Using nutrient-rich local ingredients in the development of a complementary foodJessica Bogard

j.bogard@worldfishcenter.org

Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted

FISH FOR NUTRITION

Outline

• Child malnutrition

• Complementary feeding

• Rationale for product

development

• Ingredients selected for CF

• Production process

• Nutrient composition of CF

• Plans for the future

<6 6-8 9-11 12-17 18-23 24-35 36-47 48-590

10

20

30

40

50

60

Age (months)

% c

hild

ren 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 bioavailability of minerals

Chanda Chapila Chikra Darkina Kaski Mola Puti Taki0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14 Fe (mg/100g)Zn (mg/100g)Calcium (g/100g)Selection of Ingredients - Fish

Selection of Ingredients - Orange Sweet Potato

• Vitamin A

• Fructose (natural sweetener)

• Low in anti-nutrients

Homestead production of sweet potato

Food processing procedure

• Individual serve sachets (30 g)• Pictorial and written instructions:

1. Wash hands with soap2. Boil water3. Empty 1 sachet into child’s

bowl4. Mix with a little boiled water

and serve.

Packaging

Methodology of Acceptability Trial

• Phase 1:– Food preparation demonstration– Rating of organoleptic properties (5 point hedonic scale)– Weighed record of standard food portion consumption by

infant• Phase 2:

– 7 day in-home feeding trial– Data collected at mid-week and end-of-week visits– Consumption (number of sachets consumed, shared etc)– Rating of organoleptic properties (5 point hedonic scale)– Other aspects of acceptability (ease of preparation, any

alterations to preparation instructions, any adverse reactions etc)

Nutrient composition (100 g dry product)

15% dried darkina fish, 30% sweet potato flour,

10% soybean oil, 45% rice flour

Energy Protein Fat Iron Zinc Calcium Vit A

435 kcal 17 g 13 g 14 mg 6 mg 657 mg 348 µg

Contribution to RDIs (%)

Energy Iron Zinc Calcium Vitamin A

1 serve per day

6-8 m 21 44 45 49 26

9-11 m 19 44 45 39 26

12-23 m 15 70 45 39 26

2 serves per day

6-8 m 42 88 91 99 52

9-11 m 38 88 91 79 52

12-23 m 29 141 91 79 78

1 serve = 30g dry powder mixed with warm water

Comparison to Other Products

Our product Super Cereal Plus*

Pushti Packet*

Energy 434.8 410 394.7Protein 16.9 16 3.75

Fat 12.7 9 3.23Vitamin A 348.3 499 394.5Calcium 657.1 130 300

Iron 13.6 2.5 2.1Zinc 6.2 5 4.4

* Fortified with micronutrients

Complementary Food: Market Analysis and Value Chain

Evaluating Markets -Identify “soft channels” for distribution: SAVE,

CARE, ACDI/VOCA -Evaluate number of targeted households and number of

consumers -Establish volume needed of product Developing Value Chain -Analyze production facilities for capacity given demand -Source rice, fish, sweet potato -Expand capacity for small fish production and community drying sites -Develop third-party transportation network

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 programmes

Market-based approach

Where to from here…

• Improve the nutrient quality of ingredients:– High zinc rice (HarvestPlus)– Sweet potato variety (higher vitamin A, CIP)– 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 programmes