For many years, WFP has been distributing several procured or donated fortified commodities such as oil and dried skim milk fortified with vitamin A, iodized salt and fortified blended foods (FBFs) or biscuits whenever possible. More recently, WFP has directly supported the processing of food commodities at a local level, including milling and fortification of cereals and production of fortified blended foods and biscuits. The importance of these activities is increasingly apparent as evidence accumulates on the pivotal role of micronutrient deficiencies not only in mortality, morbidity and malnutrition, but also in national economic development potential.

This paper (i) considers why WFP pays explicit attention to micronutrient deficiencies in its strategies and operations, (ii) highlights WFP.s recent experiences with micronutrient-fortified foods and the fortification process and (iii) proposes ways to expand such efforts at the policy level and through actions on the ground. The goal is not to achieve 100 percent fortification of food aid, but rather 100 percent effective responses to micronutrient problems where food aid is an appropriate and viable mechanism