Fortification of food products needed to end malnutrition: CII

Fortification of food products by adding vitamins and other nutrients should be made compulsory to end malnutrition among citizens, especially children, in India, apex industry body CII today said.
Malnutrition is a major problem in the country today with about 50 per cent of population suffering from some form of malnourishment, according to Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)'s National Food Processing Committee Piruz Khambatta.
Citing a survey conducted by UNICEF and Government of India during 2013-14, Khambatta stated that 9.5 per cent of children under the age of 5 in India are in the category of 'severely underweight' and 17.5 per cent 'severely stunted' in terms of their height.

"In such a scenario, both industry and Government should work together to end this problem. We believe that Government should make fortification of food, where we add vitamins and other nutrients in it, should be made compulsory for all food product manufacturers," he maintained.
Khambatta was speaking at a press conference called to announce the holding of 1st edition of Western India's premier food and hospitality expo 'GujFood' here from October 30 to November 1.
Khambatta, who is Chairman and MD of Rasna, a popular soft drink brand, advised the Government to add vitamins and nutrients in the mid-day meals served to schoolchildren.

"I think this is the best way to end malnutrition among children. We have to just add vitamins and other nutrients in the meal served to children across the country. The cost to fortify the meals will be very less as added nutrients are not very costly."

He urged the food industry to come up with cheaper fortified food products for the masses.
"As part of their CSR activity, the food industry should introduce cheaper food products having nutrients and sell it on mass scale so that even poor people can afford it. Government should give some tax exemptions on these products."

He was accompanied by senior IAS officer S K Nanda, Chairman and MD of Gujarat State Fertilisers and Chemicals. Nanda agreed with Khambatta and advocated fortification of food products on mass scale to fight malnutrition.
"In 2005, Gujarat asked edible oil millers to add vitamin A into oil as we learnt that schoolchildren were suffering from it's deficiency. Then, we convinced floor mills to add iron and other vitamins in wheat floors," said Nanda, who is also associated with the expo.
"I, too, believe fortification of food products should be made compulsory to end malnutrition," he said.