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In its recent move, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the food regulator, has called in for the public opinion on the recently drafted standards for food fortification. Initially, the authority has opted for seven food items for fortification including salt, oil, milk, vanaspati, atta, maida and rice.
In order to make the denizens of the country equipped with required nutrients, FSSAI has recently floated an initiative of fortifying the popular food items of the country. With the help of food fortification, important nutrients such as iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D will be added to staple foods like rice, milk and salt that will further enhance the nutrient content of these food items.
Elaborating on the subject, Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI said, “We had formulated a comprehensive regulation on food fortification. The draft guidelines were operationalised in October in public interest. Now, a gazette notification has been issued seeking public comments within 30 days. A final guidelines would be issued after taking into consideration the public comments.”
FSSAI has invited suggestions and objections from the stakeholders within a period of 30 days from the date of publication of the draft notification on ’Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016’.
FSSAI further stated that the control of micronutrient deficiencies is an essential part of the overarching effort of the Government to fight hunger and malnutrition in the country. Food fortification is a simple, proven, cost effective and complementary strategy that has been used across the globe to safely and effectively prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies.