Fortified Foods In Our Plate
Fortified foods are the foods to which extra nutrients are deliberately added in order to enhance its nutritional value. A whole day of work and fatigue makes the body demand vitals to replenish itself and then arises the need to consume food which is rich in vitamins and value. The fortified foods are the new fad that is here to stay. People are resorting to them to keep themselves
fit and fine.
Image Courtesy: Walmart
Why Fortified Foods came into Existence?
Recently, many cases have been observed where people are suffering from a severe deficiency of nutrients. The malnourishment is steadily making its home in our country. Fortified foods have come to rescue to get the economy and health of the nation out of their grave concerns. This phenomenon helps people to access a wide variety of foods which are not available all the time. They were introduced, back in the 1930s, to increase the mineral and vitamins intake but is on a high ride now!
Fortified Foods in our Plates
Fortified foods help us in solving our health concerns greatly. But we must be wary of the amount we should incorporate in our diet. Given below is a list of some fortified foods which are absolutely fine to be a part of your diet, if consumed in a proper quantity.
- Skim Milk - Combine it with some fat such as an avocado, some nuts, and seeds, an egg on toast, or some fresh produce with olive oil. They are fortified with vitamin D and A.
- Whole Grain Bread - Very good for the pregnant women.
- Eggs - fortified with omega-3 fatty acids and fish oils.
- Almond and Rice Milk - fortified with Vitamin D. It must be consumed alongside some good fat.
- Hemp Milk - fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D. It is an excellent dairy alternative.
- Whole Grain Cereals - fortified with B6, B12, and folic acid. They make a perfect choice for blood sugar control, weight management, and fiber for fullness and healthy digestion.
- Oatmeals - high in B vitamins, folic acid, vitamin A, and iron.
Image Courtesy: NDTV
Why one should be eating fortified foods?
Fortified foods have several advantages to its credit which are enlisted below-
- Fortified foods are flushed with micronutrients which replenish the demand of nutrients by our body.
- They are good at lowering the risks of diabetes and certain other deficiencies which might crop in due to a poor quality of diet.
- Fortified foods are tremendously helpful for the pregnant women as it is a fantastic way of adding to the vitamin content of the breast milk.
- They carry a minimal risk of chronic toxicity.
- Food Fortification is a cost-effective process and serves greatly in accommodating and serving the nutritional demands of the nation.
Is there any potential risk or limitation?
Despite its pros, fortified foods have loopholes which render them harmful. Let us have a quick look at the problems and limitations posed by food fortification.
- Fortified foods cannot completely be a solution to our irregular diet. A good quality diet rich in nutrients and vitamins is imperative for our well-being.
- Fortified foods are made for the general public. The proportion of micronutrients in them may not suit the requirements of every person specifically.
- They might not be accessible to all the segments of the society thereby paving the way for the market of dietary supplements to flourish.
- The technology related to food fortification has not blossomed fully. It would still need time for this industry to bloom.
- There are significant costs incurred in the process of food fortification including start-up costs, the expense of conducting trials for micronutrient levels, physical qualities and taste, a realistic analysis of the purchasing power of the expected beneficiaries, the recurrent costs involved in creating and maintaining the demand for these products, as well as the cost of an effective national surveillance system to ensure that fortification is both effective and safe.
Image Courtesy: Snapdeal
Food Fortification in India
The Food Fortification Resource Centre is a Resource and Support Centre to promote large-scale fortification of food across India. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a set of standards for the food fortification. A number of enterprises have shown interest in launching fortified foods. Haryana became the first state in April to fortify essential food items like wheat flour, milk, and edible oils. The foods enriched with iron, folic acid, Vitamin A, D, B-12, zinc and other nutrients are distributed in mid-day meal in schools, at Public Distribution System outlets and under all Integrated Child Development Schemes.
The FSSAI is also working on a ground level by collaborating with the local suppliers to bring in the necessary change. The day is not far when we would be surviving and thriving on this new wave of change!
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