Egg and/or Flesh Food Consumption by Children

Outcome

% of children 6 - 23 months of age who consumed egg and/or flesh food during the previous day

The World Health Organization recommends that children aged 6–23 months consume a diverse diet and that animal-source foods, including meat, fish or eggs, be consumed daily. Eggs and flesh foods are nutrient-dense foods that can contribute important nutrients to young children’s diets. This indicator assesses the proportion of children aged 6–23 months who consumed egg and/or flesh food during the previous day.

There are two main ways to determine the indicator’s value. Both require conducting individual interviews with caregivers of a representative sample of children aged 6-23 months:

 

1) Using Data from Minimum Dietary Diversity

When measuring Minimum Dietary Diversity for Children, the WHO/UNICEF questionnaire also records the data required for this indicator. Use Questions 7I-7M on organ meats, processed meats, other meat and poultry, eggs, and fish or shellfish. In the WHO/UNICEF 2021 guidance (see below), these questions are on page 29 of the open-recall questionnaire and page 31 of the list-based questionnaire.

 

 

2) Asking About Egg and Flesh Foods Only

If you do not want to administer the entire questionnaire on foods consumed, use the following questions only.

Ask separately about each of the following food types. Adapt the examples to foods and terminology commonly used in the survey area. Include foods eaten at home or elsewhere and the main ingredients of mixed dishes. Ingredients used only in a small amount to add flavour should not be counted.

Q1: Yesterday, during the day or at night, did [child’s name] eat any organ meat, such as liver, kidney, heart or [insert other commonly consumed organ meats]?

Q2: Yesterday, during the day or at night, did [child’s name] eat any processed meat, such as sausages, ham, canned meat or [insert other commonly consumed processed meats]?

Q3: Yesterday, during the day or at night, did [child’s name] eat any other meat or poultry, such as beef, goat, chicken, duck or [insert other commonly consumed meat]?

Q4: Yesterday, during the day or at night, did [child’s name] eat eggs?

Q5: Yesterday, during the day or at night, did [child’s name] eat fresh fish, dried fish or shellfish?

A1–A5: For each question, record: yes / no / does not know

 

To calculate the indicator’s value, count the children aged 6-23 months who consumed at least one of the egg or flesh-food types listed above during the previous day. Divide this number by the total number of surveyed children aged 6-23 months and multiply by 100.

Following the WHO/UNICEF calculation, children with ‘does not know’ or missing responses are still included in the total number of surveyed children. A child meets the indicator if at least one of the relevant food questions is answered ‘yes’. If none is answered ‘yes’, the child does not meet the indicator.

This data can be disaggregated by child sex and age group, and, if relevant and feasible, also by household wealth and geographical area. Where the sample size is adequate, age groups of 6–11, 12–17 and 18–23 months can be used.

1) For this indicator, flesh foods include organ meats, processed meats, other meat and poultry, and fish or shellfish. Eggs form a separate food group, but consumption of either eggs or flesh foods is sufficient to meet the indicator.

2) This indicator measures whether egg or flesh food was consumed during the previous day, not the amount consumed or the adequacy of the child’s overall diet. Any amount of a qualifying food can count; however, an ingredient used only in a small amount to add flavour to a mixed dish should not be counted.

 

3) Egg and flesh food consumption can vary by season or during periods that substantially affect food availability or feeding practices. For comparisons over time, collect survey rounds in the same season where feasible and document important contextual differences. Do not exclude a child’s data simply because their food intake on the previous day was unusual. Consider rescheduling data collection only when there is good reason to expect highly unusual intake among a large proportion of the target population (e.g. during fasting periods).

 

4) If the caregiver is taking care of two children aged 6 - 23 months (from the same household) and household sampling has been used, then data should be collected for both children. If a list method has been used and children have been identified as the primary sampling unit, then data should only be collected for the sampled child.

 

5) This indicator relies on accurate age assessment. Use a reliable record of the child’s date of birth where available. If the date of birth is not known or documented, estimate it using a standardised approach; a locally adapted events calendar can help caregivers recall the child’s approximate date of birth. Read FAO’s Guidelines (see below) for guidance on preparing and using local events calendars.

Also consider using the following indicators:

• Minimum Dietary Diversity - Children (provides a broader measure of dietary diversity and uses eggs and flesh foods as component food groups)

• Minimum Acceptable Diet (provides a broader assessment combining dietary diversity and feeding frequency)

• Zero Vegetable / Fruit Consumption by Children (complements the indicator by measuring another important dimension of nutrient-rich food consumption)