‘Benefits outweigh risks’: Govt rejects reports about harms of fortified rice

NEW DELHI: The Union government on Monday said that rice fortified with three micronutrients – iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 – for mass distribution under the ongoing food schemes was nutritious and safe while asking the public to not fall for “rumours” about harmful effects.

“Fortified rice is nutritious and all rumours about harmful effects should not be bought into,” said S, Jagannathan, joint secretary in the department of food and public distribution.

The food ministry has progressed into the second of its three-stage fortified rice-distribution mission, under which it plans to provide 17.5 million tonne of nutritionally-enhanced cereals in 291 districts during 2022-23, a senior official said.

“Only 0.01% of population may face health risk due to consumption of fortified rice, particularly those ailing with thalassemia major,” said Kapil Yadav, additional professor at the Centre for Community Medicine of the Allindia Institute of Medical Sciences.

“Fortified rice helps prevent cretinism, goiter, thyrotoxicosis, brain damage and improves foetal and neonatal health. Therefore, the benefits of rice-fortification intervention far outweigh the risks involved,” he said.

The country aims to provide fortified rice under all state-run food schemes by 2024 to “improve nutritional outcomes”.

Infrastructure to produce fortified rice is still being ramped to be able to supply a total of 35 million tonnes during the next phase (2023-24) which will cover the government’s entire food distribution programme, including subsidized grains for nearly 800 million food-insecure recipients.