[Development and evaluation of food supplements for the education, health, and nutrition program]

To develop and evaluate nutritional supplements destined to a program of social assistance.

In the design of the nutritional supplements a series of criteria were considered including nutrient composition, physicochemical properties and feasibility of production and utilization. Final products were initially evaluated to determine the level of acceptance in 40 children, 52 pregnant women and 62 lactating women in Mexico City. A community trial was also carried out to determine acceptance and consumption in 108 children and 128 women from a rural community in the state of Morelos.

The specific formulation and technical processes of production of the nutritional supplements are presented. Products proved to be widely accepted, with average scores of 4.11-4.29 for the children's beverage, and 3.98-4.15 for a more viscous pap (range of scores was 1 to 5). Products for women received average scores from 4.75 to 5.70 in pregnant and from 4.8 to 5.4 in lactating women (range of scores from 1 to 7). In the community trial, supplements were very well accepted. Average consumption was > 75% among children and > 98% among women. Mean energy intake from supplements was 244 Kcal/day for women, and for children, 168 Kcal/day with the pap and 147 Kcal/day with the beverage. Consumption was consistent in all cases along the study.

Nine nutritional supplements were developed and evaluated which comply with the necessary nutritional, physicochemical and hygienic characteristics for the target population, besides being relatively simple to prepare, and widely well accepted and consumed.