The Department of Food and Public Distribution today E-launched “NAFED Fortified Rice Bran Oil”.

Rice Bran Oil

• Rice bran oil is the oil extracted from the hard outer brown layer of rice called chaff (rice husk).
• It is known for its high smoke point of 232 °C (450 °F) and mild flavor, making it suitable for high-temperature cooking methods such as stir-frying and deep-frying.
• It is popular as a cooking oil in the Indian subcontinent.
• It has a composition similar to that of peanut oil, with 38% monounsaturated, 37% polyunsaturated, and 25% saturated fatty acids.
• It is generally safe for consumption for most people when used in moderate amounts. However excessive usage of rice bran oil can lead to stomach discomfort.

What is NAFED oil?

• Rice Bran oil from NAFED will be fortified and it will be ensured that it will contain additional nutrients and vitamins.
• This Rice bran oil will be marketed by NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd).
• According to the FSSAI, fortified oil can help a person fulfill 25-30% of the recommended dietary intake for vitamins A and D.
• NAFED Fortified Rice Bran Oil will be available at all NAFED Stores and also on various online platforms.

Benefits of the NAFED oil

• This initiative will significantly reduce the country’s consumption dependence on imported edible oil in the future.
• This will provide opportunities for Indian edible oil manufacturers further, and also will give an impetus to the Aatmnirbhar Bharat initiative.
• It will provide easy access to NAFED branded high-quality rice bran oil, which will also give a boost to the indigenous oil manufacturing industry.

Health benefits of rice bran oil

• Rice Bran oil has multiple health benefits, including lowering cholesterol levels due to its low trans-fat content and high monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat contents.
• It also acts as a booster and reduces the risk of cancer due to the high amount of Vitamin E it contains.
• This oil is recommended by The American Heart Association and the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the best substitutes for other edible oils.

About NAFED

• NAFED is an apex organization under the Ministry of Agriculture that deals with marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India.
• It is registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act.
• It was set up with the object to promote Cooperative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers.
• Agricultural farmers are the main members of NAFED, who have the authority to say in the form of members of the General Body in the working of NAFED.

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