Assessing the Effectiveness of a Multiple-micronutrient Fortified Maize Pap on the Nutrient Status of Nigerian School-aged Children

A new product was developed by FrieslandCampina for Sub-Saharan Africa as affordable nutrition to nourish Nigerian families of low to middle-socioeconomic class (SEC). It can potentially be used to enhance the ongoing school feeding programs, which are aimed at reducing malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies. The main component of the product is maize, which is a traditional staple in Nigeria. The product also contains milk (being a good source of high quality protein) fortified with various micronutrients including iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin B12 at levels contributing to approximately 1/3 of daily recommended intakes per serving of product. Intake of this product may therefore contribute to improvement of micronutrient status among Nigerian schoolchildren suffering from such nutrient deficiencies. Micronutrients are important for various processes in the body, which in turn may influence other outcomes as cognitive performance, reduce illness and improve growth.