Dietary risk of donated food at an Australian food bank: an audit protocol.

BACKGROUND: Sufficient, safe and nutritious food is unattainable for many people experiencing severe food insecurity, putting them at dietary risk. Food banks, a growing part of the charitable food system (CFS), are the main source of food relief in developed countries. Donations of surplus, unsalable food from supermarkets, producers and manufacturers is the main source of the food supply, and this can be unpredictable, insufficient and inappropriate. The universal performance indicator of food-banking success is a weight-based measure, complemented by various initiatives to track the nutritional quality of food provided. There is currently no method that assesses the dietary risk of donated food related to nutrition and food safety. This protocol describes a method developed to identify and assess the dietary risk of donated food at an Australian food bank including the type, amount, nutrition quality, and food safety. METHODS: An audit of all food donated to a food bank servicing one Australian state was conducted over five consecutive days in May 2022. The audit process used a mobile device to take photographs of all incoming deliveries to the food bank. The images were manually annotated to document the type of food, product information (brand and product name, variety), the donor's name, weight (kilograms), and date-marking details. Data was extracted from the photographs and assessed against pre-determined dietary risk criterion for food safety (date marking, damaged packaging, visible food spoilage) and nutrition quality according to the principles of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, and the NOVA classification of level of processing. DISCUSSION: Fifteen hundred images were required to assess the dietary risk of 86,050 kg of donated food. There were 72 separate donations, largely from supermarkets and food manufacturers. Data analysis will enable identification of dietary risk, particularly for nutrition quality and food safety. This is important given the absence of food regulation for CFS donations, and the vulnerability of the client group. This protocol highlights the need for more transparency and accountability from food donors, about the food they donate.

Exploring the impacts of a fresh produce market program: a realist economic evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contexts under which a fresh food market program is cost-effective in improving dignified access to nutritious food for food-insecure individuals. METHODS: A realist economic evaluation was employed. Purported cost related theories about how the program may function, known as context-mechanism-outcome configurations were developed. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders (program developers, funder, local food relief agencies, volunteers) involved in the program (n=19) as well Photovoice with focus groups with market attendees (n=8) were conducted and coded for contexts, mechanisms and outcomes. A cost-effectiveness analysis of the program was calculated whereby the cost inputs associated with operating the program were compared to the quantity and value of produce distributed. Alternative cost scenarios were evaluated in a sensitivity analysis. The cost-effectiveness analysis was used together with qualitative data to refine theory. RESULTS: Food insecure individuals attending a partnership fresh food market with a small fee, experienced improved, yet infrequent access to nutritious food through community connections and support a more dignified, viable access to fresh nutritious food. CONCLUSIONS: Food relief should consider alternative models. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: More dignified food relief programs that support local connections may be part of the solution to addressing food insecurity.

A Food Relief Charter for South Australia-Towards a Shared Vision for Pathways Out of Food Insecurity.

Chronic food insecurity persists in high-income countries, leading to an entrenched need for food relief. In Australia, food relief services primarily focus on providing food to meet immediate need. To date, there has been few examples of a vision in the sector towards client outcomes and pathways out of food insecurity. In 2016, the South Australian Government commissioned research and community sector engagement to identify potential policy actions to address food insecurity. This article describes the process of developing a co-designed South Australian Food Relief Charter, through policy-research-practice collaboration, and reflects on the role of the Charter as both a policy tool and a declaration of a shared vision. Methods used to develop the Charter, and resulting guiding principles, are discussed. This article reflects on the intentions of the Charter and suggests how its guiding principles may be used to guide collective actions for system improvement. Whilst a Charter alone may be insufficient to create an integrated food relief system that goes beyond the provision of food, it is a useful first step in enabling a culture where the sector can have a unified voice to advocate for the prevention of food insecurity.

The Influence of Signals on Donation Crowdfunding Campaign Success during COVID-19 Crisis.

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic devasted public health agencies and the federal government across the world. Bridging the gap between underserved populations and the healthcare system, the donation-based crowdfunding campaign has opened a new way for suffering individuals and families to access broader social network platforms for financial and non-financial assistance. Despite the growing popularity of crowdfunding during the pandemic crisis, little research has explored the various signals that attract potential donors to donate. This study explores the effects of signaling theory on the success of a crowdfunding campaign for food relief launched in GoFundMe during which the United States was severely affected by the pandemic with a surged number of coronavirus infected cases from 1 March with 134 confirmed COVID-19 infected cases to 29 July with 4,295,308 infected cases according to World Health Organization. The following results show that the three different signal success measures are important to the success of crowdfunding campaigns: (1) signals originating from the campaign (Title, Description, Spelling Error, Location, and Picture); (2) signals originating from the fundraiser (Social Network, and Update); and (3) signals originating from the social interaction of the fundraiser with the crowd (Comment, Follower, and Share). These findings provide insight and bring additional knowledge contribution to the crowdfunding literature.

Comparação entre ingestão ideal de calorias mais alto teor de proteínas e ingestão calórico-proteica recomendada em pacientes críticos: um ensaio clínico fase II, prospectivo, randomizado e controlado / Optimized calorie and high protein intake versus recommended caloric-protein intake in critically ill patients: a prospective, randomized, controlled phase II clinical trial

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar as diferenças entre os desfechos da terapia nutricional com ingestão ideal de calorias mais alto teor proteico e do padrão de cuidados nutricionais em pacientes críticos adultos. Métodos: Randomizamos pacientes com previsão de permanecer na unidade de terapia intensiva por pelo menos 3 dias. No grupo com ingestão ideal de calorias mais alto teor proteico, a necessidade de ingestão calórica foi determinada por calorimetria indireta e a ingestão proteica foi estabelecida em níveis de 2,0 a 2,2g/kg/dia. O grupo controle recebeu calorias em nível de 25kcal/kg/dia e 1,4 a 1,5g/kg/dia de proteínas. O desfecho primário foi o escore do sumário do componente físico obtido aos 3 e 6 meses após a randomização. Os desfechos secundários incluíram força de preensão manual quando da alta da unidade de terapia intensiva, duração da ventilação mecânica e mortalidade hospitalar. Resultados: A análise incluiu 120 pacientes. Não houve diferença significante entre os dois grupos em termos de calorias recebidas. Contudo, a quantidade de proteínas recebidas pelo grupo com nível ideal de calorias mais alto teor de proteínas foi significantemente mais alta do que a recebida pelo grupo controle. O escore do sumário componente físico aos 3 e 6 meses após a randomização não diferiu entre ambos os grupos, assim como não diferiram os desfechos secundários. Entretanto, após ajuste para covariáveis, um delta proteico negativo (proteínas recebidas menos a necessidade proteica predeterminada) se associou com escore do sumário do componente físico mais baixo nas avaliações realizadas 3 e 6 meses após a randomização. Conclusão: Neste estudo, a estratégia com ingestão calórica ideal mais elevado teor proteico não pareceu melhorar a qualidade de vida física em comparação aos cuidados nutricionais padrão. Contudo, após ajuste para covariáveis, um delta proteico negativo se associou com escores do sumário do componente físico mais baixos nas avaliações realizadas aos 3 e aos 6 meses após a randomização. Esta associação ocorreu independentemente do método de cálculo do alvo proteico.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate differences in outcomes for an optimized calorie and high protein nutrition therapy versus standard nutrition care in critically ill adult patients. Methods: We randomized patients expected to stay in the intensive care unit for at least 3 days. In the optimized calorie and high protein nutrition group, caloric intake was determined by indirect calorimetry, and protein intake was established at 2.0 to 2.2g/kg/day. The control group received 25kcal/kg/day of calories and 1.4 to 1.5g/kg/day protein. The primary outcome was the physical component summary score obtained at 3 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included handgrip strength at intensive care unit discharge, duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital mortality. Results: In total, 120 patients were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference between the two groups in calories received. However, the amount of protein received by the optimized calorie and high protein nutrition group was significantly higher compared with the control group. The physical component summary score at 3 and 6 months did not differ between the two groups nor did secondary outcomes. However, after adjusting for covariates, a negative delta protein (protein received minus predetermined protein requirement) was associated with a lower physical component summary score at 3 and 6 months postrandomization. Conclusion: In this study optimized calorie and high protein strategy did not appear to improve physical quality of life compared with standard nutrition care. However, after adjusting for covariates, a negative delta protein was associated with a lower physical component summary score at 3 and 6 months postrandomization. This association exists independently of the method of calculation of protein target.

Understanding Customers: The Jobs to Be Done Theory Applied in the Context of a Rural Food Pantry.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity, and particularly rural food insecurity, has unique challenges associated with it. Understanding the customer or patron needs is increasingly important in resolving this national concern. The Jobs to Be Done Theory posits that when considering customers, it is beneficial to move past demographic profiling and focus on what the customer wants to accomplish by using a particular product or service. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study aimed to determine customers' jobs to be done at a rural food pantry. In addition, it seeks to demonstrate the application of contemporary management theory to dietetics practice. DESIGN: A case study approach was used in this study. Case study data collection procedures included six male and six female food pantry patrons in Montana completing in-depth, audio-recorded interviews and surveys. Each person's interview and survey were constructed into individual case descriptions; the case descriptions were analyzed using uniform categories determined by researchers. To identify themes in the holistic case, word tables were created for each uniform category and assessed for key themes representing patrons' experiences. RESULTS: The key themes that emerged were the customer in context, customers' food relief needs, connecting with customers, and barriers to utilization. CONCLUSIONS: The application of Jobs to Be Done Theory to rural food pantry customers demonstrates that demographic segmentation does not capture the social, emotional, and functional dimensions for this sample. Investigation of customer experiences, circumstances, and obstacles is important for improving dietetics services.

Representations by Caregivers, Teachers, and Children on Food, Nutrition, Health, and School Breakfast Contributions for the "ESNUT" Nutritional Stabilization Program / Representaciones de cuidadores, profesores y niños sobre alimentación, nutrición, salud y desayunos escolares / Representações de cuidadores, professores e crianças sobre alimentação, nutrição, saúde e café da manhã escolares

Objective.This work sought to determine the social representations conferred by caregivers, teachers, and children to food, health, and nutrition and the school breakfast program for children from three to seven years of age in the city of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, through identifying a) knowledge and practices and b) meanings attributed on health and nutrition of children from three to seven years of age and on the school breakfast program. Methods. This was a qualitative health study. The sample included 33 mothers, 3 grandmothers, 1 father, 30 children from 3 to 7 years of age, and 8 teachers who signed an informed consent. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview and treated through content analysis modality thematic analysis. Results. The analysis yielded the categories: knowledge on food, the health-feeding relation, customs and practices of the child's feeding, and meanings of the school breakfast program. Conclusion. On the reflection on the representations of the different players included in the school breakfast program, elements become manifest that would support an educational intervention by nursing, which would have to be based on the family as the central figure to provide good nutrition and teach good habits.

Objetivo.Determinar las representaciones sociales atribuidas por cuidadores, profesores y niños a la alimentación, salud y nutrición, así como al programa de desayunos escolares para niños de tres a siete años en la ciudad de San Luis Potosí, México, mediante la identificación de saberes y prácticas, por un lado, y de los significados atribuidos a la salud y nutrición de los niños de tres a siete años y al Programa de Desayunos Escolares, por otro. Métodos. Estudio cualitativo en salud. Muestra de 33 madres, 3 abuelas, 1 padre, 30 niños de 3 a 7 años y 8 profesores. Todos firmaron consentimiento informado. Los datos se recolectaron mediante una entrevista semi-estructurada y se trataron mediante análisis de contenido modalidad análisis temático. Resultados. Del análisis emergieron las categorías: saberes sobre alimentación, la relación salud-alimentación, costumbres y prácticas de la alimentación del niño y significados del programa de desayunos escolares. Conclusión. En la reflexión sobre las representaciones de los diferentes actores que se incluyen en el programa de desayunos escolares se ponen de manifiesto elementos que apoyarían una intervención educativa de enfermería que tendría que estar fundamentada en la familia como figura central para otorgar una alimentación adecuada -sana- y para enseñar buenos hábitos.

Objetivo.Determinar as representações sociais atribuídas por cuidadores, professores e crianças na alimentação, saúde e nutrição e programa de café da manhã escolares para crianças de três a sete anos na cidade de San Luis Potosí, México, através de: a) Identificar os saberes e práticas b) Significados atribuídos sobre saúde e nutrição das crianças de três a sete anos e sobre o Programa de Café da Manhã Escolares. Métodos. Estudo qualitativo em saúde. Amostra de 33 mães, 3 avós, 1 pai, 30 crianças de 3 a 7 anos e 8 professores que assinaram consentimento informado. Os dados se coletaram mediante uma entrevista semiestruturada e foram tratados mediante análise de conteúdo modalidade análise temático. Resultados. Da análise emergiram as categorias: saberes sobre alimentação, a relação saúde-alimentação, costumes e práticas da alimentação da criança e significados do programa de café da manhã escolares. Conclusão. Na reflexão sobre as representações dos diferentes atores que se incluíram no programa de café da manhã escolares se põem de manifesto elementos que apoiariam uma intervenção educativa de enfermagem que teria que estar fundamentada na família como figura central para outorgar a boa alimentação e para ensinar bons hábitos.

Still serving hot soup? Two hundred years of a charitable food sector in Australia: a narrative review.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the importance of the charitable food sector for a proportion of the Australian population, there is uncertainty about its present and future contributions to wellbeing. This paper describes its nature and examines its scope for improving health and food security. METHODS: The review, using systematic methods for public health research, identified peer-reviewed and grey literature relevant to Australian charitable food programs (2002 to 2012). RESULTS: Seventy publications met the criteria and informed this paper. The sector includes food banks, more than 3,000 community agencies and 800 school breakfast programs. It provides food for up to two million people annually. The scope extends beyond emergency food relief and includes case management, advocacy and other support. Weaknesses include a food supply that is sub-optimal, resource limitations and lack of evidence to evaluate or support their work towards food security. CONCLUSIONS: The sector supports people experiencing disadvantage and involves multiple organisations, working in a variety of settings, to provide food for up to 8% of the population. The limits on the sector's capacity to address food insecurity by itself must be acknowledged so that civil society, government and the food industry can support sufficient, nutritious and affordable food for all.

Seguridad alimentaria: un método alterno frente a uno clásico / Household food security: comparing an alternative method to a classical one

Objetivos Evaluar durante 2007-2008 el desempeño la Escala de Percepción de Seguridad Alimentaria (EPSA) frente a la inseguridad alimentaria (IA) determinada con base en la energía usualmente consumida. Métodos Participaron 211 hogares. El responsable de la preparación de los alimentos contestó la EPSA, otro integrante del hogar contestó dos veces un recordatorio del consumo de veinticuatro horas (R24H). El referente fue la IA por el R24H y la prueba la EPSA. Resultados La IA por el R24H fue del 48,8 por ciento, con la EPSA de 19,4 por ciento. La sensibilidad de la EPSA fue de 16,5 por ciento, la especificidad de 77,8 por ciento. El acuerdo según la Kappa fue de -0,06 (IC; -0,20 a -0,03). Conclusiones Bajo el supuesto de equivalencia de métodos, la EPSA subestima la inseguridad alimentaria en el hogar. Los resultados de la EPSA comparados con los del R24H no son coherentes.

Objective Establishing the performance of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) household food security scale (EPSA) which is being used in Latin-America and the Caribbean, compared to a traditionally-used method (food insecurity scale) which has led to establishing food security at individual and population level. The performance of the household food security scale (EPSA) was evaluated during 2007-2008 and compared to that of the food insecurity (FI) scale based on the energy usually consumed. Methods Two hundred and eleven household participated in the study. The person responsible for preparing food in the home answered the EPSA questionnaire. Another household member filled in a form recording the last twenty-four hours' household consumption (R24H) (on two different occasions). The study was validated by food insecurity from R24H and supposed food security from the EPSA questionnaire. Results Food insecurity by R24H was 48.8 percent and 19.4 percent on the EPSA. The EPSA had 16.5 percent sensitivity and 77.8 percent specificity. Agreement between both methods according to Cohen's Kappa was -0.06 (-0.20-0.03 CI). Conclusion Assuming equivalence of methods, the EPSA greatly underestimated household food insecurity. The EPSA results compared to those arising from the R24H were not very coherent. Some implications are discussed regarding related public policy.

Patrón alimentario y acceso a los alimentos en familias desplazadas en el municipio de Girón, Santander, Colombia / Dietary patterns and access to food among displaced families in the municipality of Girón, Santander, Colombia

OBJETIVO: Describir el patrón alimentario y la capacidad de acceso a los alimentos de las familias desplazadas por el conflicto armado en una localidad del departamento de Santander, Colombia. MÉTODOS: Estudio dietético descriptivo en 101 familias que vivían en condiciones de desplazamiento forzado en la zona urbana y suburbana del municipio de Girón, departamento de Santander, Colombia. Durante el segundo semestre de 2003, el responsable de preparar los alimentos contestó una encuesta sociodemográfica con preguntas sobre el gasto mensual en alimentos, el lugar y la frecuencia de compra, y un recordatorio del consumo de alimentos en las 24 horas previas. El patrón alimentario se estableció según la frecuencia del consumo de alimentos y preparaciones mediante modelos de regresión lineal con el gasto como variable dependiente. RESULTADOS: De las familias, 34,7 por ciento manifestaron no tener acceso a la compra de alimentos y 13,9 por ciento los recibía como obsequios. El gasto promedio en alimentos fue de 0,52 salarios mínimos vigentes (SMV). La única variable asociada con el gasto fue el número de miembros de la familia que trabajaban y aportaban al presupuesto familiar (P = 0,037); por cada miembro que trabajaba, el gasto aumentó en 0,07 unidades de SMV (intervalo de confianza de 95 por ciento: 0,004 a 0,149). No se encontró asociación entre el tiempo de desplazamiento y el gasto en alimentos. La calidad de la dieta fue deficiente, ya que no se cumplió la norma recomendada de consumo de frutas, verduras y productos lácteos. CONCLUSIONES: La inseguridad alimentaria abarcó a 95,0 por ciento de las familias estudiadas aún después de tres años de vivir en condiciones de desplazamiento. La calidad de la dieta era insatisfactoria. Las causas principales de esta situación eran los bajos ingresos familiares y el desconocimiento de alternativas nutricionales más ventajosas. Además de la ayuda alimentaria, los programas de atención a las familias...

OBJECTIVES: Describe the dietary patterns and extent of access to food among families displaced by armed conflict in a locality of the Santander department of Colombia. METHODS: A descriptive study of the food consumption of 101 families living in forced displacement in the urban and suburban areas of the municipality of Girón, Santander department, Colombia. During the second half of 2003, the person in charge of the family's food preparation completed a sociodemographic survey with questions on the monthly food expenditure, where the food was bought and with what frequency, and a log of food consumption during the preceding 24 hours. The dietary pattern was established according to the frequency of food consumption and preparation through a linear regression model that used the expenditure as a dependent variable. RESULTS: Of all the families, 34.7 percent reported not having access to food shopping and 13.9 percent received food donations. The average expenditure on food was 0.52 of the standard minimum wage. The only variable associated with expenditure was the number of family members working and contributing to the family budget (P = 0.037); for each working member, expenditure rose by increments of 0.07 of the minimum wage (95 percent confidence interval: 0.004- 0.149). No association was found between the length of time of the displacement and the food expenditure. The overall quality of the diet was deficient given that the recommended allowances of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products were not being met. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity encompassed 95.0 percent of the study families, even though they had been living as refugees for three years. The diet quality was substandard. The principal causes were low household income and a lack of knowledge regarding how to choose nutritionally superior foods. In addition to food donations, relief programs caring for displaced families should provide practical and educational training on...