‘Fortification only way to maintain quality of food’

LUCKNOW: Micronutrient levels in soil have gone down in general due to excessive vegetation and plantation, hence, the only way to maintain quality of food products is fortification, said experts at a conference ‘Scaling of Food Fortification’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry here on Wednesday.

“There are guidelines for fortification of milk, whole wheat flour, rice, edible oil and salt which were issued in 2016. Cost of fortification is negligible, but it has many benefits,” said additional chief secretary, food safety and drug administration, Anita Bhatnagar Jain, in her inaugural address at the programme.

She said as per the national family health survey, over 50% women are anaemic in the state and a large number of people have vitamin D deficiency.

Quoting a study report, she said, “Consumption of fortified milk, can increase vitamin D level from 12% to 81% in 12 weeks and can help reduce symptoms of diarrhoea, pneumonia and high fever cases in all age group.”

The state has seven units of milk and oil, five of salt, two of wheat which provide fortified products. “A workshop will also be organised for these units and talks will be held with milk dairies in 32 districts to discuss fortification,” said Jain, adding the state produces 17% milk of the country. Experts Tarun Vij, Jai Agrawal, Vivek Arora and others who spoke on the issue.