Pulwama’s 3 milk processing facilities to provide toned milk supplemented with vitamins A and D
Three milk processing plants in Pulwama, south Kashmir, have begun the process of vitamin A and D fortification of milk.
This is part of a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) project to combat malnutrition and other health-related concerns among Indians.
Zum Zum Milk Products, Haleeb Milk Products, and Insha Dairy Limited are the three milk processing plants based in Lassipora Pulwama.
In this context, FDA, in partnership with FSSAI, held a three-day awareness and training workshop on food fortification for food industry operators in Srinagar who process and manufacture milk and milk products.
Representatives from several milk processing facilities received instruction on the fortification of milk with Vitamin A and D throughout the training session. Following the training, a number of processing facilities in the district of Pulwama opted to participate in the FSSAI’s nationwide fortification project, according to the spokesperson.
While speaking about the effort, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb emphasised the need of fortifying rice, wheat flour, oil, and milk with micronutrients such as vitamin A and D, vitamin B complex, iron, and iodine to address health concerns such as anaemia and malnutrition.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), anaemia is quite common among mothers and children in India, including children under the age of five.
He stated that the fortification will help provide 15-30% of the daily requirement for these vitamins and that milk fortification is a safe and cost-effective method for adding nutrients to milk, which is consumed by all people, with children accounting for a significant portion of that consumption. Vitamin A and D, which are added to milk, assist to boost the body’s immunity against illnesses, enhance vision, and strengthen bones, according to him.
He stated that the Food and Drug Administration of J&K, as well as the Food and Safety Authority of India, will provide all necessary assistance for the successful implementation of micronutrient fortification of milk, rice, wheat flour, and oil, as it is an effective method of addressing micronutrient malnutrition.
