Sunday Okoronkwo, Executive Secretary of the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), speaks on Nigeria’s micronutrient deficiency and why the government should give tax incentives to manufacturers to make fortified bouillon cube products affordable and safe for consumers.
Nigeria has a voluntary standard for fortifying bouillon cubes with folic acid and vitamin B12, but implementation remains a challenge. What should the government and manufacturers do to accelerate adoption?
Nigeria’s option of a voluntary standard in 2024 was a step in the right direction. It established a technical pathway for adding nutrients, including iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin B12, to seasoning cubes.
However, the challenge with a voluntary approach is that some manufacturers may comply while others may not.
There is also a commercial consideration. Fortification comes with additional costs. A manufacturer that invests in adding micronutrients may have to charge more for its products than a competitor that does not. This could put companies that comply at a disadvantage, particularly in a price-sensitive market such as Nigeria.
Consequently, some manufacturers may be reluctant to fortify their products, even when they understand the potential public health benefits.
I believe it is time for Nigeria to move from voluntary to mandatory bouillon cube fortification. Given the country’s high malnutrition burden and the prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age, we need a more consistent approach that ensures consumers can access these essential nutrients.
Mandatory fortification would also create a level playing field for manufacturers. If all companies producing bouillon cubes are required to meet the same fortification standards, no company would be commercially disadvantaged simply because it chooses to comply.
However, the government must complement this policy with practical support for manufacturers. It should consider tax incentives, including reducing or removing taxes on nutrient premixes and other essential fortification inputs.
These measures could help reduce production costs and prevent fortified products from becoming too expensive for low-income households.
Affordability is critical. Bouillon cubes are widely consumed in Nigeria, including by poorer households. If fortification significantly increases prices, some consumers may reduce their consumption or stop buying the products altogether. That would undermine the very public health objective the policy is intended to achieve.
The government must therefore balance mandatory fortification with incentives that encourage compliance while keeping products accessible.
Beyond making fortification mandatory, what regulatory measures are needed to ensure manufacturers comply with the standards?
Enforcement is critical. It is not enough to require manufacturers to fortify their products; the government must ensure they actually do so and that the products meet the required standards.
Regulatory authorities should verify that the nutrients declared on product labels are genuinely present in the products and that the quantities meet the prescribed specifications.
Manufacturers must also provide accurate information on their labels so consumers know what they are buying.
This requires effective monitoring, testing and enforcement of existing regulatory standards. If a company claims that its product has been fortified, there must be a reliable mechanism for confirming that claim.
At the same time, the government should work with the private sector to address the cost of fortification. Enforcement alone may not be sufficient if manufacturers face significant financial barriers to compliance.
A combination of mandatory standards, credible monitoring, tax incentives and affordable access to nutrient premixes would provide a more sustainable approach.
Our objective should be to reduce malnutrition and improve the health of women and children, while ensuring that manufacturers can comply without making fortified products unaffordable.
One argument against bouillon cube fortification is that these products already contain salt, and increasing their consumption could worsen sodium intake and raise the risk of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases. How do you respond to this concern?
That is one side of the argument, and it is important not to dismiss it. Excessive sodium intake is a public health concern because it can contribute to high blood pressure and other non-communicable diseases.
However, we must also consider the other side of the argument. Bouillon cubes are already widely consumed in Nigeria, so they offer an opportunity to deliver essential micronutrients through a familiar food product.
The goal of fortification is not to encourage people to consume more bouillon cubes or increase their salt intake. It is to improve the nutritional value of a product people already use.
Moderation and public education are therefore essential. People need to understand how much seasoning to use and how to reduce excessive sodium intake. For example, someone who habitually uses two cubes in a meal may be able to use one instead, depending on the recipe and dietary needs.
Manufacturers must also comply with appropriate technical and regulatory standards when incorporating micronutrients into their products. Fortification should be implemented in a way that considers both nutritional benefits and potential health risks.
Public education must accompany the policy so consumers understand the importance of moderation and healthy dietary practices.
Ultimately, the discussion should consider both the risks associated with excessive sodium intake and the potential benefits of addressing widespread micronutrient deficiencies. These concerns should be managed together rather than treating them as mutually exclusive.
Nigeria cannot afford to ignore the opportunity to improve nutrition, particularly among women and children who may not have access to a sufficiently diverse diet.
The priority should be to develop a responsible fortification programme that follows established standards, maintains product affordability, monitors compliance and educates consumers about healthy consumption.