Miller Magazine Issue: 136 April 2021

68 MILLER / aprıl 2021 COVER STORY Anthony Acquatey-Mensah Product Manager BioAnalyt GmbH Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are crit- ical for each individual at every point in life, from con- ception to aging, especially including adolescents and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. However, micro- nutrient deficiencies remain prevalent across the globe due to limited access and affordability of foods rich in these micronutrients. Micronutrient deficiencies can cause a wide array of medical and developmental challenges. Iron deficien- cy is a leading cause of anaemia, which can double the likelihood of mortality during pregnancy and childbirth compared to non-anaemic women. A deficiency of folic acid (vitamin B9) can cause easily preventable birth de- fects of the brain and spine such as spina bifida, which often results in infant and child mortality or a lifetime of surgeries and disability for survivors. A multitude of mi- cronutrient deficiencies can also lead to physical and cognitive development delays in young children, which hinders academic performance and their future earnings potential. 1 FORTIFICATION OF WHEAT AND MAIZE FLOURS Cereal grains, such as wheat, maize, and rice, are widely consumed and present in about 95% of all diets. However, modern processing of these grains removes most of the bran and germ, the parts of the grains that are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. People relying on industrially processed grains to supply the majority of their daily energy needs are therefore at a greater risk of developing micronutrient deficiencies. 2 Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) is the addition of vitamins and minerals (e.g., iron, iodine, zinc, folic acid and other B vitamins, vitamin A, and vitamin D) to sta- ple foods such as wheat or maize flour, edible oils and “It is not enough to simply mandate fortification at a national policy level. Appropriate quality assurance and quality control monitoring must take place within industry at the level of production. Additionally, regulatory bodies need to provide an adequate level of monitoring, support to industry, and enforcement measures if fortification is to be sus- tained long-term. BioAnalyt has made the process of monitoring fortification and mea- suring concentrations of various micronutrients in a wide variety of foods easier. In wheat and maize flours, BioAnalyt’s iCheck devices enable the rapid and reliable measurement of iron and vitamin A on-site and without the need for expensive laboratory equipment.” Fortification of Wheat and Maize Flours: Why and how Miguel Cano Communications Manager BioAnalyt GmbH Dr. Anna Zhenchuk Managing Director BioAnalyt GmbH