Progress in Food Fortification Highlighted as Experts Call for Stronger Action Across Eastern and Southern Africa

By Stella Njung’e

Eastern, Central and Southern Africa have made significant progress in combating micronutrient deficiencies through large-scale food fortification. However, experts have called for stronger investments, improved regulatory systems, enhanced data collection and greater support for food producers to ensure fortified foods reach all populations in need.

These were among the key takeaways from a webinar on Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa convened by the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Academia and Research Network, hosted by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) on Tuesday, 30th June 2026.

The webinar brought together researchers, policymakers, nutrition experts and development partners to discuss findings from an 18-country landscape analysis on the status, challenges and future of food fortification programmes across the region. Opening the webinar, Ag. Director, Scientific Programmes, Partnerships and Grants Management and Chair of the SUN Academia and Research Network, Dr. Zipporah Bukania, underscored the importance of translating research into practical policy interventions that improve public health.

“Good evidence has the greatest value when it is accessible, discussed and translated into action that addresses real public health challenges,” she said, adding that the network provides an important platform for researchers to share evidence that supports informed decision-making.

Presenting the study findings, Dr. Justine Kavle and her team from Kavle Consulting described food fortification as one of the most cost-effective public health interventions for reducing micronutrient deficiencies and addressing hidden hunger.

The analysis showed that countries across Eastern, Central and Southern Africa have made remarkable progress over the past two decades. Salt iodization remains one of the region’s greatest public health achievements, with coverage approaching 90 per cent in many countries, including Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Eswatini and Zimbabwe. Kenya has also emerged as a leading producer and exporter of iodized salt within the region

The study further found that many countries have strengthened their policy and legislative frameworks by adopting mandatory fortification requirements for staple foods such as salt and wheat flour. Regional economic communities have also developed harmonized standards that have reinforced government commitment and provided a stronger foundation for improving nutrition outcomes.

Despite these gains, the study identified several challenges that continue to hinder progress.

Coverage of fortified maize flour and edible oils remains inconsistent, particularly in countries where production is dominated by small- and medium-scale millers. Many of these producers continue to face financial and technical constraints, including the high cost of fortification equipment, limited access to vitamin premixes and inadequate technical support, making compliance with national fortification standards difficult.

The presenters also noted that regulatory monitoring and enforcement remain weak in many countries due to inadequate funding, limited laboratory capacity and shortages of trained personnel. These constraints have reduced governments’ ability to inspect products and ensure compliance with food fortification requirements.

Another key concern was the lack of up-to-date data. Many countries continue to rely on food fortification surveys conducted more than a decade ago, making it difficult to assess programme performance, identify underserved populations and guide evidence-based policy decisions.

Consumer awareness also remains relatively low beyond iodised salt. Participants observed that while most consumers recognise the importance of iodised salt, awareness of other fortified foods is limited. They called for sustained public education campaigns to increase understanding of the health benefits of fortified foods and build consumer confidence.

The webinar further highlighted the critical role of the private sector in expanding access to fortified foods. However, manufacturers continue to face high production costs and limited incentives to comply with fortification requirements.

 Participants recommended stronger collaboration among governments, industry, research institutions and development partners to strengthen policies, improve regulatory compliance and expand access to fortified foods. They also called for increased investment in monitoring systems, harmonised regional standards, stronger laboratory capacity and routine data collection to track programme performance.

In addition, participants emphasized the need to support small-scale millers through technical assistance, affordable fortification technologies and financing mechanisms to enable them to participate more effectively in national food fortification programmes.

 As countries continue their efforts to eliminate hidden hunger, participants agreed that sustained investment in research, innovation and multi-sectoral partnerships will be critical to ensuring that food fortification programmes deliver lasting health and nutrition benefits across Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.