BackgroundThere is very limited data on malnutrition of preschool children in Kosovo. The main objective of the study is to provide a nutritional status profile of preschool children attending kindergartens in Kosovo.MethodsCross-sectional study of children aged 12–59 months (n = 352 children) and children aged 60–83 months (n = 134) enrolled in public and private kindergartens of Kosovo. Anthropometric measurements used for this study are weight and height of the preschoolers (12–83 months). A measuring board was used for measuring the length/height of children younger than 2 years, while digital weight and height scale Seca 763 was used for measuring of preschool children taller than 110 and Seca 213 was used for measuring the height for children who were shorter than 110 cm. Statistical analyses of underweight and overweight trends across sex and age groups as well as between children from public and private kindergartens were carried out. Qualitative variables were tested with a chi-square test. The differences between groups were assessed with a Student t test for normally distributed variables and a Mann-Whitney test for abnormally distributed numerical variables.ResultsThe mean z-scores for weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height, and BMI-for-age largely fell within 0.0 and 1.0. The percentage of stunted children is 3%, whereas child wasting is 1.9%. The overall percentage of obese children is 2.3%; furthermore, 8.9% are overweight and 27.3% have a possible risk of being overweight.ConclusionsThe incidence of children underweight is slightly decreasing. The prevalence of overweight and obese children in sample chosen is evident.
The microbiological quality of a hard mountain unpasteurised sheep cheese from three randomly selected manufacturing locations in Kosovo was investigated. Forty-eight samples of row milk, coagulum, 8-10 days ripening cheese and of ready to eat cheese (45-days in brine) were tested. Seventy-five per cent of raw milk samples failed to comply with EU regulation 853/2004. All of coagulum and ripened cheese failed to comply with EU regulation 2073/2005 on process hygiene criteria. Despite the high incidence of coagulase-positive staphylococci even in the final product [>10 5 colony-forming units (cfu)/g], Staphylococcal enterotoxin was detected in none of the samples and no samples were positive for Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enteritidis.
Food sensory properties, analyses and chemical composition are very important because they provide information about product quality and end-user acceptance or preferences. An assessment of sensory characteristics and chemical composition of mountain sheep and cow's-milk cheese from shepherd's huts and industrial manufacturers in Kosovo was carried out. Consumer-oriented tests using a 9 point hedonic scale were conducted in order to determine Sharri cheese acceptability. Chemical parameters (fat content, fat content of dry matter, acidity, protein, dry matter, mineral and water content and sodium chloride content) of 45-day brine cheese samples were also analyzed. Chemical and sensory assessment demonstrated large property differences. A recommendation stems from the results showing that the standardization of both artisanal and industrial production of Sharri cheese is required.
This study evaluated the physicochemical properties (moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), proteins, insoluble solids, and ash) of 45 Kosovo’s and imported honey samples, using methods provided by national and international standards. The moisture values of all honey samples analyzed were below 20%. The free acidity was above 50.0 meq kg−1 in 14 out of 33 samples (42%) collected in Kosovo, while 2 out of 12 imported honey samples (16.7%) showed higher values than 50 meq kg−1. In this study, 7 out of 33 honey samples (21%) from Kosovo and one out of 12 honey samples from imports had soluble solids content below 80 °Brix. In terms of HMF, 5 out of 33 Kosovo honey samples (15%) and 4 out of 12 imported honey samples (33%) exceeded 40 mg/kg, which is the maximum content of HMF set in standards. The values of some physicochemical parameters (free acidity, HMF, and soluble solids) of local and imported honey samples are not within the quality limits set in legislation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the properties of fresh honey produced in Kosovo and the stability of honey during prolonged storage.
The purpose of this study was to show the effect of cold-stratification, gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate on seed germination of yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea L.). The seeds of natural yellow gentian populations of the Albanian Alps (Kosovo) were collected in September 2010. Seeds placed in filter paper (plastic bag) and in mixture of sand-soil were cold-stratified (2±1°C) for 72 days. The effect of different concentrations of gibberellic acid (250, 500 and 1000 ppm GA 3) and potassium nitrate (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% KNO 3) in final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT) and germination index (GI) in non-stratified and stratified seeds were examined. Seeds stratified in filter paper and treated with 1000 ppm GA 3 and 0.1% KNO 3 showed significantly higher percentage of germination (FGP and GI), while seeds stratified in mixture of sand-soil showed the highest values of FGP and GI in treatments with 500 ppm GA 3 and different concentrations of KNO 3. The cold-stratification and GA 3 treatments of yellow gentian seeds are suitable for the higher percentage of germinations.
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