livestock- based foods and their potential human health benefits: An overview

During the past decade the knowledge of dietary influence on health and wellbeing has been increased and often related to some food components. To ameliorate specific nutritional disorders, designer foods have been ad vented way back in 1980.Designer foods are the processed or fortified foods with potential health promoting food ingredients, which are normal foods consumed daily. The designer food approach is one of the best and low-cost strategies to reduce micronutrient deficiencies among people, because it can deliver recommended allowances of nutrients regularly. These foods are developed by the process of fortification or nutrification or bio-fortification. The demand, regulatory status and the potential health benefits in alleviating life style and chronic disorders with designer livestock - based foods like milk, meat and eggs are reviewed. In developed and developing countries, the designer foods played a major role in improving the diet and eliminating life style and chronic disorders and nutrient deficiencies among people. Several designer milk and milk products were developed by fortifying with macro and micronutrients with health benefits. The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), omega 3-n fatty acids, vitamin A and D, calcium and probiotic enriched milk and yoghurt have specific health benefits. Designer eggs enriched with CLA and omega3-n fatty acids and antioxidants are not only improve health but also reduce the risk of cardio vascular diseases. Selenium, vitamin A and beta carotene enriched eggs, chicken and beef can bring dramatic changes in health of humans. As of now, designer foods are completely safe but nutrification or fortification or bio-fortification should be done rationally at less than one third of the total recommended daily allowances of nutrients, and they should be strictly regulated with stringent quality control measures to ensure safety and consumer acceptance before releasing into the market. Ultimate success of designer foods depends on creating adequate awareness among people of their health benefits through national and international programs as well.