Objective: To assess the nutritional suitability of commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) marketed in three South-East Asian contexts.
Design: Based on label information declared on the products, nutrient composition and content of CPCF were assessed against the WHO Europe nutrient profile model (NPM). The proportion of CPCF that would require a 'high sugar' warning was also determined.
Setting: Khsach Kandal district, Cambodia; Bandung City, Indonesia; and National Capital Region, Philippines.
Participants: CPCF products purchased in Cambodia (n 68) and Philippines (n 211) in 2020, and Indonesia (n 211) in 2017.
Results: Only 4·4 % of products in Cambodia, 10·0 % of products in Indonesia and 37·0 % of products in the Philippines fully complied with relevant WHO Europe NPM nutrient composition requirements. Sixteen per cent of CPCF in Cambodia, 27·0 % in Indonesia and 58·8 % in the Philippines contained total sugar content levels that would require a 'high sugar' warning.
Conclusions: Most of the analysed CPCF were not nutritionally suitable to be promoted for older infants and young children based on their nutrient profiles, with many containing high levels of sugar and sodium. Therefore, it is crucial to introduce new policies, regulations and standards to limit the promotion of inappropriate CPCF in the South-East Asia region.
Keywords: Complementary foods; Infant and young child feeding; Malnutrition; Nutrient profiling.