The millet initiative is a continuation of enhancing the nutritional intake among the malnourished. Making millets popular to the masses again will be a major breakthrough in overcoming malnutrition and rural poverty while being more sustainable for the environment. It can also drive new markets and business opportunities.
There is now a growing awareness of the superior nutritional profile of millet compared with wheat and rice – the staples so far distributed. According to IndiaSpend, millet, because of its higher iron, calcium and overall mineral content compared to wheat and rice, has the potential to help address India’s malnutrition problem.
Despite numerous qualities, utilization of millets as food is confined to the traditional consumers, particularly the tribal populations. This is mainly due to the nonavailability of consumer friendly, ready-to-use/ready-to eat millet based products. Recently, millets have gained attention and efforts are under way to obtain their convenient and value added processed products.
A special initiative was recently undertaken by the government of Karnataka to promote millets and other traditional grains. The International Trade Fair in Organics and Millets was organized by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, in collaboration with the KAPPEC as co-organisers, and the International Competence Center of Organic Agriculture as knowledge partners, from January 19-21, 2018, at Palace Grounds, Bengaluru.
The International Trade Fair in Organics and Millets was particularly pertinent for Karnataka, as the state is already a leader in organic and millet production in the country. Innovative and timely schemes, and growing health-conscious population has given the sector a great boost, but the potential is immense and there are many more things to be done. The ITF was organized to recognize the potential, and the current gaps, and was aimed at filling those need-gaps.
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IRRESPONSIBLE ADVERTISING UNDER SCANNER
To increase the monitoring on misleading advertisements in the food and beverages sector, the FSSAI signed a MoU with ASCI, the self-regulatory body of advertisement industry in 2016. As per the agreement ASCI comprehensively monitor the advertisements across various media. The move by the two regulators to work together has resulted in reduction in filing of complaints.
Industry Banks On Technology For Milk Safety
In October 2019, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released a full report after carrying out a survey on safety and quality of liquid milk in the country. Although the survey results hint towards demolishing milk adulteration perception, an in-depth analysis of the report reveals that 1 in 10 packets of milk purchased by consumers could be unsafe. Hence more is required in the dairy sector in order to address the issue of milk adulteration at all levels. On a whole, further steps are required to be taken to achieve transparency and efficiency in the dairy sector of India through public private partnership and best use of technology.
Plastic Ban - A Boon Or Bane?
This Independence day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a pledge to ban the use of single-use plastic by October 2. Although the plastic ban is directed towards a healthier environment, businesses in the food, beverage retail and e-commerce industries are set to be the most affected by this development. Now all stakeholders are working on finding alternatives to plastic.
Curbing Obesity
With a mission to lead and drive global efforts to reduce, prevent and treat obesity, the World Obesity Federation (WOF) launched World Obesity Day in 2015 that is now observed globally on October 11. With more than 135 million individuals affected by obesity in India, abdominal obesity is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVDs). The WOF estimates about three out of ten Indians are expected to be obese by 2025. India needs to gather some learning lessons from other countries where the industry is collaborating with regulators to achieve regulatory environments that are conducive for product reformulation, labelling and marketing regulation, ensuring a range of healthy options for consumers.
'FICCI Foodworld India 2019'
“Government to support industrialists and budding entrepreneurs to set up food processing industries”
What's Cooking In APAC Region?
In 2016, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region's food and beverage industry achieved an estimated turnover of $3.23 trillion, and was backed by a consistent year-on-year growth rate of 11 per cent, presenting a wealth of opportunities. With rising incomes and growing awareness of healthy eating among a burgeoning middle and upper class, the food companies see a clear opportunities for them in the region.
Trends In Food Technology
Food technology trends are moving towards more sustainable food processes which are easy on the environment and energy consumption. New biosensors are being invented to give the consumer an on-the-spot answer about the quality of food, nutrition and other aspects for customized consumption. Introducing new technologies or new ingredients has their set of challenges. New technologies need to be proven safe as well as the use of new ingredients and their impact on the human body need to be studied in depth and over a period of time so there is no unknown side effect.
Popularising Millets To Address Malnutrition
The millet initiative is a continuation of enhancing the nutritional intake among the malnourished. Making millets popular to the masses again will be a major breakthrough in overcoming malnutrition and rural poverty while being more sustainable for the environment. It can also drive new markets and business opportunities.
India Sharpening Its Fortification Blade To Cut Down Malnutrition
The Global Nutrition Report 2017, released in November 2017 which looked at 140 countries including India, found ‘significant burdens’ of three important forms of malnutrition used as an indicator of broader trends. The report finds that while India has shown some progress in addressing under-5 stunting, it has made no progress or presents worse outcomes in the percentage of reproductive-age women with anaemia, and is of course in terms of reaching targets for reducing adult obesity and diabetes. The Global Nutrition Report highlights that the double burden of undernutrition and obesity needs to be tackled as part of India’s national nutrition strategy.
Designer Foods And Supplements
Last week in the inflight magazine of Malaysian Airlines an interesting advertisement has appeared, which is reproduced (see fig). As you would see a very smart move to talk about Nutrigenomics and foods by an insurance firm really shook me. This firm is talking about health insurance policies by linking the health of the insured with their DNA and appropriate nutrition.
Apple Won't Let Fortnite Back Until Case Ends
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Fortnite maker Epic Games Inc., said Wednesday it’s been told by Apple that the game will be “blacklisted from the Apple ecosystem” until the companies’ legal case is resolved and all appeals are exhausted, which could take as long as five years.
CALIFORNIA 1ST TO SET QUOTA LIMITS FOR RETAILERS LIKE AMAZON
California became the first state to bar megaretailers from firing warehouse workers for missing quotas that interfere with bathroom and rest breaks under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that grew from Amazon’s drive to speed goods to consumers more quickly.
FACEBOOK OVERSIGHT BOARD REVIEWING ‘XCHECK' SYSTEM FOR VIPS
Facebook’s semi-independent oversight board says it will review the company’s “XCheck,” or cross check, system following an investigation by The Wall Street Journal into the use of this internal system that has exempted high-profile users from some or all of its rules.
CHINA'S ANT GROUP TO SHARE CREDIT DATA WITH CENTRAL BANK
China’s central bank will soon have access to the private credit information of hundreds of millions of users of Ant Group’s online credit service, in a move signaling more regulatory oversight of the financial technology sector.
NETFLIX BUYS WONKA AUTHOR DAHL'S CATALOG
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APPLE, GOOGLE RAISE NEW CONCERNS BY YANKING RUSSIAN APP
Big Tech companies that operate around the globe have long promised to obey local laws and to protect civil rights while doing business.
CHINA SETS UP PLATFORM TO POLICE GAMING FIRM VIOLATIONS
Chinese regulators have set up a platform that allows the public to report on gaming companies they believe are violating restrictions on online game times for children.
ONE TO CHARGE THEM ALL: EU DEMANDS SINGLE PLUG FOR PHONES
The European Union unveiled plans Thursday to require smartphone makers to adopt a single charging method for mobile devices.
DON'T LET SOCIAL SECURITY STEER YOU WRONG
Few retirement decisions are as critical, or as easy to get wrong, as when and how to take your Social Security benefits.
AT LONG LAST, BALLMER, CLIPPERS BREAK GROUND ON NEW HOME
The design meetings have been going on for years.