It’s fortified rice, not plastic: AWUMT clarifies

Mokokchung, 20 June (MTNews): The All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT) has clarified that the alleged ‘plastic rice’ distributed recently through Public Distribution System (PDS) in Mokokchung town, which was widely circulated on social media, was actually fortified rice.

Taking cognizance of the (mis)information being circulated on social media, the AWUMT said that it met with the Assistant Director, Food & Civil Supplies, Mokokchung on Friday for clarification on the matter.

The AWUMT said that the Assistant Director clarified that the fortified rice is being distributed across India as announced by the Prime Minister on 15 August 2021 on the occasion of 75th Independence Day of India.

As such, the AWUMT relayed the Assistant Director’s clarification that consumption of fortified rice is not harmful but nutritious for the body and that the public can consume the fortified rice without any doubts.

Mokokchung Times in public interest is reproducing the explanation on fortified rice issued by the Assistant Director, Food & Civil Supplies, Mokokchung in verbatim:

Milled Rice generally is low in micronutrient content because its nutrient rich superficial layer is removed during the rice milling and polishing operations. This makes the rice taste better and visually appealing but less nutritious. Rice fortification is a cost-effective method to address micronutrients deficiencies. Fortification of rice makes it more nutritious by adding vitamins and minerals, many of which are lost during the milling and polishing process. The mineral mixed fortified rice which is mixed with non-fortified rice in the ratio 1:100 (50 to 200 parts) is called fortified rice.

Fortified rice kernels (FRK) are made with rice flour and micronutrients such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B 12 are added.

Rice flour is pulverized and mixed with a premix containing vitamins and minerals. Fortified Rice Kernels are produced from this mixture. Fortified Rice Kernels resemble milled rice in size, shape and color but contain additional vitamins and minerals that retain their micronutrient content when washed and boiled in water. When these kernels are blended with non-fortified rice, typically at a ratio of 1:100, the result is fortified rice that is nearly identical to non-fortified Rice in aroma, taste and texture.

Fortified Rice is safe to consume and strict monitoring and quality control is done by the Government of India through the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).