Acceptability of nutritious children’s foods developed for markets in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Sierra Leone has one of the highest levels of malnutrition and child mortality worldwide due, in part, to the micronutrient deficiencies that result from a lack of diet diversity and food accessibility. To address these challenges, nutrient-dense, affordable snack foods are being developed for children in Sierra Leone. The products in development are similar to foods that are currently eaten in the region, such that they could easily be integrated into children’s diets. The two lead products are a groundnut butter pudding for children six months to two years of age and a sweet potato based muffin for children two to five years of age. The objectives of this study are (1) to determine the dietary habits of children in Sierra Leone between six months and five years of age, and (2) to perform acceptability testing with the pudding and the muffins. In total, 428 mother-child pairs participated in the study, which was performed in 2019 in multiple locations in the vicinity of Makeni, Sierra Leone. The mothers reported that the most common snacks for children six months to two years of age were porridge and rice, while the most common snacks for two to five year olds were rice and biscuits. These findings confirmed that the pudding and muffins would be familiar and appealing to young children. Moreover, the test results demonstrated that both the pudding and the muffins were acceptable in terms of taste and texture. Based upon these findings, the best formulations were selected, then further modified to reach the target levels of each micronutrient (vitamin A, iron, and zinc) in a single serving size. The estimated cost of each product is 1500 leones ($0.15 USD), making it affordable for Sierra Leoneans. Future steps are to collaborate with local entrepreneurs to sell these products in the markets where people normally shop. This study was approved by the District Medical Officer of Health in Sierra Leone and performed in collaboration with World Hope International, an NGO with a facility in Makeni, Sierra Leone. Key words: acceptability testing, malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, nutrition, sensory testing, Sierra Leone