Govt to implement food fortification

SHILLONG: A state-level ‘sensitisation programme on food fortification’, jointly organised by the Commissionerate of Food Safety, Meghalaya, KHPT and GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition), was conducted for the food safety officials on at The Habitat Hotel -Asian Confluence on Monday. The programme aimed at improving availability of fortified commodities in open market.
S. N. Sangma, Joint Commissioner of Food Safety Meghalaya inaugurated the programme which was attended by the food safety officials from across the state and a team of 3 technical experts from KHPT and GAIN.
The programme was the first-of-its-kind on fortification of foods in the state. The sensitisation workshop will be followed by technical training to edible oil distributors, milk dairies and wheat (roller) flour mills on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively, to build their capacities on fortification.
Wheat flour fortification technology transfer will be done by Central Food Technology Research Institute (CFTRI). All the trainings will include practical demonstrations.
KHPT and GAIN will also provide continuous support to these units for adoption of fortification as per policy guidelines.
Speaking on the occasion, Sangma said the state is committed to address the prevailing micro-nutrient deficiencies and food fortification is a means to it.