Experts Says Food Fortification Recipe to End Malnutrition

Ayodeji Ake  

Nutrition experts as identifiedfood fortification as a way towage war against malnutrition which includes both overnutrition and undernutrition. 

In Nigeria, malnutrition is present in various forms including stunting, wasting, and underweight children as well as micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, Vitamin A, and Iodine. 

Speaking at the recent capacitybuilding workshop for members of the Society for Media Advocacy on Health (SOMAH) at Nestle Nigeria’s ultra-modern factory in Ogun State, Dr.Kanalio Olaloku of the Nestle Nutrition Institute, (NNI) Central West African Region, in her presentation titled ‘Malnutrition in Nigeria – Fortification as Strategy for Improving Nutrition Indices’, revealed the importance of food fortification to improve nutrition statistics.  

She said: “We are talking about un­dernutrition which we see in stunting; overnutrition which leads to overweight and obesity. But there is another third mal­nutrition issue that sometimes gets overlooked and that is mi­cronutrient deficiencies. So, in all stages of life, we see it in children, we see it in teenagers,and we see it in adults. So, if you take 10 women about eight of them have some form of nutrient deficiency so it is a big issue for us and that’s part of the reason why we are looking at affordable nutrition. 

“There is a wide range of interventions available to tackle micronutrient inadequacies. For the long-term, interventions aimed toward increasing dietary diversification should be thecentral component of micronutrient deficiency prevention and control efforts. 

“It must be recognized that these interventions will take time to show impact, and they might not provide the required amounts of all nutrients needed throughout the lifecycle. Until populations’ diets improve, and to meet the deficiencies that longer-term intervention will correct, food fortification and supplementation remain the primary sources for delivering key micronutrients to all risk populations.” 

Olaloku also revealed that irondeficiency among preschool children is alarming.  

“In Nigeria, the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemic (IDA) among preschool children is estimated at about 70 per cent. Iron deficiency is the largest micronutrient deficiency globally and, in our countries with devastating impact on children’s development and on women of childbearing age as a result of low awareness of our vulnerability to Iron deficiencyanaemia and low consumption of iron-friendly diet – which also contributes to balanced eating,” she said.  

In her welcome address, the Head, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Nutrition Health Wellness, Consumer Engagement Services, Nestlé Central & West Africa Region, Patricia Ekaba appreciated the Nigerian team led by the Corporate Communications, Public Affairs & Sustainability Lead at Nestle Nigeria, VictoriaNdee Uwadoka for the partnership with the Society for Media Advocacy on Health (SOMAH). 
 
Ekaba who called for more collaboration, pledged that her office would continually work with stakeholders to improvepeople’s wellbeing.