Lok Sabha Question No. 4657 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Food Fortification Project
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. Rajesh Mishra, Dr. K Sudhakar, Shri Manoj Tiwari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4657

ANSWERED ON 21 ST  AUGUST 2025

## FOOD FORTIFICATION PROJECT

## 4657.  DR. RAJESH MISHRA: DR. K. SUDHAKAR: SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of food fortification projects approved during the last three years, State-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is collaborating with State Governments and private entities to enhance food fortification infrastructure across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  any  initiatives  have  been  taken  to  encourage  adoption  of  food  fortification technologies among food processors and manufacturers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the outcomes of the scheme in the Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a) to (d): The subject matter of the question administratively pertains to Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)  under Ministry Health and Family Welfare, Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  under  Ministry  of  Education,  Department  of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Women and Child Development.

As per Department of Food and Public Distribution, the Anemia Mukt Bharat [AMB] initiative was launched in 2018 by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare emphasizing fortified foods. A pilot program for rice fortification began in 2019, targeting the significant portion of the  population  that  consumes  rice.  The  scaling  up  of  the  initiative  was  approved  by  the Government in 2022, and by March 2024, distribution of all custom-milled rice under food safety net programs was replaced with fortified rice. The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the universal supply of fortified rice under all government schemes until December 2028, with 100% funding (Rs 17,082 Cr) by the Government of India .

Department of Health and Family Welfare has informed that the question does not pertain to them.

As per Department of School Education and Literacy , fortified rice is used to prepare meals under the PM POSHAN Scheme to improve the micronutrient deficiencies of the school children by all States and UTs. The Department of Food and Public Distribution supplies fortified rice containing Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12 to address anaemia. The cost of fortification is  borne  by  Govt.  of  India.  The  Guidelines  envisages  that  Double  Fortified  Salt  (DFS)  and fortified  edible  oil  (with  Vitamins  A  &  D)  are  to  be  used  in  preparation  of  meals  under  the Scheme. Fortified edible oil helps in preventing Vitamin A and D deficiencies. Double Fortified Salt helps in combating iron deficiency anaemia and goitre. The use of fortified rice and wheat flour contributes to reducing anaemia and supports mental, emotional, and neurological health among children.

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has affirmed their nil information for the question.  It has, however been stated by them that the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Foundation for Nutrition (NFN), a registered society and a Trust registered in October 2015, at Anand, Gujarat, aims to provide nutrition support to children by  offering nutritious products to help eradicate malnutrition and promote the consumption of milk and fortified milk products. The efforts are focused on raising awareness about malnutrition and encouraging a healthy diet by seeking funding through donations, grants, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions. Under its Giftmilk programme, NFN distributed 7.10 lakh litres of milk equivalent to 35.4 lakh child milk days, covering about 41,700 children in 257 schools covering 11 states.

Ministry of Women and Child Development has also affirmed their nil information for the  question.    It  has,  however  been  stated  by  them  that  in  pursuance  of  the  Hon'ble  Prime Minister's Address on 75 th Independence Day, Fortified Rice has been provided under Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) since  2021-22 in lieu  of  normal  rice.    This  helps  in  fighting  malnutrition  and  anaemia  in women and children arising due to deficiency of micronutrients like iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B-12.

In so far as Ministry of Food Processing Industries is concerned, it is informed that for the purpose of overall development of food processing sector in the country, the Ministry of Food Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  is  implementing  three  major  Schemes  comprising  2  Central Sector Schemes namely Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana ( PMKSY ) and Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry ( PLISFPI ) and 1 Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz. Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises ( PMFME ) Scheme. These schemes are primarily aimed at creation of modern food processing infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet, and to help in providing better returns to farmers, creation of employment opportunities, reducing wastage, increasing the processing  level  and  enhancing  the  export  of  the  processed  foods.    All  the  three  schemes implemented across the country are demand driven.  These Schemes also intend to support the food processing entrepreneurs, food processors, and manufacturers to avail financial assistance to create modern food processing infrastructure/technologies for their processing industries.

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