HARINA DE OTRO COSTAL

The report examines the state of food fortification in Mexico, specifically focusing on the mandatory enrichment of wheat and corn flours to combat 'hidden hunger' and micronutrient deficiencies. While Mexico has legislation (NOM-247-SSA1-2008) requiring the addition of iron, zinc, folic acid, and B vitamins, the document argues that a lack of clear government oversight and reliance on industry self-regulation have led to variable compliance. It highlights a significant drop in folic acid compliance for corn flour between 2015 and 2017 and criticizes the 'bad fortification' of ultra-processed 'junk food' used to mislead consumers. The report concludes with recommendations for the Mexican government to update legislation with specific monitoring protocols, sanctions, and nutritional specifications for end-products like tortillas and bread.

• Mexico faces a 'double burden' of malnutrition, characterized by some of the world's highest obesity rates alongside persistent micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency anemia.
• The current Mexican legislation (NOM-247-SSA1-2008) for flour enrichment is deficient because it lacks specific details on how the standards should be externally monitored, enforced, or audited, effectively allowing the milling industry to self-regulate.
• Government sampling data from COFEPRIS indicates inconsistent compliance; while wheat flour levels for iron, zinc, and folic acid are relatively high, corn flour compliance for folic acid dropped from 100% in 2015 to approximately one-third in 2017.
• There is a lack of nutritional specifications for the final products derived from enriched flours, such as tortillas and bakery products, meaning their nutrient content depends entirely on the manufacturer's sourcing of enriched flour.
• The food industry employs 'bad fortification' by adding micronutrients to ultra-processed 'junk foods' and sugary drinks to create a healthy image and mislead consumers about the nutritional value of harmful products.
• Dietary habits in Mexico have shifted dramatically over the last 30 years toward ultra-processed foods, influenced by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which increased the import of cheap corn-based processed foods and high-fructose corn syrup.
• Traditional nixtamalization of corn produces tortillas with higher fiber, calcium, and iron content compared to industrial processed flour varieties, yet industrial flour is increasingly used in urban areas for efficiency.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2018). HARINA DE OTRO COSTAL. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FOOD-FORTIFICATION-IN-MEXICO-SP.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. HARINA DE OTRO COSTAL. 2018. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FOOD-FORTIFICATION-IN-MEXICO-SP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=HARINA DE OTRO COSTAL |date=September 2018 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FOOD-FORTIFICATION-IN-MEXICO-SP.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2018harina, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{HARINA DE OTRO COSTAL}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2018}, month = sep, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FOOD-FORTIFICATION-IN-MEXICO-SP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }