Digital tools and technologies used in food fortification: A scoping review

Abstract

Food fortification (i.e., industrial fortification and biofortification) increases the micronutrient content of foods to improve population nutrition. Implementing effective fortification programs requires the generation and use of data to inform decision making. The use of digital tools and technologies (DTTs) for such purposes in broader nutrition programs is growing; however, there is limited consolidation of those used in fortification. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe DTTs used in fortification programs. We searched peer-reviewed and gray literature and conducted 17 stakeholder surveys. We then mapped DTTs identified against the fortification and nutrition data value chains. Of 11,741 articles identified, 158 met the inclusion criteria. From the included articles and stakeholder surveys, 125 DTTs were identified across three categories: software and tooling (n = 58), data and information lifecycle (n = 50), and hardware and infrastructure (n = 17). Gaps were identified in processing, post-harvest storage, aggregation, and transport nodes of the fortification value chain, and data prioritization, translation/dissemination, and decision-making nodes of the nutrition data value chain. DTTs have the potential to address challenges faced by fortification stakeholders to generate and use data to improve program decision making and nutritional impact. Further work is needed to standardize terminology, identify relevant DTTs from other sectors, and explore stakeholder needs.