Search results

The times have come down to us as the “Good Old Days”, of Edwardian elegance and grace, peace and plenty, which conceal the poverty, squalor and disease. There seemed less resentment from those who suffered the rigours of the times than from those of today who only know of them by repute. Life was indeed cruel to the submerged tenth of society and the homeless waifs and strays were all too real and true.

This study aims to evaluate the quality characteristics of low-fat functional carabeef cookies incorporated with different levels of guar gum.

Meat cookies were incorporated with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 per cent guar gum powder to replace 20, 30 and 40 per cent hydrogenated vegetable fat, respectively. The formulation of low-fat carabeef cookies was maintained by addition of water.

There was a significant difference (p < 0.02) between control and treatments for all physico-chemical properties, except pH and thickness. The cooking yield increased significantly (p < 0.04) at 1.5 per cent level of guar gum. Moisture, protein and ash percentage increased significantly (p < 0.02) while there was significant (p < 0.00) reduction in fat percentage. The diameter and spread ratio of cookies decreased significantly (p < 0.03) with incorporation of guar gum. The sensory scores were not significantly affected with respect to color and appearance, flavor, texture, crispiness, aftertaste and overall acceptability at 1.5 per cent level. There was no significant difference in hardness and adhesiveness values, as well as color parameters.

The experiment can be further carried out to evaluate complete product profile and storage stability of product under different packaging conditions.

Fat imparts richness and tenderness, improving flavor and mouth feel to processed meat products, but higher fat consumption may lead to various life style diseases. Reducing fat content with fat replacers in meat cookies without affecting the sensory characteristics may be a significant challenge. Guar gum powder may be an excellent option at 1.5 per cent level to replace 40 per cent of hydrogenated vegetable fat without compromising quality attributes.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the trans fatty acids (TFA) content in foods before and after the implementing of the method for controlling trans fatty acids in meals (MCTM) in a Brazilian restaurant.

Analysis by gas chromatography was performed on 49 processed foods used as ingredients for culinary preparations (42 and seven samples before and after the implementation of the method, respectively) and 57 prepared foods (31 and 26 samples before and after the implementation of the method, respectively). In addition, the meal preparation process was monitored before the implementation of the MCTM method in order to identify the changes resulting from its application.

As a result of the application of the method the processed foods whose labels reported the presence of ingredients potentially containing industrial trans fat acids (iTFA) were not purchased and used in food preparations; standard recipes prepared with processed foods free of iTFA were implemented; and also the restaurant’s staff were trained to control the frying process for preparing fried foods. The average content of TFA per 100 g of prepared food was 0.21 g less (p=0.038) after the implementation of the method.

The MCTM method showed to be a viable and effective tool for reducing TFA levels in the studied restaurant.

The developed method is original since no similar tool for controlling of TFA in food services has been found in the scientific literature. The fatty acid profile determination in the meals prepared after the MCTM implementation showed a reduction in TFA, indicating that the method was also viable and efficient.

Trans fatty acids arise as a result of hydrogenation processes in margarine manufacture, and in nature in the rumen of ruminant animals. Concern that high intake of trans fatty acids may increase the risk of coronary heart disease has been strengthened by recent studies. Further, there is evidence that trans fatty acids may adversely affect foetal and neonatal growth and development. Therefore, a reduced intake of trans fatty acids seems prudent. Certain foods, particularly stick margarines, shortenings and hydrogenated frying fats, contain large amounts of trans fatty acids, and are the main reason for the rather high intake of trans fatty acids in the USA and northern European countries, including Denmark. Therefore, the National Food Agency is presently working on a legal provision to reduce the level of trans fatty acids in these products.

The purpose of this paper is to relate average serving size intake by the Brazilian population and declared serving size, the presence of trans fat and household measure fractioning declared on labels of processed, and ultra-processed food products.

Cross-sectional study that analyzed the food labelling of all processed and ultra-processed food products sold in a supermarket in southern Brazil.

A total of 1,071 processed and ultra-processed food products were analyzed. In 88 per cent of food groups, the average serving size consumed was larger than what was declared on labels. Consumed serving size was up to 9.2 times larger than the declared ones in food products with trans fat among their ingredients list and in false negatives and up to 9.9 times larger in foods with fractioned household measure (p<0.001). The Brazilian population consumes, on average, larger serving sizes than those declared on labels, which may represent a significant intake of trans fats without the consumers’ noticing.

This study has been performed with the use of a national database on food consumption, as well as the information from a large number of processed and ultra-processed food labels marketed in Brazil. This study is also proven to be important and novel, contributing with information as to the manner in which nutrition labelling has been presented to Brazilian consumers, discussing its possible consequences for food choices, intake, and the guarantee of consumer rights.

Gujarati households are known for high consumption of edible oil and fried foods. However, there is lack of information on their knowledge about its use for various preparations and associated health risks. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Guajarati housewives in the age group of 30‐65 years were surveyed from five different zones of Vadodara. Information on their knowledge about the use of edible oils and associated health risks was collected using a pre‐tested structured questionnaire and food frequency questionnaire.

Only 5 percent subjects consumed deep fried foods daily. Odds ratio showed high association (OR=4.50) between daily consumption of deep fried food and obesity. Significant association (p<0.05) and high odds ratio (5.13) were seen between daily consumption of shallow fried foods and presence of diabetes. Obesity and hypertension were seen in 54.1 and 15.8 percent subjects, respectively. About 24 percent families used hydrogenated vegetable oil (vanaspati) for cooking purposes. Butter and ghee rich in saturated fats were regularly used by most families.

Poor knowledge amongst the Gujarati housewives on the correct use of fats and oils in their daily diets calls for an exhaustive education program to reduce high prevalence of obesity and other co‐morbidities prevalent in this part of the country.

This is an original research work completed in September 2011.

Natural selection—survival of the fittest—is as old as life itself. Applied genetics which is purposeful in contrast to natural selection also has a long history, particularly in agriculture; it has received impetus from the more exacting demands of the food industry for animal breeds with higher lean : fat and meat : bone ratios, for crops resistant to the teeming world of parasites. Capturing the exquisite scent, the colours and form beautiful of a rose is in effect applied genetics and it has even been applied to man. For example, Frederick the Great, Emperor of Prussia, to maintain a supply of very tall men for his guards—his Prussian Guards averaged seven feet in height—ordered them to marry very tall women to produce offspring carrying the genes of great height. In recent times, however, research and experiment in genetic control, more in the nature of active interference with genetic composition, has developed sufficiently to begin yielding results. It is self‐evident that in the field of micro‐organisms, active interference or manipulations will produce greater knowledge and understanding of the gene actions than in any other field or by any other techniques. The phenomenon of “transferred drug resistance”, the multi‐factorial resistance, of a chemical nature, transferred from one species of micro‐organisms to another, from animal to human pathogens, its role in mainly intestinal pathology and the serious hazards which have arisen from it; all this has led to an intensive study of plasmids and their mode of transmission. The work of the Agricultural Research Council's biologists (reported elsewhere in this issue) in relation to nitrogen‐fixing genes and transfer from one organism able to fix nitrogen to another not previously having this ability, illustrates the extreme importance of this new field. Disease susceptibility, the inhibition of invasiveness which can be acquired by relatively “silent” micro‐organisms, a better understanding of virulence and the possible “disarming” of organisms, particularly those of particular virulence to vulnerable groups. Perhaps this is looking for too much too soon, but Escherichia coli would seem to offer more scope for genetic experiments than most; it has serotypes of much variability and viability; and its life and labours in the human intestine have assumed considerable importance in recent years. The virulence of a few of its serotypes constitute an important field in food epidemiology. Their capacity to transfer plasmids—anent transfer of drug resistance— to strains of other organisms resident in the intestines, emphasizes the need for close study, with safeguards.

Without aspiring to emulate Robert Browning's song thrush, we venture to repeat an admonition on smoking in the food trade of almost a decade ago. (The Smoking Habit, 1962, BFJ, 64, 79). The first time it coincided with a little research we had undertaken, which later saw the light of day epitomized in article form and was enthusiastically (sic) commented upon in sections of the press and then died as if it had never been born. (Tobacco and Lung Cancer, 1965, Med. Offr., 2955, 148). Now, it coincides with the most concentrated, officially inspired, campaign, so far, mounted against the evils of smoking. The most striking fact about all these national efforts every few years is the lack of success in real terms. A marketing organization achieving such poor results would count it a costly failure. It would be unfair to say that none have given up, but with a habit so ingrained, determination is required and in many, if not most, of those able to refrain, the craving is so great that they are smoking again within a week or so. Overall, the smoking population is enormous, including, as it does, girls and women‐folk. Once, it was undignified for a woman to be seen smoking. We recall a visit by Queen Mary to the village Manor House, just after the First War; she was an expert in antique furniture and came to see the manor's collection. When Her Majesty asked for a cigarette, the village rang with astonishment for days. Nothing as amazing had happened since Cavaliers and Roundheads tethered their horses beneath the three great poplars which stood on the green. “Queen Mary! 'er smokes!”

In a Northern city, which claims to have more than 12,000 Commonwealth immigrants, mostly of Asian origin—Pakistanis and Indians, an increasing number of whom have been joined by their wives and families, there was instituted in 1965 a routine examination of their children before school entry, later extended to children of immigrant origin already in the schools. This examination extended to haemoglobin estimation, tuberculin‐testing and, equally important, examination of the stools for pathogens and parasitic ova. 419 entrants were examined in the first half of 1965 and 898 pupils. Parental co‐operation must have been excellent, as parents all agreed, without exception, to the special examination, although to some extent, there might have been considered legal authority in the current School Health Service (Medical Inspection) Regulations made under the Education Act, 1944. We are not aware of any report of intestinal pathogens, but helminth infestations were reported (Archer D. M., Bamford F. N., and Lees E., Helminth Infestations in Immigrant Children, 1965, Brit. Med. J., 2, 1517), from which it appears 18·6% carried five types of worm, of which the commonest was hookworm. It would be fair to assume that helminth infestation, indicating as it does, exposure to food infections, water‐borne disease and environment generally, is an index of gastro‐intestinal infection and the presence of pathogens, including the carrier state.

Reports the results of a survey of followers of the mostly raw, pure vegetarian, Hallelujah diet, which is promoted by the Hallelujah Acres Foundation in the USA. Seven‐day semi‐quantitative dietary records kept by 141 followers of the diet were collected and analyzed for nutrient intake. Claims self‐reported improvements in health and quality of life after adoption of the diet were significant (p < 1E‐07). Mean daily consumption of fruits and vegetables was 6.6 servings and 11.4 servings, respectively. Salads, fruits, carrot juice and grain products provided 60‐88 per cent of most nutrients. The mean energy intake was 1,460kcal/day for women and 1,830kcal/day for men. Claims that, with some modifications, this diet pattern allows people to adopt a low calorie diet sufficient in most nutrients.