Hygienic status of beef butcher shop facilities and antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella enterica in Ethiopia.

The microbiological quality of meat is influenced by the conditions of hygiene prevailing during production and handling. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of Salmonella enterica and its antimicrobial resistance, load of hygiene indicator bacteria including E. coli (ECC), coliforms (CC), total coliform (TCC), Enterobacteriaceae (EB) and aerobic plate count (APC), and meat handler's food safety knowledge and hygiene practices in butcher shops in two cities, Addis Ababa and Hawassa in Ethiopia, during 2020 and 2021. A total of 360 samples of beef carcasses (n = 120), knives (n = 60), chopping boards (n = 60), weighing balance (n = 60), and personnel's hands (n = 60) were randomly collected for microbial analysis. Besides, 120 participants were selected to participate in a food safety knowledge and hygiene practices assessment. The S. enterica isolates were identified by agglutination test followed by qPCR targeting invA gene. Phenotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles of S. enterica were determined using disk diffusion assays as described in CLSI. The ECC, CC, TCC, EB, and APC populations were quantified by plating onto petrifilm plates. A structured questionnaire was used to determine food safety knowledge and hygiene practices of participants. Overall prevalence of S. enterica was 16.7% (95% CI, 8.3-26.7) and location seems to have no effect (p = 0.806). Only 20% of the S. enterica were resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline. However, the majority (80%) of S. enterica isolates were susceptible to the panel of 11 antimicrobials tested. The overall mean ± SD (log CFU/cm2) of ECC, CC, TCC, EB, and APC were 4.31 ± 1.15; 4.61 ± 1.33; 4.77 ± 1.32; 4.59 ± 1.38 and 5.87 ± 1.52, respectively. No significant difference (p = 0.123) in E. coli contamination was observed between samples of beef carcasses and chopping boards. The EB contamination showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) among sample sources. The APC contamination levels on beef carcass were significantly higher (p > 0.05) than other sample sources. A total of 56% (95% CI: 46.7 - 65.0) of the participants had poor knowledge and 65% (95% CI: 56.7 - 73.3) had poor hygiene practices towards food safety. This study highlighted the poor hygiene status of butcher facilities with a potential risk of beef safety. Thus, appropriate food safety control strategies and inspection is needed at retail establishments.

Hand Washing Practice and Food Insecurity are Associated With Undernutrition of Breastfeeding Mothers in Rural Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Breastfeeding mothers are prone to undernutrition. However, factors contributing to maternal undernutrition are not exhaustively understood. Hence, this study aimed to determine prevalence of undernutrition among breastfeeding mothers and identify associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 606 breastfeeding mothers from selected rural districts in Oromia and Sidama regional states of Ethiopia. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with maternal undernutrition. Results: One out of ten breastfeeding mothers was found undernourished as determined by BMI (12.6%) and MUAC (10.7%). Mothers who did not practice hand washing after cleaning children's bottom were 2 and 3 times more likely to be undernourished compared to their counters, as measured by BMI (AOR = 2.29, P = .002) and MUAC (AOR = 3.03, P < .001), respectively. Mothers living in mildly or moderately food insecure households (AOR = 2.37, P = .019) were more than two times more likely to be undernourished as determined by MUAC. Mothers who breastfed children in the age range of 9 to 11 (AOR = 2.79, P = .025) or 12 to 23 (AOR = 2.57, P = .018) months were more than two and half times more likely to be undernourished as determined by BMI. Conclusions: Maternal undernutrition is a medium-level public health problem in rural districts of Oromia and Sidama regional states in Ethiopia. The lack of hand washing practice after cleaning a child's bottom, household food insecurity and higher child age increased the odds of maternal undernutrition. Mothers should prioritize and improve their nutritional care as the age of their breastfed child increases. Nutrition programs in rural districts of Ethiopia should also aim to improve personal hygiene practices and food insecurity integrated with implementation researches to evaluate program's impact on nutritional status of breastfeeding mothers.

Aflatoxin B1 Detoxification Potentials of Garlic, Ginger, Cardamom, Black Cumin, and Sautéing in Ground Spice Mix Red Pepper Products.

The uses of natural plant origin bioactive compounds are emerging as a promising strategy to detoxify aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). This study aimed to explore the potential of cooking, phytochemicals content, and antioxidant activities derived from garlic, ginger, cardamom, and black cumin to detoxify AFB1 on spice mix red pepper powder (berbere) and sauté. The effectiveness of the samples was analyzed for AFB1 detoxification potential through standard methods for the examination of food and food additives. These major spices showed an AFB1 level below the detection limit. After cooking in hot water for 7 min at 85 ℃, the experimental and commercial spice mix red pepper showed the maximum AFB1 detoxification (62.13% and 65.95%, respectively). Thus, mixing major spices to produce a spice mix red pepper powder had a positive effect on AFB1 detoxification in raw and cooked spice mix red pepper samples. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, and ferrous ion chelating activity revealed good positive correlation with AFB1 detoxification at p < 0.05. The findings of this study could contribute to mitigation plans of AFB1 in spice-processing enterprises. Further study is required on the mechanism of AFB1 detoxification and safety of the detoxified products.

Investigation on Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and coliforms in beef from Ethiopian abattoirs: A potential risk of meat safety.

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) antimicrobial resistance based upon phenotypic assessment, and level of sanitation indicator organisms from 150 beef carcasses collected from three representative abattoirs in eastern, central, and southern Ethiopia. Samples were screened for S. enterica prevalence following the U.S. Department of Agriculture Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (MLG) and confirmed by real-time PCR. The S. enterica isolates were phenotypically evaluated for susceptibility to a panel of 13 antimicrobials using disk diffusion method as described in Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institutes guidelines. In addition, the coliform, total coliform, and generic E. coli populations were quantified by plating onto E. coli/coliform petrifilms. A total of 45 isolates of S. enterica were confirmed using real-time PCR. The overall prevalence of S. enterica at the carcass level was 22.7% (95% CI, 16.0-30.0). However, based on the sampling points, S. enterica prevalence detected on hides was 13.3% (95% CI, 8.0-18.7), pre-evisceration was 12.0% (95% CI, 7.3-17.3), and post-evisceration was 4.7% (95% CI, 1.3-8.0). The prevalence of S. enterica was significantly lower on post-evisceration as compared to hides (p = .009) and pre-evisceration (p = .022). No differences were detected for the prevalence of S. enterica between abattoirs (p = .346). Finally, the prevalence of S. enterica was highest during the wet season (p = .011). The overall mean log CFU/cm2 ± SD of generic E. coli, coliform, and total coliform counts were 4.55 ± 0.99, 4.91 ± 1.13, and 4.98 ± 1.09, respectively. About 20% of S. enterica exhibited phenotypic multidrug resistant. The most frequently detected resistance was to Tetracycline (28.9%), followed by Streptomycin (22.2%) and Sulfisoxazole (20.0%). The data from this study highlight the need to implement interventions on improvement of sanitary practices in abattoirs.

Determinants and constraints to household-level animal source food consumption in rural communities of Ethiopia.

Animal source foods (ASF) contain quality nutrients important for growth, development, immunity and behavioural outcomes. Plant-based foods also provide the nutrients, but with lower bioavailability than ASF. Evidence on household-level ASF consumption frequency, constraints and determinants are limited for Ethiopia. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the consumption frequency of ASF and to identify determinants and constraints among rural households in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 422 households. The consumption frequency of ASF was assessed using a food frequency screener over 30 days. Twelve statements with Likert scale responses were used to identify constraints to ASF consumption. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify determinants of ASF consumption. About a quarter (26 %) of the households consumed milk one to two times per week. One out of five households consumed eggs one to two times per week (20 %) or one to two times per month (19 %). Poultry and meat were never consumed by 92 and 60 % of the households, respectively. Unavailability, unaffordability, consumption tradition and income generation priority were constraints identified. Food insecurity, livestock ownership, income, family size and women's education were associated (P < 0⋅05) with selected ASF consumption. Rural households in Ethiopia did not consume ASF on regular basis. Poor socio-demographic and economic conditions as determined by food insecurity, property ownership, income, educational achievement, family size and ASF unavailability and unaffordability contributed to the lower consumption frequency of ASF by households in rural Ethiopia. Nutrition policies and programmes should focus on nutrition-sensitive agricultural extension, livelihood improvement and women empowerment interventions integrated with nutrition education to improve ASF consumption in rural settings.

Structural profile of soluble and bound phenolic compounds in teff (Eragrostis tef) reveals abundance of distinctly different flavones in white and brown varieties.

Reliable data on polyphenol in teff, an increasingly important food crop, is currently lacking. This study investigated the structural and quantitative profile of soluble and bound polyphenols in white and brown teff grown in Ethiopia and USA using LC-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry. Thirty-four phenolic compounds (32 newly identified in teff), mostly flavones and phenolic acid derivatives, were characterized. Unusually high levels of flavones were present in both white (1398-2049 µg/g), and brown (1720-1847 µg/g) teff soluble fractions. Interestingly, white teff exclusively contained apigenin derivatives, whereas brown teff contained mainly luteolin derivatives, mostly di-C-linked-glycosides. Additionally, non-extractable procyanidins (condensed tannins) were detected in brown teff only. Phenolic acids (600-728 µg/g) were mostly present in bound fractions, dominated by ferulic acid. Polyphenol profiles of Ethiopian and USA grown grains were similar. The high levels of the relatively rare flavones in teff may have important implications in chronic disease prevention.

Nutrition education and introduction of broad bean-based complementary food improves knowledge and dietary practices of caregivers and nutritional status of their young children in Hula, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Nutritious complementary foods are needed in countries where undernutrition and stunting are major problems, but mothers may be reluctant to change from traditional gruels. OBJECTIVE: To test whether a recipe-based complementary feeding education intervention would improve knowledge and practice of mothers with young children in Hula, Ethiopia. METHODS: A baseline survey of 200 eligible, randomly selected mother-child pairs gathered data on sociodemographic characteristics, food security status, knowledge and practices concerning complementary feeding, food group intakes of children aged 6 to 23 months by 24-hour recalls, and children's anthropometric measurements. Twice a month for 6 months, women in the intervention group received an education session consisting of eight specific messages using Alive and Thrive posters and a demonstration and tasting of a local barley and maize porridge recipe containing 30% broad beans. The control group lived in a different area and had no intervention. RESULTS: At 6 months, knowledge and practice scores regarding complementary feeding were significantly improved (p < .001) in the intervention group but not in the control group. The intervention resulted in improvement of children's dietary diversity, as well as mean intake of energy and selected nutrients, compared with children in the control group. Changes in height and weight did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based nutrition education over 6 months that included demonstration of a local porridge recipe with broad beans added improved the complementary feeding practices of caregivers and the nutritional status of their young children.