From diets to foods: Using linear programming to formulate a nutritious, minimum-cost porridge mix for children aged 1 to 2 years
Carvalho, Irene LU ; Granfeldt, Yvonne LU ; Dejmek, Petr LU
and Hakansson, Andreas
LU
(2015)
In Food and Nutrition Bulletin
36(1).
p.75-85
- Abstract
- Background. Linear programming has been used extensively as a tool for nutritional recommendations. Extending the methodology to food formulation presents new challenges, since not all combinations of nutritious ingredients will produce an acceptable food. Furthermore, it would help in implementation and in ensuring the feasibility of the suggested recommendations. Objective. To extend the previously used linear programming methodology from diet optimization to food formulation using consistency constraints. In addition, to exemplify usability using the case of a porridge mix formulation for emergency situations in rural Mozambique. Methods. The linear programming method was extended with a consistency constraint based on previously... (More)
- Background. Linear programming has been used extensively as a tool for nutritional recommendations. Extending the methodology to food formulation presents new challenges, since not all combinations of nutritious ingredients will produce an acceptable food. Furthermore, it would help in implementation and in ensuring the feasibility of the suggested recommendations. Objective. To extend the previously used linear programming methodology from diet optimization to food formulation using consistency constraints. In addition, to exemplify usability using the case of a porridge mix formulation for emergency situations in rural Mozambique. Methods. The linear programming method was extended with a consistency constraint based on previously published empirical studies on swelling of starch in soft porridges. The new method was exemplified using the formulation of a nutritious, minimum-cost porridge mix for children aged 1 to 2 years for use as a complete relief food, based primarily on local ingredients, in rural Mozambique. Results. A nutritious porridge fulfilling the consistency constraints was found; however, the minimum cost was unfeasible with local ingredients only. This illustrates the challenges in formulating nutritious yet economically feasible foods from local ingredients. The high cost was caused by the high cost of mineral-rich foods. A nutritious, low-cost porridge that fulfills the consistency constraints was obtained by including supplements of zinc and calcium salts as ingredients. Conclusions. The optimizations were successful in fulfilling all constraints and provided a feasible porridge, showing that the extended constrained linear programming methodology provides a systematic tool for designing nutritious foods. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/8074146
- author
- Carvalho, Irene
LU
; Granfeldt, Yvonne
LU
; Dejmek, Petr
LU
and Hakansson, Andreas
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2015
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Child malnourishment, consistency, emergency nutrition rations, linear, programming, micronutrient inadequacy, Mozambique
- in
- Food and Nutrition Bulletin
- volume
- 36
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 11 pages
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000361183700007
- scopus:84926635226
- ISSN
- 0379-5721
- DOI
- 10.1177/156482651503600107
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d0854681-975b-4f7d-8a3e-6d1e6c608563 (old id 8074146)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 14:14:10
- date last changed
- 2023-12-12 02:17:28
@article{d0854681-975b-4f7d-8a3e-6d1e6c608563,
abstract = {{Background. Linear programming has been used extensively as a tool for nutritional recommendations. Extending the methodology to food formulation presents new challenges, since not all combinations of nutritious ingredients will produce an acceptable food. Furthermore, it would help in implementation and in ensuring the feasibility of the suggested recommendations. Objective. To extend the previously used linear programming methodology from diet optimization to food formulation using consistency constraints. In addition, to exemplify usability using the case of a porridge mix formulation for emergency situations in rural Mozambique. Methods. The linear programming method was extended with a consistency constraint based on previously published empirical studies on swelling of starch in soft porridges. The new method was exemplified using the formulation of a nutritious, minimum-cost porridge mix for children aged 1 to 2 years for use as a complete relief food, based primarily on local ingredients, in rural Mozambique. Results. A nutritious porridge fulfilling the consistency constraints was found; however, the minimum cost was unfeasible with local ingredients only. This illustrates the challenges in formulating nutritious yet economically feasible foods from local ingredients. The high cost was caused by the high cost of mineral-rich foods. A nutritious, low-cost porridge that fulfills the consistency constraints was obtained by including supplements of zinc and calcium salts as ingredients. Conclusions. The optimizations were successful in fulfilling all constraints and provided a feasible porridge, showing that the extended constrained linear programming methodology provides a systematic tool for designing nutritious foods.}},
author = {{Carvalho, Irene and Granfeldt, Yvonne and Dejmek, Petr and Hakansson, Andreas}},
issn = {{0379-5721}},
keywords = {{Child malnourishment; consistency; emergency nutrition rations; linear; programming; micronutrient inadequacy; Mozambique}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{75--85}},
publisher = {{SAGE Publications}},
series = {{Food and Nutrition Bulletin}},
title = {{From diets to foods: Using linear programming to formulate a nutritious, minimum-cost porridge mix for children aged 1 to 2 years}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/156482651503600107}},
doi = {{10.1177/156482651503600107}},
volume = {{36}},
year = {{2015}},
}