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Fortified food helps boost health -- expert |
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News -
Health
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Tuesday, 10 November 2009 23:59 |
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Food fortification for basic ingredients helps improve health in society, researcher at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Researches Souad Al-Houti said Tuesday.
Flour, an element that is consumed daily is the best candidate for fortification, Al-Houti told KUNA on the sidelines of participating in a course on flour fortification and of which ended today.
Food is fortified through adding micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals while grinding, she said.
This would help prevent anemia and birth defects due to the fact that iron and folic acids were added to the food, she said, adding that this falls within the national plan to cut down health expenses where the lack of nutrients is to blame.
A number of local and international institutions concerned with flour fortification participated in the course, she noted.
Participants discussed following the directions set for the fortification processes and the role of media in raising awareness and promoting for fortified flour, she said.
They agreed that there must be a workshop should be held where affiliate bodies such as customer protection, the media, general health and so on take part in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Flour Fortification Initiative, and the Micronutrient Initiative, she said.
The workshop is to discuss WHO's recommendations concerning quantities, and nutrients used. - Kuna
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