Fortification of food is a complementary strategy to address widespread micronutrient malnutrition (deficiency of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals) in the country.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has established a Food Fortification Resource Centre (FFRC), within FSSAI, as a 'resource hub' to promote fortification of food as part of its mandate to assure "safe and wholesome food" to all.
The Food Fortification Resource Centre (FFRC)
* Builds consensus and engages all stakeholders to share knowledge and resources on food fortification.
* Systematically synchronizes efforts to strengthen collaborations between all stakeholders.
* Provides evidence-based policy recommendations for scaling up fortification of staple foods in safety net programmes such as the PDS, ICDS and MDM.
* Nudges the food industry to adopt food fortification as an industry norm.
* Provides information and technical assistance on standards, food safety, food technology and processes, premix and equipment procurement, quality assurance and control for production of fortified foods.
* Builds capacity for 'Regulatory Compliance'.
* Promotes awareness on fortification, food safety and nutrition to create demand for fortified foods
* Monitors and evaluates scaling up of food fortification across states.
To read more about the Food Fortification Resource Centre, please