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Vosti S, Baker E, Moorthy D, Mazinga M, Dary O. Firm-Level and Public-Sector Costs Make Small-Scale Maize Flour Fortification Challenging in Uganda. Food Nutr Bull 2024; 45:12-23. [PMID: 38214039 DOI: 10.1177/03795721231223052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maize flour in Uganda is milled by hundreds of enterprises, mostly small- (5-20 metric tons [MT]/day) and micro-scale (<5 MT/day) mills or firms. A mandatory maize flour fortification program exists for medium-scale mills (>20 MT/day) and policymakers are considering including smaller-scale millers. OBJECTIVE We estimated the private and public costs of maize flour fortification at different scales and explored their implications for extending the mandatory fortification to include smaller-scale mills. METHODS We used secondary data on the structure of the maize flour market and primary data on milling and fortification costs to estimate mill and regulatory costs at 3 scales of flour production: micro, small, and medium. RESULTS For micro-, small-, and medium-size operations, respectively, operational costs of fortification were US$13, US$9, and US$7 per metric ton (MT) of maize flour, which represented 20%, 16%, and 16% of annual operating costs, and the ratio of fortification equipment cost to mill equipment costs was higher for micro-scale mills (2.7) than for small- (0.38) and medium-scale (0.54) maize mills. Governmental regulatory costs rise if smaller-scale mills are included due to the increased number of facility inspections. CONCLUSIONS Fortification and regulatory costs increase as production scale decreases. Up-front capital costs of fortification would be daunting for micro- and small-scale mills. Medium-scale mills, which supply social protection programs, might be able to manage fortification costs and other challenges. Decision-makers should consider all costs and cost burdens, and the realities of enforcement capabilities before expanding fortification programs to include smaller-scale operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Vosti
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Institute for Global Nutrition, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Emily Baker
- Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally project, Arlington, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Omar Dary
- Nutrition and Environmental Health Division, Bureau for Global Health, U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, USA
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Bedsaul-Fryer JR, van Zutphen-Küffer KG, Monroy-Gomez J, Clayton DE, Gavin-Smith B, Worth C, Schwab CN, Freymond M, Surowska A, Bhering Martins L, Senn-Jakobsen C, Kraemer K. Precision Nutrition Opportunities to Help Mitigate Nutrition and Health Challenges in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Expert Opinion Survey. Nutrients 2023; 15:3247. [PMID: 37513665 PMCID: PMC10385361 DOI: 10.3390/nu15143247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Precision nutrition involves several data collection methods and tools that aim to better inform nutritional recommendations and improve dietary intake, nutritional status, and health outcomes. While the benefits of collecting precise data and designing well-informed interventions are vast, it is presently unclear whether precision nutrition is a relevant approach for tackling nutrition challenges facing populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), considering infrastructure, affordability, and accessibility of approaches. The Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley (SFNV) Precision Nutrition for LMIC project working group assessed the relevance of precision nutrition for LMIC by first conducting an expert opinion survey and then hosting a workshop with nutrition leaders who live or work in LMIC. The experts were interviewed to discuss four topics: nutritional problems, current solutions, precision nutrition, and collaboration. Furthermore, the SFNV Precision Nutrition for LMIC Virtual Workshop gathered a wider group of nutrition leaders to further discuss precision nutrition relevance and opportunities. Our study revealed that precision public health nutrition, which has a clear focus on the stratification of at-risk groups, may offer relevant support for nutrition and health issues in LMIC. However, funding, affordability, resources, awareness, training, suitable tools, and safety are essential prerequisites for implementation and to equitably address nutrition challenges in low-resource communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kesso G van Zutphen-Küffer
- Sight and Life, P.O. Box 2116, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Human Nutrition & Health, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Diane E Clayton
- York Consumer Health, Route Du Charmin 15, 1648 Hauteville, Switzerland
| | | | - Céline Worth
- Nestlé, Corporate R&D, Av. Nestlé 55, 1800 Vevey, Switzerland
| | - Christian Nils Schwab
- Integrative Food and Nutrition Center, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Rte Cantonale, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Anna Surowska
- EssentialTech Centre, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Rte Cantonale, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laís Bhering Martins
- Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, EPFL Innovation Park, Station 12, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Klaus Kraemer
- Sight and Life, P.O. Box 2116, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Naz N, Khan MR, Shabbir MA, Faisal MN. Effect of iron-fortified jamun leather on the Asunra-induced anemia in Sprague Dawley rats. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1195981. [PMID: 37384107 PMCID: PMC10293738 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1195981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins are required in a minute quantity but play a pivotal role in the functioning of the body. Therefore, deficiency in one of them can lead to lethal health conditions. Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies across the world and is affecting women and children. Methods The present study aimed to investigate the anti-anaemic effect of fortified jamun leather on anaemia biomarkers and haematology in anaemic female Sprague Dawley rats. A total of 40 Sprague Dawley rats were used in 4 groups. Iron deficiency anaemia was induced by oral administration of the Asunra drug. The treatments were fed at two dosage levels i.e., 40 and 60% iron-fortified leather. All animals were treated for 60 days and the parameters including biochemical, and histopathology of the kidney and liver were examined. Results The experiment's findings showed that the group fed with iron-fortified leather (G3) succeeded significantly (P < 0.05) in restoring the serum iron (98.68 ± 2.88 μg/dL), haemoglobin (12.41 ± 0.32 g/dL), ferritin (24.54 ± 1.98 ng/mL) and haematocrit levels (39.30 ± 1.66%) at the end of the 60 days period. Additionally, the treated group's mean values for transferrin and total iron binding capacity were lower than those of the anaemic rats, indicating an improvement in iron levels. The microscopic analysis revealed that treatments had no toxic effects on the kidney and liver tissues, except in the diseased group, which had necrosis and irregular cell structure. Conclusion Conclusively, iron-fortified jamun leather helped improve iron deficiency biomarkers and imparted a non-toxic effect on tissues in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nosheen Naz
- National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Moazzam Rafiq Khan
- National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Asim Shabbir
- National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Naeem Faisal
- Institute of Pharmacy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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