Ultraprocessing and presence of additives in commercially produced complementary foods in seven Southeast Asian countries: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There has been a dramatic shift in food systems, and the consumption of commercially processed and packaged foods has grown globally, including among older infants and young children. Many of these products are ultraprocessed and contain additives, with concerning implications for the health and nutrition of children.

Objectives: The study objectives were as follows: 1) to assess the levels of processing among different commercially produced complementary food product (CPCF) categories marketed in the Southeast Asia region, 2) to compare the nutrient content of CPCF products across levels of processing, and 3) to assess the types of additives present in different CPCF categories.

Overpromoted and underregulated: National binding legal measures related to commercially produced complementary foods in seven Southeast Asian countries are not fully aligned with available guidance.

The market for commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) is rapidly expanding in Southeast Asia; however, the existence and content of mandatory national policies, standards and legislation (binding legal measures) for CPCF in the region is unclear. To assess the status of national binding legal measures for CPCF in Southeast Asia, a legal and policy desk review was conducted in seven countries (Cambodia, Laos People's Democratic Republic, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam). The alignment of the national binding legal measures relevant to CPCF was assessed against guidance on CPCF nutrient composition and labelling requirements provided by Codex Alimentarius and the World Health Organization (WHO).

First foods in a packaged world: Results from the COMMIT consortium to protect young child diets in Southeast Asia.

Although commercially produced complementary foods (CPCFs) are increasingly sold throughout Southeast Asia, concerns have been raised about CPCFs nutritional quality, labelling practices and the strength and scope of national CPCF regulations. The Consortium for Improving Complementary Foods in Southeast Asia (COMMIT), composed of UN agencies and civil society organizations, was formed to assess the nutrient gap in the diets of young children and the consumer, product and policy landscapes for CPCFs in seven Southeast Asian countries. Results from a nutrient gap assessment indicate that the diets of children aged 6-23 months are suboptimal and deficient in micronutrients.

Accuracy of declared nutrient content on labels of commercial complementary food products in Cambodia, Indonesia and Senegal.

Commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) have the potential to fill nutritional gaps in the diets of older infants and young children. This study evaluated the accuracy of nutrient declarations on labels of 43 commonly available CPCF in three peri-urban/urban locations: Khsach Kandal district, Cambodia (n = 11); Bandung, Indonesia (n = 11) and Guédiawaye and Dakar departments, Senegal (n = 21). Label values (LV) from product nutrient declarations were compared to analytical values (AV) derived from laboratory nutrient analysis for macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and total fat), nutrients of public health concern (saturated fat, total sugar and sodium), and micronutrients of interest (calcium, iron and zinc).

Adherence to the South African food based dietary guidelines may reduce breast cancer risk in black South African women: the South African Breast Cancer (SABC) study.

Objective: To determine the level of adherence and to assess the association between higher adherence to the South African food based dietary guidelines (SAFBDG) and breast cancer risk.

Design: Population-based, case-control study (the South African Breast Cancer study) matched on age and demographic settings. Validated questionnaires were used to collect dietary and epidemiological data.

Prevalence, duration, and content of television advertisements for breast milk substitutes and commercially produced complementary foods in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Dakar, Senegal.

Promotion of breast milk substitutes (BMS) and inappropriate marketing of commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF), including through television, can negatively influence infant and young child feeding. The World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions prohibit such advertising and require manufacturers and distributors to comply with its provisions; however, such regulations at national level may vary. Advertisements require Ministry of Health approval in Cambodia but are not regulated in Senegal.

Assessment of corporate compliance with guidance and regulations on labels of commercially produced complementary foods sold in Cambodia, Nepal, Senegal and Tanzania.

National legislation and global guidance address labelling of complementary foods to ensure that labels support optimal infant and young child feeding practices. This cross-sectional study assessed the labels of commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) sold in Phnom Penh (n = 70), Cambodia; Kathmandu Valley (n = 22), Nepal; Dakar Department (n = 84), Senegal; and Dar es Salaam (n = 26), Tanzania. Between 3.

Cross-sectional survey shows that follow-up formula and growing-up milks are labelled similarly to infant formula in four low and middle income countries.

This cross-sectional survey assessed the characteristics of labels of follow-up formula (FUF) and growing-up milk (GUM) compared with infant formula (IF), including cross-promotion practices between FUF/GUM and IF manufactured by the same company, sold in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Kathmandu Valley, Nepal; Dakar Department, Senegal; and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. All products were imported. A wide recommended age/age range for introduction was provided by manufacturers across all sites, with products with an age recommendation of 0-6 months being most prevalent in three sites, representing over a third of all products.

Educating and training a workforce for nutrition in a post-2015 world.

Nearly all countries in the world today are burdened with malnutrition, manifesting as undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and/or overweight and obesity. Despite some progress, efforts to alleviate malnutrition are hampered by a shortage in number, skills, and geographic coverage, of a workforce for nutrition. Here, we report the findings of the Castel Gandolfo workshop, a convening of experts from diverse fields in March 2014 to consider how to develop the capacity of a global cadre of nutrition professionals for the post-2015 development era.

'FAN the SUN brighter': fortifying Africa nutritionally (FAN) - the role of public private partnership in scaling up nutrition (SUN) in West Africa.

The scaling up nutrition (SUN) policy framework requires extensive public–private partnership (PPP). Malnutrition is multi-dimensional and should engage multi-sectoral platforms. The SUN policy however did not fully embrace the dynamics of harnessing PPP.

Consumption of micronutrient-fortified milk and noodles is associated with lower risk of stunting in preschool-aged children in Indonesia.

Background: Stunting is highly prevalent in developing countries and is associated with greater morbidity and mortality. Micronutrient deficiencies contribute to stunting, and micronutrient-fortified foods are a potential strategy to reduce child stunting.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the use of fortified powdered milk and noodles and child stunting in a large, population-based sample of Indonesian children.

Evidence in multiple micronutrient nutrition: from history to science to effective programs.

The workshop involved key researchers from academic and development organizations reviewing what we have learned about multiple micronutrients and applying that knowledge to providing guidance to public health policy and program design. The participants highlighted the importance of evidence-based interventions, not to restrict evidence slanted toward one single origin but to appreciate the totality of evidence from history, epidemiology, basic science, randomized-controlled studies, and meta-analyses to inform policy and guideline development for the implementation of effective programs. It has to be understood and accepted that although the need for an evidence-based approach to nutritional recommendations is fundamental and cannot be disputed, there are distinct differences between evidence-based medicine and evidence-based nutrition practice.

Paternal smoking is associated with greater food insecurity among poor families in rural Indonesia.

Food insecurity is common in developing countries and related to the physical well being of families. Household food insecurity is intended to reflect a household's access, availability, and utilization of food. The relationship between paternal smoking and household food insecurity has not been well characterized.

Relationship of homestead food production with night blindness among children below 5 years of age in Bangladesh.

Objective: To examine the relationship between homestead food production and night blindness among pre-school children in rural Bangladesh in the presence of a national vitamin A supplementation programme.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: A population-based sample of six rural divisions of Bangladesh assessed in the Bangladesh Nutrition Surveillance Project 2001-2005.

Relationship of the presence of a household improved latrine with diarrhea and under-five child mortality in Indonesia.

We characterized the relationship of the presence of an improved latrine with diarrhea and under-five child mortality in Indonesia. The proportion of rural and urban families, respectively, without an improved latrine was 52.1% and 16.

Iron-fortified milk and noodle consumption is associated with lower risk of anemia among children aged 6-59 mo in Indonesia.

Background: Anemia is common among children in developing countries and is associated with decreased cognitive and physical development. Iron-fortified foods may decrease child anemia.

Objective: The objective was to describe the association between iron-fortified milk and iron-fortified noodle consumption and anemia in children aged 6-59 mo.

Beliefs of South Africans regarding food and cardiovascular health.

Objectives: To investigate the beliefs of South African metropolitan adults regarding the importance of influencing cardiovascular health by eating certain food types, and to compare these beliefs between different race, living standards, age and gender groups.

Design: Randomised cross-sectional study. Trained fieldworkers administered questionnaires by conducting face-to-face interviews with consumers.