Launch of the Supervised Supplementary Feeding Program

Field Article
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(SSFP) by the state ministers of Telangana on 16th December
2019 at ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad

By Praveen Kumar,
Raja Sriswan Mamidi, N Arlappa,
Khyati Tiwari, Shivani Rohatgi,
G Sarika, Dripta Roy Choudhury,
Jaga Jeevan Babu Geddam and
R Hemalatha

Praveen Kumar is Director

Professor of the
Department of Pediatrics,
Kalawati Saran Children’s
Hospital (KSCH), Lady
Hardinge Medical College,
New Delhi. He is also Lead Coordinator of the
National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for
Development and use of
severe acute malnutrition (SAM) management.
Raja Sriswan Mamidi is a
alternative nutrient-dense
medical scientist who has
worked in child nutrition
for the past decade at the
foods for management of
Indian Council of Medical
Research – National
Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), Hyderabad.
acute malnutrition in India
He is also medical officer in charge of the
nutrition ward of a tertiary-care hospital.
Dr N Arlappa is an
epidemiologist and senior INDIA
scientist at the Division of
What we know: Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is not sanctioned for use by
Public Health Nutrition at
ICMR-NIN. the Government of India; therefore, alternative local products must be used in
community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programming.
Dr K Tiwari is Nutrition
What this article adds: A review was undertaken of locally available energy and
Specialist for United
Nations Children’s Fund
nutrient-dense foods used in the management of undernourished children in India.
(UNICEF) Hyderabad field Suitability of the 42 food products identified was examined in terms of nutrient profile,
office, serving the states of palatability, safety, cost-effectiveness, shelf life and feasibility for scale-up of production.
Andhra Pradesh, Results showed that there is potential to supplement several existing products with
Telangana and Karnataka. additional foods, multivitamins and mineral mixes to enable their use as therapeutic
Shivani Rohatgi is a PhD
foods in the management of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the
research scholar in food community. Based on these findings, an existing locally produced product
and nutrition at the (Balamrutham) was adapted (Balamrutham+) to provide improved energy, protein and
University of Delhi and a nutrient density to enable its use in SAM treatment. To test Balamrutham+, the product
former Senior Consultant was given to uncomplicated moderate and severe malnutrition cases in children under
at the NCoE at KSCH. five years old admitted to a government supplementary feeding programme in a district
Dr G Sarika is a project in Telangana state. Follow-up was only possible for two weeks due to the COVID-19
scientist at ICMR-NIN and pandemic. After two weeks of supplementation, 22.3% of children with moderate acute
is involved in monitoring malnutrition (MAM) reached discharge criteria and 17.7% of severe acute malnutrition
the supervised (SAM) children reached MAM criteria. Production of Balamrutham+ has since been
supplementary feeding scaled up and is being used in treatment across Telangana state according to pre-existing
programme and training plans as the food was found acceptable by the children in the community. COVID-19-
of frontline workers in the rural districts of related adaptations include use of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)-only
Telangana. protocols for treatment and a separate strategy for follow-up visits in designated
Dripta Roy Choudhury is a containment zones for COVID.
public-health nutritionist
and former project
scientist at ICMR-NIN and cated SAM cases discharged from India’s nutrition
consultant at UNICEF
Introduction
There is increased motivation in India to develop rehabilitation centres (NRCs). Fundamental to
Hyderabad.
national protocols for community-based man- the CMAM approach is the availability of ther-
Dr Jaga Jeevan Babu agement of acute malnutrition (CMAM) to ad- apeutic food for use in the management of un-
Geddam is a public-health dress the unacceptably high and persistent levels complicated SAM cases in the community. While
scientist and Head of the of wasting in many states across the country. the World Health Organization (WHO) recom-
Division of Clinical mends the use of ready-to-use-therapeutic food
CMAM protocols are currently in development
Epidemiology at ICMR- (RUTF) for this purpose, RUTF has so far been
by the Government of India (GoI) in support of
NIN.
POSHAN Abhiyaan (the Government’s new restricted for use in India by the GoI due to its
Dr R Hemalatha is Director flagship programme to reduce all forms of un- high cost and concerns that it may replace family
of ICMR-NIN and has a dernutrition) to enable timely and appropriate foods and best practices for optimal nutrition
background in research in management of children with uncomplicated and may not be acceptable at community level.
nutrition, infection and Several state governments have explored the
severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the com-
immunity.
munity and more effective follow-up of compli- use of alternative, locally made, nutrient-dense
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 State Consultation meeting on SSFP July 2019, Women
and Child Development office, Telangana State, India

foods for the management of acute malnutrition, safety, cost-effectiveness, shelf life and feasibility the form of powder that required some cooking
however, no national consensus has as yet been of production scale-up for large-scale provision. or the addition of warm water or milk before
achieved on the most appropriate product to consumption (and therefore dependent on the
use in CMAM programming. The focus of this Results quality of the milk or water added and cooking
article is the development of an alternative nu- Forty-two food items were identified, seven
process). Information on shelf life of products
trient-dense food by the Indian Council of Med- (17%) of which had high energy density, 14
was available for only eight (20%) of the products;
ical Research – National Institute of Nutrition (33%) medium density and 14 (33%) low density;
for those with information available, shelf life (a
(ICMR-NIN) and the National Centre of Excel- no nutritional information was available for the
key consideration for community use) varied
lence (NCoE) for the management of SAM for remaining seven nutritional products. While
between two to three and 180 days.3
use in a supervised supplementary feeding pro- most products met the protein requirements of
gramme (SSFP) in Telangana as an attempt to 10-12% of energy, there were concerns about Discussion
find a solution to this impasse. the quality of protein in some products and In spite of the limitations of the study, including
their protein digestibility-corrected amino acid missing information around cost, nutrient values
Review of locally available score (PDCAAS).2 There were also questions re- and shelf life of some products, findings were
energy and nutrient-dense garding the type of fats used and how this may useful in demonstrating the potential to adapt
foods in India influence cost and shelf life; for example, palm existing food products in India for use in the
The Indian Council of Medical Research – Na- oil (used in some products) is cheaper and has a management of SAM children in the community.
tional Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) first longer shelf life compared to other types of fat. The review concluded that the quality of certain
carried out a review of all locally available energy Half (n=21) of the food products were enriched available food products could be supplemented;
and nutrient-dense foods used in the management with micronutrients and one food item was for- for example, with high-quality proteins (e.g.,
of undernourished children in India to help in- tified with spirulina. A total of 26 out of 42 milk or egg protein) and multivitamin and min-
form the development of a product for use in (62%) products were ready to eat without prepa- eral mixes, to more closely meet World Health
the Telangana SSFP. ration. The remaining products (38%) were in Organization (WHO) standards for therapeutic

Methodology
Related research articles, guidelines, grey literature Table 1 Activities of the Telangana state SSFP
and available information were collated and re-
Step SAM MAM
viewed. Information about each food product
was gathered, including general information, nu- 1 Anthropometric assessment (weight for length/height Yes Yes
criteria and presence of bilateral pitting pedal oedema)
trient composition, shelf life, cost and evidence
of impact on the recovery of malnourished chil- 2 Medical assessment Yes No*
dren. The nutrient value of each product was 3 Appetite test Yes No
calculated using the recently revised Nutritive 4 Decision on level of care required (SAM children with Yes No
Value of Indian Food.1 Based on their energy medical complications to be referred to health facility/NRC
density, foods were classified as having high for further care and treatment)
energy density (provides 450-550 kcal/100 g), 5 Nutritional treatment (Balamrutham+ and food given to Yes Yes
medium energy density (provides 350-450 kcal/100 children with SAM and MAM as per schedule and
g) and low energy density (provides below 350 consumption of energy-dense home foods encouraged)
kcal/100 g). The suitability of foods for the man- 6 Medicines administered Yes No
agement of children with severe acute malnutrition 7 Nutrition and health education provided Yes Yes
(SAM) was assessed according to energy and
8 Regular SSFP visit to Anganwadi centres to monitor the Yes (weekly for Yes (fortnightly)
nutrient density, nutrient profile, palatability,
child’s progress and provide Balamrutham+ based on the first four weeks,
1
child’s weight then fortnightly)
Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT) 2017
www.ifct2017.com/frame.php?page=home 9 Discharge once criteria reached After 16 weeks or After 8 weeks or
2 While Codex recommendations note that protein quality WFL/WFH reaches WFL/WFH reaches
should be measured by either the use of PDCAAS or DIAAS -2SD for two -2SD for two
for the finished product, neither the PDCAAS nor the DIAAS consecutive visits consecutive visits
values have been established for ready-to-use therapeutic
food (RUTF) (FAO and WHO, 2018) 10 Follow-up after discharge from SSFP until end of six months Yes Yes
3 Full results can be reviewed in the report downloadable from * All children are assessed for history of morbidity but only SAM children have a detailed medical assessment. If a MAM child is sick,
www.nin.res.in/downloads/Mapping%20of%20Foods.pdf he or she will be referred to nearest primary healthcare centre.
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 Field Article
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Table 2 Balamrutham plus (+) nutrients and fortification for 100 grams of product
Nutrients Available nutrients in natural Fortification Total per
ingredients per 100 grams per 100 grams 100 grams
Energy (Kcal) 460 0 460
Protein (g) 11 0 11
Calcium (mg) 219 200 419
Iron (mg) 3.1 6.0 9.1
Vitamin A (mcg) 0.1 200.0 200.1
Vitamin B1 (mg) 0.2 0.3 0.5
Vitamin B2 (mg) 0.3 0.4 0.6
Vitamin B12 (mcg) 0.1 0.6 0.7
Vitamin C (g) 0.7 15.0 15.7
Folic acid (mcg) 21.1 15.0 36.1
Niacin (mg) 1.5 4.0 5.5 Balamrutham + packaging design in the
Zinc (mg) 1.3 5.0 6.3 local language, Telangana State, India

feeding. Results were shared with state govern- that would have the treatment advantages of dietary patterns in Telangana to ensure product
ments to support their exploration of alternative RUTF (effective treatment for recovery), while acceptability. Balamrutham+ has lower milk
foods for the treatment of children with SAM being tailor-made to children in the India context protein compared to WHO therapeutic food
at community level. and acceptable at community level, and which recommendations; however, in the SSFP protocol,
could be produced locally and therefore at lower 200 ml milk and one egg per day are also
Development of an alternative cost. provided to children with SAM which, together
nutrient-dense food for use in with the Balamrutham+ ration, meets protein
Based on findings of the review of existing
a supervised supplementary food-based products, a decision was made to
requirements. The micronutrient profile of Bal-
feeding programme adapt the widely accepted food product for
amrutham+ remained largely unchanged com-
A SSFP was initiated by the Women and Child pared to Balamrutham, given that the original
Telangana state already used as the take-home
Department (WCD) of the Government of Telan- product already met Government of India (GoI)
ration (THR) for all children aged 6 to 36
gana in December 2019 to tackle acute malnu- guidelines for THR and additional micronutrients,
months under the government Integrated Child
trition in children aged 6-59 months in two such as vitamin A and iron, are delivered sepa-
Development Services (ICDS) programme Bal-
rural districts (Asifabad and Gadwal) of the rately through other blanket national nutritional
amrutham (meaning “child elixir”). An improved
state, targeting over 6,000 children with acute programmes integrated into the SSFP. Balam-
version of this product, Balamrutham+, was
malnutrition. In a joint collaboration by the In- rutham+ is a powder that requires dissolving in
developed to improve its energy, protein and
dian Council of Medical Research – National equal amounts of lukewarm water to provide a
nutrient density (Table 2. Compared to Balam-
Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), Kalawati paste; we see no disadvantage of adding water
rutham (still routinely given to all children as a
Saran Children’s Hospital (KSCH) and United to Balamrutham+ feeds, given that water must
THR except SAM and MAM children who are
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India Delhi be given alongside all RUTFs, as long as the
catered for under this programme), Balam-
and Hyderabad offices, a protocol for the SSFP added water is procured from a safe source.
rutham+ has more skimmed milk powder (SMP),
was developed focusing on early identification oil, added groundnuts and rice flakes to improve The product was finalised following an ac-
of cases and community-based care for uncom- taste, and less wheat to reduce phytate content ceptability study of two possible recipes among
plicated moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) (Table 3). Rice flakes were used to reflect local MAM children and their mothers in the com-
and severe acute malnutrition (SAM). A full
list of SSFP activities is described in Table 1.
Product development Appetite test using Balamrutham + by Anganwadi Teacher of a SAM child
at the Anganwadi Center in Gadwal district, Telangana State, India
ICMR-NIN worked closely with the Government
of Telangana to develop a new nutrient-dense
food that could be used in the SSFP for the
community-based management of SAM and
MAM cases. The aim was to develop a product

Balamrutham plus (+)

Table 3 ingredients for 150 grams
and 100 grams of product
Ingredient Quantity (g) Quantity for
100 g
Roasted wheat 40 26.7
Bengal gram 5 3.3
Skimmed milk 20 13.3
powder
Sugar 30 20.0
Oil 30 20.0
Groundnut 5 3.3
Rice flakes 20 13.3
Total amount 150 100.0
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Field Article
Number of packets (given per week) and scoops per feed for MAM and being used to enter data, with adaptations to
Table 4 SAM children allow for the collection of MUAC.
Subsequent to the pilot study, the SSFP was
Weight of child (kg) 75 kcal/kg 2 feeds/day 125kcal/kg 4 feeds/day
for MAM for SAM rolled out in all planned blocks in Gadwal and
Asifabad districts according to original state
Groups Packets for week Scoops per feed Packets Scoops per feed plans, in spite of COVID-19 interruptions.
4.0 - 4.4 1 1.0 1 1.0 Throughout August 2020, virtual capacity building
4.5 – 4.9 1 1.0 1 1.5 was carried out for frontline workers of both
districts to support COVID-19 related programme
5 – 5.4 1 1.0 1 1.5
adaptations. Plans are being made to repeat the
5.5 – 5.9 1 1.5 2 1.5 study in programme areas using MUAC-only
6 – 6.4 1 1.5 2 1.5 criteria, with revised COVID-19 protocols and
6.5 – 6.9 1 1.5 2 1.5
follow-up for the full length of stay. The manu-
facturing of Balamrutham+ has now been scaled
7 – 7.4 1 1.5 2 2.0 up to meet the needs of MAM and SAM children
7.5 – 7.9 1 1.5 2 2.0 across Telangana state, and the government aims
8 – 8.4 1 1.5 2 2.0 to fulfil its commitment by scaling up the SSFP
across districts state-wide.
9 – 9.4 2 2.0 2 2.5
9.5 – 9.9 2 2.0 2 2.5 Conclusion
The use of therapeutic foods for acute malnu-
10 – 10.4 2 2.0 2 2.5
trition has evolved over several decades, yet un-
10.5 – 10.9 2 2.0 2 2.5 certainty remains in India concerning the best
11 – 11.4 2 2.0 3 2.5 products to use in the community context. This
11.5 – 11.9 2 2.5 3 3.0
is due both to a lack of consensus in the scientific
community in India on the most effective product
>12 2 2.5 3 3.0 to use, and policy decisions taken by the Gov-
Note: This is for packets weighing one kilogram. For every one scoop of feed (30 g), one scoop of water is to be added. ernment of India (GoI), which can largely be
munity. Both Balamrutham and Balamrutham+ (using discharge criteria in Table 1), decided attributed to a lack of convergence among the
are developed by a state-owned subsidiary, Telan- based on results of a study by Bhandhari et al stakeholders concerned. The effort outlined in
gana foods, under the WCD of the Government (2016). The intention was to follow children up this article aims to bridge this gap in consensus
of Telangana. The product is distributed in 1 kg for the full duration of the programme to assess by examining the benefits of adapting existing
packets with packaging designed by UNICEF, progress towards the target recovery rate and acceptable, affordable and therefore sustainable
with clear pictorial guidelines on handling for therefore feasibility of the use of Balamrutham+ food products to meet the required standards
community health workers and caregivers. It within this programme. However, data could for therapeutic feeding in the community in
has a shelf life of three months. The cost of pro- only be collected for two weeks due to the the context of a state-level SSFP. The experiences
ducing Balamrutham+ is about 100 India Rupees impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For MAM of using an adapted product in the SSFP were
per kilogram of final product (including the children, after two weeks of food supplementa- significantly compromised by the impact of the
cost of packaging); twice that of the THR given tion, 22.3% reached the discharge criteria (weight- COVID-19 pandemic in the early stages, however,
to all children. However, this is much lower for-height (WFH) z-score -2 SD or more). This what data is available shows encouraging initial
than commercially prepared food items due to was higher in younger children (6 to 35 months) results. The programme has since been scaled
the exclusive use of locally procured foods and compared to older children (over 36 months) up according to state government plans and
government subsidies on the raw ingredients adaptations are currently being made to ensure
(26.2% vs 18.2% recovery rate at the end of two
used, given the use of the product under social the continuation of the programme in the current
weeks). As expected, recovery rates at the end
welfare schemes. context, which may help make this programme
of two weeks were lower for SAM children;
more resilient in emergency situations. The ex-
Feeds are given to children under five years 17.7% reached the criteria for MAM (WFH be-
periences described in this article can be used
old as per the SSFP dietary protocol of 75 kcal tween -2SD and -3SD) and no SAM children
to inform other states in India in the future im-
per kg of body weight of child for MAM and 125 met the discharge criteria. A higher proportion
plementation of community management of
kcal per kg body weight for SAM (dosed using of younger SAM children aged 6-35 months
acute malnutrition programming, based on the
30 ml scoops). Feeds are given on site at Anganwadi met the MAM criteria compared to older children
forthcoming GoI guidelines.
centres for children older than 36 months and as (over 36 months) (20.4% vs 11.4%).
a THR for those aged 6-35 months (as children Adaptations and impact of COVID-19 References
in the younger age group do not attend Anganwadi on the SSFP programme and next steps Bhandari N, Mohan SB, Bose A et al. for the Study Group
centres). Dosage of Balamrutham+ and frequency As a result of lockdown measures imposed due (2016). Efficacy of three feeding regimens for home-based
are described in Table 4. to the COVID-19 pandemic, Anganwadi Centres
management of children with uncomplicated severe
acute malnutrition: a randomised trial in India. BMJ Global
Programme outcomes were initially closed which prevented access to Health 2016;1:e000144.
The original plan was to initiate the SSFP in growth monitoring and feeding services. Once Kulkarni, B. & Mamidi, R.S. Nutrition rehabilitation of
both Gadwal and Asifabad districts from February re-opened, services resumed but with less regular children with severe acute malnutrition: Revisiting studies
follow up of admitted children and reduced undertaken by the National Institute of Nutrition. Indian J.
2020 (with full geographical coverage) and later
Med. Res. 150, 139–152 (2019).
scale up to 10 districts. However, manufacturing programme monitoring. In response, SSFP pro-
tocols have been adapted, for example through FAO and WHO (2018) Joint FAO/WHO food standards
issues with Balamrutham+ meant that SSFP programme codex committee on nutrition and foods for
was implemented in only one block (of the pro- adoption of mid-upper arm circumference special dietary uses fortieth session, Berlin, Germany 26-
posed four) in Gadwal district in March 2020. (MUAC) for growth monitoring and admissions 30 November 2018. Proposed draft guidelines for
A total of 497 children were recruited to the (using admission criteria MUAC <11.5 cm for ready-to-use therapeutic foods.
programme, of which 153 (31%) were SAM and SAM and <12.5 cm for MAM) and implemen- WHO, UNICEF, WFP, UN Standing Committee on Nutrition
344 (69%) MAM; 58.5% were boys. The target tation of a separate strategy for follow-up visits (2007). Community-based management of severe acute
malnutrition: a joint statement. Available from:
for the programme was set at a 50% recovery in designated COVID-19 containment zones. www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/a91
rate for SAM and MAM children combined For monitoring, mobile phone applications are 065/en
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