ENRICHMENT OF BISCUITS WITH VITAMINS AND MINERALS

INTRODUCTION:

It is well known that sufficient and well balanced nutrition during childhood and adolescence is essential for normal growth and mental development. Nutrient intake during childhood and adolescence is of critical importance because this is period of life during which the velocity of growth accelerates in both a linear and body cell mass fashion.

While the role of macro nutrients in food like protein, fat, carbohydrates and water is well known and accepted, The importance of micro nutrients such as Vitamins, Minerals and trace elements is still often neglected.

Although enriched biscuits were originally developed for school children to improve nutritional status of growing children and adolescents, this product may also be offered to other consumers on the traditional food market. Enriched biscuits, labeled accordingly, fit perfectly into the sales program of a progressive and reputable food processing company.

Why Enrichment?

Even if the intake of macro nutrients ( Proteins , Fat and Carbohydrates) covers the daily , requirement for energy and protein, it is indispensable to supply the proper quantities of vitamins in order to ensure and guarantee. The body ‘s Metabolic processes through which the body utilizes food as nutrient . It is important to note that vitamins cannot be replaced by any other substances and be consumed regularly.

Biscuits lend themselves excellently, as a carrier for most of the vitamins, except vitamin C (Latter undergoes irreversible changes and looses its activity during baking). The vitamins are necessary to balance the nutritive value of food received at home and at school. Biscuits, enriched with vitamins, are popular and can be produced at low costs.

What is Enrichment?

Enrichment is the improvement of food through restoration or supplementation with vitamins, resulting in better nutrition & better health.

What is added?

Enrichment of biscuits is done with vitamins such as A, B1, B2, B6, PP and Folic acid. Further enrichment can be done with vitamins D, E, B12 and Calcium Pantothenate. It goes with out saying that other badly needed micro nutrients like minerals, can also included into enriched biscuits.

How much is added?

According to their availability in the average diet, and to recent data of nutritional surveys , the quantities of vitamins added to biscuits are adjusted to provide a substantial part of the daily requirements.

Vitamins which are present only in minute amounts in the average diet have higher rate of addition, compared with those vitamins which are more common in the traditional foods consumed regularly.

In order to obtain biscuits with the vitamin potencies indicated, a certain overage of vitamins has to be added to compensate for losses during production storage and distribution. The extent of the overage depends on the type of the vitamin and processing conditions.

Vitamin Mixture for Biscuits ( Content per Kg)

Vitamin A - 40.00 MIU Vitamin B12 - 40 Mg

Vitamin D - 2.60 MIU Vitamin PP ( Niacinamide) - 130gms

Vitamin E - 195 .0 gms Ca – Panthenate - 75 gms

Vitamin B1 - 12.00 gms Folic Acid - 3 gms. 

Vitamin B2 - 11.05 gms

VitaminB6 - 13.00 gms

Value of Enrichment

For practical reasons only some of the most important characteristics of the vitamins are mentioned here.

Vitamin B1 ( Thaimine) is necessary for proper functioning of heart and nervous system.

Vitamin B2 ( Rboflavin) is necessary for healthy skin . It helps to maintain normal eye function . It is essential for building and maintaining body tissues.

Vitamin PP ( Niacin) is necessary for converting food to energy .It aids the nervous system and helps to loss of appetite . Iron is essential for the red blood cells and effective in preventing iron deficiency anemia.

Vitamin A is necessary to prevent blindness , skin disorders , hair loss etc.

Vitamin D prevents rickets ( Bone deformities ) in children , Osteomalacia in adults .

Vitamin E is needed for proper muscle and gland functions and for the anti oxidative of the body.

Cost of Enrichment:

There is small / marginal increase in cost but which gives a very high level of benefit to the customers & to your company in terms of "Better Nutrition Delivery" 

Conclusion:

Enrichment of Biscuits with Vitamins & Minerals delivers a value added product to consumer by and large.