Impacts of traditional food consumption advisories: Compliance, changes in diet and loss of confidence in traditional foods

Abstract

BackgroundFood consumption advisories are often posted when industrial activities are expected to affect the quality and availability of traditional foods used by First Nations. We were recently involved in a project and asked to summarize details regarding the impacts of traditional food consumption advisories with respect to compliance, broader changes in diet and loss of confidence in traditional foods by people.MethodsOur review was not conducted as a formal systematic comprehensive review; rather, we focused on primary and grey literature presenting academic, health practitioner and First Nations viewpoints on the topic available from literature databases (i.e., PubMed, Web of KnowledgeSM) as well as the internet search engine Google. Some information came from personal communications.ResultsOur overview suggests that when communicated effectively and clearly, and when community members are involved in the process, consumption advisories can result in a decrease in contaminant load in people. On the other hand, consumption advisories can lead to cultural loss and have been linked to a certain amount of social, psychological, nutritional, economic and lifestyle disruption. In some cases, communities have decided to ignore consumption advisories opting to continue with traditional lifestyles believing that the benefits of doing so outweigh the risk of following advisories.ConclusionsWe identified that there are both positive and negative aspects to the issuance of traditional food consumption advisories. A number of variables need to be recognized during the development and implementation of advisories in order to ensure a balance between human health, maintenance of cultures and industrial activity.

Improving Risk Assessment Calculations for Traditional Foods Through Collaborative Research with First Nations Communities

“…This current method of risk assessment may be overestimating risk because it is uncommon for First Nations to consume mint and muskeg tea plants in their raw form. Unnecessary food advisories can have adverse long‐lasting physical, social, and cultural effects on First Nations communities . Therefore, it is important to consider the form in which they are consumed when conducting a HHRA so as not to cause false alarm.…”

“…Traditional lifestyles for First Nations in northern Alberta, Canada are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain due to declines in the quality, quantity, and biodiversity of many traditional resources . The implementation of unnecessary food consumption advisories can have a devastating and long‐lasting effect on these remote communities . Filling the dietary gap left by the removal or decline of traditional foods is often not easy in northern communities where alternative food options are often not available, are of poor quality, or are very expensive …”

“…(1) The implementation of unnecessary food consumption advisories can have a devastating and long-lasting effect on these remote communities. (2) Filling the dietary gap left by the removal or decline of traditional foods is often not easy in northern communities where alternative food options are often not available, are of poor quality, or are very expensive. (3) In order to estimate potential risks that new industrial projects may pose to human health, human health risk assessments (HHRAs) are generally required for industrial development in Alberta.…”

Blood and hair mercury concentrations among Cree First Nations ofEeyou Istchee(Quebec, Canada): time trends, prenatal exposure and links to local fish consumption

“…Additionally, modern fish harvesting methods favour the rod and line technique, which enhances the catching of predatory fish in comparison to traditional harvesting methods using nets. Our study illustrates that recommendations on fish consumption need to be given in a culturally appropriate way, with awareness of the historical context and traditional importance of fish as a staple food in indigenous populations [43]. Our description of the proportion of the population exceeding recommended methylmercury exposure guidelines can be incorporated into future risk management plans.…”

Cadmium and other elements in tissues from four ungulate species from the Mackenzie Mountain region of the Northwest Territories, Canada

“…A shift away from traditional foods has resulted in a decrease in the nutritional value of the diet in some First Nation communities (Receveur et al, 1997), however even small amounts of traditional foods provide significant benefits, especially to children (Nakano, 2005). Consumption advisories due to elevated metal concentrations may further erode the confidence in traditional foods (McAuley and Knopper, 2011).…”