Recently, a group of health experts in India have raised concerns about the country’s strategy to fight malnutrition through food fortification. They argued for “extreme caution” in implementing new chemical interventions to address micronutrient deficiencies. 

Benefits of Food Fortification: 

• High benefit-to-cost ratio: Food fortification has a high benefit-to-cost ratio. The Copenhagen Consensus estimates that every 1 Rupee spent on fortification results in 9 Rupees in benefits to the economy. While an initial investment to purchase both the equipment and the vitamin and mineral premix is required, the overall costs of fortification are extremely low. 
• No socio-cultural barriers: Fortification does not require any changes in food habits and patterns of people. It is a socio-culturally acceptable way to deliver nutrients to people 
• No alteration of food characteristics: It does not alter the characteristics of the food like the taste, aroma or the texture of the food 
• Quick implementation: It can be implemented quickly as well as show results in improvement of health in a relatively short period of time. 
• Wide reach: Since the nutrients are added to widely consumed staple foods, fortification is an excellent way to improve the health of a large section of the population, all at once. 

Source: Food Fortification in India – Explained, pointwise