Evaluation of Micronutrient Losses from Postharvest Food Losses (PHL) in Kenya, Cameroon and India – Implications on Micronutrient Deficiencies in Children

Under 5 years of age

Giorgia Paratore, Ji Yen Alexandra Tung, Warren T K LeeNutrition and Food Systems Division, FAO, Rome, Italy.

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Impact of PHL on micronutrient losses and dietary intake

Introduction Current world population is 7.6 billion, expected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050 and

11.2 billion in 21001

More food needs to be produced to feed the whole population: in 2050, 60% more

of the global agricultural production will be needed2

Global FLW as high as 50% from fruits and vegetables3 which are high in

micronutrients, e.g. vitamin A, C, iron

1. United Nations - Department of economic and social affairs. Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects2. World agriculture towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision, by Alexandratos & J. Bruinsma. ESA working paper No. 12-033. Gustavsson, J. et al. (2011) Global Food Losses and Food Waste: Extent, Causes and Prevention”. FAO, Rome

Limited PHL data in developing countries for estimating nutrient losses in foods along the food

supply chains (FSC)

Limited studies evaluate nutritional impact of PHL, lack of guidance estimate post-harvest

nutrient losses

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Impact of PHL on micronutrient losses and dietary intake

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) affects >1 bn people, leading to

blindness in ~250,000 to 500,000 VAD children/year1

Over 30% world’s population (~2 bn) suffer from anaemia, mainly

iron deficiency anaemia2

Zinc deficiency causes ~ 800,000 deaths/year linked to diarrhea,

pneumonia and malaria in children under five years of age (U5s)3

Vitamin C intake can lower chronic diseases risks, e.g.

cardiovascular diseases4

FLW is related to micronutrient losses: micronutrient deficiencies threatens health of

vulnerable people, especially in developing countries such as Kenya, Cameroon and India

1. WHO (2013). Micronutrient deficiencies. Available at: http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/vad/en/.2. WHO (2013). Micronutrient deficiencies. Available at: http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/ida/en/3. Saeed Akthar (2013): Zinc Status in South Asian Populations – an update. J Health Popul Nutr. Jun.4. Jacob RA, Sotoudeh G. (2002): Vitamin C function and status in chronic disease. Nutr Clin Care. 3

Objectives

1. Investigate potential linkages between micronutrient deficiencies and PHL

Conducting analysis on the scale of micronutrient losses ( iron, zinc, vitamin A and

C) in selected FSCs in Kenya, Cameroon and India.

Evaluating the potential implications of micronutrient losses in selected FSCs on

vulnerable children under five years of age (U5s) in Kenya, Cameroon and India.

2. Develop a standardized methodology that estimates the amount of micronutrient

losses from PHL data that can be applied to other countries.

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the village level

retail points

and/or storage*

Background: The Save Food Country Case Studies

This study is based on the PHL data collected using the second version of the methodology developed by the SAVE FOOD Initiative to analyze PHL.

The methodology is currently being used to conduct case studies in selected FSCs in several countries, including KENYA, CAMEROON and INDIA.

Needs continued improvement and standardization – a continuous process.

The analysis of the selected products go across the various steps in the FSC:

*depends on the type of product analyzed

Start:

End:

- SAVE FOOD -

GLOBAL INITIATIVE

ON FOOD LOSS AND WASTE REDUCTION

Food Loss Analysis: Causes and Solutions

Case studies in the Small-scale Agriculture and Fisheries Subsectors

Methodology

November 2016

Strategic Objective 4, Output 2.2

Develop tools, methodologies and indicators for assessment of the

magnitude of food losses, in various subsectors.

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Determination of FLW used in the Save Food Study

2. Study results

Risk factors

Critical Loss Points: Type and level of food

losses in the subsector

Causes of losses ( and potential)

Good practices

Information collected on the selected FSCs include:

Quantitative losses (QTL)

• The decrease in edible food mass available for human consumption throughout the different segments of the supply chain.

Qualitative losses (QL)

• Food that has incurred a reduction in economic value and nutritional value, but not in weight, and people will eat this food.

1. Situation Analysis on the FSCs• Selected subsector supply chain• Location• An estimate of the quantities of products• When the case study took place• Existing marketing system• FSC actors • Economic data and environment related factors of the FSC

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Methods: Evaluation of micronutrient losses from PHL – Kenya

Vitamin A, C, iron & zinc losses associated with quantitative PHL from selected FSCs in Kenya, Cameroon and India were determined.

The theoretical impact of these losses on under five children (U5s) in Kenya, Cameroon and India were estimated.

The FSCs studied:

Banana Dessert, ripe

Banana Plantain, ripe, raw

Maize Maize flour (whole

grain, yellow)

Milk Cow’s milk, whole

Food composition values were obtained to calculate nutrient losses:

KENYA: Kenyan FCT was used, followed by West Africa FCT and USDA FCT

Regions where the FSCs were studied:

• Banana: dessert- Eastern (Meru), and Central provinces (Murangaand Kirinyaga); plantain- Nyanza province (Kisii)

• Maize: Trans-Nzoia-West and Lugari

• Milk: Eastern province (Embu, Meru) Rift Region and Nyanza

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Methods: Evaluation of micronutrient losses from PHL - Cameroon

Cassava Cassava, stick

(tuber, boiled)

Cassava Gari meal (cassava,

dried)

Tomato Tomato red, ripe,

raw

Potato Potato, raw

Regions where the FSCs were studied:

CAMEROON: All nutrient values were obtained from West Africa FCT

• Cassava: region of the centre(Monatele, Yaounde), region of the Littoral (Dibamba, Doula), region of the north-west (Bameda, Mbengwi)

• Tomato: region of the west ( Mbouda, Foumbot), region of the Littoral (Doula)

• Potato: region of the west, region of the Littoral

Food composition values were obtained to calculate nutrient losses:

The FSCs studied:

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Methods: Evaluation of micronutrient losses from PHL- India

INDIA: All nutrient values were obtained from Indian FCT (except retinol value of milk, only reported in the ASEAN FCT)

Regions where the FSCs were studied

• Chickpea: Andhra Pradesh state

• Rice: Andhra Pradesh state

• Milk: Andhra Pradesh state (Krishna, Ananthapur districts)

• Mango: Andhra Pradesh state (Chittoor, Krishna, Vizianagaramand Anantapur districts)

Food composition values were obtained to calculate nutrient losses:

The FSCs studied:

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Methods: 1st step - Calculating PHL in Quantitative Loss (QTL) using the total

edible portion and the % QTL at each stage. Example

a. Bananas, dessert % loss

Food loss, edible

portion

(tons/year)

Transportation (QL only) n/a

Ripening (QL only) n/a

Storage (QL only) n/a

Wholesales (QTL) 3.0% 9112.57

Retail (hawkers, street vendors,

kiosks, supermarkets; QTL)31.5%

92811.48

Total 101924.05

Year

NationalProduction (tons/year)

Production in study area(tons/year)

Edible portion

Production (tons/year), edible

Bananas, dessert 2011 520000 427820 71% 303752

Total annual production = Production in study area X % edible portion

1st step: Losses at wholesale =

total annual production X % QTL at wholesale

2nd step: Losses at retail =

total annual production – losses at wholesale X % QTL at retail

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Methods: 2nd step - Calculating micronutrient losses at each stage of the

FSCs, based on QTL (tons):

Example

a. Bananas, dessert Vit A µg RE

Transportation

(QL only)n/a

Ripening (QL only) n/a

Storage (QL only) n/a

Wholesales (QTL) 3.72 x 109

Retail (hawkers,

street vendors, kiosks,

supermarkets) (QTL)

3.78 x 1010

Total 4.16 x 1010

Note:

As FCTs always report nutrient values ‘per 100 g,’ for the PHL in tonnes must first be

converted into g/100g by multiplying by factor of 1000000/100 = 10000.

For Vitamin A - losses for beta-carotene, and retinol reported in IU were converted

into Retinol Equivalents (µg RE) by multiplying with the appropriate conversion

factors (1/6 and 0.3, respectively)

conversion factor

Total Vitamin A losses at wholesale =

total losses at wholesale (g/100g) X beta carotene (µg/100g) /

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Methods: 3rd step - Estimate the number of VAD U5s that can be theoretically satisfied

by recovered losses of Vit A based on their Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI)

Example - Kenya

Total children <5 (U5) in Kenya 7221000

% of children 6-59 mo w Vit A

deficiency49%

Estimated # of U5 w Vit A

deficiency 3538290

Total U5s with VAD satisfied =

Sum of total Vit A loss from the four FSCs / days per year / Vit A µg RE requirement per day (per child U5)

Percentage of U5s with VAD satisfied =

Total U5s with VAD satisfied / Total U5s with VAD X 100%

• 416.7 Vitamin A µg RE/day is obtained from average of 400 µg RE/day recommended for children aged 7-12 mo and 1-3 years, and 450 µg RE/day for children 4-6 years

Recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) for U5s 1

1. FAO/WHO (2002), Human Vitamin and Mineral Requirements. Available online at http://www.fao.org/3/a-y2809e.pdf2. Global Nutrition Report (2015); available at http://www.globalnutritionreport.org/the-data/nutrition-country-profiles

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Results: Critical Control Point for vitamin A losses from different FSCs from India, Kenya and Cameroon

Vitamin A losses at each stage of the mango, milk and tomato supply chains

0 5E+10 1E+11

transportation from fieldto storage and in markets

harvest

Cameroon - fresh tomato SC

Vit A ug RE

0.00E+00 2.00E+10 4.00E+10

processors' collection…

at milk bars and others

traders/hawkers

co-op / SHG

traders collection centres

milking and milk storage…

Kenya - milk SC

Vit A ug RE

0 4E+11 8E+11

ripening - chambers

ripening-traditional

transportation - fresh fruit

transportation - processing

harvesting

India- mango SC

vit A ug RE

• India - total quantity of vitamin A losses from Mango SC: 1.75 x 10 12 vit. A µg RE - Andrha Pradesh state• Cameroon - total quantity of vitamin A losses from tomato SC: 6.40 x 1010 Vit. A µg RE - Mbouda and Foumbot areas• Kenya - total quantity of vitamin A losses from milk SC: 5.88 x 1010 Vit. A µg RE - Embu, Meru, Rift Region and Nyanza

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Results: Kenya

Percentage of vitamin A deficient children that can theoretically be satisfied by Vitamin A losses in FSCs from selected regions of Kenya

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

vit A ug RE

banana, dessert banana, platain maize milk

Total Vit A µg RE Loss 1.12 x 1011

Total # U5 VAD satisfied 740588

Total % U5 VAD satisfied 21%

• Total percentage of VAD children in Kenya that could be satisfied, in their daily requirement for Vitamin A by losses from banana (dessert and plantain), maize, and milk

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Results: Cameroon

Percentage of vitamin A deficient children that can theoretically be satisfied by Vitamin A losses in FSCs from selected regions of Cameroon

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

vit A ug REcassava stick Gari meal fresh tomato (Mbouda & Foumbot) fresh potato

Total Vit A µg RE Loss 6.50 x 1010

Total # U5 VAD satisfied 428038

Total % U5 VAD satisfied 25%

• Total percentage of VAD children in Cameroon that could be satisfied, in their daily requirement for Vitamin A by losses from cassava (stick and gari meal), tomato and potato

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Results: India

Percentage of vitamin A deficient children that can theoretically be satisfied by Vitamin A losses in FSCs from selected regions of India

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

chickpeas rice milk mango

Total Vit A µg RE Loss 1.75 x 1012

Total # U5 VAD satisfied 11555811

Total % U5 VAD satisfied 21%

• Total percentage of VAD children in India that could be satisfied, in their daily requirement for Vitamin A by losses from chickpeas, rice, milk and mango

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Results: Total losses of iron, zinc and vitamin C from selected regions of Kenya, Cameroon and India

0

5E+10

1E+11

1.5E+11

2E+11

2.5E+11

3E+11

3.5E+11

kenya Cameroon India

iron mg zinc mg vit C mg

KENYA• Total iron losses: 7.49 x 109 mg (banana

dessert)• Total zinc losses: 1.78 x 109 mg (milk)• Total vitamin C losses: 2.41 x 1010 mg (banana

dessert)

CAMEROON• Total iron losses: 2.46 x 109 mg (gari meal)• Total zinc losses: 1.41 x 109 mg (gari meal)• Total vitamin C losses: 3.26 x 1010 mg (tomato)

INDIA• Total iron losses: 8.76 x 109 mg (rice)• Total zinc losses: 8.64 x 109 mg (rice)• Total vitamin C losses: 2.97 x 1010 mg (mango)

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Results: Percentages of U5s that can theoretically be satisfied by iron, zinc and vitamin C losses

from different SCs in selected regions of Kenya, India and Cameroon

Kenya Cameroon India

iron mg 24% 15% 2%

zinc mg 8% 12% 2%

vit C mg 33% 83% 23%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

iron mg zinc mg vit C mg

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Limitations of the study

Nutrient values vary substantially between food varieties and no specific food composition information available on the variety used ( e.g. maize variety assumed to be ‘yellow’ instead of ‘white’)

Not all food varieties and nutrient values were available from a single FCT, it is necessary to supplement with other FCTs, which is liable to variations in nutrient values

Seasonality effect: variations in micronutrient content and PHL in different stages of the FSCs

Lack of country specific information on deficiencies in iron, zinc and vitamin C in U5s at both national and local levels

The study does not account for QL of food which could either be discarded or still consumed despite reduced quality. Overall nutrient losses could be much higher, as the extent of QL of nutrients is not determined in this study.

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Conclusions

The nutrition impact on reducing micronutrient losses in PHL remain theoretical,

unless governments and FSC actors employ strategies to ensure the reduction of PHL

at each stage of FSC, leading to increased availability of nutritious foods for human

consumption

This study demonstrates that reduced PHL could increase availability of micronutrients, which in turn could contribute to better nutrition

The large scale of micronutrient losses in PHL in the countries highlights the importanceof taking into consideration human nutrition in future PHL interventions

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Implications

1. No guarantee that 100% of food saved in the FSC might go to malnourished children or

adults. Limited access to nutritious foods may be due to lack a of food availability,

accessibility (food affordability and purchasing power) and nutrition knowledge, not

necessarily due to FLW.

2. Improvement of post-harvest food handling procedures might increase the quantity and

quality of food supply; this could contribute not only to improve nutrition, but also to poverty

reduction through increased selling of high quality surplus produce.

2.1 Foods saved from PHL would enter into the common pathway under the FSC

2.1.1 Identification of causes enables the design of pathways and implementation of

solutions at each stage of the food chain (harvesting, handling, processing, packaging,

transportation, retailing, market, consumption etc.) to reduce FLW1

1. HLPE 8 on Food security and Nutrition. “Food losses and waste in the context of sustainable food systems”. June 2014 – available at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3901e.pdf

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Implications

2.2 In areas where there are surplus foods, HHs that are food insecure could be trained in

food processing (drying, pickling, preserving in oil etc.) and storage.

2.2.1 These could be used for own consumption and for selling in order to generate

income and purchase nutrient rich foods

2.2.2 Improving post-harvest food handling, food storage and food processing

procedures can lead to improved quantity and quality of the local food supply

2.3 - Practitioners working along the FSC need to have better nutrition knowledge - nutrition

mainstreaming;

- consumer nutrition education in order to make healthy food choices

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Policy Implications

Human nutrition should be mainstreamed into FLW interventions and not only focus on

economic aspect

Recommendations for FLW reduction with a human nutrition focus, specific for each

stage of the FSC, should be provided for relevant actors and decision makers (e.g.

UN, governments, private sector, NGOs)

Interventions to reduce PHL for improved nutrition, will contribute to achieving the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Target 2.2 (reduced malnutrition) through

accomplishment of Target 12.3 (reduced FLW)

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Present study was only able to measure the nutritional impact of quantitative

food loss. Studies on the qualitative nutrient losses along the food chain is

needed.

An Online consultation is taking place to seek further answers on the linkages

between FLW and Nutrition and potential destination of ‘Saved foods’; at the

Forum of the Community of Practice (CoP) on Food Loss Reduction

Next steps:

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Food for thought…

What would be the fate (pathways and destinations) of the food that has been saved?

What would be the implications of reduced PHL to farmers, other food systems actors and local consumers, in terms of food security and nutrition and economics?

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Thanks to…

SAVE FOOD TEAM: Bin Liu, Camelia Bucatariu, Maryam Rezaei, Jorge Fonseca, Djibril Drame, Robert VanOtterdijk, Rosa Rolle

FOOD COMPOSITION TEAM: Anna Vincent, Doris Rittenschober, Ruth Charrondiere

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Thank you for your attention!

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