Large scale food fortification in Nigeria: Opportunities and challenges: A position of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria

Abstract

Food fortification is widely identified as a cost-effective strategy for ddressing micronutrient malnutrition  at scale. In Nigeria, food fortification with a focus on vitamin A, iron, zinc, iodine, and other micronutrient remains a major thrust of the effort to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition. Though the step is laudable, the persisting high burden of micronutrient malnutrition suggests the need to re-think the design and implementation of the fortification programmes. This re-thinking and revision of strategy are premised on various conditions including irregular food consumption data and changing dietary patterns, poor awareness of the benefits of fortified foods, poor compliance to fortification standards, and lack of functional information system on food fortification, among others.

Based on the current understanding of the nutrition and food fortification landscape in Nigeria, the Nutrition Society of Nigeria affirms that large-scale food fortification remains a cost-effective strategy to promote a healthy diet and adequate micronutrient intakes and commends the efforts of the various stakeholders especially the development partners and the government's promotion of enabling environment. However, re-thinking the implementation strategy and overhauling the fortification programme to ensure quality, transparency, and possibly digital transformation that can meet real-time data needs to guide decision-making is essential. Thus, it is necessary to ascertain the commonly consumed foods, the usually consumed portion sizes, and the current coverage of the various national micronutrient deficiencies interventions; strengthen social marketing programmes on proper handling and use of fortified foods; improve enforcement of compliance to fortifications standards; strengthen National Nutrition Information Management System to include food fortification information; explore strategies to increase the affordability of the premixes, and develop and implement a Monitoring and Evaluation framework of food fortification programmes.