Forging partnerships among industry, government, and academic institutions for food fortification

Abstract

This decade commenced with a declaration by the heads of state attending the World Summit for Children that they would pursue the virtual elimination of iodine and vitamin A deficiencies and reduce iron deficiency by 33% before the year 2000. The World Bank has estimated that the economic, socio-economic, and health benefits of sustained elimination could contribute as much as 5% of gross domestic product annually to an affected country for an investment of less than 0.3% of gross domestic product. By 1996, tremendous progress .towards the elimination of iodine deficiency had been made, largely due to the involvement of the private food industry in the production and distribution of iodized salt. For goals in preventing vitamin A and iron deficiencies to be achieved, a similar commitment on the part of the food industry is necessary. In 1995 we conducted a survey of 95 representatives of multinational and national food companies and 68 representatives of government and international agencies about private-public partnerships to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition. The survey showed a lack of communication from the public sector to the private sector, although both sides suggest that such communication would be effective and desirable. An international dialogue entitled "Sharing Risk and Reward: Public-Private Collaboration to Eliminate Micronutrient Malnutrition" was held in Ottawa in December 1995, where a frame\vorh for communication was established. From this foundation, many countries have initiated or reopened dialogues among governments, industry, agencies, academia, and civic organizations to support the elimination of micronutrient malnutrition. © 1998, The United Nations University.