Estimating food consumption, micronutrient intake and the contribution of large-scale food fortification to micronutrient adequacy in Tanzania

Abstract

Objective: To assess the potential contribution of large-scale food fortification (LSFF) towards meeting dietary micronutrient requirements in Tanzania.

Design: We used household food consumption data from the National Panel Survey 2014-15 to estimate fortifiable food vehicle coverage and consumption (standardised using the adult female equivalent approach) and the prevalence at risk of inadequate apparent intake of five micronutrients included in Tanzania's fortification legislation. We modelled four LSFF scenarios: no fortification, status quo (i.e. compliance with current fortification contents) and full fortification with and without maize flour fortification.

Setting: Tanzania.

Participants: A nationally representative sample of 3290 Tanzanian households.

Results: The coverage of edible oils and maize and wheat flours (including products of wheat flour and oil such as bread and cakes) was high, with 91 percent, 88 percent and 53 percent of households consuming these commodities, respectively. We estimated that vitamin A-fortified oil could reduce the prevalence of inadequate apparent intake of vitamin A (retinol activity equivalent) from 92 percent without LSFF to 80 percent with LSFF at current fortification levels. Low industry LSFF compliance of flour fortification limits the contribution of other micronutrients, but a hypothetical full fortification scenario shows that LSFF of cereal flours could substantially reduce the prevalence at risk of inadequate intakes of iron, zinc, folate and vitamin B₁₂.

Conclusions: The current Tanzania LSFF programme likely contributes to reducing vitamin A inadequacy. Policies that support increased compliance could improve the supply of multiple nutrients, but the prominence of small-scale maize mills restricts this theoretical benefit.

Keywords: Household consumption and expenditure survey; Large-scale food fortification; Micronutrient adequacy; Tanzania.