Beyond The Headlines: Scotland to forgive school meal debt, US bill offers food security after incarceration

22 Dec 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, The Scottish government said it would move to forgive school meal debts for some families. At the same time, a pair of US Senators presented a bill that would make food assistance programs available to formerly incarcerated citizens while training for a new job or career. Also, D2Fit Nutrition revealed a program and complementary supplements to help people stay fit and maintain a healthy weight during the holidays.

Nutrition news
The Scottish government revealed plans to introduce a fund in its upcoming budget that will write off the debts families owe for school meals. This decision, confirmed by First Minister Humza Yousaf, comes as the Scottish government is implementing free school food for children up to the end of primary school. The policy is meant to assist families whose incomes slightly exceed the £7,400 (US$9,367) eligibility threshold for free meals and who currently face school meal debts. The government outlines that £1.7 million (US$2.15 million) is owed by pupils for lunches, up 60% from the previous year. The debt relief should ease the burden on families struggling with the cost of living crisis and follows the Glasgow City Council’s earlier decision to clear residents’ debts, with calls for the government to ensure quality school food for all children, regardless of their location.D2Fit Nutrition is offering a range of supplements and live stream workouts to help people stay fit this holiday season.

The US Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) commended the introduction of the Training and Nutrition Stability Act (S.3190) by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Pete Ricketts, which looks to resolve a significant issue for formerly incarcerated Americans. Currently, participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Employment & Training or other federal workforce training programs risk losing their food benefits due to temporary wages from job training being counted as income. The proposed legislation would allow individuals to pursue job training without sacrificing food and nutrition security. CEO highlighted the importance of the bipartisan act to support people transitioning from incarceration to employment. Senators Gillibrand and Ricketts also emphasize the bill’s role in eliminating the dilemma of choosing between job training and food security, aiming to facilitate the path to self-sufficiency and good-paying jobs for working families.

D2Fit Nutrition, aware of the challenges the holiday season presents for maintaining fitness, has offered some solutions to counteract disrupted routines, stress and potential weight gain. The American Psychiatric Association has spotlighted stressors such as tighter budgets, while The Mayo Clinic and UC Davis Health reported average holiday weight gains of 0.75 – 2 lbs. The company will live-stream its high-intensity dance workout sessions to be used with its supplement range, including a time-release protein blend, multi-collagen pre-workout powder, thermogenic kickstart formula, and recovery greens. The company said the combination of nutrition and exercise offers a simple, effective way for women to stay on track with their fitness goals during the holiday season.

Business news
OneOne Biosciences partnered with Ginkgo Bioworks to enhance its product development using Ginkgo’s biotechnological expertise and infrastructure to transform conventional agricultural practices, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and soil degradation, by offering bio-based agricultural inputs. OneOne Biosciences’ innovative OneOne Multiplier, an “espresso machine-type” device, amplifies microbes at the point of use with OneOne Livepods, designed for agricultural needs such as nitrogen fixation and crop protection. OneOne said it will collaborate with Ginkgo for strain optimization and field trials to replace chemical solutions with bio-based alternatives to help boost sustainability in agriculture.Arterra launched a supplement to aid in the healthy aging of dogs.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia accepted a court-enforceable judgment against the operator of Aussie Mega Supplements, for alleged illegal activities involving unregistered therapeutic goods. The site operator is accused of manufacturing, supplying and advertising “EVA B17” products containing amygdalin, a substance listed under Schedule 10 of the Poisons Standard, indicating a high danger to public health. Amygdalin can break down into hydrogen cyanide, which is extremely toxic and can be lethal, especially in high doses or for individuals with lower body weight, like children. The three-year enforceable undertaking compels the operator to educate his suppliers about the TGA’s actions, recall unregistered goods, inform the TGA of any business resumption or new ventures in therapeutic goods and consult a compliance professional on regulatory procedures.

Pet Nutrition
Hill’s Pet Nutrition has announced a new collaboration with Drs. Vernard Hodges and Terrence Ferguson from Nat Geo Wild’s “Critter Fixers: Country Vets” to educate pet owners on the role of nutrition in pet health and the importance of veterinarian relationships. The partnership also looks to diversify the veterinary profession by supporting outreach to aspiring veterinarians and includes custom programming at veterinary colleges, support for the “Vet for a Day” program and ongoing pet health and nutrition education. The collaboration will be showcased on the “Feed The Love” float in the 2024 Rose Parade, featuring the doctors, Tuskegee University vet students and representatives from Pasadena Humane and Hill’s. The “Vet for a Day” program, created by the doctors, offers future veterinarians a comprehensive look into the field, emphasizing the importance of diversity and mentorship in veterinary medicine.

Arterra, a new dog supplement brand, launched a range of veterinarian-formulated products to support the health and longevity of dogs. The brand, supported by venture capital firms like Boulder Food Group and Gestalt Idea Group, offers adult and senior formulas designed to slow and reverse the signs of aging in dogs. The brand’s all-in-one formula addresses full body wellness, including joint health, cognition, mood, immune system, allergies, gut health and organ support and contains 63 premium ingredients like collagen, lion’s mane mushroom and ashwagandha. The company said its approach utilizes an “entourage effect” for a more comprehensive impact, contrasting with other supplements that often contain fewer active ingredients.A study found that unhealthy and empty calorie snacks make up nearly a quarter of daily calories consumed in the US.

Scientific studies
A study published in PLOS Global Public Health revealed that snacks contribute nearly a quarter of daily calories for US adults, with a third of these calories coming from added sugars. Analyzing data from over 20,000 people, researchers found US citizens consume 400 to 500 calories from snacks daily, often surpassing breakfast calorie intake. These snacks typically lack nutritional value, consisting mainly of carbohydrates, sugars and fats, with minimal protein, fruits or vegetables. The research team stressed the impact snacking habits have on diets, noting that individuals with controlled type 2 diabetes consumed fewer sugary foods and snacked less compared to those without diabetes or with prediabetes. This suggests that diabetes education effectively influences dietary choices. The researchers advocate for a holistic approach to diet, focusing on the total dietary picture rather than demonizing individual food and suggest planning snacks as part of a balanced diet while considering the availability of nutritious options.

Lastly, a recent study from the University of Western Australia and City Fertility, Perth, Australia, suggests that a Mediterranean diet could significantly benefit women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). The study, published in Reproductive Biomedicine Online, analyzed various nutritional supplements and diets commonly used in IVF treatments, including dehydroepiandrosterone, melatonin, co-enzyme Q10, carnitine, selenium, vitamin D, myo-inositol, omega-3, Chinese herbs and several diets, as well as weight loss strategies. The findings indicated inconsistent and often low-quality evidence for most supplements. However, a Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish and unsaturated oils and low in processed foods, showed strong evidence of improving embryo development and pregnancy outcomes. This diet is high in B vitamins, antioxidants, omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids and fiber and low in saturated fat, sugar and sodium.

By William Bradford Nichols