In Memoriam: Dr. Godfrey Oakley
In Memoriam: Dr. Godfrey Oakley June 1, 1940 – October 22, 2025 Global champion for folic acid fortification and birth...
News
New Publication Raises Concerns that India’s Food Fortification Standards Are Insufficient to Combat Widespread Micronutrient Deficiencies and Birth Defects
NEW DELHI, INDIA – August 4, 2025 – A new paper published in Birth Defects Research highlights a critical public...
ADM Cares Partners with the Food Fortification Initiative to Fight Hidden Hunger for 1 Billion People Worldwide
ADM Cares, ADM's corporate social investment program, recently renewed its partnership to support FFI.
Two Projects to Strengthen Evidence-Based Large-Scale Food Fortification Awarded Funding
The Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) and its partners are working to fill large-scale food fortification (LSFF) data gaps and make...
20 Years, 20 Fortification Champions
On 24 October 2002, a public policy planning forum in Mauritius launched the network that became FFI. To celebrate our...
FFI and Partners Urge World Health Assembly Resolution on Universal Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification
CSBP, FFI, GAPSBiF, and other partners campaign for World Health Assembly resolution on universal mandatory folic acid fortification to prevent...
World Flour Day 2022: Celebrating Flour Fortification’s Legacy
Fortification, and millers’ heroic role in fortifying foods, is not new. Starting over a century ago, fortification has a long...
Smarter Futures: 15 Years of Impact
From 2007-2021, the Smarter Futures program helped make fortification of wheat flour, maize flour, and rice a reality in dozens...
3 Fortification Articles Published in Nutrients Supplement
Recent studies published in Nutrients by FFI researchers highlight the effectiveness of large-scale food fortification systems to help reduce anemia...
Remembering Anna
With a heavy heart, we share that our colleague Anna Verster passed away on 18 June 2021. For nearly 20...
Staple Food Fortification Commitment Guide
Ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit, UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), and Tokyo Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, FFI...
Enlighten, Inspire, Engage: FFI Celebrates Nearly 20 Years of Partnership with Rollins
Over the span of 18 years, FFI has employed 53 graduate students (including 24 through the Rollins Earn and Learn...
Analysis Highlights Wheat Flour Fortification’s Impact on Human Health
Using varied study designs (none of which can confirm causality), a recently published analysis found that after wheat flour fortification...
Most National, Mandatory Flour Fortification Standards May Need Review
Half of the countries that fortify maize and wheat flours with iron, zinc and vitamin B12 may need to update...
COVID-19 and Fortification
To prevent a rise in malnutrition as a result of the pandemic, countries need to maintain food systems and support...
Fortification Linked to Decreased Anemia for Children in Colombia
A recent study published in Perspectives in Human Nutrition found that Colombian pre-school children who ate foods containing fortified wheat...
New Study on Folic Acid Fortification Generates Incorrect, Misleading Conclusions
A recent study published in Nutrients by scientists from the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison has sparked concern among nutrition experts...
FFI and Partners Among Top Contenders for MacArthur $100 Million Grant
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today unveiled the Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) and its partners’ proposal as...
FFI-Cornell Nutrition Research Will Inform WHO Guidelines, Policy
A Cochrane systematic review on the benefits and safety of fortifying wheat or maize flour with folic acid and population...
Solomon Islands Receives First Shipment of Fortified Rice
The first shipment of fortified, imported rice arrived in Solomon Islands in June. “This will help prevent the adverse effects...
Senegal Food Composition Table Available
A table which identifies the levels of 13 vitamin and minerals in 50 foods commonly consumed in Senegal is newly...
Food Fortification Could Be Next Global Health Success Story – If Countries Close Gaps
Two-thirds of all countries mandate food fortification, yet many are not translating policy into improved nutrition, according to new data...
#FindFolicAcid Didn’t Find Much Folic Acid
To prevent a rise in malnutrition as a result of the pandemic, countries need to maintain food systems and support...
FFI Receives $100,000 from Open Philanthropy Project
To prevent a rise in malnutrition as a result of the pandemic, countries need to maintain food systems and support...
Review finds fortification documents often lack key elements
A Cochrane systematic review on the benefits and safety of fortifying wheat or maize flour with folic acid and population...
Laura Rowe Joins FFI as Deputy Director
To prevent a rise in malnutrition as a result of the pandemic, countries need to maintain food systems and support...
15 Years, 15 Fortification Champions
The public policy planning forum that launched what became FFI was on 24 October 2002 in Mauritius. To celebrate our...
Fortification for the Poorest of the Urban Poor
Mass food fortification is sometimes overlooked as a way to improve public health because it does not reach subsistence farmers...
Stories
2022-2025
USAID AFFORD: Catalyzing Policy Change, Expanding Technical Support, and Deepening Partnerships Across Sectors
In 2024, FFI marked significant progress under the USAID Advancing Food Fortification Opportunities to Reinforce Diets (AFFORD) program, which launched...
The Philippines: “Bridging the Fortification Gap Project”
In 2024, FFI partnered with Nutrition International to strengthen wheat flour fortification in the Philippines through the “Bridging the Fortification...
India: Haryana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan
In the wheat‑growing Indian states of Haryana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, daily breads such as chapati and roti are poised to...
Strengthening Fortification Compliance in Lesotho
Lesotho took a significant step toward addressing micronutrient deficiencies by mandating the fortification of wheat, maize, and edible oil in...
Eswatini: Building the Foundation for Eswatini’s National Fortification Strategy
In 2023, FFI and the Government of Eswatini embarked on a pivotal mission to address micronutrient deficiencies that have long...
The United States: Corn Masa Fortification
Though many staple foods in the United States are fortified with folic acid, corn masa products—a key staple of the...
UNICEF projects: Azerbaijan, Eastern and Southern Africa, Food Systems
In 2024, FFI received three grants from UNICEF to support our global fortification work, enabling us to help develop large-scale...
New Project Analyzes Supply Chain in Two Indian States and Builds the Foundation for a Fortification Program
FFI and Rockefeller Foundation launch a wheat flour fortification project to combat micronutrient deficiencies in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
Advocacy Advances the Conversation to Fortify Wheat Flour in Türkiye
FFI advances wheat flour fortification efforts in Türkiye with strategic meetings and partnerships during September 2023 trip to Istanbul and...
FFI Highlights Opportunity to Fortify the Pacific Islands
FFI proposes regional food fortification initiative to combat micronutrient deficiencies and improve health outcomes across 21 Pacific Island nations.
New Study Shows Most Corn Masa Products in the United States Are Not Fortified with Folic Acid
A 2023 FFI analysis found that less than 6% of corn masa products in the United States are fortified with...
Mauritius Mandates Wheat Flour Fortification to Combat Micronutrient Deficiencies
Mauritius passed mandatory wheat flour fortification legislation in 2023, marking a major public health milestone in the fight against micronutrient...
Building the Evidence Base for Fortification
FFI and its partners, with support from the Gates Foundation, are advancing large-scale food fortification by addressing data gaps and...
Advancing Food Fortification Globally
A one-year update on USAID AFFORD, a five-year global initiative led by TechnoServe, FFI, and partners to combat micronutrient deficiencies...
FFI Staff Share Evidence Supporting Fortification at Two Global Conferences
FFI staff attended the Micronutrient Forum 6th Global Conference and the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference to share evidence...
Celebrating 20 Years of FFI
Since its inception in 2002, FFI has partnered in more than 30 countries across the globe to build cereal grain...
India: Fortified Atta Proves to Strengthen Health in Haryana
The preliminary results of the Haryana Demonstration Project are in—and they are a clear indication that fortification can lead to...
WHA Resolution on Food Fortification
FFI and partners are supporting a proposed World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Assembly resolution introduced by the Government of...
Malaysia: Committing to Wheat Flour Fortification
The Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH) demonstrated renewed dedication in 2022 to scale up and strengthen wheat flour fortification.
Mauritius: Progress in Wheat Flour Fortification
Mauritius first began planning its wheat flour fortification program in 2018 and has since made tremendous progress.
Botswana: Developing a National Food Fortification Strategy
In 2022, FFI partnered with the Botswana Government, Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of...
FFI Joins USAID AFFORD Program
In 2022, FFI was one of four main partners invited to take part in a new USAID initiative: Advancing Food...
The Final Sprint to Fortify Africa’s Future
From 2007-2021, Smarter Futures, the program under which FFI carries out the majority of its work in Africa, helped make...
India: FFI Advocates for Revising India’s Wheat Flour Fortification Standards
In 2021, FFI led efforts in India to engage multi-sector fortification partners to reconsider the country’s current cereal grain standards...
Egypt: Fortification Advocacy Workshop for Millers
On 1 April 2021, FFI and partners held a workshop to refresh millers on their important role in fortification and...
Uganda: Despite Challenges Food Producers Continue to Fortify Food
FFI conducted a fortification assessment in Uganda in early 2021 to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic had—and continues to—affect...
United Kingdom Mandates the Addition of Folic Acid to Fortified Flour
in 2021, the UK updated legislation to include folic acid in its mandatory wheat flour fortification standards.
Ukraine Builds the Foundation for a Future Fortification Program
Thanks to advocacy efforts by FFI and in-country stakeholders, the Ukrainian Parliament drafted a law for wheat flour fortification in...
Solomon Islands Celebrates Strong Compliance to Fortification Standards
FFI technical experts have been key to building a robust wheat flour and rice fortification program for the Solomon Islands.
New Zealand Mandates Wheat Flour Fortification
In July 2021, New Zealand mandated that all non-organic wheat flour be fortified with folic acid within the next two...
“Disability is not inability”: preventing birth defects through fortification, one grain at a time
By partnering with the public sector, private sector, and civil society advocates like Juliana, FFI works to make the addition...
2019-2021
FFI and UNICEF Host Workshop for Millers in Egypt
FFI and UNICEF held a flour fortification workshop for millers on 1 April 2021 to refresh and build miller capacity...
India: Doubling Impact by Doubling Districts
In Haryana state, India, COVID-19 did not stop millers from fortifying.
Tajikistan: Armchair Assessments Maintain Momentum
When the pandemic made an in-person mill assessment in Tajikistan impossible, FFI took a virtual approach.
Solomon Islands: Fortification Investments Fortify Against COVID-19 Shocks
As COVID-19 pressed pause on fortification activities in the region, the Solomon Islands maintained implementation and monitoring of its new...
Philippines: New Partnerships for Renewed Progress
Stalled advocacy efforts in the Philippines were reinvigorated with the help of a new partner—Effective Altruism (EA) Philippines.
Indonesia: Countering Complacency with Advocacy
Wheat flour fortification has been mandatory in Indonesia since 2001. However, due to reports of difficulties procuring fortification premix during...
Bangladesh: Scoping Wheat Flour Fortification to Save Lives
From January to February 2020, FFI, in collaboration with Nutrition International (NI), undertook a scoping study to assess the opportunity...
Zimbabwe: Strengthening Strategy to Strengthen People
With FFI’s support, the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care and UNICEF-Zimbabwe moved forward with the revision of their...
South Africa: Innovating New Solutions with Existing Resources
How do you collect information on millers’ compliance to fortification standards and legislation without regulatory monitoring inspections?
Mozambique: Scaling-up FortifyMIS Across Seven Provinces
In 2020, FFI and partners rolled out FortifyMIS, an online management information system with the power to improve fortification monitoring...
Forging Connections and Innovating Solutions, Virtually
When the pandemic forced FFI to cancel the in-person Monitoring Challenge Workshop scheduled for May 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa,...
Fortification in a Pandemic
The past year challenged and changed our world—and our work. COVID-19 exacerbated an already pressing crisis of micronutrient deficiencies. But...
Egypt: Making Strides During the Pandemic
Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, Egypt pushed ahead to restart the country’s wheat flour fortification program, on hold since...
Europe: Regional Highlights
Europe is often viewed as a part of the world where vitamin and mineral deficiencies are not prevalent, yet certain...
Asia-Pacific: Regional Highlights – Solomon Islands
Since 2015, FFI has worked closely with the Government of Solomon Islands and industry to plan, implement, and monitor the...
Africa: Regional Highlights – Mozambique
In 2019, FFI assisted Mozambique in testing an online data collection and aggregation tool for fortification monitoring called FortifyMIS.
Africa: Regional Highlights – Malawi and Uganda
One of FFI’s innovative approaches to ensure high-quality fortified foods are available in Africa is a grassroots Pull Strategy.
Egypt: Restarting Wheat Flour Fortification, Renewing Lives
In 2019, the Government of Egypt and FFI laid the foundation for restarting Egypt’s national wheat flour fortification program.
Global Grain Progress
The 2019 increase in grain available for human consumption globally presents a tremendous opportunity for fortification.As more grain is industrially...
South Asia: Regional Highlights – India
FFI has been a key partner for the north Indian state of Haryana since 2015, helping to plan, implement, monitor,...
