The fortification of processed food is a way of addressing micronutrient deficiencies in diets, ensuring processed food can deliver specific nutrients required for good health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Micronutrient malnutrition (MNM) can affect all age groups, but young children and women of reproductive age tend to be among those most at risk of developing micronutrient deficiencies.
Food processors in Nigeria have now expressed commitment towards achievement of 90 percent fortification of processed food in the country by 2020. Last year when the Nigeria Food Processing and Nutrition Leadership Forum was first held, the level of fortification in processed foods was 50 percent, and has now increased to 75 percent, following a year of strategic efforts towards the goal of food fortification in Nigeria. A target of 90 percent has now been set before the forum reconvenes next year.
Aliko Dangote, president/ CEO, Dangote Group, and vice- chair (Private sector) of the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Council, disclosed this in Lagos recently after a closed-door meeting of leading food processors in Nigeria.
The forum sought to sustain momentum on food fortification and compliance to standards, which currently targets; edible oil, salt, sugar, and wheat flour. The goal is however, for every processed food in Nigeria to be fortified, including rice, a widely consumed staple by millions of Nigerians.
While the ‘ big food processors’, which had some of their CEOS in attendance at the meeting have expressed their commitment to increasing the volume of fortified food in Nigeria, Dangote stressed that “regulatory agencies should not only focus on the big ones but also the smaller companies”. This, he said is to ensure that the smaller players who together account for substantial share in the food market, are also complying with the stipulated standards for the benefit of all Nigerians.
As explained by Osagie Ehanire, minister of health who was also at the event, fortifying food with vitamins and other essential nutrients vital to the health of Nigerians, will particularly contribute to the development of healthy children.
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According to data presented by the international non- governmental organization Technoserve, a number of companies have significantly improved their compliance with food fortification standards since commitments they made at last year’s forum. Among six of the leading producers of staple foods in Nigeria, the proportion of adequately fortified wheat flour increased from 58 percent to 74 percent; fortified edible oil increased from 63 percent to 75 percent; fortified sugar increased from 32 percent to 84 percent; and salt iodization levels are maintained at nearly 100 percent. Together, these producers account for 90 percent or more of the production volume of these foods—except for edible oil, for which they represent closer to 40 percent of the production volume.
Currently, 43.6 per cent of children in Nigeria have stunted growth, according to the 2018 Global Nutrition Report. The prevalence of stunting is still classified as a high public health concern according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Wasting, a reflection of acute malnutrition, affects approximately 18 percent of children under 5 years old in Nigeria, which, according to WHO standards, is a very high public health concern, noted Feed the Future in its 2018 action plan for Nigeria.
In terms of Under-five children with Stunted growth, Nigeria ranks second in the world with13.9 million children, and retains the same position among countries with Under-five Wasting, having 3.4 million children, according to the Global Nutrition Report.
In addition, Feed the Future’s report noted 71 percent of children and 48 percent of women of reproductive age are anaemic. Nutritionally, women are also affected by the burdens of being underweight ( 11percent) and obese (25 percent).
Enhancing the fortification of food is expected to reduce the statistics of nutrition related deficiencies in the country.
