Royal DSM, one of the world's purpose-led, science-based leaders in health and nutrition, has opened a new fortified rice kernel manufacturing line near Hyderabad to meet the nutritional needs of people throughout the country and the region.
This is a one-of-a-kind commercial manufacturing facility that uses cutting-edge technology and high-quality production methods to produce nutritionally fortified rice kernels. The plant is ISO 22000:2018 certified and has a capacity of 3,600 tonnes of kernels per year.
Rice is a staple food in most Indian states, but the traditional milling process removes the nutrient-rich bran layers, making white rice a poor source of micronutrients. Nutritional deficiencies are common in India, according to a 2022 report published in The Lancet, causing younger-to-middle-aged Indians to perform below their potential and putting the elderly at risk of "calamitous neurologic events." Food fortification is widely regarded as one of the most effective methods of preventing such hidden hunger, which has been scientifically proven to contribute to poor health and, as a result, can have long-term consequences for people's economic prospects and well-being.
DSM's proprietary technology combines vitamins and minerals with broken rice and safely locks them in during a hot extrusion process to create new rice kernels. The fully automated technique can deliver the precise dosage recommended by governments worldwide while preventing over- or under-dosing. This method also rids the rice of microbes, ensuring superior purity. The resulting fortified rice kernels blend easily with raw rice because they look, cook, and taste the same. It is an excellent option for health-conscious individuals looking for a novel way to achieve health benefits without changing their dietary habits.
Anand Diwanji, Health Nutrition & Care director - South Asia, DSM, said, “We are pleased to bring DSM’s world-leading expertise in improving the nutritional quality of food to where it can have such a tremendous impact on the health of so many people. This aligns with our company’s commitment to addressing the challenges of hidden hunger, which affects people across all income groups around the world, and is supportive of the Government of India’s health agenda. We hope this production facility sets new benchmarks for quality fortification practices in the future.”
DSM anticipates that the Hyderabad plant will serve as a base for supplying India as well as the wider South Asian region, where rice is a staple diet. The plant adheres to GMP standards as well as FSSAI regulations. IS 10500 certified water and steam used in the manufacturing process.