Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 7(9), pp. 972-988, 9 March, 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE DOI: 10.5897/SRE11.1362 ISSN 1992-2248 ©2012 Academic Journals Review Complementary food blends and malnutrition among infants in Ghana: A review and a proposed solution Francis Kweku Amagloh 1,2 , Janet L. Weber 1 , Louise Brough 1 , Allan Hardacre 1 , Anthony N. Mutukumira 1 and Jane Coad 1 * 1 Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Turitea Campus, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. 2 University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. Accepted 22 November, 2011 Widespread malnutrition among Ghanaian infants could be attributed to unfortified plant-based complementary foods commonly used at the household level. This review summarises the publications on the development of complementary food blends and intervention trials aimed at improving the nutritional status of Ghanaian infants. The complementary food blends are cereal-based which are developed from maize (in higher proportion) together with soyabean, cowpea and/or groundnut-an effort to improve protein and energy levels. The cereal-legume blends affect growth more positively than cereal-only formulations but not micronutrient status unless fortified with micronutrients. The low level of micronutrients (including vitamin A) and the high phytate content of cereal-legume blends partly account for micronutrient deficiencies. Phytate limits the bioavailability of nutrients such as iron, calcium and zinc. We propose an alternative complementary food blend which is based on sweet potato. This proposed formulation would be relatively high in endogenous β -carotene (vitamin A precursor) and low in phytate compared to household-level cereal-based complementary foods. Key words: Cereal-legume, complementary food, Ghana, malnutrition, phytate, sweet potato. INTRODUCTION The level of childhood malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa, an area that includes Ghana, is among the worst in the world. The proportion of children under 5 years with chronic malnutrition (<-2 SD from the reference median for height-for-age) in Sub-Saharan Africa was 38%, against a worldwide prevalence of 28% (UNICEF, 2009). Globally, an estimated 33% of children under 5 years were vitamin A deficient; in Africa, the prevalence was higher (42%) (WHO, 2009). Although the prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin threshold of ≤110 g/L) among children under 5 years was a worldwide problem (47%), the occurrence was markedly higher (68%) in Africa (de Benoist et al., 2008). Infants are more likely to become malnourished in low-income countries when complementary foods are introduced (Dewey et al., 1992; *Corresponding author. E-mail: J.Coad@massey.ac.nz. Tel: +64 06 350 5962. Fax: +64 06 350 5446. Dewey, 1998; Gibson et al., 1998; Lutter and Rivera, 2003). The inadequacy of infant nutrition and its negative influence on attainment of full potential in life is now well established (Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO, 2003; Engle et al., 2007; Adu-Afarwuah et al., 2008; Beard, 2008). Grantham-McGregor et al. (2007) suggested that poor nutrition during infancy is likely to lead to poor academic achievement, low incomes in adulthood and inadequate care for the children of subsequent generations. This cycle has contributed to the inter-generational poverty bedevilling low-income countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (Walker et al., 2007). Therefore, a review of the types of complementary foods available/being promoted in low- income countries, such as Ghana, demands more attention. Ghana was chosen because of the vigorous efforts by local and international researchers to improve the nutritional status of infants during the last two decades in the country. This review is limited to publications on the formulation