Child Health, Agriculture and Integrated Nutrition

Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplement (SQ-LNS) is a food supplement rich in both macro and micronutrients (calories, proteins, fat and multivitamin mix). SQ-LNS is not considered a regulated drug product in Zimbabwe, or by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is commercially available for prevention of chronic malnutrition, produced by Nutriset (https://www.nutriset.fr/products/en/enov-nutributter2). Each child will receive a daily sachet of 20g SQ-LNS between 6-12 months of age, consumed directly from the sachet or mixed with porridge.

Provitamin A Maize Meal is orange maize-meal processed from provitamin A-rich orange maize. PVA maize meal will be sourced from International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT). Children in the intervention arm will consume 13g - 128g of pro-vitamin A (PVA) maize meal, with added powders. Each family will receive a monthly ration of 5kg PVA maize and this ration takes into consideration of household sharing. Families with children in the IYCF arm will receive white maize meal.

NUA 45 bean powder is ground from roasted iron and zinc-rich biofortified sugar beans. NUA 45 bean powder will be sourced from Sky Brands Ltd Company. Children will consume a daily dose of 5g - 15g of NUA 45 bean powder added to complementary foods.

Moringa oleifera is an edible plant abundant in dry tropic regions including Zimbabwe. It is known to be rich in micronutrients and has been widely used in Zimbabwe and around the world both as a food and a herb. Moringa oleifera leaf powder, is a dried and ground powder produced from Moringa oleifera leaves using traditional methods. It has been widely used to fortify complementary foods in the African region with the aim of improving micronutrient status. Moringa oleifera leaf powder will be sourced from Lemex Products Company. Children will receive a daily dose of 5g - 15g of Moringa leaf powder added to complementary foods.

Egg Powder is hydrolysed non-genetically modified organism (GMO), fine and unflavoured whole egg powder. It is processed with no additives, preservatives, lecithin, added sugar, soy or monosodium glutamate. Egg powder will be sourced from France (A \& D Food Ingredients - distributor in South Africa). Children in the IYCF-plus arm will receive a daily dose of 14g egg powder. A 15% extra amount of egg powder will be provided to families taking into consideration of household sharing. Egg powder will be provided in sealed plastic jars similar to that of peanut butter and households will receive promotion messages to store the powder in a cool, dry place and avoiding contact with water or moisture during use.

Commercial white maize meal will be provided monthly. Infants age 6-8 months will receive 45g (3 tablespoons) daily; infants aged 9-12 months will receive 71g (4.5 tablespoons) daily.