Ruchi Soya intends to enhance edible oil fortification initiative

India-based food company Ruchi Soya is planning to enhance its initiative of Edible Oil Fortification to control malnutrition in the country.

Since 2014, the company has been fortifying its edible oil brands, including Mahakosh, Sunrich and Nutrela with vitamin A and D, which is consumed by approximately 12 million consumers every month.

Ruchi Soya managing director Dinesh Shahra said: “Since edible oil use is nearly universal in India, fortifying oil with essential vitamins A and D creates an opportunity to reach all income groups with minimal changes in eating habits.

“Hence, we at Ruchi Soya took a pioneering voluntary step around two years ago to fortify our leading edible oil brands.

“We are now happy to announce the expansion of our fortification initiative, which will benefit more and more consumers; especially in the lower income group households.”

Ruchi Soya further explained that its edible oil fortification initiative would be useful for 15 million households every month by next year.

The company also intends to include its refined Ruchi Gold palm oil brand across the country in its future fortification programme.

Ruchi Soya Industries COO Satendra Aggarwal said: “It is only recently that the FSSAI has released draft standards for fortification of edible oil along with other items, but Ruchi Soya has been voluntarily fortifying four of its key edible oil brands since 2014, thereby positively impacting 12 million households every month.

“The company has been also taking efforts to communicate the importance of fortification to its consumers and will continue to do so.”

Ruchi Soya is joining hands with global organisations for the fortification of edible oils such as the Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society (CECOEDECON) and The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).