Food rules kick in for millers

The micronutrients to be used for fortification are made up of six vitamins and two minerals that would be added to the flour and maize meal at the mills.

These micronutrients include Vitamin A, thiamine, folic acid, iron and zinc.

"Food fortification is essential to address some of the major challenges posed by poverty and malnutrition.

Therefore, we will do everything in our power to ensure that these guidelines are implemented and adhered to," she said.

The Department of Health has received a $2.8 million grant from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition to support the country's food fortification over the next three years.

"This funding will be used to improve the implementation of the programme including providing support to small-scale millers to comply with fortification requirements," said Tshabalala-Msimang.

Environmental health practitioners at local government level will be responsible for compliance monitoring and enforcement, with fines of up to R125 000 being imposed on those failing to comply.

"While we will vigorously pursue those millers who do not comply, we hope this well be an exception rather than the rule," added Tshabalala-Msimang.

The cost of fortifying bread and maize meal is about 25 to R30 per ton of flour.

Chamber of Milling executive director Jannie de Villiers said this amounted to an extra cost of about one cent per loaf of bread to the consumer.

"We as an industry have accepted the challenge to improve the nutritional value of maize meal and bread in the country," said De Villiers.

The majority of millers had already begun fortifying their bread and maize since the minister announced the new regulations in April.

"I believe we will experience some teething problems in the days to come, but I am confident that this programme will be a success," he said.