Micronutrient malnutrition affects more than one-third of the world's population, and has many serious adverse effects, not only for individual human health but also for communities, even at moderate deficiency levels. Deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, iodine and zinc are the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies worldwide and predominantly affect children and pregnant women. Of the major approaches to addressing micronutrient malnutrition, we are still a long way from ensuring the consumption of a balanced diet on a global scale, and supplementation through micronutrient tablets or injections is a more short-term response targeting severe deficiencies. Fortification of food and beverages offers the most cost-effective solution over the medium to long term, for delivering nutrients to large numbers of people without requiring them to significantly change their food consumption habits. However in order to achieve effective fortification, the food industry faces significant technological challenges in order to ensure that the added micronutrients do not have a negative impacts. The Nestlé Nutrition Institute convened a panel at the Geneva Health Forum with Dr. Bruno de Benoist (former coordinator of the Micronutrient Unit, WHO), Prof. Noel Solomon (Scientific Director, CeSSIAM), and Prof. Ferdinand Haschke (Chairman, Nestlé Nutrition Institute) to discuss the issue of global challenge of micronutrient malnutrition, its impact on human health, and the role of the private sector in combating malnutrition. Nutrition is one of Nestlé’s key areas of focus in creating shared value. You can learn more about Nestlé’s actions to create nutritional value and health benefits through its products.

A new ODI background note, commissioned by the UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, assesses the evidence about the current and potential impacts of the ‘Triple F crisis’ (food, fuel, financial) on children and women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It draws on an analytical framework developed by ODI’s Social Development Programme to assess the impacts of economic crises on children’s experiences of poverty and vulnerability, and how government and donor policy responses could determine the severity of these impacts. The paper finds that the crisis is already undermining children’s rights along a number of dimensions, including increased food insecurity and related risks of child malnutrition; rising rates of school dropouts in poorer countries in the region, with concerns about rising child protection threats (including harmful forms of child labour); rising vulnerability among migrant, refugee and IDP families; and significant impacts on the employment prospects of young people, already a major concern in many parts of the region.