What’s in the Meal?
NutriMeal is a shelf-stable, nutritionally complete meal costing around $0.35 per pouch.
Three pouches per day provide a full adult ration for at least 30 days without needing refrigeration.
The recipe can adjust to local crops and processing methods.
1) Dry Pouch Content (≈ 150–156 g net)
Reconstituted with hot water, the pouch yields ≈ 370 g of cooked food.
| Component | Amount per pouch | Function/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fortified rice / wheat / maize grits | 90 g | Core calories, slow-release carbs |
| Pulse protein flour (soy, lentil, chickpea) | 30 g | Brings protein to 20–24 g |
| Dehydrated leafy-vegetable powder | 8 g | Fibre, vitamins C & K, colour |
| Oat / wheat-bran concentrate | 6 g | Supports fibre (≥10 g) |
| Micronutrient premix | 0.9 g | Fe, vit A, KI 45 µg (iodine), folate, B-12, Zn, vit D3, vit K1, Se, riboflavin |
| Ascorbic acid + heat-stable phytase | 0.2 g | Boosts Fe/Zn absorption (vit C +50% overage for hot storage) |
| Calcium carbonate / TCP | 0.85 g | ≈ 340 mg Ca (→ ~1,020 mg/day for 3 pouches) |
| Oil sachet (HO-palm : canola ≈ 60 : 40, 300 ppm tocopherol) | 15 g | ≈ 15 g fat including ≥1.5 g ALA |
| Seasoning sachet (+ 0.75 g iodised salt) | 1 g | Flavour; ≈ 300 mg Na |
| Oxygen absorber | 1 unit | Keeps O2 < 2% for 24 months (N2 flush optional) |
2) Nutrition Snapshot (per pouch)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Energy (per pouch) | ≈ 625 kcal |
| Protein (per pouch) | 20–24 g (complete amino acids) |
| Fat (per pouch) | 15 g (≥ 1.5 g ALA) |
| Fibre (per pouch) | ≥ 10 g |
| Sodium (per pouch) | ≈ 400 mg |
| Meets ≥ 100% RDA for | Iron, Vitamin A, Iodine, Folate, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, Zinc, Selenium, Calcium |
| Daily total (3 pouches) | ~1,875 kcal, 60–72 g protein, 45 g fat, ≥ 30 g fibre |
| Child SKU premix | Supplies ≈ 70% of adult iron and vitamin A levels |
| Optional SKUs | EPA/DHA add-on (+200 mg algae oil, 12-month shelf life); Soy-free / gluten-free line (lentil or chickpea base, no bran) |
3) Shelf-Life & Packaging
- Multi-layer foil/mylar pouch with oxygen absorber
- Optional N2 flush if O2 exceeds 2%
- 300 ppm tocopherols in oil and vegetable powder for oxidative stability
- 24-month hot-warehouse target (above 30 °C)
- High-density PET/PE oil sachet, with peroxide spec < 5 meq/kg at 18 months
- Packs densely for retail cartons or relief pallets
4) End-to-End Cost Breakdown (May 2025)
| Component | Cost / Notes |
|---|---|
| Grains and legumes | $0.09 per pouch — FOB rice 5%, pulse flour |
| Fortification premix | $0.02 per pouch — Ca, C, phytase, Zn, D, K, Se, riboflavin |
| Vegetable powder and bran | $0.005 – $0.012 per pouch — Leafy + fibre cost band |
| Oil sachet | $0.024 per pouch — 15 g HO-palm : canola, antioxidants |
| Seasoning + iodised salt | $0.005 per pouch — 14-flavour rotation |
| Packaging (pouch, absorber, oil film) | $0.032 per pouch — Barrier pack |
| Blending and QA labour | $0.015 per pouch — 5 t/h line |
| Transport and warehousing | $0.02 per pouch — Global freight and hubs |
| Contingency / margin | $0.03 per pouch — Price-swing buffer |
| Total landed cost | ≈ $0.27 – $0.30 per pouch — Leaves room for ≈ $0.35 retail price. Scale could reduce landed cost to ≈ $0.24 per pouch. |
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