Acceptability of Amaranth Grain-based Nutritious Complementary Foods with Dagaa Fish (Rastrineobola argentea) and Edible Termites (Macrotermes subhylanus) Compared to Corn Soy Blend Plus among Young Children/Mothers Dyads in Western Kenya

Abstract

We assessed acceptability of two flours and porridges of complementary foods based on germinated grain amaranth and maize with or without edible termites and dagaa small fish named "Winfood Classic" (WFC) and "Winfood Lite" (WFL), respectively, compared to Corn Soy Blend Plus (CSB+) among mothers and young children. A total of 57 children consumed each of the three foods on separate days with one-day washout between foods. Each food was considered acceptable if the child consumed at least 75% of the serving. Most mothers preferred WFL flour and porridge (63.2% and 70.2%, respectively) compared to WFC (24.4% and 10.5%) and CSB+ (12.3% and 19.3%). Children consuming at least 75% of served porridge were 43%, 19.6% and 21% for WFL, WFC and CSB+, respectively. No adverse effects were observed for all the foods throughout the study period and follow up lasting 4 weeks. All foods were acceptable and can be further developed and be tested for efficacy.

Effect of locally produced complementary foods on fat‐free mass, linear growth, and iron status among Kenyan infants: A randomized controlled trial

“…Some of these studies, however, have heterogeneous baseline participant populations, varying measures of anthropometry, various timing of interventions and some lack appropriate control groups emanating from diverse intervention products and study designs (Admassu et al, ; Arnold et al, ; Bauserman et al, ; Owino et al, ; Skau et al, ) unlike the present study and a similar parallel one in Cambodia (Skau et al, ) which recruited children of similar age, had a control(s), and were conducted in food‐insecure settings. Another strength of the current study is that we evaluated locally available food sources for infant feeding with the developed products being acceptable to mothers and infants (Konyole et al, ).…”

“…Food ingredients used for the complementary foods are already widely available and consumed in the locality (Kinyuru et al, ). Details of recipe formulation, nutrient composition, processing technology, and safety are described elsewhere (Kinyuru et al, ), and the foods were found to be acceptable prior to the intervention in the study population (Konyole et al, ).…”

“…In each site, processed complementary food products were formulated and produced on the basis of locally available foods and optimized for nutrient composition with emphasis on iron and zinc (Kinyuru et al, ; Kinyuru et al, ; Skau et al, ). Prior to the final decision on formulations, the acceptability of the products was assessed among mothers and infants (Konyole et al, ). The efficacy of the developed complementary food products was then tested in randomized trials to assess the impacts of a daily supplement over a 9‐month period on growth, nutritional status, and development.…”

Postharvest processes of edible insects in Africa: A review of processing methods, and the implications for nutrition, safety and new products development

“…Furthermore, the heat, pressure and mechanical shear generated during extrusion destroy pathogenic bacteria often associated with insects thus improving the safety. Earlier, Konyole et al (2012) tested the acceptability of amaranth and maize grain-based complementary weaning food enriched with dagaa fish (3%), and edible termites (10%) among young children and their mothers in western Kenya. The product scored similar acceptability as one not enriched with termite.…”

Impact of heat processing on the nutritional content of Gryllus bimaculatus (black cricket)

“…In another study, termite‐based foods were just as acceptable to infants and mothers as corn‐soy blend foods (Konyole et al . ) and there were no significant differences in aroma and taste acceptability scores of wheat flour buns enriched with between 0% and 20% of termite flour (Kinyuru et al . ).…”