THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Fortified rice will not be distributed immediately. The meeting chaired by Minister GR Anil decided to ask the Minister of Health to appoint an expert committee to examine whether the use of fortified food grains is harmful to health in general or specifically to those suffering from any kind of disease.

The minister also directed the Civil Supplies Commissioner to collect the information of families with patients suffering from sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia in the Wayanad district and distribute unfortified rice to them.

The minister convened the meeting of legislators from the Wayanad district o discuss the issues related to the distribution of fortified rice through the public distribution system. Kerala Kaumudi had published news on February 8, 2021, stating that there was a defect in the fortification and this would have a negative impact on health. Subsequently, the plan to distribute fortified rice was frozen.