FORTIFIED RICE KERNELS — To Fight Malnutrition
Rice fortification is the complex process of adding fortified rice grain composed of flour paste with micronutrients for fulfilling dietary needs. It is usually made from white, brown, or red rice and can be found in different forms: rice flour, rice flakes, rice granules, rice pearls, and rice bran. In addition, since 2008, it has been qualified as federally designated process.
After milling, rice is low in micronutrients; with the help of fortification of rice, the addition of nutrients improves the health of the billions of consumers who currently suffer from concealed or hidden hunger. With adding value to regular rice, the fortified rice also targets the particular health concern. Only one percent of rice is fortified; this process is changed because growing in the fortification process increases the condition of physical and mental health.
NECESSITY OF FORTIFIED RICE KERNELS
Many different nutrients packed in the rice like Iron, Calcium, Vitamin A, B, B1, B2, B3, B6, D, Zinc and many more. The mixture of fortification is applied through Dusting, Coating and Hot Extrusion. After that, the dough is manufactured and transfer in the hot extrusion to make them fortified rice kernels.
The Iron deficiency is the common in every stage of life. Iron fortified rice kernels help to improve the condition and overcome from the deficiency. Under public health benefits, fortified rice is rich in Vitamin A and improves iron status. In addition, folic acid is use in the public wellbeing policy to get better the folate nutritional grade of the economy.
REDUCE HIDDEN HUNGER
The fortification of rice is the process to add more health benefits in every bit. Several factors are counted for sustainable and effective rice fortification programs that positively impact people’s health. However, hidden hunger is the big component that further discriminates the health of the people of developing countries.
Fortification of rice is improving the health of children who are suffering from malnutrition because of hidden hunger. The required amount of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and calcium is necessary for building the children’s growth that is supplied in the form of fortified rice.
STEPS OF RICE FORTIFICATION
There are two steps in the process:
- Broken kernels are finely ground to make rice flour and mixed with vitamin-mineral, water, or steam to make it a dough
- Then, the dough passes through a hot extruder to make fortified kernels
After the kernels are cool and dried out, then it mixes with the regular rice. As a result, there will be only 2% of the addition of final fortified rice products.
There are numerous advantages of fortified kernels present. Micronutrient is blended with rice kernels which is not rubbed off, wash away, or cooked out. The fortified rice kernels are taste just like the regular rice. Fortified kernels are customized in many shapes, sizes, and colors to meet the needs of the particular group of consumers to benefit from the nutritional formula in a modified manner.
COST EFFECTIVE
Effective consolidation of rice with the required nutrients improves the quality of the rice grain. It only increases the cost by 2% to 5% with additive benefits for maintaining the living standards in terms of health. A portion of fortified rice delivers not only a decent amount of calories but also essential vitamins and minerals for optimal health and growth physically and mentally.
CONCLUSION
The Rice fortification method plans to eliminate disease deficiency and is based on dietary intake to improve physical condition. Indian manufacture of rice approach towards the effective and efficient fortification practices and strategies to the economies. The fortified rice benefits help to progress the health sector and optimize the health sector of the nation.
