Development and Characterization of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Fortified Sorghum Porridge: A Novel Complementary Food for Combating Vitamin A Deficiency in Indonesia

In Indonesia, vitamin A deficiency poses a significant health challenge, affecting 15-20% of infants and children with severe consequences such as high mortality rates, developmental delays, and xerophthalmia. This study explored the potential of addressing vitamin A deficiency in infants aged 6-24 months by incorporating orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) puree into sorghum-based porridge. Conducted at the Southeast Asian Food and Agricultural Science and Technology Center, IPB University, Bogor, the research employed randomized experimental designs to test five formulations with varying OFSP puree content from 0-40%. The experiment assessed carotenoid and β-carotene levels, proximate content, physical properties, and acceptance among 60 mothers. Findings revealed a significant positive linear correlation between carotenoid incorporation and total carotenoid content (R2 = 0.9987). The F2 formulation, which included 20% OFSP, provided 410.45mg retinol activity equivalents per 100g, surpassing the daily vitamin A requirement of 100 mg for infants, and offered adequate protein (2.41%), energy density (81.76 kcal/100g), along with enhanced minerals and fiber. Consumer acceptance of F2 was high (8.2/9), with 48.3% of participants expressing a preference for purchasing this product (4.5/5). This laboratory experiment concludes that a 20% OFSP blend is an optimal, suitable, and well-accepted complementary food to help mitigate vitamin A deficiency in Indonesia and other resource-limited areas, providing a foundation for future pilot studies and community interventions.