Micro nutrients like Vitamin A and iron could be included in people'sdaily meals by adding them to products like powdered spices, fish sauceor cooking oil, to reduce the deficiency of micro nutrients in Vietnam's population.
The move is part of a 2.2 million USDproject launched on August 17 by the Ministry of Health's NationalInstitute for Nutrition (NIN).
The Global Alliance forImproved Nutrition funded the project to ensure that the populace getsenough Vitamin A, zinc and iron and other minerals in their daily intakeby adding essential micro nutrients to food products.
"Micro nutrient deficiency is one of the major problems to affect thecommunity at the moment. Adding micro nutrients to food is a way weprevent a significant micro nutrient deficiency in the community," saidNIN Director Le Thi Hop.
Under the project, foodcompanies will be helped to produce products like fish sauce, soyasauce, cooking oil and powdered spices, fortified with essential micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron and zinc, during the period 2012-17.
Health experts believe that by targeting rural, mountainous and urbanareas, these products could help improve micro nutrient deficiencies incommunities around the country.
The project will alsobe supported by the companies Tuong An Vegetable Oil and UnileverVietnam, who will advise and oversee the nutrients being added to arange of foods.
The project will also focus on ways ofstrengthening the community's awareness of the importance of nutrientsand encourage people to use these fortified products.
A national nutrition survey in 2010 showed an alarming rate of micro nutrient deficiency among mothers and children.
A lack of iron was found in 36.5 percent of pregnant women and more than 29 percent of children under-five in Vietnam.
Vitamin A and iodine deficiencies are also still high in thecommunity, especially in the north-west region and the central-CentralHighlands region.-VNA