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Comparison of the planned and actual flour samples collected at mills for regulatory monitoring
This indicator assesses the number of flour samples (wheat or maize) actually collected for laboratory testing at large industrial mills (20 metric tons per day or more) among the samples planned to be collected as part of external regulatory monitoring for wheat or maize flour fortification.
Collecting and testing samples of wheat or maize flour is part of external regulatory monitoring to support high-quality, safe and effective large-scale fortification of wheat or maize flour. This process helps verify that mills are fortifying flour, that the fortification process is being implemented according to regulations and that the nutrient contents fall within acceptable ranges.
The percentage of large-scale mills that produce the planned amount of wheat or maize flour
Numerator: for each mill that produces 20 metric tons per day or more, the number of samples of wheat or maize flour that were collected for testing, for a given period of time (e.g. the last 12 months)
Denominator: for each mill that produces ≥20 metric tons per day, the total number of wheat or maize flour samples planned to be collected, for the same period of time
• Divide the numerator by the denominator. Multiply the result by 100 to convert the number into a percentage.
Considerations for the calculations:
• The flour samples planned to be collected from mills should be stipulated in written procedures for mill inspection and enforcement of standards or regulations.
external monitoring, mill inspection, production, regulations, enforcement, regulatory monitoring, standard, testing, verification
Food fortification
Activity
Quality
School age children, 12-23 months, 24-35 months, 36-47 months, 48-59 months, 6-11 months, Adolescents, All, Men, Women of reproductive age
None,
Copper, Folate, Iron, Niacin, Selenium, Vitamin A, Thiamine (vitamin B1), Vitamin B12, Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Zinc
Health systems
The data for this indicator may be collected from each mill in different months or for different time periods; it is important to standardize the time parameters if aggregating the results from the various mills.
It might be more challenging to collect this indicator if there are a large number of industrial mills in the country or area.
Some mills do not operate year-round.
It is relatively easy and feasible to collect and monitor whether sampling and testing plans were completed for a given period of time.
It might be difficult to collect and report this indicator if there are many large-scale mills fortifying wheat or maize flour. Regulatory monitoring visits to mills require human and financial resources.
Based on national provisions, a law mandating the fortification of wheat flour with vitamins and minerals established the responsibility of one centre in the Ministry of Health for performing inspections, sampling and periodic analysis.
In 2014, a total of 176 representative samples of batches of production from 47 272 700 kg of wheat flour were collected in 20 mills located throughout the country. The government was expected to have collected 200 representative samples. In 2015, a total of 159 representative samples of 35 345 063 kg of wheat flour were collected in 19 mills. The government was expected to have collected 200 representative samples.
Indicator for the year 2014:
Numerator: 176
Denominator: 200
Calculation: 176/200 * 100 = 88% of the planned number of wheat flour samples were collected in 2014.
Indicator for the year 2015:
Numerator: 159
Denominator: 200
Calculation: 159/200 * 100 = 80% of the planned number of wheat flour samples were collected in 2015.
1. WHO/FAO. Guidelines on food fortification with micronutrients. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2006.