Fortified rice through PDS

Subject :Science and tech

Section: Health and Disease

Concept :

The distribution of fortified rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India is an ongoing initiative by the government to address the issue of malnutrition among the poor and vulnerable sections of society.
Fortified rice with essential micronutrients like iron, zinc, and Vitamin A, is being distributed through the PDS in several states in India.
The distribution of fortified rice through the PDS is being implemented in a phased manner across the country. The government has set a target to distribute fortified rice through the PDS to all states and Union Territories by 2024.
A total of 269 districts in 27 states have started distributing fortified rice under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), achieving a 100% target set for Phase II by March 2023 in the Rice Fortification Programme.
The distribution of fortified rice through the PDS is expected to have a significant impact on reducing malnutrition and improving the health and well-being of the poor and vulnerable sections of society, especially women and children.

Rice 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”.
The cooking of fortified rice does not require any special procedure.
After cooking, fortified rice retains the same physical properties and micronutrient levels as it had before cooking.
Fortified rice will be packed in jute bags with the logo (‘+F’) and the line “Fortified with Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12”.
Various technologies are available to add micronutrients to regular rice, such as coating, dusting, and ‘extrusion’.
The Extrusion technique involves the production of fortified rice kernels (FRKs) from a mixture using an ‘extruder’ machine.
It is considered to be the best technology for India.
The fortified rice kernels are blended with regular rice to produce fortified rice.

Need of rice fortification

India has very 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.
Fortification of food is considered to be one of the most suitable methods to combat malnutrition.
Rice is one of India’s staple foods, consumed by about two-thirds of the population.
Per capita rice consumption in India is 6.8 kg per month.
Therefore, fortifying rice with micronutrients is an option to supplement the diet of the poor.

What are the standards for fortification?

Under the Ministry’s guidelines, 10 g of FRK must be blended with 1 kg of regular rice.
According to FSSAI norms, 1 kg of fortified rice will contain the following: iron (28 mg-42.5 mg), folic acid (75-125 microgram), and vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25 microgram).
Rice may also be fortified with zinc (10 mg-15 mg), vitamin A (500-750 microgram RE), vitamin B-1 (1 mg-1.5 mg), vitamin B-2 (1.25 mg-1.75 mg), vitamin B-3 (12.5 mg-20 mg) and vitamin B-6 (1.5 mg-2.5 mg) per kg.

Advantages

Fortified staple foods will contain natural or near-natural levels of micro-nutrients, which may not necessarily be the case with supplements.
It provides nutrition without any change in the characteristics of food or the course of our meals.
If consumed on a regular and frequent basis, fortified foods will maintain body stores of nutrients more efficiently and more effectively than will intermittently supplement.
The overall costs of fortification are extremely low; the price increase is approximately 1 to 2 percent of the total food value.
It upholds everyone’s right to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger

Issues with fortified food

Fortification and enrichment upset nature’s packaging. Our body does not absorb individual nutrients added to processed foods as efficiently compared to nutrients naturally occurring.
Supplements added to foods are less bioavailable. Bioavailability refers to the proportion of a nutrient your body is able to absorb and use.
They lack immune-boosting substances.
Fortified foods and supplements can pose specific risks for people who are taking prescription medications, including decreased absorption of other micro-nutrients, treatment failure, and increased mortality risk.