Experience with Complementary Feeding in the Foncodes Project

Abstract

Alli Alimentu, a processed complementary food, is currently consumed by 50,000 children per day in Peru. The food, developed by the Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, is produced and distributed by the private sector in programmes funded by the government. In this paper, the development of the food is described, and issues related to financing, cost, production, and distribution are discussed. Monitoring and evaluation has focused on three activities: operational processes, communication and training, and impact. The impact evaluation showed that the consumption of energy, protein, iron, vitamin A, and calcium increased and the prevalence of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency decreased among targeted children. Surprisingly, the project did not affect child growth, suggesting that stunting is associated with multiple factors (genetic, environmental, and infectious) that the project did not modify.