A strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda: Feasibility, costs, and cost-effectiveness analysis of fortification programs in 48 countries

Food fortification is a promising strategy for combating micronutrient deficiencies, which plague one-third of the world's population. Which foods to fortify, with which micronutrients, and in which countries remain essential questions that to date have not been addressed at the global level.To prov...

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Autores principales: Fiedler, John L., Macdonald, Barbara
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2009
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/162208
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author Fiedler, John L.
Macdonald, Barbara
author_browse Fiedler, John L.
Macdonald, Barbara
author_facet Fiedler, John L.
Macdonald, Barbara
author_sort Fiedler, John L.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Food fortification is a promising strategy for combating micronutrient deficiencies, which plague one-third of the world's population. Which foods to fortify, with which micronutrients, and in which countries remain essential questions that to date have not been addressed at the global level.To provide a tool for international agencies to identify and organize the next phase of the unfinished global fortification agenda by prioritizing roughly 250 potential interventions in 48 priority countries. By explicitly defining the structure and operations of the fortification interventions in a detailed and transparent manner, and incorporating a substantial amount of country-specific data, the study also provides a potentially useful starting point for policy discussions in each of the 48 countries, which—it is hoped—will help to catalyze the development of public–private partnerships and accelerate the introduction of fortification and reduction of micronutrient deficiencies.Forty-eight high-priority countries were identified, and the feasibility of fortifying vegetable oil and sugar with vitamin A and fortifying wheat flour and maize flour with two alternative multiple micronutrient formulations was assessed. One hundred twenty-two country-, food-, and fortification formulation–specific interventions were assessed to be feasible, and the costs of each intervention were estimated. Assuming a 30% reduction in the micronutrient deficiencies of the persons consuming the food, the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) saved by each of the programs was estimated.The cost per DALY saved was calculated for each of the 122 interventions, and the interventions were rank-ordered by cost-effectiveness. It is estimated that the 60 most cost-effective interventions would carry a 10-year price tag of US$1 billion and have costs per DALY saved ranging from US$1 to US$134. The single “best bet” intervention—i.e., the most cost-effective intervention—in each of the 48 countries was identified.This study provides a detailed, transparent, evidence-based approach to defining and estimating the costs and cost-effectiveness of the unfinished global fortification agenda in the 48 priority countries. Other considerations in designing a strategic approach to the unfinished global fortification agenda are also discussed.
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spelling CGSpace1622082025-02-19T14:06:39Z A strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda: Feasibility, costs, and cost-effectiveness analysis of fortification programs in 48 countries Fiedler, John L. Macdonald, Barbara cost analysis cost benefit analysis food policies biofortification trace elements nutrition food supplements agricultural policies equipment Food fortification is a promising strategy for combating micronutrient deficiencies, which plague one-third of the world's population. Which foods to fortify, with which micronutrients, and in which countries remain essential questions that to date have not been addressed at the global level.To provide a tool for international agencies to identify and organize the next phase of the unfinished global fortification agenda by prioritizing roughly 250 potential interventions in 48 priority countries. By explicitly defining the structure and operations of the fortification interventions in a detailed and transparent manner, and incorporating a substantial amount of country-specific data, the study also provides a potentially useful starting point for policy discussions in each of the 48 countries, which—it is hoped—will help to catalyze the development of public–private partnerships and accelerate the introduction of fortification and reduction of micronutrient deficiencies.Forty-eight high-priority countries were identified, and the feasibility of fortifying vegetable oil and sugar with vitamin A and fortifying wheat flour and maize flour with two alternative multiple micronutrient formulations was assessed. One hundred twenty-two country-, food-, and fortification formulation–specific interventions were assessed to be feasible, and the costs of each intervention were estimated. Assuming a 30% reduction in the micronutrient deficiencies of the persons consuming the food, the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) saved by each of the programs was estimated.The cost per DALY saved was calculated for each of the 122 interventions, and the interventions were rank-ordered by cost-effectiveness. It is estimated that the 60 most cost-effective interventions would carry a 10-year price tag of US$1 billion and have costs per DALY saved ranging from US$1 to US$134. The single “best bet” intervention—i.e., the most cost-effective intervention—in each of the 48 countries was identified.This study provides a detailed, transparent, evidence-based approach to defining and estimating the costs and cost-effectiveness of the unfinished global fortification agenda in the 48 priority countries. Other considerations in designing a strategic approach to the unfinished global fortification agenda are also discussed. 2009-12 2024-11-21T10:01:44Z 2024-11-21T10:01:44Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/162208 en Limited Access SAGE Publications Fiedler, John L.; Macdonald, Barbara. 2009. A strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 30(4): 283-316
spellingShingle cost analysis
cost benefit analysis
food policies
biofortification
trace elements
nutrition
food supplements
agricultural policies
equipment
Fiedler, John L.
Macdonald, Barbara
A strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda: Feasibility, costs, and cost-effectiveness analysis of fortification programs in 48 countries
title A strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda: Feasibility, costs, and cost-effectiveness analysis of fortification programs in 48 countries
title_full A strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda: Feasibility, costs, and cost-effectiveness analysis of fortification programs in 48 countries
title_fullStr A strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda: Feasibility, costs, and cost-effectiveness analysis of fortification programs in 48 countries
title_full_unstemmed A strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda: Feasibility, costs, and cost-effectiveness analysis of fortification programs in 48 countries
title_short A strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda: Feasibility, costs, and cost-effectiveness analysis of fortification programs in 48 countries
title_sort strategic approach to the unfinished fortification agenda feasibility costs and cost effectiveness analysis of fortification programs in 48 countries
topic cost analysis
cost benefit analysis
food policies
biofortification
trace elements
nutrition
food supplements
agricultural policies
equipment
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/162208
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