The Sikkim state Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in association with central food safety regulator–FSSAI–and Mondelēz Indiatoday conducted a demonstration drive to highlight the importance of fortified food. The event was graced by Chief Guest Shri K B Gurung, Adviser, Health & Family Welfare Department, Governmentof Sikkim; Ms. Vijeta Singhari, Coordinator, Food Fortification Division, FSSAI; Mr.Abhishek Sahay, Head-Public and GovernmentAffairs, Mondelez India along with other FSSAI and state FDA officials.
The event was attended by over 200 people comprising members of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme and other dignitaries from the state government including the Principal Director, Health & Family Welfare Department; Commissioner, Gangtok Municipal Corporation; Director, State FDA; Director, Department of Education, and senior officials of the Gangtok administration.
Fortification is the process of adding micronutrients to food and thereby increasing its nutritive value. In Sikkim, more than 56% of children, 46% of females and 18% of male suffer from anemia. Shri K B Gurung, Adviser, Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim FSSAI said, “This enables us to provide a platform to address the nutritional deficiencies and dietary imbalances that remain a critical concern across the nation and gives us an opportunity to spread awareness on the importance of fortified foods as well as bust myths around the topic”.
