Centre to supply fortified rice throughout the country by 2024 with the help of Central Schemes like Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS)
The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today informed that the Government has approved supply of fortified rice across Government Schemes like Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) throughout the country by 2024.
The Food Safety Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018 specifies standards of fortification of milk, edible oil, wheat flour, rice and double fortified salt. The details of micronutrients added in fortified rice, fortified milk and fortified edible oil is at Annexure.
Fortified rice distributed under Government Schemes is available for beneficiaries at the same rate as that of non-fortified rice.
As reported by FSSAI, a Food Business Operator producing fortified staples has to apply for +F endorsement on FoSCoS portal of FSSAI and get approval. The number of active manufacturers, producing fortified rice, milk and edible oil are:
Dairy Processing Units:-
Milk- 117
Milk Powder- 35
Edible Oil Unit :- 189
Rice Units :- 4530
At present, the fortification of Milk and Oil is voluntary in the country. Every package of fortified food shall carry the words “fortified with ---------- (name of the fortificant)” and the logo, specified in Schedule- II of The Food Safety Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018, on its label. It may also carry a tag line “Sampoorna Poshan Swasth Jeevan” under the logo.
ANNEXURE
Standards for fortified staples
Fortified Rice: when fortified, must contain added Iron, Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 at the levels given in the table below:
|
S. No.
|
Nutrient
|
Level of Fortification per Kg
|
-
|
Iron - (a) Ferric pyrophosphate
|
28 mg - 42.5 mg*
|
|
|
(b) Sodium Iron (III) Ethylene diamine tetra Acetate, Trihydrate (Sodium Feredetate-Na Fe EDTA)
|
14 mg - 21.25 mg
|
-
|
Folic acid - Folic acid;
|
75 µg - 125 µg
|
-
|
Vitamin B12- cyanocobalamin or hydroxocobalamin;
|
0.75 µg - 1.25 µg
|
*Note: added at a higher level to account for less bioavailability
In addition, rice may also be fortified with following micronutrients, singly or in combination, at the level given in the table below:
|
S. No.
|
Nutrient
|
Level of Fortification per kg
|
|
1.
|
Zinc - Zinc Oxide
|
10 mg - 15 mg
|
|
2.
|
Vitamin A- RetinylPalmitate;
|
500 μg RE - 750 µg RE
|
|
3.
|
Thiamine (Vitamin B1)- Thiamine hydrochloride, Thiamine mononitrate;
|
1 mg - 1.5 mg
|
|
4.
|
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)- Riboflavin or Riboflavin 5’-phosphate sodium
|
1.25 mg - 1.75 mg
|
|
5.
|
Niacin (Vitamin B3) - Nicotinamide or Nicotinic acid
|
12.5 mg - 20 mg
|
|
6.
|
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)-Pyridoxine hydrochloride;
|
-
- mg - 2.5 mg
|
Fortified Milk
|
S. No.
|
Nutrients
|
Level of nutrient per litre of Species identified milk (namely buffalo milk, cow milk, goat milk, sheep milk and camel milk)/ full cream milk/toned milk/double toned milk/skimmed milk/standardized milk)
|
Nutrient Source
|
|
1.
|
Vitamin A (µg RE)
|
270 – 450
|
Retinyl acetate
or Retinylpalmitate
|
|
2.
|
Vitamin D (µg)
|
5-7.5
|
*Cholecalciferol or*Ergocalciferol
(*Only from Plant source)
|
Note: Vitamin A (retinol): 1 IU= 0.3 µg RE (Retinol Equivalent); Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol or Ergocalciferol): 1 IU= 0.025 µg
Fortified Edible Oil
|
S. No.
|
Nutrients
|
Level of nutrient per gram of oil
|
Nutrient Source
|
|
1.
|
Vitamin A
(µg RE)
|
6-9.9
|
Retinyl acetate
or Retinylpalmitate
|
|
2.
|
Vitamin D (µg)
|
0.11-0.16
|
*Cholecalciferol or*Ergocalciferol
(*Only from Plant source)
|
Note: Vitamin A (retinol): 1 IU= 0.3 µg RE (Retinol Equivalent); Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol or Ergocalciferol): 1 IU= 0.025 µg
***
AD/NS