The Union government said on Monday that rice fortified with three micronutrients (iron, folic acid and vitamin B12) for mass distribution under ongoing food schemes was nutritious and safe and called on the public not to be fooled by ” rumours” about harmful effects.
“Fortified rice is nutritious and all the rumors about harmful effects should not be believed,” said S, Jagannathan, assistant secretary of the department of food and public distribution.
The Food Ministry has moved into the second of its three-stage fortified rice distribution mission, under which it plans to provide 17.5 million tons of nutritionally enhanced grains in 291 districts during 2022-23, a senior official said. .
“Only 0.01% of the population may face a health risk from consuming fortified rice, particularly those with thalassemia major,” said Kapil Yadav, associate professor at the Center for Community Medicine at the Institute of Medical Sciences of all India.
“Fortified rice helps prevent cretinism, goiter, thyrotoxicosis, brain damage, and improves fetal and neonatal health. Therefore, the benefits of the rice fortification intervention far outweigh the risks involved,” he said.
The country aims to provide fortified rice under all state food schemes in three stages by 2024 to “improve nutritional outcomes”.
The infrastructure to produce fortified rice is still being expanded to be able to supply a total of 35 million tons during the next phase (2023-24), which will cover the entire government food distribution program, including subsidized cereals for almost 800 million of food insecure beneficiaries. .
Last month, an investigative team of activists and experts said they found indigenous Adivasi people in Jharkhand with thalassemia who were being given fortified rice without their knowledge, posing health risks.
According to the 2016 National Family Health Survey-4, which provides the most recent data on health and nutrition, 38.4% of children in the country are stunted (low height for age) and 21% are wasted ( low weight for height).
The survey also showed that the prevalence of anemia among Indian women had seen only a small decline from 55% in 2005-06 to 53% in 2015-16. During stage 1, the fortified rice program covered the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and PM POSHAN, under which schoolchildren get free lunches. The transition to fortified rice will cost $ 2,700 million rupees each year until 2024, which will be borne by the Center, according to official data.
.
