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Leila Arfaoui,1 Areej Alkhaldy,1 Ahad Alareeshi,1 Ghadeer AlSaadi,1 Shaima Alhendi,1 Afnan Alghanmi,1 Wejdan Alghafari,1 Mourad Assidi2,3 1Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 2Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 3Medical Laboratory Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Leila Arfaoui Tel +966 126401000 (ext. 41612)Email leila.arfaoui@gmail.comBackground: Few studies have investigated the knowledge and attitudes towards the nutrition facts label, the nutrient content and health claims (NHCs) among consumers from different countries/cultures.Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge and self-reported use of the nutrition facts label and NHCs among Saudi adults. A total of 722 participants were recruited using an online questionnaire.Results: Total knowledge score was 5.8 ± 2.5/13 points (45%). Approximately, 18%, 77%, and 5% of the participants had low, medium, and high levels of knowledge, respectively. Participants were more knowledgeable on the nutrition facts label (2.6 ± 1.6/5 points) and health claims (2.7 ± 1.2/4 points) versus nutrient content claims (0.5 ± 0.7/4 points). The total use score was 20.1 ± 5.7/30 points (67%); approximately, 2%, 61%, and 37% of the participants were classified as low, medium, and high use level, respectively. Participants’ use of the nutrition facts label, nutrient content claims, and health claims was 10.0 ± 3.1/15, 6.5 ± 2.2/9, and 3.6 ± 1.8/6 points, respectively.Conclusion: This study highlights the need for more education and public awareness programs to enhance consumer knowledge and use of the nutrition facts label and NHCs, and consequently lead to healthy dietary choices.Keywords: health claims, knowledge, nutrition facts label, nutrient claims, nutritional information

Chemical characterization of fertilizers, in terms of total nutrient content, is essential for quality control and definition of field-based rates. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply...

An ongoing long-term experiment started since 1967, were selected during rabi season of 2014–2015 at Research Farm of Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The exp...

Most faba bean research is about protein content while less attention is paid to nutrient content. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the effect of sowing rate and variety on the nutrien...

Fertile soils available for agriculture are gradually diminishing due to climate change, soil deterioration, the use of wrong chemicals, and restraints from urban developments. In the near future, ...

Aim of the present study was to develop effective indigenous plant growth promoting (PGP) rhizobacteria consortia for enhanced plant growth attributes and nutrient acquisition by wheat crop under g...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foliar spray of seaweed extract (SE) and amino acids (AA) on growth characteristics, antioxidant activity, and nutrient elements of yarrow (Ac...

The study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the nutrient content, fermentation characteristics, microbial counts, and ruminal degradability of two mixtures of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and winter cereal silages. Two mixtures (mixture A: Italian ryegrass, triticale, oats, wheat and barley; and mixture B: Italian ryegrass and oats) were wilted and ensiled in laboratory‐scale silos without additives. At the end of 90 d fermentation mixture B silage had higher (p

Cherry is a fruit preferred by consumers with its beautiful appearance, low calorie content and positive effects on human health. Turkey is the leader in cherry production due to its favorable ecol...

Our study examined whether the nutrient content analysis of soybean seed could be used to assess the plant nutritional status, generating results as or more accurate than those obtained by leaf ana...

Micronutrient malnutrition is a major problem in developing countries affecting women, children and infants. Biofortification, improved soil health and waste management efficiencies have been used ...

In the scheduling of nutrient supply programs, analysis of plant nutrient status has been found to be useful to prevent the deficiency or toxic effects of nutrients in any horticultural crop. So th...

Agroforestry systems can benefit tropical soils by promoting greater diversity of plants and reducing or avoiding common practices used in conventional management systems, such as soil cleaning, pl...

The effect of long-term addition of fertilizers and amendments on productivity, quality and nutrient content of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in an acid Alfisol was evaluated in field experiment at ...

Micronutrient additives for sugar beet growth and development are very important, especially in the alkaline Egyptian soil. A two-year (2017 and 2018) field experiment was conducted in the Sakha Ag...

The study formulated different okra seed soup recipes, as well as evaluated the proximate composition and sensory acceptability of the soup samples. Five different soup recipes were formulated usin...

Vegetatively propagated hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × P. tremuloides) is one of the fastest growing tree species in Finland. To study clonal variation in element concentrations in wood, bark and ...

Vacuum frying (VF), which combines sonication, with microwave heating was used to evaluate the quality attributes of fried mushroom chips as well as the stability of the frying oil. Frying ...

Froriepia (Froriepia subpinnata Ledeb. Bail.) is an endangered, indigenous, vegetable, also reported to have medicinal properties. There is insufficient information about yield, nutrient content an...

The objective of this study was to analyze labeling practices and compliance with regulatory standards for shark cartilage supplements sold in the United States. The product labels of 29 commercial shark cartilage supplements were assessed for compliance with U.S. regulations. Claims, including nutrient content, prohibited disease, and nutritional support statements, were examined for compliance and substantiation. Overall, 48.3% of the samples had at least one instance of noncompliance with labeling regulations. The most common labeling violations observed were: missing a domestic address/phone number, non-compliant nutrient content claim, missing/incomplete disclaimer, missing statement of identity, prohibited disease claims, and incomplete "Supplement Facts" label. The use of prohibited disease claims and nutritional support statements without the required disclaimer is concerning from a public health standpoint because consumers may delay seeking professional treatment for a disease. The results of this study indicate a need for improved labeling compliance among shark cartilage supplements.

In Iran, the recent spike in herbal medicines has led to a corresponding price increase. Therefore, these montane species are now widely field cultivated. Medicinal plant consumers strongly...

Total and soluble nutrients in peat were studied after ash fertilization on an oligotroph peatland in southeast Norway. Plots 15 m × 15 m in size were fertilized with 0, 4, 7, and 10 tons h...

We investigated the effects of poultry manures (PM) and cow manures (CM) using estimated mineralizable nitrogen (EMN) method on nitrate, nutrient content and growth parameters of komatsuna and comp...

1. Four batches of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced by a single production plant were used to investigate variation in digestible energy (DE) and nutrient digestibility for laying hens. 2. A total of 144 Hy-Line Brown laying hens were allocated to eight treatment groups in replicates of six. Experimental diets were prepared by replacing the basal feed with either 150 g/kg or 300 g/kg of each batch of DDGS. 3. Chemical analysis of the DDGS showed variation between the different batches. Largest coefficients of variation were observed for starch (0.546) and total soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP; 0.276). 4. Digestible energy and the nutrient digestibility of each diet was measured using the ileal collection technique. Data were statistically analysed as a blocked 2 × 4 factorial design analysis of variance (ANOVA). 5. Variability between the different diets were observed for digestible energy and the digestibility of certain nutrients (P 0.05). 6. The observed differences in energy utilisation and nutrient digestibility in laying hens suggested that the feeding quality of diets containing different wheat DDGS batches produced by a single production plant may still have large variation.

Leaf composting is an essential technique in organic farming; it improves the physicochemical properties of soil such as texture, structure, water-holding capacity, and nutrient content. Ho...

The integrated nutrient management with organic manure and chemical fertilizers can improve rice (Oryza sativa L.) production, soil health, and fertility. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the co...

The growth of cucumber under open field conditions in the coast of Ecuador results in low yields being the growth under protected conditions a tentative solution, but there is little information ab...

A low-cost ​v​e​rmicomposting​ technology was developed for bio-conversion of obnoxious weed-flora of north-western (NW) Himalayas. Using this technology, an extensive on-station and on-farm experi...

Hydroponics is a technology that can contribute to fulfilling demand for vegetables year-round even where normal agricultural practices cannot be undertaken. However, it is still in its nascent sta...

Host plant quality for insects used in weed biological control influences their performance and hence their ability to suppress target host populations. Determining the specific response of these i...

The use of seaweeds has a long history, as does the cultivation of a select and relatively small group of species. This review presents several aspects of seaweed production, such as an update on t...

The nutritive value of whole crop forage maize is influenced by the proportion of ears and stover in the whole crop and by the nutrient composition and digestibility characteristics of the plant parts. An experiment investigating the impact of variety, harvest date and year on the nutritive value of ensiled maize ears was carried out in three consecutive years (2007, 2008 and 2010). Nine different maize varieties were harvested at three different maturity stages (50, 55 and 60% dry matter (DM) content in the ears). After harvest, ears and stover were ensiled separately and afterwards nutrient composition and ruminal nutrient degradability (organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC)) were analysed. Variety had a significant influence on content of CP and effective ruminal degradability (ED) of OM at low passage rates, whereas ED of CP and NFC was not affected by variety. In contrast, harvest date and year significantly influenced nutrient composition and ruminal degradability of ensiled maize ears. The content of NFC increased and the content of fibre components as well as ED of OM, CP and NFC declined with processing maturity of the maize plants. At a passage rate of 5% h-1, ED of OM declined from 75.9% to 68.4%, ED of CP from 82.5% to 73.8% and ED of NFC from 88.0% to 82.3% between the early and late harvest date. The results of this study indicate that the nutrient composition and ruminal degradability of ensiled maize ears are affected mainly by maturity stage at harvest and by year, whereas variety has only little influence.

Background: Internationally, ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (RTEBC) make an important contribution to the nutritional intake of children. Significant differences have been found between the nutritional quality of children and non-children’s RTEBC. South Africa has strict legislation regarding the use of nutrition claims to promote products.Objectives: To determine i) differences in nutritional quality between children’s and non-children’s RTEBC; and, ii) compliance of nutrition claims with current legislation.Outcome measures: An analysis of the nutrient content per 100 g and per recommended serving size; an audit of nutrient content claims.Design: This study examined the packages of 134 RTEBC that were categorised into children’s cereal and six types of non-children’s cereal.Results: Children’s cereals formed 21% (n = 28) of the sample and were significantly more likely to have sugar as the first or second ingredient listed. Per 100 g, children’s cereals contained significantly more carbohydrates, sugar ...

A 6-month field experiment (from October to March) was conducted in a 20-year-old experimental grove of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in order to enhance its micronutrient levels and ass...

The biodegradable portion of city waste is a potential source of plant nutrients, and appropriate techniques of composting can convert it to quality compost with higher nutrient content and lower l...

New evidence and feedback from colleagues have led to modifications to the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ) and Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (ANSKQ). The changes predominately affect questions regarding the nutrient content of foods, protein recommendations and the legality of supplements. Some English language edits have also been made.

The objective of this study was to investigate plant growth and nutrient uptake of Chamaecyparis obtusa seedlings with heavy fertilization treatment depending on previous fertilization experience. In a previous year, one-year-old Chamaecyparis obtusa seedlings were planted at a nursery with two levels of fertilization: the first group was fertilized with a mixed nitrogen–phosphorus (N-P) fertilizer of N 41.4 g m−2, P 18.3 g m−2 and the second group was unfertilized as a control. After one year, seedlings of similar height and root diameter were planted into 30-l pots and underwent two treatments: no fertilization for control and heavy fertilization with Basacote® 80 g pot−1. In the control, the plants’ growth exhibited no differences according to previous fertilization experience; in the case of heavily fertilized plants, seedlings which had experienced previous fertilization showed a 29% increase in height and a 63% increase in above-ground biomass production than did seedlings with no fertilizat...

In the EU Pledge, food and beverage companies voluntarily engage themselves to stop marketing unhealthy foods and beverages to children under age 12. However, children are increasingly exposed to online marketing promoting unhealthy foods and beverages. The main purpose of this paper was to verify whether Belgian and Dutch pledge members’ child-targeting food websites actually comply to the guidelines of the EU Pledge. First, this paper describes the prominence of online marketing on 49 Belgian and Dutch child-targeting food websites and evaluates the nutrient content of the advertised foods and beverages. Second, it checks for the degree to which Belgian and Dutch food brands abide the EU Pledge. Results indicated that about 88.5% of the online-promoted products were unhealthy, whereas marketing features were still present at every website. The nutrient profile of the online-promoted foods and beverages did not differ significantly between pledge and non-pledge members. Only 8.2% of the websites used age...

Nutrient availability affects root growth. The effect of potassium (K) level on the root growth, weight, and elongation, as well as on nutrient content of the olive genotypes “Megaritiki,” “wild” olive, “Chondrolia Chalkidikis,” “Biancolilla,” and K utilization efficiency was investigated. For this purpose, a greenhouse experiment was carried out in the farm of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Three treatments were used: T1, that is, 25% modified Hoagland nutrient solution without K in distilled water, T2: 25% modified Hoagland nutrient solution with 0.2 mM K in distilled water, and T3: 25% modified Hoagland nutrient solution with 1.5 mM K in distilled water. K concentration had no significant effect on root growth of olive genotypes. The maximum root elongation was observed in the “wild olive,” in the T3 treatment, and the minimum in “Biancolilla,” in the T1 treatment. K utilization efficiency significantly differed between K treatments for the same genotype, as well as among genotypes f...

In the four years after the 2008 eruption and burial of Kasatochi Island volcano, erosion and the return of bird activity have resulted in new and altered land surfaces and initiation of ecosystem recovery. We examined fertility characteristics of the recently deposited pyroclastic surfaces, patches of legacy pre-eruptive surface soil (LS), and a post-eruptive surface with recent bird roosting activity. Pyroclastic materials were found lacking in N, but P, K, and other macronutrients were in sufficient supply for plants. Erosion and leaching are moving mobile P and Fe downslope to deposition fan areas. Legacy soil patches that currently support plants have available-N at levels (10–22 mg N kg-1) similar to those added by birds in a recent bird roosting area. Roosting increased surface available N from

Inadequate nutrition may contribute to poor health in homeless and vulnerable adults. Charitable meals are critical to this group’s nutrition. The nutrient content of charitable meals at 2 organizations was assessed. Ethnography investigated organizational practice; semistructured interviews explored influences on meal provision. Meals were adequate for energy and the majority of nutrients but exceeded thresholds of saturated fat, salt, and sugars and lacked vitamin D and selenium in both organizations. Organizations were constrained by budget, equipment, food donations, volunteer capabilities, and time. Organizational values influenced meal provision; strategies to reduce fat, salt, and sugar content may be resisted because of an ethos of hospitality and overprovision.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the digestible energy (DE) and metabolisable energy (ME) in 22 sources of soybean meal (SBM) produced from soybeans from different countries and subsequently to establish equations for predicting the DE and ME in SBM based on their chemical composition. The 22 sources of SBM were all processed in Chinese crushing plants, but the soybeans used originated from China (n=6), the US (n=6), Brazil (n=7) or Argentina (n=3). The basal diet was a corn-based diet and 22 additional diets were formulated by mixing corn and 24.3% of each source of SBM. The average DE and ME in SBM from China, the US, Brazil and Argentina were 15.73, 15.93, 15.64 and 15.90 MJ/kg and 15.10, 15.31, 14.97 and 15.42 MJ/kg, respectively, and no differences among countries were observed. From a stepwise regression analysis, a series of DE and ME prediction equations were generated. The best-fit equations for SBM were DE=38.44-0.43 crude fibre -0.98 gross energy +0.11 acid detergent fibre (R2=0.67, p

Significant variations in the nutrient contents and other physical and chemical factors were noted at several stations at various times. The pH values varied from 7.73 to 8.11 indicating that water samples were almost neutral to sub-alkaline in nature. Nitrite values at Al-Rashid and Al-Wahda WTPs were found to be higher than those recorded in other WTPs; while nitrate values at Wathba, Al-Rashid, and Al-Wahda WTPs were found to be higher than those recorded at other stations. Ammonia contents showed higher rates at Al-Dawrah, Al-Rashid, and Al-Wahda WTPs. Phosphate proportions were found to be higher at Al-Dawrah WTP during 2010, 2011, and 2012; while the highest value of silicate (6.06 mg/L) was recorded at the East Tigris WTP during 2010. The paper established a relationship between diverse industrial wastes discharged in the Tigris River and the amount of nutrient in its waters.

Culinary instructors and professional chefs control the flavor and the nutritional composition of the foods served up across the country. Instructors direct and influence the growing numbers of culinary arts students in the U.S. Culinarians are tasked with the responsibility of searching for and interpreting research-based, up-to-date nutrition information. Surveys from instructors and industry chefs (n = 327) from eight presentations across the country on current topics of food and health including: sodium, lipids, protein, and healthy food preparation have been analyzed and interpreted. Considerations for educators to share with future chefs include nutrition knowledge on issues and trends, skills and practices in the kitchen, and presentation of healthy menu choices for the consumer. Research at this foundational level will contribute to design and delivery of educational materials and sessions to support the culinary educator as well as industry chef in providing healthy meals for Americans.

The assessment of selenium and selenium species bioavailability in foodstuff is of special concern on the context of human nutrition. In vivo (human and animal), and in vitro tests are important approaches for estimating the bioavailability of toxic and essential compounds to humans. An overview on in vivo and in vitro bioavailability assays for releasing selenium and selenium species in foodstuffs is summarized. Se and Se species content in a foodstuff critically influence Se bioavailability and bioactivity to humans and animals. Se bioavailability is affected by foodstuff-matrix major composition and minor components. Foodstuffs processing and/or treatments could enhancement or decrease Se bioavailability. Experimental conditions such as the selection of healthy status of examined people (in in vivo humans approaches), the selection of animal model (in vivo animals approaches), or the selection of GI conditions (in in vitro tests) could determines the results. Thus, international standardized protocol for in vivo and in vitro approaches assessment is mandatory.

Wheat bran is a by-product of milling, which has a high nutrient content. However, it is not broadly consumed by humans, but used for animal feed. Wheat bran contains more than 15% high-quality proteins, but most of them are enclosed within a matrix of cell wall polysaccharides and so they are poorly digested, resulting in the annual waste of 15.5 million tons of usable protein. The search for uses of these proteins has been mainly oriented towards their incorporation as fortifiers into food systems, so they have been extracted and characterized in terms of both nutritional and functional properties. Wheat bran proteins have also been explored as a source of amino acids and bioactive peptides or as inhibitors of enzymes of industrial interest. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no extensive exploitation of these proteins.

Preemergence (PRE) herbicides negatively impacting turfgrass root growth may compromise macro- and micronutrient accumulation in foliar tissue. Research was conducted to determine the effects of indaziflam (35 and 52.5 g ha−1), prodiamine (0.84 kg ha−1), oxadiazon (3.36 kg ha−1), and isoxaben (1.12 kg ha−1) applications in hydroponic culture on hybrid bermudagrass [C. dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] tissue nutrient content. Prodiamine, indaziflam, and isoxaben reduced visual root mass relative to non-treated plants. Consequently, these herbicides reduced phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and potassium (K) content in turf foliar tissue. Treatment with indaziflam reduced magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) content in turf foliar tissue compared to non-treated plants. This response was not observed with prodiamine and could explain the significant foliar injury (>70%) observed with both rates of indaziflam. Data in the current study illustrate that PRE herbicide applications affect hybrid bermuda...

The aim of this study was to analyse the amount and qualitative characteristics of organic matter (OM) in the litter horizon (considering leaf litter at different decomposition stages) and underlying soil to a 30-cm depth in a beech stand on the Apennines in southern Italy. Distribution of major nutrients as well as fungal and microbial biomass were also evaluated, in addition to beech leaf nutrient content monitor from full expansion to abscission in order to estimate annual nutrient input to soil from litterfall and nutrient retranslocation before abscission. OM was significantly higher in leaf litter. C/N ratio and the Na, Mn, Fe levels also decreased along the decomposition continuum, whereas N and S contents slowly decreased with soil depth. Generally, leaf nutrient content was also significantly lower in dead leaves, indicating efficient retranslocation to persistent organs. Fungal biomass was the highest in leaf layers, with no significant changes between spring and autumn samplings. Enzyme activities did not differ significantly along the decomposition continuum but marked decreases were found in the upper soil layer; these remained relatively constant, with the exception of laccase, at deeper soil depths. No seasonal effect on enzyme activities and OM content was found.

Little is known regarding the impact of calcium chloride applications during growth and development on tomato postharvest quality. This trial investigated supplemental calcium chloride applications on yield, nutrient content, texture, and postharvest quality of tomato fruit. Calcium (Ca) nutrient solution concentrations were: 60, 180, and 360 mg·L−1 calcium, while foliar applications were (0, 1, and 2% calcium chloride w/v). Plants grown with 60 mg·L−1 Ca had a high incidence of blossom end rot, which was not affected by calcium chloride sprays. Fruit nutrient concentrations were affected by calcium delivered through the nutrient solution. As fruit cluster position increased, fruit nutrient concentrations significantly decreased. Foliar calcium chloride sprays affected fruit soluble solids content and dry weight, but did not affect texture. Pericarp elasticity increased concomitantly with calcium in the nutrient solution. Postharvest disease incidence was not affected by calcium treatment, though weight l...

Adequate nutrition is essential to support plant growth, regenerative ability, and plant nutrient content. A screenhouse experiment was conducted to assess effects of fertilizer level on nutrient content of Amaranthus cruentus L. and determine the optimum fertilizer rate to support plant regrowth. Amaranthus seeds were sown in a sandy soil in plastic containers. A 20N–10P–10K compound fertilizer was applied to supply 25, 50, or 100 kg.ha−1 of N, with corresponding half-rates of P and K and a no-fertilizer control. Plants were harvested at 5 weeks by ratooning and plant regrowth harvested after an additional 5 weeks. Postcropping soil and plant chemical analyses were done. The 50N–25P–25K kg.ha−1 was optimum to support fresh growth. Plants were taller and had higher fresh and dry yields than 25N–12.5P–12.5K kg.ha−1. Plants treated with 50N–25P–25K kg.ha−1 had comparable stem circumference, number of leaves/plant, fresh yields, and dry yields as 100N–50P–50K kg.ha−1. Plant root development was best with 50N...