Food Fortification complementary strategy to prove essential micronutrients: Experts

Highlighting that over 2 billion people across the globe have at least one form of micronutrients deficiency and in India people are grappling with high level of anemia and vitamin deficiencies, the experts from health and food industry on Wednesday deliberated that the fortification of staple food can combat the malnutrition among the most vulnerable populations. 

In an even held by KHPT and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) on availability of quality fortified staples in both retail and social safety net programs, the experts deliberated the experience of Large Scale Food Fortification in the country from both the government and industry perspective.

FSSAI Executive Director Ms Inoshi Sharma said that staple foods represent a safe, cost-effective and evidence based strategy aimed at enriching staple foods with essential micronutrients. This approach serves to combat malnutrition, particularly among the most vulnerable populations.

More than 2 billion people around world have at least one form of micronutrients deficiency and in India people are grappling with high level of anemia and vitamin deficiencies, especially among women and children. Food fortification remains a promising a complementary strategy to prove essential micronutrients, said Dr Bhuvaneswari Balasubramanian, Country Head, GAIN.