Abstract
Food and Nutrition Security is heavily threatened by the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, and Pakistan is no more exception. The most vulnerable segments including women and low wage workers are mainly relying on free or subsidized meals served by public and private sector managed food distribution networks (FDNs). These FDNs are mainly relying on wheat flour, which could be used as fortification vehicle to provide essential nutrients after fortification for Zn, Fe, Folic acid and B12, during post COVID period. This project was planned to ensure that wheat flour, procured by selected FDNs, was replaced with high quality fortified wheat flour in daily distribution meals. This pilot project executed through different private sector FDNs, and their regular wheat flour was replaced with quality fortified wheat flour. Alongside the provision and monitoring of quality fortified wheat flour, supplied to FDNs, the fortification quality was also assessed for fortification compliance, through analysis of added iron content. For a total of 858 people from these flour mills, FDNs and provincial regulatory authorities were capacitated to provide quality fortified flour. Around 1,722 tons of quality fortified flour was produced by selected flour mills and 8.6 million fortified meals were served to 61.50% male and 38.50% female. The added iron in case of all flour mills comply with the recommended fortification standards of Punjab Food Authority i.e. ≥15 mg/kg. Micronutrient fortified wheat flour provision to vulnerable populations through these FDNs is one of the best strategy to compliment the basic nutrition.
Presenters
Muhammad Umair ArshadProfessor, Food Science, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan, Pakistan
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Public Health Policies and Practices
KEYWORDS
Food Distribution Networks, Fortified wheat flour, QA/QC, Vulnerable Segments
