# Iron-and-zinc fortified millet found safe for toddlers’ gut health 2026-08-06T14:39:07+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A nine-month study of 223 toddlers in Mumbai found that iron-and-zinc fortified pearl millet caused no detectable harmful changes to their developing gut microbiome, The Hindu reports. Researchers from Cornell University, SNDT Women’s University and a Mumbai NGO tested the food among children aged 12 to 18 months in urban slums. The fortified millet contained almost three times the iron and zinc of standard millet. Children who ate it showed more microbial activity linked to fighting pathogens and antioxidant metabolism, while markers associated with harmful bacteria fell. The researchers said bio-fortified crops could help address iron deficiency without some gut-related problems linked to supplements. India produces over 40% of the world’s millets. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: child nutrition, gut health, iron deficiency, millets, public health Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/iron-and-zinc-fortified-millet-found-safe-for-toddlers-gut-health/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/iron-and-zinc-fortified-millet-found-safe-for-toddlers-gut-health/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.