Vitamins and Minerals in Guatemala´s New Basic Food Basket

Abstract

Objectives: To quantify the amount of vitamins and minerals contained in Guatemala´s New Basic Food Basket (BFB) to determine adherence to the Recommended nutrient intake (RNI). Methods: Micronutrients that are deficient in the population were analyze (Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, Vitamin B12, Iron, Iodine and Zinc). The RNI, and nutrient excess for each micronutrient were based on the population and their food consumption data from the "National survey on family income and expenditure 2009-2010". The food consumption was analyzed in Households within the urban and rural areas. The Vitamin and Mineral Requirements in Human Nutrition established by FAO/WHO were the gold standard to identify the gap between the RNI and the content of each nutrient in de New BFB. Results: The National BFB and the Rural BFB achieve the recommendations on Thiamin, Niacin, Folate and Iron, the RNI exceed in Vitamin A and Iodine, and is low in Riboflavin, Zinc and Vitamin B12. The Urban BFB meets the RNI in most of the nutrients, except Vitamin A and Iodine, which is exceeded probably because of the Cane Sugar and Salt fortification country policy. Conclusions: The three BFB adhere to the energy and macronutrient recommendations, but they present gaps between the RNI and the food content of micronutrients that are deficient in the population. The excess on Vitamin A in baskets is more than a quarter of the RNI, and the principal food source of this micronutrient is the fortified cane sugar.