Ethiopia launches compulsory National Food Fortification Program
Addis Ababa, August 31, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia’s Ministry of Industry (MoI) today rolled out mandatory National Food Fortification Program (NFFP) that will come into effect today, the 31st of August 2024.
The ministry held a consultation with stakeholders to launch the program and roll out the five-year strategic plan.
The program applies to the production of edible oil, wheat flour, and salt, including imported products. Under the mandatory program, factories will be able to produce edible oil, wheat flour, and salt enriched with vitamins and minerals.
During the launch ceremony, Industry Minister Melaku Alebel emphasized the importance of providing nutrient-rich food to citizens in order to produce a resilient and productive generation.
He stated that the National Food Fortification Program is one of the strategies designed to combat prevent the country’s burden of neutral tube defects within the society.
On her part, Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, revealed that 39 percent of children under the age of five in Ethiopia suffer from stunting due to malnutrition. According to her, 11 percent of them have problems with obesity, and 22 percent experience weight loss issues.