With an aim of preventing malnutrition among children under six years, the union government has made fortification of salt, wheat flour and oil mandatory in foods served to children in all anganwadi centres (mother and child care centre) under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
ICDS scheme was launched in 1975 and monitors health and nutrition of children in the 0-6 age group.
Currently, 12 states provide one or two staple food items fortified with essential micronutrients but it was not mandatory across the country.
The written notification by women and child development (WCD) to states focusses on ensuring “mandatory fortification” of the three food items in the administration of supplementary nutrition programme of the ICDS scheme with “immediate effect.”