Dried small fish provide nutrient densities important for the first 1000 days

Abstract

Inadequate nutrient intakes are prevalent among many populations in sub-Saharan Africa and increasing fish consumption among pregnant/lactating women and children is one strategy to improve diets and address nutrient deficiencies. We report the nutrient content of two fish-based recipes-fish powder and fish chutney-that contain dried small fish available in local markets in Zambia. The contribution of a serving of each recipe to the recommended daily intakes of iron, zinc, calcium and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for pregnant/lactating women and children 6-24 months was calculated because these nutrients are commonly deficient in African diets. We found that one 10-g serving of fish powder provides 20% or more of the daily calcium recommendation and 37% or more of the daily DHA recommendation for both pregnant/lactating women and children. A 30-g serving of fish chutney provides over 40% of the daily calcium recommendation for pregnant women and over 50% for lactating women. Additionally, we investigated the nutrient density (nutrients per kilocalorie) of the fish powder and compared it with the nutrient density of a small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement plus (SQ-LNS-plus). SQ-LNS-plus is designed to enhance children's diets by providing micronutrients and DHA. Fish powder is similar to SQ-LNS-plus in iron and zinc density and even higher in calcium and DHA density. Consuming dried small fish as part of a daily meal can be a viable strategy for combatting nutrient deficiencies in the first 1000 days.

Proximity to small-scale inland and coastal fisheries is associated with improved income and food security

“…Consistent with other studies, we show that land access and asset wealth varies by contexts 27,28 , and small-scale fisheries are often marginalised from economic services such as access to agricultural markets 29 . Fish was found to be not just the most frequently consumed animal source food across all countries, but also the most nutrient dense and affordable; particularly dried small fish eaten whole, supporting other studies of diets in the Africa Great Lakes region 30,31 . As expected, proximity to fishing grounds increased fish consumption, but importantly lowered inequalities in consumption between poor and wealthy households, particularly for the rural; contributing to SDG 10reduced inequalities.…”

“…The importance of trade in distributing the benefits of small-scale fisheries was illuminated through new data on consumption patterns, showing dried fish to be important in rural and urban areas, but particularly so in areas distant from fishing grounds. Limited empirical evidence exists on the value of dried small fish in the region; such as in urban 32 and rural environments 22 , and our study provides novel insights at broader scales on its role in improving access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations 30,33 . Small fish, primarily from inland small-scale fisheries, contribute around 70% of total catches in the regions, and this proportion is steadily increasing 34 .…”

Fish Acquisition and Consumption in the African Great Lakes Region through a Food Environment Lens: A Scoping Review

“…Fish-enriched snack foods or supplements, which take advantage of the peak season for fish capture, may present opportunities to improve the diets of undernourished and nutritionally vulnerable population groups within the region, through convenient and targeted delivery of nutrients at a relatively low cost [ 81 , 82 ]. Behaviour change communication strategies are likely to be central to improving perceptions of small fish as a nutritionally important food [ 11 ], highlighting its relevance for particular household members, including women and children, and addressing parental concerns about palatability and appropriateness of texture for young children.…”

The future of fish in Africa: Employment and investment opportunities

“…One of Africa’s biggest development challenges is to meet the nutrition needs, within sustainable limits of 2.4 billion women, men and children by 2050 [ 91 ]. Experiences in Asia and other regions show that aquatic foods, capture fisheries, and aquaculture systems [ 92 ] offer important nutritional and sustainability values, in some cases outperforming nutritional qualities of dietary supplements [ 93 ] and a relatively lower environmental footprint than animal-source foods [ 94 , 95 ]. However, the role of fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic foods in the transformation of food systems has remained relatively overlooked due to the lack of scientific data, metrics, and evidence to inform donors, governments, and private investors in decision making and investment planning [ 96 ].…”