TNAG-2110-FCO40-3009-Hong-Kong-participation-in-international-organisations-1990 — Page 216

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adjustment on the poor and nutritionally at-risk. However, in many of the countries of this Region, the management of the effects of rapid economic growth and the equity and distributional issues raised are of concern. Supplementary feeding in such cases should also be promoted but this should not be at the expense of efforts to attain long-term growth with equity.

5.3.2 Food Fortification

42. Food fortification programmes have been ongoing in the Asian region for some time, the oldest being the fortification of salt with iodine to combat IDD. Although technically feasible and cost efficient, considerable problems exist in implementation of the programmes as they require policies on salt trade, a trade that is often not under government monopoly. It also requires standardized and legalized quality control to ensure compatability of iodized and non-iodized salt. Nevertheless, fortification remains the basic thrust in IDD control.

43. Fortification of a suitable food carrier is considered a necessary medium-term solution to prevent vitamin A deficiency. In recent years Indonesia and the Philippines have succeeded in fortifying monosodium glutamate (MSG) with vitamin A. The cost increase of this widely used commodity is insignificant for the consumer, and the impact on the reduction of clinical eye signs of vitamin A deficiency has been positive and striking. Consequently, both governments are now undertaking expansion of their MSG fortification pilot programmes to other areas. Efforts have been made in Bangladesh to fortify wheat with vitamin A as wheat is an important food item reaching large numbers of the population through the government food assistance schemes. A more promising way in the long-term for enriched vitamin A levels in food is the breeding of high carotene containing plant varieties. A carrot seed (beta III) has been developed which provides 5 times as much provitamin A as commonly grown varieties of carrot. Field trials have been successfully undertaken in Pakistan, India, Nepal and the Philippines. FAO has assisted in the distribution of these trial seeds within its horticultural projects in countries in the Region.

44. Fortification with iron has been undertaken with a variety of food vehicles such as processed cereals, salt, sugar, infant foods, beverages and in condiments such as fish sauce in Thailand and MSG. National programmes however, have not yet been developed to the same scale as for the other two micronutrients. The less visual expression of this deficiency which results in fatigue and the seldom-measured reduced work output is a likely contributing factor to its receiving less attention by policy makers.

5.4 Long-term Programmes

5.4.1 Food Availability and Nutritional Adequacy

45. The Region as a whole has made commendable strides in increasing food production. However, the dietary pattern, the palatability of the diet, its total volume and safe quality remain imperative considerations for eliminating nutritional imbalances and deficiencies. FAO has supported country-level workshops in China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan on the preparation of dietary guidelines based on a nutritionally desirable pattern for use in agriculture planning to improve the quality of diets. Implicit in the application of these guidelines is that agricultural