https://doi.org/10.37527/2021.71.S1
1Emory University, Atlanta, United States, 2Nutrition International, Ottawa, Canada, 3Food Fortification Initiative & Emory University, Atlanta, United States
Background and objective. Fortification of grains including wheat flour (WF), maize flour (MF) and rice (R), is cost-effective in reducing micronutrient deficiencies. Accurate grain-consumption estimates ensure reliable fortification design and impact assessment. The objective was to compare multiple approaches for estimating grain consumption among the total population in Kenya and Bangladesh.
Methods. Analysis and comparison of three approaches per country. 1) Existing dietary/proxy databases, 2) Milling associations’ data on grains available for human consumption, and 3) FAO’s food balance sheet data.
Results. For Approach 1, three datasets were analyzed for Kenya (Kenya National Micronutrient Survey 2011, Kenya Hunger Safety Net Programme Survey 2016, GENuS 2011) and two for Bangladesh (Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey 2018-19, GENuS 2011). For example, for KNMS, the average (SD) consumption of WF, MF and R was 56.7 (91.4), 167.6 (163) and 21.9 (63.5) grams/capita/day, respectively, while for BIHS, it was 28.2 (44.8), 0.2 (3.6) and 300.6 (226.8) g/c/d, respectively. In GENuS for Bangladesh, the median consumption was 35.7, 0.84, and 472.9 g/c/d for WF, MF and R, respectively. From Approach 2, WF, MF and R available in Kenya in 2018 was 116.8, 245.7, and 58 g/c/d, respectively, while in Bangladesh from mid-2018 to mid-2019 it was 109 g/c/d (WF) and 599.8 g/c/d (R). In Approach 3, the 2018 supply of wheat and wheat products, maize and maize products, and rice and rice products in Kenya was 110, 206.5, and 60 g/c/d, respectively, and in Bangladesh was 51.2, 1.9, and 711.5 g/c/d, respectively.
Conclusion. In Kenya and Bangladesh, grain consumption estimates from dietary or comparable surveys were lower than those estimated from milling association availability figures and FAO food balance sheet information, with the exception of rice in Kenya. These data suggest that depending on the source of grain-intake information, the potential coverage, reach, and impact of fortified grains can vary.