title: High consumption of commercial food products among children less than 24 months of age and product promotion in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
abstract: Commercially produced complementary foods can help improve nutritional status of young children if they are appropriately fortified and of optimal nutrient composition. However, other commercially produced snack food products may be nutritionally detrimental, potentially increasing consumption of foods high in salt or sugar and displacing consumption of other more nutritious options. Helen Keller International, in collaboration with the Nepal government, implemented a study to assess mothers' utilization of commercial food products for child feeding and exposure to commercial promotions for these products. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 309 mothers of children less than 24 months of age across 15 health facilities. Utilization of breastmilk substitutes was low, having been consumed by 6.2% of children 0-5 months of age and 7.5% of children 6-23 months of age. Approximately one-fourth (24.6%) of children 6-23 months age had consumed a commercially produced complementary food in the prior day. Twenty-eight percent of mothers reported observing a promotion for breastmilk substitutes, and 20.1% reported promotions for commercially produced complementary foods. Consumption of commercially produced snack food products was high at 74.1% of children 6-23 months. Promotions for these same commercially produced snack food products were highly prevalent in Kathmandu Valley, reported by 85.4% of mothers. In order to improve diets during the complementary feeding period, development of national standards for complementary food products is recommended. Nutritious snack options should be promoted for the complementary feeding period; consumption of commercially produced snack food products high in sugar and salt and low in nutrients should be discouraged.
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Asia Pacific Regional Office, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Alissa M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pries
authors.affiliation: Consultant to Helen Keller International.
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Huffman
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Indu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adhikary
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Population, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Senendra Raj
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Upreti
authors.affiliation: Consultant to Helen Keller International.
authors.forename: Shrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhungel
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Washington D.C., United States of America.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Champeny
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Washington D.C., United States of America.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zehner
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology; D002657:Child Development; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000191:economics; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009390:Nepal; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D062410:Snacks / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Nepal; double burden; infant and young child feeding; snack foods