WASHINGTON (June 8, 2023)—Food fortification – adding nutrients to key grains and staples such as cooking oil, and salt -- is a well-established method of reducing the severe medical problems that come from micronutrient deficiency, particularly during pregnancy. On May 29th the World Health Assembly (WHA) unanimously passed a resolution that would accelerate efforts to fortify food with micronutrients to prevent birth defects known as spina bifida and anencephaly.
That action was the result of efforts by the Global Alliance for Prevention of Spina Bifida (GAPSBIF), which was co-founded by Gail Rosseau, MD, clinical professor of neurological surgery at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Rosseau and her colleagues had worked tirelessly over the years to prevent deficiencies in micronutrients such as folate, iron, vitamin A and zinc-which can lead to devastating birth defects.
“There are an estimated 213,000-310,000 children born worldwide with spina bifida or a neural tube defect, where the spinal cord itself doesn’t close properly during the first month of pregnancy and as a result children are born with cognitive, motor and neurological deficits,” said Rosseau. “It is a preventable condition in the vast majority of cases, yet, until just recently only a small percentage of countries have adopted folic acid and micronutrient fortification policies in their food supply systems.”
The resolution, which garnered praise from WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urges WHA member countries to make decisions on food fortification with micronutrients and/or supplementation and to consider ways of strengthening financing and monitoring mechanisms.
“Folic acid fortification is safe, affordable and has 30 years of Class 1 scientific evidence behind it, demonstrating positive effects,” said Rosseau. “This is an important step from the World Health Assembly on the problem. This resolution will help prevent thousands of birth defects and save lives worldwide.”
Half of all preschool aged children and 67 percent of all women of reproductive age worldwide suffer from deficiencies in folic acid, iron, vitamin A, and zinc. These deficiencies not only cause birth defects but can also cause blindness, fragile immune systems, and diminished physical capacity.
The World Health Assembly’s efforts on food fortification are part of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition, which aims to achieve the global nutrition and diet-related noncommunicable disease targets by 2025, and contribute to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The George Washington University has experts available to comment on universal food fortification and the public health benefit of such action. To request an interview with Dr. Rosseau or other GW experts on this topic please contact Rachel Larris, [email protected].
Gail Rosseau is a clinical professor of neurological surgery at GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences and a leader in international surgical organizations. As co-chair of the Global Alliance for Spina Bifida Prevention and chair of the G4 Alliance for access to safe surgical care, obstetric, trauma and anesthesia care (www.theg4alliance.org) , she has been an advocate for international action on food fortification. Rosseau is available to discuss medical problems that can develop from micronutrient deficiency and the World Health Assembly’s efforts to combat the problem.
Timothy G. Singer is a fully trained global health pediatrician and a resident in neurological surgery at George Washington University. He has a background in complex care pediatrics, global health access to care, and the effects of climate change on health. He is available to discuss treatment of medical problems that come from micronutrient deficiency.