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Voluntary Maize Flour Fortification in Tanzania: Adequacy of Small-Scale Processors' Implementation of the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Programmes

Received: 22 October 2023    Accepted: 8 November 2023    Published: 29 November 2023
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Abstract

This study systematically evaluated the implementation of fortification practices, including quality assurance and quality control, among small-scale processors to ensure regulatory compliance. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ubungo district (Dar es Salaam) and Morogoro municipality, Tanzania, involving 38 processors. Data collection relied on observational checklists and IBM SPSS ® version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics revealed critical insights. Cleanliness and sanitation standards were met in only 36.8% of warehouses and 42.1% of production areas, underscoring hygiene deficiencies. Alarmingly, 26.3% of micronutrient premixes were inappropriately stored near heat-generating milling machines. Written procedures for quality assurance and quality control were virtually absent, with just 2.6% of processors having such documentation. A mere 13.2% of processors conducted quality checks on fortified maize flour to confirm micronutrient presence. This study identified pervasive shortcomings in quality control and assurance practices among small-scale processors. Hindrances included inadequate training in fortification standards, limited processing capacity, and constrained access to quality control facilities. Strengthening these practices is imperative to ensure the consistent delivery of safe, high-quality fortified maize flour, essential for the nutritional well-being of target populations. This action holds significant public health and food safety implications.

Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.jfns.20231106.12
Page(s) 166-173
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Fortification, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Practices, Small-Scale Processors

References
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[5] Boniface, M. G. (2021). Compliance of fortified maize flour with Tanzania standard for small scale food processors in Morogoro and Dar es Salaam regions (Masters dissertation, Sokoine University of Agriculture). https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=COMPLIANCE+OF+FORTIFIED+MAIZE+FLOUR+WITH+TANZANIA+STANDARD+FOR+SMALL+SCALE+FOOD+PROCESSORS+IN+MOROGORO+AND+DAR+ES+SALAAM+REGIONS&btnG= Accessed on September 7, 2023.
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[9] Dunn, M. L., Jain, V., & Klein, B. P. (2014). Stability of key micronutrients added to fortified maize flours and corn meal. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1312(1), 15-25.
[10] EAS. (2000). EAS 39: East Africa Standard on Hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry - Code of practice - EAS 39 East African Community, 23.
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[17] Mark, H. E., Assiene, J. G., Luo, H., Nankap, M., Ndjebayi, A., Ngnie-Teta, I.,... Brown, K. H. (2019). Monitoring of the national oil and wheat flour fortification program in Cameroon using a program impact pathway approach. Current developments in nutrition, 3(8), nzz076.
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  • APA Style

    Issa-Zacharia, A., Mareni, G. B. (2023). Voluntary Maize Flour Fortification in Tanzania: Adequacy of Small-Scale Processors' Implementation of the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Programmes. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 11(6), 166-173. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231106.12

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    ACS Style

    Issa-Zacharia, A.; Mareni, G. B. Voluntary Maize Flour Fortification in Tanzania: Adequacy of Small-Scale Processors' Implementation of the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Programmes. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2023, 11(6), 166-173. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20231106.12

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    AMA Style

    Issa-Zacharia A, Mareni GB. Voluntary Maize Flour Fortification in Tanzania: Adequacy of Small-Scale Processors' Implementation of the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Programmes. J Food Nutr Sci. 2023;11(6):166-173. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20231106.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jfns.20231106.12,
      author = {Abdulsudi Issa-Zacharia and Gudila Boniface Mareni},
      title = {Voluntary Maize Flour Fortification in Tanzania: Adequacy of Small-Scale Processors' Implementation of the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Programmes},
      journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
      volume = {11},
      number = {6},
      pages = {166-173},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20231106.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231106.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20231106.12},
      abstract = {This study systematically evaluated the implementation of fortification practices, including quality assurance and quality control, among small-scale processors to ensure regulatory compliance. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ubungo district (Dar es Salaam) and Morogoro municipality, Tanzania, involving 38 processors. Data collection relied on observational checklists and IBM SPSS ® version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics revealed critical insights. Cleanliness and sanitation standards were met in only 36.8% of warehouses and 42.1% of production areas, underscoring hygiene deficiencies. Alarmingly, 26.3% of micronutrient premixes were inappropriately stored near heat-generating milling machines. Written procedures for quality assurance and quality control were virtually absent, with just 2.6% of processors having such documentation. A mere 13.2% of processors conducted quality checks on fortified maize flour to confirm micronutrient presence. This study identified pervasive shortcomings in quality control and assurance practices among small-scale processors. Hindrances included inadequate training in fortification standards, limited processing capacity, and constrained access to quality control facilities. Strengthening these practices is imperative to ensure the consistent delivery of safe, high-quality fortified maize flour, essential for the nutritional well-being of target populations. This action holds significant public health and food safety implications.
    },
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Voluntary Maize Flour Fortification in Tanzania: Adequacy of Small-Scale Processors' Implementation of the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Programmes
    AU  - Abdulsudi Issa-Zacharia
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20231106.12
    T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    SP  - 166
    EP  - 173
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7293
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231106.12
    AB  - This study systematically evaluated the implementation of fortification practices, including quality assurance and quality control, among small-scale processors to ensure regulatory compliance. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ubungo district (Dar es Salaam) and Morogoro municipality, Tanzania, involving 38 processors. Data collection relied on observational checklists and IBM SPSS ® version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics revealed critical insights. Cleanliness and sanitation standards were met in only 36.8% of warehouses and 42.1% of production areas, underscoring hygiene deficiencies. Alarmingly, 26.3% of micronutrient premixes were inappropriately stored near heat-generating milling machines. Written procedures for quality assurance and quality control were virtually absent, with just 2.6% of processors having such documentation. A mere 13.2% of processors conducted quality checks on fortified maize flour to confirm micronutrient presence. This study identified pervasive shortcomings in quality control and assurance practices among small-scale processors. Hindrances included inadequate training in fortification standards, limited processing capacity, and constrained access to quality control facilities. Strengthening these practices is imperative to ensure the consistent delivery of safe, high-quality fortified maize flour, essential for the nutritional well-being of target populations. This action holds significant public health and food safety implications.
    
    VL  - 11
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    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Food Science and Agro-Processing, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

  • Department of Food Science and Agro-Processing, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

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