In a bid to make the state malnutrition and anemia-free, Haryana Food and Drug Administration Department has decided to make wheat flour, milk and edible oils mandatorily fortified.
Haryana would be the first state in the country to take such initiative, said Principal Secretary Health, Amit Jha, while presiding over a meeting of the department here.
The meeting was also attended by more than 150 representatives of the Edible Oil Manufacturers Association, Milk Producers Association, Roller Flour Miller Federation and various leading business organisations.
Jha said under an initiative of the State Government, these items would be fortified by the department. These fortified food items would be distributed in mid-day meal in schools, at public distribution system outlets and under all integrated child development schemes. This would benefit about 80 lakh people who would be provided nutritious food, said he.
The food items would be fortified with iron, folic acid, Vitamin A, D and B-12, zinc and others. A pilot project has been initiated in blocks Barada and Naraingarh which are giving positive results, added he.
The president, Roller Flour Millers Association, Subash Mittal, Amit Kumar of Vita Milk and Edible Oil Millers Association hailed it as a positive initiative of the government. They said they would support the government and maintain quality without increasing the price.