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Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals have been voluntarily fortified with folic acid since 1995, with the purpose of reducing the prevalence of neural tube defects in utero. Using data from the recent Australian Health Survey, this study aimed to estimate folate intake from one serving of breakfast cereals (median amount). Various commercial brands were purchased in 2002 (n = 19) and in 2014 (n = 14); folate was determined by microbiological assay and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total folate (μg/100 g) in 2002 and 2014 selections were 144-633 and 147-564, respectively, and mostly comparable to nutrition labels. Folic acid (2014 selection) using HPLC, ranged from 85 to 411 μg/100 g. Intake of 51 g cereals/serving by individuals ≥ 2 years could contribute 75-288 μg dietary folate equivalent. It seems that folic acid intake among children (2-3 years) exceeds the recommended dietary intake, when certain brands of breakfast cereals are consumed. Accordingly, the benefits and potential detrimental effects of the voluntary fortification need to be further explored.

This study investigated the technical feasibility of adding folic acid on to rice and coating with edible polymers. The coating solutions were cast into film and their properties were investigated. A concentrated premix of rice was prepared in a rotating coating pan by spraying first with folic acid solution, and then with polymer solutions and drying. The fortified rice premixes were evaluated for washing and cooking losses. The loss of folic acid in washing was lowest in rice premixes coated with ethyl cellulose followed by pectin, composite mixtures of locust bean and other coating materials with highest loss in gum arabic coated rice. No edible polymer could satisfactorily retain folic acid during boiling in excess water. Edible polymers failed to mask the yellow color of folic acid and additional masking agent was needed. The premixes had a higher water uptake ratio than raw milled rice had. Triangle tests did not show any significant difference (α=0.05) between the sensory qualities of cooked fortified rice and raw milled rice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The widespread fortification of cereal foods with folic acid has initiated the development of a faster, easier and more reliable method to determine folate in these foods. An enzyme protein binding assay (EPBA) kit developed by a Commercial Diagnostics Company was used for the analysis of folic acid present in folate fortified foods. The food samples were also analyzed by the microbiological assay for comparison of methods. Results from both methods showed no significant difference (p<0.05) in values and showed high correlation (r=0.89, p<0.001). However, the 95% confidence interval for the lower and upper limit of agreement was high. The addition of 1% ascorbic acid to the extraction medium offered better protection of folic acid against oxidation than foods extracted without ascorbic acid. No definite effect on the folate value was observed when extraction was carried out at two different sets of conditions, 10 min at 100 and 121 °C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]