Despite continued political turmoil, as of June 8th, Savonor, Burundi’s only cooking oil facility holding a 60% market share, began fortification! Initial premix and testing equipment have been generously donated by DSM and BASF with the facility prepared to take on future premix orders after the donation is used up. Savonor’s fortified oil can now be found on the market throughout the country. The Burundi Bureau of Standards (BBN) is working closely with Savonor staff to ensure internal monitoring systems are in place and to ensure compliance with the national cooking oil standard.
PHC will work closely with BBN to track this compliance and will continue to establish a fortification monitoring model to be used as more staple food producers follow in Savonor’s path. Once again, PHC is encouraged by the strong leadership demonstrated by both government partners and industry to date. Indeed, this proactive fortification program has the potential to serve as an example program to the region.