Global Collaboration for Nutritional Enhancement: Insights from International Webinar
In a collaborative effort to combat micronutrient malnutrition, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, in partnership with esteemed institutions, organized an enlightening international webinar titled ‘Large Scale Food Fortification.’ The event, held on April 26, 2022, aimed to pool knowledge and expertise to accelerate the battle against micronutrient deficiencies.
Keynote Address by Food Safety Authority Executive Director
The webinar was graced by distinguished speakers, notably Ms. Inoshi Sharma, Executive Director of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), who delivered an insightful keynote address. Highlighting the surge in anaemia cases, especially evident in recent NFHS-5 data, Ms. Sharma emphasized the crucial role of dietary diversity and the complementary strategy of food fortification to address micronutrient deficits.
Global Experiences in Food Fortification
A focal point of the webinar’s first session was the valuable input from experts including Dr. Helena Pachon and Dr. Georg Lietz. Dr. Lietz underscored the triumph of mandatory Vitamin A fortification on the global stage. An example of this success was highlighted in Guatemala, where Vitamin A Deficiency was significantly reduced through sugar fortification. Dr. Pachon emphasized how mandatory fortification enhances health and nutrition outcomes worldwide, addressing deficiencies like iodine, iron, and folate.
Indian Perspective on Food Fortification
The second session featured the insights of Dr. Kapil Yadav and Dr. Mona Duggal. Dr. Yadav spotlighted the significance of evidence-based decision-making, exemplifying India’s triumph with universal salt iodization. Dr. Duggal shed light on the need for a 3C strategy – Convergence, Collaboration, and Communication – to drive Large Scale Food Fortification in India. She highlighted ongoing research and fortified staples as key components.
Staple Food Fortification: A Complementary Approach
The webinar concluded by emphasizing the role of staple food fortification as a supplementary strategy to counter micronutrient deficiencies. While not a solitary solution, Large Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) proves to be a cost-effective approach to bridge nutrient gaps. LSFF’s straightforward technology and limited behavior change requirement are pivotal in fostering balanced diets and ensuring nutritional well-being, especially in regions like India with high prevalence of deficiencies.
