NAIROBI, Kenya — With a mission to reduce malnutrition, Millers for Nutrition recently added Kenya and Tanzania to its industry-led coalition. The coalition was established to support and recognize the important role millers play in improving public health by adding essential micronutrients to the foods they produce, a process called food fortification.
In both countries, members can receive free technical support to improve the nutritional value of their products, including access to customized technical training, product testing support, online tools and business advice, which will also help millers reduce compliance risks and increase production efficiency.
“As nutritional value improves, our members will benefit from increased recognition for product quality and industry leadership,” Millers for Nutrition said.
Millers for Nutrition was launched on June 4 at an event in Nairobi, Kenya, which was attended by leaders from industry and food, health and nutrition organizations. In Kenya, Millers for Nutrition will focus on supporting wheat, maize flour and rice millers.
The event also recognised this year’s winners of the Kenya Millers Nutrition Fortification Index (KMFI) awards, which in partnership with the Cereal Millers Association (CMA) recognises local food brands that are leading the way in improving the nutritional value of their products.The brands recognised are Jogoo, EXE Whole Meal, EXE Atta Mark (1st place), U mix Mandazi (2nd place), EXE Chapati, EXE Self-Rising and EXE All Purpose (3rd place).
The Flour Millers Coalition for Nutrition Fortification was launched at an event in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on June 15. In the country, the coalition will focus on supporting flour (maize and wheat) and edible oil millers in fortification activities.
During the event, Sanku, a non-profit organization and strategic partner of Millers for Nutrition, opened a new micronutrient premix blending facility in Dar es Salaam to make it easier for flour millers to source high-quality, more affordable premix solutions. As East Africa’s first commercial nutrient blending facility, the facility aims to overcome the high cost, poor quality and logistical challenges faced by flour millers when sourcing premixes to fortify their flour.
Millers in Kenya and Tanzania can find out more information about Millers for Nutrition and how to become a member at www.millersfornutrition.org
Millers for Nutrition is currently operating in eight countries across Africa and Asia: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania.
