New push for fortified foods to curb malnutrition in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. Nutrition is no longer just a health concern—it is increasingly recognised as a driver of economic growth and human development.

Studies show that malnutrition can reduce a developing country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by up to 11 percent.

The Ministry of Health observed the Grand Finale of the 2025 Fortify Forward Innovation Challenge (FFIC) held in Dar es Salaam from July 3–4, 2025.

Director of Training at the ministry, Dr Saitore Laizer, officiated the event on behalf of Minister for Health Jenista Mhagama, reaffirming Tanzania’s leadership in food fortification and highlighting its impact.

“Every shilling or dollar invested in nutrition enhances child health, strengthens education outcomes, increases productivity, and reduces healthcare costs,” said Dr Laizer in a statement.

He said the government had introduced revised 2024 food fortification regulations in April this year, requiring all flour millers producing packaged products to enrich maize flour with essential vitamins and minerals.

“These updated regulations build on our longstanding initiatives, including salt iodisation and the large-scale fortification of wheat flour and edible oil,” he said, adding: “This is not just about compliance. It is about ensuring equitable nutrition for all Tanzanians.”

The new rules aim to expand access to essential nutrients, particularly for vulnerable groups in both urban and rural areas.

“This marks a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage and improved national development outcomes,” he said.

The FFIC, a regional initiative led by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), is designed to promote innovative, scalable solutions to tackle malnutrition through fortification and biofortification.

The two-day event brought together regional finalists from across East Africa for innovation showcases, expert mentorship, and policy discussions with investors, government officials, and nutrition experts.

GAIN’s Country Director for Tanzania, Ms Prisca Rwezahura, said her organisation was proud to support government-led efforts to strengthen food systems and deliver better nutrition outcomes.

“Through these partnerships, we’ve improved access to both fortified and biofortified foods across the country,” she said.

“Our work includes policy support, technical assistance, and capacity building, particularly targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs),” added Ms Rwezahura.

She added that GAIN is also investing in climate-smart cold chain infrastructure—co-funded with the private sector—to increase the availability of affordable, safe, and nutritious animal-sourced foods, especially for vulnerable communities.

Also present at the event were the Assistant Director for Health Education and Promotion, Ona Machangu, and Senior Trade Officer from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Festo Kapela.

Eleven winning innovators each received a $5,000 grant, a plaque, and a certificate to support the scaling of their solutions.

On the second day, winners participated in intensive training on entrepreneurship, product development, and public-private partnerships.

“Fortification and biofortification are powerful yet often underused solutions to malnutrition,” said GAIN’s Executive Director, Dr Lawrence Haddad, adding that FFIC empowers African innovators with the tools they need to scale and save lives.

Fortification involves adding essential micronutrients—such as vitamin A, iron, and iodine—to staple foods, while biofortification enhances the nutrient content of crops during breeding. Both are proven, cost-effective ways to address hidden hunger.