Call to Action: Addressing zinc deficiency through zinc fortification

IZiNCG’s Zinc Fortification Task Force is pleased to share this Call to Action to close the global zinc fortification gap.

Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) is one of the most effective interventions for improving micronutrient status. We have recently published a systematic review and meta-analysis which showed that zinc fortification can reduce the prevalence of zinc deficiency.

This advocacy brief presents the LSFF situation in countries where zinc deficiency is a public health issue, and outlines priority actions these countries should take pertaining to food fortification. Among these countries are 11 countries where zinc fortification can have a significant and immediate impact because a mandatory fortification program already exists, but it does not include zinc.

The members of our Zinc Fortification Task Force represent the Food Fortification Initiative, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Nutrition International, and the IZiNCG Steering Committee.