Vitamins and minerals—often referred to as micronutrients—are vital to healthy development, disease prevention, and wellbeing. The majority of micronutrients are not produced in the body and must come from the diet. 

Micronutrient deficiencies are the most widespread form of malnutrition. Countless individuals worldwide suffer from deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, often because they cannot access a healthy diet. The effects can be devastating, including birth defects, compromised cognitive and physical development for children, anemia, and weakened immune systems and child deaths.