UP to expand fortification efforts, distribute fortified wheat flour through PDS
Uttar Pradesh is set to expand its food fortification efforts by piloting the distribution of fortified wheat flour through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The announcement was made during the 19th State Connect Programme, jointly organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Uttar Pradesh State FDA, and the Confederation of Indian Industry – Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (CII-FACE) in Lucknow on Thursday.
Ranvir Prasad, principal secretary, civil supply and consumer protection, highlighted that over 40% of the state's population is affected by anaemia. To address this, the government has already implemented rice fortification across 865 PDS outlets, 1,823 Anganwadi centres, and 102 rice mills, benefiting around 19.17 lakh people. The state's next step—piloting wheat flour fortification—is expected to further combat micronutrient deficiencies and boost nutritional security.
A dedicated session on large-scale fortification brought together industry experts and organisations such as PATH, GAIN, Fortify Health, Technoserve, KHPT, and WFP. These stakeholders shared best practices and technological innovations to enhance the fortification of staples like rice, wheat, edible oil, and milk. Supported by the Gates Foundation, CII aims to use this platform to drive improved compliance and manufacturing standards.
With 35% of India's wheat and sugarcane output and significant food processing infrastructure, Uttar Pradesh continues to strengthen its food safety ecosystem. The expansion of food testing labs to 18 across the state signals a focus on improved lab capacity and safety monitoring.
Ranjan Kumar, principal secretary of Ayush and Food Safety & Drugs Administration, emphasized awareness campaigns and digital monitoring tools aligned with the Viksit Bharat vision. Dr SK Panda from FSSAI reinforced the importance of FBO registration on the FoSCoS portal and robust risk-based inspections.
FSSAI also conducted hands-on training on digital compliance through live FoSCoS demonstrations, while sessions covered detection of milk adulterants and food contaminants, with a lab demo at CSIR-IITR enhancing practical understanding among officials.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
IDY 2025: Yoga transitions individuals from 'Me' to 'We', says PM
Visakhapatnam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday termed yoga as a profound personal discipline that also served as a collective system transitioning individuals from 'Me' to 'We'. Addressing the 11th International Day of Yoga event at RK Beach here, he said the theme of this year's Yoga Day 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health' reflects the truth that the health of every entity on Earth is interconnected. 'Yoga teaches us we are not isolated individuals but integral parts of nature. Initially, we learn to care for our own health and wellness, but gradually, this care expands to our environment, society, and the planet. Yoga is a profound personal discipline that, at the same time, serves as a collective system — one that transitions individuals from Me to We,' the Prime Minister stated. He observed that the spirit of 'Me to We' encapsulates the very soul of India and remarked that when an individual rises above self-interest and begins to think about society at large, the welfare of all humanity becomes possible. He referred to Indian culture, stating that it teaches us the value of 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah (the welfare of all is one's sacred duty)' and this journey from 'Me' to 'We' forms the foundation of service, dedication, and coexistence. The Prime Minister stated that it is this very thinking that fosters social harmony. The Prime Minister was all praise for Andhra Pradesh for excellent organisation of the event. He congratulated Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for their leadership. The Prime Minister highlighted that under their leadership, Andhra Pradesh launched a remarkable initiative —Yogandhra Abhiyan. He also specially appreciated the efforts of Chandrababu Naidu's son and state minister Nara Lokesh, stating that he has demonstrated how yoga can be a true social celebration and how every section of society can be included. PM Modi remarked that in the past one to one-and-a-half months, Lokesh has shown exemplary commitment through the Yogandhra Abhiyan and is deserving of praise for his efforts. Noting that more than two crore people have joined the Yogandhra Abhiyan, reflecting a vibrant spirit of public participation, the Prime Minister emphasised that this very spirit forms the bedrock of a 'Viksit Bharat'. He remarked that when citizens themselves take ownership of a mission and actively participate, no goal remains beyond reach. The Prime Minister stated that the people's goodwill and enthusiastic efforts were visible throughout the event in Yoga Day 2025, PM Modi Speech, Me to We Philosophy, Yoga for One Earth One Health, Yogandhra Abhiyan, Andhra Pradesh Yoga Event
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Yoga as a mass campaign to build a healthier India
India, the birthplace of yoga, continues to uphold this ancient wisdom, not just as physical exercises but as a holistic philosophy for the nurturing of the human mind, body, and spirit. The phrase from the Bhagavad Gita, yogah karmasu kaushalam (yoga is skill in action), points to yoga's transformative potential, particularly in empowering women and nurturing children. Yoga has gained global recognition as a channel for wellness and social transformation. The UN's 2014 decision to declare June 21 as International Day of Yoga was the world's recognition of India's great spiritual and civilisational heritage. Yoga must be seen not just as a practice, but as a participatory movement — a jan andolan for health and wellness. (AP) This year's Yoga Day theme is 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health'. As the nation marches towards Viksit Bharat, it is necessary to integrate yoga into the lives of women and children, who constitute two-thirds of the country's population and are more vulnerable and exposed to health issues than other sections. From improving mental health and hormonal balance to strengthening the muscular and skeletal system, yoga is uniquely suited to meet the health needs of women across age groups. Adopting yoga before and after pregnancy empowers women to effectively manage related health challenges. Prenatal yoga, with its targeted postures and meditative techniques, alleviates pregnancy discomforts, supports pain management, and boosts energy. It prepares expectant mothers for childbirth physically and emotionally. Postnatal yoga helps lactating mothers in their recovery, emotional well-being, enhancing breastfeeding, and strengthening the mother-child bond. We have leveraged the network of over 25 lakh anganwadi workers to inform, educate, and assist women and children in adopting yoga as a necessary habit in their daily lives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has constantly advocated for women-led development. The World Bank also argued that increased female labour force participation can boost the manufacturing output by 9% and help us achieve a high-income developed nation status by 2047. All this can only be achieved when we have a physically and emotionally healthy women workforce. Coming to children, lifestyle disorders, screen dependence, and academic pressures have all become major health afflictions. Yoga offers a response to these challenges, by enhancing concentration, memory, emotional regulation, sleep quality, and stress management. Through Mission Saksham, Anganwadi, and Poshan 2.0, my ministry is embedding yoga into early childhood care and development, laying the foundation for lifelong wellness habits. The ministry houses various flagship programmes and schemes for the well-being, health, and nutrient intake of women and children. While delivering these benefits, anganwadi centres, one-stop centres, and child care institutions, among others, educate, influence, and facilitate beneficiaries in including specially designed yoga modules in their lives. From IT to space and from policymaking to strategic defence, women are the new frontline warriors. Hence, women must keep working towards unlocking their potential, with yoga playing a key role. By actively incorporating yoga into our women and child welfare policies, we are asserting our cultural sovereignty while simultaneously enhancing grassroots health and well-being. Yoga must be seen not just as a practice, but as a participatory movement — a jan andolan for health and wellness. Let us unite in embracing yoga as a social and personal commitment to build a healthier India and reach new heights. Annpurna Devi is Union minister of women and child development. The views expressed are personal.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Food adulteration and its consequences on health
— Ritwika Patgiri Of late, a number of cases of 'fake paneer' products came to light highlighting a worrying trend of increasing food adulteration in everyday staples and posing severe health risks. For instance, in early April, reports from Noida found that 47 paneer and khoya products out of 168 food items tested by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) were contaminated. Fake paneer, also called 'analogue paneer' or 'synthetic paneer', mimics the texture and appearance of real paneer but is made from non-dairy ingredients and costs nearly half of the real paneer. However, this is not the only case of food adulteration in India. According to data recently shared by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, 22 per cent of food samples tested in Tamil Nadu between 2021 and September 2024 were found to be adulterated. The data collected by food safety authorities across five southern states – Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka – also revealed that 15 per cent of the food tested in Telangana and 13 per cent in Kerala were contaminated. Overall, one in every seven food samples tested in the five states failed to meet food safety standards over the last four years, indicating the systemic nature of food adulteration in the country. Food adulteration is a process by which substances are either intentionally added to food items or food gets contaminated due to negligence or poor handling practices. Adulterants could be harmful chemicals or harmless fillers, which can be added at any stage of the production process. For instance, the dilution of milk by farmers or the mixing of edible oil with mineral oil are examples of food adulteration. The issue of food adulteration affected both organised and unorganised sectors. If the adulteration of milk-based sweets by small sweet shops during Diwali is a common local concern, big corporations have also been found involved in food adulteration. Evidence worldwide suggests that 57 per cent of individuals have had health issues as a result of consuming adulterated food. Food adulteration can cause a range of health issues, including digestive disorders, allergic reactions, nutritional deficiencies, weakened immune system, and chronic diseases like cancer and liver damage. While some instances of food adulteration, like mixing water with milk, may seem harmless, the larger public health impact tells otherwise. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted between 2019 and 2021, 32.1 per cent of Indian children are underweight, 35.5 per cent are stunted (low height for age), and 19.3 per cent are wasted (low weight for height). Around 41 million children in India have stunted growth. The survey also notes that milk and curd along with pulses and beans are more likely to be consumed daily by a majority of Indians compared to eggs, fish, or meat. Therefore, the dilution of milk has serious health implications, specifically in terms of key nutritional indicators, which remain poor despite the consumption of milk. Similarly, the dilution of pure honey with sugar syrup is more than just an instance of lowering the quality of food. According to The Lancet data, India has the highest number of people with diabetes estimated at 212 million. Unhealthy food and sedentary lifestyles are the major reasons behind this. Therefore, even seemingly minor adulterations such as adding sugar to honey can have long-term health consequences. The prevalence of food contamination raises an important question about food safety mechanisms in India. The FSSAI is responsible for regulating and overseeing food safety. Established by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the FSSAI conducts periodic pan-India surveillance of food products, especially staple food and commodities that are prone to adulteration. The theme of this year's World Food Safety Day, celebrated on June 7, was 'science in action', drawing attention to the use of scientific knowledge in reducing illness, cutting costs, and saving lives. The theme also underlines the responsibility of regulatory bodies like the FSSAI in combating food adulteration through scientific approaches. The use of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in food items in India can be mentioned here as a case in point. Despite scientific concerns, GM cottonseed oil – derived from Bt cotton, the only GM crop allowed for cultivation in India – is blended with other edible oils. However, this practice raises concerns due to the possible toxicity present in such oils. To address this, the FSSAI has mandated that any food item containing 5 per cent of GM ingredients should be labelled accordingly. However, quantifying the percentage of GM ingredients in food is challenging and expensive, making the labeling system dependent on self-declaration by manufacturers. This makes FSSAI's role even more crucial in ensuring transparency and protecting consumers' right to know what they are consuming. The case of organic food presents similar challenges. The FSSAI mandates that certified organic food must be free from any residues of insecticides and should be labelled accordingly. However, there's no clear labelling for uncertified or substandard organic products. According to the Organic India Market Report of 2022, organic food in India has witnessed a yearly growth of 25 per cent, driven by growing awareness and purchasing power. Moreover, studies indicate that as consumers become aware about the health benefits of organic food, they are more likely to pay premium prices for such products. However, the consumption of organic food in India remains limited to urban, upper-classes because of such 'premium' prices as 'pure' organic food is mostly expensive. However, the lack of clear labeling of such products raises critical questions – who actually has access to 'good' organic food and who is more likely to be deceived by 'bad' organic food? In this context, FSSAI's role becomes critical. It may be argued that the first step in any policy response to food could address the question of who is committing adulteration and how it occurs. If unorganised sellers (like the local milk vendor or sweet shop) are diluting food items, the solution could focus on education, incentivization, and raising awareness. Profit maximisation has been found as one of the primary motivations behind food adulteration across organised and unorganised sectors. For instance, according to the health ministry records, three of every five companies have been found guilty of misbranding or selling adulterated food, yet many manage to escape without penalties. The low conviction rate has been seen as a major reason behind the persistence of such mal-practices. The lack of food analysts and testing laboratories are some other systemic issues behind the low conviction rate. Hence, stringent laws with a differentiated approach for the organised and unorganised sectors could play an important role in addressing food adulteration. Eventually, food safety is a matter of both health and awareness. In addition, given that the perceptions of food hygiene are also linked with caste and class, addressing the issue of food adulteration requires a nuanced approach rooted in differentiated understanding and public awareness. Why is food adulteration considered a major public health concern in India? What are some of the long-term health effects of consuming adulterated food? What role does the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) play in ensuring food safety? Why is it important to have different regulatory approaches for the organised and unorganised food sectors? How does the lack of clear labelling for organic and genetically modified (GM) foods impact consumer choices in India? Why is the self-declaration system for GM food labelling problematic? How does food adulteration affect the nutritional status of children in India, as seen in NFHS-5 data? What steps can be taken to improve food testing infrastructure and enforcement in India? (Ritwika Patgiri is a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Economics, South Asian University.) Share your thoughts and ideas on UPSC Special articles with Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
