What is Corn Soya Blend (CSB)?
Corn Soya Blend (CSB) is a highly-regarded fortified blended food (FBF) designed to provide critical nutritional support during food emergencies and for populations experiencing undernutrition. As its name suggests, it is a mixture of corn (maize) and soybean flour, which are heat-treated and milled into a fine powder. This base is then fortified with a comprehensive premix of vitamins and minerals, significantly boosting its nutritional profile far beyond a typical staple food. The World Food Programme (WFP) often distributes CSB as a core component of its supplementary and mother-and-child health feeding programs. It is typically prepared by mixing the powder with water and cooking it into a thick porridge or gruel. The thermal processing involved also improves the digestibility of starches and proteins while deactivating anti-nutritional factors in the soy.
The Nutritional Composition of CSB
Standard CSB formulations are packed with vital macronutrients and micronutrients to address dietary gaps in vulnerable populations. The blend's composition is carefully calibrated to ensure a balanced nutritional intake. For example, a formulation used by the USDA outlines the typical nutritional content per 100g of dry matter:
- Macronutrients:
- Energy: Minimum 380 kcal
- Protein: Minimum 14.0%
- Fat: Minimum 6.0%
- Fiber: Maximum 5.0%
- Micronutrients:
- Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, B12, Folic Acid), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K
- Minerals: Iron, Zinc, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Iodine
This robust fortification ensures that even a small serving provides a significant portion of a child's or mother's daily nutritional requirements, making it a highly effective intervention for malnutrition.
CSB's Role in Humanitarian Aid
CSB has been a staple in humanitarian efforts for decades, serving as a reliable and effective food supplement in emergency situations and food-insecure regions. Its primary uses include:
- Supplementary Feeding Programs: Providing extra nutrition to prevent moderate malnutrition in at-risk groups like children aged 6–59 months and pregnant/lactating women.
- Emergency Relief: Offering a calorie-dense and easy-to-prepare food source during disaster relief operations when standard food is scarce.
- Transitional Feeding: Assisting individuals recovering from severe malnutrition who are moving from therapeutic feeding to a broader, more diversified diet.
Its extended shelf-life and ability to be easily stored and transported in large quantities make it particularly suitable for large-scale aid distribution.
CSB vs. Other Nutritional Supplements
In the fight against malnutrition, different specialized foods are used depending on the severity of the condition and the target population. CSB and its variants are compared here with alternatives like Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) and Ready-to-Use Supplementary Foods (RUSFs).
| Feature | Fortified Blended Foods (CSB) | Ready-to-Use Supplementary Foods (RUSF) | Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Use Case | Prevention and treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). | Treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). | Treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). |
| Energy Density | Lower energy density; prepared as a porridge with water. | Higher energy density; paste that requires no cooking. | Highest energy density; paste that requires no cooking. |
| Preparation | Requires cooking with water; risk of nutrient loss if overcooked. | No preparation needed; paste is ready-to-eat. | No preparation needed; paste is ready-to-eat. |
| Logistics | Distributed in large bags (e.g., 25kg) as a family ration. | Distributed in individual sachets or jars. | Distributed in individual sachets. |
| Cost | Generally more cost-effective per calorie than RUTFs/RUSFs. | Higher cost than CSB due to specialized ingredients and processing. | Highest cost due to specialized ingredients (e.g., milk protein). |
| Key Ingredients | Milled maize, soybeans, vitamins, and minerals. | Peanut-based, oil, sugar, fortified with vitamins and minerals. | Peanut-based, oil, sugar, dried milk, fortified with vitamins and minerals. |
Variations of Corn Soya Blend
As nutritional science and field experience have evolved, so have the formulations of CSB. Key variations have been developed to enhance nutritional outcomes and better suit specific age groups:
Super Cereal (CSB+)
This formulation is designed for a broader audience, including children over two years, adolescents, adults, and pregnant/lactating women. It features an improved fortification blend and higher protein content than the original CSB, often with added sugar to improve taste.
Super Cereal Plus (CSB++)
Developed for infants and young children aged 6–59 months, CSB++ is a more digestible and nutrient-dense product. It includes additional ingredients like skimmed milk powder and oil, increasing its caloric density and providing superior recovery rates compared to older CSB formulations for moderate acute malnutrition.
The Impact and Importance of CSB
Despite the availability of newer, often more expensive, ready-to-use foods, CSB continues to play a critical role in global nutrition strategy, particularly in preventative and supplementary feeding. Its cost-effectiveness makes it accessible for large-scale distribution, reaching many people who would otherwise not receive targeted nutritional support. Furthermore, its reliance on staple ingredients like corn and soy makes it a product that can often be sourced and produced locally, supporting regional economies. While newer treatments offer faster recovery for specific conditions, CSB's broad applicability and affordability ensure it remains a vital tool for humanitarian organizations. For more information on specialized nutritious foods and their use in humanitarian settings, consult the UN World Food Programme.
Conclusion
In essence, CSB is a vital component of global nutritional efforts, providing a cost-effective and nutritious solution for preventing and managing malnutrition. What is CSB in nutrition? It is far more than just a blend of corn and soy—it is a life-saving tool, fortified with essential micronutrients, that has helped sustain millions of vulnerable people over decades. As formulations like CSB++ continue to evolve, its impact on children and mothers in food-insecure regions remains immense, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of humanitarian food assistance.
