Fortification of rice

Rice is the dominant staple food crop of approximately half of the population worldwide. Micronutrient deficiencies of public health significance are all widespread in most high rice consuming countries and rice fortification has the potential to help aid vulnerable populations that are currently not reached by wheat or maize flour fortification programmes.

Rice can be fortified by simply adding a micronutrient powder to the rice that adheres to the grains or spraying of the surface of ordinary rice grains in several layers with a vitamin and mineral mix to form a protective coating. Rice can also be extruded and shaped into partially precooked grain-like structures resembling rice grains; that is then blended with natural polished rice.

Further research is required to build the evidence-base on the use of fortified rice and to develop global technical guidelines for rice fortification.