The Players
The success of food fortification programmes depends largely on the
existence of a good partnership between government, food processors, retailers
and consumer groups.
To implement sustainable food fortification programs:
Governments need to work with key partners in the food industry,
consumer groups, and technical experts to:
- Define national food fortification goals
- Select the foods to be fortified (the food vehicles)
- Select the nutrients to be added to foods and determine appropriate
fortification levels
- Develop guidelines and set standards
- Agree on cost-sharing arrangements
- Create consumer demand through advocacy, education and social
marketing
- Regulate fortification through an effective monitoring system; and
- Evaluate the coverage, impact and cost-effectiveness of the program,
and make adjustments as necessary.
Food Processing Companies need to:
- Commit to participation in the fortification program
- Decide which brands to fortify (if the program is voluntary)
- Obtain equipment and adjust workflow to accommodate
fortification
- Procure premix
- Change product labeling to reflect that content is fortified
- Review cost implications and pricing policies
- Design and implement advertising and consumer education initiatives
- Develop, modify and implement an appropriate Quality Assurance /
Quality Control System to maintain appropriate fortification levels
- Assess impact of the fortification on company profits and image
Retailers need to:
- Give prominence to fortified products on their shelves
- Include fortified products in in-house promotions and consumer
education
Consumer Groups need to:
- Represent consumers in forums on the fortification programs
- Help create consumer demand by disseminating information on
fortification to consumers
- Serve as watchdogs with regard to prices and availability of
fortified foods, particularly in stores used by poor consumers
Through the various sections of this website you will find information
to assist you in all these activities.
|