New research published by Helen Keller International’s Assessment and Research on Child Feeding (ARCH) Project in the scientific journal Maternal & Child Nutrition builds on previous findings on promotion and consumption of commercial foods and beverages among infants and young children.
These papers illustrate the widespread promotion and high rates of consumption in Nepal, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Senegal, with broader implications for low- and middle-income countries.
The purpose of this research was to answer vital questions in the effort to create an enabling environment for optimal infant and young child nutrition. What information are caregivers receiving about the foods marketed for infants and young children? What kind of nutrition is this age group getting from these products? Why do caregivers make certain food decisions? It also raises additional questions such as why are we still seeing promotion of breastmilk substitutes despite international resolutions and national regulations prohibiting it?
The nine peer-reviewed articles included in the special supplement issue of Maternal & Child Nutrition provide:
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New data on consumption of commercial foods by infants and young children and drivers of food choice for commercial foods by caregivers
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Exploration of the nutrient content and fortification of commercial products consumed by young children
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New insights into the promotion which takes place for these products in urban low- and middle-income country study sites
This open access supplement issue, available here on June 21 2019, provides information for decision makers to guide development of policies and interventions to support optimal nutrition of infants and young children, and subsequently their overall health and success.
Supplement issue table of contents
Marketing and Consumption of Commercial Foods Fed to Young Children in Low and Middle-income Countries
- Prevalence, duration, and content of television advertisements for breast milk substitutes and commercially produced complementary foods in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Dakar, Senegal Mary Champeny, Kroeun Hou, Elhadji Issakha Diop, Ndeye Yaga Sy Gueye, Alissa M. Pries, Elizabeth Zehner, Jane Badham and Sandra L. Huffman
- Predictors of breast milk substitute feeding among newborns in delivery facilities in urban Cambodia and Nepal Mary Champeny, Alissa M. Pries, Kroeun Hou, Indu Adhikary, Elizabeth Zehner and Sandra L. Huffman
- Pilot implementation of a monitoring and enforcement system for the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in Cambodia Kroeun Hou, Mackenzie Green, Senveasna Chum, Christine Kim, Ame Stormer and Gary Mundy
- Promotions of breastmilk substitutes, commercial complementary foods and commercial snack products commonly fed to young children are frequently found in points-of-sale in Bandung City, Indonesia Dian N. Hadihardjono, Mackenzie Green, Ame Stormer, Agustino, Doddy Izwardy and Mary Champeny
- Commercially produced complementary foods in Bandung City, Indonesia, are often reported to be iron fortified but with less than recommended amounts or suboptimal forms of iron Michele L. Dreyfuss, Mackenzie Green, Agustino, Dian N. Hadihardjono, Doddy Izwardy and Sandra L. Huffman
- Snack food and beverage consumption and young child nutrition in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review Alissa M. Pries, Suzanne Filteau and Elaine L. Ferguson
- High proportions of children under 3 years of age consume commercially produced snack foods and sugar-sweetened beverages in Bandung City, Indonesia Mackenzie Green, Dian N. Hadihardjono, Alissa M. Pries, Doddy Izwardy, Elizabeth Zehner and Sandra L. Huffman
- Energy intake from unhealthy snack food/beverage among 12-23-month-old children in urban Nepal Alissa M. Pries, Nisha Sharma, Atul Upadhyay, Andrea M. Rehman, Suzanne Filteau and Elaine L. Ferguson
- Perceptions of commercial snack food and beverages for infant and young child feeding: A mixed-methods study among caregivers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Nisha Sharma, Elaine L. Ferguson, Atul Upadhyay, Elizabeth Zehner, Suzanne Filteau and Alissa M. Pries
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