Computer-Optimized Weaning Food Blends

Abstract

This computerized linear programming study was performed to formulate low-cost, commercially processed, blended weaning foods, and even less expensive, home-prepared, blended wearing foods, with excellent energy and protein value for use in areas of Lusaka, Zambia, where the risk of malnutrition is high. Ingredient input information included proximate and essential amino acid analyses, into-the-blend costs, and factors for gastrointestinal absorption of proteins and total energy. For most computed mixtures, the minimum cost at selected levels of absorbed protein quality was optimized. Formulations were determined, with calculated cost and nutritional parameters, using only mother-favoured ingredients or, alternatively, selections from among all listed market ingredients; fat versus fat plus sugar as concentrated energy; for different seasons (home-prepared); and, for commercial blends, both with and without puridies amino acid(s) that do or do not include vitamin-antioxidant-mineral mix. The methodology should be widely applicable elsewhere.