Malnutrition impacts heavily on lives

Malnutrition kills 3.5 million children every year and is directly or indirectly associated with nearly 60 per cent of all child mortality. It seriously limits the growth of 178 million children. Severe iron deficiency anemia causes the deaths in pregnancy and child-birth of more than 60,000 young women a year. Iodine deficiency in pregnancy causes almost 18 million babies a year to be born mentally impaired, and iodine-deficient children have IQs that are 10 to 15 points lower than those not deficient. Also, maternal folate deficiency leads to a quarter of a million severe birth defects every year.

More than two billion people could benefit

More than two billion people across the world suffer from malnutrition, including vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The costs to individuals, countries and economies are huge. Malnourished people die younger, are sick more often and have reduced physical and mental abilities. This means that they require health care, they learn slower and they are less productive. There is enough food in the world for everyone, and the know-how and technologies to deliver healthy foods with essential vitamins and minerals to larger groups of people are available.

Fighting malnutrition reduces poverty and stimulates economies

By fighting malnutrition we can significantly reduce poverty and stimulate economic development. According to Alderman (World Bank), a one per cent reduction in malnutrition leads to a four per cent reduction in poverty. Improving nutrition contributes to productivity, economic development and poverty reduction by improving physical work capacity, cognitive development and school performance; it also reduces disease and mortality. In most of the developed world, the benefits of food fortification have already largely eradicated micronutrient deficiency.