using common, nutrient-rich small fish in the development of a complementary food
TRANSCRIPT
Using nutrient-rich local
ingredients in the development
of a complementary foodJessica Bogard
Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted
Outline
• Child malnutrition
• Complementary feeding
• Rationale for product
development
• Ingredients selected for CF
• Production process
• Nutrient composition of CF
• Plans for the future
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
<6 6-8 9-11 12-17 18-23 24-35 36-47 48-59
% c
hil
dre
n
Age (months)
Window of
opportunity
Child Malnutrition in Bangladesh - 2011
Moderate stunting
Severe stunting
Severe underweight
Moderate
underweight
Complementary feeding in Bangladesh - 2011(among breastfed infants)
1. Exclusive breastfeeding from 0-6 months
– >1 in 3 children are NOT exclusively breastfed
2. Meal frequency (2/day at 6-8 months, 3/day at 9-24 months)
– > 1 in 3 are NOT fed the minimum number of meals per
day
3. Dietary diversity
– >3 in 4 are NOT fed with appropriate dietary diversity
4. Meal frequency AND dietary diversity
– Only 21%
Challenges for complementary feeding in
Bangladesh
• Predominantly plant-based diet
– Low in micronutrients
– High in anti-nutrients
• CFs rarely provide adequate energy and micronutrients
– Thin rice gruels/ suji
– Low in iron, zinc and calcium
• Time
• Safe storage
Rationale for Product Development
• Rich in nutrients
(iron, zinc, vitamin A, calcium)
• Made from local ingredients
• Culturally acceptable
• Low in anti-nutrients
• Hygienic and safe
Selection of ingredients - Rice
Selection of ingredients - Fish
• “Mache bhate Bengali” Fish and rice make a Bengali
• Fish most commonly eaten animal-source food across all
income groups
• Small indigenous fish are highly nutritious
• Animal-source foods enhance the bioavailability of minerals
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Chanda Chapila Chikra Darkina Kaski Mola Puti Taki
Fe (mg/100g)
Zn (mg/100g)
Calcium (g/100g)Selection of ingredients - Fish
Selection of ingredients - Orange Flesh
Sweet Potato
• Vitamin A
• Fructose (sweet flavour)
• Low in anti-nutrients
Homestead
production of
sweet potato
Rice Fish Sweet potato Soybean oil
Soaking Washing Washing
Parboiling Boiling Peeling/trimming
Milling
Grinding
Drying Drying
Grinding Grinding
Mixing in correct proportions with added water15% fish, 45% rice, 30% sweet potato, 10% oil
Cooking
Drying/ Powdering
Packaging
Nutrient composition (100g dry product)
15% dried Darkina fish, 30% sweet potato flour,
10% soybean oil, 45% rice flour
Energy Protein Fat Iron Zinc Calcium Vit A
422kcal 16g 12g 12mg 6mg 660mg 348µg
Contribution to Recommended Nutrient
Intakes (%)
Serves
per day
Age
groupIron Zinc Calcium Vitamin A
16-12 m 40 40 49 26
1-2 y 64 40 40 26
26-12 m 80 81 99 52
1-2 y 129 81 79 52
1 serve = 30g dry powder mixed with warm water
Comparison to other products
Our productSuper Cereal
Plus*Pushti
Packet*Energy 422 410 395Protein 16.5 16 3.8
Fat 12.4 9 3.2Vitamin A 348.3 499 394.5Calcium 660 130 300
Iron 12.4 6.5 2.1Zinc 5.5 5 4.4
* Fortified with micronutrients
Where to from here…
• Immediate plans:
– Acceptability trial
– Nutrient and shelf life analysis
• Future plans
– Efficacy trial
– Investigating options for distribution
Subsidized product through existing maternal and
child health programs, safety net programs
Market-based approach
Where to from here…
• Improve the nutrient quality of ingredients:
– High zinc rice
– Sweet potato variety (higher vitamin A)
– Different fish species
• Modified as a supplement for pregnant and lactating women
• Modified to treat moderate and severe malnutrition
• Modified for use in school feeding programs
