Assessing fortification compliance and nutrient retention: a comprehensive study on maize millers and flour in the Kampala Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Adequate intakes of micronutrients are required for the immune system to function efficiently. However, a large percentage of people around the world are suffering from micronutrient deficiency, also known as ‘hidden hunger’ which term is used because the symptoms cannot easily be seen or felt. Current technology employs fortification as a means of restoring most of the lost minerals and vitamins. The Uganda Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNBS has drafted a policy that mandates manufacturers of certain foods, maize flour inclusive, to fortify their products if their installed capacity is above 20 MT. The present research surveyed to assess the level of compliance among maize flour millers with the fortification policy, fortification levels, and stability of fortificants used. Millers who had knowledge of food processing accounted for 41.45%. The majority of millers(93.1%) were not fortifying the flour, even when the installed milling capacity required fortification. The flour and porridge samples were analysed for vitamin A, zinc, and total iron. The overall percentage compliance of the maize flours with vitamin A, zinc, and total iron as per the policy was 60%.Vitamin A and zinc levels had statistically significant differences (p0.05) between the levels of total iron in the maize flour and porridge samples. The the study, showed that maize flour millers were knowledgeable about Uganda’s fortification policy, although variability in understanding of maize grain and flour quality, as well as packaging requirements. Despite the above overall compliance with vitamin A, zinc, and total iron fortification, the cooking of flour into porridge had a significant role in the loss of vitamin A and total iron with no effect on zinc. Therefore, there is need to enhance surveillance activities on maize millers to ensure fortification among those meeting the minimum required installed capacity. Furthermore, assessing the levels of other micronutrients such as vitamin B3 (nicotinamide), vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin B12 in the fortified samples is recommended.