Food fortification could triple its impact on nutrient gaps

Friday 27 March 2026 - 08:40

By: Dakir Madiha

Food fortification could triple its impact on nutrient gaps

Large-scale fortification of staple foods like flour, rice, oil and salt currently prevents about 7 billion nutrient deficiencies worldwide each year at a cost of 18 cents per person. A comprehensive global study published Wednesday in The Lancet Global Health shows that enhanced and expanded programs could prevent 25 billion deficiencies annually. Led by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition with partners including the University of California, World Bank and Tufts University, the analysis covered 185 countries representing 99.3% of the world's population.

Current efforts cost $1.06 billion total and avert 7 billion shortfalls, with iodized salt alone preventing 3.3 billion iodine deficiencies and cutting global shortages by 89%. Despite this, 38.6 billion nutrient gaps persist due to poor diet quality, industry noncompliance and limited reach in high-need areas. Improving compliance to 90% on existing standards would prevent 6.1 billion more deficiencies for just five additional cents per person.

Researchers outlined three priority steps. Aligning national standards with World Health Organization guidelines while boosting compliance could avert 10.3 billion extra deficiencies at 63 cents per person. The fullest expansion to needy countries, paired with better standards and compliance, would stop 17.7 billion more for $1.15 per person. Each dollar invested yields $27 in health and productivity gains; even the boldest plan costs $9.2 billion yearly, modest against losses from micronutrient gaps.