NAIROBI, KENYA — Millers for Nutrition, whose mission is to reduce malnutrition, recently added Kenya and Tanzania to its industry-led coalition, which has been established to support and recognize the vital role millers play in improving public health. This is accomplished through the addition of essential micronutrients to the foods they produce — a process known as food fortification.

In both countries, members will receive free technical support to improve the nutritional quality of their products, including access to tailored technical training, product testing support and online tools and business advice, which also will help millers to reduce their compliance risk and enhance production efficiency.

“As nutritional quality improves, members will also benefit as they gain greater recognition for product quality and industry leadership,” Millers for Nutrition said.

Millers for Nutrition launched in Nairobi, Kenya, at a June 4 event, which included leaders from industry and food, health and nutrition organizations. In Kenya, Millers for Nutrition will be focused on supporting millers of wheat and maize flour and rice.

Honored at the event were this year’s winners of the Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI) Awards, organized in partnership with the Cereal Millers Association (CMA), which recognize local food brands that are leading the way in improving the nutritional quality of their product. The brands recognized were: Jogoo, EXE Whole Meal, EXE Atta Mark (first place); U mix Mandazi (second place); and EXE Chapati, EXE Self-Rising, EXE All Purpose (third place).

On June 15, Millers for Nutrition was launched at an event in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. In that country, the coalition will focus on supporting the fortification efforts of millers of flour (maize and wheat) and edible oil.

During the event, Sanku, a non-profit organization and strategic partner of Millers for Nutrition, opened a new micronutrient premix blending facility in Dar Es Salaam to make it easier for flour millers to source high quality, more affordable premix solutions. As the first commercial nutrient blending facility in East Africa, the facility aims to overcome the high-cost, low-quality and logistical challenges these millers face when procuring premix to fortify their flour.

Millers in Kenya and Tanzania can find out more information on Millers for Nutrition and how to become a member at: www.millersfornutrition.org

Millers for Nutrition has now been implemented in eight countries across Africa and Asia: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania.