Fortifying rice to combat malnutrition

Rice, a staple food for more than 100 countries worldwide, lacks many necessary vitamins and minerals found in a balanced diet. Enhancing—or fortifying—staple foods such as rice with micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron, B vitamins, and zinc, is one of the most cost-effective, scalable, and evidence-based interventions to help combat widespread micronutrient deficiencies worldwide.

It looks, cooks, and tastes like ordinary rice, but is actually rice flour squeezed through a rice-shaped mold, enriched with micronutrients. Small amounts are blended into ordinary rice. The micronutrients encapsulated in each grain can withstand heat and humidity and won’t break down when cooked. Most importantly, the versatile grains can incorporate a range of vitamins and minerals to meet the needs of children in different regions.

For more than two decades, PATH experts have worked on rice fortification efforts across the globe. To ensure that the benefits of fortified rice reach as many people as possible, we are expanding evidence, developing global markets, and working to increase adoption worldwide. We are also supporting stakeholders to introduce, test, use, and scale fortified rice to combat malnutrition and improve lives and supporting economies through local production.