TechnoServe Trains Millers on Rice Fortification to Combat Malnutrition in Nigeria
In a significant move towards eradicating malnutrition across Nigeria, the international nonprofit organization TechnoServe has conducted specialized training for millers on the process of rice fortification. This initiative, which involves enriching rice with essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, aligns with the stringent accreditation requirements set by national regulators. The two-day training session was held in Lagos, organized under TechnoServe's Millers for Nutrition program and in partnership with the Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) initiative.
Addressing a Critical Public Health Need
While fortification practices for salt, flour, and edible oil have been established in Nigeria for several years, rice fortification remains a relatively novel approach. During the event, Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), underscored the urgent necessity for strategic collaboration between millers and regulatory bodies. Represented by Eva Edwards, Director of the Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, Adeyeye highlighted that fortification is crucial to tackling the country's escalating malnutrition rates, particularly among vulnerable children.
Progress and Regulatory Framework
Olusola Sowunmi, Senior Food Fortification Specialist at TechnoServe, provided an update on the organization's rice fortification program, detailing advancements in scaling production, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and expanding participation throughout the rice value chain. He revealed that a National Rice Fortification Central Coordinating Committee, chaired by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, oversees these efforts. Sowunmi explained that this government-driven initiative, supported by development partners, aims to utilize rice as a vehicle for delivering vital micronutrients like iron, zinc, folic acid, and B vitamins to combat widespread malnutrition.
Approved in 2021, the program promotes voluntary fortification, positioning it as a public health intervention rather than merely a commercial activity. Sowunmi disclosed that approximately seven rice mills are currently producing fortified rice, with expectations for more to join. He cited examples such as WACOT and Mubadala, which have secured key regulatory approvals and certifications, demonstrating that compliance can be achieved within a short timeframe.
Regulatory Oversight and Standards
Abiola Tijani, a Control Regulatory Officer at NAFDAC, reiterated the agency's statutory mandate to regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of food and other regulated products in Nigeria. He emphasized that rice fortification falls within NAFDAC's broader public health responsibilities, with fortified rice being positioned as a key intervention to address micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron and vitamin A shortages identified in national assessments.
Tijani outlined two primary regulatory instruments guiding fortified food production: the Pre-Packaged Food Labeling Regulation, which mandates clear and accurate product information for consumer transparency, and the Food Fortification Regulation, which specifies nutrient thresholds and conditions that must be met before a product can be labeled as "fortified."
Nene Obianwu of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) added that standards are developed through stakeholder consensus involving government ministries, regulators, and industry players, ensuring order and uniformity across the value chain. She stressed that compliance with these standards is essential for certification and market acceptance. For fortified rice, both the base product (milled rice) and the final fortified product must meet relevant standards before certification is granted, reflecting the need for rigorous quality control at every production stage.
Obianwu warned, "If a product does not meet the required nutrient levels, it must not be labeled as fortified. Also, no recycled material should be used for packaging fortified rice, as it may contain residual chemicals and contaminants that can migrate into the product and compromise food safety."
