Bangladesh---
Dietary diversity is a fundamental tenet of nutrition in order to ensure adequate nutrient intakes,
yet few studies in developing countries have attempted to quantify patterns of consumption using
indicators of plant genetic diversity. Similarly, only limited efforts have been made to identify and
define available sources of dietary diversity within edible plant species, even though it is well
recognized that different cultivars have different nutrient composition.
In order to better document and quantify consumption of existing plant genetic diversity, two indicators
of plant genetic diversity were field tested in 313 households in rural Bangladesh using the 24-h recall method.
The two indicators of plant genetic diversity tested were cultivar diversity, defined in terms of the number
of cultivars available within a given species, and germplasm type by degree of modification defined as modern,
locally improved, traditional or unknown germplasm types.
Overall, the indicators performed well, providing a new dimension to dietary consumption data and
impetus to focus food composition research on intra-species variability. Over 80% of households were
able to identify rice by cultivar and 38 different cultivars were named. Consumption of modern rice
cultivars was six times greater than that of traditional cultivars. Application of these indicators in
future studies has potential utility within the fields of agro-biodiversity conservation and nutrition.
International study finds discrepancies in food folate analysis
Thailand ---
During the last decade, the importance of adequate folate levels in the diet,
and therefore the importance of accurate assessments of folate intake among
the general population, has become well recognized. However, due to the notoriously
inaccurate food folate data available such assessments are extremely difficult to execute.
Even when executed, the analyses of results are problematic.
In the last several years, trienzyme extraction has replaced the more
limited conjugase treatment as the preferred method of food folate treatment.
Nonetheless, the results are not always satisfactory.
Recently, an international, inter-laboratory performance of food folate
assays was undertaken at the Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University in Thailand,
as a follow-up to the recommendations of the working group on folate bioavailability,
which met during the 3rd International Food Data Conference held at FAO, Rome in 1999.
Soybean flour, fish powder and breakfast cereal were used as test materials. Once prepared,
these materials were sent to 34 laboratories, which were asked to use their routine methods
of food folate analysis. Twenty-six of these laboratories (76%) returned their results.
The inter-laboratory coefficients of variation for these test materials were 24%,
35% and 24% for soybean flour, fish powder and breakfast cereal, respectively. laboratories
may be difficult. The wide variation was mainly due to the different methods used for folate
extraction and detection. Based on these findings, the study’s principal author, Dr Prapasri
Puwastien, expressed the urgency for standardizing methods of folate extraction and the
development and routine use of validated reference materials, among laboratories. Once a
consensus is obtained for analytical steps, an inter-collaborative study to develop reliable
reference materials would be possible.
Reference: Prapasri Puwastien, Naruemol Pinprapai, Kunchit Judprasong and Tsunenobu Tamura (2005).
International inter-laboratory analyses of food folate. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis.
Volume 18, Issue 5, Pages 387-397.
OCEANIAFOODS Laboratory gains accreditation for nutrient analyses
Suva, Fiji ---
OCEANIAFOODS Laboratory gains accreditation for nutrient analyses
SUVA, FIJI ---The University of the South Pacific (USP) Institute of Applied Science (IAS) has been awarded full accreditation for its Analytical Laboratory situated at its Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji from world-renowned accreditation body, international Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ).
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) funded the accreditation process as part of a technical cooperation project to strengthen analytical capabilities in the Pacific. FAO highlighted the importance of achieving accreditation because food composition data are fundamental to food trade, agriculture policy development, nutrition education, and the setting/achieving nutrition goals and guidelines. The double burden of malnutrition that plagues Pacific Island countries cannot be addressed without knowing the composition of foods in the food supply.
The IAS laboratory is now the only laboratory in the South West Pacific recognised by IANZ and qualified to carry out test to determine the contents of nutrients and contaminants in foods.
Lab director, Professor Bill Aalbersberg said companies that had previously sent food samples that needed quality testing overseas, could now get the same services at the university's analytical laboratory.
"It took us years of hard work and dedication from the IAS team to achieve the accreditation for the Food Unit," Professor Aalbersberg said.
"The accreditation enhances our reputation internally and externally as there has always been perceptions that because we are in the South Pacific we just sit under palm trees, on white sandy beaches and we are not competent to do things by international standards," Professor Aalbersberg said. He said it was because of this perception that people questioned the quality of tests carried out at the laboratory but he said this would change with the international accreditation.
"It was a time consuming and arduous process to achieve these high standards and it required the most stringent and thorough examination of our laboratory and facility," Professor Aalbersberg said.
The accreditation requires careful detailing of procedures employed in the laboratory, from instrument calibration and use to staff training, sample handling and record keeping to standard operating procedures for all methods used. It also includes an annual review of the Laboratory Quality System by the representatives from SPAS, the government laboratories and the Laboratory's client.
USP represents Fiji in OCEANIAFOODS, a regional data centre in the INFOODS network.
