Improving health & saving lives
PFH-VAP technology has the potential to improve the health and lives of millions of people.
We need to act now to ensure access to vitamin A
Globally 19 million pregnant women and 190 million preshool age children are affected by vitamin A deficiency, most of them living in Africa and South Asia.
Vitamin A deficiency is a preventable tragedy
Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness, increase children's infection risk, decrease growth rates, and reduce the likelihood of survival from serious illness.
Vitamin A deficiency leads to 2.5 million preventable deaths per year.
Stable vitamin A is a life-saving opportunity for impact
Food fortification is a proven strategy for addressing malnutrition at scale, but the instability of vitamin A in hot and humid conditions like those found in Africa limits its effectiveness. PFH-VAP is vitamin A coated in a material that protects it from heat and humidity, presenting an exciting opportunity to address this issue.
PFH-VAP technology protects vitamin A, so that it can be delivered to the body more effectively
PFH-VAP can be used to fortify foods like wheat flour, sugar, and bouillon, with vitamin A.
The material used to protect vitamin A from heat and humidity dissolves in the digestive tract, releasing the nutrient for absorption.
PFH-VAP can deliver 3x more vitamin A to people who need it most, at the same cost as existing products.
Demonstrated Superior Stability of PFH-VAP
Vitamin A Measured in Bouillon Cubes
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PFH-VAP has >4x better stability than a commercial product
When stored in bouillon at 40°C and 75% relative humidity, PFH-VAP significantly outperforms commercial VAP. Studies are run at these harsh conditions to mimic those found in parts of Africa.
Notes: (1) Comparison of food-grade pilot-scale PFH-VAP to commercially sourced VAP, both incorporated into commercially sourced bouillon.
LIS has the capacity to meet PFH-VAP demand in Africa
Particles for Humanity’s manufacturing partner, LIS by Lesaffre, is a leading global contract manufacturer of food and nutraceutical ingredients with production facilities in France and Poland. They are capable of meeting all target PFH-VAP demand in Africa with their highly flexible industrial capabilities.
Financially sustainable solution
Particles for Humanity collaborates with local stakeholders to leverage existing food fortification infrastructure. PFH's go-to-market strategy reduces the need for funding by focusing on impact and integrating products into a financially sustainable system.
Priority food vehicles for PFH-VAP are bouillon, sugar, and wheat flour.
To learn more about PFH-VAP, listen to Sam Brady, Director, Research, Development & Program Management talk through the poster she presented at the 2023 Micronutrient Forum.
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PFH is developing new technology to improve lives.