Nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low- and middle-income countries: Lack of standards threatens infant growth

Premixed flours for infant porridge are increasingly produced and sold in developing countries to complement continued breastfeeding. Such complementary food (CF) products have known efficacy against malnutrition in children from 6 to 24 months of age, but ingredient ratios and production processes...

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Autores principales: Masters, William A, Nene, Marc D, Bell, Winnie
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171020
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author Masters, William A
Nene, Marc D
Bell, Winnie
author_browse Bell, Winnie
Masters, William A
Nene, Marc D
author_facet Masters, William A
Nene, Marc D
Bell, Winnie
author_sort Masters, William A
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Premixed flours for infant porridge are increasingly produced and sold in developing countries to complement continued breastfeeding. Such complementary food (CF) products have known efficacy against malnutrition in children from 6 to 24 months of age, but ingredient ratios and production processes may vary. This study provides the first systematic measurement of their actual nutrient composition. We purchased samples of 108 premixed CF products in 22 low‐ and middle‐income countries, and commissioned blind laboratory measurement of each product's macronutrients and micronutrients. We compared measured contents to nutrient claims on their packaging and to CF standards from the Codex Alimentarius, the Super Cereal Plus product used in nutrition assistance programs, and the Lutter and Dewey (2003) recommendations, as well as our own modeled nutrient requirements for a healthy breastfed child. Actual densities are significantly different from nutrient claims for protein (p = .013) and fat (p = .000). Only 15% of samples met two of the three benchmarks for fat, 32% met the most stringent protein standard, while only 22% met them for iron, and 21% for zinc. The median healthy child consuming breast milk plus enough of these solid foods to meet energy needs would experience deficits of zinc at 6 months, iron at 6 and 9 months, and dietary fat from 12 months of age. In summary, premixed CF products can provide adequate nutrient density but usually do not, revealing the need and opportunity for independent monitoring and quality assurance to help grain millers making premixed foods maintain uniform ingredient ratios and production practices.
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spelling CGSpace1710202025-01-29T12:57:36Z Nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low- and middle-income countries: Lack of standards threatens infant growth Masters, William A Nene, Marc D Bell, Winnie infant feeding infant foods infants nutrition malnutrition quality assurance complementary foods child nutrition child feeding Premixed flours for infant porridge are increasingly produced and sold in developing countries to complement continued breastfeeding. Such complementary food (CF) products have known efficacy against malnutrition in children from 6 to 24 months of age, but ingredient ratios and production processes may vary. This study provides the first systematic measurement of their actual nutrient composition. We purchased samples of 108 premixed CF products in 22 low‐ and middle‐income countries, and commissioned blind laboratory measurement of each product's macronutrients and micronutrients. We compared measured contents to nutrient claims on their packaging and to CF standards from the Codex Alimentarius, the Super Cereal Plus product used in nutrition assistance programs, and the Lutter and Dewey (2003) recommendations, as well as our own modeled nutrient requirements for a healthy breastfed child. Actual densities are significantly different from nutrient claims for protein (p = .013) and fat (p = .000). Only 15% of samples met two of the three benchmarks for fat, 32% met the most stringent protein standard, while only 22% met them for iron, and 21% for zinc. The median healthy child consuming breast milk plus enough of these solid foods to meet energy needs would experience deficits of zinc at 6 months, iron at 6 and 9 months, and dietary fat from 12 months of age. In summary, premixed CF products can provide adequate nutrient density but usually do not, revealing the need and opportunity for independent monitoring and quality assurance to help grain millers making premixed foods maintain uniform ingredient ratios and production practices. 2017-10 2025-01-29T12:57:36Z 2025-01-29T12:57:36Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171020 en Limited Access Wiley Masters, William A; Nene, Marc D; and Bell, Winnie. 2017. Nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low- and middle-income countries: Lack of standards threatens infant growth. Maternal and Child Nutrition 13(4): e12421. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12421
spellingShingle infant feeding
infant foods
infants
nutrition
malnutrition
quality assurance
complementary foods
child nutrition
child feeding
Masters, William A
Nene, Marc D
Bell, Winnie
Nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low- and middle-income countries: Lack of standards threatens infant growth
title Nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low- and middle-income countries: Lack of standards threatens infant growth
title_full Nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low- and middle-income countries: Lack of standards threatens infant growth
title_fullStr Nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low- and middle-income countries: Lack of standards threatens infant growth
title_full_unstemmed Nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low- and middle-income countries: Lack of standards threatens infant growth
title_short Nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low- and middle-income countries: Lack of standards threatens infant growth
title_sort nutrient composition of premixed and packaged complementary foods for sale in low and middle income countries lack of standards threatens infant growth
topic infant feeding
infant foods
infants
nutrition
malnutrition
quality assurance
complementary foods
child nutrition
child feeding
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171020
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AT nenemarcd nutrientcompositionofpremixedandpackagedcomplementaryfoodsforsaleinlowandmiddleincomecountrieslackofstandardsthreatensinfantgrowth
AT bellwinnie nutrientcompositionofpremixedandpackagedcomplementaryfoodsforsaleinlowandmiddleincomecountrieslackofstandardsthreatensinfantgrowth