67 Importance of Animal-Sourced Foods and Barriers to Their Adoption Globally

Abstract

Abstract Globally, over 200 million children experience physical and mental underdevelopment due to a variety of reasons, particularly inadequate nutrition. In low-and middle-income countries (LMIC), hidden hunger, a condition in which diets are deficient in micronutrients essential for physical and mental development, is a common problem. Compared to plant-source foods, animal-source foods (ASF) contain higher quality and more bioavailable forms of several essential micronutrients as well as essential polyunsaturated fatty acids and higher quality protein. Due to the critical role these macro and micronutrients play in children's cognitive and physical development, ASF should be a vital component of their diets. Studies have demonstrated compelling evidence on the potential of ASF consumption by infants, children, pregnant, and lactating women to aid cognitive development of children. However, the evidence, is not conclusive, as some studies, especially those with confounding factors, showed no positive relationship between ASF consumption and cognitive development. Due to logistical, methodological and ethical difficulties, most studies that examined the effect of ASF on cognitive development are retrospective observational studies that do not enable effective separation of confounding factors. Producing conclusive evidence that can influence nutrition policy and guidelines will require large-scale, controlled interventional studies, preferably across countries or cultures. Unfortunately, per capita consumption of ASF, especially by infants, children, and mothers, in LMIC is very low compared to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. This is due to multiple and complex factors. First, there is the issue of unaffordability, which is due to a large extent to the low livestock productivity among smallholders who are the main livestock producers in LMIC. Even when ASF is affordable, there are many socio-economic, cultural, and religious barriers that limit ASF consumption by children and women. To prevent cognitive impairment among children in LMIC, concerted multisectoral approaches are needed. These should aim to improve livestock productivity in LMIC, generate robust policy-influencing evidence about their dietary importance and raise awareness about the value of ASF in the diet.