In order to accelerate stunting reduction in Southeast Asia, availability and access to nutritious foods should be increased by collaboration between private and public sectors, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can play a facilitating role. The private sector can produce and market nutritious foods, while the public sector sets standards, promotes healthy food choices, and ensures access to nutritious foods for the poorest, e.g, through social safety net programs.

Objective: To estimate the potential of various industrially produced foods, to serve as a carrier for micronutrient forti®cation based on the frequency of their consumption in different socio-economic strata; to determine the role of forti®ed instant noodles as a source of micronutrients; to assess the contribution of plant foods, animal foods and forti®ed foods to vitamin A intake. Setting: A survey was conducted in rural South Sulawesi and urban South Kalimantan between November 1996 and January 1997. Subjects: Households (1500 in South Sulawesi; 2112 in South Kalimantan) were selected randomly by multistage cluster sampling. From each household, data were collected from the mother and her youngest child (0 ± 5 y). Data collection: Mothers were interviewed on various topics, including socio-economic status, food consumption, receipt of high-dose vitamin A capsules, health and nutritional status. Results: Monosodium glutamate and salt were consumed daily in almost all households in both areas, and consumption was not associated with socio-economic status. Instant noodles were consumed in nearly all households in both areas, but consumption of forti®ed noodles was related to socio-economic status; it was highest among households of government employees and private investors, and lowest among farmers and sharecroppers. Vegetables were the most important source of vitamin A in rural South Sulawesi, while foods of animal origin were the most important source in urban South Kalimantan. Conclusions: The results support double or triple forti®cation of salt andaor monosodium glutamate with iodine, vitamin A andaor iron. Efforts to overcome associated technical and logistical dif®culties are urgently needed.