A comprehensive new systematic review published in The Journal of Nutrition provides the latest evidence that large-scale food fortification is a highly cost-effective intervention for reducing global malnutrition.
The research team, made up of scientists from Cochrane Response, the Food Fortification Initiative, Emory University, and TechnoServe, examined 56 studies presenting over 200 economic analyses from 63 countries, including more than 40 low- and middle-income economies. They found that the vast majority of food fortification programs deliver substantial health benefits relative to costs.
Hidden hunger, a type of malnutrition that occurs when a person does not consume enough of the essential vitamins and minerals – micronutrients – they need to survive or thrive, impacts millions worldwide and leads to substantial mortality and morbidity. Children and pregnant women are particularly susceptible, with an estimated 56% of children aged 6-59 months and 69% of non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years suffering from hidden hunger globally. Hidden hunger can worsen during periods of food insecurity and rising food prices, as vulnerable populations struggle to access a varied, nutritious diet.
The systematic review, which represents the most comprehensive economic analysis of food fortification ever conducted, found strong and consistent evidence supporting large-scale food fortification as a cost-effective intervention. The study's key findings demonstrate that fortification programs are a great investment because the benefits far outweigh the costs.