Project Mentor: Professor Sean Vassilaros, Computer Science and Business
Continuing Fellow:
Callie Higgins '27
2025 Impact Fellows:
Shelly Deng ‘28
Kristen Lomuto ‘27
Melanie Malkasyan ‘27
Samantha Sandhaus '28
Project Description:
How might the availability of affordable nutrient-rich foods nudge Sierra Leoneans to opt for healthier dietary choices?
The pervasive lack of healthy and nutritious food options is a critical issue in Sierra Leone, contributing to alarming statistics: 44% of children experience stunted growth, 22% suffer from wasting, and malnutrition is the leading cause of child mortality in the country. Over the past five years, the NewTrition team at Lehigh has worked closely with nutritionists in the Sierra Leonean public health ministry, local bakeries, and water factories to develop a range of shelf-stable, nutrient-dense foods—including SuperCakes (muffins), SuperSip (vitamin water), bouillon cubes, and lollipops. Each of these products is designed to provide essential micronutrients such as Vitamin A, zinc, iodine, and iron and are strictly classified as food products without any claims that they can be used to avoid, treat, or manage any specific health conditions.
Since the summer of 2023, the NewTrition team has forged two significant partnerships with local bakeries in Makeni, Sierra Leone’s third-largest city, to ensure the long-term production and sale of SuperCakes. The next phase of this initiative involves scaling the bakery’s muffin production from 500 to over 3,000 muffins per day through a centralized operation, while implementing biodegradable packaging and conducting shelf-life testing to ensure product viability. Additionally, the team aims to develop the vitamin water and other products for introduction into the Sierra Leonean market. A parallel effort will emphasize nutrition education across Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) in Bombali district, conducted in close collaboration with the District Health Medical Team.
Students interested in this project should possess a strong passion for global health and nutrition, along with a commitment to business development in low-resource settings.
