Ghana reviews food law

Accra June 14, GNA - Ghana's Food Law has been reviewed to make it mandatory for wheat flour and vegetable oils imported or produced locally to be fortified with micro nutrients in order to address macro deficiencies among the citizenry.

Wheat flour would be fortified with micronutrients such as Vitamin A, B1, B2 B6, Nacin, Folic Acid, Iron and zinc while the oils would be fortified with vitamin A.

Currently a Legislative Instrument (LI) on the amendment of the Food Law (Act 523) is awaiting Parliamentary approval. Fortification of the two foods would be the first of its kind in Ghana. Fortification of flour is increasing throughout the world with over 14 countries having legislation or regulation mandating wheat flour to be fortified with various micronutrients. Mrs. Ruby Dolvo, Greater Accra Regional Nutrition Officer, Ghana Health Service (GHS) said this at an orientation workshop for district teams on the national food fortification programme in Accra on Thursday. She said wheat flour and vegetable oils would now be integrated in the nations fortification programme and urged health workers to ensure the programme's success.

Mrs. Dolvo said vitamin "A" deficiencies currently affected 72 per cent of preschool children, adding that, 64.5 per cent of pregnant women were anaemic, while 59.0 per cent of lactating women suffered from iron deficiency anaemia.

She mentioned poor diet, worm infestation among others as some of the causes of micronutrient deficiencies.

Mrs. Dolvo named some of the consequences of micro deficiencies as general tiredness and weakness, inability to concentrate, low birth weight, still birth and death of mothers during delivery. She said a strategy document, development standards and legislation and baking trials had been conducted by the Food Research Institute and said fortification of the foods were less expensive. "As part of the test interventions, a logo would be developed and tested for the easy identification of fortified foods," she said. The Greater Accra Nutrition Officer said issues on fortification would be incorporated into both pre service and in-service nutrition curricular of all health workers, teachers and other extension agents and regulatory bodies and industries.

Dr Edward Antwi, Deputy Director for Public Health, Greater Accra Region noted some nutrients were necessary in the growth of children and pregnant women.

He therefore, urged the participants to take issues on nutrition very serious and ensure success under the national nutrition programme. 14 June 07