TechnoServe Trains Millers on Rice Fortification to Combat Malnutrition in Nigeria
In a significant move to tackle malnutrition across Nigeria, the international nonprofit organization TechnoServe has conducted specialized training for rice millers on the fortification of rice with essential micronutrients. This initiative, aligned with regulatory accreditations, aims to use rice as a vehicle to deliver critical nutrients like iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 to the population.
Training and Collaboration in Lagos
The two-day training session, held in Lagos, was organized through TechnoServe's Millers for Nutrition initiative and in partnership with the Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) programme. While fortification practices for salt, flour, and edible oil have been established in Nigeria for years, rice fortification remains a relatively new approach, highlighting the importance of this educational effort.
Regulatory Emphasis and Public Health Goals
During the event, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized the necessity of strategic collaboration between millers and regulators. Represented by Eva Edwards, Director of the Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, Adeyeye stressed that fortification is crucial to address the country's escalating malnutrition rates, particularly among children.
Olusola Sowunmi, TechnoServe's Senior Food Fortification Specialist, provided an update on the rice fortification programme, noting progress in scaling production, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and expanding participation across the rice value chain. He highlighted that the initiative is driven by the Federal Government and supported by development partners, with a National Rice Fortification Central Coordinating Committee chaired by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Progress and Regulatory Framework
Sowunmi explained that the rice fortification programme, approved in 2021, promotes voluntary fortification as a public health intervention rather than merely a commercial activity. Currently, about seven rice mills are producing fortified rice, with more expected to join. Key mills like WACOT and Mubadala have secured regulatory approvals and certifications, demonstrating that compliance can be achieved quickly.
Abiola Tijani, a Control Regulatory Officer at NAFDAC, reiterated the agency's mandate to regulate food production and distribution, noting that rice fortification falls within its public health responsibilities. He outlined two key regulatory instruments:
- Pre-Packaged Food Labeling Regulation: Requires clear and accurate product information for consumer transparency.
- Food Fortification Regulation: Specifies nutrient thresholds that must be met before a product can be labeled as "fortified."
Standards and Quality Control
Nene Obianwu of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) emphasized that standards are developed through stakeholder consensus and are vital for maintaining order and uniformity. Compliance is essential for certification and market acceptance, with both milled rice and the final fortified product needing to meet relevant standards. She warned that products failing to meet nutrient levels must not be labeled as fortified, and recycled packaging materials should be avoided to prevent chemical contamination and ensure food safety.
This training marks a pivotal step in Nigeria's efforts to combat malnutrition through innovative food fortification strategies, leveraging rice as a staple to improve public health outcomes nationwide.
