Food Hydrocolloids for Health · Published 2026-07-13 · DOI 10.1016/j.fhfh.2026.100301
Bappy Chowdhury, Shoumen Dhar, Mehenaj Musa, Abdur Rahman, Mahima Ranjan Acharjee, Sreebash Chandra Bhattacharjee
In low-income countries like Bangladesh, ensuring proper nutrition for infants after six months of age remains a significant challenge, as conventional foods often fail to meet their nutritional needs. This study developed and evaluated three complementary food formulations (F1, F2, and F3) for infants and young children aged 6–24 months, using indigenous raw materials such as broken rice, carrots, soybeans, peanuts, cowpeas, and skim milk powder, to support healthy infant nutrition and growth. The proximate analysis demonstrated F2 as the most nutrient-dense formulation on a dry weight basis, with 19.92 ± 1.58% protein and 9.01 ± 0.10% fat, while F3 delivered the highest carbohydrate content, 63.55 ± 1.79%, providing balanced energy suitable for complementary feeding. Furthermore, based on the minerals and vitamins profiles of the formulations, F2 contained elevated levels of iron (4.86 ± 0.03 mg/100 g), calcium (270.26 ± 0.03 mg/100 g), and vitamin A (0.92 ± 0.02 mg/100 g), which are essential for resisting deficiencies and supporting immune and skeletal health. Additionally, the absence of heavy metals in the formulations ensures the safety for consumption. Moreover, functional tests indicated F2’s superior water absorption (3.27 ± 0.06 g/g) and viscosity (2103.33 ± 5.77 cP), increasing feeding suitability, whereas F3 scored highest in sensory appeal (overall acceptability: 8.5/9). Microbial stability was confirmed, respectively, remaining within permissible limits, while no coliforms, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes were detected in any formulation. These findings contribute to enhancing infant nutrition in low-resource settings and support global nutrition initiatives. This approach offers a promising strategy for improving dietary diversity and nutritional intake for infants in vulnerable populations.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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Chowdhury, B., Dhar, S., Musa, M., et al. (2026). Complementary infant food formulations for children aged 6-24 months developed from indigenous Bangladeshi ingredients: Nutritional quality, safety, functionality, and acceptability. Food Hydrocolloids for Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fhfh.2026.100301