Results of Fortification Rapid Assessment Tool (FRAT) surveys in sub-Saharan Africa and suggestions for future modifications of the survey instrument.

BACKGROUND: Food fortification has been increasingly recognized as a promising approach to prevent micronutrient deficiencies. The Fortification Rapid Assessment Tool (FRAT) was developed to assist public health program managers to acquire the information needed to implement an effective mass food fortification program. Multiple countries have conducted FRAT surveys, but information on results and experiences with the FRAT tool has been available only at the national level. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the findings of the FRAT surveys previously conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: Surveys from 12 sub-Saharan African countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda) were identified. Information on consumption patterns for wheat flour, vegetable oil, sugar, and bouillon cubes was reviewed and summarized. RESULTS: Most surveys found that a moderate to high proportion of women reported consuming wheat flour (48% to 93%), vegetable oil (44% to 98%), sugar (55% to 99%), and bouillon cubes (79% to 99%) in the past 7 days, although consumption was more common and more frequent in urban areas than in rural areas. Similarly, the reported amounts consumed during the previous 24 hours were generally higher in urban settings. CONCLUSIONS: The FRAT instrument has been successfully used in multiple countries, and the results obtained have helped in planning national food fortification programs. However, the recommended sampling scheme may need to be reconsidered, and the guidelines should be revised to clarify important aspects of fieldworker training, implementation, data analysis and interpretation, and reporting of the results.

Custo da alimentação e densidade energética da dieta no Brasil, 2008-2009 / Cost and energy density of diet in Brazil, 2008-2009

Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar a relação entre o custo da alimentação e a densidade energética da dieta consumida nos domicílios brasileiros. Utilizaram-se dados da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF-2008/2009) para identificação dos alimentos com consumo mais relevante e seus preços. Tais alimentos foram agrupados, resultando em uma cesta de 67 produtos. Empregou-se a programação linear para composição de cestas isoenergéticas, minimizando o afastamento da dieta média encontrada nos domicílios. Foram impostos limites para quantidade de inclusão dos itens e contribuição energética dos grupos de alimentos; e uma redução no custo médio da dieta foi aplicada a intervalos de R$0,15 até o menor custo possível. Identificou-se associação inversa entre densidade energética e preço da dieta (p < 0,05), e, no menor custo possível, obteve-se o valor máximo de densidade energética. Verificou-se que restrições no custo da alimentação resultaram na seleção de dietas com maior densidade energética, indicando que o custo da alimentação pode conduzir à adoção de dietas inadequadas no Brasil.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the cost and energy density of diet consumed in Brazilian households. Data from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey (POF 2008/2009) were used to identify the main foods and their prices. Similar items were grouped, resulting in a basket of 67 products. Linear programming was applied for the composition of isoenergetic baskets, minimizing the deviation from the average household diet. Restrictions were imposed on the inclusion of items and the energy contribution of the various food groups. A reduction in average cost of diet was applied at intervals of R$0.15 to the lowest possible cost. We identified an inverse association between energy density and cost of diet (p < 0.05), and at the lowest possible cost we obtained the maximum value of energy density. Restrictions on the diet's cost resulted in the selection of diets with higher energy density, indicating that cost of diet may lead to the adoption of inadequate diets in Brazil.

[Cost and energy density of diet in Brazil, 2008-2009]. / Custo da alimentação e densidade energética da dieta no Brasil, 2008-2009.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the cost and energy density of diet consumed in Brazilian households. Data from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey (POF 2008/2009) were used to identify the main foods and their prices. Similar items were grouped, resulting in a basket of 67 products. Linear programming was applied for the composition of isoenergetic baskets, minimizing the deviation from the average household diet. Restrictions were imposed on the inclusion of items and the energy contribution of the various food groups. A reduction in average cost of diet was applied at intervals of R$0.15 to the lowest possible cost. We identified an inverse association between energy density and cost of diet (p < 0.05), and at the lowest possible cost we obtained the maximum value of energy density. Restrictions on the diet's cost resulted in the selection of diets with higher energy density, indicating that cost of diet may lead to the adoption of inadequate diets in Brazil.