Mokokchung: ‘Fortified rice is not plastic’

August 6, 2023 33 Views No Comment

Misconception of fortified rice claiming to be plastic rice clarified

Morung Express News
Mokokchung | August 6

The Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Mokokchung in collaboration with its technical partner PATH (Programme for appropriate Technology in Health) organised an awareness and sensitisation programme on fortified rice in Public Distribution System (PDS) for Mokokchung district at the Town Hall, Mokokchung on August 5.

The key awareness was to clear the misconception of fortified rice claiming to be plastic rice.

The resource person for the programme was Shanpanthung Ezung, State Technical Officer on Fortified Rice, PATH.

Ezung explained that food fortification is the practice of deliberately increasing the micronutrients of food to improve the nutritional quality of the food, thereby providing public health benefits with minimal health risks.

He added that according to demography shown by National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 58.4 % children (6 to 59 months) are anaemic. 35.7% children (under the age of 5) are underweight. 53.1 % Reproductive age women are anaemic. 22.7% men are anaemic. Fortification is the strategy to tackle malnutrition and combat Anaemia stated, Ezung.

He also gave an explanation that fortification is loaded with kernels containing Vitamin B12, Folic acid and Iron on a ratio of 1:100 and it is distributed through food safety nets like Integrated Child Development Services, Mid-day Meal and Public Distribution System.

The attendees were welcomed by Jamonger Ao, Asst Director, Food and Civil Supplies, Mokokchung.

The programme was attended by All Ward Union Mokokchung Town, Ward Chairman, fair price shop owners and ICDS teams and workers. The awareness session was followed by an interaction session on various concerns and issues with the resource person from the wards councils and the fair price shop owners.