Introducing the Minimum Dietary Diversity – Women (MDD-W) Global Dietary Diversity Indicator for Women

In July 2014 the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance III Project (FANTA) convened a consensus meeting to select a simple proxy indicator for global use in assessing the micronutrient adequacy of women’s diets. Meeting participants endorsed and supported the use of the new indicator, called Minimum Dietary Diversity – Women (MDD-W).  The new indicator reflects consumption of at least five of ten food groups, and can be generated from surveys. It provides a new tool for assessment, target-setting, and advocacy.