Fortified Rice: An Overview & Role of Fair
Price Shops (FPS)
•Food Fortification Definition:
Food fortification is the
practice of deliberately increasing
the content of essential
micronutrients (vitamins &
minerals) in food to improve its
nutritional quality and provide a
public health benefit with minimal
risk to health.
Commodities
Fortified in
India:
• Milk 🥛
• Oil
• Wheat 🌾
• Rice 🍚
• Salt 🧂
Regulatory
Body:
Food Safety
and Standards
Authority of
India (FSSAI) –
notifies
standards on
food
fortification.
Why Fortified Rice? (Public Health Need)
•Anaemia Status – India vs Odisha
in National Family Health Survey Group India Odisha Odisha
(NFHS-5) (NFHS-5) (NFHS-4)
(NFHS-5, 2020–21):
•Odisha Govt. supports: Anaemia Children 67.1% 64.2% 44.6%
Mukt Bharat campaign. Slogan: (6m–59m)
Sampoorna Poshan, Swasth Jeevan. Women 57% 64.3% 51%
•Fortified rice distributed through (15–49y)
PDS, ICDS, and MDM can improve
Men 25% 28.5% 28.3%
public health and reduce malnutrition.
Women &
Children →
WHO Classification: Very Severe
Anaemia
Men →
Burden
Moderate
Anaemia
Burden
What is Fortified Rice?
Normal rice blended with
Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK).
FRKs (extruded-shape by forcing
it through a die) are rice-
shaped kernels made from rice
flour combined with essential
vitamins & minerals (premix).
Mixed with normal rice to
improve nutrition — without
changing taste, texture, or
cooking properties.
Nutritional Content
in FRK
•(As per Government of India
guidelines)
1. Iron (28–42.5 mg/kg):
Helps prevent anaemia.
2. Folic Acid (75–125 µg/kg):
Supports blood formation,
maternal & child health.
3. Vitamin B12 (0.75–1.25
µg/kg): Supports nerve
health & red blood cell
production.
Iron → Prevents anaemia.
Folic Acid →
Supports
pregnancy
health &
blood
formation.
VITAMIN B12 → HELPS
IN BLOOD
PRODUCTION &
NERVOUS SYSTEM
FUNCTIONING
•No Change in Experience:
• Same taste.
Health, Quality & • Same price.
Taste Benefits • Same cooking method.
•More Nutrition: Eating fortified rice
daily → Improves strength, protects
health, prevents hidden hunger.
Blending Ratio
• Standard: 1 part FRK : 100
parts rice (1%).
• Example: 1 kg FRK blended with
100 kg rice.
• Done at rice mills with special
dynamic blending machines.
Blending Efficiency
Test (Kernel Count
Test)
•Process:
•Collect samples from 4–6 bags.
•Weigh 100 g of fortified rice.
•Separate FRKs under good light.
•Count FRKs & record in register.
Sample Register of FRK Count:
Sr. Wt. of
Batch Wt. of Fortified FRK Count
No. FRK
No. Rice (g) (Nos.)
(g)
1 434 100 1 68
Stacking Guidelines:
• Keep stacks away from
walls/roof.
• Maintain space between
stacks for cleaning &
ventilation.
• Store rice above floor
(on wooden pallets or
tarpaulin).
Storage & Quality Maintenance at FPS
• Store like normal rice — cool, dry place.
• Keep away from pesticides, chemicals,
kerosene, fertilizers.
• Protect from insects & rodents.
• Do not expose to direct sunlight.
• Ensure godown walls & ceilings are:
• Free from seepage
• Well-painted
• Without cracks
• Do not leave bags open — remove air, tie with string, store
properly.
RICE HEAP AT THE TIME OF
DISTRIBUTION IS NOT ALLOWED
Role & Responsibility of FPS Dealers
• Ensure distribution of fortified rice under PDS.
• Show samples to beneficiaries.
• Explain benefits: quality, health, taste.
• Educate beneficiaries on:
• Proper cooking methods (do not throw starch water).
• Proper storage methods at home.
• Continue regular duties: ration distribution &
register maintenance.
RICE STORAGE AT RRC
Fortified Rice Distribution
Storage Instructions for
Beneficiaries
• Keep rice in a clean, dry place.
• Avoid tin/zinc containers.
• Prevent wall moisture; keep walls
painted.
• Store rice above floor (wooden
pallets/tarpaulin).
• Do not leave bags open; tie properly after
use.
• Shelf Life: 12 months (same as normal
rice).
Cooking
Procedure
• Fortified rice (extruded FRK)
retains nutrients after
cooking.
• Washing 1–2 times does not
reduce nutrients (but don’t throw
away floated kernels).
• Cook as normal rice:
• Best: Pressure cooker or rice
cooker.
• Use required amount of water
so that it could be absorbed
with the rice.
• Use lid closed rice cooker.
Important Advice
to Beneficiaries:
• Do not throw
starch water —
it contains
nutrients.
• The Starch
water could be
used in Water
Rice
FRK RICE
COOKING
DEMONSTRATI
ON
Quality testing
• In Odisha: Quality testing done by State Food & Civil Supplies
Department in coordination with NABL/FSSAI-certified labs.
Testing & Quality Assurance in
Odisha
Multi-stage quality checks:
a) Premix Testing → Nutrient levels checked.
b) FRK Testing → Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 content verified in
NABL-certified labs.
c) Fortified Rice Testing → Random samples tested for:
• Blending ratio (1:100)
• Nutrient retention (0.9 gm -1.2 gm) in 100 gm FRK Rice
• Compliance with FSSAI guidelines
THANK YOU
