What is rice fortification and why is India doing it?
Published on: April 14, 2022.
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India is planning to supply fortified rice throughout the country using the targeted public distribution system in a phased manner by 2024.A decision on this was taken last week following an announcement by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 75th Independence Day address on August 15, 2021, on the fortification of rice to overcome malnutrition. The cost for this, Rs 27 billion per year, will be borne by the federal government as part of food subsidy till it is implemented completely.Here’s a look at what fortification is and how it is done.
What is fortification?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) defines fortification as “deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food so as to improve the nutritional quality of food and to provide public health benefit with minimal risk to health”.
Why is rice fortified?
Rice is a staple food for more than half the global population and is widely consumed in many developing countries.India is not only the second-largest producer of rice in the world, accounting for some 20 per cent of global production, it is also among the largest consumers of this grain. More than 50% of India’s 1.2 billion people depend on rice for sustenance.Despite its high calorie content, rice is a poor supplier of micronutrients and has a low overall nutritional value beyond carbohydrates and protein. This is because the white rice milling process removes both the fat and the more nutrient-rich bran layers.
In one or more critical micronutrients, parboiled rice, brown rice, and bio-fortified rice are more nutritious than white rice.India has high levels of malnutrition among women and children. According to the Food Ministry, every second woman in the country is anaemic and every third child is stunted. To combat malnutrition, fortification of food is considered to be one of the most suitable methods.Sometimes, vitamin and mineral deficiencies are also an issue. While malnutrition is often associated with those not consuming enough calories, the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in high calorie diets is a prominent issue, known as ‘hidden hunger’.This offers a unique opportunity for nutrition improvement in the form of rice fortification.
Source: https://gulfnews.com/special-reports/what-is-rice-fortification-and-why-is-india-doing-it-1.87167715
