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.

PATH is an international non-profit organization that aims to provide appropriate health technologies and vital strategies to global health and well-being. To bring fortification to vulnerable rice-consuming communities, PATH developed a manufactured “grain” Ultra Rice that can be mixed with rice to provide nutrients the local diet may lack.  Ultra Rice grains resemble locally milled rice grains in size, shape, and colour, but are made from rice flour, selected micronutrients, and nutrient-protecting ingredients. When blended with white rice—usually in a ratio of about 1 to 100—the result is nearly identical to unfortified rice in smell, taste, and texture. The technology is ingenious in its ability to protect micronutrients within the manufactured grain. In addition to preventing them from being rinsed away, the Ultra Rice grains preserve sensitive micronutrients from degradation during storage. Currently, there are two formulations of Ultra Rice, one fortified vitamin A, and the other fortified with iron, thiamine, folic acid, and zinc. The Ultra Rice technology can not only be adapted to contain the nutrients a population need, but also to mimic the look of the local rice. Its versatility allows grains that look like the short-grained rice of China to carry one combination of vitamins and minerals, while grains resembling the longer, thinner rice in Brazil deliver a completely different combination of micronutrients! Click here for more info on Ultra Rice. View video: http://www.path.org/media/better-nutrition-for-life.php