Adding diversity to plate
The Government of India has proposed mandatory rice fortification to tackle the issue of malnutrition in the country. The process of fortification includes externally adding nutrients to a food item with the aim to increase its nutritional value. This report brings to light the lack of adequate scientific data to validate this recent policy move, based on a series of Right to Information (RTI) requests. The report emphasizes the need to focus on dietary diversity and enhanced access to nutritional food to tackle malnutrition and the growing issue of climate change-induced food scarcity. The report concludes with alternatives to mandatory rice fortification.
