The Prime Minister has approved a decree – effective March 15th – mandating certain nutrients in Vietnamese food In order to meet national technical standards and food safety. The regulation states that iodine, iron, zinc and vitamin will be compulsory in certain food products. Salt fortified with iodine, iron and zinc must be added to wheat flour, while vegetable oil that contains soybean oil, coconut oil, canola oil or peanut oil is required to have vitamin A. This process is known as fortification which prevents serious consequences on health due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Authorities have suggested that adding these elements will reduce malnutrition which remains a public health priority. While statistics show that malnutrition has been significantly reduced, it still accounts for 45 percent of total deaths for children under five years of age.