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A study entitled "Developing rice based complementary food for infants"
was conducted to formulate a weaning food with rice suitable for feeding infants
of six to nine months of age.
Sixty four combinations of basic mixes were worked out combining rice
with different pulses in varying proportions. Out of these, eleven combinations
having high chemical score (above 80) were selected for formulation of
multimixes by adding ingredients in two different ways. In the former method ragi
or wheat was added to the basic mix as a second cereal and in the later method an
additional pulse was added. Thus 247 combinations were formulated. From these,
eleven combinations having chemical score above eighty were selected at random.
Thus there were eleven basic mixes and eleven multimixes. These 22 mixes
(11+11) were used in the preparation of a comprehensive multimix based on
"food square" concept suggested by Protein Advisory Group (1975), which would
contain a staple of the locality and a food that would supply protein, a mineral and
vitamin supplement and an energy supplement.
As the staple and protein components are already present in the 22 primary
,
mixes, amaranth leaves were added as vitamin-mineral supplement. Sugar and
coconut oil were added as energy supplements. While calculating the nutritive
value of the 22 combinations, the protein content was found to be very low; hence
soya was also included as an additional ingredient to formulate complementary
food.
The selected ingredients in the multimixes were processed separately by
common cottage level techniques and were blended in specified proportions to
formulate the 22 comprehensive multimixes. These were converted into a recipe
suitable to feed an infant. They were evaluated organoleptically by ten expert
judges with the help of a score card. The total scores were compared and ten
mixes having highest acceptability scores were selected. These multimixes

contained amaranth as vitamin-mineral supplement. As drumstick leaves is also a
cheap and easily available green leafy vegetable, ten more multimixes were
processed replacing amaranth with drumstick leaves. The multimixes with
amaranth were designated with a suffix 'A' while those containing drumstick
leaves had the suffix 'DS' along with their serial number.
These 20 (10+10) multimixes were processed by "extrusion" to facilitate
large scale production for commercial exploitation. These were then evaluated for
their yield, nutritive value, organoleptic quality and cost.
In order to identify some of the best multimixes from the above 20, they
were further ranked on the basis of organoleptic score. Thus 8DS and 3DS were
ranked as first and second respectively. Corresponding combinations containing
amaranth, viz., 8A and 3A were also selected for further analysis to find out the
best multimix. In order to achieve the mulimixes were subjected to chemical,
physical, nutritional and sanitary quality analysis and were evaluated for their
shelf stability, acceptability and preference. Several parameters were used to
evaluate chemical, physical, nutritional quality of the four mixes. As these
parameters varied widely, comprehensive indices were worked out using
appropriate statistical tools.
Thus the product quality index for chemical, physical and rheological
qualities and nutritional adequacy were worked out. The multimix 8A secured the
highest index value for chemical, physical and rheological characters, while 3A
secured the highest score for nutritional adequacy.
To identify the most acceptable multimix, an overall adequacy index was
also ~orked out and the index value revealed that 8A is the most suitable one
since it had the highest index score.
Total bacterial count and E. coli contamination if any also ascertained to
ensure that the multimixes are safe for feeding infants. Eventhough all the four
mixes were not absolutely sterile, the counts were much below the admissible
level suggested by BIS. It was further gratifying to note that E. coli was

completely absent in all the four multimixes, giving further assurance to sanitary
quality.
Shelf stability evaluation of the multimixes were carried out through
chemical, physical and microbiological methods after storing the mixes for three
months in polyethylene covers. Eventhough after storage the peroxide value and
bacterial count were within acceptable limits, there was marginal increase in
above parameters. Despite of the above variation, the acceptability of the mixes
remained unaltered, which confirms the shelf stability.
Organoleptic and preference test conducted after storage also indicated 8A
as the most acceptable multimix.
In order to justify the quality of the product the characteristics of the four
mixes were further compared with those specified under IS 1659-1969 standard.
From this exercise, it was found that the products were effective in supplying
adequate amount of two major nutrients namely, carbohydrate and protein.
However the fat content was found to be low, but this was overcome by the
addition of coconut oil at the time of serving the mix in the form of a porridge.
Vitamin and mineral contents were also found to be low, but such deficiency can
be made up by adding commercial vitamin-mineral pre-mixes to the blends while
processing the material, which is an acceptable practice followed in preparing
infant formulae.
To assess the commercial viability of the products, further, the mixes were
also com;ared with selected characteristics of a commercial rice based infant
formula (Nestum-control). When nutritional adequacy was tested, the commercial
formula was found to be ill-balanced. This control sample was noted to contain
excess amount of carbohydrate and very low amount of protein and fat when
compared to BIS recommendation. It is of special interest to note that this
commercial formula was not adequate even to meet half of the protein
requirement of a young infant, while the developed four mixes had a balanced
proportion of the three major nutrients (after addition of coconut oil to the recipe).
Another important feature was that the control sample had higher proportion of

minerals especially sodium and potassium which agam introduces another
element of ill-balance, which may endanger the kidney function of the infant on
prolonged use. However the multimixes developed had low levels of minerals and
vitamins. These, if necessary, could be made upto desired level by adding
vitamin-mineral pre-mixes in specified amounts while processing the blends.
Another most important feature that was highly noticeable was the cost.
The developed mixes were very cheap (18 to 34 Rs/kg) when compared with
commercial infant formula (147 Rs/kg).
The study revealed that the developed product 8A containing rice (550 g),
black gram dhal (250g), soya (150g) and amaranth (50g) was found to meet the
requirements specified by IS (1659-1969) for majority of the characteristics (nine
out of eleven) and hence could be proclaimed as a nutritious complementary food
for infants of Kerala being indigenous, low cost and easy to prepare and feed.