Context: Recently, Cabinet has  approved continuation of supply of free Fortified Rice under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare schemes from July, 2024 to December, 2028.

• The rice fortification initiative will continue as a central sector initiative with 100% funding by the Centre as part of PMGKAY (Food Subsidy), thus providing a unified institutional mechanism for implementation.

Need of Rice Fortification

• Rice as a Staple Food: Given that 65% of India’s population consumes rice as a staple, it is an ideal vehicle to deliver essential micronutrients to combat these deficiencies, helping improve overall health, productivity, and cognitive development.

• Widespread Micronutrient Deficiency: India faces a significant public health challenge with micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron, Vitamin B12, and folic acid. Anaemia, caused by iron deficiency, is a persistent issue affecting large segments of the population, including children, women, and men.

About Rice Fortification

• Rice fortification- It is the process of adding essential micronutrients like iron, folic acid, vitamin B-12, zinc, and vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-6, to rice to enhance its nutritional value. 

• This process seeks to improve the nutritional quality of rice, and help address micronutrient deficiencies and public health concerns.

Process of Rice Fortification:

• Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK): The process involves producing fortified rice kernels that are enriched with essential micronutrients such as Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12.

• Blending with Regular Rice: These fortified kernels are then blended with regular rice at a ratio prescribed by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).

• Typically, fortified kernels make up 1-2% of the total rice, ensuring consistent delivery of micronutrients without altering the taste or cooking properties of the rice.

Rice Fortification Scheme

• Type of Scheme: It is a centrally funded initiative, with 100% of the costs covered by the central government. The initiative is part of PMGKAY and aims to provide a unified institutional mechanism for its implementation.

• Aim of the Scheme: This initiative aims to combat anaemia and address micronutrient deficiencies across the population.

• Distribution of Fortified rice: The fortified rice will be distributed free of charge through welfare schemes like the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and PM POSHAN in all States and Union Territories.

What are the advantages of Rice fortification in India?

• Addressing nutritional deficiency- The process of rice fortification significantly helps in addressing the nutritional deficiencies of iron, zinc, and vitamins of Indian population, as rice constitutes a staple food for about 65% of the population.

• Reduction of Anaemia- Iron fortification specifically targets anaemia, particularly among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children. The Improved iron status can lead to better maternal health and reduced risks during pregnancy.

• Affordable Intervention- Rice fortification is considered a cost-effective strategy to combat malnutrition as the estimated annual cost for the scheme is around Rs 2,700 crore, which is manageable given the potential health benefits.

• Utilization of Existing Infrastructure- The fortification process can be integrated into existing rice production and distribution systems, minimizing additional costs and logistical challenges.

• Cognitive Development and improved educational outcomes- Rice fortification can help in mitigation of cognitive impairments associated with iron deficiency. This will lead to improved educational outcomes.

• Enhanced productivity of workforce- The rice fortification initiative aims to improve overall public health, reduce healthcare costs associated with malnutrition-related diseases, and enhance productivity in the workforce.

Key  concerns with food fortification in India

• Health Risk to Individuals suffering from haemoglobinopathies- Health experts have raised concerns about the indiscriminate distribution of fortified rice, particularly for individuals with haemoglobinopathies like thalassemia and sickle cell disease, as it could lead to serious health complications like organ failure.

• Undermining of dietary diversity- The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) recommends that no more than 40% of a healthy diet’s total calories should come from cereals, and only a fraction of that from rice. The promotion of consumption of 250-350 grams of fortified rice consumption per day, could discourage dietary diversity.

• Concerns about women health safety- Experts warn that the lack of monitoring for iron fortification’s could be potentially harmful for women. For ex- Excessive iron intake in pregnant women can negatively affect fetal development and birth outcomes, which will increase the risk of chronic diseases in children.

• Commercialisation- Experts have expressed concerns that fortification may benefit industries more than the people. There are concerns that it may be difficult to reverse fortification, even after micronutrient deficiencies are reduced, as commercial players may continue to use it for profiteering purposes.

• Removal of Safety labels by FSSAI- The proposed amendment by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to remove the warning labels regarding thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia, has sparked concern among health experts.

Road Ahead

• Dietary diversification- The focus must be on safer, long-term, community-based approaches that promote dietary diversification rather than focusing on fortification of a single food source like rice. The NIN, in its 2020 Nutrient Requirements of Indians report, emphasized the need for a diverse, natural diet to meet micronutrient needs, rather than relying on fortification.

• Increasing the intake of animal-based foods- The focus must be on improving the diet quality by increasing the intake of animal-based foods and fruits.

• FSSAI mandatory labelling and warning- FSSAI must make it mandatory for the suppliers to display warnings about the potential risks of fortified food to the patients suffering from thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia.

• Improving health care services- Improvement of access and utilization of prenatal and postnatal health care services must be prioritized. It would play a significant role in curbing undernutrition among children through comprehensive awareness programs and community participation.

• Strengthen Monitoring and Quality Control: Implement robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure the consistent quality of fortified rice and its proper distribution across welfare programs to maximize nutritional benefits.

• Raise Awareness and Promote Consumption: Conduct awareness campaigns to educate the public on the health benefits of fortified rice, ensuring higher acceptance and consistent consumption to address widespread micronutrient deficiencies.