Fortify Health Announces Collaboration with IIT Delhi for iCheck Validation Study

Fortify Health is pleased to announce a collaboration with the Centre for Rural Development and Technology (CRDT) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. This partnership aims to conduct a validation study for iCheck iron, a rapid testing device for determining iron rates in fortified chakki atta.

Fortify Health is on a mission to enable access to micronutrient chakki atta in order to reduce and prevent iron-deficiency anaemia. This collaboration with IIT Delhi's CRDT, a renowned academic unit with over 300 high-impact publications, aligns with our aim to improve the quality of fortified chakki atta distributed in India.

The iCheck iron validation technology, developed by Bioanalyt in Germany, is a rapid testing device used by Fortify Health to test the added iron (from NaFeEDTA) in fortified atta. While the manufacturer has conducted primary validation for different iron sources, the unique variability of Indian atta necessitates a separate validation process. 

The project aims to inform external stakeholders, including academics, industry professionals, and policymakers, about the reliability of iCheck iron test results for wheat flour in Indian settings. The primary focus of the validation will be on chakki atta, with an additional matrix effect study on maida and iron source as NaFeEDTA. We look forward to sharing the results and learnings from this study with the general public. 

Fortify Health will implement the study by conducting the experimental activities, while IIT Delhi will provide technical oversight and expertise on the experimental design, the validation process, data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of the findings.

Tony Senanayake, Chief Strategy Officer of Fortify Health, noted: "By combining IIT Delhi's technical and academic expertise with our on-the-ground implementation focus, we hope to amplify the impact of data and evidence generated by this project. This will ultimately support our goal of reducing and preventing iron deficiency anaemia in India and fortifying India for the 21st Century."

Prof. Hariprasad P., Associate Professor at IIT Delhi, mentioned: “Anaemic conditions are brought on by inadequate daily iron intake or the body's low ability to absorb iron. It prevents the biosynthesis of haemoglobin, which lowers the body's supply of oxygen and causes various connected health issues. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) - 5 reports raised the alarm about the increasing anaemia among Indians. The most effective and scientifically validated approach to resolving this issue is food fortification. Earlier, fortification of salt with iodine and oil with vitamins had remarkable success. However, iron fortification through food has its own challenges, such as scalability, economics, uniformity and quality, distribution, shelf life, regulations and policies, especially in a country like India, which is home to 17% of the world's population and has a very diverse population in terms of religion, culture, and demographics. This study collaboration between Fortify Health and IIT Delhi intends to solve present and future problems brought up at various stages of food-iron fortification programmes in India.”


For more information about Fortify Health and this collaboration, please visit https://www.fortifyhealth.global/ 

About Fortify Health
Fortify Health is a health-focused organization dedicated to enabling access to micronutrient-rich chakki atta to reduce and prevent iron-deficiency anaemia. By adding value to chakki atta through fortification with Iron, Folic acid, and Vitamin B12, Fortify Health aims to improve the nutritional intake of millions of Indians.

About IIT Delhi
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is a public technical and research university located in Delhi, India. It is one of the oldest Indian Institutes of Technology in India. The Centre for Rural Development and Technology (CRDT) at IIT Delhi is renowned for developing and disseminating technologies to address rural India's challenges.