Ghana’s Food Law has been reviewed to make it mandatory for wheat flour and vegetable oils imported or produced locally to be fortified with micro nutrients in order to address macro deficiencies among the citizenry. Wheat flour would be fortified with micronutrients such as Vitamin A, B1, B2 B6, Nacin, Folic Acid, Iron and zinc while the oils would be fortified with vitamin A. Currently a Legislative Instrument (LI) on the amendment of the Food Law (Act 523) is awaiting Parliamentary approval. Fortification of the two foods would be the first of its kind in Ghana. Fortification of flour is increasing throughout the world with over 14 countries having legislation or regulation mandating wheat flour to be fortified with various micronutrients. Mrs. Ruby Dolvo, Greater Accra Regional Nutrition Officer of the Ghana Health Service said this at an orientation workshop for district teams on the national food fortification programme in Accra on Thursday. She said wheat flour and vegetable oils would now be integrated in the nations fortification programme and urged health workers to ensure the programme’s success. Mrs. Dolvo said vitamin “A” deficiencies currently affected 72 per cent of preschool children, adding that, 64.5 per cent of pregnant women were anaemic, while 59.0 per cent of lactating women suffered from iron deficiency anaemia. Source: GNA