Food fortification - in pictures

Adding essential minerals and vitamins to highly consumed foods like grains, oils and salt is one of the most powerful ways to improve nutrition. This technique, known as large scale food fortification can significantly improve the nutritional value of food for as little as 10 extra cents per person, per year. GAIN's food fortification programs have reached almost 800 million people in 43 countries. Photograph: GAIN

In South Africa, GAIN partnered with UNICEF to support a national program to make maize meal and wheat flour fortified with iron, zinc, vitamin A, folic acid (B9) and B-complex vitamins available to all. By March 2008, 45% of the population were consuming fortified wheat flour and 66.5% of the population were consuming fortified maize meal. Photograph: GAIN

Baladi bread is the main staple food of Egyptians. People call the bread 'aish', which means 'life' in the Egyptian language. In Egypt the fortification of Baladi Bread allows women to get up to 40% of the recommended daily allowance of iron and folic acid. Photograph: GAIN

Universal Salt Iodization (USI) is a simple, safe and cost-effective measure in addressing iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency is the most prevalent cause of brain damage worldwide. It is easily preventable, and through ongoing targeted interventions, can be eliminated. Photograph: GAIN

GAIN-supported school programs in India have reached approximately 1 million children with fortified hot meals. Photograph: GAIN

Rice is the most widely consumed staple food in Bangladesh, making up between 70 and 80% of diets. However, its low nutrient density is a likely contributor to the high rates of zinc deficiency among Bangladeshis. To improve dietary quality, GAIN has helped to develop an innovative new process called 'fortifying through soak' to improve the zinc content of rice. Photograph: GAIN

GAIN's portfolio of vegetable oil fortification programs spans 12 countries and reaches 390 million people.

Content produced and managed by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. Photograph: GAIN