Medical and nutrition experts have said that fortifying bouillon (seasoning) cubes with iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin B12 will significantly reduce anaemia among pregnant women in Nigeria as the cost of nutritious diets continues to soar.
The experts urged the Federal Government to make the fortification of bouillon cubes mandatory rather than voluntary, noting that seasoning cubes are consumed in virtually every Nigerian household.
In September 2024, the Federal Government strengthened its food fortification programme by introducing standards requiring voluntarily fortified bouillon cubes to contain minimum amounts of four essential micronutrients—iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin B12.
The experts, however, said making the standards mandatory would substantially reduce the burden of preventable birth defects linked to micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy.
According to them, fortified seasoning cubes, which are consumed in almost every Nigerian home, could become an effective vehicle for delivering essential vitamins and minerals to pregnant women across the
...
This post was originally published on this site.
