Fortified seasoning cubes will tackle pregnancy anaemia, birth defects, Experts

Medical and nutrition experts are urging the Nigerian government to mandate the fortification of bouillon (seasoning) cubes with essential micronutrients like iron, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B12. This initiative aims to significantly reduce anemia among pregnant women and prevent birth defects, particularly as the cost of nutritious diets continues to rise.

While the government has introduced voluntary standards for fortified bouillon cubes, experts argue that making these standards mandatory would substantially lower the burden of preventable birth defects linked to micronutrient deficiencies. Seasoning cubes are a staple in virtually every Nigerian household, making them an ideal vehicle for delivering vital vitamins and minerals to pregnant women. This approach could help address the country's high prevalence of anemia in women of reproductive age and reduce neural tube defects in newborns.

“

Some pregnant women do not take the routine multivitamins prescribed during antenatal care. Since seasoning cubes are used in preparing virtually all meals, fortifying them with iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin B12 is an effective way to tackle micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy.

According to a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation report, fortified bouillon cubes could prevent up to 16.6 million cases of anemia and 11,000 deaths from neural tube defects in Nigeria. These defects, such as spina bifida, develop early in pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant, underscoring the critical need for adequate folate intake before conception and in early pregnancy. Dr. Stanley Egbogu, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, emphasized that fortifying these widely consumed cubes is an effective strategy, especially for women who may not take prescribed multivitamins or attend antenatal clinics.

“

Some women do not even attend antenatal clinics, where they would ordinarily be screened for anaemia and other micronutrient deficiencies. That is why this initiative to fortify seasoning cubes with these essential micronutrients should be embraced.