Sensory acceptance of four flavors of fish-fortified instant porridge for complementary feeding of infants and young children.

BACKGROUND

Porridges fortified with locally available, nutrient rich foods can increase nutrient intakes among infants and young children (IYC), but the addition of ingredients such as fish powder may reduce acceptability. We conducted separate sensory panels among adults and caregiver/IYC pairs in rural Zambia to evaluate the acceptability of four fish-fortified complementary instant porridges [strawberry, vanilla, plain, and vanilla+extra fish powder (EFP)], a product we call ComFA+Fish (Complementary Food for Africa+Fish Powder). We calculated ComFA+Fish's contribution to daily macronutrient requirements for IYC ages 6-23 months, and compared its macronutrient content to three commercially available complementary porridges common to sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

METHODS

Using a five-point hedonic scale, we evaluated porridge acceptability among adults (N = 53) and caregiver/IYC pairs (N = 33). Adults evaluated each porridge on five sensory attributes, convenience, and overall acceptability; caregivers evaluated their child's global liking based on observed feeding behaviors. Differences in acceptability across the four flavors were assessed using the Friedman test.

RESULTS

Sensory acceptability was high across both panels. Among adults, strawberry scored significantly higher than all other flavors on average sensory score; however, for convenience and overall acceptability, only strawberry and vanilla+EFP differed significantly, suggesting broad acceptance of the remaining three flavors. Among IYC, strawberry was rated significantly higher than vanilla+EFP on global liking, with no other significant pairwise differences. The proposed daily serving sizes met 24-83% of the recommended protein intakes across the three age groups (6-8, 9-11, and 12-23 months). The plain porridge's macronutrient profile was similar to or exceeded that of three commercially available complementary porridges common to SSA.

CONCLUSION

These findings support the viability and acceptability of four ComFA+Fish flavors as a culturally appropriate, locally sourced solution to address IYC malnutrition in rural Zambia, with strong potential for scaling across sub-Saharan Africa.