Fortification of Vegetable oil and Sugar with Vitamin A in Uganda

The data suggest that an important biological impact would be obtained by consuming fortified
oil and fortified sugar, alone or in combination. Once fortified with this nutrient, these food
vehicles are the main vitamin A sources for the majority of Ugandans. Sugar had a larger
coverage than oil in 2003, (65% compared with 57%), but because oil is easier to fortify—and is
an ongoing program—sugar should be the complementary program. The oil and sugar
fortification programs combined would cover 76 percent of the population (i.e. 21.7 million
persons). Reaching the remaining 24 percent will require other interventions, such as flour
fortified with vitamin A or preventive supplementation.
If sugar complements the oil fortification program, then the ECSA fortification formula may be
more appropriate than the current Ugandan standard. The average oil consumer receives 66
percent EAR of vitamin A, while the average sugar consumer will receive 34 percent using the
ECSA formula. The use of the ECSA-suggested formula appears to have little decrease in the
nutritional significance of fortified sugar, but the price reduction may make this program more
attractive and viable.
B. Cost Implications
The Table 6.2 shows the cost estimates of the oil and sugar fortification programs.
Table 6.2
Cost Implications of Oil and Sugar Fortification in Uganda
Sugar
Parameter
Oil
Uganda Formula ECSA Formula
Annual cost per person US$ 0.030 US$ 0.135 US$ 0.090
Cost per metric ton of
food
US$4.84 US$ 10.79 US$ 7.50
Annual Production in
the Country
100,000 MT 200,000 MT 200,000 MT
Total cost for the
country
US$ 0.48 million US$ 2.2 million US$ 1.50 million
Food price per
kilogram in 2008
US$ 1.88 US$ 1.02 US$ 1.02
Increase in price due
to fortification
0.26 % 1.06 % 0.74 %
Initial Investment in
Equipment per
factory 16 US$ 19,050 US$ 120,000 US$ 120,000
Table 6.2 shows that both types of fortification are economically feasible, because the price
increase of the unfortified product is relatively low (0.26% for oil and 0.74-1.06 % for sugar).
The relative and absolute difference between the fortification cost of oil and sugar (6 times larger
for sugar), and initial investment costs in equipment, explains why oil fortification is easier, and
the reason why the industry has already adopted this program.
16 These amounts are for 10 years of operation.
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