Fortification programmes in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have ample supply of fortified foods and a steady distribution network to reach its target populations amid the COVID-19 crisis, but the lack of quality assurance and control is concerning.
A randomised-controlled trial that is awaiting peer review suggests that Covid-19 patients who received a combination of honey and Nigella sativa recovered more quickly than those given a placebo.
Daily 50g supplementation of fortified chickpea paste, known as Wawamum, significantly reduced anaemia, stunting and wasting in children under two years of age in Pakistan.
Food and supplement brands, policymakers, NGOs and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Pakistan are aiming to fight malnutrition with a collaborative effort to ensure financially sustainable food fortification.
The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has said it has restarted its action plan against infant formula firms that violate local regulations, ahead of the date previously communicated to industry representatives.