Kasim Sumaina
Experts in food, nutrition and health, have identified micronutrients fortification of commonly consumed foods as the key to ending malnutrition.
The experts said micronutrients fortification is a major strategy against malnutrition and can create a huge breakthrough in healthy living.
They made the call recently at a National Fortification Dialogue to discuss viable options to scaling up nutrition through food fortification held in Abuja, as part of the United Nations Food Systems Summit, (UNFSS),
Country Director of of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, (GAIN), and convener of the meeting, Mr. Michael Ojo, noted that the development and advent of food fortification is a major game changer in food based innovations.
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Experts move to end malnutrition
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has raised the alarm over the worsening state of food security in the country. x
It stressed the need for urgent measures to protect the most vulnerable, keep the national agricultural supply chains functional and efficient, and mitigate the food security impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
FAO country representative, Fred Kafero, who spoke at the ongoing 44th meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD), said the theme of the meeting, ‘Nigeria’s Agriculture and Food Security in the Face of COVID-19, Floods and Insecurity’, is a call to action, to cushion threats to the livelihood of a large section of the population.
Food fortification – the devil in the detail
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Why focus on food fortification?
Well, we know it’s one of the best tools we have to cost-effectively improve and protect people’s micronutrient status. The theory sounds simple. Add nutrients at the point of processing to staple foods and condiments that people already eat a lot – no big food supply chain shifts, and no major consumer behaviour change required. But the devil is in the detail.
We know in practice, impacts are mixed. The right foods aren’t always the ones that end up fortified. People change their eating patterns, industries are fragmented – with many lacking the incentive to fortify to standards set by governments, while governments lack capacity or will to regulate and enforce their own mandates.