Medical and nutrition experts have called on the Federal Government to make the fortification of bouillon (seasoning) cubes with essential micronutrients mandatory, saying the policy could significantly reduce anaemia among pregnant women and prevent thousands of birth defects in Nigeria.
The experts argued that seasoning cubes, consumed daily in most Nigerian households, provide an effective platform for delivering iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin B12 to millions of women of reproductive age, particularly as rising food prices continue to limit access to nutrient-rich diets.
Their recommendation follows the Federal Government’s introduction of standards in September 2024 requiring voluntarily fortified bouillon cubes to contain minimum levels of the four essential micronutrients. They, however, insist that making the standards compulsory would have a far greater public health impact.
A recent report by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation estimates that widespread fortification of bouillon cubes could prevent up to 16.6 million cases of anaemia and about 11,000 deaths associated with neural tube defects in Nigeria.
Health experts say neural tube defects—including spina bifida, anencephaly and encephalocele—develop during the earliest weeks of pregnancy, often before many women know they are pregnant, making adequate folate intake before conception particularly important.
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Stanley Egbogu said mandatory fortification could help women who do not attend antenatal clinics or fail to take prescribed prenatal supplements receive essential nutrients through their daily meals.
He urged the Federal Government to require all bouillon cube manufacturers to comply with the fortification standards to improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce preventable birth defects.
Dietitian Olusola Malomo also backed the proposal but stressed the need for strict monitoring by regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to ensure consistent product quality.
She noted that because most women use seasoning cubes almost every day, fortification offers a practical way to increase folic acid and vitamin B12 intake before pregnancy and during the critical early weeks of fetal development.
Public health evidence indicates that large-scale food fortification programmes can reduce the incidence of neural tube defects by up to 70 per cent, making them one of the most effective nutrition interventions.
The human cost of these conditions is reflected in the experience of Kehinde Folly, whose three-year-old son lives with spina bifida. She said caring for the child has become an enormous challenge after her husband allegedly abandoned the family following the diagnosis.
Health experts say stronger food fortification policies, combined with quality regulation and improved public awareness, could help reduce preventable pregnancy complications and improve maternal and child health outcomes across Nigeria.
