Sep 23, 2025 02:38 AM
(This post was last modified: Sep 23, 2025 03:19 AM by C C.)
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1098832
IMTRO: Hidden in plain sight, dried fish are an overlooked yet vital nutrient-packed superfood helping to feed millions of people across Africa, a new study reveals.
And new evidence quantifies for the first time the essential nutrients in sun-dried and smoked fish in Africa, suggesting they could play an important role in tackling malnutrition across the tropics – provided the right policies are in place, researchers argue.
Dried fish are an affordable and readily available food across the tropics. Yet despite this prevalence, because they are often produced by small-scale fisheries, and are usually traded informally, little was known about how widespread this food is produced, consumed or even how nutritious it is. Until now.
In the first large-scale investigation of dried fish consumption, an international team of researchers led by academics at Lancaster University, provides evidence that dried fish contributes significantly to the recommended nutrient intakes for young children and women - underlining their importance for global food security and nutrition.
Using modelling based on data from the multinational Living Standards Measurements Study conducted in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda, the scientists behind the findings estimate that dried fish are eaten weekly by a third of households in these countries, and are even consumed by 54% more people than fresh fish.
Dried fish are particularly important to the diets of those in poor households and near to marine coastlines or urban centres. This, researchers say, reinforces the importance of protecting fish catches for local consumption, rather than for international markets.
But the question remained - just how nutritious are dried fish? (MORE - details, no ads)
How to make African dry fish at home ... https://youtu.be/hsBl3eCFBvM
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/hsBl3eCFBvM
IMTRO: Hidden in plain sight, dried fish are an overlooked yet vital nutrient-packed superfood helping to feed millions of people across Africa, a new study reveals.
And new evidence quantifies for the first time the essential nutrients in sun-dried and smoked fish in Africa, suggesting they could play an important role in tackling malnutrition across the tropics – provided the right policies are in place, researchers argue.
Dried fish are an affordable and readily available food across the tropics. Yet despite this prevalence, because they are often produced by small-scale fisheries, and are usually traded informally, little was known about how widespread this food is produced, consumed or even how nutritious it is. Until now.
In the first large-scale investigation of dried fish consumption, an international team of researchers led by academics at Lancaster University, provides evidence that dried fish contributes significantly to the recommended nutrient intakes for young children and women - underlining their importance for global food security and nutrition.
Using modelling based on data from the multinational Living Standards Measurements Study conducted in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda, the scientists behind the findings estimate that dried fish are eaten weekly by a third of households in these countries, and are even consumed by 54% more people than fresh fish.
Dried fish are particularly important to the diets of those in poor households and near to marine coastlines or urban centres. This, researchers say, reinforces the importance of protecting fish catches for local consumption, rather than for international markets.
But the question remained - just how nutritious are dried fish? (MORE - details, no ads)
How to make African dry fish at home ... https://youtu.be/hsBl3eCFBvM