Malnutrition is a major threat to infant health and development in sub-Saharan Africa. With increasing costs in commercial complementary foods, infants in rural communities are often fed with unprocessed nutrient-deficient family staple foods. The aim of this study was to formulate complementary diets from locally cultivated sorghum, soybeans, and mangoes using soaking, toasting, germination, and fermentation processes. Through mass balance, eight formulations were developed, where a Codex Alimentarius recommendation of ≤5.5g protein content per 100kcal of cereals-added high-protein complementary foods was considered. Our results showed that the nutritional compositions of the formulated diets ranged from 4.64-6.44% moisture content, 1.04-1.70% ash content, 10.73-20.02% crude protein, 68.07-80.76% total carbohydrate, 0.07-3.44% crude fat, 1.35-3.40% crude fibre, 364.63-462.80kcal energy, 120.9-131.2mg/100g calcium and 1.02-6.99µg/mg vitamin A. Soaking significantly increased the nutritional value of soybeans and sorghum, and was further increased with subsequent toasting, germination, or fermentation. The functional properties of all formulations were within acceptable limits for complementary feeding as the formulations were less bulky and could easily be cooked into gruels. In addition, trained breastfeeding mothers, who served as sensory panelists, rated the overall acceptability between 7 (like moderately) and 8 (like very much) on the hedonic scale. The formulations did not differ in acceptability in terms of taste, colour, flavour, and smoothness, and those containing toasted soybean flour were rated highest for colour and flavour. This research indicated that nutrient-rich food formulations from locally acquired low-cost sorghum, soybeans, and mangoes could be used extensively in the treatment of child malnutrition in Africa.
This paper discusses the methodological challenges in studying health risks that could arise from consuming terrestrial snails infested with pathogenic microorganisms. In Cameroon, snails remain an inexpensive protein source and are collected from free-living environments termed “farms.” Our focus has been on understanding health risks due to the handling and consumption of snails collected from locations that include decaying vegetation and untreated human and household wastes. To complement preliminary field observations and get more in-depth understanding of the existing situation, we adopted a qualitative approach using lived experiences, participant observation, in-depth interviews, and a focus group. We made use of informal settings where snail vendors and consumers narrated their routines and experiences from snail harvesting to consumption and the strategies they use to keep their families safe from foodborne illnesses. The study adopted two frameworks: Soft Systems Methodology to explore and model the “messy” nature of the social system and Social Practice Theory to explore the local practices identified through systemic model. The challenges discussed are set in the context of conducting social research in a developing world situation in a time of social and political tension and a global pandemic (COVID-19). With this in mind, the methodological decisions discussed include the type of enquiry and selection of frameworks, selection of field sites, recruitment and engagement with participants, design of interview instruments, interpretation, and trustworthiness of the study findings. We also discuss the strengths and limitations of using our approach.
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