PONE-D-21-11710

Fasting, Food and Farming: Value Chains and Food Taboos in Ethiopia

PLOS ONE

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Pge 3, Line 46

Needs to be qualified. Likely true in low income countries, but in upper middle income and high income countries with high meat consumption. “There is a clear link between high intake of red and processed meats and a higher risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes and premature death” Hu, Harvard

Page 4 line 82 – describe the fasting, is it like Ramadan where you eat at night? What, how much and when are they allowed to eat during the fasting.

Page 5, line 105-107

Are we using ASF and dairy interchangeably. ASF can include poultry which is not dairy. Perhaps an explanation of what is ASF in Ethiopia. What is the normal diet – we have no idea so far

Page 7 line paragraph 1 What is the dietary pattern and calories consumed during fasting vs nonfasting for the adults and for the chidren

Page 9 line 222

Is there any IRB in Ethiopia? Perhaps at the university? Was any consent sought from any government entity, like the Ministry of Health or Agriculture?

Line 331-337: Could this be a cohort effect where the pattern is changing, and younger persons who are more exposed, are less adherent. This might also explain the difference in these estimates vs previous studies.

Line 483 – Still no overall depiction of calories and dietary patterns during fasting and non-fasting for adults and children, remote and non-remote

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Reviewer #1: Yes: T. Alafia Samuels

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Fasting, Food and Farming: Value Chains and Food Taboos in Ethiopia

PONE-D-21-11710R1

Dear Dr. D'Haene,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Eric Fèvre

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Many thanks for your responses to the reviewer, which have been shared and now now approved.

Reviewers' comments: