The potential of Amaranth Grain-Based Flour in Complementary Feeding: A Community-Based Approach in Kongwa District, Tanzania.

Complementary feeding is critical for child development, yet inadequate nutrient intake remains a significant challenge in low-income countries, including Tanzania. The selection of appropriate complementary foods that meet dietary diversity is key to child growth and development. This study was done to unleash the potential of amaranth grain in complementary feeding in the Kongwa district, to provide an alternative to maize-based complementary feeding that is low in nutrients and highly susceptible to mycotoxins contamination. Amaranth grain-based flour for complementary feeding was formulated from a mixture of amaranth grain, millet, and pumpkin seeds at 4:1:1 (w/w/w). Kjeldahl method and atomic absorption spectrometry were used to quantify nutrients, while High-Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to determine aflatoxin contamination. Recipe trials involved focus group discussions with 48 mothers of children 6-24 months. Furthermore, sensory evaluation using a 9 hedonic scale technique was adopted to assess the acceptability of the Porridge made from Amaranth grain-based flour. Amaranth grain-based flour presented high nutritive value: Energy 485.50 kcal/100g, protein 14.76 g/100g, Lipids 14.22 g/100g, and iron 15.36 g/100g, zinc 16.8 mg/100g, calcium 301.19 mg/100g, and vitamin A 402.34 ug/100g portion of flour. The nutritive composition of five nutrients met the WHO-RNI recommendation except lipid and calcium, that was low, 30 and 32% below RNI, despite the statistical insignificance (p = 0.815). The maximum aflatoxin contamination of the flour was 0.5 μg/kg, which was below the maximum tolerable limit of 10 μg/kg for total aflatoxin in food, harmonized by the East African Community and adopted by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards. Porridge made from flour was highly accepted by mothers, with a 9 hedonic scale result of 9.3 out of 10. Amaranth grain-based flour is a nutrient-dense, safe, and culturally acceptable option for complementary feeding in the Kongwa District. Its adoption may address nutritional deficiencies in children.