In their new article, published in the American Journal of Human Biology, Piperata et al. investigates the biocultural determinants of complementary feeding (CF) practices among 30 mothers in Belém, Brazil, a region marked by high infant growth faltering and poor adherence to WHO CF guidelines. Through 24-hour dietary recalls, pile-sorting activities, and in-depth interviews, the researchers identified a culturally coherent model of CF that generally aligns with WHO recommendations starting at six months, but is shaped by a convergence of biomedical advice, local ethnomedical systems, and socioeconomic constraints. Three key themes emerged: (1) mothers integrate advice from healthcare providers, digital platforms, and kin networks; (2) feeding decisions are informed by perceptions of infant readiness and long-term health, mediated by cultural beliefs about food properties and developmental vulnerability; and (3) structural challenges—including poverty, gendered caregiving burdens, and conflicting intergenerational norms—often constrain mothers’ ability to implement ideal feeding practices. The authors propose a biocultural model that emphasizes the need for policy interventions to address not only maternal knowledge but also the broader political-economic and sociocultural contexts that shape infant feeding behaviors.

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