Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 572 Newell Dr., Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Nutrients. 2020 Feb 8;12(2):433. doi: 10.3390/nu12020433.
In Mexico, the fortification of corn and wheat flours with iron, zinc, and folic acid and the restoration of B-vitamins is a mandatory program. However, the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of this fortification process is not well understood. Thus, the purpose of the study was to understand the M&E of the food fortification program in Mexico, with an emphasis on technology research and development.
Open-ended exploratory interviews were conducted with food technology representatives (n = 9), food science academic faculty (n = 1), president of a private tortilla-making federation (n = 1), and representatives of the federal monitoring agency (n = 2). Interviews were transcribed and themes were identified using the content analysis methodology. Inter-rater reliability was assessed by calculating an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the raters (n = 3).
A total of 49 codes were identified that resulted in three overarching themes, manufacturing/processing, monitoring logistics, and nutrition. Overall, there is a need for more robust internal and external M&E with Mexico's fortification program to improve the manufacturing/processing of fortifying the tortillas, the monitoring of this fortification program, and the impact the fortified tortillas have on the nutritional status of the Mexican population. The overall ICC was 0.87.
The present study can be used to gain insight into Mexico's fortification program and to inform food fortification policymakers of best practices.
在墨西哥，玉米和小麦面粉的强化铁、锌和叶酸以及 B 族维生素的恢复是一项强制性计划。然而，这种强化过程的监测和评估（M&E）并不为人所理解。因此，本研究的目的是了解墨西哥食品强化计划的 M&E，重点是技术研究与开发。
对食品技术代表（n=9）、食品科学学术教师（n=1）、私人玉米饼联合会主席（n=1）和联邦监测机构代表（n=2）进行了开放式探索性访谈。访谈记录被转录下来，并使用内容分析法确定主题。通过计算评分者之间的组内相关系数（ICC）（n=3）来评估评分者之间的可靠性。
共确定了 49 个代码，形成了三个总体主题，即制造/加工、监测物流和营养。总的来说，墨西哥的强化计划需要更强大的内部和外部 M&E，以改善强化玉米饼的制造/加工、对该强化计划的监测，以及强化玉米饼对墨西哥人口营养状况的影响。总体 ICC 为 0.87。
本研究可以帮助深入了解墨西哥的强化计划，并为强化食品政策制定者提供最佳实践信息。
