Food Safety Authority of Ireland

This qualitative study explored the changes in Irish domestic adoption since 1952, from the perspective of 14 professionals/voluntary activists who worked in the field. Its main objective was to capture individual experiences of how adoption was facilitated, how it worked in practice, how decisions were made, and how it changed. Thematic analysis resulted in three themes: the all-pervading, persistent culture of secrecy, the power of holding adoption-related information, and the use of personal agency to effect change. The findings indicate that measures must be put in place to safeguard the continued development and progress of Irish domestic adoption.

Abstract My journey into camel science began in September 1990 when I joined a field mission to eastern Sudan to investigate an outbreak of a skin disease in camels. I worked in a French Sudanese Camel Research Project and studied the husbandry and production parameters of camels in the Butana area of eastern Sudan. I was awarded a research grant from the International Foundation for Science (IFS) to fund my Ph.D. research on pox and pox-like diseases in camels. Later in my post-doctoral training,with Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship in Germany from 2001 to 2003 under the guidance of Professor Matthias Buetner, I learnt molecular techniques. In January 2010, I accepted a new position in ACSAD in Syria. This role expanded my expertise in the field of camel development, including production and marketing in Sudan, Algeria, and Morocco. Later, I joined King Faisal University (KFU) in Saudi Arabia in July 2012 and established a research laboratory at the Camel Research Centre that focused on using advanced molecular techniques to diagnose and differentiate camel diseases. Our research aimed to develop multiplex PCR for rapid disease diagnosis, detect MERS-CoV, phylogenetic analysis of camel contagious ecthyma virus, and identify pathogens associated with reproductive health issues in both male and female camels. In July 2016, I moved to the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), where I established a virology laboratory with a BSL-3 facility and implemented specialised diagnostic tests for camels. One of my significant accomplishments at ADAFSA was leading capacity-building and research activities that led to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) designating our veterinary laboratories as a Collaborating Centre for Quality Management in Veterinary Laboratories in 2020 and as a collaborating centre for camel diseases in 2021. Our center’s mission remained to monitor emerging infectious diseases affecting camel health and their zoonotic potential throughout camel-raising countries. The culmination of my decades of work is showcased in the 2021 book-Infectious Diseases of Dromedary Camels, which I co-authored with the late Professor Mansour Hussein. My journey exemplifies how a scholar’s work can expand in scope while deepening in scientific merit, ultimately leaving a lasting legacy in the field of camel science. International leadership I have taken on a prominent leadership role in international scientific Organisations, utilising my extensive expertise to influence global policy and advance research in veterinary medicine. My contributions span some key Organisations, with a particular focus on animal health, disease control, and the study of camelids. I have demonstrated my leadership skills by progressing to a key position within the PPR Global Research and Expertise Network (PPR-GREN), a collaborative initiative of the FAO and WOAH, and I was first elected as a bureau member in 2021. I served as Secretary-General of ISOCARD from 2009 to 2012 and later as Chairman from 2012 to 2015, during which I played a crucial role in advancing the scientific understanding of camelids.

BackgroundIn March 2022, an outbreak investigation was initiated in Ireland after identifying a cluster of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium cases, affecting primarily small children. Microbiological investigations revealed that the cluster was part of a wider international outbreak.MethodsA total of 18 Irish outbreak cases were identified. We undertook a matched case–control study using the case–case method to determine if exposure to the implicated products was associated with illness.ResultsIn univariable analysis, the highest odds of disease due to monophasic S. Typhimurium versus other gastrointestinal disease were obtained for a chocolate Product A of Brand A [matched odds ratio (mOR) = 7.77, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.89–67.20]. When grouping the implicated products in a composite variable, the odds of disease due to monophasic S. Typhimurium versus other gastrointestinal disease were 10.5 times higher with a consumption of at least one of the implicated products [mOR = 10.50, 95% CI: 1.24–88.60, p = 0.031].ConclusionThis analytical study supported the internationally generated hypothesis which led to the implementation of control measures. Owing to the high levels of chocolate purchasing with Easter approaching, early outbreak identification and involvement in the internationally coordinated investigation was essential to an efficient response and to minimise the risk of further harm to a particularly vulnerable population group.

Poor diet is responsible for a quarter of European non-communicable disease (NCD)-related deaths. The reformulation of sugar, salt, and saturated fat in processed packaged foods offers an opportunity to reduce consumption of nutrients of concern and also support a reduction in energy intake. To date, there have been no publications measuring progress in food reformulation by compiling published evidence for a food category. The aim of this scoping review was to identify, characterize and summarise the findings of studies analysing the reformulation of processed yogurt and breakfast cereals. The review answered the research question: “What is the impact of food reformulation on the nutrient quality of yogurt and breakfast cereals available in the retail environment?” The research protocol was defined based on PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases were searched in May 2022. Thirteen studies, published between 2010 and 2021 and completed across seven countries were eligible for inclusion. There were sufficient eligible studies to identify trends in sodium, salt, and sugar reduction in breakfast cereals. However, there was minimal or no reduction in energy, which may bring into question the use of food reformulation as part of an overall health strategy for obesity reduction.

Although it is a topic of global concern, climate change implementation is typically regional. Finding an adequate Vector Autoregression (VAR) model to predict temperature, rainfall, and cloud coverage for the Jessore region of Bangladesh was the goal of this research project. The stationarity of variables was determined by ADF, PP, and KPSS unit root tests. Granger causality test was used to verify the endogenity among the variables. Employing AIC, VAR (11) model found best. The parameters associated with the model were estimated using the ordinary least square approach. Forecast error variance decomposition and impulse response function were utilized to reveal structural analysis, and the outcome revealed endogenous in the future. The predicted value showed a trend toward increasing temperature and a trend toward decreasing rainfall and cloud coverage.

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Background: This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the management of obesity in adults in Ireland, adapted from the Canadian CPG, defines obesity as a complex chronic disease characterised by excess or dysfunctional adiposity that impairs health. The guideline reflects substantial advances in the understanding of the determinants, pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment of obesity. Summary: It shifts the focus of obesity management toward improving patient-centred health outcomes, functional outcomes, and social and economic participation, rather than weight loss alone. It gives recommendations for care that are underpinned by evidence-based principles of chronic disease management; validate patients’ lived experiences; move beyond simplistic approaches of “eat less, move more” and address the root drivers of obesity. Key Messages: People living with obesity face substantial bias and stigma, which contribute to increased morbidity and mortality independent of body weight. Education is needed for all healthcare professionals in Ireland to address the gap in skills, increase knowledge of evidence-based practice, and eliminate bias and stigma in healthcare settings. We call for people living with obesity in Ireland to have access to evidence-informed care, including medical, medical nutrition therapy, physical activity and physical rehabilitation interventions, psychological interventions, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery. This can be best achieved by resourcing and fully implementing the Model of Care for the Management of Adult Overweight and Obesity. To address health inequalities, we also call for the inclusion of obesity in the Structured Chronic Disease Management Programme and for pharmacotherapy reimbursement, to ensure equal access to treatment based on health-need rather than ability to pay.

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