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CHAPTER 6 COMPLEMENTARY FOOD FORTIFICATION
6.1 Background
Poor food consumption is a common determinant on the under nutrition among children. The problem of complementary feeding in Indonesia is mostly not met the
nutritional adequacy for infant and young child. The prevalence of energy-protein deficiency is still high. Moreover, the scatter studies showed that almost 50-65 of
young child 6-12 months suffering iron deficiency. Most of the complementary food is prepared at home by families using local food, which deficient in iron and several
micronutrients. Type of common food eaten for infant and young child is porridge rice mixed with vegetables spinach, carrot or others and small amount of protein sources.
In addition, the some of families at the level A, B, and C of the economic strata can purchase, even not often, the commercial complementary feeding for their young child.
There are about five companies in Indonesia producing complementary food. The Producers Association mentioned that it seems there is no problem dealing with
the production or supply of commercial complementary food. However, the problem is an inadequate intake of complementary food because of the lack of accessibility and
awareness. According to the Producer Association, even at the A and B strata, the average consumption of commercial complementary food is only 36 gram per capita per
day; and at the C strata is only consume 14 gram per capita per day. This amount is still not adequate compared with the UNICEF recommendation, which is 50 grams per
capita per day. Most of the family at the level D poor and E very poor do not have an access
on the commercial food. Most of them had a problem for providing the adequate food from both home-prepared and commercial complementary food. Infant and young child
who suffer from energy-protein and micronutrient deficiencies are usually coming from this level at the community. During the economic crises, those families are getting
“special market operation rice”, which price has a 50 subsidy from the government. So far, there is no program on a cheaper complementary food and its social marketing
for middle and lower income strata. THE MODEL
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Improving the complementary feeding is one of the programs for eliminating malnutrition among infant and young child. In Indonesia, industry of commercial
complementary food must follow a mandatory fortification of micronutrients, included iron, since 1995. This program has become promising since the government committed
and stated clearly on the National Food and Nutrition Plan of Action 2000. Strong support on this program is also coming from the private sectors such as
Complementary Food Producers and NGO’s.
6.2. Objective
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