Association between food control inspection grades and regional incidence of infectious foodborne diseases in Finland.

We studied regional food control inspection grades and their relation to regional incidence of domestically acquired foodborne diseases (caused by Campylobacter spp. Salmonella spp. enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), and Listeria monocytogenes) using food control inspection data of local food business operators and infectious disease data from 2014 to 2019 from Finland. We observed that inferior overall inspection grades were associated with increased incidence of Salmonella infections (p=0.02). Specifically, inferior grades on cleanliness of facilities, surfaces, and equipment were associated with increased incidence of Salmonella infections (p=0.04). For this topical inspection area, a high effect size was also seen for Campylobacter infections (p=0.06). Of the individual inspection items, an association between increased incidence of Campylobacter infections and inferior grades on storage of foodstuffs (p=0.01) and verification of hygiene proficiency (p=0.03) was observed. These results suggest that food control recognizes non-compliances that may predispose to foodborne diseases.

Factors affecting effectiveness of food control inspections in food production establishments in Finland.

Inspections are an important tool for food control. However, there is a lack of knowledge about how inspection history, interval between inspections, and pre-announcement of the inspection affect compliance with food safety legislation in food production establishments. We used register-based meat, fish, and dairy establishment food control inspection data (5550 inspections from 757 establishments) from Finland in 2016-2019 to study compliance in relation to these factors. Hypothesis was that there is an association between inspection grades and (1) inspection history, (2) interval, and (3) pre-announcement. Results indicate that minor non-compliances that do not impair food safety often precede future more severe non-compliances (5.3% non-compliance rate if full compliance at previous inspection compared to 16.8% non-compliance rate if minor non-compliances at previous inspection [Fisher's exact test, p < 0.0001]), and that longer inspection intervals are associated with a decrease in inspection grades (5.9% difference in inspection intervals for inspection with full compliance compared to inspections with severe non-compliances [Generalized estimating equations, p = 0.02]). In addition, pre-announcement of the inspection affects the inspection grades, severe non-compliances were 2.4 times more common at unannounced inspections compared to pre-announced inspections. To conclude, there is an association between inspection grades and inspection history, inspection interval, and inspection announcement.

Mothers' perceptions on and learning from infant and young child-feeding videos displayed in Mother and Child Health Centers in Kenya: a qualitative and quantitative approach.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to explore mothers' perceptions on educational videos on infant and young child-feeding practices, and to assess whether viewing frequencies would influence maternal knowledge, attitudes and feeding practices (KAP). DESIGN: A set of forty-seven videos were displayed in health centres for 6 months. At 3 months, we conducted focus group discussions (FGD) with mothers and, at 6 months, administered KAP-questionnaire-based interviews to mothers. Using a quasi-experimental design, we compared groups according to video viewing frequencies. SETTING: The study was conducted in a slum in Nairobi and a rural area in Machakos, Kenya. We installed TV screens in waiting rooms of six Mother and Child Health Centers, where mothers could choose to watch them. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-three mothers with children aged 0­48 months participated in six FGD and 547 mothers of children aged 0­23 months in KAP interviews. RESULTS: The mothers from the FGD found the videos acceptable and beneficial. Videos enhanced mothers' learning and empowered them to support others in learning. The KAP data showed that after adjustments, breast-feeding (P = 0·06), complementary feeding knowledge (P = 0·01), complementary feeding attitudes (P = 0·08) and hygiene knowledge and practices (P = 0·003) were better among mothers who had seen videos three to four times, or five or more times, compared with mothers who had seen the videos once or twice. CONCLUSIONS: Videos were an accepted form of education and were beneficial when watched repeatedly. The videos could be a good addition to current infant and young child-feeding education efforts in Kenya.

The effect of a raw vs dry diet on serum biochemical, hematologic, blood iron, B12 , and folate levels in Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

BACKGROUND: To date, very few studies have compared the effects of different types of feeding practices on canine physiology, such as feeding exclusively dry, raw, or homemade foods. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to report the changes in hematologic, serum biochemical, plasma folate, B12 , and whole blood iron levels in dogs fed two different diets. METHODS: A pilot study was developed to compare the effects of a heat-processed high carbohydrate (HPHC) and nonprocessed high-fat (NPHF) diet. A total of 33 client-owned Staffordshire Bull Terriers were used; 18 had canine atopic dermatitis, seven were healthy, and eight were grouped as "borderline" dogs since they did not fulfill at least six of Favrot's criteria. The comparisons were made between the diet groups at the end visit of the diet intervention, as well as within the diet groups during the study. RESULTS: Significant differences between and within the diet groups were observed, although the majority of outcomes remained within the RIs. The median time of diet intervention was 140 days. Red blood cell counts, mean cell hemoglobin concentrations, and platelet counts were significantly higher, and mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell volume, alkaline phosphatase, inorganic phosphorus, and cholesterol were significantly lower in the dogs fed the NPHF diet compared with those fed the HPHC diet after the diet trial was completed. In addition, folate, B12 , and iron decreased significantly in the NPHF diet group. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study indicated that diet had an impact on blood values, although most remained within RIs, pointing out the need for further studies.

A simple tool for diet evaluation in primary health care: validation of a 16-item food intake questionnaire.

Our aim was to validate a 16-item food intake questionnaire (16-FIQ) and create an easy to use method to estimate patients' nutrient intake in primary health care. Participants (52 men, 25 women) completed a 7-day food record and a 16-FIQ. Food and nutrient intakes were calculated and compared using Spearman correlation. Further, nutrient intakes were compared using kappa-statistics and exact and opposite agreement of intake tertiles. The results indicated that the 16-FIQ reliably categorized individuals according to their nutrient intakes. Methods to estimate nutrient intake based on the answers given in 16-FIQ were created. In linear regression models nutrient intake estimates from the food records were used as the dependent variables and sum variables derived from the 16-FIQ were used as the independent variables. Valid regression models were created for the energy proportion of fat, saturated fat, and sucrose and the amount of fibre (g), vitamin C (mg), iron (mg), and vitamin D (µg) intake. The 16-FIQ is a valid method for estimating nutrient intakes in group level. In addition, the 16-FIQ could be a useful tool to facilitate identification of people in need of dietary counselling and to monitor the effect of counselling in primary health care.