This requires the introduction of strategies such as food fortification which are evidence based, tried and tested in other parts of the world, explained Bishow Parajuli, Country Director, World Food Programme.
The World Health Organization defines food fortification as the practice of deliberately increasing the content of an essential micronutrient in food so as to improve the nutritional quality of the food supply and to provide a public health benefit with minimal risk to health.
Is food fortification a good way of inculcating micronutrients in one’s diet and address the problem of malnutrition? Experts believe that just as there are two sides to coin, there are two sides to every strategy.
Though micronutrients are added, fortification does not cause any change in the taste, aroma, texture, or appearance of the food.
According to the ‘Guidelines on food fortification with micronutrients’ issued by the WHO and Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, if consumed on a regular and frequent basis, fortified foods will maintain body stores of nutrients more efficiently and more effectively than will intermittent supplements.
Fortified foods are also better at lowering the risk of the multiple deficiencies that can result from seasonal deficits in the food supply or a poor quality diet.
The overall costs of fortification are extremely low; the price increase is approximately 1 to 2 per cent of the total food value.
While fortified foods contain increased amounts of selected micronutrients, they are not a substitute for a good quality diet that supplies adequate amounts of energy, protein, essential fats and other food constituents required for optimal health.
To address this, Mr Parajuli suggests government food safety nets like public distribution system to adopt staple food fortification strategies.
Basanta Kumar Kar recipient of the Global Nutrition Leadership Award believes that food fortification is a short and medium term measure.
In its guidelines, FSSAI has also titled food fortification as a ‘complementary strategy’ rather than a ‘replacement of balanced, diversified diets’ to address malnutrition.
As explained by FSSAI, fortification only bridges the gap between the need and actual consumption of required micronutrients through food.