Wheat flour fortification for post-covid nutrition nutritional support to vulnerable segments through food distribution networks in Pakistan

Food and Nutrition Security is heavily threatened by the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, and Pakistan is no exception. The most vulnerable segments including women and low wage workers are mainly relying on free or subsidized meals served by public and private sector managed food distribution networks (FDNs). These FDNs are mainly relying on wheat flour, which could be used as a fortification vehicle to provide essential nutrients after fortification for Zn, Fe, Folic acid and B 12 , during post COVID period. The aim of this project was to ensure that wheat flour, procured by selected FDNs, was replaced with high quality fortified wheat flour in daily distribution meals, so that more nutritious foods would reach the most vulnerable segments in Pakistan. This pilot project executed through different private sector managed food distribution networks (FDNs), industrial distribution networks (IDNs), and ration distribution networks (RDNs), and their regular wheat flour was replaced with quality fortified wheat flour. After selection and agreement with flour mills and FDNs, their employees were capacitated to produce and serve quality fortified flour. Alongside the provision and monitoring of quality fortified wheat flour, supplied to FDNs, the fortification quality was also assessed for fortification compliance, through analysis of added iron content. The agreements were signed with 11 flour mills, 11 FDNs, 6 RDNs, and 6 IDNs in 4 cities of Punjab i.e. Faisalabad, Lahore, Multan and Gujranwala; and 1 city of Sindh i.e. Karachi. Likewise, in total 858 people from these flour mills, FDNs and provincial regulatory authorities were capacitated to provide quality fortified flour. During the project period June to December 2021 around 1,722 tons of quality fortified flour was produced by selected flour mills and 8.6 million fortified meals were served to the vulnerable consumers (61.50% males and 38.50% females). Furthermore, the analysis revealed that the average content of added iron in case of all flour mills complied with the recommended fortification standards of Punjab Food Authority i.e. ≥15 mg/kg. Micronutrient fortified wheat flour provision to vulnerable populations through these FDNs is one of the best strategy to be adopted both by government as well as private sector to compliment the basic nutrition of vulnerable segments.