Economic growth and nutrition transition: an empirical analysis comparing demand elasticities for foods in China and Russia

This study provides empirical evidence on the link between economic growth and nutrition transition in two emerging economies, China and Russia. Both countries have experienced rising average incomes, accompanied by an increasing rate of nutrition-related chronic diseases in recent years. Given the regional heterogeneity between these two countries, we analyze the extent to which income growth as a major driver of nutrition transition has a significant effect on the consumption of different food aggregates and how these effects differ between Chinese and Russian consumers. Our results indicate that with increasing household incomes over time the demand for carbohydrates decreases, while the demand for meat and dairy products, as well as fruits increases. This is a development generally known as nutrition transition. Further, we estimate a Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System(QUAIDS) for nine different food aggregates for China and Russia. Our results indicate that in both countries all food aggregates have positive expenditure elasticities and are thus normal goods. Moreover, our results indicate that in 2008/2009 meat is still a luxury good in China yet a necessity good in Russia. For 2009, the highest own-price elasticities in China are found for non-meat protein sources and dairy products. Within the meat group, beef, poultry and mutton have the highest price elasticities in China. In Russia, the milk and dairy group, together with the vegetable group, is the most price-elastic food group in 2008. In line with the definition of a nutrition transition, our overall results underscore the finding that income growth in China and Russia tends to increase the demand for animal-based products much stronger than, for example, the demand for carbohydrates. Despite being a positive signal for problems of malnutrition in rural China, this trend of increasing meat consumption might further increase the incidence of chronic diseases in urban areas since there is convincing scientific evidence that increasing meat consumption, especially red and processed meat, is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases.     

Consumer perceptions of food safety risk: Evidence from a segmentation study in Albania

Albania is facing serious problems with the national food safety control system in terms of legislation, control and enforcement. The objective of this paper is to analyse consumer perceptions about safety of small ruminant meat in Tirana, in a context of weak enforcement of the food safety system. Applying two-step clustering analyses, consumers were classified in four socio-demographic clusters, and it was found that the cluster composed of female consumers with lower education and income levels, and the two clusters composed of male consumers perceive consumed meat as safe. Consumers in the cluster composed of females with university education and higher income are, on average, more concerned with current meat safety measures and tend to place more trust in the veterinarian stamp on meat carcasses rather than in local butchers.     

Functional and numerical responses of Cyrtorhinus lividipennis to eggs of Nilaparvata lugens are not affected by genetically modified herbicide-tolerant rice

To safely and sustainably utilize genetic breeding techniques for crop production, greater understanding of the potential effects of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) crops on the ecological functions of predators is required. In the laboratory, we examined the functional and numerical responses of Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter to eggs of brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), which were reared on GMHT rice Bar68-1; the untransformed parental cultivar, D68; or a BPH-susceptive rice variety, Taichung Native 1. All stages of nymphs and female adult of C. lividipennis, either on GMHT rice or control plants, exhibited typical type II functional responses when fed on BPH eggs; the attacking rate and handling time of C. lividipennis on GMHT rice Bar68-1 was not significantly different from that on D68. The numerical responses of C. lividipennis on GMHT rice or controls fit Beddington’s model; there were no significant differences in the parameters of numerical responses between GMHT rice Bar68-1 and D68. The results indicated that the functional and numerical responses of C. lividipennis to BPH eggs are not affected by GMHT rice Bar68-1.     

Rapid testing methods for food contaminants and toxicants

Food safety is one of the major concerns in every country regardless of the economic and social development. The frequent occurrence of food scandals in the world has led the Chinese government to implement several strategies to fortify the food supply system to a high food safety standard. This relies heavily on laboratory testing services but conventional methods for detection of food contaminants and toxicants are limited by sophisticated sample preparation procedures,long analysis time,large instruments and professional personnel to meet the increasing demands. In this review,we have incorporated most of the current and potential rapid detection methods for many notorious food contaminants and toxicants including microbial agents,toxic ions,pesticides,veterinary drugs and preservatives,as well as detection of genetically modified food genes and adulterated edible oil. Development of rapid,accurate,easy-to-use and affordable testing methods could urge food handlers and the public to actively screen for food contaminants and toxicants instead of passively relying on monitoring by the government examination facility. This review also provides several recommendations including how to encourage the public to engage in the food safety management system and provide optimal education and financial assistance that may improve the current Chinese food safety control system.     

Methods to detect a vian influenza virus for food safety surveillance

Avian influenza(AI),caused by the influenza A virus,has been a global concern for public health. AI outbreaks not only impact the p oultry production,but also give rise to a risk in food safety caused by viral contamination of poultry products in the food supply chain. Distinctions in AI outbreak between strains H5N1 and H7N9 indicate that early detection of the AI virus in poultry is crucial for the effective warning and control of AI to ensure food safety. Therefore,t he establishment of a poultry surveillance system for food safety by early detection is urgent and critical. In this article,methods to detect AI virus,including current methods recommended by the World Health Organization(WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health(Office International des Epizooties,OIE) and novel techniques not commonly used or commercialized are reviewed and evaluated for feasibility of use in the poultry surveillance system. Conventional methods usually applied for the purpose of AI diagnosis face some practical challenges to establishing a comprehensive poultry surveillance program in the poultry supply chain. Diverse development of new technologies can meet the specific requirements of AI virus detection in various stages or scenarios throughout the poultry supply chain where onsite,rapid and ultrasensitive methods are emphasized. Sy stematic approaches or integrated methods ought to be employed according to the application scenarios at every stage of the poultry supply chain to prevent AI outbreaks.     

Food safety management and regulation:International experiences and lessons for China

China is experiencing rapid urbanization,changes in diets,and modernization of food retailing and production. In this context,food safety can become a greater concern for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this article is to review the international experiences and lessons regarding food safety management,regulation,and consumer behavior,with the goal of identifying how to improve food safety in middle income countries such as China. International experience in addressing food safety provides two general kinds of lessons. First,a middle-income country such as China needs to develop the capacity to carry out risk analysis in order to better focus public resources on the most important risks. Second,it will be important to leverage market incentives so as to make the best use of limited public capacity to enforce standards. International experiences show that food safety management is feasible where market incentives exist,and that public-private partnerships can support the process of improving food safety management. Market incentives require effective consumer or buyer demand,mechanisms to identify and reward quality,and supply chain coordination. Public efforts can be targeted to supporting these market developments for the risks that are the greatest burden to public health.     

新疆伊宁市牛肉消费市场调查分析

新疆维吾尔族自治区伊宁市的穆斯林民族占总人口的50%以上,对牛肉需求量较大。为了解当地民众的牛肉消费现状,促进边疆少数民族畜牧业发展,作者对伊宁市人口相对密集的5个城区,进行了1 000余份消费者随机抽样调查和牛肉消费情况对比分析。结果发现,伊宁市家庭肉类消费以牛、羊肉为主,二者分别占总肉类消费量的43%和29%。消费者购买牛肉时,比较关注的因素包括牛肉质量、安全及价格等方面,能接受的最高牛肉价格与年龄和收入有关。调查分析结果显示,伊宁市5城区的牛肉市场具有较大的消费空间,肉牛业发展潜力巨大,该调查分析结果对中国相似地区肉牛业发展具有参考价值。     

Characterization of NDM-1-producing carbapenemase in Acinetobacter spp. and E. coli isolates from diseased pigs

In recent years, the mobile metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) genes have been found to correspond to one of the most important resistance characters identified in Gram-negative bacteria, severely affecting clinical chemotherapy and threatening public health. The prevalence of mobile MBL genes and their flanking regions in Gram-negative bacteria from diseased pigs in China was investigated. A total of 334 lung samples from diseased pigs were screened for Gram-negative bacteria classified as non-susceptible to meropenem (MIC≥4 mg·L⁻¹). Six isolates, including three Escherichia coli, two Acinetobacter baumanii and one A. calcoaeticus, exhibited MBL production and carried the bla_NDM-1 gene. S1-PFGE and Southern blot analysis showed that the bla_NDM-1 gene was located on the chromosome of one A. baumanii isolate and on plasmids of various sizes in the other five isolates. MIC testing using broth microdilution revealed that all bla_NDM-1-carrying isolates and some of their transconjugants exhibited resistance to almost all β-lactams tested. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the flanking region of the bla_NDM-1 gene from all porcine isolates had high levels of similarity with the corresponding regions in human isolates. One porcine E. coli isolate carrying bla_NDM-1 was typed as ST48, a common sequence type in human E. coli isolates. These results suggest the possibility of human-to-food animal transfer of bla_NDM-1-producing E. coli, highlighting the need for surveillance of carbapenemase producers among bacteria from food animals. In addition, the prudent use of antimicrobial agents to decrease the opportunities for co-selection of carbapenemase genes in food animals is also urgently needed.     

Protein security and food security in China

Food security, the need to meet nutritional requirements, and four main problems for food protein security in China are analyzed. From the perspective of residents’ nutritional requirements and balanced dietary patterns, the conclusion is that food security in China is in essence dependent on protein production and security of supply and that fat and carbohydrates supply in China can reach self-sufficiency. Considering the situation of food protein production and consumption in China, policy suggestions are made, which could ensure a balanced supply and demand for food protein and food security in China.     

Effect of size reduction by freeze-milling on processing properties of beta-glucan oat bran

An effect of freeze-milling on processing properties of beta-glucan oat bran has been evaluated. A comparison with existing, patented methods of high molecular weight oat beta-glucan has been carried out. The new method employs raw material pre-treatment with freezing and milling in a hammer mill, resulting in significant reduction of particle size – 89% was between 80 and 50 μm in comparison with initial material when 79% were between 250 and 200 μm. Reduction of particle size also improved some process parameters of extraction technology – 30% improvement in fat removal during first stage of beta-glucan recovery was observed. The achieved pilot plant yield of product containing beta-glucan extraction was 64,03%, purity (ie. beta-glucan content), of achieved product was 84,4% and average molecular weight was about 69,500 g/mol.