Abstract
Micronutrient deficiencies (including iodine and iron deficiency) is a global health problem affecting one third of the world's population. Salt is an ideal carrier for food fortification as it is universally consumed at equal rates, independently of economic status, and it is industrially processed. Addressing iron and iodine deficiencies together is a challenge, due to interaction between iodine and iron, negating the effect of added iodine. This paper explains the development of an improved microencapsulation‐based technology to produce iron premix, which, when added to iodized salt, is stable and organoleptically indistinguishable. Ferrous fumarate was extruded, followed by cutting, sieving to achieve a size of 300–710 μm (salt grain size). Agglomerated extrudates were microencapsulated (5% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and 5% soy stearin) to form iron premix. Microencapsulation ensures that the added micronutrients are stable without interaction or degradation. Double Fortified Salt is formed by blending iron premix with iodized salt (1:200 ratio). This technology was transferred to India for industrial scale‐up. The public distribution system was utilized to establish and monitor an efficient distribution network for DFS in a transparent manner. The scale‐up process was initially demonstrated in the state of Uttar Pradesh, following its success two more Indian states have started distribution of DFS. At present, the DFS with iron and iodine is reaching 60 million people in India. This important health intervention technology through food fortification has the potential to be scaled globally to ensure a world free from iron deficiency anemia.
Highlights
In India, it affects more than 50% of women dren
There are a number of technical issues that needs to be addressed in order to simultaneously fortify salt with iron and iodine
Image showing step by step Double Fortified Salt (DFS) product development. Material from this pilot scale process was tested for stability at 25°, 35°, and 45°C for up to 2 years, to ensure that iodine was retained, and the iron remained in its ferrous form
Summary
There are a number of technical issues that needs to be addressed in order to simultaneously fortify salt with iron and iodine. The strands of extruded ferrous fumarate were spherolized to form nearly spherical particles of ~500 μm in diameter and coated with 30% titanium dioxide in a candy coater, followed by 5% to 10% of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) overcoated with 5% to 10% SS Image showing step by step DFS product development Material from this pilot scale process was tested for stability at 25°, 35°, and 45°C for up to 2 years, to ensure that iodine was retained, and the iron remained in its ferrous form. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is concurrently enabling baseline and end line surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of the FIGURE 5 Double Fortified Salt program implementation strategy framework in Uttar Pradesh, India(Footnote: UP: Uttar Pradesh, India; PDS: public distribution system; FPS: Fair Price Shops; UPFCS: Uttar Pradesh Food & Civil Supplies Department; FSDA: Food Safety and Drug Administration]
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