Work shop on Food Fortification organize by CII-FACE

By 121 News

Chandigarh 22^nd June:- Confederation of Indian Industries-Food and Agriculture Center of Excellence (CII-FACE), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and Consumer VOICE jointly launched "A drive against malnutrition" by holding a STAKEHOLDER's Workshop at Panchkula in collaboration with Citizen Awareness Group. In this well attended workshop speakers highlighted the need for Food Fortification and its importance for attacking malnutrition as well as life style related health issues. Ashim Sanyal Chief Operating Officer Consumer VOICE explained why food fortification for micronutrient deficiencies is the need of the hour,how it is done and which staple foods are targeted. Food fortification is increasingly recognized as an effective complementary strategy to combat malnutrition. Staple food fortification, i.e. through the fortification of commonly consumed staples such as wheat flour, edible oil, milk and salt, offers an ideal mechanism to deliver critical vitamins and minerals, such as iron, folic acid, vitamins A, D, B12 and similar to large populations thereby slowly but surely building resilience resulting in positive health and nutritional outcomes. In India, there are several examples of staple food fortification with Iodised Salt being the most recognized public nutrition initiative of the Government of India.

There was a very active participation by audience including Vinod Kapoor who shared his experience in food fortification.Surendra Verma and S.K.Nayar of Citizen Awareness Group welcomed the Mayor - Mrs. Upendar Kaur Walia and Deputy Mayor Sunil Talwar.