Report on the Enhancement of Foodstuffs
Additional Nutrients
Can fortification eliminate malnutrition? A study.
The enhancement of foodstuffs: “Techno-Fix” or a lasting solution for hidden hunger?
According to FAO, approximately two billion people worldwide do not consume enough micronutrients. Vitamins and minerals such as iodine, iron, and zinc are, however, essential for one’s health. A shortage of micronutrients can lead to malnutrition in the same way that undernourishment can – with disastrous consequences in particular for women and children in developing countries.
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The risk of dying while giving birth is higher for undernourished women. And in addition their babies are often already born with the condition. Children who are malnourished suffer particularly from a weakened immune system and are thus more susceptible to illnesses. Moreover, their mental and physical development are irreversibly restricted and delayed. These nutritional problems do not only affect the way of life for individuals. In the case of developing countries, they inhibit sustainable development of whole societies.
The enhancement of foodstuffs is controversial
The enhancement of foodstuffs, which is also called fortification, is a subject of controversial debate amongst nutrition experts. Against this backdrop, Welthungerhilfe and terre des homes have published a report. The publication “The Enhancement of Foodstuffs: “Techno-Fix” or a lasting solution for hidden hunger?” gives an overview of the arguments for and against, and of the current debates on the international level. The main points are:
- Large parts of the population can be provided with the vitamins and minerals that they lack with enhanced basic foodstuffs. Good examples have been salt that has been fortified with iodine and sweet potato seeds that have had vitamin A added.
However, the enhancing of foodstuffs has not led to a change in the eating habits of the population groups affected. These can only be influenced in the long term.
But the use of enhanced foodstuffs in times of crisis and emergencies can make sense to counter deficiency symptoms. Or also to prevent a lack of micronutrients in groups that are particularly in need of protection (for example, people who are HIV).
However, it is a fact here that these foodstuffs do not always reach the people who rely on them. Either they do not have sufficient financial means or they are simply not available in remote rural regions.
Furthermore, due to the fact that people are accustomised to commercial products, there is a danger that natural nutritional practices (e.g. breast feeding instead of using milk substitutes) and the use of adapted food plants with high-quality content (e.g. amaranth in Mali or the Andes region) will be replaced.
One-sided nutrition and diseases, that prevent the body absorbing the necessary nutrients from food, are mostly poverty-related. Thus, the fights against hunger and poverty always go hand in hand, Permanent access to more varied and more affordable food is extremely important for poor people.
To summarise, it can be said that the enhancement of foodstuffs is not a permanent and lasting solution for worldwide malnutrition. It is only one of many possibilities to close the gaps in the supply of nutrients. The most desirable and most lasting approach to fighting hidden hunger is the promotion of a balanced diet, which contains all the nutrients which a body needs for a healthy and active life. Please read more in the current report on the enhancement of foodstuffs!
The publication is the first in an international series called “The Future of Global Relationships”, which is being released in German and in English by Welthungerhilfe and terre des homes. The aim of the series is to deal in depth with topics which are relevant with regards to development policy and which have a connection to the work of our programme. Political scenarios and developments, as well as possible consequences for our partners and for the people, for whom we work, and also for our actual organizations, are thereby being highlighted. The series is supposed to uncover controversies and different concepts and so make a relevant contribution to the question about the future of global relationships.
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