Study Confirms Food Fortification is Highly Cost-Effective in Fighting Malnutrition Across 63 Countries

This review analyzed 56 studies containing more than 200 economic evaluations from 63 countries, many of them low- and middle-income economies. Its findings show that most fortification programs deliver substantial health benefits relative to their costs, reinforcing their role as an efficient public health strategy.

The research focused on combating ‘hidden hunger’, defined as a form of malnutrition caused by inadequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals. This problem affects large segments of the global population. A previous study published in 2024 found that billions of people worldwide aren’t getting enough essential nutrients from their daily diets.

The new analysis confirms that the benefits of fortification programs significantly outweigh their costs. Fortification of staple foods – especially wheat flour, edible oils, sugar, and salt – with nutrients such as vitamin A, folate, iron, and iodine was the most frequently studied approach.

All benefit-cost analyses reviewed in the study reported positive results. With major aid reductions threatening existing initiatives and increasing the risk of malnutrition and child mortality in vulnerable countries, the study argues that large-scale food fortification remains one of the most practical and cost-effective interventions available for improving global nutrition and preventing disease.

To read how scurvy – the classic vitamin C deficiency disease of sailors and malnourished populations – appears to be making a comeback in the modern world, see this article on our website.