Executive Summary:
This document addresses a parliamentary inquiry regarding food fortification projects in India. It outlines the roles and initiatives of various government ministries and departments in promoting and implementing food fortification programs to combat micronutrient deficiencies, particularly anemia, across different demographics. The universal supply of fortified rice under government schemes is approved until December 2028, with full funding from the Government of India.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Initiative:** Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, emphasizing fortified foods.
* **Rice Fortification Program:**
* Pilot program started in 2019.
* Scaled up in 2022; by March 2024, all custom-milled rice distribution under food safety net programs was replaced with fortified rice.
* The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the universal supply of fortified rice under all government schemes until December 2028, with 100% funding (Rs 17,082 Cr) by the Government of India.
* Fortified rice contains Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12.
* **PM POSHAN Scheme:** Fortified rice is used to prepare meals in all States and UTs to address micronutrient deficiencies in school children.
* **Fortified Edible Oil and Salt:** Double Fortified Salt (DFS) and fortified edible oil (Vitamins A & D) are used in meal preparation to prevent Vitamin A, Vitamin D deficiencies, combat iron deficiency anaemia and goitre.
* **National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Foundation for Nutrition (NFN):**
* Aims to provide nutrition support to children by offering nutritious products to help eradicate malnutrition and promote the consumption of milk and fortified milk products.
* Distributed 7.10 lakh litres of milk equivalent to 35.4 lakh child milk days covering about 41,700 children in 257 schools covering 11 states.
* **Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG):** Fortified Rice provided under WBNP and SAG since 2021-22 in lieu of normal rice, fighting malnutrition and anaemia in women and children.
* **Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) Schemes:**
* Implementing three major schemes: Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI), and Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME Scheme).
* Aimed at creating modern food processing infrastructure, improving supply chain management, and supporting food processing entrepreneurs.
Impact Analysis:
* **General Population:**
* Impact: Improved access to micronutrients through fortified foods, potentially reducing deficiencies like anemia and improving overall health outcomes.
* Action Required: Consume fortified foods as part of a balanced diet.
* **School Children:**
* Impact: Improved micronutrient intake through the PM POSHAN scheme, supporting mental, emotional, and neurological health.
* Action Required: Consume meals prepared with fortified rice and other fortified ingredients in schools.
* **Women and Adolescent Girls:**
* Impact: Reduced risk of malnutrition and anemia through the Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG).
* Action Required: Consume fortified rice provided under these schemes.
* **Food Processors and Manufacturers:**
* Impact: Opportunity to participate in food fortification initiatives and access financial assistance through MoFPI schemes.
* Action Required: Explore opportunities to adopt food fortification technologies and leverage available government schemes.
* **State Governments and UTs:**
* Impact: Required to implement the PM POSHAN Scheme and distribute fortified rice, fortified edible oil and double fortified salt.
* Action Required: Ensure the effective implementation of food fortification programs and adhere to guidelines for the use of fortified ingredients.
Key Entities Referenced
Anemia Mukt Bharat: An initiative launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, emphasizing fortified foods to combat anemia.
PM POSHAN Scheme: A scheme under the Department of School Education and Literacy, utilizing fortified rice to prepare meals and improve micronutrient deficiencies in school children across all States and Union Territories.
National Dairy Development Board: An organization working to provide nutrition support to children by offering nutritious products and promoting the consumption of milk and fortified milk products.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana: A Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries aimed at creating modern food processing infrastructure with efficient supply chain management.
Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry: A Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to incentivize food processing and enhance the export of processed foods.
Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries aimed at supporting food processing entrepreneurs and creating modern food processing infrastructure.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India: A regulatory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare responsible for ensuring food safety standards.
Gujarat: State in India where the National Dairy Development Board Foundation for Nutrition is registered.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4657
ANSWERED ON 21ST AUGUST 2025
FOOD FORTIFICATION PROJECT
4657. DR. RAJESH MISHRA:
DR. K. SUDHAKAR:
SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) the number of food fortification projects approved during the last three years, State-wise;
(b) whether the Government is collaborating with State Governments and private entities to
enhance food fortification infrastructure across the country and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any initiatives have been taken to encourage adoption of food fortification
technologies among food processors and manufacturers and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the outcomes of the scheme in the Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a) to (d): The subject matter of the question administratively pertains to Department of Food
and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under Ministry Health and Family Welfare,
Department of School Education and Literacy under Ministry of Education, Department of
Animal Husbandry and Dairying under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
and Ministry of Women and Child Development.
As per Department of Food and Public Distribution, the Anemia Mukt Bharat [AMB]
initiative was launched in 2018 by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare emphasizing fortified
foods. A pilot program for rice fortification began in 2019, targeting the significant portion of
the population that consumes rice. The scaling up of the initiative was approved by the
Government in 2022, and by March 2024, distribution of all custom-milled rice under food safety
net programs was replaced with fortified rice. The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of
the universal supply of fortified rice under all government schemes until December 2028, with
100% funding (Rs 17,082 Cr) by the Government of India.
Department of Health and Family Welfare has informed that the question does not pertain
to them.
As per Department of School Education and Literacy, fortified rice is used to prepare
meals under the PM POSHAN Scheme to improve the micronutrient deficiencies of the school
children by all States and UTs. The Department of Food and Public Distribution supplies fortified
rice containing Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12 to address anaemia. The cost of fortification
is borne by Govt. of India. The Guidelines envisages that Double Fortified Salt (DFS) and
fortified edible oil (with Vitamins A & D) are to be used in preparation of meals under the
Scheme. Fortified edible oil helps in preventing Vitamin A and D deficiencies. Double Fortified
Salt helps in combating iron deficiency anaemia and goitre. The use of fortified rice and wheat
flour contributes to reducing anaemia and supports mental, emotional, and neurological health
among children.Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has affirmed their nil information for
the question. It has, however been stated by them that the National Dairy Development Board
(NDDB) Foundation for Nutrition (NFN), a registered society and a Trust registered in October
2015, at Anand, Gujarat, aims to provide nutrition support to children by offering nutritious
products to help eradicate malnutrition and promote the consumption of milk and fortified milk
products. The efforts are focused on raising awareness about malnutrition and encouraging a
healthy diet by seeking funding through donations, grants, and Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) contributions. Under its Giftmilk programme, NFN distributed 7.10 lakh litres of milk –
equivalent to 35.4 lakh child milk days, covering about 41,700 children in 257 schools covering
11 states.
Ministry of Women and Child Development has also affirmed their nil information for
the question. It has, however been stated by them that in pursuance of the Hon’ble Prime
Minister’s Address on 75th Independence Day, Fortified Rice has been provided under Wheat
Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) since 2021-22 in
lieu of normal rice. This helps in fighting malnutrition and anaemia in women and children
arising due to deficiency of micronutrients like iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B-12.
In so far as Ministry of Food Processing Industries is concerned, it is informed that for
the purpose of overall development of food processing sector in the country, the Ministry of Food
Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing three major Schemes comprising 2 Central
Sector Schemes namely Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) and Production
Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and 1 Centrally Sponsored
Scheme viz. Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME)
Scheme. These schemes are primarily aimed at creation of modern food processing infrastructure
with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet, and to help in providing
better returns to farmers, creation of employment opportunities, reducing wastage, increasing the
processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods. All the three schemes
implemented across the country are demand driven. These Schemes also intend to support the
food processing entrepreneurs, food processors, and manufacturers to avail financial assistance
to create modern food processing infrastructure/technologies for their processing industries.
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