Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement (I) : The fortificants permitted in liquid milk as per Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018 are Vitamin A and Vitamin D.
Statement (II) : Milk powder also can be fortified with Vitamin A and Vitamin D; but it shall only be used in the Government Funded Programs for the purpose of preparation of 'Reconstituted Fortified Milk'.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are true.
• B. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are false.
• C. Statement (I) is true but Statement (II) is false.
• D. Statement (I) is false but Statement (II) is true.

Hint:

Remember the permitted chemical forms for milk fortification:
- Vitamin A: Retinyl palmitate or Retinyl acetate.
- Vitamin D: Cholecalciferol ($D_3$) or Ergocalciferol ($D_2$).
Commercial fortification is limited to liquid milk, while fortified powder is restricted to government-funded nutritional schemes.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Food fortification is the practice of deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food to improve its nutritional quality and address public health deficiencies.
FSSAI regulates these standards under the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze Statement (I): "The fortificants permitted in liquid milk as per Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018 are Vitamin A and Vitamin D."
This statement is correct.
Liquid milk is a widely consumed food, making it an effective vehicle for address deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins.
The FSSAI regulations mandate that when milk is fortified, it must contain:
- Vitamin A: Retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate, in the range of 270 \(\mu\)g RE to 450 \(\mu\)g RE per liter.
- Vitamin D: Cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol, in the range of 5 \(\mu\)g to 7.5 \(\mu\)g per liter.
Now let us analyze Statement (II): "Milk powder also can be fortified with Vitamin A and Vitamin D; but it shall only be used in the Government Funded Programs for the purpose of preparation of 'Reconstituted Fortified Milk'."
This statement is also correct.
While liquid milk is fortified for commercial retail sale, FSSAI regulations restrict the fortification of commercial milk powders.
This restriction is in place because milk powder can be reconstituted in varying concentrations, which could lead to accidental overconsumption of fat-soluble vitamins.
However, to address malnutrition in vulnerable populations, fortified milk powder is permitted for use in government-funded programs (such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme) to prepare reconstituted fortified milk under controlled conditions.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are true.