eat meals together as part of childhood obesity prevention strategies. One key limitation of these findings from observational studies is that families who eat meals together may differ from those who do not eat together on characteristics, such as family functioning or level of chaos in the home, which may influence child diet and weight outcomes. Failing to appropriately account for these potential confounders may result in biased estimates of the impact of eating together. To address this limitation of observational research, researchers have begun to design and test interventions to increase the frequency of families eating together. The focus of this presentation is to critically review the observational and intervention research on eating together. We will present key research findings on the associations between eating together and children's behavioural and health outcomes. We will also discuss results from existing intervention studies and their implications for future intervention efforts.

**Keywords:** Eating together, family meals, healthy eating, obesity prevention, children

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** I have received speaker fees from Danone Institute International for this presentation.

## HOW TO CREATE A HEALTHY HOME FOOD ENVIRONMENT

Lytle, Leslie.

PhD. Professor. Departments of Health Behavior and Nutrition.
Gillings School of Global Public Health. University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. North Carolina. USA.

The home food environment is the most proximal influence over youth eating behaviors and has a strong influence on the habituation of food practices that continue into adulthood. The home environment includes both physical and social factors that youth are exposed to. The physical environment includes the availability of and accessibility to foods in the home. The provision of healthy foods available at home and parental role modeling of healthful eating habits increases the likelihood that youth in the family will be willing to eat and enjoy a greater variety of healthy foods. Research suggests that not only is it important for families to provide healthy foods to their children but it is also important to help teach children how to be more intentional about what, when, where and how they eat. The social environment includes myriad factors that youth are exposed to by observing and interacting with the adults and other children living in the home. This social environment includes role modeling by parents and other household members, family rules around eating and meal time, and cues and reinforce-
ments for eating behavior. Creating a healthy home food environ-
ment requires a consideration of how to positively impact both the
physical and social environments of homes. Using this framework,
this session will discuss the interventions that have been tested to
positively influence the home food environment and the best prac-
tices that have emerged from the empirical literature to date. We
will also discuss the potential for future intervention efforts.

**Keywords:** Home food environment, family-based interven-
tions, obesity prevention healthy eating habits

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** I received speaker fees from Danone Institute International for this presentation.

SSS_144/1010

MINDFUL EATING APPLIED TO SNACKING: A BEHAVIORAL APPROACH SUPPORTED BY RECENT SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS (DRAFT)

SNACKING IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD: A MARKER OF DIETARY ANARCHY OR A USEFUL CONTRIBUTOR TO DIET QUALITY AND WEIGHT CONTROL?

Bellisle, France.

Nutritional Epidemiology. University Paris 13. France.

The present “epidemic” of obesity has been attributed to a
growing trend for snacking (Murakami, 2015). Dietary surveys in
various parts of the world reveal that “snacks” (eating occasions at
other moments than main meals) do bring a significant amount
of energy and nutrients to the daily diet. Even in countries where
the traditional pattern of three “main meals” is maintained, most
individuals snack at least once daily. One daily snack is frequent
in France (mostly at the occasion of the traditional afternoon
“goûter”) but up to 8 or 12 habitual daily snacks have been report-
ed in Scandinavian countries (Bellisle, 2014; Lund, 2014). In the
USA, snacks have increased in frequency over the last decades and
three or more snacks a day now bring over 23% of the daily energy
in men and women (Kant, 2015). Snacks can represent between
4% (China) and more than 50% (Finland) of daily energy intake
(Lund, 2014; Duffey, 2014). Clearly, the important contribution
from snacks to the daily intake can affect body weight control
and quality of the diet. A review of the abundant literature about
snacking reveals at least two contrasting pictures (Bellisle, 2014;
Hess, 2016). In many studies, snacking is presented in a favorable
way, highlighting its contribution to the daily intake of valuable
micronutrients and the flexibility it confers to adjust the daily en-
ergy intake to fluctuating energy needs. By contrast, other reports
view snacking as a source of excessive energy intake, facilitating
weight gain, with little contribution to the quality of the diet (1).
The potential value of snacking is obviously modulated by the se-
lection of good nutritional quality foods, but also by other types of
factors, for example: eating in the absence of hunger in response
to external non-physiological cues, irregular as opposed to regular

snacking, snacking while watching television or screen. Evidence
exists that paying attention to the act of eating facilitates both sa-
tiation and satiety, perhaps by optimizing the sensory experience
of ingestion and facilitating the memory processes that contrib-
ute to inhibiting further eating. The regularity of snacks can make
them small “meals” that occur predictably in the daily schedule.
The French “goûter” ingested by all children and many adults in
the middle of the afternoon not only allows them to cope with
the very long time interval between lunch and dinner, but gener-
ates the physiological responses usually triggered by regular meals.
Physiological cues typically present at the outset of a “main” meal
(among which a small decline in glycemia) are also present at the
beginning of a regular “goûter”, preparing the organism to respond
to the nutrient load. Such physiological responses are not present
when snacking is triggered by external cues in the absence of hun-
ger. The potential beneficial effects of snacking (intake of valua-
ble micronutrients, facilitated adjustment of intake to needs) take
place when snacking is a regular, mindful eating event as opposed
to an irregular, externally triggered, impulsive behavior.

**Keywords:** Snack, energy intake, diet quality, weight control, mindfulness

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** The author is a member of scientific advisory councils for Cereal Partners Worldwide, European Food Information Council, General Mills, Nomad Foods, CreaBio, International Sweeteners Association, and European Fruit Juice Association. Over the last 5 years, she has received honoraria and travel grants from: American Beverage Association, International Life Science Institute, Mondelez, Tate & Lyle.

EATING MINDFULLY AS A SUSTAINABLE
HEALTHY BEHAVIOR: THEORY AND EVIDENCE

Kristeller, Jean.

Indiana State University. USA.

Mindful eating is a unique way of relating to the many food
choices we face every day. Our minds and our bodies can provide
us much wisdom, not only to eat in a more healthy and flexible
way, without dieting, but also to enjoy our food more – not less.
Although snacking is often identified as an undesirable aspect of
food intake, evidence suggests that regular meals can be supple-
mented by snacks within healthy parameters, particularly in re-
gard to quantity, but also related to quality of foods chosen. One of
the challenges of highly restrictive diet programs, which generally
curtail virtually all commercially available snack foods is that little
awareness is developed regarding how to eat such foods in a more
balanced, limited but sustainable way.

This presentation will provide an introduction to the basic
elements of the Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training
(MB-EAT) program, including a brief introduction to the theo-
ry of mindfulness meditation and the mindful eating experienc-
es used in the program (Kristeller, 2016; Kristeller & Wolever, in
press). Core goals within the MB-EAT program, a structured 12
session manualized intervention, include heightening interocep-
tive awareness of physical hunger, taste, and fullness; heightening
awareness of non-nutritive cues for eating, including thoughts
and feelings, and external triggers such as the presence of food,
and social pressure; and mindful use of nutritional information.
Heightening awareness of taste satisfaction and taste satiety (sens-
sory-specific satiety) is a core element throughout. Multiple eat-
ing awareness exercises occur across the program, including use
of snack foods such as high energy dense foods, and participants'
personally preferred snack foods. Rather than restricting these
foods, which often results in rebound overeating, the message is
to consider how to obtain maximal pleasure from smaller, rather
than larger, quantities, and to make more mindful choices to re-
flect caloric and health needs. At the same time, healthier foods
are also presented as important alternatives, but again, in a bal-
anced rather than exclusive way.

The presentation will review research evidence from several NIH-funded clinical trials, application to a range of clinical populations, including those with binge eating disorder (Kristeller, Sheets, & Wolever, 2013; Kristeller & Wolever, 2011), type II diabetes (Miller, Kristeller, et al., 2012; 2014), and obesity-related eating patterns (Daubenmier, Moran, Kristeller et al., 2016). Our research to date suggests that individuals can bring compulsive overeating under control, improve emotional regulation related to eating, and decrease weight, and that improvement across a range of variables is associated directly with amount of mindfulness practice. The implications of this approach for helping individuals create a more balanced, sustainable, yet flexible relationship to eating and food, will be discussed.

**Keywords:** Mindful eating; MB-EAT; sensory-specific satiety; binge eating disorder; weight loss.

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** This symposium was spon-
sored by Mondelez International (USA)

HOW MINDFULNESS CAN BENEFIT TO SNACK-
ING?

Cornil, Yann.

Sauder School of Business. University of British Columbia.
Canada.

The growing trend for snacking among children and adults
over the past forty years has been potentially identified as one of
the factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. Because of the
type of food being consumed (high in calorie, sugar and fat), but
also the timing of consumption (between meals) and the mode of
consumptions (for instance, while watching TV), a habit of snack-
ing represents a challenge for energy balance and body weight
control. By contrast, evidence exists that “mindfulness” can bene-
fit to snacking. Mindfulness typically increases consumers’ aware-
ness of and responsiveness to internal signals of satiety, but it also
increases food enjoyment and savoring. It can thus decrease the
occurrence of impulse-based or mindless snacking episodes, but
also promote more qualitative snacking with the aim to appreciate
the sensory quality of snacks rather than satisfying an appetitive
impulse.

We know that satiety is only marginally influenced by the actu-
al quantity of energy being ingested, and is largely driven by a vast
array of cognitive factors, including consumption norms, visual
perception of food quantity, and monitoring of eating (Cornil
2017). Hence, behavioral research has shown how purposeful
changes in food marketing and environments can promote pos-
itive eating behaviors like mindful snacking, and more general-
ly decrease food intake without reducing satiety or satisfaction
(Chandon and Wansink 2012; Wansink and Chandon 2014). Small
changes in package shape and dinnerware size can have a large
impact on consumers' perception of food volumes, and therefore
increase the perceived (but not the actual) amount of food being
eaten (Krishna 2006; Van Ittersum and Wansink 2012). Size labels
(for instance, labeling the same portion size "large" rather than
"normal") and assortment sizes (for instance, adding an "extra
large" or an "extra small" option in the choice set) influence con-
sumption norms, and can thereby impact the satiating power of a
snack for the same actual quantity (Aydinoglu and Krishna 2011;
Sharpe, Staelin, and Huber 2008). Also, subtle cues can encourage
better monitoring of eating and limit mindless eating sequences,
leading to faster satiation—for instance, inserting potato chips of
different colors at regular intervals in a tube of chips as a way to
“segment” consumption (Geier, Wansink, and Rozin 2012).

Growing research inspired by mindfulness techniques has also
shown that encouraging consumers to focus on the sensory char-
acteristics of foods can increase eating enjoyment while reducing
calorie intake (Tapper 2017). This is because a higher sensory focus
increases awareness of and responsiveness to satiation cues, and in
particular to “sensory-specific satiety”, which predicts that the first
few bites of a food are the most pleasurable, then pleasure declines
with each subsequent bite. Hence, positioning a snack food as a
way to emphasize its multisensory qualities (taste, aromas, tex-
ture) can increase the appeal of smaller portion sizes (Cornil and
Chandon 2016). This shows that mindfulness techniques applied
to foods can be a viable alternative to health warnings in order to
encourage consumers to snack more healthily, while preserving—
and even enhancing—the pleasure of eating.

**Keywords:** Mindfulness, snacking, portion size, satiety

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** Yann Cornil has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, from the University of British Columbia, from INSEAD, and from Institut Benjamin Delessert for his research.
## STUDY OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS IN BREAD RELATED TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF FORTIFICATION LEVEL OF IRON IN WHEAT FLOUR

(1)López, Ximena; (2)Geria, Rodrigo; (3)Salazar, Karen; (3)Arqueros, Valeria; (3)Gonzalez, Miluzka; (3)Benavides, Clara; (3)Trejo, Maricela.

(1)Master en Ciencia y tecnología de los Alimentos. Universidad de Valencia. España.; (2)Ingeniero Químico; (3)Ingeniero en Alimentos.

Flour Fortification is a very old Public Health Program in Latin America, even beginning in Chile in 1958, after the countries of North America. Although some countries have joined just a few years ago, there are already 33 countries in the Region that are fortifying wheat, corn and rice flour. Mostly wheat and corn flour are subscribed as Public Fortification programs and are monitored by the Ministries of Health of each country.

The objective of this work is to have a vision of the levels of iron found in the bread from Flour Fortification. This work will be carried out in five countries: Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Chile, where 180 samples will be obtained from typical high-consumption bread that is sold in bulk in the most populated and representative urban sectors of the capital area.

Once the bread samples were obtained, the iron tracer was selected as an indicator that the flour used was fortified. The analytical determination of Iron used is by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. A methodology based on the Official Method A.O.A.C. 999.10. In this way, we wish to show in a very simple way, what is the actual benefit of iron and establish what its contribution means on the health of people.

**Keywords:** Food fortification; iron deficiency; public health; Monitoring

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** This symposium was sponsored by Granotec Foundation (Chile)

## EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY IN LATIN AMERICA, PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE

Morán, Javier.

Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM). Spain.

We reviewed at this conference the epidemiology of micronutrient deficiency in Latin America with special reference to the iron deficiency and how these deficiencies have a great impact in terms of public health.

We also review the interest of the fortification of new food matrices that allow the fortification to be carried out to all the population and particularly to children and adolescents.

**Keywords:** Food fortification; iron deficiency; public health
**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** This symposium was sponsored by Granotec Foundation (Chile)

## NUTRIENT PROFILING STRATEGIES IN LATIN AMERICA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE CONTROL OF MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY

(1)Gil, Ángel; (2)Soto-Méndez, María José.

(1)PhD. Prof. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology. Centre of Biomedical Research. University of Granada. CIBERobn. Spain.; (2)Ph.D. Scientific Coordinator. Fundacion Iberoamericana de Nutrición. Granada. Spain.

The increasing of overweight and the obesity epidemic, in addition to the increase of diet-related non-communicable diseases, are among the main consequences of dietary changes, in conjunction with the physical inactivity of the populations.

Within the context of interest of the Latin American countries, already affected by obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases, but still experiencing the problems of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, governments and regional organizations have promoted actions of generating comprehensible, suitable, accurate and standardized information on the content of food products in order to allow the consumer to make healthier choices, promoting the consumption of more complete foods; all these actions can be reached by implementing Nutrient Profiling models.

The definition of Nutrient Profiling was proposed by the WHO in 2015 as "the science of classifying or ranking foods according to their nutritional composition for reasons related to preventing disease and promoting health".

There are nutrients classified as of public health relevance, some of them because of their harmful effects and high consumption (e.g. total fat, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, sugars and sodium), and others for their positive effects on health but not reaching the daily recommendations (e.g. dietary fiber, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals [vitamin D, iron, calcium, zinc, potassium]).

One of the first approaches of Nutrient Profiling was the regulation of claims; now the use has extended to other actions, for example, nutritional education conducted by health professionals, and be a guideline for consumers and assist them to make "healthier" decisions against a wide variety of products offered in the market, nutrient profiling strategies have also increased privately and publicly to establish industrial food labeling using graphs or representative symbols (logos) on the products to communicate nutritional information to the consumer or to label products as "healthy" food.

Several countries in Latin America, such is the case of Mexico, Costa Rica, The Caribbean, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, have developed initiatives that involve the use of Nutrient Profiling, as recent as 2016 a regional model of Nutrient Profiling was generated by the Pan-American Health Organization to be taken as basis for local policies in different countries.
Whether the nutrient profiling would be positively adapted by the countries taking into account the relevance of food groups, their role in the diet and the contribution of the nutrients to the overall diet of a population or a particular group within a population is an arising question.

The creation of nutrient profiling should respond to a systematic, transparent and logic methodological process, ideally agreed between the different sectors of each country or region involved (governmental organizations, public bodies, food industry and consumers' organizations). The proper use of Nutrient Profiling could lead to the Latin American consumers to select products that let them reach their micronutrient requirements and promote a more balanced diet.

**Keywords:** Nutrient Profiling, Public health. Nutrient information. Nutritional claims.

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** The present symposium has been sponsored by Granotec

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UNITED FOR HEALTHIER KIDS: A PROGRAM TO HELP PARENTS ESTABLISH HEALTHIER EATING AND LIFESTYLE HABITS

UNITED FOR HEALTHIER KIDS PROGRAM EXPERIENCE- IS IT ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS: COUNTRY EXPERIENCES FROM PAKISTAN AND MEXICO

Das, Jai.

MD. Senior Instructor. Division of Women and Child Health. Aga Khan University. Karachi. Pakistan.

The multi-level United for Healthier Kids program (U4HK), initiated and catalyzed by Nestlé, is intended to provide families with children under 12 years with new tools to inspire and enable dietary and behavioral change and focused on six behaviors. It was launched in countries around the world with each country choosing the behaviors and activities that apt to the local context. We will discuss two country examples of Mexico and Pakistan to gauge the success of U4HK so far. Both the countries vary in the burden of malnutrition as Mexico has one of the highest prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity, while Pakistan has one of the highest prevalence of childhood undernutrition and stunting.

Mexico was the first country to launch U4HK and chose four behaviors including ‘Manage Portions’, ‘Choose Nutritious Foods and Varied Options’, ‘Choose to Drink Water’ and ‘Feed your Baby Like a Baby’ and ‘Move More, Sit Less. Multiple partnerships were developed with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Kimberly Clark and Televisa and multiple communication channels were used to create awareness and reach large segments of the population, including digital media, mass media by broadcasting a reality show. Pakistan focused on three behaviors including

'Choose to drink water', 'Move more sit less' and 'Choose nutritious & varied options'. It utilized various channels to communicate the selected messages including digital media, mass media and school platforms and engaged celebrities to endorse the messages.

It was intended to measure the success of the program at three levels - Reach, Engage, and Impact. Initial evaluation from these two countries suggest that U4HK has been successful in reaching and engaging with its target population as in Mexico, digital media generated more than 13.5 million exposures with sufficient engagement rates and Pakistan showed greater awareness amongst mothers regarding the behaviors. A study on purchase and consumption of food patterns in Mexican families with children under 12 years suggested increase purchase and use in the healthy basket and a decrease of the unhealthy basket, with greater increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables.

U4HK is a comprehensive program designed to help parents establish healthier eating and lifestyle habits for their kids. Its strength of forming partnerships and using multiple communication channels has been effective to broaden its exposure and reach a large target audience. U4HK will also aid global understanding to design, implement and evaluate multipronged approaches to changing behaviors.

**Keywords:** U4HK, undernutrition, obesity, dietary behaviors

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** JD is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for United for Healthier Kids.

BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PROGRAMS DRIVING HEALTHIER DIETS AND LIFESTYLES: WHAT DO WE KNOW?

French, Jeff.

PhD. Visiting Professor. Brighton University. Brighton. United Kingdom.

In this presentation a summary of what we currently know about how to design programmes aimed at influencing healthy diets and related lifestyle issues such as exercise will be presented. The presentation will cover what we know about the design characteristics of successful programmes including how they should be established, developed managed and evaluated. The presentation will be illustrated using examples of both success and failure from around the world. The presentation will also explore the role of different intervention ‘Types’ and ‘Forms’ and how these different approaches can be integrated into an effective and efficient programme mix.

**Keywords:** Social Marketing, diet, lifestyle, behavior change

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** JF is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for U4HK
# UNITED FOR HEALTHIER KIDS: A PROGRAM TO HELP PARENTS ESTABLISH HEALTHIER EATING AND LIFESTYLE HABITS

Prentice, Andrew M.

PhD. FMedSci. MRC Unit The Gambia and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Malnutrition in all its forms threatens the health and development of hundreds of millions of children worldwide. The prevalence of stunting and underweight is gradually declining as many countries pass through the economic transition. But the decline in undernutrition is being more than offset by a global rise in childhood overweight and obesity that heralds a future explosion in nutrition-related non-communicable diseases.

There are numerous societal and environmental drivers of the growing obesity pandemic that will require cross-sectoral approaches if they are to be reversed. Many parents lack awareness of the importance of their children maintaining a healthy body weight through appropriate diets and exercise and, even if concerned by their child's weight status may lack the life skills to implement effective change within the family.

United for Healthy Kids (U4HK) is an international programme that sets out to empower families to live a healthier lifestyle. The programme offers advice, training and participatory strategies to help parents effect healthy change in six core skills: Manage Portions; Choose Nutritious and Varied Options; Choose to Drink Water; Enjoy Meals Together; Feed Your Baby Like a Baby; and Move More, Sit Less.

U4HK represents a new model of private-public engagement that seeks to mobilise multiple governmental, non-governmental and private agencies to maximise its reach and impact. Country-specific implementation of the programme utilises the core suite of evidence-based skills but tailored to local needs. Innovative use of social media platforms provides a powerful tool for dissemination and reinforcement of key messages, interactive engagement with families and evaluation of impact.

U4HK has so far been implemented in 13 countries and has reached over 150m participants.

**Keywords:** Malnutrition, stunting, overweight, obesity, behavior change

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** AMP is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for U4HK

# FROM PPP TO PPE: A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGAGEMENT

Drewnowski, Adam.

Center for Public Health Nutrition, University of Washington, USA.

Multi-sectoral initiatives involving private industry are increasingly viewed as a necessary step to improve both diet quality and population health. Public private partnerships (PPPs) have

addressed a number of global nutrition challenges, ranging from biofortification and fortification to the promotion of more nutrient-rich diets and healthier lifestyles. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) look to industry partners to improve the quality of the global food supply.

The traditional role of the private sector has been to provide technical assistance, knowledge transfer, and financial support for activities ranging from preventing hunger to promoting optimum health. Companies have used PPPs to alleviate hunger, promote food security, or help develop microenterprises or small businesses. Often, those activities were led by policymakers, local health jurisdictions, or international agencies, with industry assuming a secondary role.

The multi-sectoral U4HK program was created in direct response to calls by international agencies for more engagement by private companies to address the double burden of malnutrition in low and middle income countries (LMIC). Its development was consistent with the published principles on creating PPPs to address complex public health nutrition issues. The challenges, risks and benefits of PPPs have been set out in influential past work, notably by Kraak et al. (2011). While preserving those principles, the U4HK program represents a novel type of private-public engagement (PPE), distinct from the traditional PPP structure. A central feature of PPE is that the private sector takes the leading role in bringing together multiple actors, including families, schools, communities, policymakers, the media, and NGOs. Here, the rapid growth of social media has made it possible to reach families directly with messages about optimum diets and child health.

The U4HK protocols followed standard principles, such as having a clearly defined and achievable goals, clear statements of work, rules, and responsibilities, as well as an evaluation component. Details of U4HK design and implementation will be presented in this symposium.

**Keywords:** Public-private partnership (PPP); Private-public engagement (PPE); Social marketing

**Conflict of Interest disclosure:** AD is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for U4HK and a member of the Nestlé Nutrition Council. He has received grants, contracts, and honoraria from public agencies, private industry, private foundations, and commodity groups for projects involving nutrient profiling, diet quality assessments, and health outcomes.

# THE SIX HEALTHIER HABITS TARGETED IN UNITED FOR HEALTHIER KIDS

Rolls, Barbara.

PhD. Professor in Nutritional Sciences. Department of Nutritional Sciences. The Pennsylvania State University. Pennsylvania. USA.

United for Healthier Kids (U4HK) aims to create a social movement through social media platforms that target parents and carers of children up to 12 years of age. A panel of global, independent experts with different expertise in public health, behavioural psychology and nutrition, and with different geographical backgrounds advised U4HK on a framework of six healthier habits.