The Hindu Business Line : Fortified sugar to hit markets next year

To start with, the Maharasthra co-operative sugar mills are expected to launch the fortified sugar next year. "But that depends on how fast the Government gives the go-ahead," Mr D.H. Pai Panandiker, Chairman of the International Life Sciences Institute (India), and Ms Rekha Sinha, Executive Director, said.

They said the sugar mills would be equipped with a mechanism, which ensures proper mix of the required substance earmarked for fortification with the end product.

"The emphasis worldwide is on fortified food, which complements the food intake by adding vital micro nutrients. But awareness levels are very low in India. The Government should do something about it, particularly with regard to the food for children," Mr Panandiker told newspersons here.

The Delhi-based ILSI (India) executives are here in the city in connection with a conference on `Child Nutrition for Improving Health Profile' to be held on Friday.

Interestingly, ILSI is sponsoring a research project on fortification of salt with iron, in addition to iodine. Being conducted at the National Institute of Nutrition, the findings of the project are expected to be out soon.

Mr Panandiker felt that the Government should play a major role in promoting fortified food. "Incentives should be given to the food processors and people should be educated about the importance of fortification," he said.

Citing the Madhya Pradesh example, he said the State Chief Minister took special interest in fortification and was promoting `India Mix', which would go a long way in popularising the fortified food.

He said the institute was holding two workshops in Lucknow and Hyderabad soon to equip scientists with tools to make out whether a particular food item is genetically modified or not. "The issue has been a contentious one. Our aim is to help people tell the two items apart because it is very difficult to distinguish them with the naked eye."

The three-day workshops will be held at the Centre for DNA Finger-printing and Diagnostic Laboratory (Hyderabad) and Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC - Lucknow).

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