Acceptability of Multiple Micronutrient-Fortified Bouillon Cubes among Women and Their Households in 2 Districts in The Northern Region of Ghana

Background: Bouillon is a promising large-scale food fortification vehicle, but there is uncertainty regarding the types and concentrations of micronutrients that are feasible to add without compromising consumer acceptability. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of 2 different multiple micronutrient-fortified bouillon cube formulations, compared with a bouillon cube fortified with iodine only. Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled acceptability study in 2 districts in northern Ghana. Two nonproprietary, noncommercialized formulations of multiple micronutrient-fortified bouillon cubes containing iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamins A and B12, and iodine at "upper -level" (45-125% CODEX NRV/2.5g) or "lower -level" (15-50% CODEX NRV/2.5g) concentrations, and a control cube that contained iodine only (50% CODEX NRV/2.5g) were evaluated. Eligible women (n = 84) were invited to participate in 1) center -based sensory evaluations designed to permit within -individual comparisons among the different study products; and 2) in -home evaluation of bouillon acceptability and use, in which participants were randomized to receive 1 of the 3 study products to use in household cooking for a 2 -wk period. Acceptance test ratings were based on a 5 -point Likert scale (1 = dislike very much, 5 = like very much). Results: In the center -based evaluations, overall liking of the 3 bouillon cube formulations both dry and in prepared dishes ranged from 4.3 to 4.6 on the 5 -point Likert scale and did not differ among formulations (P > 0.05). After the 2 -wk in -home trial, 93.8% of index participants (n = 75/80) rated their overall liking of the bouillon product formulation to which they were randomly assigned as "like" or "like very much" (4-5 on the 5 -point Likert scale) and median apparent intake of study -provided bouillon over 2 wk was 3.6 g/capita/d; neither value differed by study group (P = 0.91 for both). Conclusions: All 3 formulations of bouillon cubes assessed were acceptable to women and their households in 2 districts in northern Ghana. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05177614.