Search

Commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) have the potential to fill nutritional gaps in the diets of older infants and young children. This study evaluated the accuracy of nutrient declarations on labels of 43 commonly available CPCF in three peri‐urban/urban locations: Khsach Kandal district, Cambodia (n = 11); Bandung, Indonesia (n = 11) and Guédiawaye and Dakar departments, Senegal (n = 21). Label values (LV) from product nutrient declarations were compared to analytical values (AV) derived from laboratory nutrient analysis for macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and total fat), nutrients of public health concern (saturated fat, total sugar and sodium), and micronutrients of interest (calcium, iron and zinc). European Union guidance for nutrition label accuracy was used to set tolerance ranges for each nutrient LV relative to AV. LV were missing for one or more nutrients in 88.4% (n = 38) of the CPCF products and no CPCF met EU tolerance thresholds for all nine nutrients assessed. Over half of products with LV for key micronutrients (55.6%, n = 10/18) and macronutrients (54.8%, n = 23/42) met tolerances for LV accuracy. Eighty‐five percent (n = 11/13) of products with LV for nutrients of public health concern were determined to be accurate. Nutrient content claims for iron appeared on 19 (44.2%) of the 43 products. Of the products which made an iron content claim, 26.3% had inaccurate LV with the majority of these containing less iron than declared. Regulatory action is needed to ensure that CPCF labelling communicates complete and accurate nutrient content information that enables caregivers to make informed decisions for feeding older infants and young children. Key messages: None of the 43 commercially produced complementary food (CPCF) products assessed met tolerance thresholds for nutrient label value accuracy, either because of missing nutrient label information or discrepancies with laboratory derived analytical values.The proportion of accurate nutrient label values for individual nutrients ranged from 54.2% (n = 13/24) for calcium to 94.7% (n = 36/38) for sodium.While infant cereals generally had high proportions of accurate label values for the nine nutrients assessed, fewer than half of snacks/finger foods (e.g. rusks/biscuits) had accurate label values for protein and calcium and only a third were accurate for zinc.Nutrient content claims were prevalent across the 43 CPCF products, which can create a 'health halo' (the perception that something is healthy without direct evidence) for these products. However, over half of products with nutrient content claims for iron and calcium were found to contain lower levels of these micronutrients when compared to analytical values. These products were found to overstate iron content and calcium content by a median of 4.71 mg per 100 g product and 101.7 mg per 100 g product, respectively.Nutrient content claims and nutrient declarations should be regulated and monitored by national authorities to ensure accurate labelling of CPCF. Manufacturers of CPCF have a responsibility to provide consumers with correct product information and should be accountable for the content of CPCF nutrient declarations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the promotion of commercially produced foods and consumption of these products by children less than 24 months of age in Dakar Department, Senegal. Interviews with 293 mothers of children attending child health clinics assessed maternal exposure to promotion and maternal recall of foods consumed by the child on the preceding day. Promotion of breastmilk substitutes and commercially produced complementary foods outside health facilities was common with 41.0% and 37.2% of mothers, respectively, reporting product promotions since the birth of their youngest child. Promotion of commercially produced snack food products was more prevalent, observed by 93.5% of mothers. While all mothers reported having breastfed their child, only 20.8% of mothers breastfed their newborn within the first hour after delivery, and 44.7% fed pre‐lacteal feeds in the first 3 days after delivery. Of children 6–23 months of age, 20.2% had consumed a breastmilk substitute; 49.1% ate a commercially produced complementary food, and 58.7% ate a commercially produced snack food product on the previous day. There is a need to stop the promotion of breastmilk substitutes, including infant formula, follow‐up formula, and growing‐up milks. More stringent regulations and enforcement could help to eliminate such promotion to the public through the media and in stores. Promotion of commercial snack foods is concerning, given the high rates of consumption of such foods by children under the age of 2 years. Efforts are needed to determine how best to reduce such promotion and encourage replacement of these products with more nutritious foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promotion of breast milk substitutes (BMS) and inappropriate marketing of commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF), including through television, can negatively influence infant and young child feeding. The World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast‐milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions prohibit such advertising and require manufacturers and distributors to comply with its provisions; however, such regulations at national level may vary. Advertisements require Ministry of Health approval in Cambodia but are not regulated in Senegal. Television stations were monitored for 13 months in Phnom Penh and for 3 months in Dakar to assess advertisements for BMS and CPCF. Ten television channels (out of 16) in Phnom Penh and four (out of 20) in Dakar aired advertisements for BMS. Three and five channels, respectively, aired advertisements for CPCF. All BMS advertised in Phnom Penh were for children over 1 year of age. BMS products for children 6+ months of age and 1+ years of age were advertised in Dakar. Average air time for BMS advertisements was 189.5 min per month in Phnom Penh and 29.7 min in Dakar. Air time for CPCF advertisements averaged 3.2 min per month and 13.6 min, respectively. Fewer than half of BMS advertisements and three quarters of CPCF advertisements explicitly stated an age of use for products. Nutrition and health claims were common across BMS advertisements. This study illustrates the need to adopt, regulate, monitor, and enforce legislation prohibiting BMS promotion, as well as to implement regulations to prevent inappropriate promotion of CPCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritional quality of commercially produced complementary food (CPCF) varies widely, with CPCF in high-income settings often containing excessive levels of sugar and sodium. Little is known about the nutritional quality of CPCF available in the West Africa region, despite their potential to improve the nutrition of infants and young children (IYC). This study evaluated the nutritional quality of CPCF available in five West African countries using the WHO Europe nutrient profiling model (NPM) and assessed their suitability for IYC based on label information. The proportion that would necessitate a "high sugar" warning was also determined, and the micronutrient (iron, calcium, and zinc) content was assessed against IYC-recommended nutrient intakes. Of the 666 products assessed, only 15.9% were classified as nutritionally suitable for promotion for IYC. The presence of added sugar and excessive sodium levels were the most common reasons for a product to fail the nutrient profiling assessment. Dry/instant cereals contributed the highest percentage of recommended nutrient intake (RNI) per serving. This highlights the need for policies to improve the nutritional quality of CPCF in West Africa, including labeling standards and the use of front-of-pack warning signs to promote product reformulation and clearly communicate nutritional quality to caregivers.