Egypt Wheat Flour and Vegetable Oil Fortification Project

Project Overview

GAIN is working with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and government-owned and private mills, to strengthen the Egyptian National Food Fortification Program by fortifying wheat flour used for baking Baladi bread with iron and folic acid (B9) and vegetable oil with vitamin A. Baladi bread is a staple food generally consumed by low-income populations throughout the country. GAIN is contributing US$ 3.0 million to the Baladi fortification project and US$ 1.80 million to the vegetable oil fortification project. Other partners in the project include the Food Industry Holding Company, the National Research Center and the National Institute of Nutrition. Vegetable oil fortification also started in June 2009.

Funding, which supports activities in 14 of Egypt’s 26 governorates, is used for activities including: training of government inspectors and millers in fortification; purchase of premix and micro-feeders for mills; development of quality control systems; conducting of a consumer education campaign about the benefits of fortification; and project impact evaluations. The Government of Egypt has committed to providing over million dollars to purchase micro-feeders and premix and is planning an investment of approximately US$ 21 million. The project will also support development and ratification of national standards for vegetable oil fortification.

Goal

The goal of the project is to reduce micronutrient deficiencies (particularly iron, and folic acid and vitamin A,) among vulnerable and at-risk groups, such as children between two and five years old and women of reproductive age.

Impact

When at full-scale, the project aims to reach 70 percent of the population with fortified wheat flour and 85 percent of the population with fortified vegetable oil. 

Achievements

Key achievements include: the completion of bids for premix and micro-feeders, the fortification of wheat flour in 43 out of a planned 143 mills in 18 Governorates, and training of government inspectors and millers in quality assurance and control of fortification. The Ministry of Health is carrying out continuous analysis of fortified flour samples. For vegetable oil, a quality assurance and control protocol will be implemented by a trained national network of inspectors and laboratory workers. As of March 2010, more than 23 million people, or 30 percent of the population were consuming fortified wheat flour.

Duration

July 2009 until December 2012 (vegetable oil)
September 2007 until August 2010, extension until February 2011 (Baladi bread)