Determination of visual detection thresholds of selected iron fortificants and formulation of iron-fortified pocket-type flat bread

Abstract: Wheaten pocket-type flat breads were baked from refined flours fortified to contain iron from ferrous sulphate (FeSO4), hydrogen-reduced elemental iron (Fe) or sodium iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (NaFeEDTA). Individual and group visual detection thresholds were determined by the 3-alternative forced choice (3-AFC) test according to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) method E-1432. The group visual detection thresholds of FeSO4, NaFeEDTA and Fe in bread were established in samples baked from the corresponding wheat flours fortified with 69.46, 236.82 and 304.97mg iron/kg flour, respectively. Sensory testing showed that iron-fortified pocket-type flat breads were similar (P <0.01) to regular bread when baked from flours formulated to contain iron at levels lower by 25% than the group visual detection thresholds of Fe and FeSO4 and two 25% increments lower than the threshold of NaFeEDTA. These findings indicate that iron-fortified pocket-type flat breads, which are sensorially similar to regular bread, baked from flours that contained 52.1, 133.22 and 228.73mg iron/kg flour as FeSO4, NaFeEDTA and Fe, would provide the segment of the population at the highest risk of iron-deficiency anaemia, specifically women of childbearing age, with 91%, 207% and 346% of their recommended daily intakes for iron, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]