Targeting pregnant and lactating women and young children with fortified foods

Abstract

Untargeted fortifie d foods contain micronutrients in quantities too low to meet the high micronutrient needs of women during pregnancy and lactation and children during the complementary feeding period (6-23 months of age). • Fortified complementary foods are effective to improve micronutrient status, child health, growth, and possibly development outcomes. • Recommendations exist for the nutrient composition (quantity and formulation) of fortified complementary foods; for best outcomes, these should be followed and attention paid to the quality of the foods. • Fortified complementary foods should be delivered as part of integrated nutrition strategies to ensure promotion of their utilization according to recommendations in the context of overall appropriate breast and complementary feeding practices. • Evidence for the impact of fortified foods during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes is also strong, but further research is needed to refine the guidelines used for formulations of fortified foods in different contexts. • For all targeted food fortification programs, strong communication and promotion strategies are required to overcome barriers to regular utilization by the intended groups in quantities sufficient to improve micronutrient intake, and ultimately health and nutrition outcomes.