Nutritional evaluation of some commercial baby foods consumed in Saudi Arabia

The nutritive value of six baby foods based on milk (Nido, Wadi Fatima and Gain) and milk-cereal blends (Cerelac with wheat, Cerelac with rice and Milupa 2) commonly used in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was evaluated chemically including fatty acids analysis and biologically in growing rats. The milk based products vs milk-cereal blends provided (per 100kcal) protein (3.8-5.0 g vs 3.7-3.8 g), fat (5.2-5.7 g vs 2.0-4.8 g), available carbohydrates (7.3-9.5 g vs 10.5-16.6 g), Ca (159-189 mg vs 101-145 mg), Mg (15-18 mg vs 14-20 mg), Na (32-39 mg vs 42-51 mg), K (160-180 mg vs 122-144 mg), Fe (1.4-1.8 mg vs 1.5-1.9 mg), Cu (0.04-0.09 mg vs 0.09-0.1 mg), Zn (0.8-1.2 mg vs 0.8-1.1 mg), and linoleic acid (208-1343 mg vs 518-639 mg). Metabolizable energy (ME) values in milk based products (487-495 kcal/100 g) were higher than milk-cereal blends (404-473 kcal/100g). The true protein digestibility (TD) varied from (93-95%) in milk based foods to (94-95%) in milk-cereal blends. The net protein utilization (NPU) ranged between (0.74-0.78) in milk based products and (0.68-0.74) in milk-cereal blends. The net dietary protein calorie percent (NDP cal%) was higher in milk based foods (11.7-15.0%) than milk-cereal blends (10.2-11.1%). An imbalance of calories and nutrients in some baby foods was noticed. However, the protein quality was satisfactory and could meet the protein requirements of infants and toddlers as indicated by NDP cal% values.