The Department of Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS), located within the WHO’s UHC/Healthier Populations Division, is initiating the process to develop guidelines for the fortification of edible oils and fats with Vitamin and D as a public health intervention and will continue with other food vehicles as needed. Members of the Guideline Development Group (GDG) will contribute to the development or update of WHO Global guidelines on fortification.
See: Terms of Reference
The first Guideline Development Group (GDG) meeting will be held virtually on 10th and 11th October 2022. The expected outcome of the first Guideline Development Group meeting is consensus on the scope and key questions in PICO (population, intervention, comparator, outcome) format for this guideline.
Specific Objectives
- Brief the GDG members on how to assess the quality of the evidence prior to formulating the recommendations as per the WHO Handbook for Guideline Development;
- Finalize the selection of the scope (components) of the guideline and the questions in PICO (population, intervention, comparator, outcome) format that will be used to guide the evidence synthesis and inform the guideline development process;
- Determine the critical outcomes (ranking of outcomes) that will direct the guideline’s research process and its final recommendations.
The names and brief biographies of individuals (“Published Information”) being considered for participation in Guideline development group are hereby published for public notice and comment.
Comments and perceptions brought to the knowledge of WHO through this process are an integral component of WHO’s Conflicts of Interest assessment policy as to strengthen public trust and transparency in connection with WHO meetings involving the provision of technical/normative advice. Comments and perceptions will be carefully reviewed and treated confidentially. The comments will not be published and will be kept in record for three years.
WHO reserves the right to discuss information received through this process with the relevant expert with no attribution to the provider of such information. Upon review and assessment of the information received through this process, WHO, in its sole discretion, may take appropriate management action in accordance with its policies.
The participation of an expert in a WHO meeting does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization, nor does it create a binding relationship between the expert and WHO. The list of participating experts, a summary of relevant interests disclosed by such experts, and any appropriate mitigation measures taken by WHO relating to the management of conflicts of interests, will be reported publicly in accordance with WHO practice.
Comments should be provided by email, and the receipt of these will be acknowledged through generic email notification to the sender.
Please send your comment to foodsystems@who.int with the subject, “Public comments on the Guideline Development Group – Food Fortification with Micronutrients” with indication of the name, nature and contact details of the sender.
The deadline for public comments is on Thursday, 6 October 2022.
WHO secretariat focal point
Dr. Luz Maria DE-REGIL
Unit Head, Multisectoral Action in Food Systems (AFS)
Department of Nutrition and Food Safety
World Health Organization
Geneva, Switzerland