The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with nutrition stakeholders, has begun a three-day policy dialogue to develop a framework for standardising the production, quality and nutritional content of Tom Brown in Nigeria.

Tom Brown is a complementary food made from roasted grains and legumes such as millet, sorghum, maize, soybeans and groundnuts.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the director and head of the Nutrition Department at the ministry, Olufunmilola Adegbite, said malnutrition remained a major public health challenge in the country.

She said that, despite progress recorded through various nutrition interventions, undernutrition, especially stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, continued to threaten national development.

According to her, the ministry has prioritised food-based nutrition strategies and the promotion of locally available, nutrient-dense complementary foods.

Akim Kikonda, the country representative of Catholic Relief Services Nigeria, said the organisation had been supporting efforts to tackle malnutrition among children under five.

He said Tom Brown had demonstrated positive results in the recovery of moderately malnourished children.

Mr Kikonda said the policy development process, which began with an initial dialogue in November 2025, had reached an advanced stage following extensive stakeholder consultations.

“We are here with stakeholders from the United Nations system, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, ministries, departments and agencies, among others. We want to ensure that all relevant stakeholders contribute to the process before the final draft framework is produced,” he said.

Nene Obianwu, a deputy director at the SON, said the agency was participating to ensure appropriate standards were incorporated into the framework.

“We are here to ensure consumer safety and quality assurance so that consumers receive value for what they pay for,” she said.

(NAN)