Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41834436›Full record

ArticleMaternal & child nutrition2026

Nutrient Composition and Health Information on the Labels of Commercially Produced Complementary Foods in Nepal.

Nisha Sharma, Prabhat Lamichhane, Penelope Love, Pradeep Kaji Poudel, Colin Bell

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Maternal & child nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Nisha SharmaSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0084-3166
Prabhat LamichhaneDepartment of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5719-7129
Penelope LoveSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1244-3947
Pradeep Kaji PoudelDepartment of Food Technology, Golden Gate International College, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Colin BellSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2731-9858

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Commercially produced complementary foods (CPCFs) - commercially produced food or beverage products that are specifically marketed as suitable for feeding infant and young children (IYC) from 6-36 months of age - are increasingly available in Southeast Asia and purchased by caregivers. However, we know little about the nutrient composition of these foods or health-related information on the packaging of the CPCFs available in Nepal. This study assessed nutrient composition and health information on the labels of CPCFs available in urban Nepal. In 2024, we visited 4 large stores (2 supermarkets and 2 departmental stores), 22 small stores (corner stores), and 2 baby stores in Kathmandu Valley. We photographed all CPCFs. To analyse, we extracted nutrient and health information from the label and categorized each CPCF into WHO Southeast Asia Region Nutrient Profile and Promotion model (SEAR NPPM) food sub-categories. Within each category we calculated the proportion meeting energy and nutrient thresholds for nutrient of concerns (protein, total sugar, sodium, and total fat threshold per 100g of product) from the SEAR NPPM and the proportion with health-related labels that complied with SEAR NPPM labelling requirement. We found 61 CPCFs available in seven (3 large, 2 small and 2 baby stores) out of the 28 stores visited. None of these CPCFs met all energy and nutrient thresholds, 75.6% met energy thresholds, 79.5% total fat content thresholds, 50.8% sodium content, and 25% total sugar content. Total sugar content was double the SEAR NPPM threshold of ≤ 3g/100 g, ranging from 1g/100 g for CPCFs in the 'cereals without added high protein' sub-category to 27.4g/100 g for CPCFs in rusks and biscuits' sub-category. Less than five (3.3%) of assessed CPCFs were compliant with the SEAR NPPM labelling requirement. CPCFs in Nepal contained high levels of nutrients of concern and had misleading health information on the labels. To safeguard health and nutrition of older infants and young children, Nepal has a mandatory food standard for cereal-based commercial complementary food that determines nutrient composition, promotional requirements, and food safety parameters. In addition to stronger enforcement of this standard, we recommend similar standards be applied for other CPCF sub-categories.

Indexed as

Food LabelingInfant FoodNutritive ValueChild, PreschoolFood, ProcessedHumansInfantInfant Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaNepalNutrientscommercially produced complementary foodsfood labellinginfantsNepalnutrient compositionyoung children

Identifiers

PMID41834436
PMCPMC13344140

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.