The grain of truth: industry compliance on flour fortification in Mexico

The report finds that only 7% of tested flour products in Mexico are adequately fortified, with maize flours performing particularly poorly. It highlights a systemic failure by the food industry to comply with regulation NOM-247-SSA1-2008, including failures in government-funded social welfare programmes like Diconsa and DIF Chiapas.

• Only 7% (4 out of 61) of packaged maize and wheat-flour products tested were found to be fortified adequately, meaning they met minimum levels for iron and zinc and used recommended iron compounds.
• No maize-flour products tested were considered adequately fortified. This is critical as maize accounts for 72% of the grain market share in Mexico.
• Government-funded nutrition programmes for vulnerable families are failing to comply with fortification laws; Diconsa maize flour had the lowest iron content of all products tested, and DIF Chiapas maize flour was not fortified at all.
• Many companies use electrolytic iron for fortification, which is less bioavailable and deemed ineffective for nixtamalized maize flour by WHO guidelines, despite Mexican law recommending ferrous sulphate or ferrous fumarate.
• Imported flour brands largely ignore Mexican fortification laws; Bob’s Red Mill and Le 5 Stagioni were not fortified, and Pillsbury's zinc levels were far below requirements.
• The report identifies a lack of consistency in fortification processes within major companies; for example, Munsa produces both well-fortified (Rio Lerma) and severely under-fortified (Castilla and Superior) brands.
• Hot-cake mixes exist in a regulatory 'grey area' and are often not fortified in line with flour regulations, despite being a popular breakfast food.
• Climate change is linked to micronutrient deficiencies as increasing carbon dioxide levels may reduce essential nutrients like iron and zinc in staple crops such as wheat and rice.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2019). The grain of truth: industry compliance on flour fortification in Mexico. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-Grain-of-Truth-English-web-double-page.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. The grain of truth: industry compliance on flour fortification in Mexico. 2019. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-Grain-of-Truth-English-web-double-page.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=The grain of truth: industry compliance on flour fortification in Mexico |date=February 2019 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-Grain-of-Truth-English-web-double-page.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2019grain, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{The grain of truth: industry compliance on flour fortification in Mexico}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2019}, month = feb, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-Grain-of-Truth-English-web-double-page.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }