This approach is currently being applied in the Philippines, where the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies (iron, vitamin A, zinc) [9] in children aged 6–23 months and 24–59 months in the lower socio-economic strata leads to substantial costs (fig. 2). The costs for these eficiencies in the Philippines amount to medical costs of USD 30 million, production losses of USD 618 million and the intangible costs of 4,000 complete life spans (in DALYs – disability-adjusted life year) [10]