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Questions and Answers
What is the primary aim of food fortification?
What is the primary aim of food fortification?
What is the minimum fat content required in margarine according to the law?
What is the minimum fat content required in margarine according to the law?
Which nutrient is commonly added to salt during food fortification?
Which nutrient is commonly added to salt during food fortification?
Which vitamin is mandatory for fortification in margarine in the EU?
Which vitamin is mandatory for fortification in margarine in the EU?
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In the UK, which nutrients are legally required to be restored in flour?
In the UK, which nutrients are legally required to be restored in flour?
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What is biofortification?
What is biofortification?
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What is the main strategy recommended by the World Health Organisation to eliminate iodine deficiency?
What is the main strategy recommended by the World Health Organisation to eliminate iodine deficiency?
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Food supplementation is intended primarily to:
Food supplementation is intended primarily to:
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What distinguishes commercial fortification from home fortification?
What distinguishes commercial fortification from home fortification?
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What is the purpose of substitution in food fortification?
What is the purpose of substitution in food fortification?
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At what age are children in the EU given vitamin drops containing A, C, and D?
At what age are children in the EU given vitamin drops containing A, C, and D?
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What is the recommended daily intake of folic acid for pregnant women when trying to conceive?
What is the recommended daily intake of folic acid for pregnant women when trying to conceive?
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What is an example of a food product that benefits from synthetic biology fortification?
What is an example of a food product that benefits from synthetic biology fortification?
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Which fortified nutrient is especially important in combating anemia?
Which fortified nutrient is especially important in combating anemia?
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What is the recommended daily intake of calcium for pregnant women who do not consume dairy products?
What is the recommended daily intake of calcium for pregnant women who do not consume dairy products?
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What is the maximum amount of milk fat that margarine can contain?
What is the maximum amount of milk fat that margarine can contain?
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What is the primary issue addressed by the term malnutrition?
What is the primary issue addressed by the term malnutrition?
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What type of deficiencies can lead to diseases such as scurvy and rickets?
What type of deficiencies can lead to diseases such as scurvy and rickets?
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How is food adulteration mainly categorized?
How is food adulteration mainly categorized?
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Which of the following is an example of intentional food adulteration?
Which of the following is an example of intentional food adulteration?
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What is the purpose of food additives?
What is the purpose of food additives?
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Which of the following is NOT a common example of a food additive?
Which of the following is NOT a common example of a food additive?
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What is a potential consequence of food adulteration?
What is a potential consequence of food adulteration?
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Which deficiency leads to pernicious anemia?
Which deficiency leads to pernicious anemia?
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What is one of the functional outcomes improved by MNP?
What is one of the functional outcomes improved by MNP?
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What is a direct health benefit of flour fortification?
What is a direct health benefit of flour fortification?
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Why are vitamins and minerals typically not added to unprocessed foods?
Why are vitamins and minerals typically not added to unprocessed foods?
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What is a primary reason for food fortification in low nutrient intake countries?
What is a primary reason for food fortification in low nutrient intake countries?
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What type of products can be fortified with added nutrients, following regulations?
What type of products can be fortified with added nutrients, following regulations?
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What nutrient is required to be added back to white and brown flour in the UK due to losses in milling?
What nutrient is required to be added back to white and brown flour in the UK due to losses in milling?
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Which nutrient is commonly added to breakfast cereals to enhance their nutritional value?
Which nutrient is commonly added to breakfast cereals to enhance their nutritional value?
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One of the advantages of fortification can include which of the following?
One of the advantages of fortification can include which of the following?
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Study Notes
Food Fortification
- Food fortification is the addition of nutrients to food to improve its nutritional quality.
- It's also known as food enrichment.
- The goal is to help populations meet recommended nutrient levels and combat malnutrition.
- Fortification is often added to staple foods like salt, wheat, and maize flour.
Types of Fortification
- Biofortification: Developing nutrient-dense staple crops using traditional breeding and biotechnology. Examples include orange-fleshed sweet potatoes rich in carotene, and beans with higher iron content.
- Synthetic Biology Fortification: Improving the taste and nutritional properties of foods, sometimes creating new ones, like algae butter and hypoallergenic peanuts. Also, creating nutrient-rich probiotics used in fermented foods such as yogurt.
- Commercial Fortification: Adding specific nutrients to common foods (like cereals, rice, and wheat) at the manufacturing stage. This is done at processing level.
- Home Fortification: Adding micro-nutrient powders (MNPs) or other supplements to home-prepared foods to increase nutrient content. This is done on a smaller scale.
Restoration and Substitution
- Restoration: Replaces nutrients lost during food processing. For example, in the UK, flour must be fortified with iron, thiamine (vitamin B1), and niacin after milling to replace nutrients lost in the bran and germ.
- Substitution: Adding nutrients to produce a substitute product with similar nutritional value. For example, some soy-based drinks contain added calcium to replace cow's milk.
Advantages of Fortification
- Addresses nutrient deficiencies in regions where intakes are low.
- Can be a marketing advantage by highlighting benefits for consumers.
- Can provide additional technical benefits, like improving food preservation with vitamin C.
- Can provide direct health benefits for specific groups, such as with folic acid in flour to prevent neural tube defects in infants.
Regulations of Fortification
- Fortification is mandatory in some countries, but voluntary in others.
- Regulations often prescribe upper safety limits and minimum levels for added nutrients.
- Vitamins and minerals are often fortified, but these additions may not be applied on unprocessed foods (like fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish). Also, not in alcoholic beverages with more than 1.2% alcohol content.
Specific Food Fortification Examples
- Flour Fortification: Nutrients removed during milling of wheat (e.g. iron, thiamine, niacin) are added back to fortified flour. This improves nutritional value of products like bread.
- Breakfast Cereals: Fortification with B vitamins, iron, calcium, and vitamin D. Common practice now.
- Margarine Fortification: By EU law, margarine must contain a minimum fat percentage, and vitamin A and vitamin D.
- Salt Fortification: Universal salt iodization is recommended by the WHO as a primary method to eliminate iodine deficiency.
Food Supplementations
- Food supplementation provides concentrated vitamins, minerals, or other substances to enhance nutrition. It's usually in capsule, tablet or liquid form, and comes in specific measured doses.
- Examples include vitamin A, iron supplements, especially for pregnant women and those who are lactating.
Infants and Dietary Supplements
- Growing children face challenges with varied diets in getting sufficient vitamins like vitamin A, C, or D.
- In the EU, children from 6 months to 5 years receive vitamin supplements (A, C, and D).
Pregnancy and Dietary Supplements
- Pregnant women are advised to take folic acid (400 µg/day), Vitamin D 10 µg/day, and iron 40-50 mg daily starting from the 10th week, for support throughout and during pregnancy.
- Dairy produce is a good source of calcium, and a calcium supplement of 500 mg daily is suggested when pregnant women don't get enough from dairy foods.
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Description
Explore the concept of food fortification, which involves adding nutrients to food to enhance its nutritional quality. Learn about different types of fortification, including biofortification, synthetic biology fortification, and commercial fortification. This quiz will help you understand how these methods combat malnutrition and improve public health.
