IntroductionHidden hunger, a chronic lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet, affects about one-third of the world's population. Deficiencies in micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin A compromise the physical and cognitive capacity of millions of people, contributing to the perpetuation of poverty, poor health, and underdevelopment [1]. The greatest burden of micronutrient deficiencies is found in low-resource communities where the typical diet is high in starches but low in micronutrients. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common form of malnutrition, affecting over 2 billion people globally [2]. Fortifying commonly eaten foods with tiny quantities of essential vitamins and minerals is an effective strategy for decreasing micronutrient deficiencies at a population level and is widely practiced in high-income countries. Over the past 15 years, national governments and the global nutrition community have invested significant efforts to bring the benefits of fortification of staple foods to lower-and middle-income countries. Currently 81 countries have legislated mandatory fortification of wheat, maize, and/or rice, making a vital contribution to the global reduction of micronutrient
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.