A school-based supplementary food programme in rural Kenya did not reduce children's intake at home.

OBJECTIVE To examine changes in energy intake along with markers of dietary quality (animal-source energy and protein intakes) among household members in the presence of supplementary school feeding in rural Kenya. DESIGN A 2-year, longitudinal, randomized controlled feeding intervention study. SETTING Kyeni South Division, Embu District, Kenya. SUBJECTS A total of 182 schoolchildren and selected household members. RESULTS There was no evidence that schoolchildren who received supplementary snacks at school experienced reduced intakes at home or that intakes by other family members were increased at the expense of the schoolchild's intake. CONCLUSIONS This analysis highlights a number of factors useful in planning for supplementary feeding interventions in rural Kenya and similar communities.