Reasons to Fortify

Ten reasons to fortify wheat flour and maize meal

1. Wheat flour and maize meal are ideal vehicles to get deficient nutrients to the general population. They are food staples in many countries, consumed in significant quantities by all age groups and economic classes at nearly every meal.
   
   
2. Fortification restores the nutrients removed during the milling process. Most of the vitamins and minerals being added are naturally present in the whole grain but greatly reduced by the milling refinement process. Many fortification programs simply call for restoring deficit nutrient levels to that contained in the whole grain, often called enrichment or restoration.
   
   
3. Cereal fortification is safe. A person cannot eat enough fortified flour or maize meal to exceed the upper safety levels of vitamin and mineral intakes.
   
   
4. Fortification is an established public health measure. Fortification of wheat flour and maize meal is an established and proven public health measure with widespread support by the medical and milling communities.
   
   
5. The technology is readily available. Flour and maize meal have been fortified for sixty years, in many countries all over the world, so the concept, technology and sustainability are well established.
   
   
6. Fortification at the mill is relatively inexpensive and affordable. It will have limited impact on the cost of the food to the consumer; yet the public will eventually pay for it with a small, overall price increase.
   
   
7. It is simple and easy to control. Fortification at the flour or maize mill is fairly simple and easy to control and regulate.
   
   
8. Equipment and procedures are available. The milling equipment, design and quality control procedures for flour fortification have all been developed and are readily available.
   
   
9. Premix available at competitive prices. There are a number of commercial concerns operating worldwide that supply fortification premix and mill equipment at reasonable prices due to heavy competition.
   
   
10. Technical support is available from a variety of organizations. Several international organizations, including the Micronutrient Initiative, USAID/A2Z, and GAIN, can provide technical, promotional and financial support.