LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 151

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT 

LOK SABHA 

STARRED QUESTION NO. 151 

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH MARCH, 2017 

FOOD FORTIFICATION 

*151. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV: 

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state: 

(a) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched the Food Fortification Resource Centre (FFRC) to promote large scale fortification of food across India and if so, the details thereof; 

(b) whether there is a critical nutritional gap in the Indian diet in general as well as in specific target groups and if so, the reasons therefor; 

(c) whether FSSAI has fixed certain nutritional benchmarks to fortify the nutritional quality of food items used in various social sector programmes and if so, the details thereof and the monitoring mechanism established in this regard; 

(d) whether packaged fortified food, which showed remarkable result in treating Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in Africa, has proved less effective in trials conducted in India and if so, the details thereof; and 

(e) whether FSSAI, which is addressing the nutritional gap in the population through fortification of various foods, has now constituted a scientific panel on 'Food Fortification and Nutrition' to take the programme further and if so, the details thereof? 

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA) 

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House 

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO 

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 151* 

FOR 10TH MARCH, 2017 

(a) The Food Fortification Resource Centre (FFRC) launched by FSSAI aims to promote large scale food fortification across the country through 

(i) creating a rallying point through setting standards for fortified foods for commodities; (ii) monitoring, testing and capacity building; (iii) building consensus among stakeholders; (iv) preparing the supply side by providing technical support to food businesses; (v) implementing fortification in government programmes; and (vi) creating consumer awareness about the benefits of fortification. 

(b) The National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) report (2012), assessed that consumption of vitamins and minerals was lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), in preschool children and adults. Factors such as decreased intake of food, poverty leading to low purchasing power, poor dietary practices due to lack of knowledge about importance of dietary diversification and physiological needs, etc. contribute to availability of less nutritional diet to Indian population. 

(c) FSSAI, has operationalized Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Food) Regulations, 2016 with effect from October 16, 2016 including standards for fortification of Wheat flour, Maida, Rice, Milk, Oil, Salt, etc. with vitamins and minerals which may also be used under social sector programmes. The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, primarily rests with State/UT Governments. 

(d) A trial was conducted in India by the Department of Biotechnology, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to evaluate the impact of three Feeding Regimens which included centrally-produced Ready-to-use Therapeutic foods (RTUF-C), locally-produced Ready-to-use Therapeutic foods (RTUF-L) and a regimen using augmented home prepared foods (A-HPF) on the recovery of children from uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition. The outcome of the study showed that the recovery rates overall (all the three sites) was 43% in A-HPE, 48% in RUTF-C and 57% in RUTL-L. 

(e) FSSAI has constituted a Scientific Panel on Fortified and Enriched Food consisting of 11 members to (i) identify critical nutritional gaps in Indian diet in general population as well as in specific target groups based on diet surveys and credible scientific evidence; (ii)define strategies to address nutritional needs of the general population and vulnerable groups; (iii) consider suitability of different food vehicles and related technological issues for nutrient fortification; (iv) prescribe safe fortification levels in accordance with the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) and Tolerable Upper Limits (TULs) of nutrients; (v) evaluate fortification proposals from industry using modern risk assessment methods for population in general and vulnerable groups in particular; (vi) review and amend Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations for fortification and enrichment of different foods from time to time; and (ix) prescribe standard sampling and test methods for effective monitoring, surveillance and enforcement of the fortification regulations;