The Department of Food Safety has, through a Circular dated 24th December 2019, implemented Food Fortification in NCT of Delhi.
What is Food Fortification?
Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as Iron, Iodine, Zinc, Vitamins A & D to staple foods such as rice, wheat, oil, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content. These nutrients may or may not have been originally present in the food before processing or may have been lost during processing.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) has notified standards for six fortified staple foods namely Atta, Maida, Rice, Vegetable Oil, Milk and Salt.
The Circular also states the plan of action, to be followed by the Food Safety Officers for effective implementation of Food Fortification in all districts of NCT of Delhi, such as:
- Encouragement of Manufacturers/Packers of Atta, Maida, Rice, Vegetable Oil, Milk and Salt for Food Fortification in the district.
- Promotion of fortified food in Government funded programmes on distribution of food in the district.
- Organise awareness programs on fortified food in the district.
- Conduct technical assistance program to small scale manufactures in the district through Food Fortification Resource Centre provided by FSSAI.
The Circular requests the Officers to prepare the list of Manufacturers/Packers of the notified Staple Food in their respective districts and forward the same to the Nodal Officer (Food Fortification).
Source: Department of Food Safety, Delhi
