Introduction of red palm oil into the 'ready to eat' used supplementary feeding programme through ICDS.

ABSTRACT

Children attending the anganwadi centres were fed with Ready to eat (RTE) food containing 2g of Red Palm Oil (RPO). Daily children's attendance, their participation in the feeding programme, quantity of food supplement consumed were recorded. Heights, weights, clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency and morbidity pattern of the beneficiary children were assessed. There was increase in attendance of the children in the feeding programme after introduction of RPO. Quantity of the food supplement consumed by the children also increased. An improvement in the nutritional grades of children was observed. Signs of vitamin A deficiency were absent. Anganwadi teachers, helpers and parents accepted the inclusion of RPO in the supplementary feeding programme.