Fortified sugar on the market

Following government’s requirement to fortify all domestically sold sugar with vitamin A, Illovo Sugar Malawi has now started distributing the new sugar.

The vitamin A sugar fortification programme is an innovative and cost-effective initiative involving the Government of Malawi, the private sector through Illovo and development partners.

Sugar, being one of the products consumed by a lot of people in the country, was chosen as the product to be fortified.

“The fortified sugar is already on the market now. This sugar is being manufactured at both Nchalo and Dwangwa factories,” said Ireen Phalula, Illovo Malawi public relations officer in an interview on Friday.

Phalula said around 300 000 tonnes of sugar for both the domestic and export markets will be produced this milling season, which will run up to end November. She, however, stressed that vitamin A fortification is for domestic sugar only.

Phalula said the fortified sugar is good for healthy skin, improves eyesight and strengthens the immune system.

“Generally, the sustenance of good health [healthy bodies] depends on the presence and combination of various micro-nutrients in the body. vitamin A, iodine and iron are among the most critical in the body,” she said.

The sugar fortification programme is one of several wide-ranging interventions the government is implementing to increase vitamin A consumption.