SUGAR FORTIFICATION
Zambia Sugar continues to support the country’s supplementation programme to aid the lowering of the nutrient deficiency gap in children. The programme helps to reduce infant and maternal mortality caused by Vitamin A deficiency.
Food fortification is a strategy governments employ to improve dietary micronutrient intakes and prevent deficiencies. In the case of Zambia, the country has a mandatory sugar fortification with Vitamin A. Zambia Sugar continues to support the country’s supplementation programme to help with the lowering of the nutrient deficiency gap in children.
The programme, implemented at the business’ own cost, is aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality caused by Vitamin A deficiency.
FOOD FORTIFICATION
The fortification programme runs in conjunction with Government’s nutrient supplementation programme targeted at children under 5-years. Zambia Sugar actively participates in this programme with its Whitespoon products being fortified with Vitamin A.
The Business recorded a major milestone during the 2020 – 2021 COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of incidents of COVID-19, the country experienced challenges in continuing with the children’s supplementation programme. The Government began to rely on the sugar fortification as a means of administering Vitamin A. Consequently, Government designated the Business as an essential goods supplier during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MAKING SENSE OF SUGAR
As a responsible business, Zambia Sugar PLC is actively contributing to the debate around the role sugar can play in one’s diet through the Making Sense of Sugar campaign, developed by AB Sugar which manages all of ABF’s global sugar interests, including ABF sugar in Africa.
The campaign, initiated in 2014, is committed to provide access to objective scientific advice on sugar, diet and health to over 25 million people around the world by 2030. The campaign has since been expanded to reach a global audience.
In December 2019, Zambia Sugar joined sugar-producing companies in countries like Malawi and Tanzania in this effort to reach the African audience and offer content adapted to the Zambian reality.
Making Sense of Sugar helps inform and educate people about sugar and the role it can play as part of a healthy, balanced diet. The aim of this campaign is to provide factual information based on robust science for everyone so that they can make their own informed choices about what they choose to consume. For more information on Making Sense of Sugar in Zambia, visit:
