As reported on June 6, 2019, the Milk-fortification Project (MFP) has seen significant progress in the past two years. A collaborative initiative of the World Bank, Tata Trusts, and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), the project was launched in order to address Vitamin A and D deficiency in consumers. Fortification of appropriate foods with them is a viable strategy to tackle micronutrient malnutrition, which is a silent emergency. The project aims to provide fortified milk to 30 million consumers.
Malnutrition of Micronutrients
As per the WHO and UNICEF 2009 reports, India bears the burden of more than a quarter of the world’s vitamin A deficient preschool children and more than 13 million susceptible infants to iodine deficiency. Similarly, National Family Health Survey-4 data reveals that among children under five years, 38.4 per cent are stunted, 21 per cent are wasted, and 35.7 per cent are underweight.
Micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, zinc, and vitamin D are prevalent and have an overwhelming impact over public health and economic productivity of the nation.
According to Edward W. Bresnyan, Senior Agricultural Economist, World Bank, the South Asia Food and Nutrition Security Initiative (SAFANSI), seeks to address the problem of malnutrition and how it remains intractable in sprite of high economic growth. SAFANSI proposes to foster cross-cutting actions that would lead to measureable improvements in food and nutrition security.
Who are Involved?
As per the NDDB, about 25 milk federations, producer companies, or milk unions across 20 states are fortifying about 55 lakh litres of milk per day (LLPD). The fortification is being carried out as per standard operating procedures (SOP), developed by NDDB and FSSAI. Lakhs of tonnes of milk has been fortified and about one million tonnes of milk is yet to be fortified. The duration of the project is 23 months. Of the 25 projects, more than half have been launched, and the rest are in the offing. Karnataka Co-operative Milk-producers Federation (KMF) or Nandini Dairy launched its Vitamin A and D fortified milk across the state. Nine other states are also involved in it—Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Mahananda, and Odisha. Besides, six producer companies or milk unions are from Jalgaon, Krishna, Maahi, Mulukanoor, Nalgonda, Rajarambapu Union and WAMUL.
Cost of Fortification
India is the world’s largest milk-producing country with 375 g milk per capita per day. Milk fortification is highly affordable and cost-effective, costing less than three paise per litre.
Resistance of the Project
Despite all the advantages of the fortification, the project also faces resistance from its neighbour, Amul, India’s largest dairy player. The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) has raised an objection and refused to join the NDDB mission. As per managing director of the GCMMF, the current fortification is like a medication, which chemically fortifies the milk, and if used in excess, can become toxic for the body and disturb the synthesis process of the vitamins. This is why Amul does not have any fortified product in its portfolio. He emphasised on natural fortification, an increased trend towards which can be seen in the western market as well. Natural fortification does not damage the body even if the consumer is not deficient.
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