Conformity of Beverage Products for Pregnant and Lactating Women to the Indonesian National Standard, Recommended Daily Allowance and Consumer Perception.

Abstract

Considering the safety and public health concern, Government may apply this standard to be mandatory. The objectives of this study were : (a) to review nutrient content declared on the label of registered beverage products for pregnant and/or lactating women compared with national standard, (b) to review the percentage of Recommended Dietary Allowance declared on the label compared to the nutrition need of pregnant and lactating women and (c) to analyze the consumer perception, understanding of the label and consumption pattern on the beverage products for pregnant and/or lactating women. This study showed that percentage of beverage products for pregnant and lactating women which did not meet the standard were 87% and 59%, respectively. The average percentage of the RDA for all nutrients for these products were 21%. Survey showed that 43% of pregnant women and 48% of lactating women had the important perception of the exisisting these products. The pregnant women and the lactating women chose the name of the product as the first information on the label that they read and nutrient content as the first consideration when bought the products. 65% of pregnant women and 64% of lactating women consumed these product by their own initiative. 77% of pregnant women and 54% of lactating women stated that the benefit of consuming these product were to fulfill the nutrient requirement. 57% of pregnant women and lactating women consumed these product twice a day.