Fusta Azupogo, Nadia Koyratty, Taryn J Smith, Guy-Marino Hinnouho, Manisha Tharaney, Lilia Bliznashka, Dorcas A Amunga, Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Eva Goyena, Frederick Grant, Joyce Kinabo, Irene Medeme Mitchodigni, Renuka Silva, Hasara Sitisekara, Deanna K Olney, Sonja Y Hess
{"title":"Interventions on Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Knowledge Gaps.","authors":"Fusta Azupogo, Nadia Koyratty, Taryn J Smith, Guy-Marino Hinnouho, Manisha Tharaney, Lilia Bliznashka, Dorcas A Amunga, Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Eva Goyena, Frederick Grant, Joyce Kinabo, Irene Medeme Mitchodigni, Renuka Silva, Hasara Sitisekara, Deanna K Olney, Sonja Y Hess","doi":"10.1177/03795721251314141","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03795721251314141","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundAdequate fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is important for health, yet populations globally are failing to meet recommendations.ObjectiveA scoping review to summarize available evidence of evaluations of interventions to increase F&V intake globally, focusing on target populations, intervention strategies, research methods, and summarizing their evaluated impacts.MethodsWe searched PubMed and Web of Science in February 2023 for intervention studies in which dietary intake of fruit and/or vegetables were documented. Eligible studies included all age groups, excluding those targeting populations with specific disease-related conditions, such as cancer patients/survivors. Only articles published in English since 2012 were included in the review.ResultsWe identified 6338 articles, with 226 meeting inclusion criteria, comprising 223 unique studies and 284 intervention comparisons. Most comparisons occurred in high-income countries (<i>n</i> = 192) compared to low- and middle-income countries (<i>n</i> = 92). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs; 37.3%) and cluster RCTs (52.5%) were predominant. Interventions primarily targeted adults (31.7%), school-aged children (18.0%), children under-five (14.4%), and adolescents (13.7%), lasting an average of 24 weeks (range: 2 weeks to 20 years). Food-frequency questionnaires (59.2%) and 24-h recalls (26.8%) were the most used dietary assessment method. Health and nutrition education (75.9%) was the most common intervention, utilizing interpersonal communication, mass media, and information-communication technology, often in combinations. Positive impacts on fruit (43.9%), vegetable (40.2%), and combined F&V intake (53.0%) were observed in nearly half the intervention comparisons.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the predominance of health and nutrition education interventions, predominantly in high-income countries, showing mixed success in improving F&V intake, emphasizing the need for context-specific strategies and standardized methodologies to design sustainable, cost-effective interventions for better diet quality and health outcomes. Plain language titleA literature review assessing what we know and do not know about efforts to improve fruit and vegetable intake across the world.</p>","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"3795721251314141"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143540701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Government Policies on Infant and Young Child Feeding and Food Fortification in Benin.","authors":"Reynald Santos, Charles Sossa Jerome, Colette Azandjeme, Carmelle Mizehoun-Adissoda, Clémence Metonnou","doi":"10.1177/03795721241302867","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03795721241302867","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundTo prevent micronutrient deficiencies and address the double burden of malnutrition, Benin has implemented Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and food fortification policies for several years. Despite these efforts, significant micronutrient deficiencies persist, posing a public health problem.ObjectiveThis study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of government policies on IYCF and food fortification in Benin.MethodsWe conducted in-depth individual interviews with 23 key national and local stakeholders involved in implementing these policies. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through a deductive and iterative process based on the study's objective.ResultsStakeholders identified several barriers to policy implementation, including low staff motivation, exacerbated by poor personnel management and lack of recognition. Financial resources are insufficient despite organizational support. Training and awareness among health workers and producers are limited outside UNICEF's intervention areas. Traditional eating habits and cultural resistance impede the adoption of new practices. The monitoring system is complex and ill-equipped, hindering quality control of fortified foods. Facilitators include strong political commitment, partnerships with international nongovernmental organizations, and effective intersectoral collaboration. These partnerships have improved training and community awareness, though gaps remain. The involvement of local producers and professional associations also supports food fortification initiatives.ConclusionNutrition policies in Benin face challenges such as low staff motivation and lack of resources. However, strong political commitment and international partnerships present opportunities to overcome these barriers.Plain language titleStudy of Challenges and Solutions to Improve Food Policies for Babies and Children in Benin.</p>","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"39-50"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142817635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Linear Programming Optimization of Local Food-Based Recommendations for Undernourished Urban Poor Malaysian Children Aged 2 to 5 Years.","authors":"Yee Xuen Miow, Wan Ying Gan, Umi Fahmida, Poh Ying Lim, Geeta Appannah","doi":"10.1177/03795721241302864","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03795721241302864","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundPoor diet quality may contribute to undernutrition, particularly affecting young children from low-income households. Therefore, affordable and healthy local food-based recommendations (FBRs) are needed.ObjectivesThis study aimed to (1) identify problem nutrient(s), (2) identify locally available nutrient-dense food sources that can provide adequate nutrients to meet the recommended dietary intakes of undernourished urban poor children aged 2-5 years, and (3) use linear programming to recommend a daily diet based on the current food patterns that achieves dietary adequacy and meets average food costs for these children.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Seremban, Malaysia. Three-day 24-hour dietary recalls were collected from the mothers (n = 168). Food costs were estimated using market surveys. The FBRs were formulated by linear programming analysis using Optifood software.ResultsFolate was an \"absolute problem nutrient\" (such a nutrient does not achieve the 100% recommended nutrient intake even upon diet optimization). Full-cream milk, chocolate malted milk, fortified cornflakes, and chicken egg were the common locally available nutrient-dense foods that would provide adequate nutrients to meet the recommended dietary intakes of undernourished urban poor children. The final FBR set would ensure dietary adequacy for 8 to 9 of 11 nutrients at a cost of ringgit Malaysia (RM) 4.80/day (US $1.05/day) and RM6.20/day (US $1.34/day), depending on the age group.ConclusionsInterventions are required to ensure dietary adequacy for undernourished urban poor children under 5 years old. Dietary adequacy could be improved via realistic changes in habitual food consumption practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"3-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143002931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reviewers List 2024.","authors":"","doi":"10.1177/03795721251319873","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03795721251319873","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":"46 1","pages":"63"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143624035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yajun Wang, Shilin Luan, Sajid Ali, Raima Nazar, Muhammad Khalid Anser
{"title":"The Puzzle of Food Inflation: Exploring the Asymmetric Nexus Between Economic Policy Uncertainty and Food Prices in the Expanded BRICS Countries.","authors":"Yajun Wang, Shilin Luan, Sajid Ali, Raima Nazar, Muhammad Khalid Anser","doi":"10.1177/03795721241301190","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03795721241301190","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fluctuations in economic policy often create ripple effects that can significantly impact commodity prices, including those of essential food items, with potential consequences for food security. The 5 emerging nations outlined as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) have most recently extended by including 4 new members (Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE) on January 1, 2024. Additionally, Argentina and Saudi Arabia are anticipated to join the group soon. This enlargement will alter the geopolitical scenario, potentially fostering fresh collaboration and competition dynamics. This expansion will reshape the geopolitical landscape, possibly leading to new cooperation and competition dynamics. The core objective of the present work is to measure how economic policy uncertainty asymmetrically influences food prices in the expanded BRICS countries. Previous investigations have primarily relied on panel data methods, often overlooking heterogeneities in the policy uncertainty-food prices nexus across different countries. Conversely, this research applies the Quantile-on-Quantile method, which permits a more exact examination, providing a thorough worldwide overview and specific insights tailored to each country. The results indicate a significant increase in food prices due to economic policy uncertainty throughout different quantile ranges in the chosen economies. These outcomes accentuate the essentiality for policymakers to execute all-inclusive appraisals and effectively manage approaches connected to economic policy uncertainty and food inflation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"51-62"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142970304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Process Evaluation Revealed That Flexibility Was Key to Delivering Nutrition Education to Vulnerable Tribal Groups in India.","authors":"Jonathan Mockshell, Thea Ritter, James Garrett","doi":"10.1177/03795721241312275","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03795721241312275","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundThis study is a process evaluation of a nutrition education intervention that is part of a large-scale development program targeting vulnerable tribal groups in Odisha, India.ObjectiveThe objectives are to examine whether the intervention is operating as planned (implementation fidelity), investigate potential pathways to achieve greater impact, and provide recommendations on how to design nutrition education interventions in similar contexts.MethodsA program impact pathway forms the basis of this process evaluation, tracing inputs, processes, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. The study's mixed-methods approach includes semistructured interviews, focus group discussions, and Process Net-Mapping. Narrative analysis was applied to examine the transcripts. Data were analyzed in the context of the program impact pathway.ResultsThe intervention was not delivered as intended (low implementation fidelity). Flexibility was key in providing nutrition education to beneficiaries despite challenges, such as the inability to utilize behavior change communication, inadequate funding, and language and cultural barriers. Despite low fidelity, the qualitative results show that the intervention improved awareness of nutrition and health among beneficiaries.ConclusionsProviding adequate resources for training frontline workers and beneficiaries is required for nutrition education programs to achieve their desired effectiveness and impact. Utilizing existing organizations, integration into production-based interventions, and incorporating easy-to-understand nutrition models, practical demonstrations, and videos would increase frontline worker and beneficiary engagement and understanding, leading to improved maternal and child nutritional and health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"16-28"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143364221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of School-Based Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Program on the Serum Folate Status of Adolescent Girls in Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Amelo Bolka, Tafese Bosha, Samson Gebremedhin","doi":"10.1177/03795721241304475","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03795721241304475","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundIn Ethiopia, a school-based weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) program is being implemented to reduce burden of anemia in adolescent girls. While the program's impact on iron levels is well-studied, there is limited evidence on its effect on folate status.ObjectiveThe study was aimed at assessing the effect of the WIFAS on serum folate levels of school adolescent girls in Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia.MethodsA school-based cross-sectional study that compared the serum folate concentration among adolescent girls (10-19 years) enrolled in schools with (n = 165) and without (n = 165) the WIFAS program was carried out. Adolescent girls from both groups were sampled using multistage sampling procedure. The serum folate was compared between the 2 groups using mixed effects linear regression model.ResultsThe study presented significantly higher mean (±standard deviation) serum folate concentration among girls from schools implementing the WIFAS program (9.76 ± 4.02 ng/mL) than their counterparts (7.38 ± 4.53 ng/mL) (β = 2.28, <i>P</i> < .001). The mean hemoglobin level was also higher in the WIFAS arm (13.07 ± 1.81 g/dL) than the comparator group (12.4 ± 1.93 g/dL (β = 0.86, <i>P</i> = .034).ConclusionThe school-based WIFAS program showed positive association with serum folate and hemoglobin concentration in adolescent girls. This evidence should be used for advocating the scale-up of the program to areas with high prevalence of anemia and folic acid deficiencies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"29-38"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142970302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reviewers List 2024.","authors":"","doi":"10.1177/03795721251319873","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03795721251319873","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"3795721251319873"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143364271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Manon Gerber, Daniëlle M Bon, Bounthanom Bouahom, Jacqueline E W Broerse, Dirk Essink
{"title":"Do We Contribute to Women's Empowerment? Insights From a Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Project Implemented in Nong, Laos.","authors":"Manon Gerber, Daniëlle M Bon, Bounthanom Bouahom, Jacqueline E W Broerse, Dirk Essink","doi":"10.1177/03795721241293547","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03795721241293547","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The gender-gap in power is still persistent around the globe. Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) interventions have been implemented to increase women's empowerment as a goal in itself, and as a pathway to food and nutrition security (FNS). However, contradicting evidence exists on whether the interventions, besides food security, realize women's empowerment. Furthermore, the concept of women's empowerment has different meanings across different cultures, regions, and countries.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess the understanding of, and perspectives on, women's empowerment among different stakeholders in the context of an NSA project in Laos, and to assess whether this project contributes to women's empowerment and FNS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semistructured interviews were conducted with local implementers of NSA interventions (n = 13) and senior program managers and advisors (n = 5). Six focus group discussions were conducted with community members (n = 46).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings reveal that community members had a materialistic understanding and local implementers an instrumental understanding, in contrast to senior program managers and advisors, who had an egalitarian understanding of women's empowerment. The level of women's empowerment in Nong was considered low by all respondents. Furthermore, respondents reported that the NSA interventions had a positive impact on FNS, but not on women's empowerment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In a community in which both women's empowerment and FNS are low, working with women may contribute to FNS, but not necessarily contribute to women's empowerment. Nevertheless, from an emic perspective, women do feel more empowered as the interventions contributed to increased household capacity to address FNS.</p><p><p>Does our project lead to having enough food and improved women's status in communities living in rural, mountainous areas in Laos?</p>","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"142-152"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11633067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142590168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reviewers List 2023.","authors":"","doi":"10.1177/03795721241299363","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03795721241299363","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12394,"journal":{"name":"Food and Nutrition Bulletin","volume":"45 4","pages":"177"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142806386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}