11 food manufacturers awarded for fortifying products at National Food Fortification Summit

By Mourice Seretta

Eleven food manufactures in the country were on Wednesday awarded for fortifying their food products during the a two day 2nd National Food Fortification Summit that was held at a Nairobi Hotel.

The manufacturers in Salt, Oil, Milling, and Wheat Sectors scooped the coveted awards after their products passed the mark of quality that certified their products on shelves as fully fortified.

Fortified foods are those that have nutrients added to them that don’t naturally occur in the food. These foods are meant to improve nutrition and add health benefits.

In the Salt sector, the best performing in fortification was Crystalline Salt Limited in second position while the best perming at number one was Kensalt Limited.

The company were awarded for iodizing their salt products. Iodized salt is the best, and in many settings, the only dietary source of iodine.

In the Oil sector, in third position was Golden Africa Limited, in second position came Pwani Oil Refineries Limited while KAPA oil Refineries was top overall in fortifying their products.

In the staple that most kenyans love, Millers Sector, United Millers Limited took position three, Viera Millers came second while Mombasa Maize Millers came first in fortifying their flour and other products.

Lastly, in the wheat category, Pembe Flour Mills was in third position, Unga Limited second while in position one was Grain Industries Limited.

Representatives from the government who were at the summit offered that fortification of food products has seen reduction in anemia at 34%, reduction in the odds of goiter at 74% and a decrease in odds of neural tube defects.

The representatives also added that the fortification of food products led to reduction in Vitimin A deficiency (VAD) for three million children, significantly redusing risk of deficiency.

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