It is a serious problem to ensure nutrition in a densely populated and diverse country like India. The population of India silently endures the problem of hidden hunger or pseudo hunger, which is the deprivation of micronutrients within the diet of the masses. To curb this issue, food fortification has come up as a cost-effective strategy.
But fortification is not just adding more nutrients—it is all about having serious expertise in food science, regulation, consumer insights, and scalable food processing technologies. That is where expert food consultants like Frontline Food Consultants and Engineers (FFCE) step in and revolutionize the Indian food industry.
What is Food Fortification
Food Fortification is the process of adding vital nutrients to a food, in which that nutrient is not innately present. Micronutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium, vitamins such as vitamin c, vitamin B12, etc are the most common nutrients using which processed foods are often fortified.
Why Fortification Is Important in India:
High rates of deficiencies: Based on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), over 50% of Indian women and children are anemic.
Cost-effective intervention: Fortification is easier compared to supplementation programs as it can be done through current food systems with little change in behavior needed.
Wide reach: Staple foods have a wide reach, covering millions, thus suitable for mass fortification.
Government and Regulatory Support
The Indian government, through FSSAI’s ‘+F’ logo initiative, has strongly advocated fortification in key food segments. Mandatory fortification of iodized salt is already in place, while edible oil and milk fortification have been scaled across various states. Rice fortification through the Public Distribution System (PDS) is another flagship step under the Poshan Abhiyan.
Preventing sensory modifications such as off-flavors or color changes.
Compliance with FSSAI norms and global standards.
Optimizing cost-effective and scalable production processes.
This is where sector specialists such as FFCE come in to fill the knowledge and implementation gap.
Below is how FFCE aids food fortification activities:
- Formulation & R&D
- Client-specific product category custom fortification premix development.
- Balancing texture, taste, and nutrient retention via cutting-edge food engineering.
- Prototype creation and product testing.
Process Development
- Development and verification of scalable production processes to provide even micronutrient distribution.
- Choosing suitable mixing, blending, and extrusion equipment for fortified foods.
- Shelf life testing and thermal process validation.
Regulatory Compliance
- FSSAI compliance assurance for fortification regulations and labeling standards.
- Facilitating license applications under fortified food categories.
- Document assistance for schemes like Eat Right India or Poshan Abhiyaan.
Turnkey Solutions
- Installation of fortification-capable production facilities, from raw material receipt to packaging.
- Machinery integration of batch and continuous fortification systems (for instance, for fortified atta, milk, edible oil, etc.).
- Manpower training and quality control teams.
Looking Ahead: The Fortification Frontier
India’s food fortification adventure has just started. With a drive towards voluntary fortification of rice, increasing school and ICDS feeding schemes, and increasing consumer awareness regarding nutrient-based diets, the market for fortified foods is set to expand exponentially.
This presents a strong challenge for food companies, startups, and contract manufacturers to invest in fortified products—not only as a corporate social good, but as a business imperative. And in doing so, FFCE is a trusted partner, breaking down complicated technical needs into realizable, sellable products.
Conclusion
Food fortification is more than a policy—it’s a force to reform the health and wellbeing of a nation. Yet for it to be effectively scaled, technical know-how, regulation know-how, and operational accuracy are essential. Frontline Food Consultants and Engineers (FFCE) provides just this combination, enabling companies to responsibly innovate and deliver nutrition on every plate.
