Rice Fortification: A Reconsideration

The government has recently announ­ced a fast schedule of spreading rice fortification in India. According to this schedule, the supply of fortified rice to the Integrated Child Development Services, midday meals, other nutrition and welfare schemes as well as to the vast public distribution system is to be completed by 2024.

This rapid rollover of rice fortification is likely to be harmful in various ways. Rice fortification should not be seen in isolation, but together with programmes and proposals for fortification of several other essential food like salt, milk, edible oils, and wheat, apart from the fact that fortification is also used in several other widely sold packaged food products.