Digital tools and technologies used in food fortification: A scoping review.

Food fortification (i.e., industrial fortification and biofortification) increases the micronutrient content of foods to improve population nutrition.

Rapid direct analysis of retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) in fortified vegetable oils by HPLC-FLD.

Large-scale food fortification of vegetable oils with vitamin A has been implemented successfully for decades in numerous African and Asian countries, contributing demonstrably to reductions in vitamin A deficiency. For these programmes, reliable and validated analytical data are essential to demonstrate compliance with legal standards and fortification levels. Commonly, many analytical laboratories use a saponification method for the quantitative analysis of retinyl palmitate (the mostly used form of vitamin A for fortification) in fortified oils, which implies a multiple-step procedure with long analysis times and the potential risk of analyte loss.

Vitamin A Fortification Quality Is High for Packaged and Branded Edible Oil but Low for Oil Sold in Unbranded, Loose Form: Findings from a Market Assessment in Bangladesh.

Although mandatory fortification of oil with vitamin A is efficacious, its effectiveness can be compromised by suboptimal compliance to standards. In this study, we assessed (1) the availability of oil brands across the eight divisions of Bangladesh, (2) fortification quality (the extent to which vitamin A content is aligned with fortification standards) of oil brands and producers and (3) the market volume represented by available edible oil types. We visited different retail outlets in rural and urban market hubs to ascertain available oil brands and bulk oil types and collected samples.

Estimating reach of social impact products: A model to standardize the calculation of product reach in data-scarce settings.

Background: Social impact interventions often involve the introduction of a product intended to create positive impact. Program decision makers need data to routinely review product delivery as well as predict potential outcomes and impact to optimize intervention plans and allocate resources effectively. We propose a novel model to support data-driven decision-making in data and budget-constrained settings and use of routine monitoring to ensure progress towards program outcomes and impact.

Coverage of Large-Scale Food Fortification of Edible Oil, Wheat Flour, and Maize Flour Varies Greatly by Vehicle and Country but Is Consistently Lower among the Most Vulnerable: Results from Coverage Surveys in 8 Countries.

Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) of commonly consumed food vehicles is widely implemented in low- and middle-income countries. Many programs have monitoring information gaps and most countries fail to assess program coverage. The aim of this work was to present LSFF coverage survey findings (overall and in vulnerable populations) from 18 programs (7 wheat flour, 4 maize flour, and 7 edible oil programs) conducted in 8 countries between 2013 and 2015.

Considerations in developing lipid-based nutrient supplements for prevention of undernutrition: experience from the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS) Project.

The International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS) Project began in 2009 with the goal of contributing to the evidence base regarding the potential of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) to prevent undernutrition in vulnerable populations. The first project objective was the development of acceptable LNS products for infants 6-24 months and for pregnant and lactating women, for use in studies in three countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana and Malawi). This paper shares the rationale for a series of decisions in supplement formulation and design, including those related to ration size, ingredients, nutrient content, safety and quality, and packaging.

Management of children with acute malnutrition in resource-poor settings.

Approximately 11% of children worldwide suffer from moderate or severe acute malnutrition, which is defined as low weight for height or mid-upper arm circumference with respect to international standards, or the presence of bipedal edema. These children have a considerably increased risk of dying. Experience from the past two decades indicates that children with uncomplicated moderate or severe acute malnutrition can be managed successfully as outpatients, by use of appropriate treatment of infections and either lipid-based, ready-to-use therapeutic foods or appropriately formulated home diets, along with psychosocial care.

Eight-year trends in food, energy and macronutrient intake in a sample of elderly German subjects.

Time trends in the food and the corresponding energy and macronutrient intake between 1994 and 2002 are investigated as part of the longitudinal study on nutrition and health status in an ageing population in Giessen, Germany (GISELA study). The dietary intake is assessed via a 3 d estimated dietary record especially developed and validated for this study. A total of 2135 records from 532 subjects, aged 60 years and over, are analysed separately according to sex and age groups (born 1904-1928 and born 1929-1942).