GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Food Security; Technology Missions
Source: DTE
Context: The public food fortification programme under India’s food safety regulator (FSSAI) has come under scanner after a report alleged conflicts of interest behind it.
Background:
- The mandates of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Food Fortification Resource Centre (FFRC) – an industry-led organisation under the FSSAI, are the opposite.
- FSSAI – a statutory body, is supposed to be guided by principles of food safety, which include risk assessment, transparent public consultation, protection of consumer choice, etc.
- FFRC, on the other hand, has a sponsored promotional role – co-implementing fortification programmes, providing funding and advisory services, etc.
- The presence of FFRC within FSSAI deserves further investigation and intervention to avoid conflict of interest.
Food Fortification:
Meaning:
- It is defined as the practice of adding vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed foods during processing to increase their nutritional value.
- The Copenhagen Consensus ranked food fortification as one of the most cost-effective development priorities.
- It has been identified as the strategy by the WHO and FAO for decreasing the incidence of nutrient deficiencies at the global level.
Scenario in India:
- The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022 placed India at 107th position (out of 121 nations) and the undernourished population is one of the primary reasons for this poor performance of India.
- The momentum of food fortification accelerated in 2016 when the FSSAI established standards for the fortification of rice, wheat flour, edible oil, double-fortified salt (DFS) and milk.
- FFRC developed the ‘+F’ logo and helped build capacity for food producers.
- The pilot – public food fortification programme, was launched in 2019 by the government (FSSAI) in partnership with external non-profits, who are also associated with the nutraceutical industry.
- Fortified foods are now being included in public food schemes like PDS, ICDS, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and Mid-Day Meal Scheme/Poshan, helping to address the challenge of malnutrition.
Major issues with food fortification in India:
- The one-sided portrayal of fortification as a ‘cure-all’ without any significant scientific perspective and evidence on fortification.
- No independent risk analysis: FSSAI’s statutory regulations caution against consuming iron-fortified food by patients with thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia.
- Conflict of interest: The studies which FSSAI relies on to promote fortification are sponsored by food companies.
- Evaluation studies are still not publicly available.
Way ahead:
- Fortification should be pushed for in a transparent manner by the decision-making body (FFRC) and the regulatory body (FSSAI).
- To treat undernutrition in India, all three – dietary diversity, higher protein consumption and fortification, are essential.
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make the food grain distribution system more effective? (UPSC 2019)
