Following the recognition by leading international organizations that the elimination of micronutrient deficiencies should be one of the world's top priorities, we now urgently need to form supportive alliances between the public and private sectors. Such partnerships are crucial for the rapid initiation and implementation of effective programs.

Some of the measures that can be used to combat micronutrient malnutrition include education and public awareness campaigns to change dietary habits, dietary supplementation and food fortification. Food fortification, in particular, is a simple, safe and cost-effective measure that can be applied in various ways:

Universal programs
The fortification of staple foods reaches almost the entire population of a given region. In the USA, for example, wheat flour has been fortified with B-complex vitamins, iron and calcium since the early 1940s.

Targeted programs
Fortification of a food eaten by a specific group of the population reaches those who cannot benefit from universal fortification. Children below the age of two years, for example, cannot benefit from universal flour fortification. In Chile, targeted fortification of milk for infants has successfully reduced the prevalence of anemia in young children by 70%.

Mandatory programs
Food fortification - universal or targeted - that is legislated and monitored by the government. It shows the strong commitment of the country's leaders and a political will to succeed. Mandatory fortification of staple foods on a national scale can be implemented with a negligible impact on the cost of the end product, but with a potential for improving the health and incomes of the entire population.

Voluntary programs
Food fortification that is driven by private industry and development agencies. To make voluntary fortification sustainable, consumers must be made aware of the benefits it offers.