Report flags risk of fortified rice for some

What is the News?

Activists have said that the distribution of iron-fortified rice through government schemes to curb anemia must be stopped in States like Jharkhand.

What is fortified rice?

One kilogram each of iron powder, vitamin B12 and folic acid are added to a quintal of powdered rice, reconstituted into small rice-grain shaped pellets and distributed through different food schemes. This is what constitutes fortified rice.

What is the Fortification of Rice Programme?

A Pilot Project on Fortification of Rice and its Distribution under the Public Distribution System was implemented for a period of 3 years beginning from 2019-20 in fifteen states.

A team of the Right to Food Campaign visited some of the targeted districts in Jharkhand.

After finding several issues with the programme, it has asked the Jharkhand government to halt the distribution of fortified rice immediately.

Why have they asked to stop the distribution of fortified rice in Jharkhand?

The team discovered that among the beneficiaries who received fortified rice in the State were also patients diagnosed with thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and tuberculosis.

Thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and malaria are conditions where there is already excess iron in the body whereas TB patients are unable to absorb iron. 

Hence, consumption of iron-fortified foods among patients with these diseases can reduce immunity and reduce the functionality of organs. 

Note: Jharkhand is an endemic zone of sickle cell disorder and thalassemia with a prevalence of 8%-10%, which is twice the national average. Jharkhand is also an endemic zone for malaria — in 2020, the State ranked third in the country in malaria deaths.

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What are the recommendations given by the team?

Firstly, it suggested that the government promote diet diversity by expanding its food security basket by including millets, pulses, eggs, cooking oil and milk in the food schemes.

Secondly, nutrition gardens should be scaled up along with support to extensive livestock systems that provide nutrition as well as support livelihoods.

Source: The post is based on the article “Report flags risk of fortified rice for some” published in The Hindu on 17th May 2022.