Evaluation of the effect of Ultra Rice ® EDTA supplementation on the soluble iron, visual acceptance and vitamin A stability of commercial milled rice blends

Summary The addition of NaFe EDTA at only 5% of total iron to ferric pyrophosphate‐fortified Ultra Rice ® increased the in vitro soluble iron ten‐fold. Ultra Rice ® formulated with NaFe EDTA at 2–7% of total iron, or with Na 2 EDTA ·2H 2 O at 0.5× the total iron equivalents, increased the soluble iron seven‐ to thirty‐fold. The colour of the batches was acceptable through 20 weeks at 21 °C, but colour stability needs to be evaluated under authentic storage conditions. Although only 34–46% of the initial vitamin A remained after extrusion, 18‐week storage at 30 °C/70% relative humidity, and simulated cooking, there were indications that losses could be decreased by raising the pH (to ~5) and/or using a better protected vitamin A ingredient. The enhancement of soluble iron afforded by low‐level NaFe EDTA or Na 2 EDTA ·2H 2 O supplementation suggests that this fortification strategy may merit further study as a means of increasing absorbable iron in Ultra Rice ® .