The development and nutritional composition of a food product combining sweet potatoes, peanuts, and chickpeas to address vitamin a and macronutrient deficiencies in sub-saharan africa.

Undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) effects over 200 million individuals and is the underlying cause of over 50% of all childhood deaths. Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) is one common form of undernutrition present, affecting around half of the population. Sweet potato crops have been promoted to address VAD, with a single sweet potato providing enough vitamin A, as -carotene, to meet daily needs. However, the bioavailability of -carotene is dependent on the presence of dietary fat. So, this work focused on developing a food product that could increase -carotene bioavailability, as well as provide additional macronutrients, by combining sweet potatoes with peanuts and chickpeas. The final food product formulation, developed through computer modeling, resulted in a nutrient rich product, containing adequate amounts of total energy, providing all essential amino acids, and meeting the daily vitamin A needs of individuals in one or two servings of this food product.