An important fact about iodine and iron is that although they are needed in tiny amounts, they are required every day, by everyone. If given as supplements, this would involve taking it daily for the rest of our lives. Salt, however, is something that is consumed by everyone, everyday. On an average, the same amount […]
Category: Food Fortifications
FFRC
How can we know if the salt we are using has adequate amounts of iodine and iron?
For detecting the presence of iodine in salt, a salt testing kit (STK) can be used. When a drop or two of the starch solution in this kit is added to a teaspoon of salt, it will turn purple if the salt contains iodine. To determine the iodine and iron content in salt, the salt […]
Can everyone consume salt fortified with iodine and iron? Will there be any harm if a person who is not iodine or iron deficient eats double fortified salt?
Standards operationalized by FSSAI specify the amount of iron and iodine that can be added to edible salt. For iodine, the minimum level is specified at the manufacture and consumer level as 30 ppm and 15 ppm respectively to meet 100% of the daily requirement of iodine. All of us need only a certain amount […]
How can consumers use fortified salt? Is there any loss of nutrients during cooking?
Both iodised salt and DFS are designed for use as common edible salt for cooking and as table salt. There is some loss of iodine during cooking (20%-40%). In order to compensate loss of iodine during distribution, storage and cooking, higher levels of iodine are added at the production stage in iodised salt and DFS.
What is Milk Fortification?
Milk fortification is the process of adding vitamin A and D or other micronutrients to milk.
Does fortification change appearance, taste, texture and flavour of the food?
No. When deciding on the appropriate premix for food fortification, only those vitamins and minerals are considered, which will not change the appearance, taste, texture and flavour of the food. In some cases encapsulated micronutrients may be used to prevent the interaction of micronutrients with either the atmosphere or with other micronutrients. The concept is […]
Are there any known side effects of consuming fortified wheat flour?
No side effects on health have been reported in the studies published on fortified wheat flour.
Why there is need of food fortification?
“Deficiency of micronutrients and commensurate disorders such as anaemia affect large segments of India?s population. Though they can affect all age groups, but young children and women of reproductive age tend to be among those, most at risk of developing micronutrient deficiencies. More than half of all women in the age group of 15-49 years, […]
What is the rice fortification technology available in India?
In India, rice is fortified using extrusion technology. In this technology, milled rice is pulverized and mixed with a premix containing vitamins and minerals. fortified rice kernels (FRK) are produced from this mixture using an extruder machine. FRK is added to traditional rice in ratio ranging from 1:50 to 1: 200 resulting in fortified rice […]
Why is extrusion the technology of choice for fortification of rice?
The extrusion technology for production of fortified rice kernels (FRKs) is the technology of choice given the stability of micronutrients in the rice kernels across processing, storage, washing and cooking also in view of the cost considerations.
What are the different types of extrusion technology available for fortification of rice?
Depending upon the temperature at which extrusion is done, the extrusion may be referred to as hot or cold. Hot extrusion (70-110o C) produces the highest quality kernels and is most expensive. Cold extrusion (70o C) is less expensive but might be rejected by consumers demanding uniformity in each grain’s shape, color, translucency, size and […]
How are fortified rice kernels produced by extrusion process?
Milled rice is pulverized and mixed with a premix containing vitamins and minerals. FRKs are produced from this mixture using an extruder machine. The kernels resemble rice grains. These kernels are then blended with milled rice in the proportion of 1: 50 to 1:200(FRK: Traditional Rice).
What is the equipment required for the production of fortified rice kernels through extrusion technology?
Extrusion processing requires an extrusion assembly with a dryer to produce the fortified rice kernels. The function of various parts of extrusion set-up is as follows: Blender/Mixer: To uniformly blend the rice our and the premix Preconditioning Unit: It hydrates the raw material and helps in homogeneity of the raw materials Extruder Barrel: The heating […]
How does fortification affect the shelf life of a product?
Fortification has no impact on the shelf-life of a product. The vitamins and minerals have a shelf life of their own although they do become less active over time.
Why is iron important? What happens when there is deficiency of iron in the diet?
Deficiency of iron results in anaemia. Anaemia and iron deficiency seriously affect the health, survival and wellbeing of women, the physical and mental status of their new-borns, their cognitive development and overall work performance as they grow into adults. The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS 4 2016) revealed that over half of children and […]