A survey method to assess fortifiable condiment use by rural households

A simple method is described to provide a semi-quantitative, initial estimate of commercially distributed condiment usage by households during a cross-sectional survey in a rural area of a developing country. (a) Technically fortifiable condiments are identified in markets; (b) frequencies of purchase and typical amounts of money spent on the condiments by a household are obtained during the survey; (c) samples of frequently used condiments are purchased in local markets, noting the weight and price of each sample; and, (d) through simple linear regression, weekly household and per capita usage are estimated. In Southern Malawi, where vitamin A deficiency is widely prevalent, this method identified a semi-processed salt being purchased by more than 90% of 546 surveyed households, with an average per capita weekly usage of approximately 26±15 grams.