Nutritional Quality of Formulated Complementary Foods and their Biological Effects for Tackling Malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Countries
Wilfred Damndja Ngaha *
Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, National School of Agro-Industrial Sciences, The University of Ngaoundere, P.O.BOX 455, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Richard Aba Ejoh
Department of Nutrition Food and Bioresource Technology, College of Technology, The University of Bamenda, P.O.BOX 39, Bambili, Cameroon.
Edith Nig Fombang
Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, National School of Agro-Industrial Sciences, The University of Ngaoundere, P.O.BOX 455, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
William Dzusuo Tedom
Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, National School of Agro-Industrial Sciences, The University of Ngaoundere, P.O.BOX 455, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Toddlers malnutrition is a health problem in developing countries like those found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Owing to prevalence of poverty, families are generally not able to afford the commercial complementary foods available in the market stalls, since such complementary foods are imported and made from non-local foodstuffs. In order to overcome these issues, FAO/WHO recommends the use of local foodstuffs in formulation of complementary foods and defines the virtues that the complementary foods should possess. In this light, researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa have proposed several formulations of complementary foods. The present work reviews these research findings on complementary foods available in the Sub-Saharan Africa utilizing the local food materials, the treatment that is required to be meted to such food ingredients, nutritional quality of formulated complementary foods and ultimately their biological effects. The limitations of the research work, if any, has been highlighted and the means to take such research forward that would be helpful in the production and commercialization of cost-effective complementary foods possessing requisite nutritional quality and biological effects as per dietary norms laid down by competent authorities.
Keywords: Toddlers malnutrition, Sub-Saharan African countries, complementary foods, local foodstuffs, nutritional quality, biological effects.