Question

Read the following statements (1- 4) and identify why biofortified foods are advantageous over the traditional fortified foods.

1. Biofortified foods can act as a solution for the problems of micronutrient deficiency in developing countries.
2. It is an improved and better way of delivering nutrients to young children.
3. The nutrient profile of the food crop is improved as it grows.
4. It provides an advantage of manually adding the nutrients later into the food in the required quantity while it is being processed.

• A. 1 and 4
• B. 2,3 and 4
• C. 1, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer 1

The correct option is D 1, 2 and 3

Biofortification is the process of breeding nutrient rich crops with higher levels of vitamins, minerals, proteins, etc., with the idea to improve public health.

Biofortification of staple food crops (rice and wheat) has been emerged as a very potent solution to tackle the problems of micronutreint deficiency in developing countries. A large section of the population in these countries cannot afford the quantity or quality of food that is required to meet their essential nutritional requirements.

Developed countries are economically stable and their population have access to adequate quantities of food to meet their nutritional requirements. People in developed countries can afford to buy varieties fruits, vegetables, legumes, fishes and meat.

For example, golden rice is a biofortified rice with enriched levels of beta carotene (precursor of vitamin A) to tackle the problems related to night blindness (inability to see well at night or in poor light). Deficiency of vitamin A causes night blindness. β-carotene present in the biofortified food is converted into vitamin A in the body, when consumed. Hence statement 1 is correct.

Biofortification is a better way of delivering nutrients to young children through their regular diet than giving additional nutrient rich drinks or foods. Children will not take care of their proper diet and are more interested in having junk foods. This can be avoided through biofortified foods. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Biofortification focuses on improving the nutrient profile of the food crop while it is growing and maturing. Manually adding nutrients later to the food while it is being processed is not healthy as compared to the biofortified food. Because traditional fortified foods may have more calories than required. Hence statement 3 is correct and statement 4 is incorrect.