Quality control of complementary feeds

As malnutrition is a chronic state of imbalance between nutritional needs, quantity and quality of food consumed, and as the latter is often subject to formulation and/or characterization that does not comply with standards, we decided to investigate their nutritional and commercial quality levels in order to contribute to the fight against this scourge. For this purpose, the most consumed supplementary foods in the city of Yaounde were collected. Their general labelling, nutritional quality and nutritional composition were evaluated according to Codex Alimentarius standards. The net weights, total protein, total sugars, total lipids, crude fibre, calcium, potassium, sodium, iron and zinc contents were determined according to the reference methods, as well as certain commercial parameters. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the cereal-based supplementary foods marketed in Yaound are of good commercial quality, but of variable nutritional quality. This nutritional quality deserves to be improved, preserved and controlled.