VitaMin Index
A new Premix Supplier Index to support large-scale food fortification
Malnutrition remains a public health challenge globally, with some of the highest rates in regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Elevated rates of stunting, wasting, and underweight pose a substantial risk for children under five, especially in rural areas and marginalized communities. Adding to the complexity, in many regions, the “triple burden of malnutrition” or the coexistence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency, and overnutrition are present – leading to detrimental effects on public health, including impaired cognitive development.
Fortification of staple foods and condiments, such as flour, milk, edible oil and salt, is one of the most impactful, cost effective interventions to improve the micronutrient status on the population level. The most common way to fortify foods is to add a blend of vitamins and minerals to a food vehicle using a single compound ingredient called a premix.
Premixes include the fortificants (vitamins and minerals in powder or liquid form), carriers and fillers and free-flow agents, and must be of high quality to ensure bioavailability of micronutrients.
One of the factors that prevents food producers from adequately fortifying foods is the unavailability or inappropriate use of quality premix. Producers of premix play an important role in ensuring the affordability and accessibility of high quality premix with bioavailable components that food producers are equipped to use in an appropriate manner.
India, being one of the largest manufacturers of premix globally, is selected as a case study for this project, while Kenya is selected as a case study to unveil the topic in the East Africa region.