A drive against malnutrition

Press release                       Chandigarh                          Dated: 24/06/2015

Work shop on Food Fortification organized by CII-FACE; GAIN; and Consumer VOICE

War on malnutrition can be won through food fortification

We need to wholeheartedly support this initiative –Dr.  Anshu Kataria- President Chandigarh Management Association

Chandigarh June 24: 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 Mohali 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. Mr. Ashim Sanyal, Chief Operating Officer Consumer VOCE 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 Mr.Vinod Kapoor who shared his experience in food fortification. Mr. Surendra Verma  of Citizen Awareness Group welcomed the gathering which included Chandigarh Management Association who were also main support organization with Mr. Jagtaran Singh Nayyar and Mr. JN Vohra.

Media also actively supported this intuitive including Dr. Deepti Shastri.

Dr. S.K. Surila, Ex. Civil Surgeon, Mohali presented the work done on Food Fortification in Mohali and its overall impact on Punjab population.

Audience consisted of knowledgeable and committed opinion leaders who participated actively with a commitment to spread the message wider.

Now our media friends are requested to spread this message the benefit of general population.

Contact: Consumer VOICE – Ph: 9350998460 OR Mr. Surinder Verma Ph:9643818805

Press Release on Food Fortification – A DRIVE AGAINST MALNUTRITION

INDIAN GOVERNMENT, ASSISTED by international agencies and non-governmental organizations and industry, have for many decades taken steps to eliminate or reduce micronutrient deficiencies. Building on the impressive results of the reduction in iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) through the fortification of table salt with iodine, vigorous efforts are currently being made to address other micronutrient deficiencies through the fortification of appropriate foods.
The term “food fortification” means the addition of nutrients at levels higher than those found in the original food. Fortification is synonymous with enrichment. Restoration means that nutrients are added to a food to compensate for the loss of nutrients during processing. Generally, food fortification is undertaken at the industrial level, although food fortification can also take place at the household or community levels.
Mass fortification refers to the addition of micronutrients to foods commonly consumed by the general public (such as cereals and condiments), which is instigated, mandated and regulated by the government sector. Universal fortification refers to the fortification of foods consumed by animals as well as humans, with iodization of salt as the main example. Targeted fortification programs also exist, for example the distribution of biscuits fortified with a certain number of vitamins and minerals in school food programs. Furthermore, fortification of some foods (e.g. wheat flour) with specific nutrients at specific levels may be either mandatory (legislated through governments) or voluntary.
To support this humanitarian effort Consumer VOICE along with CII-FACE and GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition) have undertaken a massive all India campaign to educate and involve all the stakeholders by holding consultations in all the State Capitals and Union Territories.
In this series, Stakeholders Consultation on Food Fortification is being held –

In Panchkula, Haryana on 22nd June
In Mohali, Punjab on 23rd June
In Chandigarh on 24th June

You are cordially invited to be part of this consultation and also to provide widest publicity to this “Drive against Malnutrition”.
Consumer VOICE