by
ToMinh Le, Emory University, USA
The Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) celebrated its 15th anniversary on October 24, 2017. Currently, 87 countries have mandates that require wheat flour, maize flour, and/or rice to be fortified with iron or folic acid.
When the Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) had its first public meeting in Mauritus in 2002, only 44 countries had this kind of legislation.
The FFI was established with a mission to encourage collaboration between the public, private, and civic sectors and build partnerships to advance fortification efforts.
“We refer to flour fortification as a ‘public-private-civic sector investment’ because successful fortification requires each of these groups to work together for the well-being of people,” says Scott J Montgomery, who became the FFI Director in 2011 after 30 years of experience in the private sector.
A study of fortification success in three Latin American countries showed that
when influential people support fortification, they could facilitate national
action. Consequently, to celebrate its 15th birthday, the FFI honoured 15
fortification champions from different sectors and parts of the world. The FFI
conducted interviews with the 15 selected champions to learn more about
successes and challenges with fortification in their countries, and what we can
do as a society to improve fortification efforts.
The champions were government officials, industry leaders, researchers, and professors in the nutrition community. Although they come from different backgrounds and cultures, they share the goal of pushing the fortification agenda forward in their countries and globally through partnerships.
One may not expect flour millers to be committed to improving health. However, Abubakar Bakhresa, Executive Director of Bakhresa & Co., Ltd. in Tanzania, believes fortification is a social responsibility to his customers and general population. Bahkresa has favored mandatory flour fortification since the first FFI network event in Arusha, Tanzania in 2008.
He has extended his advocacy for mandatory flour fortification to other countries where his family-owned company operates mills. Tanzania is prioritising fortification through a multi-sectoral approach that includes “stakeholders from manufacturing, regulatory agencies, ministry of health, academic institutions, international organisations and the blessings of the political leadership of the country,” says Mr Bakhresa.
Greg Harvey, CEO of Interflour Group and Chair of FFI’s Executive Management Team, comments, “The role of the flour miller is vital to the fortification process, and I feel it is my professional duty to ensure that flour millers have a ‘seat at the table’ on decisions that are ultimately being made by others on fortification standards, monitoring and government regulations.”
Most of Interflour’s work is in Southeast Asia, where rice consumption is among the highest in the world. To Harvey, milling wheat flour in an area dominated by rice consumption positions the company for a bright future. Since wheat-based foods are growing in popularity in Asian diets, he has an opportunity to encourage countries to fortify wheat flour with essential vitamins and minerals.
Read the full article, HERE.
The Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) celebrated its 15th anniversary on October 24, 2017. Currently, 87 countries have mandates that require wheat flour, maize flour, and/or rice to be fortified with iron or folic acid.
When the Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) had its first public meeting in Mauritus in 2002, only 44 countries had this kind of legislation.
The FFI was established with a mission to encourage collaboration between the public, private, and civic sectors and build partnerships to advance fortification efforts.
“We refer to flour fortification as a ‘public-private-civic sector investment’ because successful fortification requires each of these groups to work together for the well-being of people,” says Scott J Montgomery, who became the FFI Director in 2011 after 30 years of experience in the private sector.
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| Greg Harvey at the Interflour reception Image credit: Interflour |
The champions were government officials, industry leaders, researchers, and professors in the nutrition community. Although they come from different backgrounds and cultures, they share the goal of pushing the fortification agenda forward in their countries and globally through partnerships.
One may not expect flour millers to be committed to improving health. However, Abubakar Bakhresa, Executive Director of Bakhresa & Co., Ltd. in Tanzania, believes fortification is a social responsibility to his customers and general population. Bahkresa has favored mandatory flour fortification since the first FFI network event in Arusha, Tanzania in 2008.
He has extended his advocacy for mandatory flour fortification to other countries where his family-owned company operates mills. Tanzania is prioritising fortification through a multi-sectoral approach that includes “stakeholders from manufacturing, regulatory agencies, ministry of health, academic institutions, international organisations and the blessings of the political leadership of the country,” says Mr Bakhresa.
Greg Harvey, CEO of Interflour Group and Chair of FFI’s Executive Management Team, comments, “The role of the flour miller is vital to the fortification process, and I feel it is my professional duty to ensure that flour millers have a ‘seat at the table’ on decisions that are ultimately being made by others on fortification standards, monitoring and government regulations.”
Most of Interflour’s work is in Southeast Asia, where rice consumption is among the highest in the world. To Harvey, milling wheat flour in an area dominated by rice consumption positions the company for a bright future. Since wheat-based foods are growing in popularity in Asian diets, he has an opportunity to encourage countries to fortify wheat flour with essential vitamins and minerals.
Read the full article, HERE.
The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.
For additional daily news from milling around the world: global-milling.com
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