Food fortification key to ending malnutrition -Expert

Micronutrients fortification of consumed foods are vital in ending malnutrition, experts in food and nutrition have said, citing it as a viable strategy in sustaining healthy living.

This call was made recently at a National Fortification Dialogue to discuss viable options to upscaling nutrition, which was held in Abuja as part of the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS).

Country Director of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), who also doubles as the convener of the meeting, Mr. Michael Ojo said the initiation of food fortification is a game-changer in the world of food-based innovations.

He further revealed that the lack of micronutrients in the body is a huge threat hence its name, ‘hidden hunger’.

He said, “GAIN is driven by a vision of a world without malnutrition hence we look forward to undergoing an inclusive contribution to this cause.

“We work in Nigeria to deliver support among vulnerable groups and children under the age of five and we hope to change the narrative on micronutrients deficiency.”

On her part, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Olusola Idowu, while reinforcing Ojo’s statement said the Federal Government has held several meetings with stakeholders to identify means of ending micronutrients deficiency.

“We have to come up with actionable and implementable plans to tackle micronutrients deficiency through food fortification”, she said while urging the participants.