article · Scientific Reports
Childhood malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa is frequently driven by inadequate complementary feeding practices. To address this issue, an instant weaning food was formulated using finger millet enhanced with indigenous, prebiotic-rich ingredients: baobab pulp, tiger nut flour, orange-fleshed sweet potato, and unripe banana flour. Using a D-optimal mixture design, several blends were created and tested for nutrient density, amino acid profiles, protein digestibility, glycemic response, and sensory appeal. The enriched mixtures significantly exceeded pure finger millet in protein, dietary fibre, essential micronutrients, and antioxidant content. In particular, a blend designated as Run 8 achieved high sensory acceptability combined with a favourable, lower glycemic response. The findings confirm that underutilised local food crops can be successfully combined into nutrient-dense, functional complementary foods that align with local dietary preferences.
Early childhood malnutrition remains a critical challenge across sub-Saharan Africa, largely due to poor complementary feeding options. Showing that indigenous, readily available crops can be processed into nutritious, highly accepted weaning foods provides an accessible solution. This approach supports community health interventions by reducing dependence on expensive imported commercial foods and promoting local agricultural resources to improve infant nutrition.
This work directly informs food processors, social enterprises, and public health programmes looking to manufacture affordable infant foods. With laboratory formulation, nutritional profiling, and sensory testing completed, the research sits at an applied and tested stage. Commercialisation would require further steps, including manufacturing process scale-up, shelf-life verification, and regulatory compliance testing for commercial infant nutrition standards.
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Malnutrition in infants and young children remains a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa, often linked to poor complementary feeding practices. This study formulated and evaluated an instant weaning mix using finger millet ( Eleusine coracana ) enriched with prebiotic-rich indigenous ingredients: baobab pulp, tiger nut flour, orange-fleshed sweet potato, and unripe banana flour. A D-optimal mixture design was applied to generate optimal blends. Proximate composition, mineral and vitamin content, phytochemicals, amino acid profile, in vitro protein digestibility, glycemic index and load, and sensory attributes were analyzed. The enriched blends significantly outperformed the control (100% finger millet) in protein, fibre, essential micronutrients, and antioxidant content. Sample Run 8 showed lower glycemic response and high acceptability. Incorporating underutilized, nutrient-rich local ingredients improved nutritional quality and functional potential. The study supports food-based strategies using local resources to develop affordable, culturally acceptable weaning foods to combat early childhood malnutrition.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-67074-z
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