Draft Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016
The control of micronutrient deficiencies is an essential part of the overarching effort of the Government to fight hunger and malnutrition in the country. In light of this goal Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has formulated a comprehensive regulation on fortification of foods namely ‘Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016’. Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content. These nutrients may or may not have been originally present in the food before processing. Food fortification is a simple, proven, cost effective and complementary strategy that has been used across the globe to safely and effectively prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The draft Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016 prescribe the standards for fortification of salt, oil, milk, vanaspati, atta, maida and rice. As per this regulation fortified food should bear the logo as prescribed. The regulations also provide for specific role of FSSAI in promotion for food fortification.