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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 343
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24TH MARCH, 2026
TEMPORARY DISCONTINUATION OF RICE FORTIFICATION
343 DR. SIKANDER KUMAR:
Will the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution be pleased to
state
(a): whether the specific findings of a recent study by IIT Kharagpur regarding micronutrient
degradation and shelf-life, necessitated the temporary discontinuation of rice fortification
under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) announced recently;
(b): whether Government has formulated a transitional roadmap for States/UTs to switch
back to non-fortified rice and the criteria for more robust and effective nutrient delivery
mechanism currently under development; and
(c): the measures taken to address safety concerns raised by experts regarding iron-fortified
rice for patients with Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia during this recalibration
period?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND MINISTRY
OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the HouseSTATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF STARRED
QUESTION NO. 343 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 24.03.2026 IN THE FLAJYA SABHA.
(a): The temporary discontinuation of rice fortification under Pradhan IVIantri Garib Kalyan
Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and Other Welfare Schemes was necessitated by a number of the
factors, including Stability and Shelf-life of fortified rice under actual storage conditions as
established by a study by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. A third-party audit of
Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) manufacturing units by National Institute of Food Technology
Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Kundli, also revealed widespread non-compliance
with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSS AI)’s General Hygienic and Sanitary
Practices by the Food Business Operators. Also, a formative research study by Indian Council of
Medical Research - National Institute of Nutrition (ICIVIR-NIN) identified that many beneficiaries
mistake floating FRKs for contaminants, chaff or debris. This leads to the physical removal and
discarding of the fortified kernels during pre-cooking, effectively negating the program's
nutritional objectives.
(b) : Yes.
(c): The Government is following packaging and labelling instructions issued by Food Safety
and Standards Authority of India, vide Gazette Notification dated 02.08.2018 and its amendment
dated 27.08.2021, for iron-fortified food, which includes an advisory for individuals with
thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia
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