Nestlé (India)

The field experiments were conducted at the agriculture farm of BFIT Crop Research Centre, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, during 2021–22 on the title- “Analysis of the consequences of a mixture of micronutrients on the parameters associated with wheat growth and yield”. A RBD (Randomized Block Design) of plot with eight treatments and three replications was used in this study. The experimental treatments included: T1 - Control (without fertilizer or any other growth activity), T2 - RDF (NPK) only, T3 - RDF (NPK) + Local Formulation(LF) Grade V 10kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) only, T4 - RDF (NPK) + Local Formulation (LF) GradeV 10kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) + 0.25% FS of micronutrient mixture @ tillering stage only,T5 - RDF(NPK) + Local Formulation (LF) Grade V 15kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) only,T6 - RDF(NPK) + Local Formulation (LF) Grade V 15kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) + 0.25 % FS @ tillering stages only, T7 - RDF (NPK) + Local Formulation(LF) GradeV 25kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) only, T8 - RDF (NPK) + Local Formulation (LF) Grade V 25kg/ha mixture of micronutrient 0.25% Foliar Spray (FS) of micronutrient mixture @ tillering stage only. Significant 0.5% increases in spike length, spikelets/spike, spike/m2, number of tillers/m2, number of grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain, straw, and biological yields (ton)/fed were noted in the study's results. Additionally, the harvest index was found to be significantly higher in T8 only. The highest grain yield was achieved by T8 while lower yield of growth attributes / parameters was found in the control plot.

Additives, such as bisphenol A (BPA) that are added to packaging material to enhance functionality may migrate into food products creating a concern for food safety. BPA has been linked to various chronic diseases, such as: diabetes, obesity, prostate cancer, impaired thyroid function, and several other metabolic disorders. To safeguard consumers, BPA migration limits have been defined by regulatory bodies. However, it is important to address the underlying factors and mechanisms so that they can be optimized in order to minimize BPA migration. In this review, we determine the relative importance of the factors, i.e. temperature, contact time, pH, food composition, storage time and temperature, package type, cleaning, and aging, and packaging damage that promote BPA migration in foods. Packaging material seems to be the key source of BPA and the temperature (applied during food production, storage, can sterilization and cleaning processes) was the critical driver influencing BPA migration.

BACKGROUND Malnutrition results in the most visible form of undernutrition, ultimately leading to Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Globally, undernutrition is observed as a significant contributor to the global burden of disease and a leading cause of child mortality. AIM To assess the epidemiological determinants of SAM among children visiting Out-Patient Therapeutic Centers (OTCs) and Nutrition Rehabilitation Homes/centers (NRH) in Lumbini Province, Nepal. METHODS A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in randomly selected OTCs and NRHs. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among mothers of children visiting the facilities using structured questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements of children were done using standardized equipment. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the socio-demographic information of the participants whereas, inferential statistics were applied to test the significance of the association between independent and dependent variables. RESULTS Socio-demographic characteristics showed that 53.2% participants were male, 55.8% resided in rural municipalities with two-thirds being from _Madhesi/terai _ethnic background. Children of age group 6-11 months, and 12-23 months were found to have lower odds of SAM with aORs 0.21[95% CI: (0.09-0.52)] and aORs 0.20[95% CI: (0.10-0.45)] respectively whereas mother’s age at childbirth had higher odds of SAM with aOR 2.77[95% CI: (1.33-5.77)]. CONCLUSION The facility-based SAM prevalence of Lumbini Province was 34.9% whereby the child’s age and mother’s age at childbirth were observed as significant predictors of SAM. Implementing school and community-based training programs on behavior change communication regarding the need for proper nutrition pre and post-maternity and its outcome, could possibly be vital in reducing malnutrition as a whole.

Abstract Cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) are formulated by mixing palm mid fraction (PMF) with silica‐treated hard stearin fractions produced via enzymatic acidolysis of high oleic sunflower oil with various mixtures of stearic and palmitic acids. The CBE blends always contain ≈30% 1,3‐distearoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycerol, but vary in 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycerol (POP; 40–45%) and rac‐1‐palmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐3‐stearoyl glycerol (POSt; 10‐16%) content. Overall symmetric disaturated monounsaturated (Sat‐O‐Sat) levels range from 81–86%. The effects of varying POP/POSt content on the non‐isothermal and isothermal crystallization (at 20 °C) of the CBEs are then studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), stop and return DSC, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and compared with CB. Four polymorphs (I/sub‐α, II/α, IV/β′, and V/β) are identified which appear at different stages. The addition of PMF (raising POP levels) slows crystallization rates compared to the original stearins, but higher levels of POP also produce a small amount of V/β in under 4 h at 20 °C via apparent transformation from II/α. This does not occur with (high POSt) CB samples. However, after storage at 20 °C for 7 days, CB demonstrates greater transformation to V/β (from IV/β′) as confirmed via XRD. Solid fat contents of CBE blends are higher than CB due to higher Sat‐O‐Sat levels.Practical applications: The paper demonstrates a new route for formulating CBEs. The relative proportions of StOSt, POSt and POP in the formulation can be controlled by changing the proportions of palmitic and stearic acid used in the enzymatic acidolysis and the blend ratio with the PMF. This can then be used to fine‐tune the crystallization behavior.

Introduction:Iron deficiency anemia represents 3rd largest disease burden, with an estimated 6.9 billion disability-adjusted life years. Iron-fortified cereals (IFIC) can contribute substantially in preventing iron deficiency anemia and maintaining an adequate body iron status. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of IFIC intake along with other complementary food/s on the hemoglobin (hb) level of children from 12 to 24 months of age.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2015 to February 2016 in three pediatric outpatient clinics of New Delhi, India. A predesigned questionnaire was used to elicit information on socio-demography, complementary feeding, and intake of IFIC from 66 mother and child pairs. Child's anthropometric measurement and hb levels were recorded by the pediatrician. Chi-square and Student's t-tests were used to compare the key study variables between IFIC (minimum 1–2 serving/day) and non-IFIC groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the independent correlates of anemia in the study groups.Results:Out of 66 children, 60.6% (n = 40) of children were boys. The prevalence of anemia (hb% <11 g/dl) was 42.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 30.5%–55.2%, n = 28). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the children in IFIC group were unlikely to be anemic (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.007, 95% CI: 0.001–0.079, P < 0.001). On the contrary, boys (adjusted OR: 11.6, 95% CI: 1.23–108.9, P = 0.032) and children with low birth weight (adjusted OR: 11.7, 95% CI: 1.23–111.76, P = 0.032) were associated with anemic status.Conclusion:Intake of IFIC (minimum 1–2 serving/day) was associated with the lesser chance of anemia in children of 12–24 months. However, gender and low birth weight were also associated with anemia. IFIC may have a role in mass fortification programs. However, further larger and controlled studies are recommended to test this hypothesis.