Due to ‘fortification’ of rice, blood will flow in the body without any obstruction, the child will not have neural tube defect in the womb.

New Delhi: The first attempt to convert rice into energy was made about 134 years ago. In 1890, a Dutch doctor Isaacman observed that when chickens were fed polished rice, they started showing symptoms of beri-beri i.e. extreme weakness. After this he/she started adding thiamine, which is called Vitamin B-1, to rice. When it was fed to the chickens, they started walking faster instead of staggering like before. This is where rice fortification started. Recently, under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, the scheme to distribute fortified rice till December 2028 was approved. What is fortified rice, let us know about it.

What is fortified rice, what nutrients are added

Fortified rice is made from ordinary rice only. Its nutrients are increased artificially. Micronutrients like iron, folic acid and vitamins B-1 and B-12 are added to these rice. In fact, fortification is considered a big step towards tackling the problem of malnutrition. That is, in a way it can be said that rice is fortified, which gives strength to the body. Metabolism rate increases and agility increases.
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Why has the decision of rice fortification been taken?

Rice fortification is considered an important decision in India as the government currently distributes more than 300 lakh tonnes of rice through several schemes under the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013. The Center has distributed more than 328 lakh tonnes of rice in 2022 under different schemes, including midday meal scheme, integrated child development services and targeted public distribution system.

Why was there a need for rice fortification?

Today India produces about 20% of the world’s rice. Apart from this, consumption of rice is also highest in our country. Rice is consumed the most in our country. Per capita consumption of rice is estimated at about 7 kg per month. In such a situation, fortification of rice can provide essential nutrients to common people.

Why is rice fortification important for countries like India?

Malnutrition levels among women and children in India are very high. According to the Food Ministry, every second woman in the country suffers from anemia and every third child is malnourished. Rice is a staple food in Asia and Africa. More than two billion people in the world are suffering from iron deficiency. This increases the risk of anemia, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, lethargy and maternal mortality. To deal with this problem, many countries adopted the strategy of enriching rice with nutrients like iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12.

What is the harm from milling and polishing of common rice?

In fact, during milling and polishing of rice, some nutrients including Vitamin B, E, Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese are reduced. That means brown rice becomes white or polished rice. In fact, we get most of the iron we get from meat, 50% of which is absorbed by the body. There is limited supply of iron from vegetables and only 3% is absorbed by the body. This is why iron deficiency is a big problem in India.

What happens in the fortification process

In the process of fortifying rice, important vitamins and minerals are added to it, thereby increasing its nutritional value. In the fortification process, as per the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), essential elements like Vitamin A, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin B-1, Iron, Zinc and Folic Acid are added to the rice.

Vitamin B-12 deficiency is dangerous anemia

Vitamin B-12 is also called cyanocobalamin. These are very important for the functioning of the brain and nervous system.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency causes pernicious anemia. The reason for this is autoimmune disorder. At the same time, folate is the natural form of vitamin B-9 which is essential for pregnant women in the form of folic acid.

Disorders in children due to folic acid deficiency

Deficiency of folic acid in pregnant women causes spina bifida i.e. neural tube defect in the unborn baby. In this disorder the spine gets affected. Due to which, after birth, there is problem in walking or disability.
In Punjab and Haryana, this problem is found in 4.7 to 9 children out of every 1000. Additionally, the highest incidence of neural tube defects is found in parts of Southeast Asia and Africa. In developed countries it is less than 1 per 1000.

How is fortified rice prepared?

Fortified rice is made in mills. During this, the amount of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals in them is artificially increased. For this, techniques like coating, dusting and extrusion are used. First, flour is made by grinding dry rice. Then micronutrients are added to it. These are mixed well with water. Then with the help of machines, this mixture is dried and shaped into rice, which is called Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK). After preparation, they are mixed with normal rice. As per FSSAI rules, it is mixed in the ratio of 1:100. That means, 10 grams of fortified rice is added to every 1 kg of rice.