A Randomized Crossover Study to Evaluate Recipe Acceptability in Breastfeeding Mothers and Young Children in India Targeted for a Multiple Biofortified Food Crop Intervention

Background: A multiple biofortified food crop trial targeting iron, zinc, and vitamin A deficiencies among young children and their breastfeeding mothers is planned in India. Objective: To determine the acceptability of recipes prepared with control and biofortified pearl millet, wheat, lentils, and sweet potato. Methods: Children (6-24 months) and their mothers were enrolled as pairs (n = 52). Weight and height/length were determined. Mothers and children were separately, individually randomized in a crossover design to control or biofortified recipes. Children’s 3-day intake was measured per recipe and crop variety. For mothers, a 9-point hedonic scale evaluated color, odor, taste, and overall acceptability. Results: Children’s mean (SD) length-/height-for-age Z-score was −1.2 (1.7), with 27% < −2 (stunted). Mean weight-for-length Z-score was −0.6 (1.2) with 9.6% < −2 (wasted). Mother’s body mass index showed 17% 25. There was no difference in the children’s intake of biofortified versus control varieties of any recipe (P ≥ .22); overall median daily intake was 75 g (Q1: 61, Q3: 100). Mother’s hedonic scores for color, odor, taste, or overall acceptability did not demonstrate any notable differences (P ≥ .23 for overall acceptability); combined median overall acceptability score was 8.5 (Q1: 8.0, Q3: 9.0). Conclusions: Recipes were consumed readily, were rated as highly acceptable, and did not show any differences between biofortified and control varieties.