Tracking the Effective Coverage of Large-Scale Food Fortification: Introduction to the FORTIMAS Methodology

Tracking the Effective Coverage of Large-Scale Food Fortification: Introduction to the FORTIMAS Methodology


Timely, actionable data is essential to the success of national large scale food fortification (LSFF) programmes. Most low and middle income (LMIC) countries currently rely on national surveys to inform their LSFF programmes. These national surveys are expensive and infrequent, making it difficult to assess quality and impact.
FORTIMAS facilitates a public-private sector data partnership to assess whether coverage of a consistently available fortified food has been achieved, so that anticipated trends in improved micronutrient status of the population can be tracked over time.

The FORTIMAS methodology helps countries that mandate flour fortification, to answer the question: "Is the micronutrient status of those who regularly consume sufficient quality fortified flour improving?".  

The virtual session was organized by the European Union (EU) food fortification advisory service (2FAS), an advisory service funded by the European Union (EU), and implemented through a partnership between Landell Mills and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), in partnership with the Iodine Global Network (IGN) and Micronutrient Forum. This webinar will:

  1. Present why the FORTIMAS methodology was developed.
  2. Share the basic concepts and premises of the FORTIMAS methodology to track effective coverage of food fortification programs.
  3. Illustrate the necessity of on-going public-private sector engagement toward documenting sustained effective coverage of target fortified foods.
  4. Summarize findings based on adaptation of the FORTIMAS methodology in two countries to date.
  5. Learn from the Iodine Global Network why and how they intend to implement the FORTIMAS methodology for assessment and tracking of salt iodization programs. 

This webinar featured Christophe Guyondet & Ibrahim Parvanta (2FAS), Saskia Osendarp (Micronutrient Forum), Gregory Gerasimov & Arnold Timmer (Iodine Global Network) plus Quentin Johnson (Quican Inc.).

You can view the full webinar here.

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