Tweet
ARMENIAN EXPERTS CRITICIZE GOVERNMENT BILL ON FORTIFICATION OF WHEAT FLOUR; HEALTH MINISTRY SUPPORTS IT
YEREVAN, February 9. / ARKA /. Several Armenian experts have criticized
today a government-drafted bill on the fortification of wheat flour,
approved in 2014. According to the health ministry, the bill, if
passed by the parliament, will help overcome a string of diseases
such as anemia, neural tube defects (Spina bifida - hydrocephalus),
which cause permanent disability in children and also cardiovascular
diseases due to lack of folic acid and iron.
"Plans to enrich wheat flour would make sense if the percentage
of anemia in the population was at least 25%. We know that this
disease is found only in certain groups of population: in women of
childbearing age and children," a biochemist Ashot Karapetyan told
a news conference today.
According to him, in 2010, anemia was diagnosed in only 12.8% of
women who gave birth to babies; in 2013 the figure was 12.7%. In his
opinion, the fortification of flour with synthetic substances, such
as folic acid, is completely inappropriate and can lead to additional
health risks.
Babken Pipoyan, head of a consumer watchdog, argued that fortification
of about 80-85% of the flour would violate consumers' right to
free choice.
"There is also the danger that the fortified flour would be presented
as not-fortified. The mandatory fortification of flour must be
preceded by a serious study and considered as an option for solving
health related problems," said Pipoyan.
But Karine Saribekyan, head of a health ministry department overseeing
mother and child issues, countered that the deficit of zinc, iron
and folic acid is the cause of a number of diseases, whose number
has been on the rise over the last years.
"A new study of the Armenian population's health will be conducted in
2015 autumn. About 90 countries are fortifying their flour, including
the UK, Canada and Australia," she said.
According to her, fortification restores the balance of microelements
in the final product which are lost in the processing. She cited
the international experience that shows that flour fortification has
helped to improve health indicators.
"To ensure that the program has an overall effect, it must embrace
the entire population and not separate categories," she said.
According to the health ministry, in 2013 some 7,026 cases of anemia
among adults were reported and 8,148 cases among children under 14,
of whom 2,633 were children under one year; 897 cases were reported
among adolescents aged 15-17. 0-
http://arka.am/en/news/society/armenian_experts_criticize_government_bill_on_fort ification_of_wheat_flour_health_ministry_supports_/#sthash.LfH1Q59H.dpuf
YEREVAN, February 9. / ARKA /. Several Armenian experts have criticized
today a government-drafted bill on the fortification of wheat flour,
approved in 2014. According to the health ministry, the bill, if
passed by the parliament, will help overcome a string of diseases
such as anemia, neural tube defects (Spina bifida - hydrocephalus),
which cause permanent disability in children and also cardiovascular
diseases due to lack of folic acid and iron.
"Plans to enrich wheat flour would make sense if the percentage
of anemia in the population was at least 25%. We know that this
disease is found only in certain groups of population: in women of
childbearing age and children," a biochemist Ashot Karapetyan told
a news conference today.
According to him, in 2010, anemia was diagnosed in only 12.8% of
women who gave birth to babies; in 2013 the figure was 12.7%. In his
opinion, the fortification of flour with synthetic substances, such
as folic acid, is completely inappropriate and can lead to additional
health risks.
Babken Pipoyan, head of a consumer watchdog, argued that fortification
of about 80-85% of the flour would violate consumers' right to
free choice.
"There is also the danger that the fortified flour would be presented
as not-fortified. The mandatory fortification of flour must be
preceded by a serious study and considered as an option for solving
health related problems," said Pipoyan.
But Karine Saribekyan, head of a health ministry department overseeing
mother and child issues, countered that the deficit of zinc, iron
and folic acid is the cause of a number of diseases, whose number
has been on the rise over the last years.
"A new study of the Armenian population's health will be conducted in
2015 autumn. About 90 countries are fortifying their flour, including
the UK, Canada and Australia," she said.
According to her, fortification restores the balance of microelements
in the final product which are lost in the processing. She cited
the international experience that shows that flour fortification has
helped to improve health indicators.
"To ensure that the program has an overall effect, it must embrace
the entire population and not separate categories," she said.
According to the health ministry, in 2013 some 7,026 cases of anemia
among adults were reported and 8,148 cases among children under 14,
of whom 2,633 were children under one year; 897 cases were reported
among adolescents aged 15-17. 0-
http://arka.am/en/news/society/armenian_experts_criticize_government_bill_on_fort ification_of_wheat_flour_health_ministry_supports_/#sthash.LfH1Q59H.dpuf