Caterpillar cereal as a potential complementary feeding product for infants and young children: nutritional content and acceptability

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiency is an important cause of growth stunting. To avoid micronutrient deficiency, the World Health Organization recommends complementary feeding with animal-source foods. However, animal-source foods are not readily available in many parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In such areas, caterpillars are a staple in adult diets and may be suitable for complementary feeding for infants and young children. We developed a cereal made from dried caterpillars and other locally available ingredients (ground corn, palm oil, sugar and salt), measured its macro-and micronutrient contents and evaluated for microbiologic contamination. Maternal and infant acceptability was evaluated among 20 mothers and their 8-10-month-old infants. Mothers were instructed in the preparation of the cereal and asked to evaluate the cereal in five domains using a Likert scale. Mothers fed their infants a 30-g portion daily for 1 week. Infant acceptability was based on cereal consumption and the occurrence of adverse events. The caterpillar cereal contained 132 kcal, 6.9-g protein, 3.8-mg iron and 3.8-mg zinc per 30 g and was free from microbiologic contamination. Mothers' median ratings for cereal characteristics were (5 = like very much): overall impression = 4, taste = 5, smell = 4, texture = 4, colour = 5, and consistency = 4. All infants consumed more than 75% of the daily portions, with five infants consuming 100%. No serious adverse events were reported. We conclude that a cereal made from locally available caterpillars has appropriate macro-and micronutrient contents for complementary feeding, and is acceptable to mothers and infants in the DRC.

Observations of entomophagy across Benin – practices and potentials

“…Second, as ethnic preferences vary between groups it is important to trial farming with species that are in line with local traditions. Preferences are likely to have a large effect on how well any product could be adopted, promoted and eventually marketed (Bauserman et al 2013). Another consideration is nutritional quality, as protein and micronutrient content can vary significantly among insect species (Banjo et al 2006;Rumpold and Schlüter 2013).…”

Child acceptability of a novel provitamin A carotenoid, iron and zinc-rich complementary food blend prepared from pumpkin and common bean in Uganda: A randomised control trial

“…Preparation and acceptability of micronutrient-rich CFs from locally available food ingredients has been reported previously (Konyole et al, 2012;Govender et al, 2014;Bauserman et al, 2015;Amod et al, 2016). Based on the amount consumed, Bauserman and colleagues established that micronutrient-rich CF prepared from caterpillar, corn and palm oil was acceptable to children in the age range of complementary feeding, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Bauserman et al, 2015).…”

Special nutritious solutions to enhance complementary feeding

“…A total of nine papers deal with the forms and amounts of iron that can be included in different types of food, whether folic acid can be included in complementary feeding commodities in areas where malaria is endemic, whether including milk powder results in additional benefits that are worth their higher cost, and inclusion of local nutrient‐dense ingredients instead of vitamin/mineral premix, that is, caterpillars in blended food (Bauserman et al . ), and Moringa oleifera extract in LNS (Ickes et al . ).…”

“…Bauserman et al . () developed a local food for complementary feeding that contained caterpillars, ground corn, palm oil, sugar and salt and found that it was liked by 8‐ to 10‐month‐old infants and caretakers. The authors state that the food had adequate nutrient composition for young child feeding; however, this statement is not adequately supported by their data as they only analyzed the content of macro‐nutrients, iron, zinc, copper and magnesium, and did not provide the target composition to which they compared the food.…”