Cereal fortification refers to the fortification of the main cereal staple in refuge ration with essential micronutrients by the mixing in of a vitamin/mineral pre-mix at the time of milling grain to meal.
Folic fortification of cereal products has proved effective in decline of neural tube defects. A neural tube defect is a an anomaly of the central nervous system and/or its membranes, resulting either from faulty neurulation or from abnormal development do the neural tube during the early postneurulation period.
Fortification was determined to be the best strategy for increasing blood folate levels, as the critical period for adequate intake of folic acid is in the first weeks of pregnancy before most women known that they are pregnant.
Wheat and wheat products, corn, rice and breakfast cereals are the coon food vehicles that can be fortified. The benefits of fortification can extend over the entire life cycle of humans. It can thus be one of the most cost effective means of overcoming micronutrient malnutrition.
For decades the United States and many countries have been fortifying their cereal products with thiamin, riboflavin and niacin.
Food fortification in cereal
