Global Data Visualizations
Number of nutrients in fortification standards
Number of nutrients included in a country’s fortification specifications for the food vehicle.
Interpretation
A country’s fortification standards may include multiple nutrients in one food or require/allow multiple foods to be fortified with one or more nutrients.
This visualization presents the number of nutrients specified across one or more fortification standards in a country with mandatory or voluntary fortification. The number presented is the total number of food-nutrient combinations. For example, in the United States fortification standards indicate the addition of iron in rice, maize flour, and wheat flour; this is counted as three food-nutrient combinations. In a small number of cases (colored dark grey on the map), GFDx has official documentation confirming that a country has mandatory or voluntary fortification but does not have the fortification standards that state which nutrients should be added in fortification.
The color of each country indicates the number of nutrients, which are specified in fortification standards, also detailed in the “Data” tab.
Indicator and term descriptions
Mandatory fortification: The country has legal documentation that has the effect of currently mandating fortification of the food vehicle in question with one or more vitamins or minerals i.e. the documentation indicates that fortification of all or some of the food is compulsory or required.
Voluntary fortification: The country has a fortification standard that provides guidance on levels and nutrient compounds for fortification but does not have the effect of mandating or requiring fortification. If a country has mandatory fortification for that food vehicle, it will be categorized by GFDx as not having voluntary fortification, even if some types of the food vehicle or some nutrients may be fortified on a voluntary basis.
Fortification standard: Legal or official documentation indicating the nutrients and the forms and levels of these nutrients that must be added to fortification vehicles at the production level. Fortification standards are generally indicated in national food fortification legislation or regulations and/or food standards for the food vehicle.
Additional information about this indicator
How to download data
Follow these steps to download data from the visualization as an Excel or CSV file:
- Click on the “Data” tab at the bottom of the visualization window.
- Hover over the header row of the table until an ellipses (three dots […]) appears.
- Click on “more options” and a drop-down menu will appear. Select “Export data.”
- In the new window, select the export format that best supports your needs and click the “Export” button.
Considerations
If a food standard exists but GFDx does not have access to the documentation, then the food vehicle count may be inaccurate. If this is the case for your country, please contact the GFDx: info@fortificationdata.org.
Methodology
GFDx populates its database through a bi-annual survey, aiming to reach 196 countries. In between survey cycles, the GFDx database is updated when new information is received directly from fortification partners and/or national stakeholders. To share data for your country, please contact us at info@fortificationdata.org.
For more information about GFDx methodology and indicators: GFDx Data Dictionary
Data sources
- The source is the author, name and publication information of the country-specific document.
- Country classifications of income status and geographic region are from the World Bank and the United Nations, respectively.
Other resources
Suggested citation
Global Fortification Data Exchange. Map: Number of nutrients in fortification standards. Accessed dd/month/yyyy. [http://www.fortificationdata.org.]