Globally, nearly half of all preschool-aged children and two-thirds of all non-pregnant women of reproductive age are deficient in at least one essential micronutrient. Alarmingly, about 75% of children with deficiencies live in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and East Asia and the Pacific.
A recent study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) revealed that more than half of the world’s population consumes inadequate levels of key micronutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E.
According to Ty Beal, Senior Technical Specialist at GAIN:
These results are alarming. Most people—across all regions and income levels—are not consuming enough of multiple essential micronutrients. These gaps compromise health outcomes and limit human potential on a global scale.
Devastating consequences
Micronutrient deficiencies have devastating consequences. They can stunt growth, increase vulnerability to infections, impair cognitive development, and complicate pregnancies. Beyond health, the economic toll is staggering, global productivity losses are estimated at over USD 1 trillion annually.
Fortification: A Proven Solution
Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) is one of the most cost-effective and scalable interventions in public health. By adding vitamins and minerals to staple foods—such as wheat flour, maize flour, rice, salt, and cooking oil, LSFF improves nutrition without requiring major dietary changes.
Evidence shows LSFF can:
- Reduce anaemia
- Prevent iodine deficiency
- Lower the risk of neural tube defects
This makes fortification a powerful tool for improving health outcomes at scale.
The Power of Partnerships
Fortification success depends on strong collaboration among multiple actors:
- Governments: set and enforce standards, monitor compliance, and integrate fortified foods into school meals and safety nets.
- Industry: ensure consistent production of fortified foods that meet national quality standards.
- Technical partners: design programmes, monitor performance, and turn evidence into action.
- Donors & development agencies: provide funding, technical support, and long-term sustainability.
Together, these stakeholders create an environment where fortified foods are affordable, accessible, and trusted.
Policy Recommendations for Greater Impact
Despite progress, major gaps remain. To scale the benefits of fortification, countries should:
- Make fortification mandatory for widely consumed staple foods.
- Target the right foods and nutrients based on local dietary patterns and data.
- Strengthen monitoring and enforcement to maintain quality and consumer trust.
- Support industry compliance by reducing economic and technical barriers.
- Integrate fortified foods into school feeding and social protection programmes to reach vulnerable groups.
What’s Next?
On March 26, 2025, the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi), GAIN, and the Paris Peace Forum launched the Paris Declaration on Business & Nutrition 2030 ahead of the Paris Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit. The Declaration calls for urgent, coordinated action to tackle malnutrition in all its forms—stunting, anaemia, obesity, and hidden hunger—while linking nutrition to climate and economic resilience.
Food fortification is central to this agenda, offering returns of up to $27 for every $1 invested. By strengthening partnerships, scaling innovation, and enacting bold policy, we can accelerate progress toward healthier diets and stronger communities.
🔗 Read the full policy brief: Food Fortification Policy Recommendations to Strengthen Programmes